F
FozzieT/TB
Guest
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
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