Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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Comments

  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    Trust me, you will be glad that the lights and radio go off when the car goes off - especially in those NE winters which tend to drain batteries for all they are worth! You'll probably never need a jump start again from leaving your lights or radio on. :-) I for one LOVE that ignition off feature. But you might want to carry around jumper cables anyway - so that you can feel good about helping all the non-subaru owners out there!
    elissa
  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    Lights off with ignition has spoiled me. I drive a pick up truck once in a while for work and in the last year I have needed two jumps from draining the battery after leaving the lights one. I just look up in the sky and yell "where's my Forester?" Bob L.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I don't know about the rest of you guys but I hate automatic door locks (I think I'm perfectly capable of deciding for myself when the doors should be locked). Thankfully I've never owned a car that had them.

    I do agree that the radio staying on until you actually take the key out of the ignition is a neat feature.

    -Frank
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I don't like the auto door locks either.

    Bob
  • speterson1speterson1 Member Posts: 228
    Just like Bob L., I love the Forester's lights-off-with-ignition feature. Our other car is a Civic and I'm glad it buzzes at us when we leave the lights on and open the driver's door; that buzz has saved me many a potential jump-start!

    Steve
  • luvmuhforesterluvmuhforester Member Posts: 3
    Hi - just wanted to know if anyone here has installed the optional armrest extension. Will appreciate any feedback regarding the pros and cons and of course the total expenses.
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    i haven't installed it myself but i have had two subaru foresters with the armrest extension. it's a "must" for me. i have to be able to rest my right arm while driving, especially when i drive the manual. it's the perfect hight for me and nice that there's extra storage space. maybe you can go into your dealer and sit in a forester that does have it installed so you can get a feel for it?
    elissa
  • officeglenofficeglen Member Posts: 15
    I have a 5sp manual and tried the armrest extension. I found my it got in the way of my elbow. I gave it three weeks before I took it off. I'm 5'8", your mileage may vary. It's still in the garage gathering dust.
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    I'm 5'9" and I LOVE it ... :-) go figure...
  • mnfmnf Member Posts: 405
    The first thing i bought with in a week of my new Forester. It takes all of five minutes if your slow. It a great asset as i use it for my arm also to rest on. If your looking for one check some dealers my local dealer wanted $35.00 more than i found it at a dealer back east. Good luck you wont regret it...
  • mpgmanmpgman Member Posts: 723
    Trying to decide between a Jetta wagon and an 05 Forester. What are you getting mileage wise in suburban/highway type driving with an X automatic and a light foot? Are the EPA estimates accurate?

    Thanks.
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    Expect on average 25 mpg in the forester - I think you can get up to 27/28 highway driving, 30 if you are very careful. Expect to pay much more in repairs for the Jetta - much less reliable than the Forester. Much smaller than the Forester. Less fun than the Forester... shall I go on...? :-)
    elissa
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Mixed hwy/city driving: 22-24mpg

    Long hwy trip (~500 mi): 30mpg

    Craig
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    ....back to verify, but I'm pretty sure 34 highway mpg has been previously noted within this thread.......got my attention.....ez
  • mnfmnf Member Posts: 405
    I have a 04 Forester (auto W/ 8000 miles)I just returned from a trip to the Oregon Coast and back (1400 miles RT) via some stops and visits in misc towns . With a mix of 80%(Hwy) 20%(City) and a full load of baggage and with 1 Adult a 11 year old and two 14 year olds i averaged for the trip 26.5. This was going 75-77 on the freeways and 60-65 on the hwy where i could.
  • mpgmanmpgman Member Posts: 723
    Just wanted to see if the EPA numbers were in the ballpark. Any plans for a Forester diesel here in 06 with the new low sulphur fuel?
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Any plans for a Forester diesel here in 06 with the new low sulphur fuel?

    None that I know of and I seriously doubt that we'll see a diesel Forester (or any Subaru for that matter) in the U.S. any time soon.

    -Frank
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    I wonder whether annyone has ever made a production version of a horizontaly opposed diesel. I suspect not as a Google search throws up types of underpants if I search on the phrase.

    I would imagine that the forces would be fairly impressive from the head pressure that typically runs about 2.5 times the compression of a petrol engine. Gee, that would really test the head gaskets which are one of the recurent problems of boxer engines.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    I actually heard a speculation in the auto industry recently (I don't recall the source) that turbo diesels might be the way the industry should go to get clean (diesel is much cleaner now), fuel efficient, inexpensive power. I suppose Volvo will be ahead of the curve there should that become a trend. However, I would think when it comes to fuel efficient trends, I tend to watch what Honda does and I don't see diesel in their near future. But, who knows.
    Elissa
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I tend to watch what Honda does and I don't see diesel in their near future.

    Honda is selling a diesel in Europe right now. Whether they will bring it over here, who knows? If their hybrid works out, probably not.

    Bob
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    I was in Sam's Club today and while looking at their pressure washers, I found a 3100 PSI "Karcher" model, which is listed as having a 9 HP Subaru engine. I'm trying to decide if I should buy now, or wait for the turbo model, due out later this year, as a '06 model!

    Len
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    LMAO
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    Does it have AWD? VDC? EAT? VTD? Side airbags? LOL
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    will ken dress it up on his driveway and take a pic? what color silver? lol
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    LOL Len! Wait for the Karcher Pressure Washer XT model, with a turbo. But remember it requires premium fuel. ;-)

    Elissa: just ask Honda to document the fact that the engine ran with no coolant at all. If they won't, write a certified letter to the dealer just to be safe. Subaru lets you place a "customer says" call to their 800 line, maybe Honda offers a similar option for you?

    You caught it early, so it's probably OK. But an alloy engine block is not happy when it overheats. If you have warped heads and get gasket leaks in the future, this is probably the reason.

    Andrew: tell them congrats for me. The only tough thing to access are the spark plugs. The rest is all in bright yellow and easy to find.

    luvmuhForester: congrats, and there is a Suggestions board that Subaru follows here on Edmunds.

    mpgman: lucky for you, I chart my mileage. Here are the last few tanks on my '98 Forester L:

    27.8
    27.6
    26.1
    25.4
    25.8
    22.8
    25.7
    25.9
    23.6

    Funny thing is the 22.8 was with a lawn mower on the roof (not very aerodynamic) and the 23.6 was with a big baby stroller on the roof.

    Lesson? Don't carry things on the roof if you want peak mileage.

    Good news - the 2005s are far more efficient than mine. Mine is EPA rated for 21/27, the 2005s get 23/30!

    -juice
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    the small engine "Subaru" is actually made by Robin, a french company. 10 years ago, they were considered more robust than Honda, Briggs, Tecumseh, etc.

    John
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Party pooper! ;-)

    Saw a one-off French vehicle in the garage once, I swear he had a boxer twin. Yes, an H2 engine. It was bizarre.

    -juice
  • gmginsfogmginsfo Member Posts: 116
    While Diesels have come a long way in terms of cleanliness, this bicyclist thinks they need to go a long way further before he'll buy one - and becomes more confirmed in that opinion every time he's stuck riding behind one. Let's get an 87-octane 6 under that hood, I say!

    One thing I've tried lately to boost mileage is being more faithful to "driving by the tach." Especially when entering freeways and going up grades, I try not to exceed 3500 RPM, unless there's traffic behind me. I've had some improvement, but not as much as I'd like to see.

    Someone asked earlier about sound system upgrades. I've found that the AM/FM/WB/Cassette/6-CD changer on my 2003 XS needed only the stock tweeter kit and new door speakers all around to sound tons better, all of which I got for under $100. There's plenty of juice in that system to power the Polks with enough bass to make you thankful you didn't lose that rear cargo well storage space to a subwoofer. The only extra item you may need is an RCA-jack harness kit, which is worth the money since it transmits the signals from the receiver to the speakers more efficiently. But if you find a good auto audio shop, a good wiring technician can probably save you even that expense too.
  • bblachabblacha Member Posts: 160
    Two-cyl. air-cooled boxers used to be very common in Citroens, e.g. the famous old 2CV manufactured for 50 yrs., hardly one-off :-) They are well-loved there and made to last forever. A beautifully restored engine:
    http://webperso.easyconnect.fr/goutelle/aff_photo.php?id=170
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    This car was a roadster, engine hung way out in front of the front axle, even. Definitely a rare kit car of some sort.

    Who knows, it may have started life early on as a 2CV chassis?

    If I see it again I'll snap a photo.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    but I think a state-of-the-art boxer twin could work on a micro-car from Subaru. I could see the R1e with just such an engine, perhaps taking a 2.0 WRX engine, and lopping off two cylinders.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    There is room for a smaller boxer four, though.

    Think about it, Subaru's smallest engine is 2.5l in this country - that's huge!

    Scion is having success with a 1.5l. I see no reason why Subaru couldn't go back to selling a 1.8l or so Impreza-based people mover. Maybe a tall hatch back.

    -juice
  • gened1gened1 Member Posts: 256
    Where can I find out more info on the upcoming Subaru 7 seater?
    Gene
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It won't be a Forester though.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I think any 4-cylinder boxer will hang out over the front end quite a bit, even a small one. Micro cars like the R1e have almost no front overhang. I'm not sure you can put a small H-4 in there without increasing that overhang. With an H-2 you might be able to do that. Also, and an H-2 with so many less parts, would be cheaper to build, which is very important in that very price-conscious market segment.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It doesn't have to be a micro car. I'd like to see a 5 door tall hatch, maybe a shortened Impreza chassis.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Something that spans the gap between an 660cc R2 and the Impreza; a (true) Subaru replacement for the Justy.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Mercedes chose not to bring the A-class here, it'll bring a small SUV based on that instead. Same with Smart, we'll see an SUV based on the ForFour, not any ForTwo derivatives.

    That's the segment I think Subaru could enter - smaller than Forester SUV/van. Then let the Forester grow a bit (perhaps Legacy based).

    -juice
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    I don't think 2.5 is the smallest Subaru engine in the U.S. Isn't the WRX engine only a 2.0?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I should have said "smallest output".

    -juice
  • smittynycsmittynyc Member Posts: 289
    This question probably isn't Forester-specific, but I thought I'd throw it out there since nobody knows less about cars than I do.

    I have a 5-month-old 04 X with 4600 miles. Beginning about a week ago, I've noticed that after pulling out of our parking garage onto our street and accelerating (mildly), the transmission sticks in 2nd, and only unsticks if I slow to a near stop or accelerate briskly.

    This only happens when the engine's cold, and more interestingly, it only happens when I'm exiting our parking garage. When we've been out of town and parked it elsewhere, there's no sticking after a cold start the following morning.

    It may be helpful/instructive to know that our parking garage is built into the side of a hill, and the exit is on the garage's top floor. We are on the second floor of the garage, and it's four levels to the top.

    Similarly, I've noticed occasionally transmission's slow to downshift when I'm coasting down a hill (this is an exceptionally hill neighborhood) at 25-30 mph, or when I'm coasting in congested-but-moving highway traffic at similar speeds but level terrain). This has happened with both a cold and a warm engine.

    Any ideas of what's going on, and what I should say to my service guys if it comes down to that? The car was given a perfect bill of health at its 3000 mile check-up.

    Thanks in advance.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    The transmission will delay upshifts on a cold start -- the last two Subarus I have owned with the 4-spd auto (including an 03 Forester XS) did this. I believe the idea is to warm everything up quicker by holding lower gears. It usually reverts back to normal operation within a few minutes/miles.

    The transmission has a "grade logic" feature that alters upshifts and downshifts on hills. Sometimes it works well (ie, it will downshift sooner going up a hill than it would on a flat road) but other times it seems to get confused (ie, it will downshift at the top of a hill when I least need it). As far as I know, the transmission will only downshift on a downhill run if you are also using the brakes (ie, it knows you want braking). Otherwise it would probably coast.

    When driving on a flat road, the transmission will downshift a gear change or two as you are coming to a stop. I beleive there is a downshift at around 18mph or so (we were talking about this at one point). If you are just coasting, it will probably hold the current gear until you apply throttle or brakes. Again, coasting is sort of an inbetween situation.

    If I had to guess, I would say the combination of these two feature is giving what seems like flakey behavior on cold / hilly starts. The fact that you don't notice it in other locations seems to support the idea. What you describe is normal when you consider the two scenarios separately, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

    Craig
  • smittynycsmittynyc Member Posts: 289
    Your explanation makes perfect sense--and I actually meant to say that the transmission is QUICK to downshift on a downhill coast or level coast in traffic, and both of those are times when I'd likely be braking.

    I appreciate it!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    There's a Subaru chat tonight - link's on the left.

    Steve, Host
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    Ditto on everything Craig said! My '04 XT automatic is "sticky" in the low gears until it's warmed up. Thereafter, I find it does get easily confused around 20mp - it shifts TOO often between 2nd and 3rd at that speed once warmed up. Oh well. That's the 4EAT (4sp electronically controlled automatic transmission) for you - I could't wait for a 5EAT to be available. :-)
    elissa
  • miamihawkmiamihawk Member Posts: 6
    I have 36000 miles on my 02. I can't find the 3 recommended plugs listed in the owners manual. I went to an O'Reilly auto parts store and they found a bosch platinum 4 plug set that would work for my car. The question is, will these be as good as the original plugs ? They are # 4201. Talking to 2 subaru reps that were visiting the dealership I bought my car at, they scoffed at any one trying to do simple maintanence to their vehicle. Don't tell them them that you use synthetic oil or have an k&n air filter. You'll be ridiculed. Everything should be done at the dealership !! I cracked the airfilter housing some how and they would not replace it under warranty unless I payed half. Please forgive my rambling on, but I came away upset with talking to these 2 reps. ( Jack Miller Subaru Olathe Kansas ) Will these bosch plug work for me ?
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    I used Bosch Platinums on my 96 Legacy. They worked just fine.
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    I'd never expect the dealer to reimburse me for a part that I broke. Which is good in my case, because I'm sure he wouldn't :<). Even half is not bad.

    BTW - I found the easiest way on my 03 to change the air filter was to remove the whole assembly - takes all of 5 minutes, then you can clean all the crud out of it w/o worrying about getting anything in the throttle body throat. I just put a baggie over the intake so nothing else would blow/fall into it until I was ready to reassemble it. Took me longer to type this than to actually do it.

    Larry
  • mpgmanmpgman Member Posts: 723
    I know the Subaru is considered an SUV...but looking for a small wagon and decided to wait for the Jetta redesign down the road. Choosing now between these two. I can get a loaded 05 Focus SES wagon with every option including leather, heated seats, ABS, traction control, side air bags, roof, etc., with the new $2000 rebate plus $500 internet cash and dealer discount for just south of $18,000. A Subaru X with add on leather will run in the low $22,000s locally. What do you think?
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    ....real curse. (perhaps you'll avoid it, perhaps not......) ez
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