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Girl, you are SO funny! (those wouldn't be BELLINGHAMsters, now, would they?)

mE CONfuseD... My 96 Legacy has a hill-holder! (my 86 GL did, too.) So, what's the info about 95-2003 not having a hill holder? I love MT, and refuse to buy an auto. So, I'm definately biased. Resale value doesn't mean much to me. I don't buy my car for someone else, I buy it for ME! By the same token, if your wife wants an auto, maybe you should look into getting one for HER. (and you keep the MT... more Subarus=more happiness!)

Hooray, another Subaru driver! Welcome to the board. The folks here are great, and have always been very patient (and informative) with my questions. (even the kinda dumb questions... I have a lot of those) My gf has an 02 Forester. The only problem she had was a failed oxygen sensor, which I gather is pretty common. Don't know if the 03 would have the same thing. If you start getting funny engine stalling and dying, take a peek at the oxy sensor.

I have a soft and gooey spot in my cold little heart for Rain-X. My wiper blades are plain ol' NAPA, and with the Rain-X they do a peachy job.

And if you feel like taking a day trip to the bugeoning insane-growth metropolis of Bellingham, you could have Harmony Motors take a peek at your car. They love subes, and are very cool. (and do nice work, AND will tell you if something isn't worth fixing... they disconnected my AC for me free of charge because it was messing with my idle and I didn't feel like paying for the new stuff)

Paul Melse at Williams Auto World in Lansing (517) 484-1341 is a very nice guy. He doesn't push cars at you, and he takes the time to answer any questions you have. He also calls to see if you are happy, having any problems, etc. after you buy the car. A couple people I know have bought cars from him over the last few years. I ended up buying off the board, but I'd've bought from him if I hadn't got mine from the board. Best of all, he's owned Subes for quite a while. I think he has one from the 80's, too. John at the Service dept is a great guy, too. My gf had some trouble with her Forester's oxy sensor, and the service dept was very helpful. They do the maintenence on my Legacy now.

I'd keep it. Seems like you'd easily get the $3,000 worth out of it. Part it out on the board when it just won't go anymore?

I would be interested, but have no idea when. Between my goofy hospital work shedule and trying to move back to the PNW and find a job and house, I'm getting pretty scatter-brained. (Not that I wasn't already, of course!)

My 96 Legacy MT has a big hesitation problem. This morning while driving 2 kids and a load of Halloween decorations to school I uttered some choice swear words and warped their tender 5th grade minds.... (oops) Had to kind of "floor it" to cross a street uphill on a nasty curve (didn't see the other car coming until I was part way out and into the curve). My sub barely moved, and sounded like it was going to stall in the middle of the intersection. This has happened a couple times before, but I just figured I was an idiot and was doing something wrong on the pedals. So, what is going on? I've been driving MTs for 20 years, and never had this happen with my other cars. Could it be a clogged fuel injector? My coolant is a lovely lead color, is that related somehow? (it goes to the mechanic next week) Am I just driving wrong? Any ideas that I could present to the mechanic when I get my coolant changed? Thanks.

I gave up on my gas gauge, and just keep track of miles on the tripometer. When I start getting into the "danger zone" (or maybe just the "fretting zone") of 200+ miles, then I fill up the tank and reset my tripometer to zero.

Dollars to donuts your Forester has the same problem we had. Exact same symptoms, and no CEL. The oxy sensor failed on lots of Foresters. Dealer replaced ours once and solved the problem. (free) I've seen other posts where board members say it took a couple new O2 sensors before they got one that worked.

My 86 GL did the same thing. It was dangerous, and scared the crap out of me. I'm cheap and tawdry, and just had the a/c disconnected completely.

My 96 Legacy has ABS and a 2.2 l engine. (AWD was optional, and I have it.) I love this car! Sometimes I miss my 86 GL d/r, but overall I really like my Legacy. Haven't had any problems dealing with snow. Not tried driving down any steep hills. 105K, with just the average repairs (except for a disaster with an independent mechanic!).

What about talking to Emily at ccrinc.com? They do engines and could tell you how much it should all cost. (I have a 96 Legacy, so I ain't gonna tell ya to dump the thing!) And a 2.2 engine is a beautiful thing!

Ok, I'm down to a smidgen of mid-grade gas, so today I'll fill up with 87. Won't try to change plugs and wires myself, at least not this time. Dinero, the 'bent is great! Survived the first 2 days of the DALMAC (350 mile ride in 5 days). Got up to 34 mph which scared me! The bike did better than I did. Now I'm all googly-eyed for a Vision. (and I'd better train a lot more before the next DALMAC!)

I'm gonna try switching to lower octane gas for a tank, see how that goes. I picked up (from my mom, I suppose) the myth that higher octane is "better" gas. Hey, it'll save me a dime a gallon! I don't know how old the plugs and wires are. (Scott! Where are you?!) I bought the car from a board member, and I know he took good care of it. The car is at 105k, so it's getting to be time to change a lot of things. Are plugs and wires easy for a newbie to change, or should I ask the dealer to do it? (I ain't sending my car to an independent mechanic for a while! Even for something as simple as plugs and wires!) Is that part of a complete tune-up? Thanks, everyone! Kaja

I always use mid-grade gasoline. (I think here in central MI that's around 89-91 or something like that) At regular stoplights and little short waits it idles just fine. I'm a doofus when it comes to working on my own car (though I did replace my liftgate latch :cool: ), so I'm trying to get an idea so I can point the dealer in the right direction. Of course, this repair (seals, etc. and mysterious revving rumble) will be a few paychecks down the road. At least with my alignment appt on Friday I might be able to get a Subaru backpack with my handy-dandy coupon. If they still have any left... "Hey, check out my free backpack! It only cost me $1,000,000 in repair bills!"

Ok, here's what my 96 Legacy still needs: cam covers, o-rings, cam and crank seals, timing belt (and I'll ask that they also do the water pump and oil pump while they're in there.) Could any of these things be making the car idle unevenly? It rumbles waiting at train crossings and long stop lights: BRRRRRUMMMMM brrrrrruummmmmm BBBBBBRRRRRRRUMMMM brrrummmm. I don't see the tach moving, just feel the rumble. Does it need new plugs and wires, too? Friday I'm getting my alignment done. That'll be the last of what the @##$% independent mechanic damaged. I really hate spending the big bucks to have the Subaru dealer do all this work, but dangit, I hated WORSE knowing some dork had messed up my car!

Nice picture!

I'm from B'ham, but now I'm in Michigan (not for long, goldangit!). I'm sure some local folks will post to you. You can also try the PNWSEC (subiegal runs it). There are quite a few B'hamsters there, too. Ug, I'm homesick.... (but Bellingham has changed SO MUCH since I was a kid, it hardly seems like the same place anymore) Kaja

I had a really minor scratch that disappeared when I used Rain-Ex.

There's a department in eastern Washington (name of town has slipped my mind, but someone else will surely post it) that has Subaru. I think there were a couple others posted, too. Hey, guys, where are those cars?

Oh, the story just gets BETTER!!!! I called the Attourney General for Michigan, and the Consumer Licensing board. (better business beareau forwards callers there) This independent mechanic DID NOT have a business license for his shop, his mechanic license expired in March 2001 and he never even HAD a license to qualify him to do hub and bearing work!! So, the watchdogs are tracking him down and then I will take him to small claims court. The Licensing folks told me that whether or not he damaged my car I could get 2x what I paid for the original repair because he was unlicensed. I could get 1/2 the cost of fixing what he damaged if I can prove to the court he damaged my hub. That is assuming he even has any money to take from him... Whew! Independent mechanics are looking bad in my Subaru experience. I've had one good one and two bad ones. For now I'll pay through the nose at the dealership and I'll be much more careful about who I trust with my precious Subaru!

In February the independent mechanic who replaced my wheel bearing damaged my hub. The damage didn't show up until recently, when the new bearing was destroyed and the wheel was wobbling and creaking. Today I got the car back from the Subaru dealer, and you can see the huge gouges the mechanic dug into the hub, apparently using an "air hammer" to get the bearing out instead of a press. I tried to contact the independent mechanic to get some $$ back. He has gone out of business. I called his brother who owns a shop in another town, and he wouldn't tell me anything about where the mechanic went or if he reopened his business somewhere else. This really sucks. How do I get my money back from a mechanic who has gone out of business?

Mine (96 Legacy) does that too. I know people have posted about it. Try a search, or wait for someone to reply. I figure I'll address the issue after I deal with my alignment, seals, timing belt, etc.