howards11

I saw something very unusual today. I saw a Forester that was badged as a V6. When did Subaru start making V6 Foresters or is this a joke ? ~Howard

Just about the ONLY tire I haven't heard ANYONE complain about is Michelin. Sears sells some Michelins at a reasonable price. These are ones made only for Sears so you can't shop them around like a standard model. I'd also take a look at COOPER. ~Howard :cool:

I suggested this tire many times: Bridgestone Turanza LST. It has been very good the past 2 winters. Another suggestion would be the Firestone Affinity. I would stear clear of Goodyear. I had mucho problems with their junk. ~Howard :cool:

Welcome to Subaru. As stated before change your oil and filter at about 1,000 mi. to get rid of any metal particles. ~Howard

Glad you or your wife were not injured. I would contact Sears not only for a replacement battery but a claim if you have to replace wiring, etc. Please let us know how you make out. ~Howard

P O S ~Howard

I'm confused. :-\ Is this stuff bad for my engine ? ~Howard

I have a 2000 Forester. The owner's manual states to use 87 octane. ~Howard :cool:

I managed to pick them up at Loews. I got them in stainless steel. They turned out to be 1/4-20 x 3/4 slotted hex screws. I couldn't get them in a slotted hex format so I got them in a normal slotted head. I added a small rubber washer to each side to boot. ~Howard

My mechanic started using a synth blend. 76 brand. It's from the same company (ConocoPhillips) that makes: Phillips 66 Kendell 76 Ford Motorcraft The good news is he's not charging anymore for an oil change than when he used dino oil. ~Howard

I upgraded my stereo system with a Pioneer 1-cd head unit from Best Buy. They run sales on the units and special deals on the install. I got free labor on my install but you do have to pay for parts which around $50. I'm very happy with the Pioneer and it sounds great. ~Howard

OH YES....stainless steel all the way. That's why I'm replacing mine....RUST ! ~Howard

Here's how they're listed on eBay. I think this is what I'm using now. The listing on eBay is for 100 screws: eBay listing ~Howard

I need new metal license plate screws. Pep Boys was out of them so I took a look at Loews. Their screws are listed in a different manner and I could not find any there. The screws are 1/4 by 3/4 slotted hex. Can someone translate this into how Loews and Home Depot would carry them ? Thanks in advance for your help. ~Howard

Another article from The New York Times: July 22, 2005 What's Under Tribeca's Hood? Yes, the Battery By CLYDE HABERMAN BID farewell to Park Avenue - it's so last decade - and say hi to TriBeCa, the embodiment of the urban, the sophisticated and the hip. Those last words are borrowed. More on that in a moment. In case you were wondering, we are not referring here to New York neighborhoods. This is car talk. For 14 years, Buick has produced a model called the Park Avenue, once described by a company official as "our flagship sedan," with a name that "means luxury." Certainly, Park Avenue the street holds its own. But Park Avenue the car is about to go the way of another venerable model, the Chrysler New Yorker, which purred its last in 1996 after a remarkable 57-year run. Come October, the Park Avenue is "gone for good," said Cathleen O'Hare, a Buick spokeswoman in Detroit. "It's had a pretty long run." So why did it run out of gas, with monthly sales these days bumping along in the low three digits? "There was nothing wrong with it," Ms. O'Hare said, quick to dispel any suspicion of sudden anti-New York bias. "You know, you turn a corner in styling and new architecture." Maybe the Park Avenue acquired the musty air of too many yesterdays. That's what happened to the Chrysler New Yorker. By the end, an editor at AutoWeek magazine said in 1996, it had become "known as a car for PODS - poor old dumb slobs." Ah, but now there is TriBeCa to fill the New York car void. To be more accurate, we have the B9 Tribeca, a new sport utility vehicle from Subaru. This Tribeca comes without the internal capital letters signifying that the name is short for Triangle Below Canal. (B9, by the way, is not a vitamin. The B refers to the vehicle's horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine, a phrase we lifted straight from a Subaru news release. Being both carless and clueless, we don't understand a word of this. The number 9 is the model series.) Why Tribeca? Because focus groups liked it best among 15 possibilities that were considered, said Lisa Fleming, a spokeswoman for Subaru of America. "Tribeca," she said, "really resonated with them," its name suggesting - here come the magic words - "urban, sophisticated and hip." Similar points were made in Tokyo by officials of Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru's parent company. TriBeCa is not particularly well known in Japan. Nonetheless, the name, rendered Toraibekka in Japan, has managed to grace a restaurant, a jazz lounge, a pool hall and a racehorse. Subaru, it seems, now wants to sell more S.U.V.'s to big-city types, expanding its base beyond the kind of people who schlep through the snows of New Hampshire or the mud of the Pacific Northwest. Rakishly styled, the B9 Tribeca has pizazz. "It's a progressive S.U.V.," Ms. Fleming said. No question, most New Yorkers like to think of themselves as progressive. THIS city can hardly be considered friendly to cars, let alone S.U.V.'s. But that has not stopped the auto industry from turning to New York for inspiration. "We can probably say that it's the most represented city in automobile namedom," said Beverly Rae Kimes, an automotive historian from Manhattan. Since the early days of the last century, car models have borne New York-associated names that include, to list but a few, Yorkville, Bryant, El Morocco, Belmont, Fifth Avenue, Manhattan and Gotham. It makes sense, said Mark Patrick, curator of the National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library. "Those names all speak to success and power, and that attracts people," he said. Will the B9 Tribeca cast a similar spell? Not every expert would bet on it. "This is a dangerous name for a car," said G. Clotaire Rapaille, a consultant who advises Detroit on consumer likes and dislikes. Yes, the New York label "can be attractive - it represents sophistication," Mr. Rapaille said. But for many Americans, "there is at the same time this fear about this very, very strange world." That may be so, said Bob Gritzinger, a senior editor at AutoWeek. "But as a general rule, if a vehicle is good, it will get past the name," he said. "Unless they're familiar with it, people aren't going to connect it with New York." Dutch Mandel, AutoWeek's editor and associate publisher, had doubts of his own about the benefits of the name for Subaru. O.K., let's cut to the chase. With so many New York bashers out there, is it possible that a Manhattan label might even amount to a marketing kiss of death? "I don't think so," Mr. Mandel said. "Unless, of course, you were to call it the Trump." ~Howard

Another review of the Tribeca from The Detroit News: In a sea of SUVs, awkward Tribeca fails to impress Styling, confusing name, lack of space hurt Subaru By Anita Lienert and Paul Lienert / Special to The Detroit News ANN ARBOR -- The supersized B9 Tribeca -- the biggest and most expensive Subaru ever -- couldn't catch the attention of the 2005 Detroit News Consumer Panel. As the panelists toured the North American International Auto Show in January, they hurried past the seven-passenger Tribeca, with its bizarre styling and ambiguous shape. They seemed distracted by other people movers, from the Kia Mesa concept to the new Pontiac Torrent, and no amount of coaxing could get them on the Subaru stand. "I'd rather see the Saturns," said panelist Viola King, 37, a Detroit attorney. And that is the main concern about the new Subaru flagship, which the company is positioning against such products as the Volvo XC90 and the Lexus RX 330. In the real world, the wagonlike Tribeca also knocks heads with such domestic competitors as the Chrysler Pacifica and the Buick Rendezvous. Therein lies the rub for Subaru: In a sea of sport utility and crossover vehicles, the Tribeca is struggling to catch the eye of consumers, who are confused by its styling as well as its name. Subaru refers to the Tribeca as a "progressive SUV." We think it looks more like a minivan masquerading as an SUV. And the name? The B9 appellation was lifted from a concept roadster that Subaru displayed at the 2003 Tokyo show, providing the first glimpse of the brand's new styling direction. And TriBeCa is a hip Manhattan neighborhood near Canal Street on the city's lower west side. The name stands for "Triangle Below Canal." Assembled in Lafayette, Ind., the B9 Tribeca is on sale now at a starting price for the five-passenger model of $31,320, including destination. The base seven-passenger model starts at $33,020. We drove several pre-production prototypes in Michigan and California, but spent the bulk of our time -- seven days -- in a top-of-the-line, seven-passenger B9 Tribeca Limited with no options and a lofty $38,320 sticker price. Grades from us in individual categories were all over the map. The Tribeca received high marks for its standard all-wheel drive and for the gutsy cabin, with its striking three-tone color scheme and unusual mix of matte- and bright-metal finishes. We gave the vehicle low scores for seating comfort in the second and third rows, both of which are just too cramped for most adults, as well as limited cargo space -- so limited that we were unable to completely stow a week's worth of groceries for two people. In terms of driving dynamics, the Tribeca performs well enough. It handles more like a tall wagon than a van, and feels extremely comfortable, even on rough roads. The ride quality is enhanced by a wider track and a generous wheelbase that's 3 inches longer than on the Outback. Standard 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Eagle tires also contribute to ride comfort, and a thicker stabilizer bar helps compensate for the vehicle's taller height, minimizing body lean in corners. The Tribeca is easy to park in tight spaces, although we encountered some serious visibility problems both in front, with the massive windshield pillars, and in the rear, from the wide D-pillars. We found the steering and four-wheel disc brakes to be quite responsive. The engine, a twin-cam 3.0-liter opposed six-cylinder that is also shared with the Legacy/Outback range, delivers 250 horsepower and 219 pounds-feet of torque. The Tribeca is considerably heavier than the Outback, and with two adults on board, the flat-six engine sounds and feels like it's working hard to keep up. A standard five-speed Tiptronic-style automatic transmission, with manual-shift capability, seems well-suited to the engine's torque characteristics and provides decent efficiency. The EPA rates the combination at a respectable 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 23 on the highway -- not bad for a seven-passenger people mover with all-wheel drive. We had mixed emotions about the cabin. The interior is just as striking as the exterior, and is definitely not minivan-mainstream. The curvy, swoopy cockpit reminded us of such Nissan designs as the Murano and the Quest in terms of individuality and personality. We also appreciated all of the storage bins and nooks throughout the vehicle. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is also a welcome feature for families with small children. We were perturbed by the lack of such amenities as adjustable pedals and a power liftgate that can be found on a number of competitors. These are glaring oversights, particularly on a $38,000-plus vehicle that aspires to premium status. There are minor annoyances as well. The shift lever blocks some of the key climate controls, including mode and air conditioning switches. There is no weather band on the radio, as there is on other Subaru models. The front passenger seat doesn't fold flat. The more important issue, however, is one of space and access. The third row is extremely difficult to climb in and out of, and there is an acute shortage of leg room in both the second and third rows. For a vehicle that's aimed squarely at families, this is probably the Tribeca's cardinal sin. Rick Crosson, Subaru of America's vice president of marketing, says the Tribeca's target audience comprises "inspired pragmatists -- practical people who desire simplicity and have a strong sense of community, a clear sense of identity and like to experiment in the kitchen." Hopefully, they won't need as much people- and cargo-carrying space -- or they'll be sorely disappointed by the B9 Tribeca. Fortunately for Subaru, there is an almost cultlike following of fans of the Japanese marque. Many of them appreciate cutting-edge designs and may be looking for just a bit more space than offered by the Forester crossover vehicle and the Legacy and Outback sedans and wagons. For them, the B9 Tribeca could carve out a whole new niche as the un-SUV they've been waiting for. ~Howard

You have to replace all four tires or have them shaved to match. ~Howard

See link below: 303 Aerospace Protectant ~Howard :cool:

I see lots of Subies around the neighborhood but I'm the ONLY one on my block. ~Howard

Here's how to tell what is in a Stoner product: Material Safety Data Sheets Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available for any Stoner product. Simply contact our Customer Service Department if you have questions or if you wish to receive an MSDS by fax, email, or postal mail. Call 1-800-227-5538 Mon-Fri, 8 am-8 pm ETor email your request to: timesaver@stonersolutions.com ~Howard

Heikki: I'm not sure what it contains. You could e-mail them and ask about the contents. Stoner products are very good. To contact Stoner: timesaver@stonersolutions.com 1-800-227-5538, Monday through Thursday 8am to 8pm ET and Friday 8am to 5pm. ~Howard SEE NEXT MESSAGE

303 is fine but there is a product from Stoner called More Shine Less Time for Tires. Here is the web site [/url]More Shine Less Time for Tires. ~Howard :cool:

I don't think there are any aftermarket tweeter kits for the Forester. I'd stick with the Subaru ones. ~Howard

Knock sensor ? Mine was bad I believe before it generated a CEL. MPG seems to have picked up on replacement. I will have figures next week. ~Howard

Article from The Wall Street Journal follows: DRIVE BUYS Family Values, Subaru-Style By JONATHAN WELSH, Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL July 15, 2005; Page W11C Back in the 1970s, Subaru was ahead of the curve, hawking four-wheel-drive cars long before the rest of the industry. And by the mid-1990s, when big, gas-guzzling SUVs were all the rage, it was pushing its "sport-utility wagon," the Outback, as an alternative. But now the Japanese car maker seems to be following the crowd. With family haulers getting ever larger, the company is rolling out one of its own, the B9 Tribeca. The new seven-passenger "crossover" vehicle (that's a truck body combined with a car's chassis) is the latest attempt to blend the qualities that people like about SUVs with those they like about cars. The Tribeca is one of about 35 SUVs and crossovers that offer third-row seating -- a selling point for many car makers, but a trend we don't care for. The Subaru's cramped, ill-conceived third row, for example, reminds us of the back seat of a tiny Porsche Carrera. Putting It to the Test Still, with prime road-trip (and family-hauling) season here, we wanted to see how the B9 compares with its growing field of competitors. To do that, we spent a week with one, hauling things from groceries to a couple of bicycles. Before we go further, we have to say that we found the Tribeca about the strangest-looking vehicle we've seen since Ford's Edsel, with a sort of keyhole grille flanked by tapered horizontal openings that look like whiskers. But while driving it we kept meeting people who found it handsome. So perhaps its styling will turn out to be an advantage -- but we find that hard to imagine. The interior is nice, if you keep the rearmost seat folded down. In that configuration, the B9 has lots of room behind the second-row seats, which slide back and forth to adjust legroom -- a rare feature and a treat for backseat passengers. Sliding that seat all the way back, however, requires an awkard manipulation of two levers, a safety feature meant to protect the ankles of any third-row occupants. But we were a little annoyed that we had to use the safety measure, even when the third-row was folded down. Kid-Friendly? More seat gripes: The second-row seatback on the right side folds forward for access to those third-row seats. This kept us from mounting our child seat in the middle of the second row -- where it belongs -- because it interfered with the folding. The five-passenger version of the Tribeca (with no third row) is a more realistic configuration, saving hassles as well as money. (It's $30,695, compared with our tester's $33,895 sticker.) The Tribeca drives a lot like the Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Freestyle and other seven-passenger SUVs. It rides smoothly on long stretches of highway, but isn't much fun to drive in town or on twisty back roads. We found its steering not nearly sharp enough, giving us little feel for the road. Next to other Subarus -- such as the nimble Legacy GT wagon -- it feels slow and ponderous. The Tribeca's six-cylinder engine puts out 250 horsepower, the same as the Legacy GT, but the SUV outweighs the wagon by about 800 pounds, putting what seems to be an undue strain on those 250 horses. And while some of Subaru's less-powerful models, like the 1998 Impreza wagon we own, are peppy and fun to drive, that's not the case here. By the end of our stint with the Tribeca, we couldn't find anything that set it above, or even apart from, other vehicles in its class. The new SUV is an OK design that performed the usual tasks well, but no better than others we have driven in the past few years. And that's a disappointment from a company once known for hatching trend-setters. Write to Jonathan Welsh at jonathan.welsh@wsj.com ~Howard :cool: