I'm posting this on Jan. 2016. They didn't make it easy, but here's my experience. Try as I may, changing the filter from the top of the engine is not possible. Maybe I'm wrong, but there just isn't enough clearance to extract from the top. So, under the car we go.
Here is my best route so far:
It can be a mess if you don't use some oil absorbent towels tucked under the filter. Even then, you have to make a valley in them to direct the spillage past the structures below the filter.
I hope my photos will upload so you can see the path for removing the filter body. If not, here is a text description:
Just below the filter location, there is a U turn, steel tube by the steering rack cylinder. If you push that tube toward the rear, the filter will pass down by it for removal.
The filter can also be passed down and out toward the front, but that is much more of a pain to clear all the things in the way because there is little room for both hand and filter to pass.
I only have 57K miles on my '03, today's date Jan. '17 (little ol' lady previous owner) and other than defective rear axles replaced, I'm very pleased with it. I've put 35K on her so far.
Two photos a view from below engine.
One photo is a view from top of engine.