mtsmiths

Last Friday I mat a nice black (I think, it was dusk) Brat with KC lights on a low bar on the bridge over the river at HWY 2 (I was going west, the Brat east) north of Bonner. Was that you?

Yes. At least I know we have Impreza alloys on our '00 Legacy, and I'm looking for another set for my '95. No offers from Marketplace yet.

Yes welcome to the board. We have a '95 L AT wagon (125K)and it's a great car. We also have a '00 L (155K), and it's even better. Be sure to do the tranny regular. The AT is the weakest link, but maintain it and it will last. We live in NW Montana and there is no better snow car ... period. Plus you will find that the Lagacies are great road cars (much better handling than the Outback) ... in fact we're heading out for a round trip to Seattle over the weekend in just a few minutes, bye, bye!

I think it's just inherent in the cars. Both our 2.2L in the '95 and the 2.5L in the '00 shake mildly in drive and idle butter smooth in park or neutral. I've always assumed it was interaction between the engine and the torque converter. Since both cars run fine, have had regular tranny services and are at 150,000+ ('00) and 125,000+ ('95), I just slip it in neutral when at long stops and don't worry about it. BTW, the flat four in my airplane shakes at idle too! ;-)

but an old played with cars (and boats, and airplanes) all my life old fart. If you put fancy bling-bling wheels on a Baja you will look like a bloody idiot. The rice boyz will look at you and think "WTF are those pimp wheels on that ugly pick-up for?" The Subaru users will look at you and think "WTF is that fool doing with those big fancy wheels and stupid skinny tires ruining a good off-road, all-weather car?" The car dealer is already looking at you and thinking "SUUuuuuucker!" There's a few SUV's up here in NW Montana riding on pimpmobile wheels/tires. Trust me, everybody looks at them and thinks "What an effing fool!".

... a step-by-step guide is welcome. Any brand recommendations on wires? I guarantee the wife's will come apart as they're removed.

The car - '95 Legacy AT wagon, 125K, great condition, everything works. The 'problem' - every time I floor it, either from a dead stop, or force downshift to pass ... the rear washer squirts a column of water clear up the backlite! HUH? Anyone else ever seen this, and what could possibly cause it. Makes no matter the fluid level, if it's got enough to squirt, she does. I kept thinking I was somehow bumping the stalk and triggering the rear wiper just enough to cause a little squirt. Since I don't make a habitt of jackrrabbit starts, it was always a now and then phemenon. Yesterday I just happened to be looking in the rear view mirror when I punched it to pass a cement truck and ... WOW, Old Faithful is following me. Since, I've tried all scenarios at it does it everdamn time. Most strange.

can we replace the struts on our '00 and '95 Legacies with OB struts? I love the way the Legacies handle on the road, but really need a bit more height in winter. Especially on our driveway in Whitefish.

Timing belt was replaced at 100,000, belt and tensioners were inspected, did the coolant flush. DId tranny service (lotsa miles last year). I'll handle the fuel filter (when I find it), and keep running the occassional Techron for the injecters. Only 15% left on front discs, will do that when we swap on the winter wheels. Best plugs/wires? 15K? I expect another 50K before next MAJOR service.

Plugs & wires, recommendations, any rough spots to anticipate? I think I can manage for the estimate of $270.00. Fuel filters, etc. Car runs fine, can't see any need for the booo-ooogus sounding 'injector flush' they tried to sell me, seems like the occasional can of Techron is doing fineTYVM. Letting them do the auto tranny service was OK, we've put a lot of miles on her for the last year, and an oil change, sure, wasn't quite ready, but whatthehell, new oil never hurts.

Every time I've experienced torque bind it's been a low tire. Last time (the '95 Legacy auto) I had a front tire at 20 lbs, the rest at 36. A little puff and it all went away.

Need to get my '95 Legacy wagon ready for next winter. It's way too low for our snow in Whitefish (sure handles great on summer roads tho'). I'm looking for some 15" wheels, but want to know if I can install Outback Struts, or some other way of lifting this thing an inch or so without major surgery. ALso I've got warped rotor syndrome. I read awhile back that (some) Subarus can swap out for Chevy Celebrity rotors at a fraction of the cost. Mine :-) , or not :-( . THANX Smitty

And he has all that equipment, and the guys who know how to us it ... and the workmens comp insurance in case one of them manages to perform a sexchange operation with a spring compresser. When I ask him to order me 'Outback struts', as opposed to Legacy struts of the same year; can I tell him 'yes', when he says 'no'? And, after all, will it make any significant difference in ride height and feeling, or no? The only reason for the change is to get a little more clearance before we start plowing snow with the front valance. The '95 would benefit too!

Fairly normal wear cycle? If so, I want to put the best deal aftermarket Outback struts on. Can it be done without major surgery? I probably wouldn't have noticed swapping driving back-and-forth with the '87 GL 'Powder Patrol', but since I've gotten my lovely '95 Legacy ("Bluebaru", he named it) from Cory, the '00 seems to be a bit tired in the ride dept. (and a few random bump noises from up front as well). THANX, Smitty

2431 miles in 54 hours, solo. In the '87 GL wagon (Powder Patrol) last fall. 62 hours return (I got lost twice, and took a really long rest stop nap in Wyoming). Thank God for books-on-tape and cheap cigars!

I am now repeating famous Soviet era Russian proverb: "Prefection is the enemy of good enough". Whatever you do, don't make it SO good you are afraid to live with it.

Amour All is the spawn of the devil ... SHUN IT for all time. No kidding.

Especially in traffic, drive three or four cars ahead (you should anyhow). Anticipate stops and red lights and coast up, hopefully hitting the green. Your worst wear on the clutch is the first three feet. As for the 'stiff' clutch. I think you mechanic has a boat payment coming up. The clutch on my '87 has been 'stiff' for 95,000 miles and hasn't slipped yet. Drive easy, keep you speed sane and watch for slipstream vortex when the semis blow by you at 80.

Forgive the spelling, but welcome to the board anyhow. Let's see pics, the mechanics will really want underhood shots. Domo Arigato.

I once counted the cars in the lot of the Dire Wolf Pub, on the road to Big Mountain, during a Glaicer Avalanche Team fundraiser. Of the 6o + cars and trucks in the lot, 47 or so were Soobies from one 1st Gen to an LL Bean with the dealer plate still on it.

and locks at 50/50 in 1 and 2. And yes it certainly works in reverse. Our '00 Legacy auto is the best snow car I've ever owned (and that includes a LOT of 4WDs and four other Subarus).

Our '00 was doing the same thing. The guy at the battery shop (after checking out battery/charging system and pronouncing it healthy) said the problem is outgassing at the posts. He said that when they started making battery cases out of plastic instead of rubber this bacame a problem. The cases develop minute cracks around the posts and the normal outgassing causes the build-up. The solution(s) ... clean really good and wash with white vinegar and then baking soda solution. Keep at it until there is no more foaming. Really slather the posts and surrounding area with dielectric grease (I didn't have any and used axle grease, which worked fine), put on those felt thingies and button it up. I was cleaning my posts once a month, and it's been six months and no build up since. Now, having said all this, I've never had the problem in any car EXCEPT the Legacy (including our '87 GL) ... go figger.

... you'll get lots of hints for the debrightonization of your Subaru.

... whatsoever.

Sell the beloved XT and get her an SVX ... she'll thank you for it, and you'll still get to putter on the little stuff.