While exploring the Subey this morning (Helen let the keys out for a minute!) and guess what I found! A full size spare tire! I was planning on tossing the mini-spare and replacing it, and wanted to check for room. What a pleasant surprise.

I wonder if the PO did that, or if Subaru did? If it was Subaru, then hats off to them. Not many makers still offer it standard. I hear even MB is switching to "space-saver" units. Here's hoping NOT.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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Where was the spare tire?

Was it underneath the car, or under a compartment in the rear storage area?

I checked msn autos, and according to them, a full size spare tire was not an available option. The PO must have bought one for you.

Hey, now that you've owned the car for about a week, how are you enjoying it?

Has your overall satisfaction and enjoyment of the car changed?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

We reeally like the car. It gets surprisingly good fuel economy considering the amount of interior room. Pretty close to the C230, despite the slightly bigger engine and AWD.

The boxer four is torquey and very easy to live with. We've got the four speed auto box, and it's a good match for the low revving big-pot four. We tested a WRX, and truth be told, in daily life, the Legacy is nicer to drive. It's got lots less power, but no turbo lag to deal with and the low end grunt makes the car nice to drive in traffic.

Had it out for one small highway trip, and it's NOISY compared to a Mercedes, but then it's not a luxury car, and it is a wagon. Also, the Blizzaks are noisy, and that made it worse.

The AWD system is pretty transparent. Guess Subaru has been making them for a while, and they're pretty good at it. the turning circle is much bigger than the C230's, but almost everything has a larger radius than the C.

The interior fit and finish are very good, but the quality of the plastics could be a notch better. I saw a 2000, and the newer gen has been improved. It has no rattles or squeaks. The body is not as stiff as a Mercedes, but not many are. I can feel some slight flexing that you would never find in a Benz, but less than most "other" cars I've driven.

Took it in and had the 60,000 kilometer service done, and then some. Had most fluids and filters replaced, new plugs, and so on. Just to get 'er up to my personal spec and get us off to a new start. Cheap! Wow! The bill was less than $500! That's a $1000+ bill on the C230, and the last Acura we owned would have required a mortgage to get the car back. Nice. Parts were "normal" prices, but labour charges seemed pretty low.

The spare is in the car.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

I mentioned this in the last post of your other thread on this subject.... mine are 1981's

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=58055&highlight=sube+and+spare

So they have been placing the spare over the engine for at least 20 years.... when you take it out you have plenty of room for working on the engine....

It really is nice to access... why are you laughing at my Sube ?

I've got a 99 Subaru Outback. Are you familiar with the piston slap problem characteristics of the engine? It is a design feature of the skirtless pistons in that 2.5 engine. It occurs for the first few minutes of operation after a cold engine start. I still like mine.

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Roger
1983 300CD 246k sold
1998 C230 52k
1980 450SL 75k needs AC
1999 Subaru Outback Ltd 43k

Under the hood! That's hilarious! There is plenty of room, though.

Much more room than the last boxer engined beast to live here - 911 Turbo.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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Yeah, the dealer explained that to us, but I've found the engine quite quiet on start-up. Noticed some noise yesterday morning, but it was -42C. Of course, I am used to MB engines, which are generally very noisy compared to belt driven Japanese engines.

I understand that this in no way effect long term reliability of the engine. I talked to another owner that had the slap quite bad, and it went away as miles piled on. He has 165K on his, and it burns no oil and has been deadly reliable.

Are you using synthetic oil? Since we're in the Frozen North, this car has had Mobil 1 since early in it's life. I understand that using synthetic oil can actually make the slap noise more prevalent, though I have no idea of why. Perhaps a slower break in? Maybe it's not true.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

Hey Great to hear that your Subby is a keeper.
Had a couple of those and we loved em too.
Keep a close eye on the rubber boots as they are prone to rip.
We had a Legacy LS sedan and wagon. Both were great cars, quiet too. Sedan had a huge trunk, and the wagon would fit a bike sideways with the front wheel removed (back seats folded down).

On the spare topic, my 2000 Xterra SE came with 5 mags and matching tires. It was a pleasant surprise to find the spare a fully matched wheel and tire! That also had a nice guttaral rasp when you stepped on the gas. I drove around without the front air foil and basket as it looked nicer that way!