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Check out www.foresterperformance.fanspace.com. Lots of really good stuff put out in a really nice site.
Just passing on some info yall might like!
BTW, you may want to include the new STi II Forester as well:
http://www.subaru.co.jp/forester/sti/sti.htm
Ken
-Frank P.
Glad to hear that update, Richard.
DOH! Yet another sweet Forester we cannot have. That's it, I'm moving to Japan! Wait a second, I can't speak Japanese... ;-)
Frank: good thinking. I can sell my wife on a turbo Forester. Heck, she stole mine this morning before I could get to it. I'd trade in her 626 for 2003 Forester S Premium turbo 5 speed.
-juice
I can't imagine the new F's horsepower approaching WRX levels - why cannibalize sales? - so I wouldn't expect over 200bhp in the next version. I have a copy of a British auto mag in which Prodrive (who builds Subaru's WRC cars) upgraded a Forester Turbo S from 168bhp to 195bhp, all covered by Subaru UK's factory warranty. I'd be very happy with 195 in mine.
juice: I wouldn't plan on making any performance mods that I couldn't reverse prior to resale. Unbolt the exhaust and STi sway bar and pull out the Amsoil filter; bolt up the factory exhaust and the 13mm sway bar and pop in the paper filter - all done in about an hour or so.
Ed
Even though it only makes 3 more hp than ours, it makes a LOT more torque, and lower in the rev range, to boot. It's more than a second quicker to 60 and the 1/4 mile.
I drive my cars into the ground, so being able to sell it is not at all a concern.
-juice
I do wish the seats were a little softer in my L. Does anyone know if the S seats are softer?
By the way, I absolutely love the Blue Ridge Pearl, but all those scratches I'm getting is really showing up on that dark paint. Guess I'll have to take it a little easier
Take care,
Skip
P.S. I bought a new toy, a kayak, to add to my canoe. I'll post some photos of it topped on the Forester as soon as I get it out.
Karen: that stinks (literally). I'd have the dealer look at it, since any gas leak, as unlikely as it seems, could be really dangerous.
I believe the gas tank is under the rear seat. It could be bad fuel filter, but the gas tank does not have a skid plate so that is a remote possibility. Have you notice a drop in your mileage?
-juice
The link to the chat is near the top of this page, just under the topic title.
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
One interesting fact -- the Forester got softer rear seat cushions going from MY99 to MY00. My friend drives a 00 S and his rear seat cushions are a lot softer than mine. Personally, I like firm seats better.
As for your scratches, regular waxing will make them less noticeable. When it gets pretty bad, try 3M Hand Glaze. It works wonders in getting out fine scratches and restoring that deep gloss. Remember to use it sparingly, though. Polishes do their job by stripping a very thin layer of your clearcoat.
Karen - Is it more of sulfur smell? I've experienced that rotten egg smell depending on the brand of gas I use.
Ken
The other smell, what other posters like to call the Subaru new car stench, is almost a burning smell with a chemical-type odor and usually comes after driving for a half hour or longer.
Karen: maybe one of the vapor recovery hoses came loose. I'm surprised you haven't gotten a check engine light.
There is a canister at the passenger side rear, underneath, but I'd let the dealer have a look at it. There are several similar hoses under the hood too.
-juice
Skip- Hey, look at it this way....you're more practical than those of us that sprung for the S. The L is a super vehicle that is well equipped at a bargain price. You have almost all of the functionality of the S but for $2,500 less. And you're right, that dark gray cladding will do a lot better job of hiding the inevitable dings and scratches.
-Frank P.
But hers was gasoline, and that's distinct.
-juice
P.S. I've had the undercarriage washed since our last snow, but I guess that stuff just needs to burn off.
When I went to install the SPT kit, there was sand all over the place. A huge mess.
So I washed it again, this time with ramps, so I could see what I was doing.
That's why a little chemical smell would not surprise me.
-juice
Tom
I don't think you have to go to the dealership for an oil change everytime. Just try a different place that is nearby. And, maybe next time, tell them how much oil goes in (but be sure to explain what the last place did as the reason for you speaking up - just so they don't think you're being a you-know-what).
Last time I had mine done (at a quick change place), I watched their every move. Caught them before they put in a different grade oil than I requested.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Think of the time spent going back and forth as an investment.
Just my 2 pennies.
Don
- my two coppers,
Joe
Karen- Typical.....don't hesitate to take it back if/when you smell gas fumes again. Overfilling the oil could certainly account for your "smell" but I won't be completely surprised if it's still there. In any case, keep us posted.
-Frank P.
Funny thing, I mentioned this noise to my neighbor who has an automatic Outback base(same drivetrain as my Forester S, except for the rear differential the Outback does not have). He immediately said, before I started describing it, "Like a jet engine? I also have it". We test drove both cars, and yes, he also has it. He thinks that his noise is louder than mine, I (of course) think mine is louder. As I said, the noise is pretty subtle, but it is there. Maybe it's just related to the overall higher friction from AWD - and the Forester being my first AWD vehicle, I am noticing it.
Thanks for the advice on the scratches, but I'm not talking about little scratches here. I'm talking nasty ones. For example the one caused by a tree branch or two....and the other caused by an open gate rubbing against my quarter panel on a windy day. The quarter panel one is particularly nasty. Maybe I'll take a photo and post it.
By the way, I owe someone a big thanks. I don't remember who it was, but someone responded to a post of mine some time ago referring to a rattle I thought was coming from my seatbelt housing. This individual suggested that it was actually a small square plastic piece on the lower section of the drivers side rear door. It took me a while to get around to it, but after some banging around with my fist on the door, I discovered that this individual was right. So, I popped out this sqaure piece, stretched a rubber band around the four clips to act as a gasket, and popped it back in....Ta Da!!! No more rattle. Now my Soob sounds/feels nice and tight again. I know others have asked about this as well...so check it out. That rattle was maddening!
Talk to you all later,
Skip
My dealer charges $19.95 for an oil change with their coupon and $24.95 without. Coupons are sent at proper intervals along with a "service reminder."
I, too, have had a problem using somebody other than a dealer to do work on my cars. I had an oil pan stripped of its threads by an over zealous mechanic who overtightened after an oil change. Thank God the shop was fair and it did replace the pan without a hastle. I still feel had I returned to the dealer, this would not have happened.
Don
-Brian
Jim McKnight
Good luck.
rslnp1- That's a new one. Removing the fuse was a smart way to save your battery. However, your Forester is unsafe to drive if your brake lights are stuck on. I recommend that you call SOA's roadside assistance # and have it towed to the dealer. I know you're upset and I don't blame you. Let us know what the service dept says. You also ought to see if you can get a free oil change (at least) for the inconvenience.
-Frank P.
Bob
I brought my 2001 Forester to the dealership to have the alignment checked. My steering wheel seemed offset to the left and the car drifted to the right.
I picked my Soob up this morning and now it seems like its doing the exact opposite..the steering wheel is offset to the right. I'm not sure whether the alignment is still off or if they just didn't keep the steering wheel straight during the alignment. Are Subaru's difficult to align or something? I have a feeling the car came slightly misaligned from the factory.
Anyway, I'm trying to decide whether I should call up and complain...again (I haven't exactly had the best service from this dealership) or go to another dealership to have it aligned right. The dealership I purchased the Forester from doesn't even have an alignment rack on the premises...they have to send it to another shop. This makes it difficult to schedule a car for an alignment.
I have been hesitant to take my Soob to a dealership other than the one I bought it from. I'm worried that I may not get prompt service because I didn't buy it there. However, there is a dealership much closer to my home than the one I bought the Forester from. This would be more convenient.
Any opinions or experiences with this?
Thanks in advance for any replies,
Skip
Just my .02 -Frank P.
I'd go with Frank's advice and take it to the competent dealer. Once you've purchased a Subaru, you can take it to any dealer for service. A good service department should treat you no differently.
BTW, this might sound trivial, but did you measure the tire pressures? They often can come overinflated which may be compounding the alignment problem. Also, I've heard that simply rotating the tires can sometimes aleviate drift problems.
Ken
The tires should have been rotated with the last service I received. I had the Soob in to have the alignment checked, oil change, tire rotation, 28 point inspection, etc. I'll check the tire pressure tomorrow.
Take care,
Skip
Ron
Bob
A real advantage that was unexpected is that the front seat folds down flat (without even removing the headrest) to a level which is lower than the
rear storage compartment level. With that seat down I can easily accommodate 8' I 2' panels which I use for art displays-- actually 4'x8' foam core boards scored to fold to 2'x8'.
This is an easy task to accomplish and could be useful to someone who must be able to transport (and lock) long objects or for anyone contemplating a passenger sleeping horizontally in their Forester.
I love the option. It also gives me a keeper storage platform for carrying objects and is wonderfully accessible from the back doors. Since I occasionally carry tall bonsai-- the extra height was appreciated.
I need help on figuring how to use the roof rack
that came on my Forester. I need to occasionally carry a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood & can imagine other loads, but this silly rack has curved crossbars across its top and the sidebars along the roofline from front to back are also curved.
My internet searches tell me Subaru dealers sell accessories including a "round crossbar"-- is THAT what I should be looking to purchase? My topside requirements will probably be light.
On Subarus I've seen with working racks, I often see the Yakima name scawled on a front airfoil. Is that the way to go? Looks awfully "yuppie" and an overkill to mount a rack over a rack.
Thanks for your advice!