adwolf1 Posted June 11, 2005 Share Posted June 11, 2005 Me & my 96 Legacy are moving from Florida to Vermont (a much better home for it, wouldn't you say?) The car has 100k, and its the first long trip its taken in a while. I won't have time to take it into a mechanic for a full inspection, so i've just eyeballed it myself. Obviously, once I get to Vermont, i'll have my choice of mechanics that understand Subarus. The car has no mechanical problems that I can detect now, the tires are good, oil just changed, and the battery, alternator & belt was just changed about 3k miles ago. In addition to the obvious (like re-upping my AAA membership & keeping my GPS device at the ready, and carrying oil & antifreeze), what should I look for in terms of mechanical stuff that could stop the car dead on the trip? The alternator was my big concern which is why i'd preemptively replaced it a while back. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbhrps Posted June 11, 2005 Share Posted June 11, 2005 Adwolf1, About the only things you haven't mentioned doing recently are a brake pad and rotor check, and when the timing belt was last attended to. If those have recently been done, I would think that you are good to go. Some owners can get carried away. My belief is that you find a happy medium that takes care of the obvious problem areas, without becoming so paranoid that you spend more money on preventative measures than is warranted or necessary. With what you've done already, watch your tire pressures, your guages, and keep an ear out for strange noises that may develop, and you should find yourself in Vermont without any problems. Have a great adventure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adwolf1 Posted June 11, 2005 Author Share Posted June 11, 2005 thanks for the advice! the timing belt was done i think about 30k ago, it's my understanding that they need to be changed at 60k intervals on the EJ22 (at least i hope so!) cheers Adwolf1, About the only things you haven't mentioned doing recently are a brake pad and rotor check, and when the timing belt was last attended to. If those have recently been done, I would think that you are good to go. Some owners can get carried away. My belief is that you find a happy medium that takes care of the obvious problem areas, without becoming so paranoid that you spend more money on preventative measures than is warranted or necessary. With what you've done already, watch your tire pressures, your guages, and keep an ear out for strange noises that may develop, and you should find yourself in Vermont without any problems. Have a great adventure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkoepp Posted June 11, 2005 Share Posted June 11, 2005 Carry a fire extinguisher always. If you don't need it you might save someone elses car with it. A friend of mine watched his custom sportscar burn to the ground after uselessly trying to throw handfulls of dirt on the fire. I keep one in every car I've ever owned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjo Posted June 11, 2005 Share Posted June 11, 2005 yeah, watch the tire pressures, during the trip too, because they'll mess up your rear end if they're off, and you're driving that far. other than that it sounds like you should be all set. Where in VT are you moving? i live in the middle of NH, you should lift your subaru and we can play in the mud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty2Austin Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 if it passes a breif inspection of the major saftey related parts, I would say just carry the above mentioned, and have a good trip!! (check on it every time you stop for gas too... fluids,tire pressure, ect..) I am also moving, this july, from WA to MN.. towing a trailer! (yes, towing with my impreza) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adwolf1 Posted June 12, 2005 Author Share Posted June 12, 2005 moving to the montpelier area, my Legacy is very excited about it Is the thing to do once winter hits is get snow tires mounted on an extra set of steel rims? I haven't needed snow tires in years, so this should be very amusing! (hope i remember how to drive in snow..) yeah, watch the tire pressures, during the trip too, because they'll mess up your rear end if they're off, and you're driving that far.other than that it sounds like you should be all set. Where in VT are you moving? i live in the middle of NH, you should lift your subaru and we can play in the mud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subie94 Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 moving to the montpelier area, my Legacy is very excited about it Is the thing to do once winter hits is get snow tires mounted on an extra set of steel rims? I haven't needed snow tires in years, so this should be very amusing! (hope i remember how to drive in snow..) this past winter.i had all-seasons on an it wasn't bad,could of been better traction.if you would feel more secure when the snow starts falling,you could just pick up a set of j/y steels an pick up a set of snow tires. wasn't sure how much experience you've had driving in the white stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subiefan Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 moving to the montpelier area, my Legacy is very excited about it Is the thing to do once winter hits is get snow tires mounted on an extra set of steel rims? I haven't needed snow tires in years, so this should be very amusing! (hope i remember how to drive in snow..) Definately get snow tires. I tried running the all seasons on my AWD Impreza. It felt like I was ice skating on the roads! I put snow and ice tires on it and it made all the 4WD trucks on the road look like lightweights. The thing goes like a tank in the snow and ice with snow tires; it goes skating with all seasons. And about remembering how to drive in snow..... If you've forgotten how, you'll fit in! At least where I'm from, everyone (but me, of course;)) forgets how to drive in the stuff over the summer! For the first couple snows of the season they drive like they've gone insane! (Driving way too fast and skidding off the roads, etc..) I just hate it when I'm chuggin' up a slick hill in my Subie (of couse i'm not having any trouble gettin' up it) and I get passed by a guy driving a rear wheel driven car going like 50mph trying to get up the hill, though! For that reason, in places that get a lot of snow an ice, everyone should have to buy Subarus! (In my opinion, Subarus are the greatest car ever made and rule the world!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrian Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 Carry a fire extinguisher always. If you don't need it you might save someone elses car with it. A friend of mine watched his custom sportscar burn to the ground after uselessly trying to throw handfulls of dirt on the fire.I keep one in every car I've ever owned. Plus they give your car bling looks; w00t! When you get to Vermont, don't forget that while AWD makes you more stable while cruising and able to launch just as well on ice and slush as on dry pavement, it doesn't do a thing for you while you're trying to slow down. Even so, Legacies hold the road way better than taller cars and cars with mushier suspension. Subarus are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjo Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 Good luck trying to find steels in a j/y in VT =P i've been looking for wheels ALL SUMMER in the junk yards... no dice. i'll look around, and if i find some i'll let you know. Snow tires are awesome, especially in June! (just got them swapped off). Montpielier is a fun place, weather is usually normal... if you ever head south on i89, you'll go by say exit 6-3... it'll be nastier than everywhere else in VT. even if it's 80 degrees out, no snow in montpielier, there will be snow and sleet and death waiting for you in that strech of highway! i don't know why! But yeah, your subaru will love VT. Also... you live in florida... when you get to VT you will be introduced to salted roads... and lots of fun rust! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jclay Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 All and can add is to check your belts and hoses, maybe carry spares with you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adwolf1 Posted June 13, 2005 Author Share Posted June 13, 2005 Thanks everyone for the great advice, i'm sure vermont is going to be a blast. I was thinking of getting the snows from the Tire Rack & just letting them mount them for me on some steels. I know zip about snow tires (being from florida and all). What's the latest & greatest out there? Can I expect them to last more than a season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjo Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 I've got some Dunlop Graspic DS-2's on my impreza, and man... they'll go ANYWHERE. i managed to get to the top of a ski hill back in NY, where my friends' couldn't get w/ their jeep w/ BFG A/T's =). They wear... OK.. they're actually quiter than my touring tires! I drove to West Virginia and back with them on, and all around New York... and just had them taken off yesterday. The fronts wore pretty bad, because i've needed an allignment for about 1/2 a year now.... but the rear are holding up strong! they look almost brand new! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 I just took my over 115,000 mile Forester on an 800 mile trip with no hassle whatsoever. Before the trip I checked all fluids, pulled the wheels and inspected brakes and hoses, and all tires, belts and safety related items. I even cleaned the battery connections and the battery tray area. A set of tools, three flashlights, water and spare Mobil 1 made me feel a bit more secure. Fuel mileage was interesting too. My car is such a box that it got 27.75 MPG going through the winding hills of Big Sur, and about 26.50 MPG at 80 MPH on highway 101. Your Legacy is a bit lower and smoother and I am sure you will do better. Of course if I cruised a bit slower I could do a bit better too I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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