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Comments
Hopefully, that means we'll get the full 227hp from the WRX. NOW you're talking!
jeepgc3: first I've heard of anything like that on a Forester. Have the dealer test the ECU, and check the throttle cable for slack. I think the idle is set automatically, so it's likely a problem with the ECU.
-juice
Wonder if it's something with the throttle body.
Ken
When does the acceleration occur? If it occurs in the minute or so after start up, it may have to do with the warming up of the engine which does cause a bit of a surprise, paricularly under very cold conditions. Typically, the engine will run itself up to about 2500rpm as if it had a choke wide open. Check this before getting too excited
Cheers
Graham
Has anyone heard that in the 02 or 03 model year they may put out a model about the size of a GM Yukon? Willing to pay more for quality but what I want/need doesn`t exist. Have owned 4 Suburbans but desire something about Yukon size. Need a good bit of R O O M !
How about a Toyota Sequoia???
-TonyL
Sorry for the venting but it happens when I see GM. Even 16 years after the fact.
Bob
But don't worry too much...GM needed something they could'nt do themselves in the timeframe they needed it - so they bought it.
-TonyL
Also, easy on the brake pedal except in emergencies.
Do read the Owner's Manual, the break-in stuff above is specified, along with lots of other usefull stuff...enjoy
-TonyL
Though some people swear by metallic films by 3M. They are more expensive though.
The real key is the installation. Make sure they do a good job and guarantee it. Ask to see cars they did, then look for bubbles and peeling to see if they did it well.
Size of a Yukon? Try big SUVs like the Sequoia, Trooper, 4Runner, maybe Highlander. The new Montero, too.
Tom: you sound like an enthused DIYer. That's great, I'm the same way.
You can probably handle everything up to the 60k service. In that period, you'll do oil and filter, air filter, fuel filter, tire rotations, brake checks and cleanings, PCV valve, spark plugs, coolant flush, etc. Nothing you can't handle. The AWD is sealed and maintenance-free.
The only thing I can't do is an alignment and the timing belt.
-juice
DIY maintenance- By all means, if you're good at it, save yourself a chunk of cash and do it yourself. Just follow the service recmeendations in your owners manual and keep all receipts for materials (in case you ever have a warranty issue).
Subaru & GM - Don't trade your Forester! GM only acquired part of Subaru last summer so current models are pure Subaru. Your Forester is also made in Japan. It remains to be seen how much influence GM will have going into the future but all of us Subaru fans are hoping that GM takes a hands-off approach.
Forester Makeover- Is rumored to be scheduled for calendar year 2002 (model year 2003).
-Frank P.
Also, don't forget that tires also have a break-in period until they get they break their factory molds and provide the designed grip. I believe 500 miles should be enough. Just use common sense and don't tailgate the person in front of you.
Most importantly, enjoy your pristine new vehicle! It's as shiny and new as it will ever be.
--
Tinting: Defintely shop around. I had 20% Madico Premium metallic films applied to my Forester (all windows behind the driver) for about $220. I found that prices would vary by as much as $50.
Also, juice is right about finding a shop that is committed to do the job right. Applying a big sheet of film is a tricky job. Make sure the shop will honor any re-work if they botch the job. I found a tiny, tiny air bubble in one of my windows and they redid it right away.
Ken
http://www.subaru.co.nz/rally_content.html
Go down the the Forester reconnaisance. Sweet!
A bone-stock, 2.5l Forester L, just add skid plates and a roll bar.
-juice
Ken
-juice
The Forester has been designed for light offroad duty. That means it won't do a Rubicon trail, but it will handle rutted dirt roads, snow, mud and sand suprisingly well. You can see some photos of how far people have taken their Foresters at:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/subaruforester
It's probably best to think of the Forester as a car that has been given a beefed up suspension and AWD. It doesn't have the approach and departure angle of trucks nor does it offer low gearing and the ability to lock you differentials. There is 7.5" of ground clearance, however.
The best thing you could do is see if a dealer is willing to let you take a Forester for an extended drive where you can put it through your daily routine.
Hope that helps,
Ken
I've had mine on some hay ride trails at local orchards, and hit the beach, too. It really held its own, and though a lot of people didn't seem to think it could make it, I proved them wrong.
The question is, how steep? Did you NEED the low range on your Jeep? If 4WD Hi was enough, the Forester will be fine.
If you need extra clearance, you can get taller springs for about $400. The guys in the Yahoo Forester club have them and they're the ones that go dune-hopping every weekend.
As for safety, Forester is tops. It's the only small SUV to get a "Good" rating from IIHS, and safety features include up to 4 air bags, seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, crumple zones, ABS standard, full-time AWD standard, side impact beams, the works.
Get the rear differential protector. It's very sturdy.
-juice
Beware the ABS brake system failure in cold weather---Unfortunately we live in the northeast and a questioning if the system failed since she lightly applied brakes due to slush on roadway.
Has anyone had a similar experience.
Is this vehicle as safe as advertised???????
Congratulations on on your new Forester. I have found that the center armrest extension is an accessory that is well worth the money. It takes the place of the center consul lid and provides more storage as well as a useable armrest. You do, however, lose the center upholder.
I would contact Subaru of America. We have a rep (Patti, from the Subaru Team) on this board, and she seems very interested in seeing that customer concerns are addressed.
Everything I've ever read about the Forester leads me to believe it is a safe car. This is the first complaint I've ever read about regarding safety issues.
Good luck!
Bob
Check out the Fitzgerald site below. They list all models in the current inventory, along with options, and their bottom line price. Even if you don't buy from them, this will give you a good point of reference as to what a good deal is on that model.
http://www.fitzgeraldautomall.com/
Bob
http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/001123-1.htm
http://www.autointell.com/nao_companies/general_motors/concepts-2001/chevy-borrego-01.htm
http://fedrelandsvennen.no/tema/amcar/grom/04.html
By the way, I'm not so down on GM. I have had several older GM vehicles, including a '77 Caprice Classic (my college vehicle...great for carrying to kegs of beer in the trunk) and a 1990 Celebrity wagon. Although both of these cars had minor problems (air conditioning, power windows, etc.) for the most part they were reliable where the drivetrain was concerned). I loved my celebrity wagon, and was sad to see it go when I sold it to my needy uncle with five kids. It was a reliable and comfortable workhorse when I carried my fishing gear and canoe. However, my new Forester has made my separation from my wagon much less painful
Talk to you later,
Skip
Please tell your wife we wish her a quick recovery.
My step mother had a similar accident in a different vehicle and she did break the windshield with her forehead. It was quite painful and she still has scars (physical and emotional).
Ironically, she now owns a 2001 Outback, which has front and side air bags as well as seat belt pre-tensioners and force-limiters.
It doesn't sound like the ABS failed. On frictionless surfaces, no vehicle can stop. ABS can even work against you in that it allows the wheels to turn on ice, whereas a locked wheel could at least pile up slush and ice to help it stop.
Tom: congrats. I love the accessories. The cargo net and arm rest extension are ones I use every time.
Sam: Fitz had a Forester S Premium automatic for $23.4k last time I looked. Consider flying out to DC and driving home. That's several grand savings!
Also, the premium package's moonroof will allow plenty of moonlight in! ;-)
The Borrego is kind of interesting. GM's likely to build something similar, given the ST-X will be built.
Does anyone with the hood deflector hear a whistling noise while driving? I just added the hood deflector to my Forester and now I hear a whistling noise when driving 45mph or faster. Any ideas?
-Mark
For the tranny, Mobil 1 makes 75w90 gear oil which ought to work just fine. I think that matches the specs Subaru requires, but check.
It's about $8 per quart, so check the owner's manual under capacities to see how much you'll require (probably about 3 quarts).
You can use the same gear oil in the rear differntial, soo. That'll take about a quart.
It's very easy to do, there are two screws in the back, the lower one is the drain, and the upper is the fill hole. Get a hand pump for the oil, it should be sold where the oil is sold.
Redline also sells gear oils, but only by mail order. I avoided them because if I ran short I'd have to wait several days to get more. I can buy Mobil 1 at Pep Boys or Trak Auto.
I changed both on my Miata (my Forester was new, the Miata 8 years old so it needed it), and the results are promising. Shifting is a lot smoother when it's cold, and even a little smoother once it's warmed up. I'm glad I did it, and the $24 I spent will last a long, long time.
I still use dino oil for the engine, on both cars.
-juice
Tom
Dealers are equipped with pumps that flush the old ATF out of your tranny. I would leave it up to them, in that case. At least that's something I'm not familiar with. I'm not sure if you can just use gravity to drain out the old ATF (anybody?).
My oil change instructions (for regular engine oil) are here:
http://thejuiceman.homepage.com/oil.html
Miata.net has an excellent following and garage section. One of the guys there has detailed all his fluid changes, just keep in mind they are different in the Forester (especially an automatic). For reference, though:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=117212&a=1484919&p=15038845
-juice
I used to commute 50 miles one way.
And I can barely made 4 round trips before light went on.
That's about 25,26 MPG, not bad.
But after I moved near my office, things started to change.
With 60% of short distance driving, I could hardly pass 250 miles.
I guess I probably get only 200 miles in 100% of city driving.
This is not acceptable. I'm only 150 pounds, I don't carry much either.
Could it be the cold weather or something?
I love my forester, but this one really hurts.
Does anyone experience the same problem?
Any suggestions?
Your opinion is greatly appreciated!
Sean
Tom
If your normal commute contains lots of stop-n-go driving and idling then that might explain your low mpg. Also, as Nate mentioned, you might need a tune-up. If you take a trip, does your mileage go back up?
-Frank P.
I'd go ahead and change the fuel filter, air filter, PCV Valve, spark plugs, plug wires, and the oil and oil filter while you're at it. Also consider an alignment, which could cause your mileage to drop like that. I'd basically do a 30k service.
Tom: I believe you can use a conventional filter even with synthetic oil. Stick to an OE filter, which is just $4 from qsubaru@aol.com and comes with a washer for the drain plug.
-juice
But my forester has only 13000 miles on it(She is 7 months old).
And I'm a very cautious driver(Her RPM never reach 3500).
Could this be the reason?
I'm gonna take her to dealer for 15k service tomorrow.
Hope this will work.
I'll keep updating.
Thanks again!
Sean
If your in a cold climate, this could be adding to the reduced mileage due to the shorter commute. I have noticed that when I do lots of short trips, my mileage suffers as well.
Please keep us posted on the results.
-Tony
Thanks to all for helping me through the maze. We love our Forester!
Sam
There were discussions before about RPMs as they relate to MPG. An idea thrown out that I've tried with good success is to keep the RPM's between 2500 and 3500. When I do that, I get 24+ (in my S+ with 9000+ miles). When I don't stay in that range, my MPG drops to 22 or 23.
Samboh: Congrats. Hope you love yours as much as I love mine. I swear, I'm gonna become a huge Subaru evangelist. I simply LOVE the car. Maybe I should go work for the local dealer.
I took the liberty of correcting the spelling of Forester in the title of this discussion - that is an advantage we have here at the new site over the old one. And while I was at it, I dropped the "III" from the title since we don't have to close and recreate discussions due to numbers of posts anymore.
Hope I didn't confuse anyone.
Pat
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