Subaru Crew - Modifications

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  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Our advice is, trade the thing off on a Subaru Forester!:)

    NEway, I think you might have the wrong forum, wonpder
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Care to share the location of this winter wonderland road?

    Craig
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Do you want the Lat/Lon?

    Seriously, it's in the southern Adirondacks. I have a house in Caroga Lake, NY about 50 miles West of Albany. The Road is off of Route 29a that runs from Johnstown, NY to Herkimer, NY. When you are about 12 miles into the road, the next closest road is 8miles in all directions. This "Forest Road" runs diagonally from 29a to route 10. Here is an attempt at a link to a map of the area.

    http://www.mapquest.com/cgi-bin/ia_find?screen=tq_page&link=btwn/twn-map_results&uid=ucqa0vu0h5y4j2oe:rw5z12qrr&lng=-745893&lat=431643&level=6&event=trip_click&height=280&width=440

    -mike
  • dannykadannyka Member Posts: 115
    Check out the following for

    Abbreviations and Emoticons (faces).

    Probably more than you wanted to know. :-)

    -Dan
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I like the bit about scaring the cat...
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    SUPER LINKS! Thanks!

    Bob
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I know the area well -- some beautiful scenery up there. Thanks for the info.

    Craig
  • russ9406russ9406 Member Posts: 30
    Just got my new bulbs as per post #1496. It was extremely difficult on my 2001 Forester to get the electrical connector off of the old bulbs, basically I destroyed the old bulbs in removal, the pins on the bulb were stuck in the connector. Is this a common problem? Then new bulbs are great much whiter and brighter than stock. The old bulbs seemed very yellow in comparison. I now would like to replace the Fog lamps. The vision plus are not made in a 9006 bulb type. I am thinking of getting the Philips Premium 30% more light. I am looking for recommendations for a replacement 9006 that is whiter and better than stock.

    Russ
  • rbink1rbink1 Member Posts: 11
    Russ

    The first time I changed my lights on my 01 Forester I had the same problem with the connectors. The bulbs are released from the connector by placing pressure on the sides of each unit. I found that I could not place enough pressure on the side to release the bulbs, so I used a pair of channel lock pliers. I only used enough pressure to release the bulbs. Seemed to work well and quickly (about 2 seconds). Be careful not to put to much pressure on the connectors or you might crack them. As for your foglight replacement bulbs (9006), you can purchase the sylvania cool blues (xenon filled). I have them on one of my cars and they work well for the money.
  • rbink1rbink1 Member Posts: 11
    Northern Michigan just got it's first real snow of the season (12"-24"). With the new snow, I wanted to test our new Forester. I took the Forester through it paces on all types of snow covered roads. I will have to admit, the stock Duler HT tires are a poor tire for winter driving-at least in northern Michigan. As I have done on my other subarus over the past 10 years, I replaced the Duler HT's with Nokian Hakka 1's. The Forester is NOW READY FOR THE WINTER. This is a great winter tire, being quiet on the road, great wear (last set lasted 6 seasons), and its a T rated tire. The only problem with the Nokian tires is availability-hard to find. If you need winter tires, you might want to consider Hakka's
  • crashton6crashton6 Member Posts: 245
    Russ: Try www.autobulbdepot.com They may have what you're looking for. Forester fog lights are pretty poor, so I don't know how much new bulbs will help.
    Chuck
  • zhenyazhenya Member Posts: 12
    HI everybody,
    I'm new to the townhall & very excited that someone out there that'll can help you out.I just signed up for 2001 Forester with auto trans, extended armrest,cargo:cover,net ,custom tailpipe cover,wheel locks & airfilter.Final price with
    tax & registration out of the door was $24,800. want to get your opinions and aftermath thoughts about the deal I got. But
    in the meantime I'm concerned about protecting my Headlinghts. From my previous expireinces with japanese car parts I know for fact that replacement of headlights cost a fortune.So I think to put on one of those front grille/headlights protectors like many larger SUVs' have.However my nephew convinces me with acrylic headlight protectors that made by GTO & on top of that put metal net headlight protectors.I have a real deleama about this and about vehicle at all.Especially that my husband co-worker who was a mechanic literally sh*tted Subaru and placed on the same place with Hayndai.
    Anyway waiting for everybodys responds and previus experinces with 2001 Forester,
    Thanks.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Be careful of the wrap around bars that you are suggesting. The major problem with them is that if they are mounted within close proximity to the vehicle (less than an inch typically) if you were to hit something or someone backs into it, it could concievably do damage to a lot more than the area that get's hit. A friend @ body shop told me what happens is that the guard gets pushed into the hood, lights, fender AND bumper. When I was looking for one for my Trooper, I tried to find a low profile one that was mounted away from the front of my truck, eventually I found one at http://www.ecb.com.au/ that mounted with about a 2 inch gap between the vehicle and the bar.

    I wouldn't worry too much about the headlights cracking, but I'd go for some clear acrylic shields rather than the metal bar type.

    You can see my bar @ http://www.iace.com/ia/trooper

    -mike
  • crashton6crashton6 Member Posts: 245
    Zhenya: Don't worry about what your hubands coworkers think. You just bought a great car. You can get headlight guards at www.stoneguard.com
    Good luck with the new Forester.
    Chuck
  • francophilefrancophile Member Posts: 667
    Once upon a time I made my living as a car mechanic. I worked at a dealership that was one of the first Subaru dealers in the US back around 1979 or so. My opinion of Subarus was formed during that period, and it was not all that good. I categorized them as interesting technically (AWD, adjustable suspension, center diff, etc.) but pretty sparse and downright tinny inside. Plus they had head gasket and CV joint and front brake problems, expensive things to fix. I didn't think much of them either.

    Today's Subaru is a HUGELY improved vehicle over those cars I used to work on. They've immensely improved their reliability and now have a deserved reputation for being nearly bulletproof. The quality and workmanship has also come way up. The latest Subies are safe as houses too, and somehow they've even managed to catch the eye of the sporting crowd with rally-inspired hot rods.

    Tell your husband's coworker that THIS former mechanic changed his mind about Subarus, to the point of buying one for himself. Tell him THIS former mechanic compared Subies to BMW, Audi, Honda. Tell him it's time he paid another visit to a Subaru dealership.

    Regards,
    -wdb
  • nypdaunypdau Member Posts: 38
    Hello everyone:)
    I have been away from the forum for a month or so, lots of catching up to do. I would like to install some extra lighting in my 01 Forester, possibly LED. The areas I want to illuminate include the coin tray the glove box and the center console compartment. I was thinking of LED's for the low power consumption, as I would like these lights "on" with the key in the accessories position. OK, here's my question: The wiring I can do, I just need to know where to get my power so that it will be linked to the acc position? Thanks for any help you guys can provide!

    james
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Usually I go directly into the fuse-box when wiring such items up, just make sure you get the power from the side of the fuse that is actually fused.

    -mike
    http://www.iace.com/ia/trooper
  • e_l_greene_l_green Member Posts: 30
    If you figure out some way of adding more lighting to your Forester's interior without it looking too kludgy, let me know. Even my Ford Aspire ("it aspires to be a real car") had a light that shone on the ignition key hole, for example, so that I could get my key into the hole without having to grope around in the dark. And not being able to find the lock/unlock button in the dark sucks too, luckily it's a lot easier to memorize the position of that in relationship to the window button than it is to find the ignition key hole in the dark :-(.

    All in all, one of the few things I don't like about my Forester. (I don't like some of the accessories on my Forester, but those are easy enough to remedy -- just yank'em out or swap with somebody who DOES like those particular accessories!).

    Finally: Has anybody figured out how to keep the headlights on when the ignition key is turned on? The light in my garage is pretty feeble, and I need more light to check the oil/ check the tire pressure sometimes. Lights that turn off automatically are great for absent-minded folks like me, but sometimes I wish Subaru wasn't so considerate of my faults :-}.

    -E
  • e_l_greene_l_green Member Posts: 30
    Err, has anybody figured out how to turn on the lights when the ignition switch is OFF. Just noticed that I reversed that in my post (sigh).

    -E
  • crashton6crashton6 Member Posts: 245
    James: If you go to www.miata.net & go to the marketplace you'll find some LED lights for the ignition switch. They also have map lights. I don't remember which vender has them.
    Hope this helps
    Chck
  • chriscoulterchriscoulter Member Posts: 17
    Still have not tried the snow cables (Those I had turned out to be the wrong size after all)
    But now have a different question: Cartop carrier for '00 OB wagon. Anyone have the hard shell Subaru one?

    Juice, will your Samsonite unit really keep out the rain? It seems just a shade wide for my rails accd. to the tape measure. Are the Forester roof rails the same as the OB?

    How about the Kanga Roofpouches (mod # WK36174)in LL Bean? Anyone tried?

    Snow cable fitting next wknd. for sure.

    chris out
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    You can only keep the parking lights on on subarus after removing the key from the ignition. There should be a switch on top of the steering column that allows the parking lights to stay on when you turn the car off. If the car is in your garage though, you can just leave the key in the ignition!

    :)

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    paisan: want to guess what the best selling item in the BMW catalog is? Yep, that little "M" logo. Even rich folks can be poseurs.

    Nice save by that RS, BTW. How much does your XT weight?

    Bob: the emoticons list, long as it was, did not include the clown face, or :o)

    I swapped my bulbs and it was easy once someone showed me how.

    As for interior lights, I'm surprised you don't just use the map lights. You could also splice into those and add extra lights in any particular place.

    Chris: the Samsnonite held out water very well. Last year we drove 5 hours in the rain and it was bone-dry inside, much to my surprise. They have them at the outlets for $40, on-line for $50.

    The newer hard carriers from Sears look cool, though.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    It's about 2500lbs for the 4wd Automatic.

    :)

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's pretty light for an H6, actually. An RS sedan weighs 2700 lbs, and the new one will weigh even more.

    -juice
  • aussierooaussieroo Member Posts: 78
    action after what appeared to be a hibernation.

    gus
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    So I've been doing a little reading about sway bars and it has got me wondering about the bar I ordered... a Whitleline adjustable 19, 20, 21mm. I love driving my 00 GT wagon but would like to reduce the body roll and understeer a bit. I am by no means an expert at car handling and wonder if a jump to 19mm is too much for a novice. I am planning on taking the 1 day Jim Russell High Performance Course up at Sears Point to gain a better appreciation for understeer/oversteer and the limits of my car.

    bit
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The XT6 is really a 2 seater or a 2+2, it's really tiny. No spoiler or hood scoop either :)

    -mike
  • ramonramon Member Posts: 825
    2850lbs for an RS. You can't compare really as the newwer gen Imprezas have alot more "luxury" compared to the older XT6.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I hate to break it to you but the impreza is no where near as "luxo" as the XT6

    I have a trip computer, lumbar support adjustments, "winter wiper location control", air-suspension (which is broke), cruise control standard, variable intermitent wipers standard, full gauges, fold down rear seat, auto-up drivers window, power unlocking pass door when I unlock the drivers door, tilt and telescopic steering wheel... need I go on?

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow. Do they still sell the XT6? ;)

    Bit: I went to 18mm on my Forester, and I'd say it's pretty neutral and fine for a novice. I'm sure 19mm on yours will be fine.

    Heck, after the class, I'd even play with the 20 and 21mm settings!

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

    What's the stock bar thickness? Roll-bars and their effects are all relative to body weight as well as the thickness of the stock front and back bars. I'm only guessing, but since the Legacy is a heavier vehicle, 19mm shouldn't be too big a jump considering 18mm wasn't too bad for us Forester owners.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I've heard of some roll bars over an inch thick! So Ken has a point!

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Carpoint (generally quite accurate-- never found their data wrong, in fact) says that a 91 XT6 AWD weighs 2885lb. Prove that wrong with a truck scale or service manual scan. ;-) In your defense though, they do quote the GL (4 cylinder FWD) as a svelte 2455lb.

    Of course it's more luxurious than a 2.5RS. It cost more, and that's in direct comparison $ nevermind inflation since the early 90's.

    -Colin
  • bonnie_rickbonnie_rick Member Posts: 115
    fair warning...

    Bonnie Rick
    Conferences Manager, Edmunds.com Town Hall
  • bonnie_rickbonnie_rick Member Posts: 115
    this discussion in Subaru Crew - Modifications II (Topic #39).

    Don't forget to click on the Topic Title link on the topic's list page, to re-alphabetize the topics and find your Club topics grouped together!

    Bonnie Rick
    Conferences Manager, Edmunds.com Town Hall
This discussion has been closed.

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