Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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Comments

  • dnestrdnestr Member Posts: 188
    I knew an old man. He was polishing his car each time I saw him. As it has turned out, he was a pilot when he was young, and his antediluvian plane couldn't fly up if bad weather. Seems he put into practice the same approach to his car.
    As I live in area where bad weather is a common thing, I prefer to have AWD and feel always free to drive my vehicle no matter if rain or shine, wet or fine. Perhaps, you don't need this so much if dry roads are all that your car has seen. But I believe, AWD has an advantage over FWD in the summer too.
  • deraaderaa Member Posts: 10
    Wife and I have a '04 FXT (we're luvin' it). Recently noticed that it is an excellent bug killer; but its a pain to keep the windshield clean. I was thinking of putting on a wind deflector on the hood in the hope that it would deflect some bugs up over the car.

    Anyone have any experience in installing and living with one of these deflectors? Should there be any concern with the deflector interupting flow into the hood scoop?

    Thanks!
  • sfarinaccisfarinacci Member Posts: 10
    My 2002 Forestor has been in the shop for almost 2 weeks. I had reported some clicking noise months ago and they told me it was the ECM. Had it flashed and it started doing it again. Brought it back in and they told me they thought it was a piston. Ordered new piston and called me last week and said they couldn't get it to slide on properly without forcing it so they were ordering me a new motor. It only has 18,000 miles
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    specific hood deflector for the turbo Forester. It is slimmer than the normal one and doesn't interfere with the air flow to the scoop. That reminds me, I need to order one so I have it when my XT arrives.

    SubaruParts or some of the other online places should have 'em.

    -Brian
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Taft: congrats on the new Passat. Didn't want to try the new Legacy? It's so close to arriving...

    Any how, you went from a Town House to a Loft! Not sure what you expected, but these taller vehicles with all terrain capability are going to have to give up some of that cushioned softness in the ride.

    Susan: if you hit refresh you get duplicate messages. Try clicking on "Recent Messages" instead.

    Besides that, I'm not sure what kind of response you expect. Call 800-SUBARU3 and ask for a loaner vehicle, to make sure you're taken care of.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    FYI: Not sure why but you've posted the exact same post 3 times now. Are you doing it or is Edmunds' server messing up?

    -Frank P
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Yeah, I'm curious if the new turbo-specific one works well since the top portion is different from the other models.

    I didn't get one on my XT and it kills way more bugs than my WRX wagon used to on my trips from NJ to SC.

    -Dennis
  • deepdropdeepdrop Member Posts: 89
    I've lived in Florida for 15 years and I'm moving to New Hampshire this summer. My "03 Forester has the Geolandar G900 tires that came with it. Will I need different tires for the snow? Does that mean I need two sets of tires or is there an all year tire I can use. If I do need different tires, can anyone make any recommendations? Thanks for the help.
    Dan
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    get that clutch swapped out ASAP. Subaru and Patti are just not interested in dissatisfied owners, and you have suffered enough.

    John
  • sfarinaccisfarinacci Member Posts: 10
    My 2002 Forestor has been in the shop for almost 2 weeks. I had reported some clicking noise months ago and they told me it was the ECM. Had it flashed and it started doing it again. Brought it back in and they told me they thought it was a piston. Ordered new piston and called me last week and said they couldn't get it to slide on properly without forcing it so they were ordering me a new motor. It only has 18,000 miles
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    frankly, I make a claim that I need it not because of snow or weather conditions. I use my Forester to measure agricultural fields in order to design a drip irrigation system. I have a distance measuring device hooked to the rear drive shaft, and it tells me precisely (1 foot per 1,000' accuracy)how far I have traveled over soft dirt. I had an F-150, and with the tire slippage I could easily be inaccurate by 20 feet per thousand using the same device.

    John
  • taft4taft4 Member Posts: 57
    Before buying the Passat we experimented extensively with the power passenger seat to see just how high it would rise, and all the other positions we could place it in, and it does the trick for my wife. I am somewhat concerned by the need for premium fuel, although we will probably average only about 7,000 miles per year, and by its higher insurance cost compared to the Subie. I am not delighted with Volkswagens reliability record, but the Passet V6 seems to be one of their better machines. Unfortunately I have been unable to find the perfect car for us, so any choice includes some compromises.

    Before I purchased the Subie I found that it rode stiffer then my old Towncar, and of course was not surprised by that fact. What I did not realize from just a 50 mile test drive was that the harshness would wear on us, and was something we were unable to get use to. Incidentally, we used to refer to our Towncar as our boombuzzer.

    As for 4 wheel drive, obviously those living in snowy climates or mountainious locations find that system important, but for those (the great majority of drivers) that only do city/suburban driving on fairly level terrain, or in usually dry conditions, don't need it. Doesn't 4 wheel drive cost more to purchase, use more fuel than 2 wheel drive, tend to increase noise levels, cost more to maintain, and perhaps increase tire wear? As for more luxury cars now offering 4 wheel, I suspect that they do it because it is an image in-thing that enhances sales.

    One other plus for Subaru is the Subaru bucks credit card offering. Unfortunately we never got to use it, though we had accumulated $500 worth, before trading the car away.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    If your Geolanders are in good shape, they should be OK in the snow. I've driven my wife's 03 Forester in the snow and the tires did fine. However, we only encounter snow 6-7 times a year, depending on how severe the winter is in our area, and where we travel for the holidays and skiing (typically West Virginia and New England).

    If you do a lot of winter driving, to the point where you encounter bad roads the majority of the time, I'd get a set of dedicated winter tires. They will make any Subaru even better. They help in forward motion and braking, which is important.

    I guess if I were you, I would head up there with the Geolanders (again, assuming they are in good shape) and then play it by ear.

    Craig
  • joybelljoybell Member Posts: 275
    I drove around all winter with my stock Geolander tires because they were brand new with no tread wear at all. They were OK but did slip a little at times. A typical "3 season tire". However, after driving with them on all spring and summer I intend to replace them with mud/snow tires which I will keep on all year long, road noise or not.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I think modern AWD has very few compromises, but you still have some penalties.

    I hope the new Passat works out for you, they are pretty nice cars.

    You could probably sell your Subaru Bucks on e-Bay (or Subaru enthusiast web sites) for 70-80 cents on the dollar. Then you could use the profits for gas money!

    Craig
  • deraaderaa Member Posts: 10
    Wife and I have a '04 FXT (we're luvin' it). Recently noticed that it is an excellent bug killer; but its a pain to keep the windshield clean. I was thinking of putting on a wind deflector on the hood in the hope that it would deflect some bugs up over the car.

    Anyone have any experience in installing and living with one of these deflectors? Should there be any concern with the deflector interupting flow into the hood scoop?

    Thanks!
  • ffsteve100ffsteve100 Member Posts: 5
    If you're all looking for a cutoff in annual precipitation where AWD is warranted, then you'll laugh at me. 40 or 50 inches? I bought my Outback here in San Diego, with an annual rainfall of about 10 inches. I owned the car for almost 6 months before I ever drove it in the rain - it never rained!

    But I chose mine DESPITE the AWD. Sure, it's handy when roaming the desert, but I bought the car for its size, handling, MPG, reliability, quality, safety and features which were unmatched in total by anything else on the market.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    taft: buy accessories and give them as gifts to friends that own them.

    My b-day is in October. LOL

    -juice
  • joseph50joseph50 Member Posts: 235
    Living in the Philly area, I put on my set of Michelin Artic Alpins during winter, as I frequent the mountainous Northeast portion of the state.
    The AA's have a surprisingly non-aggressive tread pattern. (I could certainly entertain the possibility of keeping them on all year round, but I want to save them for the full decade I plan to own my 2001S.)
    They are super in the the mush and slush of Philly winters.
    In Philly we average two or maybe three "severe snow storm" watches per winter. I love being able to think on such occasions, "Bring it on!" whether or not the storms actually transpire.
  • deepdropdeepdrop Member Posts: 89
    I think the New Hampshire winters are pretty severe. My Geolandars are in great shape. I'll see how they do and if they don't cut it I'll call tire rack to see what they recommend and order from them.
    It would be nice if I don't have to change tires each year!
  • pnassmacpnassmac Member Posts: 37
    Agreed.

    Now, what tactic and information should I provide to my local dealer to expedite the replacement of the clutch without bringing it back multiple times for the same problem? How did you do it? Your proven technique would be helpful.

    Thanks in advance.
  • taft4taft4 Member Posts: 57
    Juice:

    As you probably know, Bucks are issued in the name of the person on the credit card, so it is probably not possible for others, especially others out of state, to use them. As for giving gifts to other friends who have Subarus, most all of our friends drive LeSabres, a very popular car in the midwest, especially for seniors. I noticed recently that the average age of a LeSabre buyer is 69, the oldest average for any car.

    Incidentally, my birthday is in October too.
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    fortunately, my '03 Forester with the first generation clutch has not had a shudder problem. You might start with a phone call to the dealer and lay out the facts. That may be all it takes.

    John
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Will an on-line dealer let you spend Subaru bucks and ship the parts to another address? I'm thinking a place like Liberty Subaru.

    Any how, I was just joking.

    E-mail then at parts@libertysubaru.com and see what generic items they can sell to you, maybe things like synthetic oil, jackets, etc.

    I joke that a Buick is the last car you own before you die. So if you want to live forever, don't get a LeSabre. ;-)

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I traded a '93 LeSabre in on my Forester.

    I was 36 at the time, and probably the youngest LeSabre owner in the US (at least that's what I told Tom & Ray Magliozzi).

    Ed
  • secretariat73secretariat73 Member Posts: 47
    I moved from Kentucky to New Hampshire 1 1/2 years ago, and had to replace the Subie tires last winter. I have a 2002 L so the OEM tires were the Duelers. I replaced them with Bridgestone Turanza LS-T tires. I've had them for about 25k miles without complaint. Went from tires with a "180" treadwear rating to "700" - about as much as you can change (plus they're both Bridgestones, so the difference is meaningful).

    They work well enough that I didn't opt for snow tires. The toughest "conditions" I face are getting out of the driveway after they've plowed the road. If I can't do that with these tires, then I don't want to be out on the road anyway.

    These tires were hard to find around here; if you are not ordering them from Tire Rack, I got mine from Town Fair Tires, but had to get them special ordered.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The exception proves the rule!

    Are you even allowed to own a Buick that young? ;-)

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Good idea juice! Only thing is that you may not be able to use the Subaru bucks for non-Subaru parts.

    Check with allsubaru.com as they have a lot more non-subaru items.

    -Dennis
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Allowed had nothing to do with it. If it helps, I bought it used from someone who had yet to turn 60.

    Ed
  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 5,082
    My son, who's 22, just bought a used LeSabre. He's 6'3" and isn't comfortable in many regular size sedans, and he's in the Navy and likes "living in his car" sometimes on leave. And many high school students drive ancient LeSabres because it's all they can afford! You can buy pretty recent vintage models for way less than a comparable Toyota or Honda. Not my choice, but hey, it's his money.
    '24 Kia Sportage PHEV
    '24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I will give it this much: It had better highway fuel economy (30 mpg) than my Forester, but was worse in the city (19 mpg), and it rode like a living room sofa. Unfortunately it also handled like a living room sofa. It went through two alternators and two water pumps in 3 years' time, and was plagued by bad electricals (HVAC controls would drop out without warning, requiring me to pull over, stop and restart the car; fickle power windows and door locks).

    It got me through a rough time and, though I should have gotten more for it in trade, it needed more money to put it right.

    Ed
  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 5,082
    Well the 1988 one he had in high school certainly did. But unlike yours, it was pretty reliable; I was actually rather surprised. In fact he only sold it because he was deployed in the Persian Gulf for 6 months. It's still running fine and I see it from time to time around town. The one he just got -- a 1998 -- handles much better but still on the cushy side. Does get very good gas mileage. That's the one area I wish the Forester would improve. I don't get the mileage some of you do -- generally I average around 20 mpg.
    '24 Kia Sportage PHEV
    '24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    i take my in-law, 70+, to senior lunches in town. lot is full of buicks and oldsmobiles. driving, err navigating, my in-laws buick century scares the living daylights outta me. no road feel, numb brakes and that car bounces ( yes shocks are new ).
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I purchased a new patio table and chair set at Sears today. The set came in two boxes: the table with the legs removed was in a box exactly the width of the Forester. The chairs came stacked (four) in a box big enough to swallow even the largest TVs. The Sears person who brought it out ran back and brought some twine thinking that I'd need to tie down the cargo hatch.

    I dropped the rear seat backs and slid the table all the way in and then angled it up so that it was poining down by the rear headrests (now on the floor). I opened up the box and put three of the stacked chairs in the remaining cargo space. The fourth went in the passenger seat. The Sears person was floored that I was able to fit it all in my vehicle.

    Just then, another fellow pulled up in his Forester. He had just purchased a Craftsman lawnmower. They just turned it sideways and poof -- it was in. The fellow, not even realizing I was also in a Forester uttered "Man, I love my Subaru".

    Ken
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    We've had a couple of those moments too. Yesterday, we rented a tiller and drove it up in the back of my Outback for transport. No problem at all. This was a week after watching my neighbor struggle to take the cap off his in-law's borrowed pickup truck to transport a tiller. Funny thing is, they own an Expedition, guess they didn't want to put a tiller in the back.

    Last summer, I was parked next to another Outback at Lowes. As I was loading about 300 lb of bagged mulch into the back, the other drivers came out and we chatted about how great the cars where. The theme was basically "who needs a truck!". Given all the lumber, boxes, equipment, gardening supplies, etc... we've carted with our Forester and Outback, I'm convinced a wagon is good for about 95% of what homeowners need. In 3 years of owning a house, I have yet to encounter a DIY project that truly required a truck.

    Craig
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    ..except when the .05 rears its' ugly head.......

    I'm not sure how the F would handle 1/2 cubic yard of medium redwood bark chips...........ez
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    ..except when the .05 rears its' ugly head.......I'm not sure how the F would handle 1/2 cubic yard of medium redwood bark chips

    Rare events like that are exactly what rental trucks and trailers are for. Why drive a huge, heavy, gas-guzzling vehicle 100% of the time (95% empty!) just to have a ready-made solution to a 5% problem? Instead, size your vehicle to meet 80 to 90% of your everyday needs and then, when that by-definition-rare monster job comes along, rent!
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    Why drive a huge, heavy, gas-guzzling vehicle 100% of the time (95% empty!) just to have a ready-made solution to a 5% problem?

    Image of course!

    DaveM
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I'm not sure how the F would handle 1/2 cubic yard of medium redwood bark chips

    Put down a tarp, I bet it would be fine.

    Craig
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I've hauled 9 bags of pine bark chips. Not sure how that stacks up cubic yard wise :-)

    -Frank P
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    come in 2 or 3 cubic feet bags. 27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard, so 13.5 cubic feet = 1/2 cubic yard. Even 9 bags at the 2 cubic feet variety, that's 18 cubic feet, well over 1/2 cubic yard.

    -Brian
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I'm pretty sure they were the 3 cubic foot variety so that means I hauled a full cubic yard. I had a tarp down so there was no mess. Of course I had drive around with the windows open afterwards to air out the interior.

    -Frank P
  • sarakaysarakay Member Posts: 19
    Hi folks, I am starting negotiations with dealers for a Forester and would like to know when the 2005 models are due to come out. If it's soon I will try to use that fact to get a little better price on a 2004.

    Thanks,
    Sara
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Land yachts do have a certain appeal, I guess. Just not to me. I bet my wife wouldn't mind one, if she wanted to nap on a road trip. Hopefully not as the driver. ;-)

    ez: JUST half a cubic yard? That's nothing!

    I have a playground area that is 24' by 40', and to cover it with wood chips required SIX cubic yards, 12 times as much as you mention.

    That's 2 trailer loads. A 5'x8' trailer will fit about 3 yards per haul. A full size pickup does slightly less, a compact pickup a lot less. So you'd still need the trailer. I guess a full size truck plus a trailer could do it in one trip, though.

    I used to haul bags, but then I got smart. At one point I had 22 bags of wood chips inside, hatch closed. There were 3 bags in the front passenger seat, even. And by the way, those bags were 3 cubic feet each, not the small 2 cubic feet bags that mulch comes in.

    Still, that barely puts a dent in it, the trailer was much quicker, and more importantly it's substantially cheaper to buy mulch or wood chips in bulk.

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

    Unless it's a brand new-model introduction, the next-year models typically roll into dealerships around August/September. The bigger dealerships usually have more pull with Subaru and get their 1st allotment before the smaller guys. The 2005 Forester would fall under this category.

    With brand-new product introductions (like the upcoming 2005 Legacy), the models usally hit the showfloors around May.

    Ken
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    A couple of years ago my wife and I built a stone patio off our back porch. I brought all the raw materials except for the fill dirt home in the back of my Forester. Looking back on the experience, I imagine it must have been humorous to see the little Subie - rear seat down, tarp in place, loaded with Pennsylvania bluestone and Belgian block - lined up among the big dump trucks to drive onto the scales at the quarry.

    Ed
  • smittynycsmittynyc Member Posts: 289
    Hi, all. I just purchased a 2004 Forester 2.5X, and this is my first post.

    I'm seeking everyone's thoughts/ recommendations on non-specific (not for skis, kayaks, surfboards, dogsleds, etc.) roof carriers for overflow cargo--the occasional suitcase, golf clubs, portable crib, and so on.

    I've looked at the Thule Sidekick and the Thule/LL Bean soft cargo bags, to give you an idea. Any advice / anecdotes would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks.
  • deadeye5deadeye5 Member Posts: 93
    Smitty..You will find if you slide the fwd crossrail back about 18"-24" you will not have the wind noise that is common....

                                Deadeye
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