Subaru XT Turbo Forester

p0926

Olga- Ahh!!! What you're facing is the timeless need vs want debate. Sure the X is all you really need but you want the rush of power that the XT provides! It basically boils down to whether you're the practical type or more closely adhere to the "live for the moment" philosophy. As for the prices, an XT for only $1,800 more than an X sounds like a darn good deal but I would be concerned that it had been abused by rental drivers. If you get it I'd certainly spring for an extended warranty (one of the few instances where I think it makes financial sense).

-Frank

milashka

LOL, when I re-read my post, I noticed that I inadvertantly put want with the XT features and need with the X features )
The XT might have been sold already, as I don't see it listed in the dealer inventory anymore. that would be a load off my back.

How about those aftermarket additions. Got any ideas?
-Olga

once_for_all

not intending to preach, but it does sound like your family and house priorities should be above the want of an XT. No sense in enjoying the rush of an XT while family creeps into debt.

John

p0926

John- That's sage advice. On the flip side... if you can afford an XT and feel that you've "settled" for an X then you won't be happy and will end up trading it in a couple of years (which is also a bad financial decision).

-Frank

edunnett

As someone who had the '01 S (comparable to an '04 XS) and now has the XT, I think there's much to be said for the base models. Sure, in a back-to-back test drive you feel the difference, but over the miles and months, it dissipates. I'd love to be getting 26 MPG instead of 22. I used to feel like I was an environmentally conscientious SUV owner - no more. :-( Sure it's fun to accelerate, but there's always traffic in my way - damn those other drivers!
elissa

jmbird01

Guys,

I like to thank all who have helped with my questions over the passed 2 weeks.
I took the plunge and purchased a black FXT premium w/manual tranny with almost all the goodies(splash guards, rear spoiler; tinting I had done outside the dealer as suggested here - great savings). The car hmm SUV rocks. This thing can move but my first tank of gas moved too. I think I actually saw the gage go down. Worth it though - what a rush. I still need to get used to stick shift - it has been 10 years since I drove one with any consistancy. Stalled twice at a light - always from neutral to 1st. Have to pay attention to the kick in the new clutch.
One thing I noticed while I am trying to be good on gas mileage with the 2nd tank is RPMs at 65mph is ~2700 in 5th gear. Is anybody getting different? Feels like I should shift to 6th (of course there is no 6th gear) to lower it to 23-2400 like my wifes chevy cavelier. That has got to eat at the gas.

Thanks,

Jim

jmbird01

I have been reading a number of different forums and they mentioned that there is some tire slippage. I haven't noticed it but then I am new to the world of Subaru. Is the slippage on wet pavement or that they just don't hold dry pavement on sharper turns? or both? Wouldn't this go against what the Forester was built for? What's AWD when your wheels with the power can't hold the road and slip? Has anybody experienced this?

Thanks,

Jim

p0926

Congrats on your new FXT! Yes the FXT does rev high and it'll take a while to get over the natural tendancy to want to shift again (to a 6th gear). Certainly a taller 5th or adding a 6th gear would help with the mpg but it's really not all that bad (I've gotten 27 on the hwy) considering the power that's available. And yes I can see where someone who is rusty working a clutch would require some time to get use to the FXT's. As to tire slippage... are you talking about spinning or sliding? I've never gotten mine to spin from too much torque but yes it's fairly easy to lose traction in a sharp turn. That's mainly because the stock Geos are all-terrain, all-weather compromise tires. These tires really aren't all that bad but they're not sports car tires by any stretch. If you want rubber that sticks then get a set of 17" high performance summer tires (and a beefier rear anti-sway bar).

What's AWD when your wheels with the power can't hold the road and slip?

Well AWD by itself isn't going to turn you into a race car driver and if you're driving style is such that you need it in such circumstances then you're probably better off with a true perfromance car like the WRX STi ;-)

-Frank

jmbird01

Frank,

Thanks for the quick reply.

By tire slippage, I didn't mean from to much torque or at least I don't think the comments were about that. I thought they were referring to handleing on slippery or dry pavement while cornering or emergency handleing.

It is really fun learning to drive stick again.

By the way does it void the manufacturers warranty if you use a Cobb AccessPort?

Thanks,

Jim

10years

Olga, Owning your own home is almost always your first best option. The house by itself will be a major financial burden and hassle. The car should be a distant 2nd priority.

dsjeepti

Thanks to all for your feedback. I resisted temptation (for now) and let that "black beauty" go. I couldn't help though on my way home from work to pass by the Auto mall to see it back on the high storage rack, ready for transport. I do believe there was some truth to salesman as the other auction preped cars were higher priced pointed, late model vehicles, many which would go above the $20,000 point.

By the way, if I purchased in N.H. wouldn't I have to pay sales tax when I registered it in NY?

Keeping the dream alive,
Dan

p0926

What's AWD when your wheels with the power can't hold the road and slip

Almost forgot, you obviously haven't yet experienced the joy of a 4-wheel drift while powering through a turn. Now that's what AWD is all about!

-Frank

boomerbubba

By the way, if I purchased in N.H. wouldn't I have to pay sales tax when I registered it in NY?

Typically, yes. But you wouldn't pay sales tax in NH on a car that was being titled in NY.

parigi

Olga and Dan: For what it's worth, I've found it's important to get what you want on big purchases. We bought a house and had to sink thousands into it. Money was tight. We had less free time, as we had a new set of chores -- mowing the lawn, fixing bathrooms. And we have a son, who, while he's the greatest, requires lots of our time. So getting the XT doesn't make sense, right? Wrong, I thought. As your own private time slips away, it's important to hold onto -- or even regain -- some things. For me, getting the XT (black, '04, manual) was akin to riding motorcycles when I was younger, only less dangerous yet more practical. At the end of the day, an XT only costs about $2,000 more, and gas in the U.S. is cheaper today than it was 30 years ago when adjusting for inflation. I've never said that any decision has been a no-brainer, but this one was. Anyway ... --Parigi

tim3

I think it always comes down to what is important to you. Earlier this summer we traded in on our beloved Outback Sport on an X. The Impreza was a blast to drive but too small for our little family. The XT was a temptation. But the XT would have cost more to buy, insure, keep gassed up, and perhaps in maintence. We wanted a good, solid, safe car that worked for the way we live -- and nothing more. After much research the X kept coming up as the best solution. And we love it. It's the first car I've purchased in a long, long time that I that can confidently say will fit our needs for years to come. Everyone is different, of course. And I can point to plenty of purchases I've made where I would have been better served in the long run to pony up the extra bucks. But for us, when it comes to cars anyway, we would rather spend the extra money an XT would have cost over the years on other passions -- even if it's just working a little less and feeling a little less pressure financially. You're asking a question that ultimately no one can answer but you.

Tim

ateixeira

Congrats Jim.

Being happy with an XT will cost you less than being unhappy with an XS model that you later trade-in on an XT.

)

-juice

jmbird01

What's 4-wheel drift? Does it make powering through turns dangerous?

-Jim

p0926

Here's Enzo Ferrari's description:

"At the first bend, I had the clear sensation that Tazio had taken it badly and that we would end up in the ditch; I felt myself stiffen as I waited for the crunch. Instead, we found ourselves on the next straight with the car in a perfect position. I looked at him, his rugged face was calm, just as it always was, and certainly not the face of someone who had just escaped a hair-raising spin. I had the same sensation at the second bend. By the fourth or fifth bend I began to understand; in the meantime, I had noticed that through the entire bend Tazio did not lift his foot from the accelerator, and that, in fact, it was flat on the floor. As bend followed bend, I discovered his secret. Nuvolari entered the bend somewhat earlier than my driver's instinct would have told me to. But he went into the bend in an unusual way: with one movement he aimed the nose of the car at the inside edge, just where the curve itself started. His foot was flat down, and he had obviously changed down to the right gear before going through this fearsome rigmarole. In this way he put the car into a four-wheel drift, making the most of the thrust of the centrifugal force and keeping it on the road with the traction of the driving wheels. Throughout the bend the car shaved the inside edge, and when the bend turned into the straight the car was in the normal position for accelerating down it, with no need for any corrections."

-Frank

paisan

4-wheel drifting. I know of no one who needs to use it ever, except a few people who do rally races, on non-street cars....

Otherwise I like to have no wheel squeel at all.

-mike

miamixt

I am the only XT owner who can proudly say I lost control of my XT making a left turn smoking all 4 Wheels(darn Turbo, I changed my mind...). Drive Safely©

volkov

It's like doing doughnuts in that first snow fall. Nobody needs to do it, but gee it's still "stupid-grin" fun. I often 4 wheel drift, but it's only for kicks and only on gravel. I did do it once on pavement many years ago, it wasn't intentional and I can't say it was a positive experience at the time.

Volkov

ateixeira

If you're going a little too fast around a turn and the tail comes out, Subie's AWD shifts power to the front axle and pulls you out of the skid. If you add more power the front wheels will also spin.

That can happen unintentionally, but it's fun whether it's intentional or not.

-juice

edunnett

does squeeling two of the tires around a sharp turn uphill driving quickly count???
e

bsumpter

Got the new rear diff installed today (under warranty, at 34,000 miles) - wow, what a difference in interior noise! Guess I'd gotten used to it as it gradually got louder, didn't really notice it until a couple of weeks ago.

Hopefully it doesn't happen again in another 30k or so...

ateixeira

Hopefully not ever. We've only seen a couple of those, and I've been following these threads since 1999. Not likely.

-juice

subewannabe

Jim, congrats on your new XT!
There was a lot of talk when the XT came out last year about the high-revving at highway speeds, but it's more from watching your tach than instinctive reactions via your seat or ears. If you are used to a domestic vehicle running at 1800 rpm on the interstate, the XT tach makes you nervous at first, but there is no real increase in drive train vibration or engine noise and fuel consumption is linear...the bigger problem at highway speeds is the somewht boxy shape of the FXT.
   AFTER you get through your 1000 break-in miles,you will might find yourself on a deserted, straight road getting the tach close to redline as you upshift your way to the legal speed limit.....even then the car is amazingly free of drivetrain vibration and handling is predictable.

Mark

parigi

Hi, all. Don't know if anyone's seen Automobile's October issue with the cover story `The 100 Coolest Cars.' The only Subaru, the WRX P1, is at No. 97. There are lots of tough-guy cars like the Plymouth Barracuda and svelte motorcars such as the Jaguar XKSS. Perhaps the XT has a certain dork factor that disqualifies it. Any type of XT STi should certainly be in the running. Then again, I'm biased. --Parigi

p0926

Sorry Mark but I gotta disagree. The XT does indeed rev high at highway speeds. I very rarely look at the tach but determine my shift points by ear. When I first got my XT I found myself repeatedly trying to shift to a higher gear when I was already in 5th. And this has nothing to do with drivetrain vibration which I agree is commendably absent. What I'd like to see is for Subaru to add a 6th gear that would drop the revs at 70 mph from 3000 down to 2500. That should also give a boost to the hwy mpg which would make a number of people happy.

-Frank

once_for_all

Frank, I agree that an RPM decrease -should- improve mpg but the fact remains that the auto tranny has a decreased RPM and an TC lockup but does not see the mpg increase.

It is peculiar, if 3,000 rpms is the most efficient rpm then I would have thought Subaru would have set their automatics to do that (noise issues aside).

John

edunnett

In my automatic F-XT my RPM are over 3000 on the highway as is my manual '86 Civic. Both get about the same RPM for a given speed. Probably just under 3000 for 55 MPH and around 3300 for 70 MPH and maybe 3500 for 80 MPH (I'm going by memory here). I don't think it's that unusual.

As for MPG ... I find it's not so much how high the RPM are but how efficient the car is engineered at those RPM. I know folks will disagree, I probably didn't say that right. What I mean by that is that the Civic gets 36 MPG on the same commute doing speeds of up to 80 on the highway. The F-XT gets 21 MPG on the same commute with speeds up to 80 also. Both generate around the same RPM for a given speed. So discussing RPM alone as a factor in MPG is pretty useless from my standpoint. Like John mentions, the F-XT has been engineered to most efficient around 3000 RPM - hence the better highway than city mileage - even if you're loping in the city (I can easily drive my F-XT at no higher than 2000 RPM around town and I"m sure I'd get [non-permissible content removed] mileage)
*shrug*
Elissa

jmbird01

Thanks.

I finished my second tank of gas the other day(first was test driving mode)
and I averaged 23.84MPG with a combination of city and highway
driving. Not too bad I think. I tried to shift between 3-4K RPM
and it worked out nicely. I imagine as I get better with stick shift the gas mileage will be even higher(hopefully). It hasn't
been a week for me and I have 600 miles on it.
I think I'll rest her a bit - til the weekend.

I heard in very high traffic with a lot of stop and not much go - going straight to second gear from standstill was ok. Is this ok to do? or will it hurt the transmission?

Thanks,

Jim

p0926

going straight to second gear from standstill

Jim- That might be a bit much to ask from the transmission. Pretty much if you're moving at all then you can safely accelerate from 2nd but you're likely to lug the engine if you try to start out in 2nd from a complete standstill.

-Frank

miamixt

New Reality TV Show Tragedy
ROCKPORT, WASHINGTON — A 38-year-old Australian man has been killed in Northwestern Washington State while participating in a 400-mile long adventure race for reality television.
Nigel Aylott, a member of team "AROC" died from injuries he sustained Tuesday when a huge bolder came crashing down on him, after being apparently loosened by another team member.

Aylott was part of a four-person team participating in the "Subaru Primal Quest" – a 400 mile long endurance race being filmed for air on the CBS Television Network next January.

Authorities say the man was not wearing a helmet when the boulder struck him.

In addition to Aylott, two other people were also injured by the 300-pound boulder. Both were Americans from the team "Montrail".

Witnesses say the boulder was apparently dislodged during a rope descent on a rocky slope below Illabot Peak in Skagit County near Rockport, Washington.

Gordon Wright the race organizer says, "Adventure racing is new sport that is growing fast. This is nothing we wish on anyone. He was tremendous athlete and great person."

The hiking, biking and kayaking race began Sunday and it was to last about ten-days and the prize for the 58 four-person teams is $100,000.

At the time of the accident, the two teams involved were leading the competition.

jmbird01

Thanks.

I finished my second tank of gas the other day(first was test driving mode)
and I averaged 23.84MPG with a combination of city and highway
driving. Not too bad I think. I tried to shift between 3-4K RPM
and it worked out nicely. I imagine as I get better with stick shift the gas mileage will be even higher(hopefully). It hasn't
been a week for me and I have 600 miles on it.
I think I'll rest her a bit - til the weekend.

I heard in very high traffic with a lot of stop and not much go - going straight to second gear from standstill was ok. Is this ok to do? or will it hurt the transmission?

Thanks,

Jim

bsumpter

Starting in second isn't a great idea IMO - the transmission won't care, but the clutch will. You'll be slipping it a lot...

My 38 mile commute includes about 6-8 miles of stop & go, 1st & 2nd gear. Makes me wish for an automatic transmission at times!

Donluce

I have fallen in love with a Red XT Forester! My problem is, I have a need to pull a sailboat and trailer that weighs around 3,000lbs. The trailer hitch I will use is rated at 3,500, and I will be using a load distrubing system. I know the maxium listed towing weight is 2,400, but I have read in other countries the maxium is over 3,000.Has anyone had experience pulling a trailer in this weight range? I am sure the engine has enough power. Thanks, Don Luce

ugly2

It can probably handle the 3000lbs. with a little struggle. I'm towing around 2200 and it does a pretty good job. The number you really have to be concerened with is your tounge weight. That's of course what will determine how well it all handles together. My guess is it will be something just over 300lbs. Subaru's limit is 200. I'm around 250 and it handles well up to at least 80. Then there are the warranty issues. Hope I've been of some help.

John

rsholland

The US-spec Forester XT can tow 2400 if the trailer has brakes, 1000 if it has no brakes. Check the owners manual for details (tongue weight, etc.).

Bob

p0926

Well Bob gave the book answer but you already knew that ;-) I would say that certainly the FXT can tow 3000 lbs. The question is can it tow that much safely? Obviously Subaru's legal dept had their reservations hence the 1000/2400 limit but as you pointed out, in less litigious societies, the FXT is rated to tow 3000 lbs. I think the biggest concern would be stopping since your trailer will weigh about as much as the FXT and without trailer brakes that much weight will be difficult to control. If you're only planning on towing a few miles thru town to the local boat ramp then you should be okay but I'd be leery about heading out on the hwy with that much of a load.

-Frank

rsholland

No doubt, in many other world markets it rated to tow to close to 4K.

The problem is if you tow over 2400, and something breaks or goes wrong, don't expect SOA to stand behind it with any warranty claims. Also, if you have an accident while towing, and it's your fault, you may(?) be more open to the possibility of a lawsuit, since you exceeded the manufacturer's recommendations.

Bob <fine-tuning Frank's response >

ateixeira

Having towed about 1500 lbs, the braking distances are the biggest concern I'd have as well. Accelerating is one thing - you will make it, and that's all that matters.

But braking? What if someone cuts you off and you have to stop short? I'd leave a lot of room up ahead. Even then you can't control other drivers' mistakes.

I think there are vehicles better suited to tow that kind of load. 3,000 lbs is nearly the weight of the Forester towing it, and you could end up with a tail-wagging-the-dog scenario.

I'd look for a heavier truck to pull it, maybe a Liberty or XTerra. It'll come with trade-offs, of course.

Even a Baja turbo is a lot heavier than a Forester XT, and might be better suited. It even has a longer wheelbase for more stability.

-juice

pitbull

Well, I FINALLY did it!
It took me a few weeks, but I read through this ENTIRE thread - All 5,200-and-some-odd posts!

Some great info here - Thanks in advance for everyone's contributions - I hope I can contribute here as well.

My story:

"Longtime "car-guy" and adrenaline junky seeks a compact car that can truly "do it all!"

FOUND!

I bought my '05 XT w/Premium Pkg (auto) about 5 weeks ago.
The lease on my previous car ('01 Leg GT Wgn / 5-sp) was up, and the wife decided it was time to get something with an auto-trans so she could drive now (I taught her to drive a manual trans, but she prefers the auto - I gotta say it is a stress-reliever in stop-and-go traffic!).
I also felt we should consider something that will sit her up a bit for a confident view of the surroundings, but also with better outward visibility.

We had put almost 60,000 miles on the previous Subbie with absolutely not a single problem, it never even blew a bulb!
Mobil-1 w/O.E. filter every 5k miles and add gas - so getting another Subaru was a no-brainer.
We looked at the Forester (for the first time ever), and realized that it suited our needs perfectly!

But, I had always felt that if I were to get a car with an auto, it would need at least 200hp, and/or be a V6...

The salesman (wisely) capitalized on this comment and quickly suggested the (say it with me...!) - TURBO!!
I hadn't realized the XT even existed - But it is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for us - 2 adults, 1 toddler, and a dog.
I call it a "STi for a family guy!"
This thing kinda reminds me of a hot-rodded Chevy Nomad - The sporty wagon with "more go than slow", and rugged good looks.
A bit more hp (300-350) and it will be the vehicular embodiment of a pitbull- Smallish, but muscular, and packing a big bite!

During my buying process, I actually was offered a sales job at the Subaru dealership and have been working selling these things now!

I love my XT, but I still feel that it needs a little sharpening up in several areas - I want a bit more feedback, but leaning towards quiet and "stealthy", but a bit more intake and exhaust sound when really getting on it.
Here's my list for now - Please feel to make suggestions:
(I have a limited budget, so I need max bang-for-the-buck, but I insist on quality)

Nokian WR tires - size TBD.
I previously used Nokian NRW's on my Leg GT with great experience, so sticking with Nokian was another no-brainer, but the NRW is no longer available, being replaced with the WR.
Anyone know if 225/60-16's will fit and work on the Forester - I know there is limited rear strut and front fender-well clearance.
If not, what about 215/65-16's?
STi rear sway bar to lessen the terminal understeer, especially upon initial turn-in.
F&R strut-tower braces - Anyone know if the rear bar fits under the O.E. cargo cover?
Anyone know of a front model? I have only seen rears advertised - I would prefer something that ties-in the firewall.
Steel brake lines (maybe also pads) for a firmer feel and better modulation.
Aluminum F&R under-chassis bash guards - I do a fair bit off-roading and like to challenge the cars abilities a bit. (*also hence the taller-than-stock tires, above)
Phillips Vision Plus bulbs, + equiv replacement for fog bulbs.
Good small driving lights that will fit in the grill opening (suggestions??)
3M front end protector.
Plastic headlight protectors (clear).
Tint all side/rear windows - Anyone know of anything with minimal darkening but max cooling (reflective?)
*I will also apply a reflective heat-resistant panal to the top of the sunroof shade.
Engine: (make suggestions - I want good bottom-end torque, better throttle response and quicker spool-up - "crispness"; a bit more intake/wastegate/turbo sound and light exhaust note when accelerating hard, otherwise quiet - I have the entire family in the car a LOT - frequent long road-trips.)
O.E. airbox, but with better-flowing tubing (suggestions?)
Maybe an STi muffler - Otherwise I'd like the exhaust to remain largely stock, except bits that improve power without adding noise or thrumming/harmonics in the cabin.
Boost controller (?)
Underdrive/aluminum pulleys (?)
COBB AccessPort (stage-1)

I'd also like to swap out my bright aluminum top rails for black - Any local takers?

Thanks, and looking forward to getting to know everyone here!

ateixeira

Congrats! And yes, it is a sporting ride for the family guy/enthusiast.

-juice

ozman62

Congrats on the car, and the job! I'm a big fan of the Nokian WR tires, I've had mine on my '98 F for 20+K km now. Very happy with them.
Owen

rsholland

Enjoy your ride, and stick around keep us posted. As you've probably noticed, this is a pretty neat place to hang out.

Bob

lucien2

Welcome, and welcome to FXT ownership. I hope I am not too late, but I'd like to give you some input regarding your earlier questions....

As enthusiastic as Frank is about driving his FXT hard, you yourself have no business worrying about trying out 4 wheel drifts, as you have zero performance driving training. Not a put down by any means, but it is clear that your approach to driving has not included any training beyond the initial Drivers Ed plus your own life experience.

Soooooo..... As for the traction issues you are concerned about, I concur that much of the criticism lies with the stock tires and their SUV design. Rather than spend money on new rims and such, I recommend switching to a high performance all-season tire. My personal recommendation is the Dunlop SP5000 in stock size, 215/60/16. It has plenty of grip, neutral handling attributes, and surprisingy good foul weather behavior. A tire much better suited to the *actual* mission of the FXT than those silly Geolandars. Bear in mind that the trade-off in tire performance is usually service life. Having said that, I think the SP5000 does well on that front too. While you should NOT expect it to go 70k, I personallt believe that the safety of its performance envelope is worth having to replace it every 40-50k, especially since it is not too expensive.

lucien2

Welcome aboard as well!

Where do I start?......it all comes down to the old adage: "Speed costs money. How fast fo you want to go?" I am not the most experienced FXT tuner out there, but I am the most experienced FXT tuner on the boards right this minute, so I'll give it a go! ;-D

Yes 225/60/16 will work. I run them right now on +50mm offset SSR Comps, so certainly they will work on your +48mm OEM rims. I have kept my OEM rims and Geolandars for the winter for now.

Do what you want on intake and exhaust, just bear in mind that only a full turbo-back is going to net much of a gain. And frankly, these cars are so stinking fast out of the box, I don't think it is wirth the headache or expense.

A rear strut tower brace will be a major incursion in your cargo room and no, it will not hide under your cargo cover cross-piece. Might be worth the sacrifice if you really want it though, I am pretty sure it would add some stiffness to the rear of the car. The STi 20mm upgrade is far more rewarding however.

As for other power mods, I really think you have 2 choices: leave it alone, or prepare to unload $1200 for a turbo back, another $700 for the AccessPort (which is still a little buggy), a couple hundred on intake, another couple hundred on proper gauges, plus the install costs/headaches. If you have the means, go right ahead. If those numbers look daunting (and menacingly warranty-voiding), let it be. It was hard not to go for all that, but I walked away from it all and haven't regretted it.

miamixt

How much did you pay for your new XT, and now that you sell them please tell us, how much did we over pay?

-Scott

bobshere

Try the tires and STi rear AntiSwaybar first; most bang for buck and quick 'n easy!

     You didn't happen to cut/paste from your perusal of all the posts, did you??? If perchance yes, please advise. Seems a pity to do all that reading without being left with some work product And it would be a valuable resource for others....

     I did the same thing with my Miata back before there were any "Browsers" on the Internet. There was a Miata Group BBS and I read it all before I bought the car. I didn't cut/paste but I took notes. You end up knowing more about the car doing this before you buy than most people who own one!

             Bob

ateixeira

Best bang for the buck might be some track time! Go to a FATT or try an autocross or two.

Seriously, we went to a BMW Ultimate Driving Event and took identical 330i models around a timed course. The students' times ranged from about 1:19 to 1:29. I was pretty proud of myself, since I came in just under 1:20.

Still, the instructors were lapping in the 1:17 range. Two full seconds faster than me in an identical car!

Give me 20 extra horsepower and I bet those instructors still beat me.

Fix the nut behind the wheel! )

-juice