Forester options

[Alan S]

Looking to buy a 2011 Forester and looking for advice on
options you love or hate. So far...

I want...
Limited Edition - leather seats
Trailer Hitch

But These??
auto-dimming mirror w/ compass
wheel arch moldings
splash guards
cargo nets
aero cross bars
backup sensor
moonroof air deflector
other?

Any advice on price also appreciated. Like 2% below Invoice possible?

Thanks in advance.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

        Looking to buy a 2011 Forester and looking for advice on
        options you love or hate. So far...

        I want...
        Limited Edition - leather seats
        Trailer Hitch

        But These??
        auto-dimming mirror w/ compass
        wheel arch moldings
        splash guards
        cargo nets
        aero cross bars
        backup sensor
        moonroof air deflector
        other?

        Any advice on price also appreciated. Like 2% below Invoice possible?

        Thanks in advance.

I bought my roof crossbars, my cargo tray and my cargo net off ebay
for about 1/2 the dealer price. You might price the hitch at eTrailer
and HiddenHitch or w'ever the other big hitch company is called.
I like the dimming mirror/compass in my wife's Outback.

I dunno about wheel arches.

I think splash guards are probably a good idea.

 

[Frank]

I bought my roof crossbars, my cargo tray and my cargo net off ebay
for about 1/2 the dealer price. You might price the hitch at eTrailer
and HiddenHitch or w'ever the other big hitch company is called.
I like the dimming mirror/compass in my wife's Outback.

I dunno about wheel arches.

I think splash guards are probably a good idea.

Cross bars are important to me too. They've been leaving them off.
Also, if I were going whole hog, I would get built in gps with voice
recognition.

 

[StephenH]

        Looking to buy a 2011 Forester and looking for advice on
        options you love or hate. So far...

        I want...
        Limited Edition - leather seats
        Trailer Hitch

        But These??
        auto-dimming mirror w/ compass
        wheel arch moldings
        splash guards
        cargo nets
        aero cross bars
        backup sensor
        moonroof air deflector
        other?

        Any advice on price also appreciated. Like 2% below Invoice possible?

        Thanks in advance.

I like auto dimming mirrors myself.
Wheel arch moldings: Can prevent scuffs, do you like the looks?
Splash guards Yes
Cargo nets, I like these too
Cross bars. Do you plan to carry big things? ski's, bikes, cargo? I
don't need them myself, so the extra noise isnt wanted
Backup sensor your decision there
moonroof air deflector- i dislike moonroofs over all
trailer hitch: i prefer Subaru's over hidden hitch. Subarus kit to
install them is reinforced inside the frame. If you plan to tow
something heavy, needed. if its just for a bike rack buy cheap

 

[Frank]

Cross bars are important to me too. They've been leaving them off.
Also, if I were going whole hog, I would get built in gps with voice
recognition.

With draw my suggestion for built in gps. Son's system in Mercedes
failed and if not under warranty would have cost $3,500 to repair.
Not worth it.

 

[AD]

        Looking to buy a 2011 Forester and looking for advice on
        options you love or hate. So far...

        I want...
        Limited Edition - leather seats

I wonder why people want these in an economy car. It's not like an
economy car becomes premium all of a sudden,
not to mention that the feel sucks regardless of the temperature
outside. As far as fornication goes cloth seems
to beat leather any day. As far as the foreplay is concerned i donno,
do chicks dig leather in compact cars?

        Trailer Hitch

        But These??
        auto-dimming mirror w/ compass

I would advise against auto-dimming
cool sounding but does not work when you want to.

        wheel arch moldings
        splash guards
        cargo nets
        aero cross bars
        backup sensor

dunno how is visibility in forrester but in general i'm against band
aiding poor visibility
out back with electroniks.

        moonroof air deflector

I wonder if it's wind tunnel tested and helps or detracts from the
fuel economy.

 

[John Varela]

Looking to buy a 2011 Forester and looking for advice on
options you love or hate. So far...

I want...
Limited Edition - leather seats
Trailer Hitch

But These??

I don't have any of these on our 1999 Forester, but do have some of
them on other cars so can comment.

auto-dimming mirror w/ compass

Auto dimming is nice but not particularly needed. The compass is
superfluous if you have GPS. If you want GPS, I recommend a
windshield-mounted TomTom for a couple of hundred bucks instead of
the factory unit.

wheel arch moldings
splash guards
cargo nets

A cargo net came with my Infiniti G35 coupe. I found it to be just
in the way, so I took it out in 2003 and only reinstalled it last
week when I put the car on sale. My new car (Infiniti M37) also
comes with a net. Since the trunk is configured differently this net
may be useful but I expect I'll be putting this net aside too. YMMD.

aero cross bars
backup sensor
moonroof air deflector

I had a deflector on a 1985 1/2 Honda Prelude Si. I liked it because
in hot weather it let me park and leave the roof cracked open
without fear of rain getting in. (But be careful if it does rain,
because if you leave the roof cracked and then brake, water from the
rest of the moonroof will slosh forward into your lap. Heed the
voice of experience.) My 2003 G35 also came with a deflector. This
one is configured differently and wasn't useful as described, so I
took it off and, like the cargo net, only put it back on when
getting the car ready for sale.

other?

Any advice on price also appreciated. Like 2% below Invoice possible?

Times are tough for auto dealers. I got my M37 for about $1,000 less
than the dealer's *actual* (not invoice) cost after factory
incentives and hold-backs; $2,000 less than what Kelly Blue Book
lists as the "Fair Purchase Price" on their web site. Note that
Infiniti dealers make their profit on their first-class but very
expensive parts and service. Subaru dealers may differ.

Thanks in advance.

--
John Varela
"The creationists would make a much more convincing case if they
based their arguments on the notion of Dumb Design. After all,
there's nothing in their theology that requires that the deity be
intelligent." -- Peter Moylan