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2019 Subaru Forester Touring Long-Term Update | Wet carpet

I hadn’t been doing much driving, so the Forester had spent a good chunk of the rainy/snowy spring week relaxing in my driveway. Finally, it came time to pick up a birthday dinner — Indian food, curbside to-go. As soon as I sat down, I noticed something new: a small crack in the windshield. That fix will have to wait until more businesses reopen. As I eased out of my driveway, another issue emerged. I heard what sounded like water sloshing. Braking for the stop sign at the end of my street Â… yep, definitely liquid. It sounded like it was below or in front of me. Later, I was parked in the alley behind the restaurant waiting for my order, and I accidentally dropped my phone down into the black hole on the righthand side of my seat. I reached down and groped for it, but instead of a rectangular personal computer, my fingers found nothing but carpet, seemingly soaked to capacity. My first instinct was to use a disinfectant wipe on my wet digits, but then I got out to inspect the underside of my seat from the second row. There was my phone, sitting in a fabric swamp under the seat. I retrieved it, and, of course, stuck my hand back in the spongy mess for an inspection. The water was cool to the touch. I sniffed my hand and found no noticeable smell. I wiped my hands dry, got my food situated on the passenger seat (seat warmer set on high, of course) and headed home. That night, I told Road Test Editor and fleet manager Zac Palmer about what I found. The next day, there was still no smell, but the water was still pooled, and the Forester got an appointment at the dealership (Dunning Subaru, where I used to take my '04 WRX — good people). I dropped it off Monday morning, and it spent a full week at the dealership. First, a part had to be ordered (something about a missing grommet; we'd learn more later). Second, the car wasnÂ’t ready until just before closing time on Thursday, and I didnÂ’t have time to pick it up before they closed for the weekend (temporary coronavirus hours) at 3:45 p.m.  “Subaru service told us that it tried to soak up and remove as much of the water as possible,” Zac relayed from Dunning, “but cleaning up the mess isnÂ’t something the service department usually does. Instead, it normally gets sent to a detailing shop that is now closed due to the coronavirus. The dealer apologized over the phone for the incomplete job, and warned us that the carpeting could still feel damp and possibly smell when we pick it up.

1992 Subaru Libero | eBay Find of the Day

The annals of history are filled with some pretty strange vans. Here in the U.S., we've seen such oddities as the Stout Scarab and, more recently, the mid-engine, supercharged, all-wheel-drive Toyota Previa. In other parts of the world, things have gotten even more interesting. Take this Subaru Libero for instance. A 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine means it isn't a Kei car, despite the van's diminutive dimensions. That engine is mounted at the rear, and it sends 73 horsepower to all four wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. This particular Libero is far from perfect, but it shows just 14,000 miles on the odometer and you're not likely to see many others like it here in the States. The high roof with its trio of glass panels keep things light and airy inside, and its massive rear hatch makes all that space inside extremely accessible. Sure, it's not a camper, which means its owner won't be living that hashtag-vanlife. But it offers a lot of space for its size, so it might be the perfect promotional vehicle for a local delivery business or the like. At the very least, this little Subaru Libero would definitely strike up lots of interesting conversation at your local Saturday-morning hangout, and that's what's really important, right? It's currently for sale on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $9,900 and located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Editors' Picks May 2022 | Nissan Z, Subaru WRX and Mazda's latest

This month of Editors' Picks sees us recognize a strong pair of Japanese cars designed for the driving enthusiast. Both having just been totally redesigned, we found their latest versions to be even more satisfying than the last. In addition to the Nissan Z and Subaru WRX getting the nod, Mazda gets similar recognition for its new crossover. The CX-5 is still highly recommended, but we prefer the CX-50 over it at this point. In case you missed our previous Editors' Picks posts, here’s a quick refresher on whatÂ’s going on here. We rate all the new cars we drive with a 1-10 score. Cars that are exemplary in their respective segments get EditorsÂ’ Pick status. Those are the ones weÂ’d recommend to our friends, family and anybody whoÂ’s curious and asks the question. The list that youÂ’ll find below consists of every car we rated in May that earned an EditorsÂ’ Pick. 2023 Nissan Z Quick take: Tons of power, excellent handling, a gorgeous design and a supremely affordable price make the Nissan Z a killer sports car proposition. Score: 8.0 What it competes with: Toyota GR Supra, Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro Pros: Powerful twin-turbo V6, excellent handling, pretty design, agreeable pricing Cons: Cramped interior, automatic option is subpar, base trim is sparsely equipped From the editors Road Test Editor Zac Palmer — "I fell for the Z quickly. A new sports car with a dynamite engine, solid manual transmission, very good handling and stunning looks is an instant winner today. We're living in a golden age of Japanese sports cars/sport compacts, and the Z is one of the best options of them all. It should make everyone looking to buy a Toyota GR Supra take pause to consider the Nissan." Associate Editor Byron Hurd — "I was a believer in the Z even when others weren't, so I'm happy that Nissan left most of the formula well enough alone. The new engine makes the Z feel punchier and more alive without giving up all of the high-revving character that made the 3.7-liter V6 an outlier in a space now overrun with turbocharged four-cylinders. Just stick to the manual." In-depth analysis: 2023 Nissan Z First Drive Review: The Z is back again!   2022 Subaru WRX Quick take: The WRX gets big upgrades where it counts, making it better to drive than before. We're not fully sold on the styling, but it's tough to beat if AWD performance is king.