The Dude Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 I like my 99 Forester, but it's no SUV. Actually, for most people, the Forester is a much, much smarter purchase than a SUV. Anyway, it seems Subaru wants to market the Forester as a quasi-suv. So, mine came with a set of Dueler tires, and some kind of wanna-be plastic skid pan. Other than giving the illusion of a skid pan, exactly what does that plastic piece of crap do? I mean you have real metal swords, and then you have the plastic swords that kids dressed up as pirates carry around on Halloween. Maybe Forester owners should drive around on a real rocky mountain road with that plastic skid pan this Halloween, and make believe that it's a real metal skid plate. That would be really scary, wouldn't it? Not only is the plastic skid plate as worthless as Janet Reno at a charity kissing booth, but the yo-yos at the quick lube place wanted to charge me an extra five bucks to deal with the thing. I took the plastic skid plate off my car. NOTHING HAPPENED. The engine didn't fall out. The tranny still works. Changing my oil and filter is a breeze. And those off road SUV-esque Dueler tires? They didn't even last twenty thousand miles. The set I have on now have over 85,000 miles on them, and they still have plenty of tread. Like I say, an illusion can cost alot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 and all your plastic pan is for is a slight reduction in drag to increase fuel mileage. I have the Michellins and they are doing fine and getting many miles. You trade a bit of grip for the mileage, but I am not 29 like certain folks. On Greyhound busses we used to lose belly pans with the first oil change. Look at it this way, the belly pan and the water cooled boxer layout and 4 wheels are all in common with the Porsche GT3! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloradosubarules Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Ladies and gentlemen of the audience....watch as we make the money in this dudes pocket.....DISAPEAR!! Alaka zam, alaka zoo, alaka Subaru.....POOF. It's gone. For our next trick will attempt to deflect boulders of of this small sheet of plastic. If you install it on your vehicle you could use it as a jacking point...it is that strong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outback_97 Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 I always thought the function of these plastic "guards" was to reduce the amount of debris and water getting into the engine compartment. No? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloradosubarules Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 I think he is actually refering to a sudo-skidplate. There are pieces of plastric under almost every vehicle to keep dirt and things of that nature out of the engine compartment though. I believe the one he refers to is between the front crossmember and the tranny crossmember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAezb Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Didn't Subura market metal skid plate(s) in the first years of the Outback, 96 on up. I remember there being a rear diff skid plate option, must of had one for the front diff/tranny and oil pan also. Wonder if they still manufacture these for the newer models, or maybe they just didn't sell well and drop them of the accessory options altogether. My 05 OBW XT has the plastic covering, dealer said it was to keep debris out of the engine compartment. Can be kind of a pain when changing oil/filter, especially since the drain plug is now on the center/driver side and farther back. On my 96 OBW, I can do filter and drain plug easily on the front passenger side with barely being underneath the vehicle. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 offers some serious bits. My Forester has a small plastic cover between the bumper and the cross member. This is what I thought the owner meant. It should have a few functions improving aerodynamics, and keeping snow and small debis out of the engine compartment. It sure is not going to do much for rocks as the owner says. The only function mine has had so far is to have a fastener fall out and scare me by making frightening sounds on my left front wheel. Stove bolts will function as temporary fasteners by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camosuba Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 i know these guys have an alloy sump guard for the forester not sure about getting them to the US though http://www.users.bigpond.com/subaxtreme/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb21 Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 This guy sells some pretty decent looking "under armor". http://www.writerguy.com/primitive/skid.htm Thinking of picking up one myself for the OB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 Sort of hijacking, but close enough that I thought I'd post here: My mom's 97 legacy outback has no skidplate whatsoever, which scares me. Does anybody know if there was one made by subaru that would bolt up to this car that I could scrounge from a JY? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Answer me this: Why did my Gen1 Legacy have a steel sump gaurd, and my Impreza nothing but flimsy plastic?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 BTW I did make use of the Legacy's sump guard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Will that sump guard from the gen 1 legacy bolt up to the gen 2 legacy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 It should do, the tow cars are indentical under the panels. Hmm, think I might look into getting one for my Imp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 I don't even think Subaru considers the plastic belly pan to be a skid plate. It was never designed to take any impact like a skid plate. Until you add a dual range tranny, I don't think you'll need a real skid plate. In my opinion the Forester isn't an SUV. It's a great all wheel drive wagon though! My .02 Glenn 82 SubaruHummer---off-road ready 01 Forester---Dirt-road ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THAWA Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 looking a that site, why would you do this: http://www.users.bigpond.com/subaxtreme/page10/hex4.jpg ? Foresteres and outbacks for that matter are designed with the tire in the well for a reason, they wanted the most visibility possible. also the dude 85,000 miles is a lot for a set of tires, how poorly do they handle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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