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Subaru Forester (up to 2005)
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Comments
My guess is the Fuji earnings estimate annoucement and the sale on Foresters in your local area are conincidental. Typically, large multinational companies allow the local offices, in this case Subaru of America, to make pricing decisions. Furthermore, dealers often have discretionary pricing vis-a-vis their head office as well. It would probably take quite a push from Fuji Heavy to ripple down to your local Oregon dealership.
I haven't been following sales figures, but how about other Subaru models or even other makes? Is the decline on the Forester sales idiosyncratic or systemic?
Ken
Not sure why.
-kens: Sorry we missed you on your recent trip to CO. Maybe next time...
-brianV
--dcdouglas
I've seen this reference made in a couple of posts and I'm guessing perhaps "premium package"?
If so, what do you gain over the regular XT model?
Thanks in advance,
Donn
Forester sales are off in Japan, that's what he's referring. Of course they don't get the wonderful 2.5T engine.
-juice
If anyone on the west coast (or east coast too) wants to have some fun
http://www.rallyusa.com/adv_general.html
I wasn't able to go last year, but I'm in for sure this year.
All these allow me to drive through my citrus orchard at night, check temperatures, float through soggy ground without leaving ruts, and determine weather I am going to lose my crop or not, all in heated and knowledgeable comfort.
John
Tahoe Charlie
Craig
That is way cool. You need to share a photograph of that activity.
Can you harvest through the moonroof? :-D
Ken
Are you still within the 3/36 warranty?
Craig
The OE glass on the Forester windshield isn't of poor quality, but I have noticed that my Carlex replacement (US made Legacys use Carlex) seems a little less prone to chips.
Ken
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid42/p4d13a0a6934daa2e8957- 93094d34a7b9/fceb18b5.jpg
I don't have the heated seats or the temp gauge. Guess that still makes me jealous.
Actually Ken, Carlex makes the OE glass too, at least mine.
Run a pen along the crack, if it stops and you find a pit, it was hit. Maybe stress from the temp change was the straw that broke the camel's back. Insurance covers it in this case, usually on your Comprehensive.
If there is no pit, I'd call 800-SUBARU3 and try to get a free replacement.
-juice
-mike
I like running through the middles when the filaree is iced over, it is a cheap way to use my Forester as a mower. Saves herbicide too .
John
(There are no limits on imagination.)
In 2 years? Forester will be in its last year. We will see the base model get AVCS and 180hp, plus better mileage. VTD AWD will be standard and VDC stability control an option, stand-alone.
The XT will have a 17" wheel option, and they'll finally admit power was 250hp all along, 260 lb-ft of torque. That engine will get double AVCS and maybe a boost beyond that.
Not that it needs it. Read the new C&D, they have a BMW X3 review, and one editor compares it to the Forester XT, and much prefers the Subie. Never mind that it costs $15 grand less!
-juice
IMO, Subaru could seriously promote their Baja Turbo as a farm vehicle. I see a ton of Chevy Avalanches driven by farmers, and the Baja Turbo could easily win every comparison except towing capacity.
John
-mike
Brumby or Brat, depending on where you live in the world. they remain a very popular farm vehicle here in Australia. Somehow, the Baja does not have quite the same feel to it. Its a much bigger, heavier vehicle with nowhere near the same off road ability.
I love my Outback but the front and rear overhangs are poor and ramp angle compromised by the bumpers. Whilst it handles poor traction conditions well, it is nowhere near as capable as the Brumby was on poor trails.
Cheers
Graham
ohsubeguy
The CHECK ENGINE light went on; I took it to the dealer and they said there was a misfire code, and blamed bad gas. It's not due for a new fuel filter yet, but I had them change it anyway. They refused to cover a PENNY under the warranty, not even the diagnostics for this unscheduled service call.
When I questioned this, and asked what the warranty did cover --- the service manager threw an absolute fit - and told me not to come back!!
I went to the sales manager with this, later on that evening. He had been told about the SM's tantrum and incredible behavior by a few employees who witnessed the exchange!! I also wrote to the dealership owners... and haven't heard anything back yet.
Now I need to know where to go at Subaru Corporate. What is the structure and who do you call when you're treated so poorly by one of their dealer service deparments??
I walked into that place eleven months ago and paid cash for a new car... and got treated like that??? Amazing!!
Subaru certainly wants and needs to know about this problem.
I'll post results and updates on this board too. Users have been very helpful in the shopping/buying/driving process so far.
Thank you.
Martin
Anyway, my first question is for recommendations on where to get the windshield replaced in the greater Boston area. I am willing to travel for quality service, certainly within eastern Massachusetts and perhaps beyond. The dealer where I bought the car was pretty unimpressive on prep -- getting an oil stain on the driver's floor mat and leaving the tire pressure about 5 lbs too high -- and even the saleman complains about how "you can't trust anyone there to do things right" (a remark he made twice when I came to take delivery of the car, with no provocation on my part). I am wary about letting this particular service department do a repair as difficult as a windshield replacement for fear that they will create water or wind leaks.
My second question, raised by the thread above, is whether this damage could be the result of a defect and therefore covered by warranty. As I said, there is a chip but it is truly tiny - not much bigger than a grain of sand. I have not yet contacted the dealer or my insurance company, as I have been hoping to find a recommended repair facility first.
By the way, although I am a Subaru newbie and this is my first post, I have been reading this Forester message site for a long time as I was deciding what kind of car to buy. It's a very informative message site and is conducted in an impressively civilized fashion.
David
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
Martin: call 800-SUBARU3. That dealer needs a serious lesson in customer service.
David: first welcome. You'll find a lot of other Daves here. )
In MD, insurance covers windshield glass, so check with your agent first. If not, you don't have heating elements on the X model, so any windshield will do. The one on the XS is pricier.
CEL can be frustrating because it's usually nothing, yet you have to reset them. Thank the feds for that rule.
You can buy an ODB2 scan tool for about $110. I think Brian Bear pointed a site out to me. I had inquired about a group buy, but they never got back to me.
They have a couple of models, but one model fits all Subies, and Mazdas, so it would work on all 3 of the cars in my fleet.
A quicker/cheaper way is to reset the ECU. Disconnect the negative battery terminal, wait 20 minutes, then reconnect. Be ready if you have an alarm with the keyless remote. Then start her up, let it idle 'til warm. That should reset the light if it was just bad gas. If the light comes back on you need to check the code, enter the ODB2 scanner.
-juice
There are others as well, but this one will hook up to a 'lowly' pentium I laptop. With the group buy at MPV club, I got mine for under $100.
* no, I'm not affiliated, related, or partnering with obd-2.com * :-)
-Brian
Also my CEL came on about two years ago after I had not replaced the gas cap tightly enough (you know 6 or 7 clicks worth) when refueling. After about 100 miles of driving it went out. Now while reading some of the recent posts here I'm wondering is there anything I need to be concerned about or need to have reset?
Thanks to all,
Donn
David- It's possible that the windshield was chipped while still on the transport truck. You could have easily missed a small chip when you took delivery (FYI: a chip is most likely to turn into a crack on a cold morning when the defrost is turned on). You can try to convince the dealer to fix it but I personally wouldn't hold out much hope for that. Hopefully you live in a state that mandates replacement glass coverage. If so, your insurance company will arrange for someone to come to you to replace the glass. Otherwise you will have to pay the comprehensive deductible if you want the insurance company to replace it.
Mary- Sounds like your dealer's service dept isn't the best. If your engine is running rough and you've changed brands of gas then there's got to be something else wrong. I suggest you find a local reputable repair shop to look at it. Any half-way decent shop can pull the codes and since you're out of warranty anyway, there's no reason to drive 50 miles for poor service.
-Frank P.
http://www.1stsubaruparts.com/
http://www.allsubaru.com/
http://www.lachutesubaru.com/
http://www.libertysubaru.com/
http://www.premiersubaru.com/
http://www.smothers.com/subaru/
http://www.subaruparts.com/
http://www.subaru-parts.com/
I'm not sure if the links still work, but shop around. Let us know where you end up?
-juice
John
You're right, I did have them replace the fuel filter. My decision, my dime.
It was the $72 diagnostics charge for the CHECK ENGINE light that initiated the unscheduled visit to the Subaru dealer service dept.
That service manager really flipped out! I have never, ever seen such unprofessional, unprovoked hostility in all my life! He either forgot his medication that day... or maybe took too much!
I will post again when there's some reaction from their side.
Thank you!
Martin
-juice
Martin- I hope you've called 800-SUBARU3 and reported this. IMO that service manager should be filing for unemployment.
-Frank P.
-- Mary
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
Jim
Another dealer in town wanted $54.95!! The rest of the sites you listed were between $32 to $39 plus shipping which averaged around $6 to $8 dollars.
I'm having the same dealer I bought the filters from align my Forester. Has anyone had their Forester aligned at a dealer, and if so, what did you pay? Just curious to see how prices may vary from state to state.
Thanks again Juice if you are ever in San Diego the cerveza is on me!
Donn
There is a big difference between an adult (even a small one) being hit with a standard air bag, and an infant - especially, in a reverse-facing car seat. Infants don't drive cars, so no need to install dual stage in the driver's seat in my opinion.
- D.
Which S.D. Subaru dealer, Baker or Balboa? The cabin filters in my '03 are due for a change, so I'll be picking up a set soon.
Cheers,
Lowell
Donn
You're right about the ash. The darn stuff is everywhere, still. After those terrible fires, it'll be mud slides next. :{(
I wonder why there was such a big difference in price between the two BB locations. They are, after all, both part of the same company.
I'll probably be taking my '03 in for service at the El Cajon shop in a couple of weeks. I'll see if they're quoting the same price then. If so, and they won't haggle, I'll order filters from an on-line store. I live in Chula Vista, so the cost of petrol and my time for a trip to Carlsbad adds up to more than the shipping cost of an on-line purchase. Besides, it's fun when the big brown van pulls up in front of the house.
Cheers,
Lowell
I do not have the auto climate control running. I turn the heat on manually because I don't like the huge blast of cold air that happens with the auto mode.
Has anyone had this happen to them? Should the defrost come on automatically like that?
Think, people. Don't be led around by the nose by sensationalist media and avaricious, unprincipled trial lawyers. Ask yourselves a few probing questions: How many of the people who allegedly have been "killed" by an air bag would have survived the crash if the air bag had not deployed? Perhaps a few, mainly in fluky low-speed impacts that just barely triggered the device.
Then ask: How many of those relatively few so-called victims were not wearing their lap-and-shoulder seatbelts - and how many would have survived their encounter with the airbag if they'd simply been properly belted in? You're down to a very small number who actually were belted in and who died as a direct result of the airbag and who would have survived without it. Those are the only deaths that can actually, rationally be blamed on the airbags.
Finally, consider how many thousands more would have died in higher-speed crashes if the so-called "killer" air bags had not been in their vehicles?
Where is the balance - let alone any semblance of thoughtful analysis - in the reckless accusations about "killer air bags"?
I haven't seen any authoritative studies that would definitively answer these rather obvious questions, but you can bet your last dollar that the trial lawyers who feed on trumped-up product liability lawsuits and extorted settlements could not care less about finding the real truth.
Just curious.
Thanks.