Baja

[Kar Klean]

I don't understand Subaru. They are advertising the hell out of all their
vehicles except the Baja. It is though they don't want it to be a success.

 

[Chris Phillipo]

I don't understand Subaru. They are advertising the hell out of all their
vehicles except the Baja. It is though they don't want it to be a success.

I think they sort of missed the boat on that whole crossover pickup/SUV
thing. Actually since their's is more like a car the missed it by what,
30 years? Was the El Camino a big seller?

 

[nicklebon]

I think they sort of missed the boat on that whole crossover pickup/SUV
thing. Actually since their's is more like a car the missed it by what,
30 years? Was the El Camino a big seller?

Ah the voice of ignorance. I love my Baja more than words can
describe.
It is all the truck most people within city limits need and certainly
gets better milage.
I agree with the first poster that it is as though Subaru does not
want the model
to be a success.

 

[Jeremiah]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

Ah the voice of ignorance. I love my Baja more than words can
describe.
It is all the truck most people within city limits need and certainly
gets better milage.
I agree with the first poster that it is as though Subaru does not
want the model
to be a success.

I'll take my Baja anyday over all the small dicked guys that buy the
parade float pickups and couldn't tell you where the closest home depot
is, let alone what a hex wrench is.

 

[Chris Phillipo]

I'll take my Baja anyday over all the small dicked guys that buy the
parade float pickups and couldn't tell you where the closest home depot
is, let alone what a hex wrench is.

I'd buy one if only they made a cap for the bed to keep my gear dry, oh
wait, there's already the Legacy wagon...

 

[Jeremiah]

I'd buy one if only they made a cap for the bed to keep my gear dry, oh
wait, there's already the Legacy wagon...

Share your ignorance elsewhere....

.....there are a few companies that produce both hard and soft Tonneau
bedcovers.

Let's see the 2.5L NA LW lineup against my Baja T.

 

[ismlv]

You know, up until yesterday I wouldn't have been able to imagine a Baja with a cap but in Home Depot's parking lot, there it was. At first
I didn't even think it was a Baja, but on second glance, sure enough, the red'ish color Baja complete with a matching cap.

 

[Chris Phillipo]

Share your ignorance elsewhere....

....there are a few companies that produce both hard and soft Tonneau
bedcovers.

Speaking of ignoarnace, a tonneau cover is not a bed cap. It's a
useless blanket that resuces the bed to the size of a large sedan trunk.
A cap would cover it and be in line with the roof of the car. But as I
said, the Legacy already does a leak fee no hassle job of this.

 

[Chris Phillipo]

Let's see the 2.5L NA LW lineup against my Baja T.

Well there

Baja: 165 hp
Baja Turbo: 210 hp
Legacy Wagon: 165 hp
Legacy Wagon Turbo: Not yet available

The Baja weighs more and has a higher coefficient of drag, so I guess
you need to get the Turbo for a scant $3000 + the cost of running
premium gas and burning more of it. You guys are right, it does seem
like Subaru wants it to fail. I considered one of these initially but
after seeing and driving one in person, no way. I'll have the Forester,
and not the turbo. Judging by the sales, Foresters selling almost 5 to
1 over Bajas, I guess that's what happens when a lot of people walk onto
a Subaru lot. It does have a place, I guess that 400lbs. more towing
capacity is useful for those towing something 2000 lbs. And that light
bar looks cool.

 

[Chris Phillipo]

You know, up until yesterday I wouldn't have been able to imagine a Baja with a cap but in Home Depot's parking lot, there it was. At first
I didn't even think it was a Baja, but on second glance, sure enough, the red'ish color Baja complete with a matching cap.

You could tell it from a wagon? I actaully have a photoshop'd Baja here
soemwhere when I was thinking of buying one I cut the cap off a picture
of a Frontier just to see what it would look like

 

[jMon]

I live in Northern Virginia and I bought a Baja in late November 2003.
It was just the thing for ski trips west to West Virginia in some
really horrendous wintry weather. I like that it handles much better
than the 1995 Mitsubishi Montero I used to drive and gets better gas
mileage too. The bed is perfect for the kind of hauling I do like
getting stuff to the landfill then bringing back a load of mulch in
it. Sure, it's a bit under-powered but I got the 5-speed to make up
for that deficit. I got the bed extender for it and will probably add
a wind deflector for the sunroof to cut down on wind noise. All in
all, I am please with the vehicle... I'm looking to keep this one for
a good while.

 

[BBB]

I got the bed extender for it and will probably add
a wind deflector for the sunroof to cut down on wind noise.

I got a nice wind deflector for my Forester on eBay for about $35 plus
S&H a year ago. Seller's email was (e-mail address removed). I can't recall
his eBay ID, though the current listings from a seller called protriminc
look very much like what I remember. There aren't any Baja listings up
at the moment, but the seller appeared to be quite knowledgeable about
proper fit and could probably help you if you went directly to him.

--

 

[Chris Phillipo]

I live in Northern Virginia and I bought a Baja in late November 2003.
It was just the thing for ski trips west to West Virginia in some
really horrendous wintry weather. I like that it handles much better
than the 1995 Mitsubishi Montero I used to drive and gets better gas
mileage too. The bed is perfect for the kind of hauling I do like
getting stuff to the landfill then bringing back a load of mulch in
it. Sure, it's a bit under-powered but I got the 5-speed to make up
for that deficit. I got the bed extender for it and will probably add
a wind deflector for the sunroof to cut down on wind noise. All in
all, I am please with the vehicle... I'm looking to keep this one for
a good while.

I didn't know they made an externder for it, how long is the bed with
that in place?

 

[Jeremiah]

I didn't know they made an externder for it, how long is the bed with
that in place?

Its just the length of the bed plus the liftgate down. Its the same
style extender as nissans and other pickups have.

with re to the wind deflector, its a MUST. But you don't have to go
searching on ebay for one, 1stsubaruparts.com and all the other dealers
have them. Its a Subaru OEM part. I think mine cost $35 before ground
shipping from the mentioned site. But just get a quote from your dealer.
If its below $40 buy it from them because after shipping mine came to
around $43 i think.

Also, it takes two people to install it. It looks like an easy job and
it is, but one person has to force the deflector down against the roof
while the other tightens the screw with a #2 driver and wrench. Its also
a good idea to take your roof rack off if you have one. We have an
adapted Thule 2-bike rack on top of the OEM crossbars, but only put it
on when we're going biking. Otherwise it just creates wind noise.

 

[BBB]

Jeremiah wrote:

with re to the wind deflector, its a MUST. But you don't have to go
searching on ebay for one, 1stsubaruparts.com and all the other dealers
have them. Its a Subaru OEM part. I think mine cost $35 before ground
shipping from the mentioned site. But just get a quote from your dealer.
If its below $40 buy it from them because after shipping mine came to
around $43 i think.

Also, it takes two people to install it. It looks like an easy job and
it is, but one person has to force the deflector down against the roof
while the other tightens the screw with a #2 driver and wrench. Its also
a good idea to take your roof rack off if you have one. We have an
adapted Thule 2-bike rack on top of the OEM crossbars, but only put it
on when we're going biking. Otherwise it just creates wind noise.

Baja people lucked out. The OEM Forester wind deflector costs in the
high $50 to low $60 range at the dealer Web sites, so eBay was the right
place for me.

I solved the two person problem with a clamp from my woodworking shop.
To quote Norm Abrams, "You never have enough clamps!"


--

 

[Kar Klean]

Actually a cap is made for the baja

I'd buy one if only they made a cap for the bed to keep my gear dry, oh
wait, there's already the Legacy wagon...

 

[Chris Phillipo]

Actually a cap is made for the baja

Sort of missed my point, but it is slick looking, very "Australian"
http://www.4are.com/product/baja/

 

[jMon]

I got a cap for my Baja off a guy on eBay who makes them out of
pressure treated wood and vinyl. It looks okay and is firm enough to
sit on. I can get in on and off in less than 10 minutes by myself.
It does not lock but I bet it could be modified. The only problem I
have had with it is a part of it started to come loose one windy day
while I was going down the highway doing around 75 MPH. I just need
to make sure I've got that tied down securely before I head out again.