Michaelcycle

Del, In addition to the points made by the other posters regarding the high mileage, I would evaluate the mechanicals of this vehicle carefully. Usually someone who spends $1500-$1700 getting the heads done on a $4000-$5000 car is looking to keep it for another few years (or more). I really liked my 98 Forester and I just got the heads done but I would never have purchased another one (I now have an 05 XT as my primary car, the 98 is bad weather back-up for the Mrs) if they hadn't changed the engine design. I'd keep looking, preferably for a 99 or 00. Mike

NJKayaker: I am glad that my new Forester XT has DRL. You and I share the same insurance pool here in the state with the highest rates in the good ol' USA. We need all the help we can get in the most densely populated state in the Union. The DRLs may also keep a few more people out of my ER. I have been driving long enough that my first car did not have seat belts. I remember how long the automakers fought airbags (boy, what a major impact..no pun intended..they have had on the number of major trauma cases I see). Now many states are mandating "wipers on, headlights on." DRL will be on all cars in the USA, eventually, the benefits are too great to be ignored. So, for now, use them or disable as you please. Change comes slowly in our land. Just one question...why did you want to turn them off? (somehow in all this discussion, that never came up) Mike

Took some research but I've solved the problem: Thule makes a "Velo Vise" system for using the factory racks. Part number 889 (about $125) gives you a front crossbeam, vise-like clamps to attach to the front and rear factory bars, a single tray for one bike (part #589 if purchased seperatly), two locks, and another vise clamp for a second tray if you have one. (I used the one from my old rack for the '98). No interference with the big ol' moonroof. Mike

Pulled the Thule multipurpose crossbar set with the fork mount bike trays off my 98 Forester (sent to the shop for what I hope is a head gasket job) and tried to put them on my brand new 05 Forester XT (love that "girls gone wild" moonroof, not to mention the blower). The crossbar brackets do not fit! Thule and Yakima both say they do not make a roof system for the 05 Forester and recommend a "trunk" or trailer hitch solution that I have no interest in. I'm not real fond of the factory set-up($$) and I'd really like to use as much of the Thule equipment that I already have. Anyone solved this problem yet? I saw mention in an old post of an adapter to mount the trays directly to the factory crossbars but the link to info was dead. I really want the bikes on the roof and one of the main purposes of the Subaru is to get my bikes to interesting places to ride. Mike

Patrick, I have a 98 Forester L 5spd that had a number of minor problems until recently. Turned 100K on the odo and the dreaded cooling system problems started. I have either a blown head gasket/warped head or a cracked block. From what I gather reading the numerous posts on this topic both here and on other sites, this is a very common problem. The next year wasn't much better as indicated by SOA issuing an extended warranty to cover this problem (see WWP 99 Feb 2004). Given what I know now, I wouldn't consider either a '98 or '99 Subaru. Mike

Yet another EJ25 overheating saga. 98 Forester overheats. Coolant get replenished, makes it to dealer w/o difficulty. Service replaces thermostat and flushes system. Vehicle runs fine around town (15 mile trips 50 mph or less) for a week until it's time to drive 100 miles at highway speeds to my 35th H.S. reunion. Overheats about 35 miles into trip. Wait 'til it cools off, refill system and drive home at 45 mph w/o incident(no reunion, $90 bucks down the drain and miss some teachers who may not be around for the next one). Back to the dealer...now the word is exhaust (well, emissions is the word they used) in the coolant, the mechanic says he thinks the block has a hairline crack...estimated repair $4,792!! (seen the trade-in value of a 98 Forester L lately?) I have reviewed many of the overheating posts on USMB and also the nice write-up by theotherskip but I can't find any diagnostic tests that would tell the difference between a cracked block (forget it, scrap heap) and a blown head gasket (ok, spend the $ and get a few more years out of it) short of tearing the engine down. Any suggestions?? Thanks, Mike