Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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Comments

  • ducktapeguyducktapeguy Member Posts: 115
    A rear mounted spare would only be good during camping trips, so you can carry more stuff inside. But it's definitely not for everyday driving. I'd be afraid of somebody stealing it, slashing it, or having it just rot away in the sunlight. Besides, I really like looking out of the back window.
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I noticed very few cars in France that still have yellow headlights - maybe 1 in 100, all of which were relatively older. Maybe that law's off the books now, though I must admit I'm not up on the Napoleonic Code.

    Ed
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    a lot of yellow lights there. Came across a few per day (3-4?). I only came across 3 or 4 Subaru's in the 6 weeks I was there (Paris), although they don't get snow - just rain.

    Greg
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I thought the yellow headlights were designed so they would create less glare. In any event, I think it's no longer mandatory in France with the EU consolidation of laws and safety regulations, IIRC.

    Ken
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Ken is correct; it is off the law boos now. It used to be a real pain having to paint on yellow dye when you went to France and then stripping it off when geting back to England.

    The Yellow was a hold over from one of those bizarre Gallic ideas that yellow gave better lighting. Took them a long time to see it didn't work.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • dclopperdclopper Member Posts: 2
    I was just wondering if anyone has gotten one of the online extended warranties -- like warrantydirect.com or 1sourceautowarranty.com -- instead of the Subaru extended warranty. If so, I would appreciate any comments you might have on how the coverage has been, ease of use, etc etc etc. Of course, if anyone else has any thoughts on the advantages / disadvantages of getting a non-Subaru extended warranty, I would greatly appreciate those as well!

    Thanks!

    David
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Interesting... I have parked my Trucks up in Harlem overnight at least 2-3x a week for 6+ years never had the tires stolen, slashed or touched! Where do you live that crime is so rampant?

    -mike
  • j0elboyj0elboy Member Posts: 32
    I just discovered this site in the last week, and have been "lurking/reading" since. Seems like a very informative one too! I am the second owner of a '99 S/A that I picked up Aug of '01 after settling a suit w/ VwoA re: a '99 Golf whose true color should have been lemon yellow--long story. Glad to be in my first 'baroo", should've done this first.

    Said '99 had the cheesiest replacement tires previous owner could find, and upon discovering that the original spare had never touched ground, I replaced the tires with the OEM Geolanders. First serious snowfall here last week and difference is profound.

    TAFN. j0elboy
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    David: I got the Subaru Gold. Who knows if the smaller companies will even be around in 7 years.

    Welcome to the club, j0elboy. :-)

    Noone even brought this up, but that spare almost completely blocks the rear view to one side. Forester may be too low for that setup.

    One CR-V owner had his daughter back into a pole, and $1500 later he regrets it. I think things might be different on a much taller SUV with a hitch extension.

    So intriguing, but not quite, not for me. The angles of approach and departure are improved tremendously by those bumpers, though!

    -juice
  • rochcomrochcom Member Posts: 247
    Warranty Gold used to be the preferred aftermarket warranty provider on Edmunds, but has now been replaced. I do not know the reason, but it could simply be related to marketing.

    Some things to look for in aftermarket warranties:

    Is the company re-insured by a major company? Re-insurance is backup for claims if a company goes out of business or gets hit with a huge claim volume that it cannot meet. Unfortunately, this is still no guaranty because re-insurers are sometimes separate entitites from their parent companies or are joint ventures.

    Do they allow you to use any repair shop or only "approved" ones? In the latter case, they may coerce the shop into doing inferior repairs.

    What does the Better Business Bureau have to say about them? If there are unresolved complaints, that is a possible sign of trouble.

    Does anyone you know recommend them? Good experience is the best recommendation.

    The latter is probably why you asked here, and I also would be interested in any experiences people have had with extended warranties. Perhaps that should be a new thread.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I don't have experience with aftermarket warranties, but unless there was a big financial incentive, I'd stick with the manufacturer's extended warranty. Compare and contrast what you get for what price. Dealers usually are familiar with the factory extended warranty and the process is usually painless. Then again, if you don't use a dealer, then it might not make a difference.

    Ken
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Welcome aboard! We hope to hear more from you!

    tidester, host
  • spudmanspudman Member Posts: 32
    I never thought I'd like the auto dimming mirror as much as I do. The glare of the lights behind me is evident in the side mirrors , but is not overly annoying.
    I never did like the spare tire on the outside rear design. It's one of the reasons I chose the Forester over the CRV. One of the first things I noticed about the CR-V was its poor rear visibility.
    The salesman removed the rear seat headrests, and that helped quite a bit. Yet, there still remained the smallish rear window and the sliver of spare tire still visible in the mirror.
    The rear view of the Forester, on the other hand, is expansive, and even more so after the rear headrests were removed. The generously sized rear window combined with the large side mirrors enables even this witless spud to back into parking spaces confidently and safely.
  • beachfishbeachfish Member Posts: 97
    Anyone else tired of taking the spare out of their '02 to check the air pressure?

    Oh, you don't check it at least monthly? Why not? It's no good to you or your loved ones if it's flat.

    John
  • ducktapeguyducktapeguy Member Posts: 115
    I second that suggestion. I know what it feels like to be out on a highway at night in the middle of nowhere, with no air in the spare tire AND the spare tire not even seated on the rim.

    paisan,
    I'm probably just a little paranoid. It's never happened to me (because I don't have any cars with a rear mounted spare) but I don't want to give anyone the chance of doing it. There's just a lot of random vandalism sometimes, and checking a spare tire is one less thing I want to worry about. One thing I do notice is that people on the east coast aren't as paranoid with their stuff. In california, we have locks for everything, wheel locks, car cover locks, light locks, roof rack locks, snowboard and ski locks, etc. I guess it's just assumed that if you leave it out unlocked, you didn't want it that much in the first place. Not that california is full of thieves, but I think people just aren't as trusting.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    John,

    That's always an excellent idea. I think a lot of folks forget to check the spare. I typically fill it to the max PSI since I know I can always bleed air off if necessary.

    Ken
  • zigzag7239zigzag7239 Member Posts: 40
    I'm not familiar with the companies you refer to, but I would be very careful about buying an extended warranty from a third party. There is no guarantee that they'll remain in business, and if you have a dispute with them, what will your remedies be? Would you have to sue them in another state? Do you even know where their offices really are? What are the deductibles? Who decides if a warranty repair is justified? Can you use any shop? It sounds pretty risky to me.
  • zigzag7239zigzag7239 Member Posts: 40
    I got a chuckle out of this statement: "They only appear to be more glaring than std. headlights."

    Well, if they APPEAR to be more glaring, then they ARE more glaring. It's not as though people are imagining it.

    I'm a pretty sensible person, never caused an accident in 30 years of driving. I've been blinded by those headlights a few times, and it wasn't my imagination. They need to be better regulated or eliminated, IMO.
  • tugboat1tugboat1 Member Posts: 21
    Has anyone replaced the clutch on their Forester. I have heard that replacing the clutch in some AWD systems is particularly expensive. We are considering a manual Forester, however my wife will be learning how to drive a manual so I assume a new clutch may be in this car's future.
  • mjsnd80mjsnd80 Member Posts: 48
    Greetings:

    Went to a dealer this morning to buy an OUTBACK; decided on the FORESTER instead! Mainly due to the better room.

    The XS 5-speed in green. Sound nice? (I did not buy today, because the dealer tried to steal my trade-in! KBB/NADA = $5,400 Their offer = $2,000. Looks like I'll be selling it myself!)

    Anyway, before I buy the Forester, there are two questions for the experienced Forester people:

    1) Rumors of the Turbo coming here. True? Any details? Should I wait?

    2) Are the dealer-added options, like Tweeter Kits and Auto-dim/Compass Mirror, pre-wired; and you just pop them in? For example, if you pull the plastic door triangle, is the Tweeter wire right there? Likewise in the center headliner, is the wire there for the mirror, or will I have to wire it - or get the dealer to do it?

    Looks like a great car. Preferred the interior room over the Outback. It's quite obviously a newer design. Plus, more glass makes it less claustrophobic.

    Thank you!
  • xccoachlouxccoachlou Member Posts: 245
    MJS,

    Sounds like my tale of woe. Even if my car were in rough condition, which it isn't, the dealers were offering $2000 below that.

    The excuses were that Ford was dumping a lot of them from the rental market (hmmm and it's a four year old car, and that no one buys cars in december and january. My response to that one was "Well, I guess not!" and walked out. :)

    I guess it is better make no money, than to make a little money, at least according to their thinking...

    - Lou
  • mjsnd80mjsnd80 Member Posts: 48
    Lou: You got it with the trade-in runaround too, huh?

    My car's in beautiful shape. The Subaru dealer said they could only wholesale it out "...we won't make a penny..." for $2,500. I assume he's lying, and would sell it to a wholesaler for $3,500. Then the wholesale guy sells it to a used car guy for $4,500... who puts it on his lot for $6,500 (which, by shere coincidence, is what KBB/NADA says they're selling for at retail.)

    I love cars. I love driving. Why do so many of these guys make it such a terrible experience?
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Wiring is there for tweeters and all other optioned audio and alarm systems. Not sure about the mirror. You can see the install instructions for some at http://bitman.com/soobinstall/ . All are relatively easy to do and many members have done them. You will find lots of help here at Edmunds.


    bit

  • lakepoplakepop Member Posts: 221
    Martin....not unusual that the dealer will only offer wholesale for a trade in . If he is offering big bucks for a trade in...its usually because the other end is bumped up. Buyers just need to compare the out of pocket cost when comparing deals.
    Bottom line it is almost always better to sell the car yourself!
    OK...just my .02
  • eric102eric102 Member Posts: 122
    The wires will be there for the auto dimming mirror, just plug and play.

    Eric
  • ktliuktliu Member Posts: 5
    My '03 Forester is about 6 months old (5400 mi so far). I have been tracking its gas mileage closely since the beginning. It was running between 21-23 MPG very steadily until 2 months ago. Since then it's been dropping with every fill. Now it's down to 17 MPG. Two things happened coincided with the drops. 1. The first oil change at 3600 mi. 2. The cold weather. I am wondering if either of the two things could cause the gas mileage to drop. Any ideas? Thanks.
  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    ktliu, If your region uses oxygenated fuel during the winter months I would suspect the fuel as the culprit. I have noticed the same condition with my 03 since early Nov. BOB L
  • kajkokajko Member Posts: 70
    Re:MPG. Same thing happening here in NM since the beginning of November. Mileage is terrible with the fuel change, which, of course, defeats the purpose (IIRC someone already mentioned that a while back)

    Update on my springs: i took the subbie to the most reputable people in town, got my front springs changed but, it being the 13th and friday, the back ones were wrong (misfit). iSR made a mistake and they are sending me the correct ones laters this week. as far as i can tell for now, it's a bit stiffer, though surprisingly not much, and about 1.5" higher. i think once the back springs are in, i'll be very happy with my full-of-stuff Subaru. cheers.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    tugboat1,

    Replacing the clutch on the Forester is pretty much like with any vehicle. The manual transmission AWD is handled by a viscous coupling that is a completely sealed unit. You don't need to deal with it when replacing the clutch.

    Ken
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Ian- I think you're being a little overly pessimistic regarding your wife's ability to learn to drive a stick ;-)

    Millions and millions of drivers have learned to drive a stick without destroying their clutches. Did you ruin the clutch when you learned to drive a manual? I suspect not.

    -Frank P.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Martin- There are fairly reliable rumors circulating that the 04 Forester will have a turbo option. While details aren't yet known for certain, best guess is that the turbo will either use the current 2.5L or the 2.0L from the WRX. In either case, we're hoping/expecting that the turbo will up the HP to the 210 range and will be tuned for more lower end torque (as opposed to the WRX's 3000+ RPM boost).

    -Frank P.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We'll probably see a turbo Forester in June. I'd wait, if you can, drive a beater until then.

    I do check the psi on my spare tires. The one on my Miata was about 40psi low when I bought that car (that donut calls for 60psi). Like Ken, I keep the psi high because you can always let air out. Each of our cars has a tire gauge in it.

    Here's a bonus if you're teaching stick on a Forester - the Hill Holder will make it a LOT easier. The toughest thing for a newbie is not letting it roll on an incline, so not having to worry about the brakes lets you focus on the clutch.

    So yeah, a new clutch will cost you $300 or so in parts, but to fix that inevitable bumper bash on any other vehicle you get will likely cost $500-600. :-)

    Sell or trade? I say sell. We were offered $500 on an old Mirage trade, got $2450 for it. $500 for our old beater Sprint, sold privately for $2250. I even managed above book value on the 626 we sold earlier this year. Always came out thousands ahead.

    kajko: bummer about the wait, keep us posted? 1/5", eh? Maybe it'll be 2" when they've all been installed.

    -juice
  • jimbob17jimbob17 Member Posts: 77
    I'm curious about oxygenated fuel. Why is it done in the fall and for what reason? Why would anyone want a significant drop in mpg. There must be some gain somewhere else.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    There must be some gain somewhere else.

    The gain is a savings on the part of oil companies that receive federal and state exemptions on the excise tax. "Oxygenated fuel" used to be called "gasohol" when ethanol was the oxygenate and the more general term now includes the use of ether.

    Another gain is a reduction in the demand for petroleum during winter months when the need is more acute.

    I'll leave it to others to decide whether the alleged performance gains are real.

    tidester, host
  • rochcomrochcom Member Posts: 247
    Years ago, when my wife and I were looking for a new car, I wanted a manual. She said if I got one, she would leave me because she would never be able to drive it. So, I bought an automatic and regretted it. When having that car serviced one day, the only rental the dealer had available was a manual, so I took it. When I got it home, my wife wanted to drive to the store, so I gave her the keys. She said, Ok, show me how to drive it. Less than an hour later, she was happily shifting away. It really isn't that hard. I think most of the trouble people talk about is with older American cars that had clutch springs that required a gorilla foot, and a shift pattern that defied logic. BTW, I learned to drive a stick first on an old tractor, and then on an old (large) Mustang. Neither was a picnic to drive.

    Having the dealer replace the clutch will cost about $800. These days, that is not too bad.

    I too had a bad experience with my dealer offering far below book for a car that was in top condition. However, there are tradeoffs. In New York, if you trade, you pay sales tax only on the difference in price between the new and old cars. If you sell privetely, you pay the full tax on the new car. Of course, if it is a bad deal, the tax might not make much difference.

    Also, you do not have to worry about letting strangers test drive your car. And you do not have to pay to advertise and wait for a response. Of course, you could always sell to that neighbor who has always admired it. After all, it is a Subaru. : )
  • lakepoplakepop Member Posts: 221
    While I know that virtually anything that is sold to consumers has profit as a goal ......the oxygenated gas starts its journey as a federally mandated program. The EPA has set the standards and in most cases the individual states implement the plan. The plan is emmission orientated and is the result of the effect of cold winter air on the complete(incomplete) combustion of gasoline. In an attempt to keep our air clean they introduced oxygenated gas.

    Here in WNY we start to see oxygenated gas in the fall and it continues thru spring. It does NOT improve performance or mileage and most everyone sees a decline in mileage as soon as it reaches the market.

    I personally RESET my ECU as soon as I think I'm getting oxygenated fuel in an attempt for the computer to adjust more quickly. My normal mileage is right at 27. When the oxygenated gas arrives ..I have seen as little as 20 mpg. Resetting usually gets me back to about 25....so I plan on losing 2 mpg with the oxygenated stuff. Nothing to do but live with it until spring when I do another RESET and back to the 27 mpg.

    Sorry for the lengthy comment..but its how I understand the issue. Does it keep the air cleaner....probably. Does it improve performance...hardly. Does it mean more profit?...maybe (sell more gas) but it may cost more to produce so....??????
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    $800 from a dealer, but less from an independent mechanic, if you know a good one. Heck, buy one on-line for $300-400 and then get help from the local i-Club chapter. Or attend one of paisan's installfests.

    Or teach them on an old, worn clutch (it's easier because it slips more). Then get the Subie.

    -juice
  • rsay777rsay777 Member Posts: 100
    Hey lakepop, good explanation on the OF. How is an ECU reset accomplished? I was under the impression the ECU "learned" changing conditions and automatically adjusted mixture etc. I take it that there is a way to reset manually to speed up the process when conditions change drastically such as Oxygenated Fuel. Bob L
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Unless one has an OBD Scan tool, the only sure-fire way to reset the ECU is to unplug the negative battery terminal for about 30 minutes.

    In order to allow the ECU to re-learn properly, most people wait until the car is cold before doing the reset procedure. After the 30 minutes are up, start the engine and let the vehicle idle for about 15 minutes.

    The ECU does learn over time by averaging various driving conditions and inputs (ie. gas). Resetting it simply speeds up the process since it has no previous memory to weigh in.

    Also, keep in mind that resetting the ECU will cause your engine to run rich for 1-2 tanks. You'll notice gas milage will drop and that the vehicle is a little peppier.

    Ken
  • lakepoplakepop Member Posts: 221
    BobL...pretty much what Ken said...let me say it my way.
    Why the reset: Each time you operate your car is an "event" which gives the data base information to average into how it operates. By resetting you remove that large data base and return the settings to those entered by the manufacturer. This gives the ECU a chance to adapt faster. Now does it mean you will have poor gas mileage after the reset....it has NOT been my experience....remember you are back to factory settings!

    OK..How to reset.
    1. disconnect "negative " terminal from battery
    2. wait 1-2 hrs * (I've heard you can reduce this time by depressing brake pedal ...I've not done it)
    3. reconnect negative terminal to battery
    4. start car * DO NOT touch any controls.gas pedal etc
    5. allow car to warm up to normal operating temp
    6. shut car off
    7. restart car...ECU is now reset and ready to start adapting to whatever you changed.

    NOTE: you will lose the radio presets/trip meter and clock settings when you reconnect...I just reset them. Also IF you have an alarm hooked up...IT WILL TRIGGER (be ready : ))

    OK...thats my story and I'm sticking to it.....for now ; )
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    In my experience, an ECU reset has hurt my mileage significantly. At least 2-3mpg lost for one or two tanks.

    I chart my mileage, and it's happened twice that way, so I doubt it's coincidental. Keep in mind the ECU learns *my* driving habits, which are different than yours. So YMMV.

    -juice
  • lakepoplakepop Member Posts: 221
    Juice...ya got me with that one....?? YMMV??

    Sorry it was your experience to lose mileage with a reset.....all I said was "it has not been my experience"....I fully expect that "we" all have different driving habits.
    If what I said stepped on your toes...I appologize!
    Now YMMV..???????
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Same here. My milage always drops temporarily after an ECU reset.

    Our ECUs are programmed for fuel economy and engine longevity. In most cases, the ECU has optimized for one's driving habits so resetting drops it back to a preset conservative state where it runs rich. Over time, it slowly leans out the fuel mixture to strike a balance between running lean and improving gas milage.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Your mileage may vary. Sorry, too many acronyms, I know.

    No toe stepping occurred, just sharing my experience to have a greater knowledge base.

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

    When my ECU has been reset after service, I have seen a slide in economy of about 10% coming back up to normal values over about three tanks full. That's rather longer than I would expect as I understood that the database that the ECU works off is biased heavily to the last ten to twenty minutes of driving.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    do not reconnect terminal with head still under the hood?? Why would depressing the brake shorten the needed reset time?? Trying to stop time?

    Greg
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    It's not depressing the brake that shortens the time it is the resulting pressure you put on the seatback. The seatback is connected to a hidden factory service reset accelerator.

    bit
  • xccoachlouxccoachlou Member Posts: 245
    As far as cleaning/waxing automobiles goes, what's the consensus on using a buffer/polisher on their cars?

    Thanks

    - Lou, thinking ahead...
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Buffers do speed up detailing work, but you need to be extra careful not to damage your finish. If you use a buffer, get an orbital one that doesn't spin on a fixed axis. Also, large diameter buffers make it difficult to reach areas that are right where sheetmetal creases.

    I own an orbital buffer, but I usually end up doing everything by hand.

    Ken
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Ordered a set of Dunlop SP Sport 5000 symmetricals from Tire Rack in the OEM size (215/60-16) to install on the OEM alloys for winter. They should be here by Friday and on the car Saturday. I did have to drive the Pilot Sport A/S through the slush one day and they were fine; I just want to keep them and the Superleggeras safe until spring. I'm aware that they will probably be no better than the Pilots in the winter but will most likely be better than the Geolandars were.

    Now to sneak the OEM wheels into the basement for claying and waxing for the next three nights...

    Ed
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