[rasterman]

Consider a block heater and winter wipers. Subaru already did everything else for you. These are great cold weather cars.

Some folks like remote starters, but they can punch a big hole in your MPG averages in trade for the convenience. A block heater is much cheaper to operate for the same net benefit.

 

[rasterman]

Make sure you have factory undercoating and it is will in tact, there are no holes, etc. The factory undercoating is still holding up pretty well on my '04, but I still get it oil coated ever year. Yes, OIL coated. Oil is the water's natural enemy and will prevent the water from accumulating with the salt and causing rust. Oil coating is still very big in Canada but not so much in the US for environmental concerns. Having owned some rusty cars in my day, I will never drive a car in the winter again that hasn't been oil coated, even if it is relatively new. Some might say it is overkill, I say an ounce of prevention now goes a long way to avoiding major headaches down the road, especially if you plan on keeping this car for 8-10 years or more.

I would suggest picking up some silicone grease and wiping around the door seals with it. This will help the doors resist the urge to freeze shut.

RainX orange deicer washer fluid is amazing. I suggest you stock up.

AVOID RainX Latitude Wiper Blades. Exorbitantly overpriced garbage. I've had good luck in the past with Anco Contour wiper blades, but YMMV.

I agree with the oil coating for salty spots. On the other hand if it's just plain cold, salt won't do much and they won't use it. To the OP- look up average winter temps. If it's 15°F or less, they're not gonna mess with salt.

Good call on the silicone- though I have not found it necessary on newer cars, because the silicone mold release compound from the factory is still there. After 2-3 years it'll need another wipe of it for sure.

I haven't seen that orange washer for anything close to a reasonable price. I feel bad enough paying $1.25/gal for the no-name blue stuff. Much more than that and I wind up making my own.

 

[rasterman]

It's not (often) that cold in NJ. Not that it needs to be, the place is simply beyond help in so many other ways...

I have to drive across NJ twice tomorrow. Hopefully they'll build a bridge from the PA state line to the CT state line within my lifetime...