Juan

Thanks, MINI T.A. Learned a lot about oil changes from your post. I guess I lose sight of the fact that an oil change is making money for someone else, be it a product manufacturer, a dealer/shop owner or the person changing the "Texas Tea". Who would have thought to take in the rig on any day OTHER than a Saturday? Makes sense. I'm sure the same logic can be applied to other service situations (like,maybe, a hair cut?) Juan

OK. You all convinced me to go to the dealership for another oil change at that pretty new service center they built about a year ago. Used a coupon. They got me right in. Had them drop in a new air filter as well. Took half an hour. Coffee was Starbucks. TV was 42" Sony plasma next to gas fireplace. Comfy. Forgot to ask them to save the air filter for me. Ticks me off that they didn't take the time to show it to me just for general info, especially when simply dropping in the filter cost me three bucks shy of a complete oil change. Pis... made me angry that they left the car sitting unattended and unlocked in one of the worst neighborhoods in the city out in front of the shop. There was a 6"x5" job-number tag tossed on the dash and one of their plastic dealer license plates tucked under the wiper blade. The cashier simply took my money, handed me my key and told me where it was parked. I noticed the "dealer tag" under the wiper as I drove off. Had to pull to the side of the BLVD and remove it before I hit the freeway. They re-adjusted my seat, three mirrors AND the steering wheel (haven't checked to see if they re-programmed my radio!) Checked the oil level and it's all good. They did fill the windshield wash resevoir with water and I do feel good about the tech side of the experience, but GEEZE, more than one person dropped the customer service ball on this one and made everyone there look incompetent Maybe I'll fill out the customer service questionnaire that Subaru USA always sends me after I use this shop, but I don't want to make someone there cry. Still, I'm checking the oil level in the morning. Juan

Is there any real need to take my '05 OB to the Subaru shop for an oil change? I've heard stories of folks getting shoddy work done at "Oils R Us" sorta places. Do I need a genuine Subaru oil filter? What sort of things should I be aware of if I do take OB down to the corner? Juan

It's called: Dealer Prep. I'm certain that you paid for it. Take it back to the dealer and have him/her put it on for you. Car should have never left the lot "un-prepped". Juan

When I step into the throttle on my '05 Outback, the auto tranny holds the lower, wound-out gear when I let up on the throttle way too long because, according to the owner's manual, it thinks I'm coasting down an incline and holds the gear to slow my descent. I want to play a tune on this A.T. and do my own thinking. When I let up on the throttle I want the tranny to let up and shift up. Is there a way to overide HAL? I've tried 'sport' mode and am only left with the distracting and confusing 'manual shift' mode. Juan

Where can I get one of those low-grunting horns the police use when weaving through traffic and crowds? I'd like to wire one independent of the main horn(s) just for the polite horn tap to get folks to stop pickin' their noses and drive when the light turns green. Don't even know what they are called or if they are "civil" legal. Any suggestions? Juan

Wow. This just might work, ed. I will keep an eye out on the street and note license plate(s) if spot a match. What years do you consider "early"? Juan

Sincerly want to know where the market is saturated? Here in Oregon, you can't get one used. Only one or two show up on the market every week (and it's usually the same one or two because they ask so much for them) on dealer lots. I will say that mine is extremely uncomfortable to drive, but then again, that is a well known attribute to post 2000 subiedoos. There is plenty of power, you just have to learn to play a tune, manually, on the tranny. Don't expect the tranny to do the driving for you. It is geared/programmed for fuel economy and dogs out the engine as a given. Juan.

I advise that you test drive one for AT LEAST half an hour. Subaru still hasn't figured out how to make comfortable seats and or seating/pedal positions. Pay particular attention to the angle and placement of your foot on the gas pedal. Notice your foot at a 25 degree angle and how your knee is tweaked. Now notice that you can't rest your foot on the gas pedal without accelerating. How long do you think you can hover your foot over the gas pedal at that angle before you're hurting? Try heal-to-toe breaking/accelerating and notice that you have to swing your foot/knee 45 degrees to the left, and up an inch or two, to get the job done. I would be very surprised if you don't come away from your test drive with a sore back and/or a sore knee. I talked to a lady who had her seat completely rebuilt and she still can't stand the pain of driving her '05 Outback. Maybe the '06 is better than my '05. I don't know. Juan

'Why not step into it and let the tranny do the job?". On my '05 the darn thing won't get off the low gear when I let up on the pedal because Subaru has built a mind into the tranny that makes it think it's decending a hill -when it's actually de-celerating- and must remain in a lower gear. I whomp it and let COMPLETELY off the gas pedal, it freezes for a good two-three seconds @ 5,000+RPM before it calms back to reality. This makes it impossible to play a tune on the auto tranny. I must say, though, I had a grand time stepping INTO the throttle while throwing the car into tight, downhill mountain corners. It would shift down and hold that lower gear for me while I slammed the corner without braking. Again, though, I can do the shifting math myself. I don't need a trarnny that thinks it knows best. The only real option is to manually shift the auto. Maddening, but true. Anyone know if I can overide this? It's unreal. I don't need the tranny to do the, flawed, thinking for me, especially not when it shifts into fourth gear at 30MPH. Bye the way, the owner's manual clearly states that the parking brake should be set BEFORE placing the tranny in Park. Anyone ever do that? Just sayin'. Juan

Gotta assume that the thing was in a wreck that about cut it in half. Why else would anyone bother? Juan

There are two springs at the pedal "hinge" that return the pedal to 'non-decompressed'. They just need to be stiffer/stronger. Anybody? Anyone? Juan

I want to rest my foot on the gas pedal without accelerating! is that too much to ask? The weight of my foot shouldn't push down on the fly-by-wire pedal. A year ago I was told I'd have to live with it. Any fixes? Any suggestions? Anyone else? Juan.

OK. I guess my question should have been "What is an old-generation Subaru?" I should have read the home page for USMB where it is stated> :> If your Subaru was built after 1980 but before 1990 or is a Loyale, Justy, XT or XT6<: That would make any Subaru before '80 an Old Old-Generation of Subaru? I reckon that would be old school. Thanks for your thoughts. Juan

Do you really think that "New Generation" of Subarus includes 16-year-old cars? It would be nice not to have to surf through all the post here just to get to the actual "New Gerneration Of Subarus". What are your thoughts on this? I feel anything pre-2000 is old school. Juan

Wow. That's too good of a deal, especially under a weasel extended warranty plan. Beware. When they get in there they could "find " more than you/they bargained for and stick you with 100% of what isn't two pistons. Can you live with that slap? I did. If you can, wait until the entire engine goes south and then take it in. THAT would be covered in full under the extended warranty and they know it. That said, get it in writing that your car will be returned to you within a specific time frame and in 'at least' the same operating condition as when you drove it in for the repairs. Close the door on the possibility of them opening the engine and calling you for approval to put it back together at another $$$$$$$ at your, non-warranty, expense. If it sounds too good, probable is. I could be wrong. What do you all think? Juan

Is your Subaru made in US? It is my understanding that the Brighten model was discontinued in 1997. Juan

Just wondering why you disconnected the battery? Juan

May I ask how you heard about seafoam? Juan

Isn't it obvious that Seafoam posts are simply planted advertising intended to get product attention? I laugh every time I see one. The pattern and titles of the posts are simply too "convenient". I can't believe these posts are taken seriously. Juan

I'm fairly certain Subaru hasn't found a way around freezing door lock(s) given that a careful reading of the owner's manual reveals it hasn't found a way to prevent the parking brake cable from freezing. They tell you not to set the brake in freezing weather. Funny it would be, if you finally thawed out the door lock only to find the parking brake frozen. Bye the way, how would you thaw out the parking brake on a '05 Outback while it's parked at that ski lodge? On my '68 Datsun pickup I simply slid underneath and tapped the ice loose with a wrench. I'm betting it's not that simple in the 21st century. Juan

Makes sense.They actually included a pump so auto-tranny cars could be push started? I was doing the math as I was typing and, wow, you're right. It was a long time ago. Had to have been. I remember being on the prowl for cheap gas at $0.45 per leaded gallon at that time. Juan

It was a GMC Jimmy circa 1972. Came out of the Ski lodge in Alaska to go home at dusk and it wouldn't crank over. My dad talked someone into push starting us and telling that someone that it may have to get up to about 40mph to work. The "pusher " was skeptical and I don't know why it couldn't be jump started. I admit I was just a kid and can't be certain how fast we were going or the particular vehicle settings that were used to accomplish the feat, but I was right there in the front seat when the Jimmy kicked over and we pulled away from the "pusher". Juan

I thought they were just for show and totally non-functional. Now I Know. Juan