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2009 Subaru Forester

3747 messages,  Last post on Oct 15, 2012 at 3:22 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Future Vehicle, Wagon

Messages Page 282 of 375

#2809 of 3747 Subaru Sales Story on the AP: by tinycadon

Jan 05, 2009 (11:51 am)

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) -- Subaru said Monday its U.S. sales crept higher in 2008, making the Japanese manufacturer poised to be the only major automaker to post a yearly sales increase.
 
Subaru was the first automaker to report sales on Monday. Its December sales fell 7.7 percent to 17,287 units from 18,739 in December 2007, as a big increase in Forester sales failed to overcome declines in its remaining models.
 
But Subaru sales for all of 2008 rose by 0.3 percent to 187,699 vehicles from 187,208 in 2007, as consumers snapped up its top-selling Forester and Impreza models. The company is set to be the only major automaker to report higher sales for 2008, as the troubled economy pummeled new car sales across the industry.
 
Subaru said Forester sales surged 36.4 percent in 2008. The company's updated 2008 model-year Forester was named sport/utility of the year in December by Motor Trend magazine. The automaker also said sales of its Legacy and Impreza models climbed in 2008, offsetting double-digit sales declines of Outback wagons and Tribeca SUVs.
 
"In a difficult market, we were able to establish new sales records for Forester, Impreza and Legacy sedan and also record our highest market share ever," said Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales for Subaru of America, said in a statement.
 
The broader industry is set to post steep 2008 sales declines on Monday. For the first 11 months of 2008, every major automaker reported lower sales with the Detroit Three posting the biggest drops.
 
A handful of smaller automakers -- including Mini and luxury names like Rolls Royce and Maserati -- posted higher sales as of November, though their volumes are significantly smaller.

#2810 of 3747 Re: Winshield Replacement by connieylee

Jan 05, 2009 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: birdboy (Jan 01, 2009 3:09 pm)
Thanks all, for the input.
Unfortunately Subaru would not include the windshield in the warranty. But my insurance company's glass repair company informed me that it's still not available as an aftermarket part, so I get the Subaru part. Maybe the windshield isn't that strong after all...it is backordered for a month!!!! I just hope it stays in one piece until it can be replaced... Interesting fact: I bought the car in MD, so I took it to the MD dealer's service and they quoted me $1000 just for the part. They called my local dealer in NJ and they quoted me $700 just for the part. Wow!

#2811 of 3747 Re: Subaru Sales Story on the AP: [tinycadon] by saedave

Jan 05, 2009 (12:48 pm)

Replying to: tinycadon (Jan 05, 2009 11:51 am)
offsetting double-digit sales declines of Outback wagons and
 
The Forester should be taking Outback sales: Forester has 4" more front-to-back seat room and 2" more back seat width + more cargo room.
 
And, of course, is about $2,000 cheaper and is shorter to park. If I were buying today it would be a Forester Limited instead of my Outback 3.0R.

#2812 of 3747 Re: Another TSA-technical service announcement [sgloon] by xwesx

Jan 05, 2009 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: sgloon (Dec 30, 2008 9:24 am)
The off-gassing is par for the course with new vehicles. Though I have read that Subaru is among the highest for off-gassing (read this years ago, would have to hunt for the source), the gasses themselves are only mildly toxic so you would need to be exposed to them in high doses/long periods to significantly increase your risk of health issues as a result. I have heard recommendations to limit use of recirculation mode on new cars to increase the exchange of air and keep gas levels low, etc.
 
I noticed significant residue build up on my two new Outbacks, an 07 and 08. The buildup was quite troublesome, as glass cleaners were not usable for up to half of the year due to low temperatures. I would keep a good, dry rag handy to wipe down the inside surfaces of the glass. The residue was still there, but it would eliminate the haze if repeated regularly. On broken-in vehicles, Subaru included, I have not had a problem with a windshield haze, but I am not sure how long it takes for the the off-gassing to finally subside.

#2813 of 3747 Re: Door Rattles [jopopsy] by dameler

Jan 05, 2009 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: jopopsy (Dec 23, 2008 4:42 pm)
What a rattle trap!! I am having the same door rattles with my 09 forester. Have they come up with a solution yet. What has been done thus far. My dealer has pretty much blown me off. I am also having a lot of noise from the foam around the spare.

#2814 of 3747 Re: Door Rattles [dameler] by camrytimes2

Jan 05, 2009 (5:55 pm)

Replying to: dameler (Jan 05, 2009 4:45 pm)
Someone wrote an entry in a Forester forum a few days ago stating that dealerships now have a service bulletin regarding door rattles. There is a white waffle-like piece of plastic in each front door that needs to be secured.

#2815 of 3747 Re: Door Rattles [camrytimes2] by dameler

Jan 05, 2009 (5:57 pm)

Replying to: camrytimes2 (Jan 05, 2009 5:55 pm)
thanks!! I will see what the dealer will do.

#2816 of 3747 Re: Another TSA-technical service announcement [xwesx] by sgloon

Jan 05, 2009 (10:06 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 05, 2009 2:49 pm)
"I have heard recommendations to limit use of recirculation mode on new cars".
 
Thanks for this recommendation, xwesx, sounds like a good idea, both for my health and not gassing up the windows too much.
 
I have had other people in the car and they say they have never seen this amount on any car they have been in. It certainly didn't happen on my last new car. And you can see that whatever it is is getting on the plastic parts and even the rear side windows...ie it is going everywhere.
 
 I have tried the rag, but it doesn't work as the film that develops is too "greasy" so it just smears it over the window...and actually can make it worse. Visibilty during snow storms/rain etc is compromised cuz of the smearing. I'm looking for the McGeiuars (sp?) that Kurt recommended to see if that works better than windex. Whatever the dealer used to get it off didn't work much better than windex, as when they were done, there were still smears. Subaru recommends Gunk window cleaner, but it is not sold in my area, so that doesn't do me any good.
 
I have an appt scheduled on Wednesday, to have another look at it. this dealer, when he heard about the smells, though something else may be going on that could take some time to fix...So if he finds anything, I'll report back after my visit.

#2817 of 3747 Re: Another TSA-technical service announcement [sgloon] by samiam_68

Jan 06, 2009 (9:25 am)

Replying to: sgloon (Jan 05, 2009 10:06 pm)
Try Glass Plus and use black and white newspaper to wipe up instead of paper towels.
 
Usually, outgassing of plasticizers happens only in warm/hot weather when the car sits out in the sun and the dashboard gets very hot. You may have a different issue of coolant seeping into your heater core and then vapors being blown into the passenger compartment by the fan.

#2818 of 3747 Re: Another TSA-technical service announcement [samiam_68] by xwesx

Jan 06, 2009 (10:29 am)

Replying to: samiam_68 (Jan 06, 2009 9:25 am)
I should note that I did have this problem with my '96 Outback, when I had a small coolant leak. The results were similar, though I found removing the residue was far easier than the new-car off-gas residue. I just used Windex, but I sure had to scrub it to get a good result!
 
Regarding the hot weather, I purchased the '08 in Seattle October of 2007, and had it in some weather that was around 80 degrees several days, so it would get hot enough inside while sitting that I would open it up for a few seconds before entering. There was a slight film after three weeks, when I prepared to drive back up to Alaska, so I cleaned the inside of the windows. However, upon arrival in Fairbanks (after only five more days) and having to use the defroster constantly for about 1500 miles, it was hazing over and was far worse than the film that had formed over the previous three weeks being exposed to intermittently warm (hot for me!) weather.
 
As was suspected by the original poster, I think that the HVAC materials are probably adding significantly to the haze - perhaps it is a lube being used on parts in there?

Messages Page 282 of 375

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