Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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  • fstevensnefstevensne Member Posts: 8
    I hauled laminate floor, for kitchen, informal dining, and laundry/mud room, in my Forester. DH's vehicle is an F150, but he was away for the weekend and I wanted to get the flooring home to get acclimated to the temp/humidity so he could get started on the install as soon as he returned. (I'm sure DH appreciated my thoughtfulness.) The Forester was sitting kind of low in the rear end, but no problem carrying the load.

    Faye
  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    I really like my Yakima Load Warrior. Everything attaches solidly to the factory cross bars. I've not noticed much noise. I had to put some pieces of Velcro behind the faring to stop the rattle. The only limitation is the mfg (140 lb) and Suby (150 lb) The cross bars of the YLL then act as the attachment point for various accessory mounts. Bob L
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    ...(I certainly agree)..ain't very much.

    In a parallel sense, my VW diesel pickup wouldn't really meet the monster criteria...

    ..around here the half yard of small bark goes for about $20; at the old AF base nearby a 2 cubic foot bag is $3...my needs are minimal (or I could never afford a Subaru FX next summer...ez
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The LL Bean edition Forester has that neat self-leveling rear suspension for those heavy loads. I hope the other models offer it soon.

    I have a soft carrier for the roof. It does not lock, and I lose about 1-2mpg with it up there, extra weight and extra drag. It was dirt cheap ($40 IIRC) and goes on and off quickly, though.

    -juice
  • mnfmnf Member Posts: 405
    Ok I am now ready to upgrade my speakers on my 2004 Forrester are they 5x7" (front) and 4" (back) and any suggestions on brand ... Thanks Matt
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Look at the Crutchfield website, they will tell you exactly what fits the car.

    Craig
  • smittynycsmittynyc Member Posts: 289
    I would heartily second Craig's recommendation of Crutchfield; they do a great job. But make sure to ask for a "Expert Recommendation" via e-mail. You enter in your car type and price range, and they'll e-mail you back recommendations.

    In the Forester's case, this is especially helpful because the Crutchfield "What Fits My Car?" feature doesn't list any 4" speakers for the rear doors.

    I am going to be replacing speakers soon (I think I'm going with Infinity). I'll let you know how it sounds once I get them installed.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think the fronts are round, not oval. At least they are on my '98 model, both the standard and the premium sound speakers.

    -juice
  • tazerelitazereli Member Posts: 241
    I was wondering if anyone have fit a large appliance (in the box) in the back of thier forester. I am thinking along the lines of a 4 burner oven, washer or dryer. Any info you could pass along would be appreciated. I have a 2002 Forester L if that helps with dimensions.

    Regards,

    Kyle
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    I put a large dog kennel in the back of my '01 Forester and '04 Forester. The dimensions are 30 in tall, 30 in wide, 39 in deep. I have to drop both back seats and the kennel has 1/2 inch of clearance top to bottom. The dog and the kennel together weigh 110 lbs. -elissa
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I think Juice has transported either a washer or a dryer in his Forester. My dog kennel is 30"h x 28"w x 40"d and it actually fits in the back widthwise. The usable box dimensions for the Forester are approx 30"h x 36"w x 60"d. The cargo area is considerably wider than 36" but the rear strut towers intrude into it and are therefore the limiting factor.

    -Frank P
  • jtm4jtm4 Member Posts: 60
    Our '98 Forester L hauls our large vari-kennel around. The kennel measures 26h X 24w X 36d. We fit an entire reclining chair in the Forester once. We had to fold down the Forester's back seats and recline the chair to get it in, but it fit. I've hauled mulch bags, grass squares, rock, and what seems like tons of recycle material. I hauled a clothes dryer, on it's back, in there too. I've been pleasantly surprised by the Forester's cargo capacity.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Subaru Crew chat tonight - starts in about 2.5 hours. Link is on the left.

    Steve, Host
  • slazengerslazenger Member Posts: 99
    Hello

    I am new to this forum. I have a few questions regarding Foresters tires. Hopefully, you folks help me out...


    I have 39K+ miles on my forester. I visited my dealer today for an oil change and tire rotation. The dealer did change oil but did not rotate tires. The service manager said the tires are "out of shape" and rotation could introduce vibrations. He suggested that I replace tires ASAP. I have rotated tires promptly every 5K miles and they all have about 3mm tread left (above the replacement mark). A couple of questions:

    * Should I replace the tires or get them rotated some place else?

    * Any recommendations for OEM Dueler/HT replacement? I live in Michigan - so, I prefer something that can handle snow and Michigan potholes (creators). My dealer is suggesting Michelin brand.



    Thanks
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    You might as well change the tires - 39K miles on a set of tires in a Forester is quite a lot. Plus, with 3mm of tread left, you are playing Russian roulette driving in the rain - too much hydroplaning on nearly bald tires.
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    On my 2001 Forester I replaced tires at 50K miles - wanted something good in snow and mud, yet still grippy and sort of performance tires, without too much road noise, and tires that washed the dishes too... ;-) I got the Continental Conti Extremes after searching for my preferences at http://www.tirerack.com. I was pleased with them in the 5K miles that I got out of them before selling the car. They had very aggressive tread, were grippy, not noisy after the first 1000 miles or so and didn't seem to loose any noticeable tread in that timeframe.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    You can get some of your tire questions answered right here: Tires, tires, tires

    We have a representive from The Tire Rack who will be happy to give advice and provide information. Coincidentally, his user name is tirerack!

    tidester, host
  • rochcomrochcom Member Posts: 247
    slazenger:

    3 mm (slightly less than 4/32") is dangerous in any but dry conditions. Tire manufacturers' treadwear warranties will give credit for tires only if they are worn down to 2/32 inch (about 1.6 mm), but if you drive them to that level you are flirting with an accident because of hydroplaning and poor traction. It is also likely in a Forester that has not had a wheel alignment that the tires are worn unevenly (likely in the case where the dealer says they are "out of shape"), making the situation even worse. They should be replaced. I replaced my OEM tires at 30,000 miles.

    I bought Bridgestone Turanza LS/T tires. These are a special version of the all-season Turanza that are designed to be good in snow and to maintain traction as they wear. They are expensive, but at the moment, there is a $50 rebate offer on them at Tire Rack. They are only T-rated (118 mph continuous), but since the Forester has a speed limiter that prevents it from going even that fast, they are fine. Mine have been on for 28,000 miles and they are less than 1/2 worn. I had an alignment done when I bought them which stopped the excessive outer edge wear I had on the factory tires and my first replacement set.
  • caperosiercaperosier Member Posts: 58
    The OEM Duelers were dangerous in ALL conditions even when new here in New England. They wore to the "wear" line in ~26K miles, not too good a choice for Subaru. Never any responses from SOA here or answers to my email about that choice . Just some "reasons" why that choice from the 'enthusiasts' on this site.
    Replaced w Michelin Symmetry. Good tire but poor wear.
    Now w Michelin Harmonys since last January. They're All Season and just OK in snow and ice and slush. Good on highway. I did not want to switch in winter. Besides, there is a very high (80K) wear rating. I'm pleased so far w ~11 K miles on them. Harmonys were highly rated on Tirerack by users.
  • sarakaysarakay Member Posts: 19
    Hi, I'm a newbie. Two days ago I bought a Cayenne Red XS with the premium package.

    So far I am loving it! However it will have to go back to the dealer for some warranty (I assume) work because I have a rattle coming from somewhere under the dashboard, on the driver's side, at low speeds over bumps. This was not apparent during the test drive. Everything else seems fine.

    The dealer tried to sell me soundproofing, rustproofing, clear coating etc. I turned them all down but now I am wondering if the clear coating ($365) would be a good idea. In doing research for the new vehicle purchase, I read that the car paints these days are not as durable as they once were. What do you folks think? Or should I just wax it a few times a year? The car will be garaged.

    One other question - do you folks get a lot of use out of the cargo tray? I am thinking about getting it, as well as the side cargo nets.

    Thanks,
    Sara
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Welcome! Sounds like you made the right decisions. The dealers often try to tack on all kinds of stuff you don't need.

    Last time around, I really interrogated the sales guy when he laid the paint protection package on me (the same dealer has tried to spring this on me the last three times I bought a Subaru from them -- for number four, I am going to squelch the sales pitch before they get started). Turns out it's just basically a wax/polymer coating that they apply once a year. Knowing how good certain waxes are (for instance Klasse), I see little value in paying the dealer to wax my car since I do it 1-2 times a year myself without a fuss. If you think you can wax your car 1-2 times a year with a quality product, then that's all you really need. That, and be sure to wipe off any bird droppings as soon as possible -- they can damage a clearcoat if left on too long.

    Hope you enjoy your new Forester! My wife has a silver XS, and it's been great.

    Craig
  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 5,083
    Congrats on your Forester. I love the red myself. I personally love the cargo tray. If you use your Forester to haul messy stuff like mulch or garden supplies, you can just take it out and hose it off afterward. And you can slide a bike in without worrying about ripping the carpet. I find it much more useful than the cargo net, which is anchored oddly in mine and not very convenient (mine is a '99 so they may have improved them).
    '24 Kia Sportage PHEV
    '24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
  • caperosiercaperosier Member Posts: 58
    Here goes again: now the J.D. Power survey out for defects in new cars. Subaru is below average...below GM, Daimler/Chrysler in problems for new vehicles !
    So, what is going on here ? The quality HAS changed over the past few years. Speak to us SOA about what the comapny is doing please ?
    No excuses such as "Subaru owners expect more? or some such _____.
    Please no marketing fool stuff like: "no one has ever had any problems" .
    Seriously.
  • jazzjazz Member Posts: 15
    Hi Sara,

    Congratulations on your new car! I took delivery of a gold one myself on 4/19 and I love it. I never even considered the soundproofing, rustproofing, or clearcoating and my dealer didn't even bring them up. He knew I had done my research ahead of time (thanks Edmunds!). As for options, I got the armrest extension, splash guards and the cargo tray, all of which I like very much. The cargo tray is a good investment in protecting that area of the car. I don't typically "haul" stuff back there, but a few bags of fertilizer or lime from the garden center could mess up the carpet if one should leak, especially if they're wet. I like knowing that I can take that tray out and hose it down. Plus, it has a slightly sticky surface so things don't slide around on it. I guess that stickiness may fade as it gets older, but for now it's a great place to put the grocery bags.

    Enjoy your new Subaru!
  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    My cargo tray was "slightly sticky" during the break in period. Now it is slippery and I have to tie things down to the cargo hooks. Bob L
  • joybelljoybell Member Posts: 275
    Years a go, my parents had their red Loyale wagon treated because the salesman at that time told them that the car would turn "pink" if they didn't have it done. A few years later that coating started to peel off just below the windows. Under the coating was a lighter red! So was/is the coating really only a wax, or is it a "plastic film", which is what it seemed to be?
  • joybelljoybell Member Posts: 275
    I hope this is a simple thing that doesn't need a trip to the dealer! The last few times (but not always) when I started up the the engine I heard a "gunggkk" noise a few seconds after the engine started. To try to find out where it was coming from, I opened up the hood, started the engine, jumped out, and had a look. It is on the left side of the radiator and I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard it! It's a lot louder than when sitting in the car with the hood closed! Could it be fuel pump related?
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    That was probably the clearcoat peeling off your parents car.

    My guess is the "gunkk" noise is the AC kicking in (it has a clutch that engages). It can be rather noisy, especially from under the hood. Try turning AC off/on and see if that's the culprit.

    If it is the AC, it's normal.

    CRaig
  • joybelljoybell Member Posts: 275
    so I don't think that could be it.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    it's an air bubble in the coolant lines? Not sure how to remedy it, but I think there's a 'burping' procedure somewhere.

    -Brian
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    What model Forester do you have? From 01 onwards, probably earlier, the AC comes on w/ defrost and it cannot be overridden. Is it possible that was on? And of course, if it's an 03-onwards with auto climate control, it may be coming on behind the scenes too.

    That's my guess, at least, having heard that noise before!

    Craig
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    I didn't want to spend the $60 or so dollars that my dealer quoted me for the cargo tray (which I LOVED on my 2001 Forester!) so I went to an auto parts store and for $20 bought a similar thickness plastic liner to line the cargo with. I have to cut it to fit perfectly but it works just as well and I saved $40! Not to mention, the "lip" all around the Subaru cargo tray always annoyed me when loading long stuff - it would always catch on the lips. -elissa
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    Personally, I think JD Powers and their "initial quality" reports are bogus (oops, did I spell that wrong? I meant BIASED). I think they take payoffs from certain manufacturers, although I can't substantiate that. Actually, I CAN substantiate that. Chrysler and others have to pay JD Powers to use their name and logo in advertising. So every time you see a Dodge commercial that touts "Highest initial quality by JD Powers and Associates" you know Dodge payed them to say that. Do you REALLY think JD Powers is going to be UN-biased when it comes to reporting initial quality when they consider where their last meal came from? I don't think so. They are not in a position to be fair.

    Furthermore, when I buy a car, I have to consider the difference between "initial quality" and "long term reliability". I consider Consumer Reports' results to be more trustworthy personally, and my own personal experience with a brand. Besides "initial quality" I take to mostly include reports of silly little things that a dealer can fix in 1 minute to 1 hour. Whereas when I buy a new car, I'm more concerned with how the engine will hold up after 1 decade. I don't pay JD Powers reports any heed when I'm in the market.
  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    I just finished changing the cabin filter in the X. It took about 30 min including clean up and looking for a missing screw. I don't know how I can remove 9 screws and end up with 8 to put it all back together (Murphy. The old filter (20 months) was full of seeds and small pieces of who knows what. I'm sold on this filter capability. I think I'll vacuum the old filter and save it as a reserve. At $40.00 what the heck. The actual filter material was still fairly clean. Bob L
  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    The used cabin filter cleaned up nicely. I sprayed the inlet side with Simple Green and then did a reverse flush with tap water. This thing looks NEW. Can anyone think of a reason this can't be re used up to a point? Bob L
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    JD Power (singular <g>) sells its data and its logo - to all comers. That's how they make their money (link). I think it's a better survey than CR for example, since they aren't surveying a captive subscriber base.

    A cross check is to compare the initial 90 surveys with ones from 3 or 5 years out. We have the JD Power Circle ratings on most cars, including the Forester.

    Steve, Host
  • joybelljoybell Member Posts: 275
    Odd, but how do you explain that for "body and interior quality" the 2000 Forester gets 4/5, the 2001 gets 2/5, the 2002 gets 4/5? What was the big difference in the 2001 models?
  • mnfmnf Member Posts: 405
    Dont forget that in 1999-2000 they rated the DAEWOO in the TOP three . Look where they stand now....
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I changed ours today too. I did notice that the filter material is a low-loss microfiber mesh, so it may not function as well once it is washed. Hard to say. I do remember hearing of people who bought 3M home air filters and cut them down to size for use in cars. If you could somehow cram the filter material into a re-used Subaru filter frame, it should work! I may look into this next time around.

    Craig
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Subaru was above average on the last 3 year dependability study.

    http://www.jdpa.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2003050

    "Other notable performances in the 2003 results include Subaru and GMC, which both performed considerably better when measured at three years in VDS than when they were measured at 90 days of ownership. At the other end of the spectrum is Mercedes-Benz, which experiences the largest quality gap between initial quality and long-term quality measurements. Also deteriorating more rapidly than the average vehicle are Audi and Volvo."

    -Dennis
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    I changed my cabin filter last month and it had just as you described, seeds/leaves/hair and a fair amount of dirt. I chucked mine, but I will look at cleaning it next time as you described. For what it is, $40 is pricey. It probably is the supply/demand issue.

    John
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Now *THAT* is funny, Forester gets 2/5 stars for "Style" in the JD Power.

    Here's how it works, today, the styling on my Forester looks great. But yesterday, it just wasn't working properly. My styling is very, very unreliable. The quality of the styling varies a lot. This Forester is a lemon. I swear it was beautifully styled when I bought it! :o)

    Honestly, that's getting a little ridiculous. First, the pan the Mini Cooper for cup holders. Then, the Hummer for actually using gas (doing so quite well I might add).

    I mean, what are they measuring, really?

    Honestly, I can see that affected their APEAL study scores, if owners happen to have the opinion that styling isn't appealing.

    But QUALITY? Gimme a break.

    -juice (still chuckling about that)

    PS Yes, I fit an oversized Fridgidaire clothes washer inside my 1998 Forester, still in the box! Hatch closed, too.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    They are measuring what consumers are telling them aren't they? I remember the Hummer stink last year - seems that owners didn't know what to expect since there's no EPA rating for Hummer sized rigs. When the mpg came in low, they complained on the survey. That's not exactly a quality issue.

    Under the definitions for my link, JD Power says:

    Style: This score is based on how consumers rated the interior and exterior styling of their vehicle.

    I guess everyone is lying on the surveys?

    Steve, Host
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I just see absolutely no correlation between styling and quality. It's absurd.

    Measure it, fine, just don't label it "Initial Quality".

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    it was 02.00am when i bought my forester and god knows all cars look really nice when the bars close. so when i awoke with the forester i was mortified and no amount of coyote love could cure it. thus the 2/5 rating.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I wonder if that's an Edmunds category label - the IQS from JD Power just talks about problems.

    We label the Circle Ratings as Initial Quality Ratings (0-90 days) but the definitions says:

    "Initial Ratings (0-90 days)

    These seven scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after the first few months of ownership." link.
     
    Steve, Host
  • tazerelitazereli Member Posts: 241
    Thanks to all for the large-object-in-the-back advice. We got our stove on saturday and it fit great. We happened to get it at a Sears outlet center so we didnt have a box to contend with. I did notice however that leaving the lipped cargo mat in the back presented a slight problemn whilst the range was removed. It caught between the range and outer cargo area lip and wedged the range against the roof. A few minutes of tugging remedied the situation though. Thanks again

    Kyle
  • gherman131313gherman131313 Member Posts: 17
    I'm rapidly approaching the dreaded 36,000 mile mark on my 2003 Forester 2.5X.

    Question:

    When I return to dealership for scheduled oil change before 36,000, what else should I ask them to look at before the initial warranty runs out?
  • debbiehazedebbiehaze Member Posts: 8
    My husband and I bought a 2003 Forester XS Premium with leather. We loved it, but gave it to our daughter for college graduation a few months ago. Now, to replace it! We would like another Forester or maybe the new Legacy, but really want a cassette player in addition to the CD. No dealer has been able to offer us any suggestions how we might accomplish this. Even our local customizing shop is without a suggestion. Help! We find ourselves looking at other vehicles with cassette/CD combos and that can't be the answer!
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Well I'm not a big fan of anecdotal evidence but here it goes anyway... my 04 Forester is definitely a step better than my 01 was in initial quality. The 01 wasn't bad mind you; it just had a couple of interior rattles while the 04 has none. However, the 01&#146;s 3-year reliability was outstanding and I have every expectation that my 04 will continue that tradition.

    -Frank P
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