Subaru XT Turbo Forester

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Comments

  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    2-3 feet?!?! With a new battery, it should be 10 times that distance! Sounds like you've got an antenna problem. I'd go back to the dealer and ask them to show you any other car on the lot with such a limited range remote. When they can't, maybe they'll agree to fix it. Please let us know what the final disposition is. In the meantime, holding the remote vertically under your chin when you use it is supposed to increase the range.

    -Frank P.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    <Also interesting, anyone notice the air intake on the XT? It has the same resonator tank system like on the WRX, but instead of using the WRX ram scoop, it's just pulling from directly under the hood! (It's a little dark, but you can sort of see it here: http://wrx.claud9.com/xt/DCP_0111.JPG ) Given that Subaru engineers could have just as easily (you'd think) reused the WRX ram scoop if it made sense, it kinda makes you wonder if there really is any point at all in worrying about where the air is being pulled from in these cars (in terms of CAI systems and all that). >

    Howard-
    Unless the temp. of the air drawn is greater than what it'll be after it passes through the turbo, I don't think it would matter.

    -Dave
  • johnb2251johnb2251 Member Posts: 33
    Last night I put a piece of electrician's tape over the 'front' sensor, and it works well! I'm going to leave my mirror dimmed permanently. I found this morning that I can see through the dimmed mirror in daylight just as well as when the mirror isn't dimmed. I'm glad that problem is solved!
  • corkfishcorkfish Member Posts: 537
    As much as I hate the huge hood scoop on the STI, I wonder if they'll make an aftermarket scoop for the XT. A hood scoop on a car looks boy racer, but on an SUV it looks rugged. I wonder if this would give the turbo a cooler charge. After all, would'nt a larger scoop basically equate to a larger intercooler because of the improved cooling?
  • pleiad7pleiad7 Member Posts: 59
    The stock hood scoop on the XT is identical with the one on the previous generation (MY02/03)of the WRX; you can replace it with the taller STi version of the scoop, it's a perfect fit.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Changing the scoop to STi entails changing the splitter too.
    I've also heard that the STi picks up alot of air; so much that it flaps at highway speed... something to consider.

    -Dave
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Sheesh, and here I thought the stock scoop was plenty big and you're already talking about swapping for a bigger one?

    -Frank P.
  • johnb2251johnb2251 Member Posts: 33
    > I've also heard that the STi picks up alot of
    > air; so much that it flaps at highway speed

    On a two lane road, a semi passing me in the opposite lane will lift and vibrate the whole hood on my XT. A little disconcerting at first...
  • ace1000ace1000 Member Posts: 151
    MotorWeek shows its test of the XT next week on TV. Let's see what 0-60 time it gets and how the XT handles its slalom test.
  • corkfishcorkfish Member Posts: 537
    I think that it's the regular Forester they're testing.
  • ace1000ace1000 Member Posts: 151
    At the end of this week's show, MotorWeek says that next week it is testing the "turbocharged Forester" and shows a picture of a silver XT.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Any idea on when that show will air? Or is it market dependent?

    -Frank P.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Sweet. I'm going to TiVo that episode! However, I'm going to bet that they test an AT if they do get an XT. I'd like to see some other publication test the MT version.

    Try checking the alarm head unit if the keyless remote isn't working well. The antenna should be pointing straight up. I'm not sure where the head unit is in the MY03+ but in the earlier models, it resided right under the dash straight up from where your left leg would be.

    If you permanently dim your auto-dimming mirror, what's the point of having an auto-dimming mirror to begin with?

    Ken
  • johnb2251johnb2251 Member Posts: 33
    > If you permanently dim your auto-dimming
    > mirror, what's the point of having an auto-
    > dimming mirror to begin with?

    None. It wasn't an option I wanted. Actually the compass is kind of cool....
  • pleiad7pleiad7 Member Posts: 59
    Frank - it depends on your cable/sat provider. A generalized broadcast schedule is listed here: http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/upcomingshows.shtml

    It says they're testing the "new, sensible 2004 Subaru Forester" next week, but the teaser segment I watched last night definitely referred to and showed the XT.
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    One other point about this unit is that it will not dim if the car is in reverse. Make sure if you're testing yours that you aren't parked with your MT in reverse, or it won't ever dim!

    Len
  • tmstevietmstevie Member Posts: 30
    I'd like to second that question about Motorweek's test of the XT- anyone know when it is scheduled to air? A date, at least?

    Of course, even if they decide it's awful, I'm still going to love mine....
  • tmstevietmstevie Member Posts: 30
    Len- are you serious about that reverse comment? What difference would it make what gear the car is in to a sensor in the front of the mirror?

    T
  • pleiad7pleiad7 Member Posts: 59
    tmstevie - check your local PBS station's schedule for Motor Week. If you have Dish Network or DirecTV, the show airs Saturdays at 4pm EST on PBSU.
  • tmstevietmstevie Member Posts: 30
    thanks!
  • ace1000ace1000 Member Posts: 151
    The MotorWeek website says that the show begins broadcasting on August 15th, so some areas will show it this weekend. It is carried mainly by public broadcasting channels. Speed TV carries an abbreviated version in order to provide time for commercials. I can't get it on PBSU on DirecTV because DirecTV eliminated that channel when it added the local channels.

    You can also read the review at http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/ when it appears after the broadcast.
  • f1_roxf1_rox Member Posts: 23
    I have a question for those who have MT.

    When the car is iddling at neutral. I can feel the cabin shaking slightly. I was wondering if anyone is experiencing the same thing.

    thanks
  • corkfishcorkfish Member Posts: 537
    Once again, the subtle side to side motion under idle is a trademark of the boxer design. They all do it do some degree.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    "Once again, the subtle side to side motion under idle is a trademark of the boxer design. They all do it do some degree."

    Even if it was possible to remove the shake, why would you want to? It would be the equivalent of removing the "potato" exhaust from a Harley!

    -Frank P.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    How much shaking are you experiencing? Some very light shaking is unavoidable since you're talking about a relatively large displacement 4-cylinder engine. The Subaru boxer engines also don't use balance shafts since the opposing action of the pistons have perfect 1st order balance.

    Anything more than a light shake there might be some rough idling issues (ie. bad sparkplugs).

    Ken
  • f1_roxf1_rox Member Posts: 23
    The best way I can describe it is that there is a VERY slight lateral movement during idle. The engine sounds smooth and the rev is steady. Also, the shake is not unpleasant, but it just feels funny. Totally not harsh at all which I'm not getting annoyed by it.

    "Some very light shaking is unavoidable since you're talking about a relatively large displacement 4-cylinder engine. The Subaru boxer engines also don't use balance shafts since the opposing action of the pistons have perfect 1st order balance."

    If possible, please explain it more in detail even though I understand what you are saying.

    Thanks for all of your input.
  • erictooleyerictooley Member Posts: 13
    Yes, the auto-dimming mirror brightens when you switch into reverse. This improves visibility (and thus, safety) when, for instance, backing from a dark garage to a bright driveway.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Here's an excellent article on engine balance and smoothness:

    http://autozine.kyul.net/technical_school/engine/smooth1.htm

    There's some mention of boxer engines on page 2.

    Ken
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    The owner's manual explains about the auto-dimming feature being disabled while in reverse (at least in my 2001 manual, anyway).

    Len
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Ken- Good link. There's another bit on the last page:

    "All boxer engines, regardless of no. of cylinders, provide perfect balance because the movement of a piston is exactly counter by the corresponding piston in another bank.

    However, they are too wide for good packaging, and is more expensive due to more parts used, thus the usage is limited to Porsche and Subaru today."

    -Frank P.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    i would not call it slight. it definitely rolls and it has crossed my wifes/my line of death. so i will take it to the subie dealer to see what they say. its smooth when not idling but at idol it feels like a 69 camaro with a racing cam in it.
  • chassolchassol Member Posts: 95
    I've owned a Subie '98 Outback 2.5 dohc, '01 Forester 2.5 sohc, now have '02 3.0H6 dohc Outback Sdn VDC and '04 Forester XT 2.5 dohc AT. Everyone of them have the "rock and roll" idle that can come and go. It's normal and in the XT I swear it's more pronounced. But it reminds me all the time its a Turbo :-). Bottomline I believe you will find this is normal with the boxer engine in the Subies. Anyone checked out the boxer engine in a Porsche to see if they do it to?

    While checking info for this reply I found http://autozine.kyul.net/html/Subaru1.htm which not exactly about this subject is interesting.

    Hope this helps.......
  • mcscully731mcscully731 Member Posts: 11
    I've been away for a couple weeks and there's 245 messages here! Holy cow!

    I absolutely love my Java Black XT with Premium Package. I've been a very large, er, "kitty" with it...quite gentle. Of course, my boyfriend has not shown as light a foot to it..every time he takes off from a start, he's got to go like gangbusters.

    I have no idea whether this will work or not, but I thought I'd try it since several people were asking for pictures ...

    http://us.f104.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter/Forester_Front_Side.j- pg?box=Sent&MsgId=942_239472_2505_669_1261134_0_10367_1669797- _2086328286&bodyPart=2&filename=Forester_Front_Side.jpg&a- mp;tnef=&YY=27441&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&- view=a&head=b
  • jason_elsjason_els Member Posts: 57
    that's a link to your email login with Yahoo!. It isn't working, sad to say.
  • mcscully731mcscully731 Member Posts: 11
    And, of course, I'm unable to upload any files to my website for some ungodly reason. I'll work on it and get the picture up soon...promise!
  • pleiad7pleiad7 Member Posts: 59
    mcscully - wow, you actually let your boyfriend drive it? ;-)
    I'm still waiting for my XT to arrive, but I already told my husband "no driving privileges for you" until the break-in period is over - he's a pedal-to-the-metal kind of guy, too, and would probably lack the necessary self-restraint once he figures out how fast this car is!

    Glad you're enjoying your XT - I can't wait to take delivery of mine!
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Okay, I went home and watched the last episode of Motorweek on TiVo. Next week's episode will most definetly test the XT. Not only do they mention "Join us next week when we look at the new turbocharged Subaru Forester", but they also end with a shot of a silver XT speeding down a track.

    Can't wait!

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Same here, I heard that Saturday, which means it'll air in MD this coming Sat, 8/16.

    Motorweek is filmed in MD, so it may come later for some of you folks. Nah-nah, na-nah nah. :p

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Argh!!!! Checked with the local PBS station and while they normally air MotorWeek Saturday mornings, they've preempted it for the next couple of weeks to run "special fund raising programming" (no doubt reruns of Barney!). Any suggestions? I'll pay somebody to tape it for me.

    -Frank P.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Frank,

    Do you have more than one PBS station in your area? Where I live, Motorweek is carried by two stations at different times.

    If all else fails, I'd be more than happy to dub and send you a copy.

    Ken
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    time to clear the house on sat afternoon

    For Dish Network & DirecTV subscribers, MotorWeek airs on Saturdays at 4pm EST on channel PBSU
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • mcscully731mcscully731 Member Posts: 11
    We'll try this again.

    http://www.geocities.com/mcscully731/pictures.html
  • self_mechanicself_mechanic Member Posts: 95
    MotorWeek on KCSM (Channel 60) in Bay Area airs on Sunday 11:00 A.M, and the same episode is re-run on Tuesday 7:30 P.M. I also like DW Motor show which mainly features european cars. I believe the DW show airs on Sunday 11:30 A.M on KCSM also.

    Alland
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    The Forester episode can be seen on KBTC, Tacoma, but not until Sunday, August 24th (!!!) at 1:30 PM. I'm going to be gone, so I guess I'll have to figure out how to program my VCR. (I never had a reason before this).

    -james
  • pleiad7pleiad7 Member Posts: 59
    Alland - that's my channel of choice also. Tuesday nights I can get my fix there with "Auto Motor und Sport" and MotorWeek back to back. The husband has to grudgingly sacrifice one of his beloved Simpsons re-runs during that time!
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Black might be a pain to keep clean but when it is, boy does it look good!

    -Frank P.
  • snarkssnarks Member Posts: 207
    My question is that if performance is what people desire why not a WRX Wagon. The handling and performance is way ahead of a Forester XT.
This discussion has been closed.

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