timn29

Well welcome aboard. What color did you get? How do you like those premium gas prices for the 2.5?

Sorry to reply so late... I bought the Platinum Silver Metallic (Gray). The Premium package is the way to go. But, you'l be seeing my wife driving it mostly since she's wanted a Forester for like 3 years now. :^)

1=Mine!

I just bought my new 2006 Forester from Teape and Ryan is cool. Luciano was very relaxed and non-pushy too. I think the whole experience was good for me and my wife. This is only our third car-buying experience (2 have been Subies). I would imagine most of their staff is from non-Subie backgrounds and they need time to learn, but Ryan new what he was doing.

Bought one last Thursday and love it. Tons of safety features and extra things here and there. I had to trade-in my '98 Outback Wagon though...

I hear ya about the the gas prices, that right there is a big reason not to buy the XT. I had written-off the extra hp rom the turbo, even though it would be nice to have. But don't the XT's have a raised suspension? thanks.

I'm loking at buying a 2006 Forester XT Ltd. Are there any current owners here that have inpout on these? Pros, cons, opinions, facts that aren't comon knowledge? TIA

Thanks. I use for that as well. But I wasn't sure what it was for exactly.

I'm sure somebody out there knows what I'm talking about. In my '98 OBW there is a plastic dish-type piece in the middle of the backseat in the backrest (upright) part of the seat. It looks like something may fit in there like an armrest or something. My son uses it to put his pencils and french fries in, but I don't think that's what Subaru had in mind for it. thanks

I would agree with Grossgary, EXCEPT one time in my '88 DL I heard clicking in a right turn ONCE and at the next light I stepped on the gas and the motor revved, but no forward motion (total axle failure). On the other hand you CAN continue to drive with torn boots and clicking joints for quite awhile as I did with my '96 Toyota Tercel. So, basically you never know, I learned to replace the whole halfshafts ASAP. note: I replaced the Tercel's halfshafts myself in about 4 hours.

Are there any tricks to replacing the Rt side halfshaft? I drive a 98 OBW which has a torn inside (closest to tranny)CV boot. I recently replaced both halfshafts on my Tercel and that went relatively smooth and easy. Is the Subaru the same? Whould I need an alignment afterwards? Should I just take it to a shop etc? Thanks

thanks

I drive a 98 OBW that needs a good look over as well as some definite repair in the LF half shaft (inside boot has torn). Also have a knocking/rattling noise coming from rear when driving over small bumps.

If you hadn't made it this far: -Unplug the power wires from the rear of the plastic bulb assembly by squeezing the clips attached to the plug. -there is a metal clip you need to push DOWN to unclip the plastic bulb assembly. -turn CCW 1/4 and pull straight out

Hhhhmmm. They only list for a strut mount for the front. Do the rear not have a strut mount?

Thanks again guys. I rode in the back of the Outback while my wife drove around town so I could isolate where the sound was coming from. From what I could tell the sound is coming from near the middle left side righ behind the rear 'axle'. So I jacked it up and looked again at the sway bar and it seems pretty tight as did everything else underneath. How do you get to the upper strut mount...from inside the car?

Sorry...I have a '98 OBW w/ 141,000mi. I was told it might be the sway bar by someone else. I got underneath the car yesterday and tried to move stuff (grabbed it and tried to shake it) to see if anything was loose, but everything seemed pretty tight. I didn't notice any shiny marks around articulation points either. The main reason I ask is that I don't mind getting new struts as long as I know for certain that's what it is and if I do replace them myself I want to fix the right thing the first time. Can tell me more about the strut bearing Beaudiggity? What it looks like, where it's located? thanks

I have searched the board and found numerous topics on struts, but none to help me diagnose. I did the pushing on the bumper test it only bounches back once (which means my struts are OK), the car doesn't ride like a boat on the freeway and it doesn't lean/sway too bad in corners. HOWEVER, when I ride over small bumps I hear a knocking in the Rt. rear and sometimes in the Lt. rear. Anyone have suggestions, or further tests. Also, I would like to get some manufacturer recomm.s for if indeed I need new struts. I'm looking for struts for general purpose driving, nothing sporty or too stiff. Thanks for your help.

yes.

I hear ya, It's great to have all those lights working again. And it was funny because the bulbs went out one at a time within a week of each other for about a month, so it was almost unnoticable when they were all out. My wife asked if we ever had those lights before...she didn't believe me, like I put the lights there myself. As an afterthought I want to remove the green sleeves from the bulbs and see what it would look like with just white bulbs. brighter?

They are supposed to be illuminated, in fact I just replaced those tiny bulbs in the climate control assembly this past weekend. I used the instructions posted to the board and they work great! It took me about an hour to do it because as I took it apart I cleaned it...dust, dirt etc. build-up in the vents. It took be about 20 min.s to install the bulbs and put it all back together. I reommend you replace those bulbs... it's easier than you think. I used these instructions ( http://www.med.uc.edu/pstp/students/fortner/rulights.htm )because the pics to the other set of instructions had errors. good luck

I had the same problem with my '98 OBW. New pads, turned rotors and anti-squeal goo between the the back of the pads and the shims and between the shims and the calipers. I never got rid of the the squeal for more than 2 days...it kept coming back. I, then, removed the pads and scuffed the rotors, still squealed. Finally I did some calling around and found Wagner Thermo-Quiet pads (the ones that I was nursing were Raybestos...cheap). So I replaced the pads with the Thermo-Quiets and MAN!!! what a difference. They're so quiet and smooth. They weren't that much more expensive, but definitely a great inprovement. You might give those a shot...good luck.

I drive a '98 OBW. I will say that my Subaru experience starts with an '88 DL that died (put to rest) at 300,000mi. My '98 OBW: replaced rear-main seal and timing belt @ 100,000 and replaced transfer clutch when I bought it under warranty with 60,000 mi. and that's about it besides the usual (brakes, tires, belts etc.). So, I'm quite pleased with it and fun to drive.

Now that's a good idea! I think I'll go with that Valvoline. Thanks for all your input peeps.

thanks guys, I may go with the "high mileage" then. I've seen the high mileage, but wasn't sure if it was an advertising gimmick or what. I will also use it in my '96 Toyota Tercel with 150,00mi. I guess you can tell I buy my cars to keep.