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Subaru Forester (up to 2005)
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Comments
IMO VTD is a better AWD system.
-juice
1. Whenever I start the car (no matter the engine is cold or hot), I can definitely feel some vibration coming from the engine before it kicks in and starts running.
2. Whenever the car is idling, I can feel very minor vibration from the lower back area of my car seat.
Has anyone experienced this from their new car? What could have caused the vibration? Since the car is still under warranty, I guess I need to pay a visit to a Subie service center.
elissa
In any event, the car that I bought has this slight vibration too. Anyone else in the car can not sense it. I am assuming that it just is how this car idles. That coupled with the fact that I am hyper sensitive about the car now and might be looking too closely for something. I figure that when I go back to the dealership for the first service I will mention it but I really feel that it's probably nothing.
Think of it as the equivalent of a Harley's unique exhaust note :-)
-Frank
Thanks!
In many small SUVs our stroller would only fit width-wise, and then it took up the entire cargo floor. In the Forester it took up about half.
LATCH anchors are standard and it's actually easier to load the seats on the sides, though the bench is flat so the middle will work also.
I'd suggest taking your child seats with you. Some fit better than others. Take your stroller also, fold it up and try it out.
Rear leg room is tight, but you get it back in the cargo area.
-juice
Kyle
Mike
Can anyone provide any insight on how difficult it is to install a hitch?
I've installed hitches on a bunch of vehicles, and they all have about the same level of complexity. It's usually a simple job.
CRaig
Is there a course of action I can take with Subaru? Although I have not paid for any of the repairs (it is under warranty), I believe this car will continue breaking down. I was told there was a subaru representative in this forum.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
I have taken care of this car. All maintenance work has been done according to the required schedule.
Thank you.
Patti is the rep from SOA -- her forum is here:
c_hunter "Subaru Crew: Official SOA Presence (aka Patti)" Nov 25, 2004 9:36am
Definitely have a chat with her, she's always been a real help. If you haven't already, call the Subaru 1-800 number and open a case with them, just to make sure they are aware of the issues you are having.
Craig
All services have been done by my subaru dealer except the last one which was a simple oil change. There is no problem with the amount of oil in the car or the transmission fluid.
Last year the transmission started hesitating and slipping. They replaced it only to have the same problem occuring a month later.
I have not had any problem with the tranny since.
However, the engine started making knock\king noises about a month ago. I took the car in to have the noise checekd and also check the coolant system because I noticed the reservoir was low.
They called and said the pistons in the engine had failed and I needed a new engine.
I really take care of my cars. I think I have a lemon.
My 2002 Forester was the Worst Subaru I ever owned. It was my 6th since 1978. And I never had to fight with Subaru so much in my life. I remember when my 85 GL wagon had a heat shield rattling after 9 months, Subaru replaced the Center Exhaust section, I didn't even ask them to. Now it's a different story.
My point is, You ARE getting it done, and it sounds like without any hassle (other than your own).
I did replace it this past May with a 2004 Forester. Now I have the car I expected to purchase over 2 years ago. Just hope this continues as my past Subaru experiences and not the more recent.
We, too, had all sorts of trouble with our 2001 anual L model. Almost from the start, we had problems with shudder and gear grinding/engagement. Since 2001, we've gone through four new clutches, two TSB services and a total transmission replacement. They were all covered under warranty, but not without a lot of grief, letters to Subaru headquarters and, most recently, a month of the Forester being in the shop.
When the transmission started grinding again (six weeks after the transmission replacement) we decided that was the last straw. We traded in the Forester for a new Honda Accord EX V6 coupe, which, with its traction control, handles the wet stuff as well as all-wheel drive, thank you very much.
We've owned four Subarus, and we have had no problems with our 2001 Outback Limited Sedan, which we hope to keep for another five or six years. But there must be some sort of curse on Foresters. I know I won't be getting another Forester. Depending on how my Honda and my remaining Outback experiences play out, we might be leaving the Subaru fold entirely. How long can it be before there's an AWD hybrid Accord ...?
The dealer wants $405/month for a 12k/3yr lease with 0 down on a car with a MSRP of $23,500. I think that is too high. Credit is very good so that is not the issue. Anyone out there with Subie lease experience? They were offering $249/month for a 12k/48 month lease and 0 down but I didn't want to go that long and be out of warranty. That was for a base X with auto minus a lot of the goodies I was adding. Are Subies better off bought than leased? Thanks.
mpgman, forget the potentially-confusing payment numbers and focus on the bottom line. You should be paying invoice or slightly below invoice on an 05 Forester. You can use Edmunds tools to price out a car with the options you are considering, and then see the MSRP and invoice prices. You can work out the payments from that point. These payments can be used to put lease deals into perspective.
I have always financed my Subarus, and then sold or traded them 3-4 years later with equity of at least $2000-3000. So from my standpoint, I have been better off buying/financing. Some lease offers are attractive (I have seen the Subaru "Sign and Drive" program you are referring to and it looks good at first glance) but you have to remember that at the end of the term, you have invested all that money but you have to give the car back to them (or pay some pre-defined cost to buy the car). I have always found leases to be either a) an obviously a poor choice, or b) an unclear choice. I have never seen a compelling or obviously good lease offer that I could really understand. So I guess I can't comment whether or not it's a good idea. I do think you won't go wrong by financing the car as long at the rate is 4.9%/60mos 3.9%/48mos or better.
Craig
The hitch on my '98 Forester took seven 17mm bolts. You have to disconnect some stuff and then reinstall, but it's not too tough. I used a jack to help lift it, and some tie-wraps to hold it in place.
-juice
I had a bunch of small (and some not-so-small) engine and transmission problems with my '01 manual transmission forester and was worried about the cost to me when it was no longer warrantied (dealer replaced the rear diff, 1st gear and synchro, axle joint, oil pump, piston pins, etc...). I had everything repaired under warranty, sold it for blue book excellent (while it still WAS in that condition) and got an '04 forester. I think I made the right decision and I hope the new owners have had nothing but reliable service from it but I wouldn't be so sure.
Elissa
Elissa- You got it reversed, it's 60k miles or 5 years :-)
-Frank
But more seriously, we see reports of the reliability that are averaged out. That means one person could still experience 10 times as many problems as the next. In fact, with a large enough sample you can almost be certain of that, and I mean for any car, any brand.
Right now there's a guy in the B9X threads complaining about his Lexus RX tranny, ready to trade for a Subie. And don't mention the word "sludge" to any Lexus 3.0l V6 owners.
-juice
I would like to resolve this issue with SOA based on the facts. I wouldn't mind if they gave me an extended warranty on the car.
We'll see what happens. Are you happy with your 04 forester?
fbk
Would someone please advise me how to program my alarm ('05 2.5X) for passive arming? The manual says to have the dealer do it. I prefer to be able to try either mode at my leisure. Thank you.
I've done this for all 3 of our Subaru's and had no problems with it. BTW - don't depend upon the dealer to know this - I had to explain it to them and show them in the manual because they didn't think it was possible. Sigh.....
HTH
Larry
As they say, YMMV. I average 25.1 mpg and my '93 was only rated 21/27 by the EPA. The new ones are rated as high as 23/30.
-juice
My Forester came through like a champ, but now, two days later, I notice that every time I Iower the window and then raise it, it is covered with moisture**. There must be water in the window wells. I'm not sure if this is going to cause mold, or if there's anything I can do to dry them out.
Any suggestions?
[**This may have been caused by having to repeatedly lower the wet window to pay tolls.]
-Frank
-juice
The car is a 01 S with Automatic. I do have the roof rack crossbars on ... and I would assume that costs me at least 1/2 mpg.
Subarus have two water seals areound the outside of the window. It is worth just checking that the area between the two has not got water sitting in it. A quick wipe with a dry cloth whilst the front window is down will do the trick!
If the water is on the inside, running the air conditioner and heat together will dehumidify the interior very rapidly.
Cheers
Graham
-Frank
-juice
E-mail parts@libertysubaru.com to get an idea of wholesaler prices.
-juice
Len
$24,100 for the XS with Moonroof, plus a few other upgrades. I'm betting the bottom line probably wouldn't have been too different, at least that's what I'm trying to tell myself.
For a little while they try to bump up their profits.
So don't sweat it, it probably would have been a hundred or two, i.e. not significant in the big picture.
Enjoy the Subies.
-juice