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Subaru Forester (up to 2005)
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Then go to Mods in the left hand column and select Forester, then select "Audio, Security, Lighting & Electronics".
One of the first 5 or 6 postings will be about the overhead clock resistor pic.
It doesn't affect the factory installed one does it...and which one has the engine cut off? Or does either? Is the dealer installed one covered by the warranty? Thanks!
The high mileage oils have seal conditioners (reduces the chance of leaking), but there are folks the a for and against them. They are thicker, which is good for more protection but they are usually not energy conserving if that's a concern for you.
-Dennis
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately for me, I believe I have a leaking head gasket on my 99 Subaru Forester S. I can smell fuel/exhaust fumes in the coolant reservoir. Also, coolant is not flowing back from the reservoir into the radiator when the engine cools off.
Does anyone know of a good engine mechanic in the SF Bay Area -- preferably in the South Bay/Peninsula area? I know that's a tough question, but hopefully somebody has had a good experiences with a shop that has done engine work -- in particular, diagnosing and replacing a head gasket.
If I can't get a good recommendation, I will probably default to Carlsen Subaru.
Thanks.
Ken
I read somewhere online that it may be a loose connection in the cruise control assembly but have been unable to locate that posting again. Any ideas would be appreciated.
-juice
I looked around at the lease boards and couldn't figure out the best place to post, so I thought I'd post here. (Steve, Tidester, maybe you could point me in the right direction?)
Anyway, the lease on my 2001 Forester is coming to an end in a few months. However, I'm looking at trading it in right now. When the dealer looked at it, they said the clutch is going. It does have the occasional chatter, but I'm pretty sure the clutch is "fine." (I just found out about that discussion on here -- that'll teach me to not keep up with "the crew" )
However, and just in case, if the clutch does need to be replaced, can I turn it in that way at the end of the lease? Would it be considered normal wear-and-tear and they would just have to accept it, or is that one of those items that I'll have to replace?
The dealer knocked the trade-in value down because of the clutch and if I have to replace it anyway, might as well give it to them and get a new car.
Otherwise, maybe I'll just wait it out until spring...
Thanks all,
--Dan
tidester, host
If you lease a new car from the dealer I'd ask them to waive the cost entirely.
-juice
--Dan
Thanks. They've met me part of the way there. I'm also working with another dealer, so we'll see...
--Dan
tidester, host
I know there's a bunch of folks in the Bethesda area here -- any recommendations for/against Fitzgerald's own body shop? My wife would prefer to go to a dealership than Joe Schmoe's.
How long can I survive in my rental PT Cruiser before I get my Forester back?
Sigh.
Bob
Is the PT a Turbo?
John
Autoblog article.
-Frank
Yep, more stuff for you to read, Frank. :-)
Steve, Host
John
Steve, Host
John
Bob
EXCELLENT results. I can recommend them whole-heartedly. They did the quarter panel and bumper on my wife's car, and *WOW*, you cannot tell it was done.
Keep in mind I am very picky - I was not entirely happy with some work done on my Forester, nor was I happy on two occasions with my Miata (all indy shops). In & Out Auto Body worked on my Miata most recently and they forgot a bolt that fastens the pass side 1/4 panel and the bumper is creased and mounted unevenly. I'm afraid to even let them touch it again to fix those.
So in fact it is the only body shop I recommend.
To be honest, until you reminded me, I forgot we had any work done to her car. It's that good.
-juice
RAV4 got big. Europe gets a smaller one. The new one will offer 3 rows, a V6, DVD player, and eventually NAV. But Edmunds' model cost $32.7k, and that's without NAV and without a 3rd row!
So compare the RAV4 to the Tribeca 5 pass Limited. The Tribeca is wider and more substantial. RAV4 has more horsepower and better gas mileage. Tribeca is a lot more luxurious, though.
The RAV4 makes more sense if you equip it lightly, then it can be seen as a good budget mid-size. In fact it sort of makes the Highlander redundant.
Forester won't grow that much (or cost as much equipped), it would overlap with the Tribeca.
-juice
The Forester fits nicely into Subaru's lineup. Outside of that, it gets harder to categorize. The Rav4 is approaching a midsize sport ute, which the Forester is nowhere near. The Grand Vitara sits on a more rigid frame, lending it to different dynamics, limitations, and capabilities. The SX4 appears to be even more car-like in stature than the Forester, maybe making it comparable to the Outback Sport.
Just an observation. I can't say that comparisons aren't warranted, because while the vehicles are quite different in certain areas, buyers will definitely be cross-shopping two or more of them.
One thing is certain - Subaru needs to respond with a spanking new Forester quite soon.
Steve, Host
I could not help but wonder how the Turbo model would compare. Is yours NA or Turbo?
Over all, I still prefer the Forester - it has a more "sporty" feel, AWD capablity, and tows my bass boat. But the PT is a very comfortable highway & byway cruiser & it gave me a much better impession than I anticipated.
Thanks, Scott
Base price even for a V6 AWD is actually pretty low, so I bet a lot of folks will sacrifice equipment and get a lightly equipped model just to get that nice powertrain.
Not many other small non-luxury SUVs hit $32k plus, though. Maybe the Escape hybrid, that's about it. RAV4 overlaps in price with the BMW X3 and Freelander.
dstew1: I don't think the SX4 is going to steal any Forester sales, it's much smaller. It's a new Aerio SX, and that model never made a splash. You think a smaller 2.0l engine is going to help it? Outback Sport is much closer, but still longer and more powerful.
RAV4 might steal some sales for people looking to move up in size, and who don't want to step up to the price of a Tribeca (or are turned off by the controversial look).
Subaru is in a tough position. Honda will have a new CR-V before the new Forester is due (MY08), and I bet they offer 3 rows to respond to Toyota.
Will Subaru keep it small? Or go after the big guys? We'll see.
If they went big it could cannibalize the Tribeca, just as the RAV4 will cannibalize the Highlander (until the HL is replaced).
A while back I was asking for a Forester Plus or Grand Forester, i.e. just a wheelbase stretch. Toyota did just that - they have the euro RAV4, and a LWB US RAV4, which is a stretch of the euro platform.
Basically the US RAV4 will be like the Grand Vitara XL7, sort of in no-man's land. That is, until the Santa Fe joins it. And probably the CR-V. Those will no longer be compacts at all. Watch Honda bring the FR-V and Toyota will grow the Matrix to fill the void left by the RAV4, or maybe even sell the euro SWB version as well.
So Subaru has to decide where to position itself - small or medium?
-juice
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=108153/pageNumber=1
Here is the short one, for Europe:
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshow/articles/107049/page025.html
Look at the D-pillar. On the SWB model it touches the rear door. On the LWB model, you see about a 10" stretch. The wheelbase is also longer. This allows for the 3rd row.
Toyota could really hit the segment hard by coming out with both.
-juice
I wonder if Subaru would consider 2 sizes for the next Forester?
Bob
RAV4 overlaps in price with the BMW X3 and Freelander.
A mistake on Toyota's part?
-juice
Now that I think of it, who will the other smaller player be once the CRV and RAV4 move up? The Escape/Tribute is already fairly hefty.
That said, it wouldn't hurt Subaru (or its future occupants) to fatten up the Forester a bit, in both hip and legroom at least.
Toyota could go with two - if they sell the euro SWB RAV4 here.
Honda could bring the smaller FR-V if they saw a need.
The current Forester is clearly in the small side of the segment. What will they do for the '08?
-juice
Subaru may not be able to match other brands in this segment when it comes to size, price, fuel economy, etc, but as long as they keep it a driver's car then they will always have buyers.
Fortunately, other guy's insurance is picking up the whole tab, and Fitz is on their "approved/expedited" list, so hopefully that means sooner rather than later. I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but they made it sound as if they had a insurance adjuster/estimator on staff. Hopefully I'll hear something by the end of the day. Now if we can just solve the direct bill rental issue.
This is what they have to work with:
Cheers,
Bob
How did the V70 fare? I'm hoping that it didn't come out unscathed.
Though it doesn't come with AWD, in some ways the Chevrolet HHR is similar to the Forester.
That damage looks bad, but at least it seems like the A-pillar was unscathed. You'll get a new hood, quarter panel, and bumper, so all the damaged exterior panels will be brand new again. Grille and lights, too.
Hope they do as good as job as they did on our Legacy.
-juice
His fault, and more damage, by the looks of things!
I'm not completely convinced that the door closes properly, but that could be a function of what's below the sill, rather than the A-pillar. Actually, more of the damage to the bumper/ undercarriage of our car was caused by the tow-truck guy winching the Forester onto the truck.
We shall see.
Bob
Depending on what year it is, and maybe whether its airbags are blown (can't tell from the picture), I'd say there's a fair chance that the V70 will end up in the junk yard. Chalk up one for Subaru
Your Forester ate that Volvo for lunch! Unbelievable!
What a phenomenal photo. Which vehicle would you rather have been in?
Subaru all the way!
-juice
PS I'd like to ask for permission to keep a copy of both those photos, would that be OK?
I have no problem with you keeping the photos. Would you rather original (2048x1536) images? I wondered if I was stepping on his rights by photographing his car? Ironically, his other car (going from his insurance card) is a 2000 Forester...