Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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Comments

  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    When I first had the cargo tray installed it felt kind of sticky but now after a year it is very slippery and the load slides around. I do have things tied to the hooks but the quick trip to the store and once in a while I forget.

    Is there something I can clean the surface with to get the rid of the slippery-ness? Bob L.
  • krccrkkrccrk Member Posts: 36
    I bought a replacement cargo tray for my 2001 S when they had them on sale for $19 last year. Turns out it also exactly fits my new XT. Moved it and my auto-dimming mirror from my old Forester to the new XT. Dealer wanted $79 for a new cargo tray.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Unfortunately, I don't think there's anything you can clean the cargo tray with to make it sticky again.

    One idea is to use the anti-slip mats used for carpeting. They're washable too.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I guess you could use some sort of liner, maybe some plywood with a hinge that went up with the seat. But you are actually adding weight and reducing the net payload with whatever you put in there.

    Fabric and craft stores will have velcro that you can stick or sew on to hold things like the liner in place. Mine tends to stay put.

    It is very worn, however. I beat it up pretty badly, so had I known about that $19 promotion I would have bought a new one, maybe two! :-)

    -juice
  • earthwomanearthwoman Member Posts: 47
    I solved the issue of the seatbacks getting dirty or punctured when being used to carry cargo by buying a heavy rubber floor mat that is made for the back seat of a full sized pick up truck. It is the perfect size. I measured the area and found one slightly wider but almost the heigth of the two seats so it wraps down the sides a bit and protects the vinyl seat sides. It is also made to retain dirt and water, has a backing that is made to dig into the carpet so it stays put. I combine it with my Subaru cargo mat and it pretty much does the job. I use it when hauling dirty icechests, tarps and tent bags to and from campgrounds as well as basic around town stuff. Works great for me.

    Another idea is to buy seat covers for the back seat. They make them for the split seats at a number of websites. They will cover the back of the seat as well as the front although they are not as rugged as the floor mat I use.

    Becky
  • kajecokajeco Member Posts: 14
    Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance offers a 10% overall discount for Subaru Owners/Drivers in the state of MA? You have to TELL them and it doesn't matter when.
    OK, so I lost 2 months, but what a great deal! Every cent counts. Woo-hooo!
    Anybody else learn of any other benes once they became SUBARU owners?
    -K
  • ducktapeguyducktapeguy Member Posts: 115
    I think the Forester you were looking at is on the japanese forester site, it's called the "backpack" edition.

    http://www.subaru.co.jp/forester/lineup/lineup_x_backpack.html

    I thought of doing something like that with some thin sheets of aluminum. I don't know about plastic, because when you slide something in there it would probably gouge the it and leave a lot of scratches, unless it was a really hard plastic. I was looking at one of those floor thingies that sit underneath desks so you can roll your chair around. For about $70 you can have a piece that might fit pretty closely and it has those spiky bottoms to keep it in place.

    For the spare tire cover you could probably screw it into the two aluminum rails, but you'd still have to back it up with a piece of plywood or something to make it stronger. The only problem is there isn't a lot of room underneath the floor for support. Mine is bowing too, but not so much that I really care. I thought of reinforcing it with some 1/4 inch aluminum, but it's not worth the hassle and the added weight. The seat backs should be easier, it's already pretty stiff to begin with so you won't have to do much.

    Anyway, I just ended up using the cargo cover like everyone else. Even then, I take it out sometimes and cover everything with just a blanket because having a non-carpeted surface makes everything slide around too much.

    Oh yeah, subaxtreme makes a little table that replaces the spare tire cover, like in the CRV. I bet that would be stronger than the stock cover, and you'd have a table too.
  • gened1gened1 Member Posts: 256
    To keep the spare tire cover from bowing how about placing a 4x4 piece of wood into the plastic bucket underneath the cover itself. it then would prop /support the cover and prevent it from deforming.It could be held in place with industrial strength velcro on the top and bottom.
    Gene
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    I have just come back from the launch of the Forester XT Down Under. Oficial launch is Saturday but existing owners were invited to a preview tonight.

    I think the only major difference to the US is the fitment of a full size spare. That means that the luggage cover will not fit across the below floor storage but ensures that you can actually get home when the tyre gets punctured. Mini-spares are not popular here as distances to a repairer can be huge.

    Of course, only dealer staff have test driven the XT so far, but they were in raptures One guy I sppoke with reckons its more fun than a WRX and actually feels like a real car, I'll be interested to try it out for myself.

    5 colours offered, all in monotone. None really grab me although I could go for the huge sunroof. Perhaps though, I will wait for the new Outback which debuts here in September.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    The North American Foresters do get a full-size spare. It's the only North American Subaru that does.

    I see the Oz-spec XT is available with a "Luxury Pack." I'm assuming that means leather seats and a moonroof? Is that available in both 5-speed and automatic? Also, does the 5-speed XT get the dual-range tranny?

    Bob
  • fryingbolognafryingbologna Member Posts: 85
    Thanks for the link, ducktapeguy (what on a duck needs to be taped, exactly?). I really liked the look of the Cross Sports model, which also looks to be turbo.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    K: insurance costs for my Forester are lower than for our Legacy or our Miata. Whoda thunk it?

    Cross Sports is also slightly lowered. I think that's what Ed and Ken were hoping for here. Me? I'm glad it kept the stock ride height.

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I'd prefer Cross Sports' lowered ride height if it came with decreased body roll/lean and flatter cornering. If that can be accomplished with the stock X/XS/XT ride height I'd be satisfied. I'm not a fan of lower body aero add-ons on any Forester and especially wouldn't want them on a lowered car.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Supposedly, the Lovell springs are taller but also stiffer. They would reduce roll, though it wouldn't necessarily handle better.

    -juice
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Other things being equal, stiffer stabilizer bars fore and aft will always reduce body roll during cornering FAR more than any amount of lowering.
  • dnosdnos Member Posts: 4
    Geez, why does some parts of the world get the good stuff. I love that Backpack edition, wish we have that option here. Well, either way I think I will cough up that 300 bucks and go ahead with my bedliner project. Now maybe in the future, I wonder how much it would be to replace all those carpet into vinyl?

    Leo dC
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    dnos Jul 29, 2003 11:33am

    Leo-
    I pack two liners in the WRX wagon. Slide the second one over whenever I fold the seats down to stow stuffs i.e. tires

    -Dave
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    Checked them out when my insurance was due last December. Even with the Subaru discount, they couldn't match my current insurer (Nationwide). I've been with them since 1986!

    Greg
  • pnassmacpnassmac Member Posts: 37
    Caught this on different website.

    http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6251&sid=17- 3&n=156

    Honda and Toyota - no suprise except that their repair rates actually improved.

    I continue to find it interesting that Buick does so well. And quite frankly, I'm really surprised Subaru scored below average. Are we just anal and more likely to bring in our cars
    for "insignificant repairs or are dealers "finding" repairs for us?
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Addressing Bob's questions; Yes the Aus spec XT gets a huge moonroof and leather in the Premium Pack. This comes in Auto and Manual.

    The XT comes without the Dual range transmission. Not sure that it would make a lot of differnece because the power band is so wide.

    The space saver spare is growing into quite an issue. The local motoring associations are swinging toward lobbyning for space savers to be illegal as they make the car unroadworthy if fitted.

    Oddly, if the spare is in the spare carrier, the car is legal, but when fitted to the car, it is not. The law is an [non-permissible content removed], isn't it?

    Rereading the above, I realize that for US citizens, that should read " The law is a mule!" which loses something in translation. Ah, the joys of the English language

    Cheers

    Graham
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If you are a Costco member, consider their Executive Member program, because you qualify for insurance discounts. We pay very little, $300 or so per car for every 6 months.

    PN: hmm, do you think a Buick owner pushes his car as hard as a Porsche owner does? Or even a WRX owner?

    I think a lot of that has to do with demographics. Buick owners' median age is approximately [Dead - 2], or somewhere in the 70s (really, it is).

    You can't compare that to a track driven WRX or 911, there's just no way. Of course they would require more M&R.

    Graham: that statement sounded better the first time! :o)

    -juice
  • maverick1017maverick1017 Member Posts: 212
    Nothing lost in the translation!! [non-permissible content removed] there is the same [non-permissible content removed] here. hahaha :)

    Mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    My understanding as to why out Outbacks get a temp tire, rather than a full-size one, is that the North American Outbacks have a slightly larger 225/60x16 tire, whereas the rest of the world gets a 215/60x16 tire, which, BTW, is the same size tire as our Foresters get. In any event the larger 225/60x16 tire reportedly won't fit in the spare tire well.

    I'll be very interested to see how the all-new Outback deals with this situation. The spy shots I've seen suggest a still larger 17" wheel. I hope they've designed a spare tire well that's large enough to accommodate a full-size spare with the new model.

    Bob
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    I tried to fit one of the full size tires into the spare tire well on my wife's '03 Outback, and it definitely will NOT fit. I'll try one of the 215-60-16s from my Forester one of these days, just to find out. If it fits, I might get one on a steel wheel to replace the donut spare.

    Len
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I knew this existed but had never seen a photograph until today. A Forester driven by Takayuki Koseki and co-driven by Arshad Khan finished 5th in Group N and 14th overall in the 1998 Safari Rally. Go to http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~smsgkit/motorsport.html and scroll halfway down the page for a photo of the car. go to http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~smsgkit/syainnsyoukai.htm for a photo of Mr. Koseki.

    A Group N Forester was also entered in Safari and Acropolis in 2002, driven by Kailesh Chauhan with co-driver Frank Gitau. I haven't been able to find a photo of it.

    Edit: You can see a small portion of the 2002 car here: http://www.kenolkobil.com/viewnews.php?news_id=61&itemtitle=K- ENOL+LUBES+SPONSOR+LOCAL+PAIR ; I wonder if it's the same car?

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nice find.

    I think they are different. The first one is an original Forester, MY1998-2000, at least in the US. The 2nd looks like a MY2003, the headlights and grille are different.

    -juice
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
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  • mojavemaxmojavemax Member Posts: 7
    Has anybody used the Costco Auto Program to buy a Subaru?
    Before I get myself stuck, I am wondering if the program gets one anywhere near Invoice + makes for a pleasant buying experience.

    Really gettin a baaad case of XTitis!

    -srp
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    I requested a quote through Costco. They referred me to a local Portland dealership. The person there who contacted me was next to useless. The price he quoted was about $400 higher than what I eventually paid elsewhere, and of 6 Subaru dealerships in my area, that particular dealership was the slowest at dribbling out information about the XT.

    My experience with the Costco program is that you can do a lot better by striking your own deal elsewhere
  • akasrpakasrp Member Posts: 170
    figured it'd be something like $500 over. Yes, you got a very good deal - especially on a 'special order' versus off-the-lot and a new (read in demand) model, to boot.
    I'm sure we'd all appreciate a primer on your buying strategy.

    -srp
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    I'd like to take credit, but none is due. There are 6 Subaru dealers in my metro (Portland) area. In May, before any XT pricing had been announced, I sent a letter to each dealer's sales manager asking for a firm price quotation (expressed as 'dealer invoice + xxx dollars) for the first XT 5-speed they received in silver or red. After making a few follow-up phone calls, I had quotes from 5 of 6, ranging from $400 above invoice up to straight MSRP.

    When I got no reply from the 6th dealer, I checked their website and found an e-mail address for their Internet Fleet Sales Manager. I sent him an e-mail version of my standard letter. He immediately replied offering $200 over invoice. I countered with $100 over, he accepted, and the deal was done. All that remained was to intercept his inbound 5-speed silver XT in time to have it configured at the port of entry exactly as I wanted (adding two Popular Equipment Groups and rubber mats, deleting the expensive, pointless rear spoiler, and adding the column-mount boost gauge), all at dealer cost.

    Total price out the door: $23,978. Easiest car buy I've ever experienced. The internet sales guy at the dealer couldn't have been more helpful, more laid-back, or less high-pressure.

    It took about 1.5 weeks longer for the car to arrive than I expected, but I gather that's because I wanted mine configured 'just so', which slowed it down.

    jb
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Programs like Costco are meant for the consumer that prefers a low pressure environment, since there is no haggling required. You don't necessarily get the rock bottom price, but the buying experience is painless, that's the appeal.

    -juice
  • sosborne301sosborne301 Member Posts: 21
    I was looking at Edmunds' Forrester listings for 2004. Am I correct in saying that next year you won't be able to get leather trim with a manual transmission? If that's the case I'm looking elsewhere.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    juice,

    I agree that that's the (Costco) theory... Reality (in my case) was altogether different. No one at the Costco-referred dealership appeared to know anything whatsoever about the XT other than that it was 'coming'. The price they quoted was at best middle-of-the-pack. The rep hardly ever called me at the points where new XT information got disseminated; I always had to call and drag it out of him. His sales manager was a complete jerk on the two occasions when he inserted himself into our conversations. The ONLY thing that dealership has going for it is that they're on my route from home to work, and for that reason alone, that's probably where I'll have my XT serviced (unless their service department turns out to be as inadequate as the sales department). In that case, I'll stick with the suburban dealership where I bought my XT through their internet sales manager in the smoothest, most hassle-free, most mutually-respectful car-buying experience I've ever had. He was a competition driver who knew more about cars than I do. I rarely learn anything about car I'm interested in from conversations with salespeople, but I learned from him. That their selling price ($100 over invoice) was also three hundred dollars lower than the next-lowest quote I received was the delicious icing on the cake. Completely painless, completely satisfactory, and the best price around. That's an impossible-to-beat combination.

    I doubt I will ever again bother seeking a Costco referral for buying a car. It was a total waste of my time and an exercise in frustration.

    Similarly, I requested a quote/referral from one of the Internet auto-shopping services. Although Portland has no fewer than 6 Subaru dealers, they referred me to one in The Dalles, Oregon, far from where I live. Buying from them would have required at least one several-hundred-mile round-trip. Their price quote was $600 over invoice, and so far as I know they haven't yet received a silver 5-speed.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    sosborne301: If you're in the USA, you cannot purchase a Forester XT with 5-speed manual and with factory leather or factory sunroof or both. Canadians, Australians, and XT buyers elsewhere have no similar constraints, and someday I'd love to have a face-to-face debate with a Subaru of America executive about that preposterous display of brain-dead marketing.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You just got a bad dealer, me thinks.

    Also, a program like Costco is probably better for a model that isn't so new. No-haggle prices for popular new cars will tend to be optimistic (for the dealer).

    -juice
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    I just checeked and the Australian Outback is fitted with 215/60 16 tyres including the spare (on a plain steel rim). With full tread depth, it is very tight to squeeze into the spare wheel well and there is a slippery plastic sleeve that slips over the edge of the tyre nearest the tailgate, so the wheel will slip down against the carrier. Otherwise, the sticky rubber would tend to stick against the carrier's edge.

    Given there is still clearance above the spare at this size, I think a 225/60/16 tyre would also fit into the carrier. It would certainly be worth trying a tyre carcass or even a wheel off your car to checak just what will fit.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    I tried to fit a full size, 225-60-16 tire, mounted on an alloy wheel, into the spare tire well on my wife's 2003 Outback. No way, not even close. Unless the OZ OB gets a larger well (doubtful), it ain't gonna fit. One of these days, I'll try one of the 215-60-16s from my Forester. If that fits, I'll get one for a spare for the OB.

    Len
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I was checking the Australian Subaru site and noticed the Legacy (Liberty) comes with a full-size spare, except for the B-4 model. I think the B-4 comes with 215/45x17" tires, and the diameter may(?) be too large for the spare tire well.

    Not sure about the Oz-spec Impreza, as i didn't see any spare tire info on the web site.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I've often wondered about the differences between Australia and New Zealand Subarus. To me I would think the respective audiences would have the type of wants and needs in their cars, but apparently not, as NZ gets the 2.0 Forester and Oz gets the 2.5 model. There may be other model differences too.

    Graham, care to comment?

    Bob
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Bob, I think the same can be said about the Canadian versus U.S. XT buyers (more alike than different). Yet Subaru of American denies us the sunroof and/or leather with XT 5MT, whereas Canadians get the good stuff. Really irritating.

    jb
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    I have a 205/55/16 RE92 as a full size spare in my 01 Legacy. Fits with room to spare :)

    bit
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I can understand differences due to legal issues, but other than that, the audiences are virtually the same, and I would think would get identical vehicle content.

    It's not just the Forester. I believe the Canadian WRX wagon can be had with the Premium Package that only US-spec WRX sedan are offered. Only now is the AWP available on the WRX (sedan w/PP), whereas the Canadian WRXs had this standard from day one. Are WRX owners in Wisconsin or Vermont any less likely not to want heated seats than their Canadian counterparts? I just don't get it...

    Bob
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    The comparison to Canada and USA is probably close. The countries are socially very close and there is a Free Trade agreement between them (although tariff and quota levels are very low in both, compared to the USA). Australians find it very easy to live and work in NZ and New Zealanders like Australia so much that Sydney actually has more Kiwis (the joke reference to NZ citizens) than NZ's second largest city. At the time of Australia planning to becoming a nation in 1901, it was thought more likely that NZ would join the Commonwealth than Western Australia. It is a very friendly country and particulary easy for me. My accent is soft by australian standards and sounds like a nnative of the Canterbury Plains, a rich farming area near Christchurch in the South Island. I can drink in NZ pubs without being challenged over the ruugby results. Rugby is rather more important than religion to NZ citizens and the whole ofice wil stop for analysis of the previous night's game. Not following rugby is practically a criminal offence.

    The prime difference between Australia and NZ is regulatory. Australia has very tough motor vehicle design regulations on all cars, whether locally manufactured or imported, whereas NZ allows grey imports from Japan. That makes the NZ market ripe for imports that are beyond registration age in Japan (I think that is 3 or five years) and also allows for imports of new exotica like Nissan Skyline GT-R and STi WRX. Getting parts for these can be tricky but it certainly makes for some interesting vehicles on the road. The contrast with fifteen years ago could not be more strong. The relaxation in trade barriers came after major economic reform in 1986. Until then, very high tariff and quota barriers meant that most cars were ancient and British. I think it was the last repository of the orld's Morris Minors.

    The main differences in Subaru products is that NZ is a very small market with only 3.9m people (although they do have 80m sheep) in two fairly large islands which are biggere than the United Kingdom which squeezes in 56m.

    The market size means a limited range of products but the locals love hot cars. Legacy GT's have been routinely available in NZ in a period where they do not make it to Australia. Forester GTs are also popular. Every Subaru that I have seen as I travel in New Zealand has looked well travelled - Not worn but certainly enjoyed. The climate, particularly in the South Island, calls out for a snow capable car. The West Coast of the South Island basically rises up hard from the ocean into steep ice capped mountains. There are a couple of places where the glaciers come down to the sea and it is quite possible to go ice climbing and then swimming in the Ocean in the same morning.

    The driving is something else. NZ drivers are pretty appalling and Australians driving on country NZ roads do so at considerable risk. A lot of the roads are also very rugged because of the mountainous country. One of the scarier trips of my life was finding the whole NZ rally recce coming toward me. Foresters and WRXs are nice, but I don't want to see them on my side of the road, sideways.

    NZs size also makes it a good test market for any potential new product. Volumes are not high and shipment from Japan fairly quick. Thus they already have the new Legacy GT http://www.subaru.co.nz/news/index.html?id=519

    It quite makes me jealous.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I knew we could count on you to fill in the blanks for those of us in the northern hemisphere.

    Bob
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    Just posted this to the Ouback board as well...

    Does anyone know if the 2.5l engines in the 03 Outbacks are supposed to be "exactly" the same as in the 03 Foresters? I just did both oil filters today, the one in my 03 Forester and my wife's 03 Outback and noticed the area around where the filter screws on is slightly different. I thought it was the same in engine in both. Not that it matters, just curious.
    Thanks
    Larry
  • russskirussski Member Posts: 47
    Hi
    Does anyone know if twiter kit (which is available in US - for US market) will fit Australian model Forester 2.5x. For some reason it is not available here in Oz. I do know that wire harness is there (behind the side mirrors, under wedges) but is it connected on the other side at the stereo ?
    Thanks in advance......Vitaly
  • russskirussski Member Posts: 47
    For sharing your knowledge.
    I've learned something too.

    Vitaly
  • wallabywallaby Member Posts: 2
    No need to buy a special kit..Just get a reasonable pair of tweeters making sure the diameter is suitable so it can go on top of the existing plastic bezel and you can close the door! I stuck an old set of Sony's on my Aussie XS using a little bit of Black Velcro tape and run the cable under and tacked them to the plugs provided with a dab of solder. Took all of 20mins and looks fine as it's all black..
    And yes the cables are pre-wired to the deck. Makes a noticeable improvement.
     Makes it easy to remove when I can justify moving to the XT..once they sort out all the gearing!
  • russskirussski Member Posts: 47
    Thanks for reply and advice. It is certainly worth to consider
    Vitaly
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