BlueSoob

I think I've posted my bragging on my forester mileage.. I dont know HOW you kids drive or where you drive... I get 28-32 mpg in my 2003 Forester. Lowest I've seen was 24 on a trip to Wyoming. Try putting at least 89 octane in it... keep it consistent though.. I also noticed that my mileage went up by about 2 mpg when I started using Synthetic Oil at oil changes. Don't use the AC as much and you don't have to floor it every time you move from a stop. Oh and get a 5 spd. The automatic is horrible for gas mileage. But keep in mind, most of my driving is done around sea level to 3000 ft. and at speeds from 20-55 mph. I get about 27 in town. I also installed a hamster cage just behind my engine- I put one of the exercise wheels right next to the belts and ran tunnel tubes throughout the engine compartment. When Hampton and Harry get frisky... you'd better fasten your seat belt and hang on tight!

I'm starting to get a warm feeling in my tummy.. I was glad I left Wyoming. I couldn't find any "good" places to take off road. For fun I would drive up to the oil refineries at full speed just for a little adrenaline. (as my mom rolled her van off of one of these roads... I mean.. ROLLED) Other than that it was tackling the hill behind my high school. That got pretty boring fast. I'm so excited to live near Mount Baker in WA now. I live 3 mins from 10 different Forest Service Roads. I grew up in Southern Wyoming and found it rather blah. Oddly enough.. spending 18 yrs in Wyoming, I had only been to Colorado once -now twice - both times straight through Denver. Sadly enough, I no longer have my GL but now a Forester - which is a lot closer to the dimensions of my GL than my Legacy ever was. Never fear dear Wyoming peoples..There are others of us... But like Alaska.. we are very few... and mostly scattered.

i wanna go!! Keep me posted with the day and where to meet... i don't think I'll be needing a permit though... Might ride with someone else too...

Phatbrat: "Is that all it takes, Just a little bit of Subaru sweet talk?? Well, Alriiiiiiight!!!!!" Ohhhh baby.... you really know how to get my turbo wound up!

I'm starting to feel all warm and fuzzy inside....

HEY! I have an 03 Forester Man. - I have had 7 subarus come into my life... three of them mine... But as for the Forester: I have 35,890 on mine.. UGH pushin warrenty here... I have run into some issues with the Forester that I have never seen on any other of mine - and some issues that other people have had: Watch out for the AirBag light. As it turns out, if you slide the seat forward and back too much, it will pinch the airbag wires under the seat and set off the light... it is nothing to worry about... just annoying.. subaru has made a kit to fix this... may want to check with the dealer about this... there is a service bullitin about it... Since you don't have a Man, you won't need to worry about the shudder clutch... I switched to Synthetic Oil on my Forester at 12,000. I now change the oil every 5,000 miles. But if you decide to stick with the regular oil 10-30, PLEASE religiously change the oil every 3,000 miles. Be wary of the paint.. You may want to get a heavy wax job on it or another protective barrier... mine started to chip off in 4000 miles... and now I have a rust spot on the trunk. Keep an eye on the tire pressure and be sure to check the owners manual if you ever get a flat... well before you get a flat.... Otherwise you may face a bad booboo in the AWD - just peoples experience with Subarus in general. Hmmm trying to think.... This 03 is the first year of the model... so if you don't mind the minor fixes in the first year... dont worry.. Just make friends at your local friendly dealership and you'll be set and always able to get a loaner car! (In other words... suck up!) The small things aren't bad... I trust the engine/drivetrain/transmission so you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

a particular girl? wait... you're not even 18 yet...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA -Too good..... certainly proved your point

I thought about this one myself... (03 Forester with same) I have come to the conclusion that the "fog lamps" are not really that useful at all. They are aimed at about 2 feet in front of my car... and not all that bright.... It would be easier, in my opinion, to just put another set of lights on your car and put those on a separate switch...

Thank you for the ego boost today Zapar. I think that I shall print your post and hang it on my wall. My collection of memories.... Right next to the award for 2nd place in the rally in WCSS 1.

Thank you for the ego boost today Zapar. I think that I shall print your post and hang it on my wall. My collection of memories.... Right next to the award for 2nd place in the rally in WCSS 1.

You need hot girls with cars - like the calenders in every other mechanic shop! Hehe But since you should probably keep this minor/family friendly, don't have your guy friends show up in tiger stripe bikini underwear. Thats just inappropriate.

AMEN. Take care of it and it will take care of you. I think it will be more worth your time and effort to run it until you find that new Subaru that you just can't be without! thats when you sell it. I've done this twice. I just plan on keeping it until about 300,000miles..

Amen! Superior Repair did a good job on my shocks when I tried them out. I thought they were kinda hard to find. It was a "hole in the wall" place but the price was good. Though with the over-all picture of service places, Smart Service is still my fav. The guys are nice there, they do good work, they are very respectful (they are one of the few that I've noticed not giving me the "oh look, a woman" thing) and it is easy to find -near stores and a theatre.. and the best part (ick) there is a McDonalds right next door!

I took my car to Smart Service in Mountlake Terrace for 5 years. (Until I moved of course) SEveral other board members have taken their cars there too. 206-417-0880

and there you have it. Stop and go is hell for an automatic forester.. he cries when you have the a/c on. The first week I had my forester, we were driving down the freeway and turned on the A/C.. all of a sudden.... uuuuggggg.... Since, we have renamed the a/c, the snail button. Zippy, the wonder slug.

Man! Lead Foot people! Just Kidding. My 2003 Forester is pulling 30-32 mpg (30 mixed city/hwy) Strictly city its been down to 25/26. I run 87 Octane (Shell) in mine whenever possible. In Utah/Wyoming I ran a tank of 85 Oct. and it dropped to 23. 87 Oct in Wyo. brought me back up to 26/27. I have never seen a tank below 24 mpg. Not sure what to tell ya. Are you at a higher altitude? You have an automatic dont you? What octane are you running? Try a different brand of gas? Do you have the A/C on? Is the pedal to the floor alot? Do alot of hill climbing? hmmmmm

You are good for Foresters? New and old?

We both HATE the paint on the '03 Forester. One trip to Wyoming in the winter and there was very little left of that "new car" look. The paint chipped so easily I have considered screaming at the dealer about it. Seems like water is all it takes to screw up this finish. Needless to say, we love the new Forester, but are very disapointed about paint, carpet and interior plastic. Had a few random problems with electronics, but that's what new cars do best.

oh- and I'm thinking its just thrown on there to make a universal wiring system that wouldn't have to be changed for the XTs. Maybe today I shall take a peek at another Forester /xt and check it out.

Its a little blue box... right on top towards the back... and Writen on top of it... it says "Boost Sensor"

Yep! Sometimes it does help to debate - but debate gently. I recently got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. (I wear my seat belf FAITHFULLY) and he asked to see ID. I handed it to him and he told me he had seen that I didn't have my seatbelt on. HELLO!! I was wearing a black jacket in a car that has next to limo tinted windows. I told him that I had been wearing my seatbelt since I got in my car at the post office. I told him I always wear my seatbelt and that I never go without... Well long story short, He knew as well as I did, it was my word against his and I had the dark on my side so there was no use taking action. And THAT was my first time not putting on my pitiful, sorrowful, almost blank look on my face ready to cry myself out of it. I guess it was the shock of being pulled over in the first place. tada! Driven over 200,000 in my cars alone (in 7 years of driving) and never achieved a ticket.

Quick Question: When gazing under the hood of my 03 Forester X, I noticed a "Boost Sensor" on top by the ignition wires. I thought "How silly to have such a thing on a non-turbo car" Perhaps this was all set up to use the same engine with a light turbo to bolt to the top for the Forester XT? *curious*

Actually a similar thing happened to me in my 2003 Forester. You probably have a "nicer" stereo than I, however my problem with the CD player was that I would put the cd in and it would spit it out. Try another cd-same thing... it would suck it in.. try to spin and spit it out ... what did I do? Left it alone for 3 days -threaten to replace it -(And I told it so!) looked at other decks and then tried to put another CD in it and it took fine. (I think the trick was telling it that he was going to be replaced) This happened to me at about 25.000 miles. If I were you, I would find the nearest Friendly Subaru Dealership and have them order you a new one... its covered under your warrenty. When they replace it, you (or they) should be able to dismantle the player and pull your discs out. As for your brakes... uggg... Hard driving took out the pads in my 1993 automatic Legacy every 35,000. But 4 times in 31k? are they installing them correctly? Can you take it to another dealership or mechanic? I couldn't tell you about brakes in a 2003 for sure. I started driving a manual shift and my brakes aren't even half shot at 35,000. Makes me happy.

Here I am, Leaving a Legacy (it was my last day with him - on my way to meet the girl who bought him.) And then there is me of course