RubyTueSoob

That one is easy The car won't crank if the clutch isn't it. Found that one out my first week of driving. Stalled on the beltway in rush hour, got a bit freaked out, and I couldn't get it cranked again. I had the clutch pushed in, but apparently not far enough. My passenger was yelling "Clutch In, Clutch ALL THE WAY IN!!" and eventually I realized what he was saying. Luckily, I has put a sign in the back window "New Stick Driver" so people were much nicer than they usually are. Looking back, its funny, but at the time is really freaked me out.

the more I think about it, the more I realize this is what I do to get it to work. Although, "letting off the clutch" is usually happening while I say to myself "#!&*#@ Calm down Ruby. Deep breath. Try again." I only learned to drive stick 3 months ago, in Washington DC rush hour traffic. I'm still a bit nervous that its me. But now I know, and I won't curse at my lack of stick shift skills anymore. Now, a more philisophical question. What is the design motivation in this? To keep you from shoving it into reverse while moving forward? Because, it seems to be a design flaw to me.

ah ha! So the problem may lay in my usual starting sequence, which generally involved keeping the clutch down from the time I crank the car until I pull out. hmmm I'll definatly keep this in mind and start releasing the clutch until just before I am ready to go into reverse. Guess it was user error after all

I was talking with Meeky Moose about something, which reminded me I have a strange issue with my Forester. Sometimes I have a hard time getting it to go into reverse. I thought at first it was user error, as this is my first manual ever. But, over the past 3 months I've improved and its not that. Sometimes, like 25% of the time, the stick won't go all the way into reverse. Its not a matter of pushing the clutch in further, as its in all the way. And I'm not moving forward at all. In fact, my parking spot at home is slanted slightly backward, so if I take off the brake I would roll backward very slowly. Of course, it never has this problem when the shop looks at it. Any thoughts?

Thanks! I'll look and ask around more. Its just so hard to find a reputable mechanic. I've got one, he's good, so good that you can't get your car out in under a week. So, until we get the 3rd car, paractically, he's out Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear enough. I figured since it said Northern Virginia under my name, then "DC" was obviously Washington, DC. But, I tend to forget that when you get out of VA, "DC" does not mean the city LOL Thats the truth! 60 miles a day when I go into the office, luckily only 3 or 4 times a week. I've always been a high milage driver. My two previos cars stau around 5 to 6 years and 150,000 miles.

My 02 Forester is pushing up on 30,000 miles. I've never been too good about getting all the dealer recommended services on cars before they hit 100k (too many years as a broke college kid). But, I want to keep my Forester forever - so I'm probably going to suck it up and get all the recommended services. Now, the silly question, does $750 sound right?! What on earth are they doing to a 2 year old car that would cost that much?! Should I call around to other dealers? Anyone around from the DC metro-area who wants to suggest the best Sube Shop? My neighbor warning me against Springfield, and I've been dealing with Farrish so far. Thanks! Ruby

I went to bed last night with 3" and it was still falling fast and heavy. Imagine my disappointment to wake up this morning to rain and heavy, wet, slush. I even overslept on purpose expecting to have a 2 hour delay for work. Oh well, only 3 folks made it in the office today. Apparently Maryland got dumped on a bit more. The boss isn't is yet b/c he couldn't get his tractor started to plow his driveway (stories like that, and here I work 2 miles from the D.C. line - "tractor" + DC = :cornfuzz: ) Oh well, Forester didn't get to impress me, and SO was able to get to work in his 2WD Ranger. You know, we'll make up the cost of Moose's hatch if it just means he doesn't have to call in for all the snow days he did last year.

:wave: Just thought I would introduce myself after lurking for awhile. I'm a new owner of a 02 Forester. I LOVE it! (despite the recent a/f sensor failure - I have forgiven it). My friends are hard core Jeepers, and are having a hard time with this purchase, but they will survive. My bf's family are pretty sold on Subarus, his brother still his 91 Legacy (?) he bought when he turned 16, his wife has an Outback. The psudeo-MIL also owns an Outback. In fact, now only the youngest and his wife are Soob-less. Now the fun begins. I stumbled on this board researching old Subarus. I want a toy! But dbf and I are arguing over a rally cross car or something that could keep up with the Jeeps. I have visions of an brat or GL wagon that's lifted with big tires. He wants off road speed (rally car is a compromise from an ATV). We'll see what happens. So, Hi! and Happy Thanksgiving! Oh, and if you are driving around the DC beltway or Northern Virginia, you'll recognize RubyTue's Soob