Subarunation 713

Another good place for decent brake parts is http://www.tirerack.com They have the best prices on pads and rotors for my particular car (96 OBW) than any other place I tried. They also have ceramic pads available. my 2 cents.

ScoobySchmitty and I are in SW Michigan (Berrien county). I don't know about ScoobySchmitty, but my car doesn't do real well in the mud and is surely lacks in the "Show N Shine" catagory too. But I would love to encourage somebody else to go sling mud and perhaps get stuck! I will keep watching for details and give ScoobySchmitty a heads up. Greg 93 Legacy L Wagon (mine) 96 OBW (better half's)

A radial tire requires a tube designed for radial tires. A bias ply tire requires a tube designed for bias ply tire. As with any tire, tube or no tube, propper inflation is key to prevent excessive build up of heat. If the cleaning of the wheels and beads along with some sealer didn't seal the alloy wheels I mentioned earlier, tubes were the next step. Different states have different laws but Michigan does not have a law against tubes. One prisoner to the next. "So...what are you in for"? "Well, we robbed a bank at gunpoint, shot and killed a guard on the way out. While driving away we had a blow out on my car and we ran a school bus of grade school students off the road and over a cliff sending them all 68 plus the driver to their death". "Ah MAN, you gunna get 'The Chair' "? "NO! I turned states evidence on my boys and got them to grant me full immunity. They all get life without parole but I got off Scott Free". So, why are you here man"? "Sh#*, I got 18 months of hard time for having inner tubes in my tires"!

Arnold, I think you are on the right track looking at Subarus (go figure that comment coming from a Subaru message board!) I did a quick search of the auto recycler (pc for junk yard) online inventories. There were 2 locking rear axel assemblies. 1 for $700 and 1 for $1000. They were both 2002. As you and alias20035 have discussed the LSD will do better in snow and ice, but an LSD AWD Legacy wagon is no substitute for a Hummer H-1 when it comes to offroad capability and the ability to power out with only 1 wheel gripping. On the other hand the Legacy will save you $70,000 on the Hummer H-1 and a supertanker of fuel to boot. The Legacy wagon you are looking at, as it comes off the dealers lot, will do your hill fine 97 times out of 100. I am not saying 8 to 10 of those 97 will give you white knuckles! I have debated this before on this message board but this is my opionion based on my own personal experience. I live due east of you in southwest Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. I have experienced lake effect snow, more than once :-) A Legacy wagon with AWD and a good set of dedicated winter tires (Blizzaks, Graspics, Michelins Alpins, Nokis and the like) should get you up and down your drive 99 times out of 100 and the white knuckle trips will be Greatly reduced. Last winter I pulled a car out of the ditch in my Legacy L wagon. I have Dunlop Graspics on it. ROCK SOLID in snow, slush and ice. My wife has Bridgestone Blizzaks on her Legacy Outback. Stopping distances were halved compared to the factory all season tire. No exagerations here at all, I am serious on how much better a Subaru is with dedicated winter tires. Don't get me wrong, a Subaru with factory tires is Great in winter but winter tires make it even better. Others to consider: Passat with 4motion, Volvo wagon with AWD, Audi wagon with Quattro or Toyota Highlander. Good luck and Go Pack GO! (can't help myself, I was born in Oconto County) Greg

Our 96 OBW had the same problem on all 4 except not 10 psi in 3 days, morelike 10 psi in 2 weeks. Still not cool. I did the wrong thing, that is, I put fix-a-flat in the wheels. The amonia that acts as a propellant eats away at the aluminum. Eventuall I did the right thing, that is, I took them to a good garage and had the tires taken off, wheels cleaned and sealer put on. At $15.00 per wheel I didn't think that was too bad. Now the tires hold air like normal. What is cool about the sealer is now the tires only go flat on the bottom

I did a quick search on http://www.car-parts.com There were 36 pages of seats. Price range from $40 to $500. Several pages of seats in the $50 to $75 range. I hope the $500 seat comes with a massage therapist!! As alias20035 mentioned getting a seat from a total disaster wouldn't be the best bet. But if a car was at the yard for issues other than a total wreck then check the seat out. A little bit of upholstry cleaner and some serious vaccumming and you would be good to go. The seat comes out pretty quick (4 bolts and some easy trim pieces) so you could take a couple of hours and be done.

A big advantage to a manual over an auto trans.... People don't even THINK about asking to borrow your car! btw-clutches have never been a problem for me. I have never worn a clutch out (in the absence of wood, I am knocking on my skull). I have taken them to 180,000 miles+.

96 OBW 2.2 5 spd: 25 - 26 around town 28 - 29 extended highway trip 93 AWD Legacy Wagon 2.2 5 spd: 26 - 27 around town 29 - 30 extended highway trip Winter driving is a tad less. About 1/2 - 1 mpg less. I have gotten as low as 24 mpg. Stop and go construction summer driving with A/C on, and 31 mpg. The full tank from South Bend, IN to Youngstown, OH. Mostly flat and not speeding thanks to the Ohio State Police being everywhere :-)

Twodollarbill, Could you give us your thoughts in a few months on the Yokohama t-4's if you decide to go that way. I will continue to monitor this as an option when I get new tires in the spring. My final 2 cents on dedicated snows. I will admit the AWD Subaru is GREAT in snow, ice and slush with JUST factory tires. That is one reason I bought the car. There are places a Subaru with factory tires will go other cars just dream of. Some of us have AWD Subarus because we don't want to be stranded in a snowstorm and and AWD Subaru with factory tires will get us through. IF you have driven your AWD car in bad winter weather with factory tires and then switched to a quality snow tire then driven in the same conditions, ONLY then will you fully appreciate what your car can do and the confidence you have. The proof is in the driving. I have winter tires for the 96 OBW and winter tires for my 93 Legacy wagon. Winter weather FEARS me...OK maybe not fears me exactly! ;-) Let us know what you think of the Yokohamas. Greg

George, My wife's 96 OBW came with the xw4. When it came time to repace them there were no xw4 to be had (Explorer Firestone problem). We went with the Bridgestone Dueller (sp). They are fine. Next spring when it comes time to replace these tires I am going back to the xw4. Nothing bad about the Bridgestone I just think the xw4 is better. I live in SW Michigan so with the lake effect snow we get I have Blizzaks for the winter. I can't recommend a snow tire for the AWD Subaru enough. twodollarbill said: "i live in northern mass, and frequent maine, nh, vermont, and canada annually to ski." Think about a set of snows. Alpines, Blizzaks, Graspics or whatever is decent and affordable. They are on the car for about 90 to 110 days a year so they last forever. Snow tires on the Outback are as much about stopping as going and you can STOP! BTW-behave as you drive around those great narrow twisty winding roads you have out there!

Subyroo, You asked: "Did the bands break because you ran low tyre pressures ie <32psi?, or were they just **** tyres all round?" Well let me just say the psi was fine. You are more accuarte with the all around **** tyres :-) Take care, Greg

My experience and my family's experience with Cooppers has been dreadfull. Tread lasted forever but the bands broke and the tires would "cup". Road noise was bad, handling was bad and poor weather handling was worse! We had a trusted tire dealer who was pushing Coopers and so we put them on everybody's car. We were disapointed and he was embarassed. He no longer pushes Coopers (he learned his lesson as did we) and we are back to Michelans (sp) and Bridgestones. Unless you have a different Cooper "down under" I would recommend something else. As far as the size question I can't help you much. Try http://www.tirerack.com and see if they have any information on their site. Take care and good luck, Greg

I said in a previous post: I replaced both of the 02 sensors on my wife's 96 OBW with the originals I bought from the dealer for $126 each. PAezb said in a later post: I bought my O2 from buyoxygensensors.com, paid $60 for the direct fit connection type. Didn't care for the hassle of splicing the connection to save $20. Well I went to buyoxygensensors.com and saw the OEM 02 sensor for $63. I am going to go out on a limb but I think it is safe to say I got SCREWED by buying the 02 sensors from the dealer!!! I know you always pay more at the dealer, but twice as much? I am going to go put some first aid cream on my rectum and see if it will ease the pain!

I have used my 96 OBW with a 2.2 and 5 speed to tow cars on a car dolly. Believe me, you aren't the 1st person away from a green light. In fact I have been passed by 80 year olds with walkers! Well maybe not quite that slow :-) One thing I woulkd be concerned about with an OBS is braking. The Legacy Outback wagon has 4 wheel disc brakes and has more weight so the item being towed won't control the towing vehicle as much as an OBS. Also, the Legacy Outback has a "hill holder" for the clutch/brake. I have no idea how a AT will hold up with towing a boat every weekend. The 5 speed is fine and I still have the original clutch and I am at 146,000, granted I don't pull cars around the midwest everyday. Good luck in your info gathering, Greg

The O2 sensor change is pretty easy. I will admit it took longer to jack up the car and secure it then to change both 02 sensors. I replaced both of the 02 sensors on my wife's 96 OBW with the originals I bought from the dealer for $126 each. You can splice and save $$. I wanted something I could plug in and forget for the next 120,000 miles. On the old site there was a whole long thread about the 02 change. I still don't know how the search works and if checks the old archives. Sorry, I am somewhat challenged:banghead:

Last December I took a single CD/AM/FM/Cass/WB radio from a 99 OBW and put it in my 96 OBW that had a AM/FM/Cass and the little cubby hole underneath the radio. It was a perfect fit and plugged right in. I do not have experience with the 6 CD player. I don't think the radios from the Foresters and Imprezas (00 and later) have the clock in the radio so in the 96 OBW you will loose the clock function. Forestors and WRX owners could answer that. On the old board there was a archived thread that had pictures of the connections, sizes, DIN, double DIN and all sorts of radio issues. Legacy 777 is the unofficial "answer man" with sound issues (IMHO) and may be able to direct you to the site with the photos. I will admit I am a weather geek, but even if you aren't the weather band is kinda cool. Good luck, Greg

I have always thought that having an old AWD Justy as a beater car would be fun. Then when gas went up to $1.89 per gallon i thought that having a car that gets 45mpg would be fun. This new Justy looks like it might be kinda cool on on its own. (check out the picture on the web site) http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2003/03_08_21e.htm Fuji Heavy Industries Introduces the New Subaru G3X Justy in Europe Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that it will unveil its new Subaru G3X Justy for the European market at the 60th Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), which will be held in Frankfurt am Main from September 13 through 21, 2003. Prior to its public viewing, the G3X Justy will be shown to the press on September 9 and 10. The G3X Justy comes in two AWD models, powered by either the 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre DOHC engine with a variable valve timing system, as well as in a Front-Wheel Drive model with a 1.3-litre diesel turbo engine. The new G3X Justy features sporty and dynamic looks and offers high-performance driving both on rough roads and highways, with a minimum ground clearance of 170 mm. It will be positioned as an entry level model in Subaru's pioneering crossover vehicle category. The new G3X Justy will go on sale in Europe immediately following the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new G3X model will be built by Suzuki Motor Corporation, which has been building the Justy since 1995 in its Hungarian plant, Magyar Suzuki Corporation, under an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement with FHI. The 1.3-litre diesel engine for the G3X Justy will be supplied by GM group company. The G3X Justy represents the latest example of global collaboration in GM alliance.

Sorry for the wrong percentage (10/20) on the ownership issue. As for the star part I was always told the 5 small stars were the divisions and the big star was the parent company. I was also told there was a Santa Claus and an Easter Bunny and just this year I learned Santa was a myth. Don't worry, I am still holding on to the idea of a Bunny that lays chocolate eggs. In the event you want the "latest" on the stars here is a press release: http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2003/03_07_30e_lg.htm Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced its decision to adopt the 6-star ("mutsuraboshi") Subaru automobile emblem design as its new corporate symbol. Effective July 15, 2003, which is the 50th anniversary of the company's founding, FHI introduced its new corporate symbol as well as a new logo design that employs the current SUBARU logo typeface. The company has begun using both the new symbol and logo to further fortify its brand image and awareness on a global basis. . . .

Perhaps you could include a 2.2 OBW in your search. I realize that may require a manual transmission and if your mom isn't a 5 speed kind of gal then that option is out. Our 96 OBW with 2.2 and 5 speed has been extremely trouble free (in the absence of wood I am knocking on my skull). My experience with the 2.2 in other cars has been the same. My mom's 97 OBW with 2.5 and A/T has been more trouble prone. The Legacy wagon is a good sugestion. If ground clearance is an issue than an Outback Sport with a 2.2. If ground clearance and size are both an issue then perhaps an Excursion! In my neck of the woods if you buy one at full price they give you the second at 1/2 off ;-) Good luck in your search. Greg

GM owns a 10% interest in Fuji Heavy Industries. Fuji Heavy Industries is the parent of Subaru. Subaru is one of the five stars in the Subaru emblem (what the other 4 are I can't tell you off the top of my head). There was much dismay on this board when it was anounced the "General" was going to be part of the family. All we could think of was GM's moments of glory. Perhaps you can recall a few: the Corvair, Chevette, Citation, Cadillac Cimaron and their renowned customer service and great paint jobs. There was the thought of GM's great design team "helping out" little ol Subaru and the thought of the Aztek, Avalanche, Cadillac STS and the havoc they could unleash on a Legacy or Impreza. No dealer network is ideal but they are much less ideal when GM is in the picture. So far GM has had too much fun with the Hummer H2 to stir up Subaru but I fear one day the "General" will say "Boys, lets go help out the Japs and fix that Subaru up. It needs more body cladding, a V-8, and a front end that looks like a snow plow. Oh, and it only need to get about 14 mpg".

My wife's 96 Legacy Outback does the same pain in the but thing. The remote works on the drivers door all the time and on the other 3 doors and tailgate about 5% of the time. The problem is the contact between the drivers side lock and the "relay" to the other auto mechanisms. You may find if you push hard on the lock on the drivers door it may work and automatically unlock all the other doors. You can be like me and leave it alone because it isn't the car I drive everyday, (unloving husband that I am), or take the door panel off and make adjustments so that when the lock is flipped, it moves all the locks. There is a Subaru part you can get. It is a little square block of metal that has allen screws on it. I have it in the glove box. I am waiting for it to miraculously attatch itself. I have waited 3 years and it hasn't happened yet. Maybe I will wait one more... Greg