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Comments
I am admiring the Forester through a window as I type. The sun is shining on it and really bringing out the pearly nature of that beautiful deep blue color. I have been driving it all weekend and absolutely love it. Spring and summer are my favorite months, however, I am looking forward to the first snow fall when I can take the Soob out and have some winter fun with it.
I have only had my Forester for 2 days now, but I'll post my reasons for why I love it anyway.
1) All that I have read about the engineering behind Soobs: 25 years of experience with the AWD system, The way the low center of gravity of the H-4 engine improves cornering, etc. These vehicles are real form follows function cars, built from the ground up with a purpose.
2) Good reliability
3)How smooth the engine is. I can feel almost no vibration through the steering wheel or shifter even when I am idling at an intersection.
4) All of the nooks and crannies. I love all of the storage spaces in this car.
5) Easy to top my canoe. Because the Forester is not as "high" as othe SUV's, it makes topping the canoe easier.
6)The fact that soobs have some off road capability without sacrificing all the positives of a car including quiteness, good handling, and decent gas mileage.
I'm sure I'll come up with more as time goes on, but I'll stop at that for now
Looking forward to being a new member of the Soob family and this board.
Take care,
Skip
It is "zippy" (165hp and 500 lbs. lighter than the
OB). The seats are very supportive - especially over bumpy roads. It holds the road like a dream when cornering. I bought the automatic because of the computer-assisted traction, as opposed to the mechanical version with the 5-speed (Otherwise, I would have preferred the 5-speed). But I can downshift/upshift to my preference.
I'm 6'5", and the legroom is just enough (another inch or two would be perfect), but it has an almost-cockpit feeling to it - especially in tight turns and rocky terrain. It's great !!
By-the-way, I purchased through carorder.com, and
had an excellent experience. They kept changing people to contact, and the order status info was never current, but I was able to get current info on the phone. The combination I wanted was impossible to find through San Francisco area dealers, but carorder.com found exactly what I wanted in under two weeks, The dealer in S. California was great (Frank's Irving Subaru). And
my shiny silver Forester appeared in my driveway -
with silver bow! - exactly when promised, with 26 miles on it. And........ $700 UNDER invoice !
"Thanx" again for evryone's help!
I finally saw the optional Forester Infiniti-like grill today and I have to say that it is ugly (IMHO)! It really does look very similar to the grill that one would find in the front of any of the Infiniti cars (except the G20 and QX4) but I don't think that it suits the Forester's nature. The standard grill is much more fitting.
Drew
www.wave.net/diveguy/Dave
you'll need Flash and Quicktime 4. I've had emails of an error message appearing and I think it's becuase QT4 isn't backwards compatible??!! That would suck.
It has a video segment (1.1MB) as well.
Anyway, does anyone recommend the extended warranties? I just bought a Forester S 01 and didn't buy the ext.warranty from the dealer(they got enought) but was wondering if they are worth it or not? If so, who has the best programs? Any input would be great.
Today my family and I went to a biathalon about an hours drive away. Five people inside, two bikes on the roof, a bunch of miscellaneous in the back, and everyone was comfortable and the wagon handled great. Good times. Perhaps that's what its about...
Dave
On one crazy night last year (Octoberfest), we managed to fit 7 full-size adults in my OB. I got to sit in the hatch with my g/f since I had one too many that night...
John, $700 under! Congratulations on an almost unbelievable deal! I hadn't seen actual Subaru prices from CarOrder.com, so thanks for posting yours.
Dave, the site looks great; love the QT video. Who's your copywriter?
..Mike
..Mike
I've been living on Edmunds for the past month or so, and all the research I did pointed to the Forester for me. The safety over the other small SUVs really did it. Also, I like the fact that the Forester isn't as popular as the Hondas, Toyotas, etc (I like to be different from everyone else). Boy, do those owners have a lot to learn (ha ha)! We've got the smoother ride, higher horsepower, AWD, lower center of gravity, etc.
:-)
Lisa
..Mike
..Mike
On a brighter note, took the soob (F01S) out camping - all the regular sites were filled, so we took it down a little-used trail and found a great site removed from all the RVs and people. The car was perfect; several others came down the road and had to turn around, and their much larger vehicles had substantial trouble completing the 3-point turn in only three points. I wasn't smug per se, but...
Anyway, great to get it dirty and throw it around on some back roads.
cheers
jg
Eric
Congratulations on your Forester. My experience is almost identical to yours. I live in SoCal, and got my silver Forester L for $600 under invoice from Franks Irvine Subaru.
The carOrder.com process was not without hiccups, but the deal was worth it. You should also check your paperwork. If you paid a $75 "CA Inspection Fee", you're entitled to a refund. That inspection fee is required only for cars that were titled as "Salvaged" (obviously not applicable for a new vehicle).
Manny
old wagons that were dear to our Hearts.
(wWW.stationwagon.com/gallery/gallery2.html)
Maybe some of you have already been there?
I saw a few we had when growing up!
Did you?
I hope everyone had a safe 3 day!
Looks like those members just keep rolling in.
Later Ya'll
Dave
Any thoughts on when I should get the first oil change, other than RTFM?
JP (Calgary)
Glad I bought the L (and I'm with you juice on the unpainted side cladding)
JP
The lady next to you at the supermarket will lose control of her shopping trolley when it has the sharpest bits pointed to your new car's paintwork.
You only ever get bogged at dusk and a long walk from any help
children throw up when there is nothing to protect the upholstery
What are yours?
Cheers
Graham
Take care,
Skip
mantra: oil is cheap, engines aren't.
Norman
bummer on heated window costing $1,200
Many insurance companies will pay the cost for getting a chip repaired - because it's to their benefit that the chip doesn't turn into a crack. So you might want to check with them if you want the chip repaired.
-- ash
Question One -- does anyone believe that OB's are any more susceptible to windshield chips and breaks than any other car? My sister-in-law who just experienced a hit in the windshield claims Subarus are more susceptible because of their uprightness. I can't believe that, but am looking for some reinforcement.
Question Two -- Outback or Forester, which should I buy next? Purpose of the car will be long-distance travel over mountains, through Canada and so on, but no off-roading. Lots of long days in the car. It must be a five-speed, no automatic.
-- I'm 6'3" -- how do other tall guys cope with the Forester?
-- which seats are more comfortable for the long haul, the OB or the Forester?
-- how does either one (they have the same engine of course) perform in higher altitudes?
Advice please on both subjects.
Thanks -- Al
(The following is my opinion only of course)
I consider my '00 OB to be excellent for long distance trips. I bought it mostly to tackle highway trips and mild off-roading, and in that aspect I picked it over the Forestor, because its ride is slightly better and the interior is very quiet. Response in the Forestor is better because of the lower body weight, but that body weight translates in to less rigidity than the OBs which makes the car feel extremely solid on the road.
The difference as I see it is this: if you want something slightly "sportier" than the OB, than pick the Forestor. If you want something more refined and comfortable, than pick the OB.
This of course reflects on space and seating. The OB has the advantage in both, as it's currently regarded as Subaru's flagship vehicle.
Note that I don't drive my OB in the city often - mostly because I have a Mazda MX-6 which is much more suitable for the stop and go tasks. (My OB is 5 speed by the way).
Accleration in the city is adequate, and highway passing is quite good if you have the rpms up around 4000.
-- ash
But the REASON they are so nice about doing this au gratis is that your policy usually covers windshield replacement (minus a $100 or so deductible) under a fine-print 'road hazard' clause, and of course it'll cost them more to replace the windshield rather than repairing it for free. And no, since there is no liability or fault involved, they aren't allowed to raise your premium. I replaced a $1000 windshield on an Integra this way...though the 'road hazard' may or may not have been one of them steering wheel locks ('The Club') whacking the windshield from the inside
So go check the fine print on your insurance policy everyone!
And I don't think that the OB is more susceptible to getting chips. The windshield really isn't especially upright. Most car windshields are raked within a 15 degree range of angles, and this isn't going to make a huge difference. I would think the OB is less susceptible due to it being higher off the ground (less likely to hit by bouncing gravel).
Dave
Comprehensive insurance would cover windshield damage, you just pay the deductable. Try to keep it low, say $100 or $200 or so. My wife's broken two in her Mazda, so I think it's really just bad luck.
Pat: You can e-mail QSubaru@aol.com for accessories at wholesale, plus no shipping or sales tax.
Centavo: That award you mentioned was actually for Most Improved, not the Best. But the latter can be our little secret
Dave: we are not worthy! Awesome page, dude!
JP: does your boss have low range 4WD and a hill holder? That way he can stand proud.
Man, I was so close. Got 399.5 miles on the last tank. Wife was nervous and made me stop. Had 1.4 gallons left! Could have made it to 400 easily! Doh!
28mpg, though this one was two trips and only a single week of non-rush hour commuting in between.
I'm jealous of the new Legacy/Outback's bigger tank, not to mention the better EPA numbers. Anyone break 400 yet? 450?
-juice
So I drove the Forester very early on, and admit I didn't expect much given my disappointment in its competitors.
Wow. The test drive was shocking. FUN! Unbelievable, no comparison! Yipeeee! Quick, and easy access to the power. Handling is very, very impressive. Liked the shifter, soft clutch pedal and generally light controls.
So I finally found something practical, with a baby on the way soon, that left me feeling like I didn't sell my soul to the devil for that extra bit of room.
Dumped the Escort GT to the insurance company that called it totalled, and honestly never looked back.
Then I read all this great press, found out about how great it was, bla bla bla.
Honestly, though, I didn't know 5% of what I know about it today. The test drive was what sold me.
-juice
I needed a longer hauling space
I wanted a little less body lean in turns, and the OB is a bit sportier in that sense.
I get to take it to driving schools where SUVs and crossovers are barred! :'))
FWIW, I would rather have a GT, but there were none to be had...I was shopping '99 closeouts.
I'm a Native Texan, but I meet the Mother of the
Subaru Kids years ago when I lived in the Northwest. I thought that her kids were Brats. Odd looking tin cans from Japan. I wondered why were folks driving these Boxes. Where I was from, folks drove big good looking classy cars, and
so did I. Besides, I could'nt take my girl out
in those things. Get all dressed up to jump in
a Subaru. A'nit no Way.
We'll I got my girl, and then I had Kids of my
Own. That's when I meet the Subaru Kids Mother,
one Snowy Winter's Day! Driven my Big-O-classy
good looking car and stuck on the highway
after that Mama Blew thru. Those little Brats
of hers were all going home and I was'nt.
I dumped my Big-O-classy car for a 89 GL Wagon.
Someone said the GL stands for good lookin. And
the DL stands for dumb lookin. Had to go with
the GL.
Drove mY Subie to Texas to show the folks, and
all they could do was wonder why drive that
thing.
Yes sir, Necessity is the Mother of Invention!
Since then, Subaru has also given me back my
Classy ways with whats necessary as a base.
I Love my 00 Outback.
Later Ya'll
tank, not to mention the better EPA numbers.
Anyone break 400 yet? 450?<<
The one time I ran my 00 Legacy L Wagon down until the low fuel light came on, I was at 378 miles, and had over three gallons left. Refueled at that point, but would have made over 400 with room to spare. That was mixed driving too, 450 is definitely possible on the highway.
Dave
To the person in the accident, glad you are mostly OK. There is quite a bit of press coverage lately given to the proclivity of SUVs to roll over in an accident; some folks around here try to tout fancy traction control systems as being able to prevent that, but I personally think that when you are *in* an accident that traction system will do you no good. Get knocked sideways, or punched over an embankment, and that SUV is going over. Period. As for Subarus; they're all, every one, a whole lot closer to the ground than the standard issue SUV. Also they have a very low center of gravity due to horizontally-opposed engines and other cool stuff. So the likelihood of a rollover in a Subaru is MUCH, MUCH lower. Also the '00 Legacy sedan received a "good" rating in the IIHS crash test; that's the highest rating they give, and the Legacy was the only vehicle in the class they tested it with to receive it. The Legacy/Outback wagon should do pretty much the same although it was not tested.
In a word - safe. A good place to be should you have, heaven forbid, another accident.
Regards,
WDB
Dave: your low fuel light is pretty conservative, then. I believe the Forester's comes on with 2.3 gallons left, and from my experience that's about right.
Is the Outback safe? Check it out:
http://www.crashtest.com/subaru/index.htm
All scores, every one, are either Good or Excellent. That's something not even Volvo can claim for its S40 or its S70. That Ranger has some Marginal and even some Poor scores, FWIW.
Look at a cut-out of the engine bay, and you'll see that the engine and transmission lay very low, mostly below the top of the tires. The center of gravity is impressively low, despite a useful 7.3" of ground clearance.
-juice
Yes, AWD benefits show up in all kinds of conditions. On dry pavement, it eliminates torque steer completely, reduces understeer, and distributes power more evenly to reduce the chance of losing traction.
What else? Better weight distribution, more even tire wear, predictable handling, better control in emergency situations. I'm sure there are others I just can't think of right now.
Just wait, though, 'til it snows. Pure heaven!
-juice
See my note #734. I'm 6'5", and the Forester provides JUST ENOUGH. Obviously, seat is at it's farthest back/lowest position. The seat/headrest provide great support, and you have to sit up straight. Haven't driven it for more than an hour at a time, but haven't been uncomfortable so far. Given that it drives like a "Wild Mouse Ride" anyway, think of the seat as a cockpit !!
Note: no room for passengers just behind you.
Enjoy,
John
and I thought I would post the good and the bad so far:
Good
Milage- broke 30 mpg from Phoenix to Blythe CA this weekend at 85mph (cruise on all the way). Usually get 23-25 in mixed driving.
Highway performance- Smooth, quiet, and the 6 disk CD plays as long as a tank of gas lasts. Passing power is good. Long drives are easy. I've done 6 5+ hour drives so far. Looking forward to more.
Room- For the money there really is no larger car or SUV.
Safety- AWD, ABS, and a solid cage.
Offroad - Just as much capability as I need.
Snow- What snow??? For that matter any foul weather. Ha! I scoff at the weather!
Bad
Rattles - The doors (fixed), the airbag/horn (fixed and came back), the auto shifter (just started) also the brake pedal squeeks. The windows also squeek up and down. In such a quiet car these things drive me nuts.
Steering/suspension rattle- when turning tightly and hitting bumps there is a noticable rattle. Dealer says "That's the way they all are"
Visors- There is no way to keep the visors clean with that headliner material on them.
Switch for heated seats- They get bumped "on" too easy which is a drag in Phoenix. They should be recessed.
Other comments
The AC is plenty cold (remember I live in Phoenix). It is no rocket off the line but it is way faster than city traffic.
Anyone else with rattle problems?
Why Subaru? I drive an Impreza RS. There simply is no competition. You can get something nicer, faster, lighter, and even AWD, but you can't get it all for under $20k. I couldn't convince myself to buy an Eclipse GSX because of the horrid visibility and seating position, plus >3200lb curb weight. (yep, they're porkers.)
If I lived in the sunbelt, sorry fellow Subaru fans, but I wouldn't own this car. An impreza turbo would still be appealing, but otherwise I would get a traditional sportscar.
-Colin
btw for juice: helmet yes (I own 4), 4pt harness no (too dangerous). I bruise my knees bracing them on the door and center console and hang on to the steering wheel tight. Passengers hold onto the oh-s... handle pretty tight.
Tightening it didn't do the trick.
Welding did.
John: remind rear seat passengers to tuck their feet under the front seats. There's room for feet, and it makes them more comfortable.
Colin: do you find the dead pedal well placed for serious driving?
Just added one more page to my site, with photos of Marzo (our Dominican friend) and Dave. Which Dave? 2ndwnd, check it out:
http://thejuiceman.homepage.com/pals.html
-juice
I haven't specifically tried to use it, but I generally rest my left foot shallow of the clutch when I'm not braking or clutching while driving hard. Yes, braking. I'm a left foot braker to a fault...
-Colin
I can't believe you're even considering the Forester given that you are 6'3. My girlfriend (5'0) just got a 2001 Forester because it gave her the best seating position and visibility. I've driven it a bit now (I'm 5'9) and I can't find a seating position that I like. The seat is all the way back and my arms are still bent a lot. In my 99 Outback my arms are almost straight. I like it a lot better.
Another advantage of the Outback is that it is quieter. On some road surfaces the road noise in the Forester is quite loud. My Outback is much quieter.
To determine the proper positioning of your body relative to the steering wheel, drape your wrists over the top of the steering wheel. You should be able to do this with your upper back and shoulder blades still making contact with the seatback. If your back lifts off the seatback, this means that it is reclined too much; adjust as necessary.
Also, place your foot behind and underneath the brake pedal to determine proper seat position. Your legs should be bent slightly and in a comfortable position. Adjust the seat fore and aft, or tilt the seat as necesary.
Drew
it. We took out all items in the back that might rattle around including the cargo screen, tire iron and tools, even the spare tire. We still get the noise with the back empty. It seems to be coming from either the tail gate or somewhere under the car. My husband has tried shaking the tailgate back and forth but he couldn't shake it hard enough to make any noise. He also reached under and shook the muffler, but that was quiet. He hasn't yet crawled around underneath but that's the next step. We hear this noise when we go over bumps and even more so when we hit the bumps on a turn, first left, then right. We also hear it sometimes when we are backing out of our driveway and we slowly go over a bump at the end of the driveway. It's almost as though something underneath is flexing. Has anyone encountered
this? We'll be taking it to the dealer soon so we'll let them look for it.
Thanks for the help!
/Pat
Good Luck!
Drew
Cheers
Graham
I was therefore not surprised to see a Forester decked out as a rapid response ambulance, doing about 60mph through twisting turns in the rain over tram tracks yesterday. Guess it makes sense for this sort of job. Driver looked concentrated but very in control.
They are also used as police patrol vehicles in rural areas where 4WD and turbo speed are desirable.
Cheers
Graham