mtsmiths

NONE of that is normal. take it back and don't listen to them when they say it's 'normal'. Make them find a couple other '00s and drive them ... than ask them to explain' normal'. Our 2000 Legacy has 175,000 miles, of which we have driven 75,000+ all over the country, but predominately in NW Montana. Ive had the car in -27 deg, and +100, and have never seen ANY difference in shift patterns, or experienced lags, starts or untimely downshifts. They gave you a junk tranny ... make 'em do it over.

I've carried a weighed 1,200 lbs of rock in the back of our Legacy with no harm noted. Hell, that engine doesn't weigh more than two healthy Hawaiians or Samoans sitting in the back seat.

I just placed an order from Jamie for a full set of Outback struts and springs for The Pretty One's '00 Legacy. Time for new struts anyhow after 175,000 mostly Montana roads, and she wanted me to lift it while we're at it.

What suzam sed.

Do all that stuff, but flush it anyway, and from here on out (assuming you've been negligent in the past) do REGULAR tranny service, it's the weakest link (and an expensive link at that ) in your car. Our 2000 Leg has 175,000 miles and no AT issues at all, but we are religious about tranny service, and then ONLY at the Subaru dealer, on of the few things we let them touch.

Whitefish, Montana police car ... don't try and outrun HIM on a snowy road! http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=1912&cat=585

It would appear from posts about the subject that the best answer : "It's just the nature of the beast." Our '95 did it, our '00 does it, altho no worse at 170,000 miles than it did when we bought it at 100,000. Two options: 1. Ignore it. 2. Shift into neutral at stop signs. We favor 1.

Well, there's always this ...http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=5357&cat=585 Soviet Air Force winter camo. Blue, white light and dark grey. Later I had 'Powder Patrol' on the doors. Sold the car, but it's still running around Kalispell and people still think it's me.

As pointed out, general use is fine. It's basically a CYA warning. We've been plugging cell phones and a CD player into our '00 for years with no trouble whatsoever. Just be gentle, please.

I'm gonna dispute with you here. As you can see (from my above post), I have over 300,000 miles in Subarus, all in snow country. OH, and on my list I forgot the '95 Leg. A/T AWD, but that was only 12,000 miles or so. I will say that hands-down our AWD auto is FAR better in snow than any of the 5-spds. Mind you, the GL-10a with the DR 5spds were GREAT off road, but for daily driving in snow, ice and just generally nasty conditions the auto AWD is far more stable, sure-footed, and less likely to get stuck. I used to tell people how great the Subaru was 'cause if you got bent outta shape you just reached down and snagged into 4WD on the fly and it straightened right out. With the AWD you just stay on track and never get squirrley to start with. I've lived in snow country for much of my life (not ALL mind you), and owned a wide range of 4WD rigs, from a '50 Dodge Power Wagon through a few others ... Jeepster, Toyota FJ-40, Suzuki Sidekick, and several Subarus some sticks, some autos. Most people when they spin their wheels just bury themselves, the average driver will fare much better with an auto, and the Subaru AWD system is great. Mind you, I haven't driven a manual AWD, so I could stand corrected.

'78 4-WD, bought witrh 120,000, sold 180,000, still running on the clutch it came with. '87 GL-10 5-spd No. 1, bought with 80,000, sold with 165,000, still running on the clutch IT came with. '87 GL-10 5-spd No. 2, bought with 130,000, sold with 212,000 ... ditto '00 Legacy A/T, bought with 99,850 (in Nov. 2001), currently 175,000, no problems. Treat 'em right and they will keep on keepin' on.

I think the MM had the Austin A-40 engine. I too, had several cars with this engine. A couple of '54 Nash Metropolitons (true b@stards, American body, 3-on-the-tree (actually, the dash) tranny, English engine, electrics, suspension), but a fun car. I also had a '59 Bugeye Sprite, and a MM coupe. I had no problems with any of these cars. In fact I liked them so much that much later I bought an MG Midget ... which more than made up for the good fortune with the earlier Englich autos. A pure POS from start to a much relieved farewell.

As one who has owned a Morris Minor in a previous life, I can only comment ... do IT, do IT, doIT!

John, it's true they spray diluts calcium chlloride on ice here, but it's not SALT like the pure sodium chloride 'rock salt' they use everywhere back east. That *************** collects and sticks to metal parts and burrows it's way in like ticks on a hound dog. At least our stuff can be rinsed off. BTW, from one Flatheadian to another, welcome to the board.

Well, since we live in NW Montana we drive in a LOT of snow. Snow packed wheel wells have never created a problem. A spinning tire melts right thru the snow and ice so it'll always clear a travel way as needed. That said, where we HAVE had problems is with the back of the wheels packing, partially melting, the refreezing. Gives you an out-of-balance wheel like you can't believe. Gets worse as the season goes along because when they sand the roads (no salt allowed in MT, thanks), the sand builds up and the wheels stay out-of-balance even after all the snow melts out. We have radiant heat in our garage, and we get SOME puddles after the car has thawed.

mkdwalk, you've just experienced the weakest link in the Subaru organization, most dealerships and service centers suck. Love your car, hate your stealership. BTW, maybe they sabotaged your Legacy so they could bait you with a new Forester ... then lowball you in a trade for a poorly running car and you go away in a brand new demo. But then, I'm a cynic by nature.

It's a Roots type blower, pully driven. Also the write-up states "1.8 liter supercharged engine". Those blowers make a lovely whine that is unmistakeable.

Old derby tricks from my past (Ford wagon, and Rambler coupe) 1. Fill the tailgate with cement (wagon) ... CHEAT! 2. Fill tires with water (also CHEAT). 3. Two batteries on the floor in PAX well, Use jumper cables (good ones) if the engine quits you can jump the batts in series and send 24 volts to the starter and drive on it 'til it smokes. 4. Cut a hole in the dash and braze a welding rod into the throttle linkage. If your linkage gets knocked off (problem on older cars with mech rather than cable link) you've still got throttle. 5. On old three speed trannies we disconnected the column shift linkage and welded a pickle bar on the shift spindle, since you only need 1st and rev anyhow. Again, saves from a disconnected shift link (nor applicable to your Subaru, but if you ever get old Detroit iron in future bouts). 6. Remove fan (also doesn't count unless its a mechanical pump fan ... they get pushed through the rad. Have fun! I loved recreational killing of old cars.

Paul, have you got any of the 2004 Pine Barrens get together, there were a few there? Plus some good 'dig-out' pics.

Some folks are just too dumb to live. Darwins awards in the making, every one.

My thoughts on the Forester, although I've never owned one. Great SUV, if Fuji had a lick of sense they would build a light pickup using the Forester body. That Photo Chop marvel from OZ, phinzina, or summit like that did one, and it looks perfect. If they would build it *I* would buy it.

Are you Subaru people completely out of your collective MINDS? I mean, ferkrissakes, SIXTEEN (16) freakin' messages about LICENSE PLATE SCREWS. Don't any of you have a li ... uh, wait a minute, this makes seventeen, and *I'M* posting it. Oh dear.

Wouldn't over torquing show up immediately? The last time our wheels were off was to install the snow wheels/tires in November, but the wobble just started showing up last week.

While we're on the subject. Our '95 Legacy had a constant problem with warping rotors, and finally I had to replace them after selling the car to a friend. Our '00 Leg is starting to show first signs of warped rotors, so it is only a matter of time. I hate to have them turned, because I suspect (based on past experience with the '95) the 'fix' won't last long. Are the Outback rotors thicker, if so will they fit in the legacy calipers, or can you all recommend an aftermarket that will hold up longer? Not complaining, mind you, the '00 has well over 170,000 miles.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=53187 I think the answer to your problem lies somewhere in tha above thread. But I'm not sayin' where ... OH NO, not me. I'm gonna just put on my tinfoil hat, pull the covers over my head and say, "Nighty night".