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Subaru Forester (up to 2005) - READ ONLY

18028 messages,  Last post on Nov 02, 2006 at 7:19 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon



Messages Page 1685 of 1804

#16834 of 18028 Prep fees & misc by kavoom

Jul 17, 2005 (6:21 am)

Prep fees...
 
You can peel off the plastic protective coatings and give it a wash can't you??? That should be the first fees negotiated away... They might as well call it "free money" for us because you (as a customer) don't know any better.
 
Ranks right up there with document fees (they have to fill out all those papers anyway and why not get you to pay the Secretary's salary). If you could get someone to pay you for breathing wouldn't you? And when they give em up easily they can point out how big a favor they have done for you and then they are right where they wanted to be in the "real" negotiating process with you at a disadvantage thinking well, they have already given up that money... There is less of this nowadays, but it is still there. Remember the Saturn commercials saying you pay for what is on the sticker, no negotiating, no "hidden" fees etc. That was originally to counter this very strategy.
 
And at the end of a model year, they shouldn't even bring em up you would think...on the previous years left overs.
 
You will note some of the best deals you see on these boards never mention these fees.
 
Other
I am glad I got a 2004 Forester (2005's also) and like the looks over the 2006's. I prefer my straight "unpainted" plastic on the bottom and the gray back panel and side support panels. No dings of any sort yet in the parking lots (knocks on wood). I like the front end looks better also. Less "refined" and more scrappy looking.
 
My dealer noted they were unimpressed by the extra 8 horsepower in the 06 Foresters. They say they don't even notice it and were surprised because there was a 3 or 4 horsepower increase a few years ago that was distinctly noticeable.
 
fyi, (after market parts)
The LL Bean "self levelling" rear suspension is ALL in the struts (thanks to others informing me of this). You can buy them (not cheap I hear) if you tow a trailer. I am also hearing here that the "much vaunted" filter system is already pre-installed on Subies with no filter in the housing when not on the sticker and you can buy and install yourself...??? Subaru's have a "tow package" (wiring harness knockouts etc) pre-installed. Why don't they advertise it (in the U.S.) That saved me over a hundred bucks to the surprised hitch installers who had never done a Subaru. They said it was one of the easiest they had had to do and became interested in Subaru as a tow vehicle noting someone had obviously considered it for that purpose.
 
And why does Subaru NOT offer a manual transmission in the LL Bean when it is obviously oriented more than anything else toward towing. You lose towing capacity with the automatic transmission while you have items like self-levelling rear suspensions which are obviously towing oriented and standard on Australian versions of the Forester...along with two stage manual transmissions. They tow a lot and rated the Forester as the best towing vehicle (2004) over roughly comparable vehicles including bigger ones.
 
If I have misspoken anywhere here, please enlighten and/or correct me.
 
Kavoom<checks the balance in his checkbook...

#16835 of 18028 Re: Clockwise tightens [rsay777] by kev_xt_owner

Jul 17, 2005 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: rsay777 (Jul 15, 2005 3:40 pm)
Yep, flammable gases get connections that are the reverse of the righty-tighty rule to remind you the gas is flammable and to prevent mixing two gases that might cause an explosion. So pretty much you can just remember the righty-tighty rule for bolts, etc.
 
Kevin

#16836 of 18028 Rear differential protector plate & General Off-road mods by ll1

Jul 18, 2005 (8:21 am)

Hi all,
I'm contemplating taking our 05 Forester back to a particular 4x4 trail that is technically rated from 4 to a 7. Last time we went there were a few deep ruts where I gently scraped the front plastic protector beneath the engine block. There appeared to be no major damages from rocks, aside from a few small scrapes on the surface of the muffler.
 
Any suggestions to further protect the car? Does the rear differential plate protect enough? How is the front differential protected? Any suggestions on helpful modifications are appreciated. Obviously, bigger tires and raised suspension will be great...or renting a Wrangler but they're asking for $130/day!

#16837 of 18028 Skid plate by ateixeira

Jul 18, 2005 (9:46 am)

I would get a front skid plate, ask paisan.
 
-juice

#16838 of 18028 Oil change story. by daniell

Jul 18, 2005 (7:14 pm)

I have a 2002 Forester S, auto. On June 9th I had an oil change at the dealer, Subaru Beechmont in Cincinnati. Mileage was 37,800 miles. On July 9th at about 38,600 miles, when my wife drove the car (she usually drives it) I noticed blue smoke coming from the tailpipe. When she got back, I measured the oil level and in my garage it showed about 1" above the full level. For comparison purposes, my other car, a Civic, showed about 1/8" above full level. Took the car to the dealership, stated the problem, asked to have it documented, and the oil drained and refilled to the correct level. The service advisor and I measured the oil level. It showed slightly less than in my garage, but still way above the full level, and about 1/4" above "notch" on the dipstick that is above full. First he tried to convince me that the oil is high because the motor hasn't warmed enough and all of it is at the bottom of the pan (manual states that oil is highest when engine is warm, and it can be between full and the notch above full). Then he said that the oil level was fine, but as a courtesy they would change it for me. He seemed to believe that 5 quarts or so above normal would cause problems and could actually be considered overfill. So they change the oil and give me a piece of paper which looks basically like a regular oil change. Later I saw they didn't even mark the actual mileage on the the work order. Called a manager, and they agreed to re-write the work order to include the correct mileage and what caused the new oil change. The work order says basically "Customer states oil level is high. Tech checked and found no concern. Oil changed at customer's request". Translation: "the customer is crazy, but we'll indulge him". I asked the tech to actually write what we both saw, about 1/4" above the notch. I draw a diagram of what we saw with the oil level, he agreed with it, and he took it to the manager to sign it. Came back saying manager won't sign, that's all I am getting. Spoke to the manager, he said "they don't write quantities and numbers, only what the customer states", "there was no formal measurement in a pan", and "who knows now what you and the tech saw". Called SOA, they gave me a case number but stated that they can't force the dealership to do anything since it's privately own.
 
Now, maybe there was no damage to the engine, in spite of the blue smoke I saw. But the car has been driven over 800 miles with oil overfill, and the dealership completely refuses to accept any responsibility. All maintenance has been done by the book, at that dealer, Subaru Beechmont. I think anything above the notch is overfill and should be documented as such.
 
Since I might be looking at expensive repairs down the road (I agree that the risk is small, but the potential repair cost is high), caused by the dealer's negligence, should I pursue this further (BBB, Attorney General)?
 
Daniel

#16839 of 18028 04 Forester NT AT by pert

Jul 19, 2005 (8:06 am)

Can someone tell me the proper torx for my differential drain plug.
 
Thanx in advance. Pert

#16840 of 18028 Re: 04 Forester NT AT [pert] by mckeown

Jul 19, 2005 (8:32 am)

Replying to: pert (Jul 19, 2005 8:06 am)
2004 Front on A/T 44Nnm / 32.5 FtLbs. Rear 49Nm / 36.2 FtLbs

#16841 of 18028 Daniel by ateixeira

Jul 19, 2005 (9:36 am)

Just document it all and call 800-SUBARU3 to register an official complaint, ask for a case number just in case.
 
And find another dealer!
 
-juice

#16842 of 18028 Re: 04 Forester NT AT [mckeown] by pert

Jul 19, 2005 (10:15 am)

Replying to: mckeown (Jul 19, 2005 8:32 am)
I was looking for the torx size to remove drain plug on my front diff. I tried a T60 but thats as big as i have and its bigger. Thanx Pert

#16843 of 18028 Re: 04 Forester NT AT [pert] by mckeown

Jul 19, 2005 (10:26 am)

Replying to: pert (Jul 19, 2005 10:15 am)
Sorry, Misunderstood TORX for Torque......T70 is the size

Messages Page 1685 of 1804

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