Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

ateixeira · February 2001

I'm not too far from Baltimore, but mine is a '98. The new ones have a different roof liner and seats that could make a difference. Otherwise I'd invite you over.

Visit a dealer with the scooter. They should be willing to help, and if not they do not derserve your business any way.

Good luck. I have fit a clothes washer on its side in the box, a golf bag on a push cart unfolded, and a musical organ also in its box. It also fits 6 oversized suitcases. That's with the rear seats folded, except the golf bag and cart. Those fit even without folding the seats.

-juice

skipd · February 2001

Rick: Although the brushgaurd is pretty much for cosmetic purposes, I happen to like the way it looks. I beleive there is a photo of a black S+ with the brushguard on it in the 2001 brochure. It has an optional grill and is towing a boat.

I think the brush guard beefs up the look of the bumper. I like the look and have been toying with the idea of getting one for my 2001 Blue Ridge Pearl L.

If you get one, will you be installing it yourself? If you do decide to get it, let me know what kind of price you get and what the installation process is like.

Take care,

Skip

skipd · February 2001

The rear seats in my 2001 L pretty much fold flat. I have never had to remove the headrests either. I don't have the longest legs in the world, so my seat does not go back awfully far. Usually the headrests on the back seat just rub the back of the front seats as the rear seats fold.

I have stuffed all kinds of things in the back of my Forester including fishing gear, camping gear, canoe paddles, boat oars, mountain bike, a computer table, etc. and I have never felt that I didn't have enough cargo space. I guess it all depends on what you need to carry.

Skip

edmck · February 2001

In November we purchased a new 2001 Forester L with the Premium package which includes a set of 16" wheels. Living in snow-covered northern Michigan, I thought this would be a great winter vehicle but I was wrong. The wheels on this car are prone to collecting snow on the inside of the rims, and when that happens the entire car shakes violently at speeds above 40 mph. These wheels are definitely a problem and, after all of my efforts to get some help from Subaru have been unsuccessful. They acknowledge the problem (!) and suggest that I drive 50 miles into the dealer whenever it snows for a "courtesy car wash" to remove the snow. How's that for customer service? I like the car, but I would warn anyone contemplating a Ferester to think twice if they expect to drive in snow. It's just not worth the hassle of dealing with a company like Subaru that has no interest in resolving a customer problem.

kens · February 2001

Ed,

Actually, snow/ice build up on rims are not specific to the Forester. Virtually all rims are prone to this problem. Usually those with finer spokes are more likely to trap snow.

The next time you wax your Forester, try applying some to the wheels as well. The wax will help in preventing snow/ice build up. Otherwise, the only real alternative may be to get a set of steel wheels instead.

Ken

crashton6 · February 2001

I have Blizzaks mounted on steel wheels & they also collect snow. It's a bigger problem for you in MI than me in OH. When it happens to me I go to the coin op car wash.

Chuck

ckyeung · February 2001

I am in the process of trying to identify a mini-suv that is the best for me. I gather the two issues of Consumer Report (Oct 00 and Mar 01) which features Forester, RAV 4, CRV, and Escape. First of all, because the reliability of Escape is unknown, it is really hard for me to consider this vehicle. Together with the fact that it already has 6 safety recalls in its early production, i decide to drop Escape out of this race. (I hope its a right decision.) Then I try to compare the ratings of the remaining three vehicles and cross-examine these ratings with the review in Car and Driver march 01 issue. I found out that some ratings of a car are not consistent in these two magazines. e.g., noise level is rated "very good" for RAV 4 in CR (the same as Forester) but the scores for interior sound level for RAV 4 listed in C/D is about the highest. So I try to take an average score of the two magazines in every categories including driver comfort, rear seat room, moise level, price, styling, cargo room, etc. Unfortunately, i still was not able to identify the "overall best". My conclusion so far is:
For rear seat room and price/value: CRV
For cargo room, noise level, accceleartion: Forester
For style, driver comfort, versatility: RAV 4

I am leaning towards Forester at the moment because i think acceleration and cargo room are more important to me. I wish to hear your comment. Thank you.

ckyeung
FYI: Escape ranked first in C/D, follwed by RAV 4 and Forester. RAV 4 ranked first in CR, followed by Forester and Escape.

canadiancl · February 2001

If you have to buy one RIGHT NOW, then you are smart in ruling out the Tribute/Escape because of the highly questionable reliability. I have a CR-V, and while it has served me very well over the last 4+ years, I don't think you should buy it. It has some negatives that you would find hard to live with over the long haul, namely, marginal power, noise, some questionable ergonomics and limited options. Also, a new one is due out this fall which I think will surely address all of the above issues. If you were to buy the current model, you may be kicking yourself in a few months. So between the RAV4 and the Forester, I think the RAV4 wins on styling, but if that is not an issue than the Forester would win on power, room, and probably price if you compare comparably equipped models.

drew_ · February 2001

Hi there, nice to see another Canadian in Townhall. I see you're in BC as well. You're not in the lower mainland area, are you?

Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards

p0926 · February 2001

Vincent- Since this is a Forester forum you're obviously going to get Forester biased opinions. That said, you're smart to avoid the Escape. It has had and continues to have production problems. And since it's a Ford, the odds are good that the best you can expect is only avg reliability while the other 3 are all good to excellent in that area. FYI: the Escape's reviews are so good because car rags like C/D invariably have a bias towards new models and C/D in particluar doesn't place much emphasis on reliability. I think that CR will also lower its opinion of the Escape once the reliability data starts coming in. Still, the Escape is definitely going to be the biggest seller in this class for the foreseeable future if for no other reason than Ford has the biggest dealer network.

The CR-V is a good vehicle but as canadiancl pointed out, its due for a redesign wich will hopefully address its primary weaknesses of lack of power and engine noise.

I'm not that familiar with the new RAV-4 and after reading CR's review, can't figure out why it scored better than the Forester (I suspect that a little new model bias sneaked in).

The Forester's strengths are its acceleration, handling and gas mileage. It also has excellent visibility, cargo hauling versatility and reliability. It's two weaknesses are its styling and its rear passenger leg room. Of course styling is a very subjective area and the leg room is only an issue if you routinely transport more than two adults.

Good luck on your purchase and let us know what you decide.

-Frank P.

p0926 · February 2001

Ed- I'm interested in hearing what exactly Subaru would have to do to make you happy?

Afterall, the majority of Forester owners love to drive theirs in the snow and as Ken pointed out, snow becoming packed in the wheels is certainly not unique to the Forester. Yes, perhaps the Forester's wheel design increases the odds of this happening but certainly you don't expect Subaru to go out and buy you a new set of wheels (which might also collect snow) do you? Certain inconveniences just come from living in the snow belt. You don't expect Subaru to shovel your drive do you? :-)

I'm sorry but I just don't see your problem as a customer service issue.

-Frank P.

janice16 · February 2001

Help! I have a 2001 Forester L with automatic transmission with 7000 miles on it, and I do not get very good gas mileage. Around town (not city traffic) I get about 20-21 mpg. On the "long haul" I may get as much as 24-25 mpg. This is NOT good. I drive very mildly and do not push the tachometer over 3500 rpm. Furthermore, I recently ran out of gas after the warning light had been on for only 23 miles at which time I should have had 2.3 gallons left in the tank. Is this type of gas mileage to be expected or is there possibly something wrong? Anyone? The car is great in every other way, but this issue is a big concern of mine. My previous car (Acura Integra) reliably got 30-35 mpg for 12 years (and still running).

canadiancl · February 2001

Yes, I'm right in God's country, beautiful sunny Richmond

tinindiana · February 2001

I have a 1992 Accord which also gets better gas mileage than our 2001 Forester. It has 133,000 miles on it and actually does better than several years ago. With the Forester, I suspect two key things to milegage improvement: 1. Over time, engines break in and mileage will improve and 2. If you live in a cold climate, this will definitely hamper mileage. The Accord always drops several miles per gallon in the winter. Try to be patient, your Forester should improve..That is my approach with our new Forester...besides the lower mileage, what a car it is!

drew_ · February 2001

I'm about 50 minutes away from your area then :-) Specifically in the tricity area (Port Moody/Coquitlam/PoCo).

bigfrank3 · February 2001

Based upon what I have been reading in these boards for a while now, and personal experience, I think you pretty close to what you should expect. I believe the EPA rating for the automatic is 21/27.

My wife and I both have 2001's, hers automatic and mine 5-speed. She only has 2000 miles on it and we fully expect it to get better, but she has been getting 18 to 20 here in chilly Massachusetts, in driving I would also call around town but not city. I have been getting 20 to 21 and I have 4000 miles on mine, but I also drive "spirited".

AWD cars have more rolling friction and will never get the mileage of a FWD car. These are not 30 MPG vehicles. However, tinindiana is correct. Gas mileage should increase with some more miles, and cold weather can really make a difference. These vehicles are also geared for performance not economy. The engines can be a little "busy" at times. You might try limiting your RPMs by a few hundred and see if that helps.

One thing you can do is keep an eye on your tire pressures, as slightly higher pressure can decrease rolling resistance and help a great deal. My personal opinion is that the factory recommendation of 29F/28R is too low, and should be considered a minimum for safety only. Of course, tire pressures in the 20's also didn't help the Firestone fiasco. I personally run mine in the mid 30's and am still experimenting to get the feel and handling I like. I set my wife's at 35F/34R to keep the same 1 PSI difference the factory recommends.

Good luck! They really are great vehicles.

Frank

p0926 · February 2001

Janice16- Your gas mileage is within a mile or to of the EPA ratings so you really shouldn't be upset.

Besides city vs hwy, individual driving style is the single biggest determinant in what type of mileage you get but there are many other contributing factors such as tire inflation, time of year, type of gas, etc.

Also remember that the Forester has a big 4-cyl engine and is a full-time AWD non-aerodynamic mini-SUV, none of which helps the gas mileage (tinindiana's 92 Accord will always get better mileage since it's a aerodynamic FWD sedan with a smaller engine).

Regarding the low fuel warning...I almost ran out of fuel once after going only 20 some miles. This really surprised me since on my previous vehicle I could always count on it for another 50 miles. However, I discovered that the point at which the light comes on varies from model to model. I believe that in the Subaru it's supposed to come on when you're down to approx 2 gallons. In which case, you were probably under a gallon after driving another 23 miles. When there's less than a gallon in the tank, all it takes is a slight incline for the fuel to slosh away from the intake and the engine to stall. In my case, I learned my lesson and now start looking for a place to refuel as soon as the light comes on. FYI: Many folks think I’m nuts and don't wait near that long but refuel before it gets down below a 1/4 tank.

One last word of consolation....you could be driving the highly rated Escape! Several owners of which have reported getting only 14-15 mpg!!!

-Frank P.

rsholland · February 2001

Your old Integra had a 1.8L four, whereas the Forester has much larger a 2.5L four. Also the Integra is quite a bit more aerodynamic than the Forester.

The last tank of gas that I measured in our Forester yielded 23 mpg, of mostly highway driving.

Bob

ckats · February 2001

I love my Forester, I've got nearly 5000 miles on it. I've been checking the gas mileage with every fill up, using a calculator and all the decimals. The calculations show a range of 21 up to 27, all for very similar driving. I have come to the conclusion that the gas pumps are inaccurate. I've gotten the worst readings at bargain gas stations. When I frequent the not quite so rock bottom stations, I tend to get a more consistent 23-24 MPH for combined (and "spirited") city/highway/mountain driving. I hope it improves with break in, etc. (the 27 was straight highway). I knew I wasn't getting an economy car.

jei · February 2001

My '99 "S" is nearly 2 years old, with almost 57,000 miles, approaching the end of the standard warranty. From what I've read on these boards, my Forester experience has been typical: A delight to drive & generally reliable with only a few maintenance issues. To date:
- 22 to 25 MPG, with a pretty heavy foot. OK for a 3,200 lb. all wheel drive tall car.
- Noisy tires caused by wear due to misalignment on all 4 corners. I had that taken care of when I had winter tires installed by my local tire /alignment shop last fall at about 50K.
- All 4 Brake pads just replaced on recommendation of the dealer; wear sensors were starting to make noise on the rears. Better safe than sorry.
- The cruise control throttle servo failed in the early 50Ks. I gave the dealer a polite earful about how this NEVER would have happened to the Toyota I had previously, and that I was *very* disappointed to have such a problem so early on in the life of my Subaru. They spoke to the Northeast regional Subaru office about helping out with the cost of replacement. I've been told that I will only have to pay about $ 100 toward the cost of replacing this part when it comes in next week. So far so good!

Although I still fall prey to Former Toyota Owner Syndrome (What?!? brake pads already?!? My Tercel didn't need its first set until over 90K!) I enjoy driving my Forester. It's the perfect compact cruiser; stable in all weather (the winter tires - Cooper XGTs on 15" Forester takeoff wheels - make a big difference in snow and ice) and nimble on twist roads & COMFORTABLE. The RAV4 I looked at in '99 was too light, small and slow.

I was amused to read Car & Driver's latest comparo ranking the Forester 4th after the new RAV4 & the Escape/Tribute. - Talk about New Model Bias! They must weigh newness of design and tall ride height for SUVs at the top of the point scale. While the Escape/Tribute twins have more room, C&D grumbles about their trucky ride and cold "personality" - and says that they'd be *really* good if Ford would improve on these. Even if the new RAV4 has more room and power than the old one, I'll stay with my Forester's feeling of stability, nimbleness and heft - even if I don't get to tower over other traffic. In the real world, that "command view" doesn't count for much when you're negotiating a snowy exit ramp - or making a slushy, greasy lane change at highway speed.

ateixeira · February 2001

The C&D comparo had a serious oversight. They called the rear hatch design of the RAV4 brilliant, but never mentioned that it opens the WRONG WAY, curb side. Maybe they drove it in Japan or the UK, but parallel park it in the US and you're screwed.

Also, the door swings open very wide, and requires an enormous amount of space behind you.

Finally, there isn't really a rear bumper - just cladding at the bottom of the rear door. Even a fender bender will cost you big bucks.

Combine these 3 factors together and you have a truly awful, cost-cutting design flaw that should have been fixed with this 2nd generation.

Besides that, the Forester is quicker almost all the acceleration tests, but they still gave the RAV4 a higher score for the engine. Forester got a higher score for handling, tied in fun-to-drive, and beat the crap out of the Toyota in feature content (Toyota nickel-and-dimes you for every little option, including a rear bumper, so forget about any real price advantage).

The big win for the RAV4 was styling, 9 to 6 IIRC, but that's subjective anyway. The only real criticism of the Forester was that it's a car, and IMHO that is an advantage, not a disadvantage.

OTOH, the RAV4 had great mileage and braking. Thing is, Forester wasn't far behind in those, either.

CR also forgot to mention the rear hatch design, which is odd because you'd expect them to notice that. Also, the then new '98 Forester they tested actually scored higher than the more recent 2001 Forester, which is clearly better than the '98.

"New" model bias, perhaps?

-juice

grahampeters · February 2001

G'day

The issue of AWD economy is a bit of a vexed one. Some commentators claim increased economy as all wheels are driven, purportedly evening out friction losses. I am as dubious of this as of most engineer's claims.

I suspect that the eficiency of a boxer engine may have more to do with it. I was pretty horrified by the fuel economy of by Outback (averaging about 10l/100km or 28mpg (imperial)) after running a 1.8T Passat which was running about 7-8l/100km or about 35-40mpg (imperial). I recall some article somewhere talking inate problems in making boxer engines economical.
Anyone have any ideas why?

As to the low fuel warning light; there is only really one way to check this out. At some point you have to run the car bone dry of fuel to work out how far you can drive when the light comes on. It seems to vary from car to car and for my Outback is about 100km (62 miles). Fortunately, I got a warning when the fuel pick-up starved going around a sharp corner just near a service station. This was at total trip distance of 637km or about 398 miles from last fill.

There is a down side to running the tank this dry. Fuel normally picks up some impurities, especially if filled at country petrol stations where rust, water, hay seeds (yes, I am serious) and othr comntaminants enter the storage tank. These normally settle to the bottom of the tank but can be picked up if you run the tank dry. These are not good for fuel filters or injection systems and whilst petrol injection, unlike diesel, does not require draining if allowed to run dry, it is not a good idea.

Cheers

Graham

cin4 · February 2001

Janice-
I have an automatic 2001 S+, with about 1700 miles on it. I've been getting 20 - 21 mpg in straight city driving, and about 24 mpg in mixed highway/city. Haven't had it on a total highway trip yet. (I'd consider myself to be a fairly conserative driver most of the time, and winters here in Austin are not terribly cold.) I keep reading that the mileage should improve once it's completely broken in, but I'd have to say that I have no complaints about it so far. If it improves - great; if not, it's pretty much where I expected it to be. It's a great car, overall.
Cindy

mehr · February 2001

I have a 2001 Forrester with auto trans and 200 miles on it. Last Sunday I took it out early in the morning. The temperature was 25 degrees and I had a full tank. I had trouble at speeds of over 30 mph. It seriously hesitated and threatened to die at high speeds. I did not think that I could make it to the dealer so I had it towed. Three people at the dealer includingf the manager drove the car and could not duplicate the problem. I talked to the service manager and he suggested water in the gas tank. In front of me he put in a bottle of Drygas. I have had no problems since, but the temperature has been warmer in the morning. Are there steps that I should be taking? Are there concerns that I should have?

karen56 · February 2001

Yeah, my new car smell is gone!! Thanks for all the advice and telling me that smell would go away after about three weeks. If it weren't for y'all telling me that, I probably would have returned the car. And since I love my new Forester, I'm glad I didn't! Thanks again!!

tlima · February 2001

Scott, bad gas is usually first thing that the mechanics/dealerships will blame this type of failure on. When my previous car (Probe GT) with 45k miles starting doing this (at < 45 degrees, but with a rought idle), first thing they did was blame the gas (it turned out to be ignition wires - 6 mos later).

You should not have to use DryGas or any type of product (although injector cleaner is probably a good thing after every oil change). I've never used any of that stuff as a preventive maintenance item.

My suggestion (with so few miles on the car), is to be critical of any subtle hesitation problems. If you notice anything, take it back to them, and start a paper trail with Subaru. These types of problems are difficult to track down.

Good luck.

-Tony

ateixeira · February 2001

Cool Karen. Glad to hear it.

Scott: I recommend that you keep the tank full, especially when it will sit for a while. Empty tanks allow more condensation.

I've never used DryGas, so I can't comment on that product.

-juice

kens · February 2001

juice,

The one thing that puzzled me about the C&D comparo was how they mentioned the Forester's bottom sometimes scraped the high snowlevel but nothing about the RAV4. If you look at the specs, the RAV4 has the least amount of ground clearance of the bunch -- am I missing something?

Ken

jackleung · February 2001

Hi,
I want to upgrade the speaker in my 2001 S+ Forester but not sure the size of them. I guess the front speakers is 6 1/2" but not sure about the rear one.

Also, any suggestion in brand? I heard Polk is quite good in Accessory board.

Thx,
Jack

ateixeira · February 2001

Ken: I think they misstated the ground clearance for the RAV4. They listed it as 6.7", while Toyota claims 7.5" with the standard tires they tested. With the wider, lower profile tires (still on 16" rims), it drops to 7.1"

So they should have listed 7.5" for both the Forester and RAV4.

In reality, the Forester's front exhaust, just aft of the cat, lies about 6.7" above ground. The catch is it's not part of the frame, and it can flex upwards about an inch or so, and you would not high-center.

But the RAV4 also has less clearance than stated. Look closely and you'll see the exhaust pipe runs completely under the rear pumpkin (diffy), dipping down a couple of inches or so.

Even the CR-V has a dip in the exhaust.

Another thing - since they all have independent suspensions, loading them up to the full payload reduces clearance. So a 6" rock could scrape any one of these if they are loaded up with 4 adults and cargo.

-juice

tincup47 · February 2001

There could also be differences with approach and departure angles. I do find the people comparing clearances on the IRS SUV's to miss that the clearance is based on the center of the vehicle. Most of the mini SUV's have lower arms that hang quite low as they approach the wheels, these could easily be damaged by rocks or ruts. The Escape is a particularly good example of this. The angle on the rear arms is quite extreme, and 3" from the wheel it looks like less than 4" of clearance. On an IRS vehicle like this, the ground clearance stated is almost a maximum with much less available in certain situations. That is one reason most serious off-roaders want a solid axle, the Ground clearance on those are minimum clearances as the diff is always the lowest point.

rsholland · February 2001

I was a little disappointed with this comparison test, in that they more or less glossed over the snow capability of each vehicle. They promoted this test as a "snow test," so I assumed they would throw heavy emphasis on that aspectand they didn't.

I would have loved to see a table (or side bar with an in-depth discussion discussing the merits and flaws of each AWD/4WD system in regards to snow), in that test ranking each vehicle on their snow ability.

Bob

ateixeira · February 2001

Peek at the underside of the Forester, and even though it isn't particularly high off the ground, it is a pretty "clean" design. One advantage of struts.

The CR-V also has exposed lower wish bones, and the half shafts look pencil-thin, if anything reached them.

Bob: I fully agree. They even went as far as saying the Escape and Tribute were the worst in the snow (partially because of the tires), and then rated them the best in a snow test!

-juice

kens · February 2001

Bob,

I agree too. They should have used the print space for posting the snow-driving results. You can find the dry road performance figures in other reviews.

C&D mentioned a hill climbing test that I would have liked to have read more about. I think it would have been a great chance to look into the dynamic differences between the wide range of 4WD systems represented by the vehicles.

Ken

ateixeira · February 2001

Exactly the type of thing I was hoping to read about, especially given the title of the article. Very disapointing.

-juice

rsholland · February 2001

fired off an e-mail to C&D. Who knows, maybe it will get published and/or addressed.

Bob

emtech · February 2001

I bought a 2001 Forester Dec 12 2000. I noticed a buzzing noise in the front right side dashboard when accelerating. Sometimes it, very loud other times it,s gone. I brought it back to the dealer twice and they kept it overnight and thought they had found it. It was gone for a while but now its back. Has anyone had the same problem?

Eddie

ateixeira · February 2001

Could it be something in one of the many storage nooks? I once had tape cases that were rattling in those little door compartments under the arm rest.

Try taking everything out of the glove compartment, center console, ash tray, coin trays, map pockets, etc. and then see if it's still present.

Dealers have a tool nicknamed "ears" that listen for low frequencies, and that might help trace it.

-juice

tlima · February 2001

Jack:

The rear speaker size is 5". I bought the Polk EX501A as they are a direct fit. Fronts are 6 1/2", for those, I put in Kenwood or Pioneer, I don't remember. Upgrade made incredible differences with the sound quality, including a new CD head unit.

Eddie:

I too have _HAD_ the buzzing sound from the dash. It occurred only occasionally, but thru a certain RPM range during acceleration. Recently (like within the last few thousand miles) it has disappeared. I have noticed that the storage compartment on the dash (i.e., where the gauge pack is installed) does occasionally buzz as well. I just give it a slight tap and voila, no more noise.

-Tony

mike_vt · February 2001

I just got my 2001 Forester S+ last week. I've got about 500 miles on it so far. I just started noticing a pretty persistant buzzing coming from the driver's side door armrest area. There's nothing in the armrest storage compartment, and I've tried to put my hand all over the thing to see if I could find where it's coming from (with no luck). It sounds like it's coming from the place where the tweeters would go if I had them. Do you think the buzzing will go away with time or should I bring it in to the dealer?

-Mike

kens · February 2001

Mike: Dealers are only receptive to chasing rattles/buzzes while the car is spanking new. If it's bugging you enough, take it in -- you'll have a harder time later.

BTW, chances are the buzz will come and go. I have a couple in my 98. A lot of it has to do with temperature. The warmer it is, the materials must expand and make for tighter tolerances.

Ken

ateixeira · February 2001

FWIW, the tweeter covers pop right off. It may be worth having a quick look.

-juice

jackleung · February 2001

Thanks Tony.

I think I would upgrade the speakers first. And right now I am satisfied with the head unit
and may change it later.

Rgds,
Jack

canadiancl · February 2001

Do you know if the Auto Show is skipping Vancouver this year? If it is, that sucks. No Grizzlies, no Auto Show.

mikeh17 · February 2001

any last minute advice before we confront the car salesman at the barginning table? i. plan of attack, negotiation methods, asking for extra freebies and getting to a final price. this is our (fiance and me) first car so I am naturally stressing quite a bit. right now the price we got for the 2001 Special Edition Auto for the MSRP $30877 CAN plus ST/ST. we still have to take care of A/I tax, tire tax, paper work and license plate which is roughly $200. i'd like to especially hear from the Canadian readers on this but everyone else is more than welcome to respond. thanks.
mike

kens · February 2001

Mike,

I don't live in Canada so I can't comment on the prices but the strongest bargaining tools you can bring to the table is to know your next best alternative (ie. another offer from a different dealer) and the fact that you can always walk out if you're not happy.

Too many people I know have gone simply to one dealership only. It pays to shop around to know if you're getting a good deal.

Good luck!

Ken

mikeh17 · February 2001

thanks ken for replying.
I've called 4 other dealerships and visited another one. the price I have from this dealer is so far the lowest. he's between $200 to under $2000 (!!) below all the prices I was quoted over the phone. I do know I can walk away from the table but it's a little tough if other dealerships are charging more. I'm also hoping the being a couple buying together will work to our advantage. also any advice from married folks... did bringing the Mrs. help with the whole ordeal? thanks
mike

natescape · February 2001

You can work out a nice system with her in case negotiations get rough. Something like this:

If the first words are "Come on, Honey...", she "convinces" you to stay.

If the first words are "This isn't working...", she joins you.

Can be nice if you want to "appear" ready to walk out and you have a cue to have her pull you back.

laurievrba · February 2001

Hello all,
I am proud to tell y'all that I just got my brand spankin new sedona red-auto-Subaru Forester S+.
I couldn't be happier with it!

I am rather new here and would like to say all of your positive comments about the car reinforced my decision to buy this awesome car.
Thanks

drew_ · February 2001

No, not that I know of. The Pacific International auto show still seems to be on schedule for late March/early April, as always. I wish it was sooner, but it seems the vehicles go from east to west (Toronto's show started this week).

Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards

Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy