Subaru XT Turbo Forester

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Comments

  • johncjohnc Member Posts: 7
    Yes we are running stock tyres. Most things are bigger down under but I have been happy to go with the factory fitted option. My gut feel from having driven the xt is that it should be pretty impressive off road given our experience with the GT. For some reason dealers don't like you taking one for a blast up the beach so I haven't been able to find out.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    The short review on the GC is that it feels as heavy as it looks. It's like a Buick ride compared to my dw's sporty MPV.

    I rented an '04 Grand Caravan in Indianapolis for 3+ days two weeks ago. I thought it was terrific - very quiet and refined (in sharp contrast to my F-XT), rattle-free (again unlike the XT), smooth, well-behaved transmission, solid, well-controlled ride, fine visibility, and its 3.8 V-6 had noticeably more power than our 3.3-liter '91 Grand Caravan. If I were in the market for a van, the GC would be a very solid contender.

    Obviously it had nowhere near the XT's power and couldn't match the feeling of lightweight nimbleness. Still, the Grand Caravan I drove was an excellent vehicle for a different set of priorities.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Nary a rattle here. Since you got one of the first XTs off the boat maybe your's was a beta model ;-)

    -Frank P
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    My WRX wagon was quieter than the XT. Guess those light truck tires and huge mirrors don't help.

    -Dennis
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Tire noise is definitely a factor, although it's not the speed-proportional howl that winter tires often create. It's more of an all-spectrum white noise that simply gets louder with rising speed. I also can't escape the conclusion that a lot of the din is coming from the driveline. It would be interesting to take a reading on a decibel meter in an XT and then in the '05 Legacy GT at the same speed and on the same road surface to see whether and how much better the latter is.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They beta tested JB's and all the improvements went into Frank's. ;-)

    AWD and a more upright windshield also contribute to the higher noise level, no doubt.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I think that my new XT is quieter than my '00 Outback with quieter touring tires on it than OEM. It's comfy as well, with additional 2nd row space, as my child car seats went in no problem and even allow me to move the driver seat back more.

    -Brian
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I went from a Cherokee to an 01 Forester and then an 04 Forester. The 01 was of course far quieter than the Cherokee and the 04 is noticeably quieter than the 01. Still, there are plenty of quieter vehicles on the road. Of course I've driven other vehicles where you literally had to shout to be heard over the engine, drivetrain and road noises :-)

    -Frank P
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    I know the 20mm rear sway bar has been mentioned here before... does anyone know if that's an official authorized SOA addition?

    I was getting ready to go looking online for one last night, and decided to e-mail SOA regarding its installation and after-effects on the warranty - i.e. would it be covered if I did it, or would I be better off paying the dealer to mis-install it so I could fix it afterwards. :<). Just kidding.

    SOA got back to me this morning and said they are aware of no authorized Subaru part that is considered an upgrade for the rear sway bar on the XT. Can anyone point me to something that will help me run it past them again with more information. I would like a written blessing from them before I proceed.

    TIA

    Larry
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I doubt you'll get a written blessing from SOA but I'm curious to learn why you feel you need one since I can't think of how a sway bar could have any effect on the warranty.

    -Frank P
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    Frank - I'll see if I can cut and paste the exact wording when I get home tonight. I don't really care if the sway bar's warrantied, other than by the sway bar mfg. What I would care about is if it would give SOA too much warranty wiggle room if I ran into suspension problems down the road (er... no pun intended). That seemed to be the SOA reply, but I need to double check.

    Larry
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    It probably means there is no accepted suspension upgrade for the XT. THere are some for the WRX in Canada. The only thing that may help is if you specify you want to put the STi rear sway bar on.
    You'll never get them to commit in advance to honouring the warranty post mod if it's not "official". It will end up being a "case by case" basis.
    Still, if your dealer does the install, I would expect it to hold you in good stead if a problem arises, since they are typically the first to go to bat for you to request warranty service. Keep in mind that most warranty work is done simply on the word of your dealer.
    Still, if you want to guarantee your warranty stays intact, keep the stock car intact.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    My point Is that I'm having a difficult time envisioning how the sway bar could have ANY effect on the rest of the suspension system. Coils, shocks, springs, those things maybe but all the sway bar does is provide a little more torsional rigidity. Therefore to me it's a non-issue as far as your vehicle warranty is concerned.

    -Frank P
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    I agree, it "should" be a non-issue. Let's see: "Well sir, the dynamics of the different sway bar altered the handling of the car such that an unnatural load was placed on (pick one - bearings, struts, transmission support, windshield washers, etc), therefore we're not responsible for the collateral premature failure". Then I'm in the middle of a mess I'd rather not be in. I'm not saying the dealer would, but I am saying they could. I'd rather have it blessed up front, or just leave it the way it is.

    As it was, when I straightened out my own steering column (remember that one?) I went down and offered them the choice of ripping out the entire dash and fixing it with a new beam, or blessing my non-factory authorized repair. Believe me I keep that piece of paper with the service manager's signature validating my work carefully filed away.

    Larry
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    FWIW, I put touring tires on my 1998 Forester, took off the all terrain tires, and it was *substantially* quieter, in fact that was the biggest change.

    Larry: save the stock bar and switch back if you ever have a claim. The rear bar is a cinch - 4 bolts, takes just minutes.

    -juice
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Larry: save the stock bar and switch back if you ever have a claim. The rear bar is a cinch - 4 bolts, takes just minutes.

    No one will notice a slightly larger bar that looks stock. Just be smart and don't got one of those bright blue or red ones (Perrin?Cobb? etc) Otherwise, every mechanic in the shop will know you're the XT with the big sway bar just from your regular maintenance visits.

    Nicholas
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    If you are so worried about your warranty, then you should not be modifying your car IMHO. That's the risk you take when you start to mod your car. Chances are it won't effect your warranty but as Juice said, keep the stocker in case of an issue.

    -mike
  • bratislav3162bratislav3162 Member Posts: 9
    I've taken my XT to Fraser Island last year (with less than 10K on the
    odometer). And I took the hard route (Moon Point). I have to admit I was a bit scared when I saw the "road" there I didn't quite know what I was getting into :-) We were by far the smallest 4WD on the ferry, I felt I could drive under one of the ex army 4WD buses there !
    But XT just shrugged it off and never let down. To all fairness, I did
    get bogged down on a last day. On the way out of Dilli Village I encounter an uphill section that caught me off guard (didn't have enough momentum), so I had to reverse slowly straight into a patch of very deep soft sand. I had to dig it out, revese a bit further to some harder ground, and with a good run no problem, Subie just flew over that crest.
    Mind you, I don't think I did get all the sand out of it yet :-)

    There are places I've driven in a Land Cruiser where I wouldn't even dream of taking the XT, but if there are no really big rocks to be climbed, it will go surprisingly well. Put it this way - I don't think any compact 4WD will do better off road (and most will do much worse).
    And back on the bitumen there's absolutely none that will be as much fun. It trully has no peers in its class.
  • miamixtmiamixt Member Posts: 600
    the Owner of the Subaru Dealer who sold me my XT said there will always be Rattles in a small SUV like the Forester. Funny thing though, my Honda CRV had none? The good news, my new Subaru Dealer just went out of Business after less than a Year, the bad news, I have lost a Coin from the Coin Holder, and now I have another new Rattle!
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Put it this way - I don't think any compact 4WD will do better off road (and most will do much worse). And back on the bitumen there's absolutely none that will be as much fun. It trully has no peers in its class.

    Well put!

    -Frank P
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I see you're from Oz. Do you have an earlier 2.0XT, or the newer 2.5XT?

    Bob
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Bob, I didn't think they ever called the 2.0 an XT.

    -Dennis
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    So I should get to replace Bob at the Vegas drive!! :disco: :-)

    -Dennis
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    There is a 2.0XT sold overseas. I think you're right, however, in terms of it being sold in Australia. Now that I think about it, I believe it was called either the Forester turbo, or Forester GT for the earlier Oz turbo.

    Any Oz-folks care to clarify?

    Bob
  • dnestrdnestr Member Posts: 188
    An earlier Forester with 2,0's turbo engine was called S, at least in Europe. Now there are X (non turbo) and XT models. Just my $0.02 worth.
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    At 6200 miles my FXT AT w/ PP is rattle free and not very loud at freeway speeds. It isn't as quiet as our MDX but it is hardly intrusive.

    OT
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    The particular automatic XT I test-drove was very perceptibly quieter inside than my 5-speed wound up being.
  • johncjohnc Member Posts: 7
    We have taken the GT to Straddie a few times and to Moreton last year. The only problem we ever had was when the factory fitted plastic sump guard came loose and turned into a plower. A you beaut alloy one was fitted the next week and since then it has been fine. Is your xt auto or manaul?
  • johncjohnc Member Posts: 7
    We have the turbo 2.0 which was sold in Australia up until about 2002 as a "GT". The GT has been great but needs replacing.
  • bratislav3162bratislav3162 Member Posts: 9
    Hi Bob,

    XT in Oz in 2.5 L. 2.0 was called GT.
    I almost bought the base model (2.5 non-turbo, called X), when the news about XT spread. I bought form the first lot ever to get to Melbourne, after only one test drive !

    Bratislav
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    BTW, always glad to see folks from overseas here on Edmunds.

    Bob
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Bob (the other Bob) is always glad to see y'all at the chats too - tonight's Subaru chat starts in ~30 minutes. Join in; link's on the left.

    Steve, Host
  • edunnettedunnett Member Posts: 553
    I'm reading the posts on noise and can't tell if others are having the same annoyance as me. I am bothered by what is clearly the side view mirrors and their wind resistence. When I flip them in the noise is quieter and changes pitch. My test drive vehicle did not display the same noise, but my purchase vehicle clearly is noisy in this respect. Ugh. Anyone have fixes/suggestions? I do try the 'turn the radio way up' trick and that does fix it, but sometimes I want to hear the road. :-)
    Elissa
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    I haven't noticed any noise from the mirrors, and I've had the car up to about 90. Then again, the Forester is just generally a noisy car, maybe I'm not noticing the mirrors due to the general cacophony in the cabin at highway speeds.
  • miamixtmiamixt Member Posts: 600
    I hit 100MPH on my trip to Tampa, and no wonder the Speedometer goes to 160. Sam, your Post is absolutely true, same with Jack about XT Noise. I had filled the Coin Holder up to the Brim with Coins ( the only way they wont Rattle) and thought I had lost a Coin in the Dash, it wound up being in the XT's Side Pocket. Another major source of my XT Rattle is that enormous Sun Roof, the flap that flips down rattles all the time and vibrates with Road Noise. My Subaru Mechanic will probably replace it, there have been similar Service Bullitens with other Subaru Models. And the Storage area on the top part of the Dash can get quite bothersome, just bought some Rubber protectors for the Doors, and put two on the Storage bottom, instantly working!
  • bratislav3162bratislav3162 Member Posts: 9
    Yup, I've had the same problem, in fact I've lost all the loose plastic bits underneath! They were cheap to replace, but I'm seriously considering a metal plate from SubaXtreme. Where did you get yours from ?
    My XT is manual. I'm suffering sometimes as I'm now always a designated non-booze driver when we visit friends in the XT (my wife doesn't like manual), but so be it.
    I've never driven an auto XT, I've been reading raving reviews from other people about it so maybe it's better I didn't :-)
    Just kidding, after almost 10 years day in - day out in an auto Commodore, I'm not even contemplating looking back.
    Although, if someone gave me a paddle changer together with a Modena 360 or 911 Turbo ...
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    If it really bugs you, replace your mirrors. The mirrors from the 99 Outback are probably tiniest mirrors that Subaru has ever used outside of Japan. They don't fold though.

    -Dennis
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    I've never before paid $30 to fill a gas tank, but that's what the XT just took - and that was for less than 13 gallons of 89-octane midgrade at 2.359. Ouch.

    I'm headed to Sweden Tuesday for a week. I expect you guys to have forced these fuel prices down by the time I get back!
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I heard on the news where somebody spent $67 to fill the tank of his SUV.

    -Frank P
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    ...I have never owned and will never own an SUV.
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    Did you hear about the new Lincoln Intimidator XXL? It can tow 30,000 lbs, has four rows of seats, and comes with an electric Zero Emissions golf cart that can be stored behind the 4th seat. The golf cart is easily converted to a tug-n-tow-cart to help maneuver the Intimidator in and out of garages and parking spots.

    Comes with a free tank of gas.

    :-)
  • zmanzman Member Posts: 200
    My 10-year old Volvo 850 wagon (5cyl, 5sp) is beginning to look better and better with its low insurance rates and high gas mileage (30).

    Zman
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    my insurance went up $24 for a 6 month premium switching to the XT. $880 for the entire year.

    First tank yielded 21.3mpg with 50% city, 50% highway driving.

    -Brian
  • miamixtmiamixt Member Posts: 600
    I pay $800 every 6 Months, Miami has the second highest Rates in the Country, and I am saving quite a bit over other Companies, and with a Spotless record. I will say State Farm has save me Thousands of Dollars so far, although each new Statement comes with more Exclusions, like if a Terrorist Blows up the XT, it's not covered anymore, go figure? Just had my Black XT Waxed today, all I can say is MY GOD! And it Rained in Miami this morning, does so every Morning for about 5 Months!
  • atlgaxtatlgaxt Member Posts: 501
    I had a chance to play a little bit in the sand. With the turbo and AT I did not miss having a low range. Spinning all four tires and drifting is quite a blast.

    Disclaimer: Ok, so it was an amateur driver, but it was on a closed course. Having my wife as a passenger also keeps me from getting too wacky.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Subaru Crew chat starts in about 2 hours.

    Link's on the left. Come observe, or even better, join in!

    Steve, Host
  • miamixtmiamixt Member Posts: 600
    just checking in. Not too much activity here, Jack should be back soon. Wonder how StuHall is doing with the replacement XT, and SamIam as you know is currently busy, adding more Modifications to the XT's Auto Climate System (aka HAL) we salute you Sam!
  • deadeye5deadeye5 Member Posts: 93
    Hi ALL Just a brief note on my trip from Fla. to Canada. XT ran like a top (now about 6200 miles on it) Got about 23.2 for five tanks of
    gas. Was running 70-73 MPH when able.

                         Enjoy, Deadeye
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