Hola. Some advice for a first time Scooby owner.

Hi all,

Only signed up to the forum yesterday, but have been scanning it over the past few weeks, very useful. Some good stuff up there.

I just took delivery of a 97 Forester T/TB auto yesterday and am looking for some tips/contacts to get her tip top, I also have the usual questions you would expect from guy who knows zero about Subaru's. My own main/kicks car is a Honda, but I always liked the Fozzie and was looking for a low cost spacious work horse, so it made sense (or maybe not)

Anyway let me start with the purchase.

I did the unthinkable and made my purchase over the web direct from Japan, a gamble I know, but its something ive wanted to try for a while and a 97 Forester seemed like a low enough cost/risk to give it a go. The car is a 2.0 turbo auto, with 126k kms on it, body, interior etc are all mint and the timing belt was supposedly done at 108k kms. (But unless any of you can read Japanese I thnk ill change it anyway : )

I was of course suitably nervous with the whole deal and am expecting the worst, but I have read and been told that Foresters are a pretty solid reliable car?

I collected the car yesterday from the docks and it started up first time. She sounded awful on start up, a little rattly and rough, but within fifteen minutes of running she sounded fine. I read on the forum about exhaust heat shields and am hoping its down to that, having said thats its pretty quiet and not worryingly noisy. I also read about piston slap so perhaps that would explain her start up, and then when warm its fine? I guess the car hasnt been driven in months, and god know when it was last serviced

When I start her from cold it sounds like a belt whirring or a fan clicking for about 10/15 minutes, then when its warmed up its much fainter and other than that sounds fine? Sound normal?

I didnt drive the car much yesterday as I want to get it serviced before I do, but on the drive home she was great. Lots of pull, quiet and comfortable (exept for the snow tyres!!!)

Anyway assuming all is okay with the motor, I need to sort out some bits and pieces with the car and was hoping for some advice.

First of all is the service. I want to get all belts, fluids, plugs, filters and pads done before I use her. Is there a decent Subaru or Jap specialist in or near Dublin that anyone here can recommend? No point in going to a main dealer with the age of the car or the fact that its a Jap import.

Any ideas roughly how much to budget for a full service and timing belt?

If the engine did need any major work, again is there someone you can recommend? I cam across a name in the Forum of Dave Legacy? But couldnt find contact details. Does Dave do servicing also?

While on the docks someone pinched a couple of bits from my car, the most annoying is the Window switch from the drivers side which works all four windows. Because its awol the windows are out of action so I need to get that fixed asap. Any suggestions for a good breakers that might have a Forester? I found a few UK based, but if there is anyone in Eire or NI that would be great? I also need the rear luggage canopy/cover for the boot as that was also swiped : )

On the exterior, my car has snow tyres which were horrendous in the dry so i can only imagine the wet. I need to change the tyres anyway but as they are on very small stock rims I was thinking of some aftermarket rims and tyres as a set. Any suggestions? I saw a picture of a Forester with what loooked like impreza rims and it looked great, but I thought these were a different offset and assumed they wouldnt fit? Also any recommendations on tyres for a Forester, something with a decent grip, ill really only be using my car for commuting.

I also want to change the radio as I only have two stations. It seems like a decent Subaru original unit with friont loader CD and tape and a good sound. I was thinking of maybe getting a band expander to allow it pick up other stations, but is that pointless? Should I just rip it out and stick in an after market unit? Or pick up a second hand UK/Ire Spec original stereo?

So all in all lots more things to spend my money on, needless to say the wife is delighted, ive only git one car sorted and its start all over again : )

First priority is to get the engine serviced and checked, and then the cosmetic stuff.

Any feedback, contacts, tips are very welcome.

Thanks in advance,
P

Welcome along

Id use Dave Lewis in Coolock for your servicing or else Car Tork in Clane.

Damo

Damien, any chance on posting up some details of Dave Lewis, I can't find any contact details or addresses.

Cheers

Alan

Dave Lewis - 0861563189

If Dave is too busy try Ian in cartork 045893718

Radio problem could be sorted out in any good motor factors.Can get a booster thingy (dont know proper name).Oerial lead connects to one end and other end connects to stero and there is also a earth wire.Got one a few weeks back onlr 5 or 6 euro.

Sure someone else can advise on other matters.

[quote author=Scruff link=topic=3771.msg38529#msg38529 date=1190799800]
Damien, any chance on posting up some details of Dave Lewis, I can't find any contact details or addresses.

Cheers

Alan
[/quote]


He's in Coolock but hard to find, If you ring him he can guide you in, Or I could guide you in if your heading over.

Welcome fellow forester driver!
I'm on my third forester now! My first was a 98 auto turbo great car, I only sold it recently!
Check out this months feature car! has a pic of my 98 and my current sti!
Dan

Thanks for the advice lads.

That nice guy Mr Dave Legacy (must find out his real name!) has my Fozzie at the moment, he came around last wednesday, gave her a once over and is servicing it today.. for a very reasonable price I might add and he really knows his stuff.

Apparantly my Forester wasnt a bad buy and it hasnt been completely sh@gged by its previous owners. A bit of piston slap, well a good bit actually, but once she warms up its sound. Nice power and pretty smooth to drive. Normally id steer clear of auto boxes by a mile, but as I wanted a commuter this was perfect, have to say the Auto box does take a little of the fun out of it, but she can still pull!

Funny but I always liked the Forester, and really bought mine as a cheap runaround to save me using my other car all the time. I wanted an estate for my dog or MTB and a bit of carrying but I thought it had around 170 BHP or so, never dreamed it was 240 or anything like it..Result : ) but no so good for the fuel consumption I guess!

I am goin to have look out for a decent set of Impreza 16" or 17" WRX/STI type rims in silver and fit them with suitable tyres to replace the terrible snow tyres that are on it.

I had thought about the band expander, but I saw in Halfords today that they have a special on Kenwood units and have a decent frontloader, with an i-pod inout for 89 yo yos, with a half pricefitting for 29...Not bad so ill go with that.

I have also been advised to stick an alarm on it to keep the pikeys out, so ill look at this week. Any suggestions or contacts? I am looking for something reasonable but not crap. Maybe a Meta or something like that. I have a Thatcham on my S2K but dont want to spend that much on this one/any ideas?

I shall keep you all posted, and thanks for the mails and feedback.

Sounds like a sweet bus mate

just got a new car myself put a k9 alarm on it friday 300 euro seems

to be the job put one on my old imperza and never had a problem with it

PM me if you want the lads number...