Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

paisan

That is even more interesting. If, and this is a big IF, they are doing rear ending testing, shouldn't they take into account nose-dive, rear-lift during an accident? For instance, if you with your forester were to rearend my trooper in stock form, chances are my rear will lift, and your nose will dive, and my bumper will take the hit rather than the spare tire, yet it got hammered in the test.

-mike

rsholland

it's not a perfect test.

You could go on forever offering different variations on the same scenario. If vehicle "X" is hit by a Prelude, or a Trooper, at the same speed, the results will be different. There's no way you can account for all the possible different scenarios.

Bob

proulo

Yesterday, my wife came home and said someone had run into her from behind at a rotary. My wife was inching along waiting for an opening and the car hit her. They pulled over and traded names and addresses. She came home and we checked the back end. Except for a scuff mark and a small hole in the plastic bumper cover, there was no damage to our 2001 Forester.

Phil

paisan

That bumper cover will probably cost about $700 to replace though. (the foam is probably crushed inside it as well)

-mike

yellowbikedon

My daughter's Outback was taken into a second dealer for service work and she was told the hatch moulding comes loose in about 1 in 10 wagons. The only solution is to replace the moulding and they have ordered another one for her wagon. Another service customer was there having the same problem!

I received three responses to my original querry a few days back. No reports of similar problems. Yet, here we have two dealers claiming this is not an unusual situation. The SoA customer rep. reported no knowledge of the problem. So, let me ask again. Anyone experience a similar moulding failure?

Thanks.

Don

subearu

nope - our OB (just turned 1 year old!) does not have that problem.

so, that's no ping and no moulding failure for our 'subearu'.

-Brian

paisan

Neither my cousin's 2000 OB nor my uncle's '97 have had a problem.

-mike

yellowbikedon

Thanks for the rapid response. No problem with my LL Bean either.

Don

ateixeira

I don't think they're testing for accidents on the highway. They are parking lot fender benders, at just 5mph.

The rear bumper cover retails for $300, wholesale is around $225. You're right that there could be more damage, but Subaru parts are reasonably priced.

No moulding problem on any of the 3 Soobs in our family (2 Outbacks).

-juice

paisan

He may need to spend $300 to paint the bumper, unless it's a non-painted one, but most '01s IIRC are painted, plus installation @ $50 or $75/hr...

-mike

p0926

Don- Still no excuse as to why it's taking the dealer so many tries to fix the problem.

-Frank P.

ateixeira

True. If it's an L, $225 plus an hour or two of labor.

For an S or S Premium, add the fee for paint.

That's still reasonable. Besides, if he was hit from behind the other guy will pay.

-juice

paisan

Hey That's my line "doesn't matter since the other guy will pay!"

-mike

locke2c

See but wouldn't it suck to be in a no-fault state? No matter whodunit YOUR insurance pays... what a bunch of crap.

-Colin
(from Kansas, most definitely NOT a no-fault 'insurance industry-loving' state)

ateixeira

You guys heard about the new insurance for monster SUVs?

It's called MY Fault insurance.

;-)

-juice (flame suit on)

paisan

Even in NY a no-fault state, if you are rear ended, the rearender pays rather than the rearended. Unless of course you are dumb enough to submit it through your own insurance, in which case, your insurance pays and then goes after the other guy's insurance, and you still get a "claim" listed on your record.

-mike

blane

Another reason that I dislike trailer hitches:

Some creton in their oversized SUV backed into my car and poked an expensive hole in my front plastic bumper.

paisan

Get some metal bumpers. See http://www.ecb.com.au/ for subie stuff

-mike

subearu

OK, so I was a bit curious as to why or how one could get the 2.5 H4 to ping (as described in the posts here and there in Edmunds). So, today I tried to make my '00 OB ping.

First, the setup - temp: about 94 degrees, 105 heat index, 74 dew point. HOT, hazy, and humid. I tried to find some hilly roads. Found some moderate hilly slopes, but nothing major here in SE WI.

End result: could NOT get the engine to ping. I tried cruising at about 35 mph uphill and before I could attempt to make it try to ping, the tranny would downshift (like it should at 1500 rpms in OD). I tried several times, even varying speeds lower or higher, each maybe 5 to 20 minutes apart. Each time you would think there'd be a ping, the tranny downshifted and it was happy. (so was I since it didn't ping ;-] )

What I think may be happening on those that have the ping issue is perhaps the tranny isn't downshifting when it should. As stated by another post (don't have it handy - it's here somewhere), it could be something to do with the ECU learning your driving style and adapting incorrectly. I think it just may be the ECU is fine, but the tranny ECU is perhaps not getting the correct signals to do it's own thing properly.

More salt on the wounds: just filled up and got 25 mpg on a pretty aggressive set of miles. All on 87 unleaded with ethanol (reformulated stuff). Did a real good WOT today (sure I've done them before, but never a real good one). Before I knew it, I was doing 75 and going strong. Man that thing comes alive after 4k rpms. No carbon buildup in this Sube!

-Brian

originalbitman

I did the same thing today. 01 GT wagon 5speed 87 octane but probably only in the 80s as for temp outside. I lugged it up a bunch of hills in 4th and even 5th but no ping whatsoever. Even when it was lugging below 2k RPM and I floored it. Nada. Makes me happy but still sympathetic for those with ping.

bit

ateixeira

Blane: hitches tend to be mounted low. If that SUV driver was parking by braille and had no hitch, the up-high bumper probably would have taken out your grille and hood, causing far more damage.

Also, in a rear collision they prevent lower cars from diving under the rear of a taller truck.

Oh, they can tow things and carry bikes, too! :-)

My Miata will ping if I'm in the wrong gear now that I've advanced my timing. The Forester either has conservative cam timing, or the knock sensor is effective in retarding the timing when necessary, but it never pings.

If you're not familiar with the noise, it sounds more or less like Woody Woodpecker going to town on a nice chunk of cedar. When you hear it, you will have no doubt as to what it is.

But I blame myself for being in the wrong gear. So try to get the tranny to shift before those long climbs, which you really should do anyway.

-juice

rsholland

This is tremendous news for GM, and hopefully Subaru too. Lutz is the man responsible for Chrysler's remarkable string of vehicles during the '90s, including the Viper and Prowler.

http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories0730/lutz802.htm

Bob

locke2c

Brian, Bit:

Thanks for the testing guys. Now I'm really curious why something can't be found wrong with cars that ping easily and often, versus yours that won't ping at all even on 87 in severe heat.

-Colin

ateixeira

Wow, GM is serious about fixing their ugly disease. They got Nesbitt, too.

Now, be like Chrysler was and get those concepts out there without watering them down too much. SSR is a good start. Then bring on the Borrego (yeah buddy, Subaru underpinnings).

I'm not sure the Bengal "fits", but I guess it could be a start.

Better yet, let Bryan design the next SVX coupe and roadster. Sweet!

-juice

paisan

I read recently that the next generation Impala will be the Holden Commodore clone and the next generation Intrepid will be RWD. Finally they are getting it!

-mike

ateixeira

Yeah, but once they get a high output engine and a 6 speed, they'll probably cancel it. ;-)

GM has to take risks (not stupid risks like Aztec). They need to have the courage to finance good product, and get it right from the get-go, which they never seem to do. Once they finally do get it right, they are out of money and have to cancel the products. Fiero. Allante. RWD Impala SS.

-juice

bat1161

Sorry for the delay- No problems with the molding on my 2000 OB wagon.

Mark

ateixeira

Don't forget our chat tonight, folks.

You may recall last week it was so busy that you had to speed read just to keep up!

-juice

subearu

subearu Aug 1, 2001 4:43pm

I forgot to mention that I had the AC on during the tests I made (also tried it without it on). And if it wasn't obvious, our OB is an AT.

-Brian

yellowbikedon

A "thank you" to all who replied. Your answers of "no problems" agree with the comment my daughter received from SoA customer rep.

Now, I wonder why two dealers claimed this was a common problem? Patti, any answers?

Don

paisan

That's every dealer's MO for any and every problem. "it's a common problem" "they are all built like that" etc. etc.

-mike

drew_

...at 6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern. Hope to see you there!

http://www.edmunds.com/chat/subaruchat.html

ateixeira

Nice chat, guys. Had an interesting group this time, and you could just barely keep up if you read quickly.

I'll be out for a week or so. We leave for the beach on Sat, should be a fun trip. Sandy will be loaded to the gills with bikes, 4 people, and gear. I doubt I'll get on the sand, but I'm saving that for an encore trip to the OBX in September.

No ISP host in Ocean City, so I may be out of touch for a while. Given I'll be on a sunny beach, I think I'll get over it! ;-)

-juice

kate5000

yep, it was a nice chat yesterday. Someone asked me for new Ford jokes... here it goes: on my commute today, I saw 3 (three!) different Found On the Road Dead. Dead and being towed. One was Taurus wagon from early 90s, one was Explorer (don't know how old, they all look the same pre-2002), and another was Lincoln Mark VIII (looked kind of new).

bluesubie

juice- Have a great trip. We're heading to Myrtle Beach for a week and then coming back to Cape May, NJ for a few days.

What do you (or anyone) think about taking 301 South to VA (vs. I-95)? I took it on the way home last spring but hit traffic around Annapolis. We're leaving NJ around 7:00 a.m. Sat.

Dennis

lark6

Dennis: You know my opinion - you should try to work a drive down the Eastern Shore of MD/VA on 13, cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, pick up 58 in Norfolk and cut over to I-95 in Emporia. Neat side trip, worth it for the scenery, and what's more you can wave to juice as you pass the OC turnoff.

Enjoy the homeland!

Ed

bluesubie

I was looking actually looking for a slightly quicker route to aviod traffic. I might consider 13 though.

Dennis

pattim3

Sorry to everyone. I was really sick last week. I think we narrowed it down to a reaction to some new meds. I was taking. The computer was really out since light and thought caused major issues.

I'll try to catch up so hang in there.

Once again, I'm sorry.

Patti

drew_

No need to apologise. I'm glad that you're feeling better!

Take care,

Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

kens

Patti,

Welcome back! Hope you're doing better!

Logging back in after a week is kind of like going back to work and finding five gazillion e-mails in your inbox, isn't it?

Take it slow and ease back into things.

Ken

rsholland

Welcome back Patti. Glad you're feeling better.

Bob

kate5000

Patti, we missed you. Welcome back!

Karen_S

Sorry to hear you've not been well, but glad that you are on the mend!

KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs

kate5000

Since I'm planning to take my Forester to some wild places, I was thinking of getting a hand-held GPS. I searched the Net, and oh boy, tons of info and choices. Mybe you can help?

My reqs:
a) light
b) durable
c) suitable for finding my way in canyons and wooded areas
d) user-friendly
e) reasonably priced

TIA
--Kate the Traveler

miksmi

paisan

I've tried a few, didn't like them, cause most of the hand-held ones or even car ones didn't have address to address level maping. I use my laptop and find it to be much better/easier to use. Not sure of handheld ones though, I guess for hiking and what not?

-mike

rangerron7

Sorry to hear that you have been out of sorts. I hope you are feeling better real soon.

kens

Kate,

I don't own one, but my friend (also a Forester owner) who is an avid camper owns a Garmin. It's a small handheld unit with a fairly decent sized LCD display. My advice would be to go check out your local REI and have them explain the differences.

Ken

kate5000

sorry, don't know this acronym

originalbitman

Recreational Equipment Inc.:

http://www.rei.com/cgi-bin/rei/searchc.pl?stat=7889&query=gps

Stores in Berkeley and Fremont

bit