Subaru Forester & Outback - Educate Me

[riverguide]

offroadsubie-

Do you get alot of snow up there where you are? If so do you have a special set of snow tires for that car or do you just use an all season tire with chains? I'm about to trade my honda in for an 04 sub and am trying to decide on tires for year round/heavy snow if there is such a tire.

Also how do you like the storage room?

Thanks!

 

[Rattler]

That is one nice Subaru. The only reason that I am undecided is that I have a niice off-road capable Tacoma.

I traded my modded '02 WRB WRX in on my Tacoma. I would go with the Forester XT although WRX's are offroad-capable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG5V6OUpOP8

This car was only a couple months old when he did this too IIRC. I am on NASIOC too (#6351).

I rebuilt a '96 Outback that had 163k on it and it ran like a top.

 

[Rattler]

Oh yea. I am 6'5" and my WRX was the most comfortable vehicle I have ever owned. THe seating was one of the biggest selling points with me.

 

[offroadsubie]

We get tons of snow here, my favorite season of the year! Never used chains always winter tires. And in quebec, since last year, winter tires are mandatory from october to march. Good thing cause all season tires suck in snow. I run michelin x-ice tires. Love them. As for storage, the forester is roomy altough i keep the rear cargo space for my dog. I put my cargo on the roof basket. Not sure if i keep the basket or put a autohome overcamp tent with a cargo box beside it for cargo/skis/boards

 

[arthur]

Recurring problems with brakes in subaru forester

PROBABLY NOT MUCH ASSISTANCE TO YOU, BUT I AM HAVING MAJOR DIFFICULTIES WITH MY RELATIVELY NEW FORESTER TURBO. IT IS 2009 MODEL AND ONLY DONE 26,000 KM AS I HAVE BEEN OVERSEAS A LOT.
IN SPITE OF THIS IT HAS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS AND GRINDING OR REPLACEMENT OF DISCS ON 3 OCCASIONS-ie ABOUT EVERY 6000KM. THEY TELL ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SUGGEST I COULD BE DRIVING IT TOO HARD, BUT I HAVE HARDLY DRIVEN IT AT ALL AND HAVE NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS SUBARUS, LAND CRUISERS AND RANGE ROVERS.
CAN ANYONE OFFER ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

 

[LMarshall73]

PROBABLY NOT MUCH ASSISTANCE TO YOU, BUT I AM HAVING MAJOR DIFFICULTIES WITH MY RELATIVELY NEW FORESTER TURBO. IT IS 2009 MODEL AND ONLY DONE 26,000 KM AS I HAVE BEEN OVERSEAS A LOT.
IN SPITE OF THIS IT HAS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS AND GRINDING OR REPLACEMENT OF DISCS ON 3 OCCASIONS-ie ABOUT EVERY 6000KM. THEY TELL ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SUGGEST I COULD BE DRIVING IT TOO HARD, BUT I HAVE HARDLY DRIVEN IT AT ALL AND HAVE NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS SUBARUS, LAND CRUISERS AND RANGE ROVERS.
CAN ANYONE OFFER ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

Check http://www.subaruforester.org. There may be others there with a similar problem. If not, they may be able to help you troubleshoot.

Oh, your CAPSLOCK is on. :sombrero:

 

[Maddmatt]

PROBABLY NOT MUCH ASSISTANCE TO YOU, BUT I AM HAVING MAJOR DIFFICULTIES WITH MY RELATIVELY NEW FORESTER TURBO. IT IS 2009 MODEL AND ONLY DONE 26,000 KM AS I HAVE BEEN OVERSEAS A LOT.
IN SPITE OF THIS IT HAS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS AND GRINDING OR REPLACEMENT OF DISCS ON 3 OCCASIONS-ie ABOUT EVERY 6000KM. THEY TELL ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SUGGEST I COULD BE DRIVING IT TOO HARD, BUT I HAVE HARDLY DRIVEN IT AT ALL AND HAVE NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS SUBARUS, LAND CRUISERS AND RANGE ROVERS.
CAN ANYONE OFFER ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

Had the same problem with my '01 Outback - rotors needed to be turned/replaced way too often relative to the other vehicles I have driven & owned. Subaru, in frankly the only time in my 10 years of ownership that I've found them to have the typical car dealer attitude, denied that there was any issue and told me the same: You drive too hard, driving in the mountains will do that, etc....

BS. The front rotors on mine simply weren't up to the task. I had another shop replace them with a drilled and slotted set - and what do you know - 2 years without vibration, grinding, getting them turned or replaced - a record!

I'd say ask around - there is probably a Subaru specialist shop in your area that knows all about the problem and the solution - at least that's what I found.
-Matt

 

[Ozarker]

So, what's the problem with the turbos? An 05 Forester? How long do they last? :ylsmoke: