Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

mtbe1

Do a search on google for Scooby Mods (from a previous post). Select the first website that comes up.

Then go to Mods in the left hand column and select Forester, then select "Audio, Security, Lighting & Electronics".

One of the first 5 or 6 postings will be about the overhead clock resistor pic.

rochcom

Thanks. I found it and I will give it a try. I think that as long as you are not going to a competing commercial site it is OK to post a link here.

sphp

I'm planning to buy an '06 forester LLBean. I was considering one that had a dealer added passive alarm. I heard there might be some technical problems caused with that. Anyone know anything about that? Is it worth it Or should I just stick with the factory installed?

It doesn't affect the factory installed one does it...and which one has the engine cut off? Or does either? Is the dealer installed one covered by the warranty? Thanks!

bluesubie

I wouldn't bother. Naturally aspirated Subaru's have very good used oil analysis results using a good conventional oil like Texaco Havoline.

The high mileage oils have seal conditioners (reduces the chance of leaking), but there are folks the a for and against them. They are thicker, which is good for more protection but they are usually not energy conserving if that's a concern for you.

-Dennis

ksubaru

Hi,

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately for me, I believe I have a leaking head gasket on my 99 Subaru Forester S. I can smell fuel/exhaust fumes in the coolant reservoir. Also, coolant is not flowing back from the reservoir into the radiator when the engine cools off.

Does anyone know of a good engine mechanic in the SF Bay Area -- preferably in the South Bay/Peninsula area? I know that's a tough question, but hopefully somebody has had a good experiences with a shop that has done engine work -- in particular, diagnosing and replacing a head gasket.

If I can't get a good recommendation, I will probably default to Carlsen Subaru.

Thanks.

Ken

raybear

Ken, was that car part of the recall?

poodog13

I have an 05 Forrester and we have noticed an occassional rattle coming from near or in the steering column since we got it. It's not all the time, actually somewhat infrequent yet persistent, so we haven't been able to show the problem to the dealership yet. Before anyone asks, it is definitely NOT the keys.

I read somewhere online that it may be a loose connection in the cruise control assembly but have been unable to locate that posting again. Any ideas would be appreciated.

ateixeira

Call 800-SUBARU3 first to see if they will cover it. you might have been required to use the coolant conditioner to qualify for the 8/100 warranty.

-juice

dannyka

Hi all,

I looked around at the lease boards and couldn't figure out the best place to post, so I thought I'd post here. (Steve, Tidester, maybe you could point me in the right direction?)

Anyway, the lease on my 2001 Forester is coming to an end in a few months. However, I'm looking at trading it in right now. When the dealer looked at it, they said the clutch is going. It does have the occasional chatter, but I'm pretty sure the clutch is "fine." (I just found out about that discussion on here -- that'll teach me to not keep up with "the crew" )

However, and just in case, if the clutch does need to be replaced, can I turn it in that way at the end of the lease? Would it be considered normal wear-and-tear and they would just have to accept it, or is that one of those items that I'll have to replace?

The dealer knocked the trade-in value down because of the clutch and if I have to replace it anyway, might as well give it to them and get a new car.

Otherwise, maybe I'll just wait it out until spring...

Thanks all,
--Dan

tidester

Here's a good place to start: Subaru Forester: Lease Questions

tidester, host

ateixeira

Clutch wear is normal, I guess they have to decide if it's spent and needs replacement now. Even then you might be able to negotiate a favorable deal, maybe split the cost.

If you lease a new car from the dealer I'd ask them to waive the cost entirely.

-juice

dannyka

Thanks. I took a look there, but with only five messages, I just wasn't sure how many people would be looking. :confuse:

--Dan

dannyka

maybe split the cost.... If you lease a new car from the dealer I'd ask them to waive the cost entirely.

Thanks. They've met me part of the way there. I'm also working with another dealer, so we'll see...

--Dan

tidester

More people will look if more people post ... hint ... hint!

tidester, host

drwales

Enough that I could walk away from yesterday evening's accident with only a sore neck and powder burns on my forearm from the airbag deploying... Guy turned left against the light into me... On the bright side, if you have to have an accident, Forester against Volvo V70 has to be about the best. Driver's side headlamp took the brunt of it, although the hood and side panel are bent. It remains to be seen what the insurance companies think of it. Since he got a ticket, I'm assuming (hoping) that his insurance will take care of everything.

I know there's a bunch of folks in the Bethesda area here -- any recommendations for/against Fitzgerald's own body shop? My wife would prefer to go to a dealership than Joe Schmoe's.

How long can I survive in my rental PT Cruiser before I get my Forester back?
Sigh.
Bob

once_for_all

glad you came out well!

Is the PT a Turbo?

John

PF_Flyer

Glad to hear that you're OK Bob... stop in at the chat on Thursday night and we can help talk you through the PT Cruiser

prosa

Suzuki is bringing a small wagon/SUV crossover to the U.S. market:
Autoblog article.

p0926

Argh!!!! Not yet another topic to keep up with!?!? You guys are really trying to make life miserable for us regulars aren't you ;-)

-Frank

stever

I'm thinking the CR-V and Escape fans need to look over their shoulder at Suzuki - check out Helmet Head...er, Bob's blog notes in the Straightline blog today. (link)

Yep, more stuff for you to read, Frank. :-)

Steve, Host

once_for_all

and Steve, what about the new Toyo Rav that Edmunds seems to like very much?

John

stever

I just read the Full Test on that - it's gotten a lot bigger eh?

Steve, Host

once_for_all

it sure has, but anytime something gets bigger and more powerful and still gets 25 to 31 mpg depending on the version, no one can complain too loudly.

John

poodog13

NO WAY would I ever consider a Suzuki when thinking about a Subaru. Drove a rental Grand Vitara a few years ago and it was like driving a Tonka truck without all the ruggedness and yellow paint. Worst car I've ever driven.

rsholland

I agree about the "old" Grand Vitara, but the "all-new" '06 Grand Vitara is an entirely different animal, and is so much better in every way. I've driven 4 or 5 new '06 models, as it was on our short list for new vehicles to consider.

Bob

andrelaplume

I think Subaru needs to retool the Forester quick. It simply is not wide or high enough fro a family of 4 or 5. The new V is coming soon. The old is plenty roomy and likley has been stealing sales for years. The new Rav is just about here and while I think the Forester likely was stealing sales from the old Rav I have no doubt it will loose sales when the new RAV hits the street in a few weeks. It is roomier, offers better gas milage and price about the same as it's predecessor. Meanwhile the Forester essentially looks the way it has for the past 7 years and really has not changed much. Sure you need mot mess with perfection but foks always do not buy what is the best all around choice. Me, I like the Sub alot but that extra width in the back seat as well as rear leg room has me thinking of looking at the RAV before committing to a purchase.

ateixeira

Yes, we have had experience with their body shop...

EXCELLENT results. I can recommend them whole-heartedly. They did the quarter panel and bumper on my wife's car, and *WOW*, you cannot tell it was done.

Keep in mind I am very picky - I was not entirely happy with some work done on my Forester, nor was I happy on two occasions with my Miata (all indy shops). In & Out Auto Body worked on my Miata most recently and they forgot a bolt that fastens the pass side 1/4 panel and the bumper is creased and mounted unevenly. I'm afraid to even let them touch it again to fix those.

So in fact it is the only body shop I recommend.

To be honest, until you reminded me, I forgot we had any work done to her car. It's that good.

-juice

ateixeira

The Grand Viagra, sorry, Vitara, looks much better. I wish Suzuki could get more power out of a V6, it hardly seems worth the bother for the HP output similar to 4 cylinders. But the rest is fine, and it's low range is rare for this class.

RAV4 got big. Europe gets a smaller one. The new one will offer 3 rows, a V6, DVD player, and eventually NAV. But Edmunds' model cost $32.7k, and that's without NAV and without a 3rd row!

So compare the RAV4 to the Tribeca 5 pass Limited. The Tribeca is wider and more substantial. RAV4 has more horsepower and better gas mileage. Tribeca is a lot more luxurious, though.

The RAV4 makes more sense if you equip it lightly, then it can be seen as a good budget mid-size. In fact it sort of makes the Highlander redundant.

Forester won't grow that much (or cost as much equipped), it would overlap with the Tribeca.

-juice

andrelaplume

I do not see t he RAV competing with the Tribeca...not while the Highlander is still alive. No, its eyes are set on the CRV, Forester, Escape etc. You can likely spend 32K on any of these vehicles. If the Base Rav comes out the gate at 22K similarly equipped to a Forester X or CRV LX....watch out! If it comes out higher then it will be interesting to see what people do. Personally, folks do not seam to have much money to spend.

dstew1

Does it strike anyone else as strange that within such limited space the Forester is compared with the new Suzuki SX4, it's big brother the Grand Vitara, and the new supersized Toyota Rav4? Would we ever compare the SX4 to the Rav4? Doubtful, considering the difference in their dimensions (based on the info I've seen), especially considering the RAV4 is more easily compared to the Tribeca.

The Forester fits nicely into Subaru's lineup. Outside of that, it gets harder to categorize. The Rav4 is approaching a midsize sport ute, which the Forester is nowhere near. The Grand Vitara sits on a more rigid frame, lending it to different dynamics, limitations, and capabilities. The SX4 appears to be even more car-like in stature than the Forester, maybe making it comparable to the Outback Sport.

Just an observation. I can't say that comparisons aren't warranted, because while the vehicles are quite different in certain areas, buyers will definitely be cross-shopping two or more of them.

One thing is certain - Subaru needs to respond with a spanking new Forester quite soon.

stever

Subaru Crew chat starts in about 90 minutes. The link is on the left.

Steve, Host

204meca

We spent two weeks in a PT cruiser from DC to Atlanta via the Barrier Islands & Blue Ridge Mts. I could not help but compare it to my 03 Forester. On the plus side I really liked the PT driver/passenger layout. The seats were extremely comfortable (van-like with fold down armrests), it was smooth,& quiet, good brakes, excellent storage, & ergonomics. On the negative side the engine was adequate, but lacked grunt when pressed, handling was good at normal speeds, but got sloppy when pressed hard, & marginal visability (especially out the back. Of course then there is the Chrysler reliabity issue, though consumer reports ranks the PT reliablity very high.

I could not help but wonder how the Turbo model would compare. Is yours NA or Turbo?

Over all, I still prefer the Forester - it has a more "sporty" feel, AWD capablity, and tows my bass boat. But the PT is a very comfortable highway & byway cruiser & it gave me a much better impession than I anticipated.

biceman113

I am about to replace the Geolanders on my 2004 X. Does anyone have any recommendations for tires that work well with the Forester? I am considering the Yokohama Avid H4s or the Bridgestone Turanza LS-Hs. Any thoughts on these? Also, will 225 width tires fit on the stock steel wheels?
Thanks, Scott

ateixeira

Andre: you know how Toyota does things - low base price with low equipment levels, then options tend to be expensive and plentiful. Pricing is out, by the way.

Base price even for a V6 AWD is actually pretty low, so I bet a lot of folks will sacrifice equipment and get a lightly equipped model just to get that nice powertrain.

Not many other small non-luxury SUVs hit $32k plus, though. Maybe the Escape hybrid, that's about it. RAV4 overlaps in price with the BMW X3 and Freelander.

dstew1: I don't think the SX4 is going to steal any Forester sales, it's much smaller. It's a new Aerio SX, and that model never made a splash. You think a smaller 2.0l engine is going to help it? Outback Sport is much closer, but still longer and more powerful.

RAV4 might steal some sales for people looking to move up in size, and who don't want to step up to the price of a Tribeca (or are turned off by the controversial look).

Subaru is in a tough position. Honda will have a new CR-V before the new Forester is due (MY08), and I bet they offer 3 rows to respond to Toyota.

Will Subaru keep it small? Or go after the big guys? We'll see.

If they went big it could cannibalize the Tribeca, just as the RAV4 will cannibalize the Highlander (until the HL is replaced).

A while back I was asking for a Forester Plus or Grand Forester, i.e. just a wheelbase stretch. Toyota did just that - they have the euro RAV4, and a LWB US RAV4, which is a stretch of the euro platform.

Basically the US RAV4 will be like the Grand Vitara XL7, sort of in no-man's land. That is, until the Santa Fe joins it. And probably the CR-V. Those will no longer be compacts at all. Watch Honda bring the FR-V and Toyota will grow the Matrix to fill the void left by the RAV4, or maybe even sell the euro SWB version as well.

So Subaru has to decide where to position itself - small or medium?

-juice

ateixeira

Here is the long one, for the US:

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=108153/pageNumber=1

Here is the short one, for Europe:

http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshow/articles/107049/page025.html

Look at the D-pillar. On the SWB model it touches the rear door. On the LWB model, you see about a 10" stretch. The wheelbase is also longer. This allows for the 3rd row.

Toyota could really hit the segment hard by coming out with both.

-juice

rsholland

Yep, that's a good catch on your part.

I wonder if Subaru would consider 2 sizes for the next Forester?

Bob

prosa

I'm half-convinced that this third-row mania in smaller SUV's is more of a marketing gimmick than a carefully thought-out response to consumer demand. People who are going to make regular use of the third rows are going to need something more than a stretched RAV-4 or CR-V (or, for that matter, Tribeca). Minivans and larger SUV's serve that market. Subaru would be making a big mistake to stretch the '08 Forester to include a third row. Keep it reasonably small and car-like, at least that way it won't face much competition.

RAV4 overlaps in price with the BMW X3 and Freelander.

A mistake on Toyota's part?

ateixeira

But remember, Toyota is now a partner, so they may intentionally try to get them *not* to overlap.

-juice

dstew1

I agree - it wouldn't do Toyota much good to have people cross-shopping Foresters and RAV4s. They can take aim at the future CRV with the new RAV4, and leave the Forester to compete with some of the smaller players from other brands, like the Tucson.

Now that I think of it, who will the other smaller player be once the CRV and RAV4 move up? The Escape/Tribute is already fairly hefty.

That said, it wouldn't hurt Subaru (or its future occupants) to fatten up the Forester a bit, in both hip and legroom at least.

ateixeira

Hyundai went with two - Tucson and Sante Fe. The next SF will have 3 rows and be bigger, too.

Toyota could go with two - if they sell the euro SWB RAV4 here.

Honda could bring the smaller FR-V if they saw a need.

The current Forester is clearly in the small side of the segment. What will they do for the '08?

-juice

dstew1

My guess (and hope) is that they hit the medium side of the small segment - a little bigger than they are now but not the steroidal growth of the RAV4. Expand just a couple of inches in each direction, make better use of interior space, forget the vestigal third row, etc.

Subaru may not be able to match other brands in this segment when it comes to size, price, fuel economy, etc, but as long as they keep it a driver's car then they will always have buyers.

drwales

Thanks for the vote of confidence. The Forester is there now.
Fortunately, other guy's insurance is picking up the whole tab, and Fitz is on their "approved/expedited" list, so hopefully that means sooner rather than later. I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but they made it sound as if they had a insurance adjuster/estimator on staff. Hopefully I'll hear something by the end of the day. Now if we can just solve the direct bill rental issue.

This is what they have to work with:


Cheers,
Bob

prosa

Ouch! The poor Forester Hopefully the body shop will be able to make it as good as new again.
How did the V70 fare? I'm hoping that it didn't come out unscathed.

prosa

Now that I think of it, who will the other smaller player be once the CRV and RAV4 move up?

Though it doesn't come with AWD, in some ways the Chevrolet HHR is similar to the Forester.

dstew1

The Mitsubishi Outlander (which just got an update) will also still match up comparably to the Forester.

ateixeira

Yep, I think that's the closest in size of all the ones mentioned so far.

That damage looks bad, but at least it seems like the A-pillar was unscathed. You'll get a new hood, quarter panel, and bumper, so all the damaged exterior panels will be brand new again. Grille and lights, too.

Hope they do as good as job as they did on our Legacy.

-juice

drwales

His fault, and more damage, by the looks of things!
I'm not completely convinced that the door closes properly, but that could be a function of what's below the sill, rather than the A-pillar. Actually, more of the damage to the bumper/ undercarriage of our car was caused by the tow-truck guy winching the Forester onto the truck.

We shall see.
Bob

prosa

Holy [deleted for decency]!! The V70's front end is basically unrecognizable, I'm not sure I would've been able to identify it as a Volvo.
Depending on what year it is, and maybe whether its airbags are blown (can't tell from the picture), I'd say there's a fair chance that the V70 will end up in the junk yard. Chalk up one for Subaru

ateixeira

HOLY COW!

Your Forester ate that Volvo for lunch! Unbelievable!

What a phenomenal photo. Which vehicle would you rather have been in?

Subaru all the way!

-juice

PS I'd like to ask for permission to keep a copy of both those photos, would that be OK?

drwales

That was (emphasis on past tense) a 2000 V70. Only his passenger airbag deployed (both of mine did). I don't know if it's clear in the image, but his windshield is also cracked (although that could be preexisting). His entire grill and most of his front bumper ended up under mine, and they're now trophies in the back of the Forester.

I have no problem with you keeping the photos. Would you rather original (2048x1536) images? I wondered if I was stepping on his rights by photographing his car? Ironically, his other car (going from his insurance card) is a 2000 Forester...