Subaru Forester

1409 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 6:41 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum. Your Host is kcram

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon, SUV

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#51 of 1409: Re: 2006 Forester XT [steve_] by ateixeira; Jul 26, 2005 (11:00 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 26, 2005 8:06 am)

I'm with Steve on this one, you know it'll fit so just buy one. Tire Rack will have a steelie for $40 or so, plus a tire that's in the area of a hundred bucks. Definitely not a dealer killer, just a minor nuisance.

We did this with our Legacy. Donut was replace with a steelie 15"x6" and one tire we had to buy. We got a set of alloys (from Jim in Texas) so I already had the steel rim. Gave two steel rims away, in fact I still have one spare if you want it, it's free. But I don't think 15" is big enough to clear your brakes.

Not a deal killer, though.

-juice

#52 of 1409: Pic by ateixeira; Jul 26, 2005 (11:01 am)

full size spare in well.JPG
0x0 (0kb)

#53 of 1409: Re: 2006 Forester XT [chassol] by terry92270; Jul 26, 2005 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: chassol (Jul 26, 2005 7:12 am)

Not buying a fine automobile because of a space saving spare tire, so rarely, if ever, used during the time you will own it, is tantamount to not buying a fine piece of jewelry because you don't like the color of the box!

It is almost as though some of you need to latch on to something to be unhappy about. Is it possible you all have such rotten luck, live in such desolate/remote places, as to get many flats over the cars lifetime

I own three cars at present. In over two years, never a tire problem. I asked around my office, and out of over 50 people, only three had need of roadside assistance

for punctures in the past several years.

Come on, smarten me up. What am I missing here? I can't even buy the excuse you don't like to be limited to 50 MPH when proceeding on after a flat, as reason to not buy a certain model or brand....

steve_ (Jul 26, 2005 4:53 pm)
rsholland (Jul 26, 2005 5:50 pm)
- terry92270 (Jul 26, 2005 11:31 pm)
  - rsholland (Jul 27, 2005 6:17 am)
- crashton6 (Jul 29, 2005 9:26 am)

#54 of 1409: Re: 2006 Forester XT [terry92270] by steve_ HOST; Jul 26, 2005 (4:53 pm)

Replying to: terry92270 (Jul 26, 2005 2:17 pm)

Full size spares are nice to have on road trips. Especially in the boonies when you are loaded down with camping gear.

Steve, Host

#55 of 1409: Re: 2006 Forester XT [terry92270] by rsholland; Jul 26, 2005 (5:50 pm)

Replying to: terry92270 (Jul 26, 2005 2:17 pm)

Depends on where you are coming from Terry. All previous Foresters had a full-size spare, which was great. I was hoping that Subaru would see the wisdom here and equip all their US-spec models with full-size spares (as they are equipped in most other markets, BTW).

Well, they didn't do that. Instead they removed a good idea (the full-size spare) and replaced it with a bad idea (the donut).

So is it a deal-breaker? Well, at the moment I'm so pissed at this stupid decision by SOA, it could be if I were in the market now. Maybe after I calm down over this, I can think about it more logically. It certainly knocks the Forester down a notch IMO, however.

BTW, this past year I've had 3 flat tires on various vehicles...

Bob

terry92270 (Jul 26, 2005 11:31 pm)
- rsholland (Jul 27, 2005 6:17 am)
crashton6 (Jul 29, 2005 9:26 am)

#56 of 1409: Re: 2006 Forester XT [ozman62] by chassol; Jul 26, 2005 (8:55 pm)

Replying to: ozman62 (Jul 26, 2005 8:12 am)

All the B9 I saw at Auto shows BEFORE release were full size tires (spare) - YES I crawled under one to look.

Nothing in Subaru literature says anything about spare size, but at cars101 it does state "Spare Tire - temporary, mounted under rear of car. Tools in cargo area and there a small storage bin as well ".

If this is true, and I don't question it, - Bean counters won again

. Wonder how long it will be before they get temp tires as standard equipment on all 4 wheels

.

Have you ever driven an AWD (Subaru), after mounting a temp, in the dead of night raining cats and dogs and not have cell phone with you to call Roadside Assistance (I have) ? Try it sometime and let me know your thoughts of how the vehicle drives in the heavy rain with that wonderful temp tire on. From that one experience I'd be willing to bet folks might sing another tune. Better yet take this one step further and try it in below freezing weather with a couple of inches of snow on the ground in near white out conditions.

And why does Subaru warn you to have all tires on all wheels within so many 32s diameter at all times? I know I'm pushing on this one, but if you haven't had the "fun" at least once, believe me you have no idea what you are missing.

Does all Subaru competition AWD, including upscale, use donut tires too? Just asking, I'd like to know.

I have driven Subarus over 275,000 miles (since 1998 - and another 100,000 in the early mid 80s) how many miles have you driven them?

The point I'm trying to make is - I've been there, hope no one here ever has to, but if they do under the conditions I'm describing I'd bet they would think once is enough and wouldn't like to repeat the "fun" experience over again.

#57 of 1409: Re: 2006 Forester XT [rsholland] by terry92270; Jul 26, 2005 (11:31 pm)

Replying to: rsholland (Jul 26, 2005 5:50 pm)

Okay, I guess I can see how someone who had owned previous years would be let-down with the donut.

I guess because I owned a motor home, and full-timed it, I am more conditioned than the average guy about not trying to haul around stuff for every eventuality---can't be done...

And, I am so taken with how the Forester performs and handles, and almost every car I have owned the past 15 years or longer has had a donut. Never occurred to me people would be so passionate about that item.

rsholland (Jul 27, 2005 6:17 am)

#58 of 1409: the absolute worse part of the spare is having to QUICKLY get a new tire by njswamplands; Jul 27, 2005 (4:04 am)

so when this happens when your driving thru the nite on a long trip so that SOA can save a few $$$$$ grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

#59 of 1409: Re: 2006 Forester XT [terry92270] by rsholland; Jul 27, 2005 (6:17 am)

Replying to: terry92270 (Jul 26, 2005 11:31 pm)

I admit that I may be overreacting a bit to this, but I see this a bad direction in which SOA has decided to follow.

As to the Show Tribecas, they too had temp spare tires. I was at the Detroit show unveiling, and spoke to Dave Sullivan, the SOA Tribeca Brand Manager about this. He said the Tribeca has a temp tire because, if a full-size spare had been used, the angle of departure would have been greatly compromised. We're talking about a very wide 255 size tire here, and I see his point. I just don't agree with their choice; but I understand and agree with his defense of the temp tire.

And again as to deal-breaker? If someone is on the fence—a term often used here—and is having trouble deciding between a '06 Forester and a CRV or a RAV4 (which do have full-size spares), this issue could well push them over the edge.

Yeah, I could go buy a real spare if it meant that much to me, as juice and others have done, but it grates me to no end in having to do so. It's like rubbing salt into the wound.

Bob

#60 of 1409: Donut by ateixeira; Jul 27, 2005 (10:12 am)

At least a full size spare FITS, and that is more important than whether or not it actually comes with one. 15 minutes on Tire Rack and you'd have a steelie with a tire mounted and balanced on the way to your door step.

By the way, anyone want to buy a spare donut from our Legacy? LOL

-juice

PS Just kidding hosts, I'm not actually selling a donut, who would want one?!