Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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  • elkoneelkone Member Posts: 1
    Folks,

    1998 Forestrer S with 21,000 miles. Dealer wants $17,300 for it. Is this a good price? Is there something special I should be worried about in this model year?

    Need help fast!

    Thanks,
    mike
  • dannykadannyka Member Posts: 115
    You may remember me complaining about the clutch chatter in my new Forester. At my new owner orientation the other night (see posts in "Meet the Members" starting with #2239), the service manager said to see him or our salesperson if there's anything at all that we weren't totally happy with. So after the meeting, I found my salesperson (couldn't find the service mgr...) and took her for a ride in a new 5-spd Forester and then in mine and showed her the difference. Right away she didn't think mine was normal. She talked to the service manager and they decided I need a new clutch after all. I'm going in on Saturday to get it replaced. I hope this will take care of it!

    You might also remember that the mechanic that rode with me said that it was normal for Subaru 5-spds. I guess you just have to talk with enough (or with the right :-) people.

    -Dan
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    Glad to hear that you are getting satisfaction. Often the sales person has a more vested interest in customer satisfaction than does the mechanic.

    Ross
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    calboy: the new CR-V ought to be out this fall, probably around September. I'd expect a 2.2l engine with a bit more power and torque. It'll probably lose its double-wishbone front suspension, since its platform-mates did. I'd bet the AWD system will still be part-time only, like the current one.

    I expect the new Forester one year from now, i.e. March 2002. The 2001 came early, as did the 2002, so I see a pattern here.

    The next Forester will be a bit bigger with either a longer wheelbase or a new multilink rear suspension to replace the struts. A turbo option should appear. It'll remain full-time AWD.

    They'll continue to compete head-to-head. I drove both and found the Forester more rewarding to drive, so I didn't feel like I was giving that up just to have practicality.

    As for the Honda, the CR-V is very reliable and offers good interior room for its size. You ought to ask the same question in the CR-V forum (if you haven't already).

    mike: they have good resale, so the price sounds fair. You can get a new L model for about $19k, but it has fewer goodies.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Dan,

    Glad to hear that they're doing the repair. My understanding was that the 2001's had the chatter worked out. I guess it's still around...

    Ken
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Karin- I think Ron meant to write: "But isn't it a great car?!".

    -Frank P.
  • canadianclcanadiancl Member Posts: 1,078
    lol, I was wondering how I was going to sneak this link in here.

    Steve
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  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    lol, I was wondering how to sneak this link in here.

    Steve
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  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    I am a former Subaru salesman. I had a lot of customers come in for one car and drive off in the other. Preferences, like mileage, may vary.
  • tatu1tatu1 Member Posts: 50
    Hi, I also have a Forester/Outback question. I read most of the 750 posts on the Outback/Forester link but didn't see much discussion of reliability. The new consumer reports indicates that the Forester has fewer problems than the Outback, but I realize they're in different classes, so that may be misleading. Any opinions ? The fact that the Forester is built in Japan suggests to me that it should be more reliable. Thanks ! Anthony.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    My new Forester came with the "air filter with cover" option......... Exactly what is the "air filter'? Where is this "air filter"?(I can't seem to find it!) How often should I change the filter? Any help appreciated..... Thanks! Kris in NJ Oh, also, my rear windows only seem to open 1/2-way.....i.e. they roll down 1/2-way, then stop! Is this correct or do I have a problem??? :-(
  • kpedersen1kpedersen1 Member Posts: 20
    My new Forester came with the "air filter with cover" option.........Exactly what is the "air filter'?Where is this "air filter"?(I can't seem to find it!)How often should I change the filter?Any help appreciated.....Thanks!Kris in NJOh, Chris, my rear windows only seem to open 1/2-way.....i.e. they roll down 1/2-way, then stop! Is this correct or do I have a problem??? :-(
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    The "air filter" removes dust, etc. from the ventilation system. I have it on mine and I think it's a great addition. It's located under the glove box. The rear windows are normal!

    Ross
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    image
  • dannykadannyka Member Posts: 115
    it's simply due to the size and shape of the door itself. With a much longer wheelbase the lower reaches of the door could be square thus accommodating a full downward travel. Most short wheelbase cars in my experience have only partially opening rear windows, especially if you have a single glass rather than a two piece one. The safety feature explanation is BS.

    Ross
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    it's simply due to the size and shape of the door itself. With a much longer wheelbase the lower reaches of the door could be square thus accommodating a full downward travel. Most short wheelbase cars in my experience have only partially opening rear windows.

    Ross
  • carinfcarinf Member Posts: 3
    Has anyone had early tire wear with their forester (25000)miles. I had them rotated 3 times I keep 29lbs in front 26 in rear. The wear seems to be on the outside edge.
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    You sure those are the correct pressures? Sounds low.
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    I believe those are the "correct" pressures, but I run 31/30. I find the handling improved and I think the tire wear will be significantly improved, especially if cornering in a spirited manner. :-)

    Ross
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    29/26 are indeed, the "recommended" pressures by Subaru. They are probably geared toward a softer ride vs. better handling.

    My Geolandars wear fairly evenly. The outside edge did wear a bit quicker, however. When I had my last alignment done at a good shop, the mechanic noted the pattern adjusted the settings for a little more even wear.

    I also cross shopped the OB and Forester back in 98. My experiences were similar -- I just found the Forester more fun to drive. Plus, it was a new vehicle. The OB was looking a bit dated at the time. I might have chosen differently had it been after the model change in MY00.

    Ken
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    I actually originally was looking at the OBS rather than the Forester. I have a major bias in favour of small cars. I hated the false hood scoop on the OBS and the doors sounded tinny and and and ... sorry, I fell in love with the Forester. I sat in the OB but didn't bother to drive it - it just felt too large.

    Ross
  • mac08854mac08854 Member Posts: 6
    Hi Susubaru:
    I had the same problem with rough idle at about 2000 miles on my '01 5spd Forester S. The car would become undriveable because the engine would stall and buck while applying gas. I needed to have my Forester towed *twice*. I was told I filled my car with "bad gas" which was a bunch of BS. They replaced sparkplugs and injectors, which did not solve the problem. They tried emptying the gas tank and replacing the ECU (engine computer?), and that also did not solve the problem. They just yesterday replaced the O-2 sensor. I'm driving the car now, after much aggravation, but I will not know for sure if that solved the problem for another week. The problem, after every fix, reappeared within 4 to 7 days. If the problem gets worse, DO USE the Subaru Roadside Assistance. Good luck, I hope your new car experience fares much better than mine did.
  • teds9666teds9666 Member Posts: 1
    I also am interested at the remarks concerning the excessive Tire wear on the Forester. I am experiencing the same difficulty, and the vehicle only has 23K miles. I am fanatical about the tire pressure, so there must be some other reason why there is this wear. Bummer, frankly. The Forester is a superior vehicle otherwise.
  • canadianclcanadiancl Member Posts: 1,078
    Actually my take on cargo room is just the opposite Yes, it is true that a higher ceiling has the advantage when it comes to hauling bulky items such as a TV, but you don't do that everyday. For "regular" cargos, such as grocery items, luggage, sports equipment, I find the longer cargo area of the OB is more useful. For example, if you are on vacation, you wouldn't load the cargo area with luggage right up to the ceiling because then you wouldn't be able to see out the back.
  • skipdskipd Member Posts: 97
    Ahhhh...Spring is here and I can finally drive my Forester with the windows down.

    At faster speeds, I have been noticing a kind of strange "wind buffeting" kind of noise when the driver's side windows are down. It seems to go away if I roll the windows down on the passenger side. Does anyone else experience this?

    Skip
  • mac08854mac08854 Member Posts: 6
    Skip: I find the cabin to have alot less wind-noise and have far fewer things blown around if I drive with all four windows down rather than just the front 2 or driver's. That front passenger's seatbelt clip, when not in use, can make quite a racket blowing around and hitting the pillar, though.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    On tire pressure for Foresters... First, I was running recommended pressure but then switched to what Ken and others suggested: 32 psi on all 4 tires. Much better handling, but no noticeable mpg improvement unfortunately.

    I has my first 7.5K service on my Forester done on Sat at Santa Cruz dealership. They told me, they recommend low 40s for Foresters! In fact, they bumped my tires up to 42 psi on all 4. Handling is terrific now but I'm not sure I like ride that bumpy. I'll see if mpg improves any.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    My original tires did not last that long - but I was glad. I'd actually been dying to replace them with something better. I don't remember exactly, but I think they lasted just under 30k miles or so.

    Forester uses light truck tires on both the L and S models. I had the L, and therefore the Bridgestone Desert Duelers, rated 180-B-B. They were good in snow, OK in dry, and awful in the wet. The 180 treadwear rating is very low, and the B ratings for temperature and wet braking traction are nothing to write home about either.

    I replaced them with Nitto NT460s, along with 16" rims. These are rated a whopping 460-A-A, and I can attest that they grip far better in dry and wet conditions. Only in the snow are they not as good. They ought to last much longer, too.

    Consider swapping to a passenger car tire, at least if you don't do a lot of gravel or dirt road driving. For the L's 15" rims, consider BF Goodrich T/A HR4s. Honda had the Desert Duelers on the original CR-V, and when they swapped to the BFG tires it gained 0.03g's in the skidpad tests, with no other suspension mods at all.

    For the S model, the Yokos are probably better to begin with, but I still think you can get better on-pavement traction by going to passenger car tires.

    A bonus for me is that they don't have the outside white lettering, which I dislike.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Skip -- The wind buffeting is common in many makes of cars. The more windows you have open, the easier it is for air to flow through the cabin. I usually keep the rear windows open anytime I drive with the fronts down.

    Kate -- So what did you think of Santa Cruz Subaru? I'm suprised they recommend such a high pressure given that the Geolandars max pressure is something like 44psi.

    Ken
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Subaru Santa Cruz

    Well, my 7.5K service was way too simple, and I had no problems with my Forester so far (knock-knock-knock), so I cannot really estimate their level of service yet. They were polite, prompt, and they're open on Sat and Sun for Subaru service. I really liked that I can walk to the beach from the dealership, and we had a lot of fun on the Boardwalk while my car was in service. I plan to do my next service there too. There are not many Subaru shops open on Sat, after all.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Yeah, being open on weekends is a bonus. I was talking to their manager, John, who told me that they originally experimented by staying open on the weekends just to see how much extra business they would get. To their amazement, they were getting tons of people from over the "hill".

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Walk to the beach? Man, even I'd consider having my car service there, and I'm on the other coast!

    ;-)

    -juice
  • skipdskipd Member Posts: 97
    Wind buffeting.....I wonder if that is the right word. It's kind of a strange "wub-wub-wub-wub" noise. Kind of irritating to the ear drums.

    Anyway....took the Forester on a fishing trip this past weekend. Caught a few small trout. My girlfriend caught a real nice 16" brown trout and was the envy of many a fisherman. It was her first trout and she was very excited.

    Took the Forester on some unpaved, bumpy, muddy surfaces for a short distance...it was pretty fun getting the Forester so dirty :)

    Skip
  • kwelsskwelss Member Posts: 21
    Kate,

    I bumped my Forester tire pressure up to 40 psi all around, and my gas mileage is currently hovering around 25mpg. I'm quite pleased. You do feel the road a bit more (especially the grooves on Hwy 580), but I don't mind.

    Drove up to visit friends in Santa Rosa, in the wine country, this afternoon-- it's a gorgeous spring day here in Northern California. Had my three parrots in the Forester, and the moon roof open, and everyone singing happily away.

    Karin in California
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Skip, yup, that's wind buffering. Think of it like blowing across the top of an open bottle. Same idea...you'll also get it if you open a moonroof w/o opening any other windows. That's what those moonroof deflectors are for. The Legacy wagon's front section tilts open partly to act as a deflector precisely to prevent, or at least limit buffering.

    You might try asking the other Forester owners in the Subaru Crew owners' club topic about this. Perhaps they could offer more suggestions, in addition to what Ken has already mentioned above.

    Good luck!

    Drew
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  • canadianclcanadiancl Member Posts: 1,078
    Drew, what happened to the subject box for posting messages?
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    I see that I'm not the only one up late/early. It's a bug, Raymond, and we have been try to squish it. Hopefully the box will return by tomorrow.

    Thanks for your patience,

    Drew
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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Skip: sure is buffeting. Try opening the rear windows if you have an open moonroof.

    I added a "Windflector" to mine, though it installs with two-sided tape. You may want to check if the OE one is available now, since it bolts on more securely.

    -juice
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    Hello to all on this message board. I've been reading this for a while now, and it's been extremely helpful and informative. You folks really know your Subarus! I'm trying to catch up on all the old stuff. (I'm in the high 600's now)

    After a lot of research, I've decided to buy a new Forester S. I'm still back and forth on transmission, though. I've always had great service with my stick shifts; my '92 Nissan Sentra (which currently has 202,000 and is still going strong) just got its first clutch replacement 2 months ago, at 197K. However, I know I'd also enjoy the "luxury" of an auto. I have a 100 mile daily roundtrip commute, which is mostly highway driving. I plan on doing some test drives this weekend. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

    I'm also still undecided on color. I actually prefer the gray bumpers and cladding on the L model, but want the other features on the S. I'm thinking gold with Titanium looks pretty nice.

    I'd also like to hear from anyone in New Jersey about a good dealer in the Middlesex, Monmouth or Bergen County areas (where I live and where I work). I'm more concerned about service than pricing, because I want a dealer that really knows Subarus, and not one that also just sells them along with other makes. I found one in Rockland County, NY, that is close to work, that sells Subaru exclusively, and always has a good selection on the lot, though I'd have to pay the higher NY sales tax.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to joining the ranks of Forester owners shortly.

    Thanks in advance,
    Len
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Len: if it's a highway commute, the 5 speed will be less of a hassle, as long as there is not traffic.

    The 2002s have arrived at some dealers, I've heard. Check them out - the lower body cladding is now a different color, more gray than before.

    Price did not go up, but freight did a little. They made the cargo cover standard, DRLs, and the rear wiper has 2 speeds now.

    Unless you get a much better deal on a 2001, I'd get a 2002.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Len- Keep reading those posts as I recall a number of them addressing your questions. But here's the Cliff Notes version:

    4AT vs 5MT- Get the auto if you like the convenience of one and/or you do a lot of stop and go driving. Many people who know how to drive a stick prefer them as it makes them feel more connected to the driving experience. In most cases, a 5-speed will slightly increase both fuel efficiency and acceleration.

    L vs S: The L probably offers more value for the buck and is more utilitarian. However, the S's are much more popular. My guess is that the majority of owners want the extra goodies that come with the S so they rationalize paying the extra $2500 that the S costs by convincing themselves that they really need rear LSD and 4-wheel disc brakes for the safety factor (I know I did) :-) Oh, and if you convince yourself that the S is worth it, then you might as well spend another $900 for the Premium package and get that huge moon roof + side impact airbags (for added safety of course!).

    -Frank P.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Len,

    Have you looked at the Premium S with the monochrome paint? If you don't care for the two-tone look, the Premium S might be your cup of tea.

    The auto on the Forester is well matched to it's engine. I've driven a couple and it feels quite peppy. My preference is for a 5-speed, however. The boxer engine in the Forester likes mid-range revs and a 5-speed will let you tap into the power band better. The current Forester benefits from several years of tweaking the 5-speed tranny so it should be nice and smooth.

    Ken
  • kpedersen1kpedersen1 Member Posts: 20
    Hi Len, Though I can't comment about Manual trannies s. Automatic.....I can recommend a dealer for you in NJ.... Try Liberty Subaru in Oradell (BergenCounty)... www.LibertySubaru.com They are #1 volume dealer in NJ and #5 in USA....and for GOOD REASON!!!! I just picked up my brand new Blue Ridge Pearl Forester I last Monday..... and couldn't be happier with my buying experience!!! I checked out the Invoice price on Edmund's....added in the invoice price for all the options I wanted... then sent the Sales kept. (@ LibertySubaru) a no nonsense e-mail.....i.e.what I wanted, that I was ready with a credit card deposit when we reached a deal',etc.... then I LOW-BALLED (below invoice!!!!) them a price (figuring we would deal UP from there!!!!!!) and they e-mailed me right back... they had what I wanted, and they accepted my first (low-ball) offer!!! I couldn't believe it, actually, so I e-mailed them back...."is this FOR REAL? What's the RUB?" No rub.... we HAVE it, it's yours if you want it...this is how we do business'!!! La De Da!!! That was it! The first time I met the saleman was when I went to pick up my new Forester! The whole process when I got there took 15 minutes, and I drove off in my new Subaru!! Liberty Subaru has been in Oradell for many, many years! I live over 1 1/2 hours away from Oradell (in Warren County) and it was SO financially worth the trip for me to go there....the dealers around here never even responded to my e-mails!!!! My salesman's name was Danny Cohen.....super nice guy! I told him I was going to pass the word on my great deal and e-mail buying experience.....he said "okay, thank you!" Can't comment on the service dept. but you can buy your Soobie one place, and get it SERVICED anywhere you want! Let us know how you make out!!!
    A smiling, HAPPY new Forester owner! Kris in NJ
  • skipdskipd Member Posts: 97
    Len: Sounds like you got all the info you need from Kris's e-mail. Great deal Kris! Isn't the internet and e-mail a great tool? I basically did the same thing you did, but e-mailed about 5 dealers in my area (PA). My buying experience was also hassle free, but it sounds like you got a better deal. I paid invoice for my 2001 when they first came out.

    By the way Len, I also prefer the grey cladding of the L which is why I bought one, however, I would like to have the aluminum wheels of the S and the moonroof that comes with the premium package. In my opinion, the S is a little too pretty to get dirty and I tend to be a little hard on my vehicles :)

    Thanks to everyone who commented on the wind buffeting, fluttering, or whatever you want to call it. It still happens if I roll down the rear window. The only thing that seems to help is rolling down the windows on both sides. My old wagon was fine with the windows down on one side.

    Skip
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Your Forester is probably better sealed than your old wagon! That's the reason...not as many places for the air to escape.


    Drew
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  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    87 octane is recommended for the Forester.
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    Same as above. 87 octane for the '01 RAV4.
    ejp
  • new2subarunew2subaru Member Posts: 4
    I am going to take delivery of a 2002 Forester S with the premium package and the 5mt trans in about 4 weeks. This is my first Subaru, after 25 years of driving Toyotas,1976 celica (lots of fun) and 1990 corolla (boring but dependable).
    My question is will I now be a Subaru covert? You all seem so happy with yours.
    Also are there any possible problems areas I should look at before take delivery? i.e. I have read about poor front end alignments on new foresters.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Skip: do what I did. Get an L, and then look to the aftermarket for the alloys ($643 with tires) and moonroof ($370 installed).

    Linda: the Forester's cost of ownership is very good, but I imagine the RAV4's is as well. Resale is good, and gas mileage about best in class. Drive both and pick the one you find more fun - the Forester! ;-)

    Scott: congrats. Love that moonroof!

    Take a thorough test drive before you take delivery. Make sure it tracks straight and the engine does not hesitate. Do a walk around, twice maybe, looking for any little dings or panel gaps.

    IMO any faults will be glaringly obvious on a Soob.

    -juice
  • purduealum91purduealum91 Member Posts: 285
    Email me the details at purduealum91@hotmail.com
    Thanx
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