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Comments
So I visited the Edmunds pages that show incentives, but I didn't see anything listed, not even the 0.9% on the Outbacks, etc.
Where else can I go to get this info? Or, how often does Edmunds update their info? The Subaru site claims you must take delivery between Dec. 3 and Jan. 2 - leading me to believe that this promotion is only a couple of days old.
I'm especially interested in the Forester, but my hubby is leaning towards a Legacy. So these sorts of incentives could be important in our decision making process.
Thanks,
Tamara
Bob: the roof rack is a Yakima RocketBox. I looked at a few between 16 and 20 cu ft, and the cost to size ratio was best on this 16 cu ft model because of an REI sale ($280). there is a model which i almost ordered called Yakima LoadRanger 20, but when i went to a local store, it turns out it only opens less than a foot on the side! you couldn't slip a sleeping bag through there and your ski boots would have to go in sideways...
That vehicle is no threat to the Forester, by the way. I drove a 140hp FWD model, and it was slow, slow. LOUD engine, too. It would be even slower with AWD.
It was well assembled but materials were very cheap, maybe a step up from Suzuki but two steps down from Subaru. Ride and handling were nice, though. But that's spoiled by road noise and engine racket.
-juice
Yeah, I did lose my high beams, but it's not that big of a problem. There are a couple manufacturers who make dual beam H4 bulbs that would keep the high beams, but I couldn't justify spending an extra couple hundred dollars for something I'll use for a few minutes at most. What brand HID's did you get? Compare them to the stock bulb and look at how they line up. Hopefully you can make it work. See this webpage
http://www.hidkits.com/tab_main_focus.htm
I'm planning on adding some driving lights anyway to compensate for the loss in highbeams. I saw a really nice custom made light bar on a WRX last month. I'm gonna try and find out if he can make one for the forester.
Kajko,
I had the same sagging problem on my car, I had it loaded up with two bike and a roof rack on the top, and the inside filled to the ceiling with stuff. After a 1500 mile trip, I think my shocks are dead. With all that stuff on my car, I was only getting 19-20 mpg.
Greg
Today I got a chance to drive my new Forester in the snow by taking my daughter to work. The plow had piled a foot of snow or more in front of the driveway. Piece of cake! The Spudmobile drove beautifully on the snowy, slushy, icy streets. I wasn't real impressed by the wiper heaters, but I'll give them another chance. The heated mirrors are absolutely fabulous.
I like this car more and more all the time.
Have been starting to sing the old Queen song, "I'm in Love With My Car."
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/roadtests/2002/december/0212_roadtest_baja.xml
Enjoy, and try not to laugh too hard!
burnsmr4
Bob
-juice
My old '87 Mitsubishi Montero, a 5 speed with Goodyear Wrangler A/T tires, didn't handle snow this well even in 4 Low. It had higher ground clearance, so it would probably work better in deeper snow, but otherwise, the Forester would be my choice.
I'm definitely sold on the Forester/Blizzak combo. My wife didn't take her '02 Outback out in the snow, so I can't compare the two. But I'm sure her car, with the Blizzaks on, would do just as well. Ahh, yes, the Beauty of All-Wheel Drive!
Len
I am interested in the 47mm Nudge bar but $400+ seems too expensive for me.
ducktapeguy,
Keep us post if U found any nudge bar for forester.
In the worse case, I may just drill holes in my OEM brush guard to have the driving lights installed.
Michael
When things got really dicey and traction was lost, the Forester kept its composure and was very predictable and easy to control. It also regained traction very quickly.
As I drove I was happy that I chose the full-time AWD Forester over the part-time 4WD CRV - the Subaru system is fantastic. My co-worker traded his 4WD Explorer in on an '03X this Fall and said the Forester's AWD is far superior to the 4WD system on his old Ford. He calls the Subaru's snow driving charactreristics "supernatural." I agree.
After Thursday, I can't see driving anything but a Subie. If you're on the fence and snow driving is part of your life, go with a Subaru.
The Forester seats are hard, but harder seats are more comfortable for most people on longer drives. The newer Forester seats seem somewhat less adjustable than the older ones, but if you keep trying, you may find a more comfortable adjustment for longer drives.
The recommended setup from Tire Rack for a Forester S is 205/70/15's on steel rims.
Snow driving - We've had our Forester for 2 1/2 years and this was the first somewhat heavy snow we've had in that time. My wife complained of the side sliding of the car around turns, but it just took a few times of losing control and being able to regain it in seconds before she realized the real benefits of AWD.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I also went with the 205-70-15s on a set of steel wheels from a Forester L. I agree that the narrower tires should work better in snow. I put them on the car just before the snow, and I removed them the following day, since all the roads were clear by then, and I want to minimize their use on dry pavement.
Len
Michael
I don't turn the volume up much at all on the radio/CD, but I get a buzz or vibration that seems to be coming from the door speakers.
Don't become biased without spending at least 6 months in the seats, then modify them if they are still uncomfortable. Tush-pressure may break them in to your liking.
-mike
That has been one of my gripes as well. I can understand having a limited color selection on the base model, but why oh why do they not have a Cayenne Red in the XS, only the XS Premium?
IIRC you can get every color except black in the X, but you can't get Cayenne Red, or Aspen White in the XS, and no Woodland Green, or Pacifica Blue in the XS Premium.
Cayenne Red XS
Just bought an ‘03 Forester X. Neat car. Great forum. Had a couple of questions. (Did a search and didn't see answers, but in case I didn't search correctly, please pardon if these have been discussed.)
1. What’s the best way to go for an alarm system? I saw one advertised at a few sites on the Internet for around $125. A Subaru logo is in the ad, but they don’t go into any details. Is this an OEM unit and does it have a “kill” function? Is it easy to install? Or, is there a better setup someone can recommend?
2. What's the hot tip regarding trailer hitches (what kind, where to buy). We'd be using it for a bicycle carrier. Are they easily installed? I noticed a discussion earlier in this thread, but couldn’t get to Juice’s links to check out the pictures.
Thanks in advance for any info,
Steve
If you get the OE hitch, lemme know and I'll e-mail pics that might help you. It's not hard at all, 7 bolts. You remove a couple of tow hooks and a vacuum canister from the fuel system temporarily. Just be careful to reconnect it all or you'll get a CEL.
I've heard the tweeter installation is easy. You just pop off the grid, it's prewired.
Paul: tires make all the difference. A rear LSD might actually help a bit. Your tail will kick out when the rear axle loses traction, like in a turn when you apply power. I love doing that, it's fun!
So the XS model may have a slightly higher threshold before the rears kick loose. But they still will if you try hard enough.
Even with lame-in-the-snow touring tires with a 460 treadwear rating, Sandy was unstoppable. :-)
-juice
Anyway, I hope that the new turbo will not be a luxury model in the way that the Outback 6 cylinders are set up. There is a market for performance without luxury appointments. We are not all of the James Bond mentality. I especially hate the idea of high power and cornering capability coupled with leather seats. Having driven a leather equipped Volvo on a racetrack once, I can attest to the difficulty in keeping the driver's rear end in place in the slippery seats while the car's rear end is engaged in spirited maneuvers.
That's not feasible. Let's put you in charge, what would you offer? Let's assume your budget is finite and you'd get fired if you either spend too much or don't please enough customers.
Who wants to play, just for fun?
-juice
The car has to be clean before you cover it - it's usually not. Then the inside of the cover gets dirty, and the cycle never stops.
-juice
Len
Len
My '02 S Premium 5 sp handled everything. The off road test started with a steep initial approach, climbing an embankment that I wouldn't have considered with any of my FWD, lower clearance vehciles.
Next up was a moderate climb on dirt through the trees. Nothing real steep, but there were some tight turns that required care to avoid trees and protruding branches.
The climb topped out, leading to a descent into a narrow valley that was more open, with a few beaver dams and ponds. The descent was steep, would have liked a low range so as to not have to use the brakes. Even in 1st, would have built up too much speed without braking. No slipping there, so the descent was smooth and controlled.
After getting the perfect tree and tagging it with my Forest SErvice permit it was time to go.
The climb up and out of the valley again made me wish for low range. I thought I'd take it slow and easy, but the climb was so steep that I would have stalled had I not backed off and descended. (Thought about disengaging the clutch and revving the engine to get the RPMs up, but opted instead for the more conservative approach).
On the second attempt, with a little momentum and not letting the RPM's dip too low, made it with no wheel slippage. In the steepest spot needed almost full throttle even at a slow, relatively low RPM pace. There were places that the road was deeply rutted, so had to straddle the ruts.
Overall, the Forester felt solid, up to the challenge, and inspired confidence. On my wish list, based on that experience, would be first a low-range opption (or a six speed with a lower low and a higher high). Next, though less necessary with the new transmission, would be more power. Another wish-list item, hough not related to the off-road eperience, would be the self-levelling rear suspension, since I've read here that it's provided in other markets. Don't have a hitch yet, but will add one and haul bikes that way and maybe pull an occasional trailer.
The other vehicles I saw down there were all more traditional, bigger SUVs.
Now that I've seen what my Forester can do, I'm ready to dig out all my old camping gear and get off road a little more.
Your way they'd have 7 color combos, 1 interior color, 3 models, and 2 tranny choices, that's 42 variations. But that may not leave enough selection.
So you wouldn't spend too much, but you might lose customers. I want monotone silver, light grey interior, so I'd get neither.
I say keep the unpainted bumpers and the monotone only, so no slate painted bumpers. Make all XS models monotone, in other words.
Also, I don't see why the X and XS need different fabrics. Offer only one in grey or beige, and leather in both colors. 6 down to 4.
And I'd change the color palette a lot. Most colors are too dark and show dirt easily (opposite of the interior, I guess). Keep the black, red, silver, add Sea Mist Green, Timberline Green, and White Frost Pearl from the Outback colors, which IMO offer a better selection.
I think the White Frost Pearl in particular is a very rich, expensive looking paint. The type that Mercedes charges $500 extra just for choosing the color.
-juice
texan5
-juice
I'm a new member and in buying process. Between CRV and Forester, but leaning towards Soobie more and more.
So, any Canadian experiences when it comes to price paid and negotiations. Does anybody know an invoice price and how much discount are dealers willing to give. Also, I find Freight/PDI a little bit steep (comparing to the CRV its $1350 vs. $850)
I'm looking into X model but XS will do for comparison. Also, what is good source of aftermrket parts and accessories in Canada or willing to ship to Canada.
I know it's too much for the first time,
kid
Any folks north of the border help out with the supplier names? I know Pat knows a few, but he has a Legacy GT and doesn't follow this topic.
-juice
On the X trim, the following colors, Aspen White, Cayenne Red, Platinum Silver, Woodland Green, Ice Blue, and Black Java Gold with the black cladding. I'd also make 4 Wheel Disc brakes standard across the line as well as the all weather package.
Economies of scale, with the same equipment used across the board should minimize the cost increases.
I knew I was in a minority with the monotone, but I can live with it. For the XS, then, the following colors in addition to the X - SeaMist Green, White Pearl (replacing Aspen White), (good choices, Juice!) Dump the Sierra metallic. Add a nice Deep Burgundy
I'm with a Dark gray for the interior. It would be a darker gray than currently offered. One interior, an upgrade in material from the X to the XS, and leather available in all the XS models. Heck, make the sunroof standard on the XS.
Now you have 12 Configurations in the X and 28 in the XS for a total of 40. And everyone's happy.
Well, I see 16 color combos (including two-tone and monotone), 6 interior colors, 3 models (I'll count the premium package as a model), and 2 tranny choices, that's 576 variations for dealers to stock.
Well in the X trim, you have 6 colors but you don't, as far as I know, have a choice of interior color with exterior color. That's 12 configurations with automatic and manual.
In the XS you have 5 colors and two transmissions for a total of 10 configurations.
In the XS Premium you have 5 colors and two transmission choices for a total of 10 configurations.
Plus a total of 5 Leather configurations.
My math comes out to 37...
heyduke: great to hear about your X-mas tree offroad experience. i too wish for a less sagging end. i bought the larger springs to increase clearance and take care of the sagging. i am trying to convince a local shop to put them in for me in the next few days, so i will post pics then. we can keep dreaming about the lo gearing, as it will probably never make it to US...
;->
great to hear about your experience!
I love the idea of making the AWP and 4 wheel discs standard.
I meant 576 possible variations. Everyone seems to want a differnet color combo, so I was trying to point out that it's not practical for Subaru to offer every color with every trim line and interior.
37 combos is a practical amount, so your 40 would also be practical.
For the hitch, good idea to use that extension. I have two 3" that I piggy backed. My torque wrench has a long shaft for leverage, else you'll need a breaker bar. I think the bolts were 17mm, make sure you have that socket size.
kajko: where'd you get the springs? iSR? The full set? $360 I think? I'm very interested to know.
Since there's still snow and ice around, I've been driving Sandy full time (the Miata is parked), and I'm truly appreciating how much I still enjoy her even 4.5 years later. I talk about trading up for a turbo, but giving her up would be like donating a kidney.
-juice
I'd go along with the monotone and the unpainted cladding as the two choices, depending on trim line. That Titanium cladding on the'01 Forester S didn't look too great, though it doesn't look bad on the Outbacks. Speaking of White, I don't like the look of the white on the Outback. It looks more beige than the white on the Foresters. That's the reason we didn't get my wife's '02 OB in white...it would have always looked dirty parked next to my white Forester.
Len
I've always liked the pearl colors, vs. metallic (which is still nice).
The White Pearl looks like it would disguise salt/dust perfectly.
-juice