Making It Yours, So Long As It Isn't A Manual

As a Subaru owner I get "Drive: the magazine from Subaru"

It often includes articles about what Subaru is doing as a corporate citizen, hype about new models, and reviews of certain things.

This most recent issue (Spring 2016) included an article titled "Making It Yours". The article discussed the accessory installation department of Subaru's Lafayette, IN plant. It is a nice article about the people and process behind having your factory options installed on your new Subaru. But, to me, this also reminds me of one of my chief frustrations with Subaru, which if you follow this blog or have had a conversation with me about cars you have heard (possible ad nauseam), in that if you want nice options with your new Subaru you cannot have them if you also want that new Subaru with a manual transmission. Having tried to get through to Subaru through dealerships, auto show representatives, and Subaru of North America via email and phone I figured I would try with the following email to insider@subaru.com. If you share my frustrations, it would be great if you were to write such an email as well.

Hello Drive Magazine Staff,

[Section as possible letter from reader]

Making It Yours, So Long As It Isn't A Manual

By MooncallerCars

In the Spring 2016 issue of Drive Magazine there was an article title “Making It Yours” on page 17. It was a nice article about options and customizations performed for your Subaru as factory installed options.

The “Making It Yours” article niggles me because at Subaru I am a second class car buyer in terms of options and amenities available if I insist I want to have a manual transmission.

Considering the ever decreasing availability of manual transmission cars in the US market, not just by Subaru but by all automakers, it means that the manual transmission buyer is generally a very discerning buyer who is picky and is likely to tick the option boxes they want on their purchase. It does not make sense to limit the availability of options to this would be buyer based on their transmission choice.

My wife and I currently own a 2014 Subaru BRZ (love it!) and a 1994 Honda Prelude. We’ve been looking to replace the Prelude with something a bit more practical in terms of family room but are frustrated by Subaru’s lack of option availability with manual transmissions.

[End section as possible letter from reader?]

More Test Drives of the Subaru Product Line

Today I tested more cars offered by Subaru. I went back to Hodges Subaru in Ferndale, MI and was dealing with Danielle again (if you’re looking to buy a Subaru and live in the Detroit area, deal with her, she’s wonderful!). Today I was testing and measuring cars for my parents who are finally looking to replace Harmony (2000 Subaru Outback) or Cloud (1999 Subaru Forester).

A few notes on the Subaru product line before I review the cars. Subaru needs to offer a wagon version of the Legacy that is less bulky looking than the new Outback’s (this is available in Japan and should be here too). Subaru manual transmission vehicles still suffer from very soft clutch pedals, a bit more resistant would just let you know you’re pressing it better. Also, Subaru offers a lot of great diesel versions of their vehicles in other countries that are quite fuel efficient, these should be offered to the USA as well.

On to the cars I drove today:

Recent Test Drives

Recently my girlfriend finally took the Scion FR-S for a spin, I was in the back seat, she was exuberant, and it was fun. Better ask her about it if you want more.

2010 Subaru Impreza 2.5i:
I took a manual 5 speed for a test drive. First, having driven both a 2000 Outback (Harmony) and 1999 Forester (Cloud) [Harmony and Cloud are my parents' cars] I was surprised how much farther that 2.5L engine goes in the smaller and lighter Impreza, I liked it a lot.

2009 Subaru WRX:
This car was much faster than the Impreza. It also had very heavy steering. It felt a little heavy but more so the steering was really heavy.

2006 Subaru WRX STi:
Ok, so I'm really glad I did not pick up this car, I would not be able to afford the speeding tickets. It picks up speed so quickly!  The short ratio gear box is wonderful. I really like this car. The handling and braking were absolutely wonderful. The handling was also light and easy to throw into a turn. One day I may end up with one of these, we'll see.

Cloud (Subaru Forester), Fuel Filler Pipe Replacement

This is a project I'm not working on much, it's one my dad is doing (so the pictures are not so exciting).

After the engine repair and reinstall there was still a check engine light.

The old one was quite rusted. There is a cover for it that collects all kinds of grime and moisture. The result is a rusty mess.

For the reinstall I suggested rubberized paint. We used the 3M Professional Grade Rubberized Undercoating. It turned out quite well in my opinion. We missed a few small spots. We'll have to see how it holds up. We also ended up coating some of the fuel hose connectors, the old ones were mighty rusty.

Anyways, here are some pictures:

Cloud (Subaru Forester), Back Together

While I was away in DC this summer my dad, brother, and sister finished putting Cloud back together.

I have no pictures of the process, but, on the bright side, it all works!

That means, fuel hoses and so on reconnected. I got a call from my dad asking why it would turn over but not catch and I had to remind him about the fuel relay under the dash. It is a royal pain to get to.

But yay! One project done, for now...

Cloud (Subaru Forester), Engine Reinstall

Cloud is my parent's 1999 Subaru Forester.

We got her a few years back, and found that she was losing compression in one of the cylinders. So, we pulled the engine, sent it to a shop, and got it back.

We don't exactly move as fast as we could in our family regarding projects and having things put back together, but here's some photos of making Cloud run again...

I'll also intentionally leave out dates... progress was shamefully slow.