Subaru XT Turbo Forester

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Comments

  • rslnp1rslnp1 Member Posts: 29
    p0926- I d'ont have a clutch to drop. My poor mileage is due to the fact that I cannot go more than 3 blocks without coming to a complete stop for most of my in DC driving. My highway only mileage is about 23-25 mpg. When I am at the beach in NC, I get about 20-22 mpg around town.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Actually, I figure under the right conditions, I should be able to get 26 mpg easily :-) FYI: I very seldom go more than 10 mph over the posted limit (which in this case was 70) and usually travel at the same speed as the flow of traffic so I don't worry about getting stopped for speeding.

    -Frank P.
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    Just about to hit 8k. As low as 14 in cold weather (thats with a 5 - 10 minute driveway warm up each morning) - that's about 4 miles each way of stop and go driving 5 to 7 days a week. On average, with light traffic, I might hit 18. On the highway whether I drive 65 or 80 there's only about 1 mpg difference - 22 +/- 0.5 mpg. My last several hundred miles of highway were on cruise control, so my foot was out of the equation.

    Picked up the wife's OBW after a modified 15k service yesterday, and only had to jump up and down on a couple of the lug nuts to loosen them enough to re-torque them (just had to pull really hard on the others, a little metal screeching etc).

    Larry
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    unlike others, you don't claim average Speeds of 80 or 90

    Nope. I rarely exceed 70. According to prevailing theory, my MPG would probably improve to 26 or 27 if I cruised at 90.

    or to wave at cops when you buzz by them. Actually it's always a bad idea to wave at Cops.

    Wouldn't that depend on which finger you wave at them?

    Now to your weak points, not keeping at least 1/4 Tank at all times,

    With a tank this small and MPG this low, I'd have to fill up every few days if I never let it drop below 1/4. Not worth the hassle.

    and not using 91 Octane, per the Manual!

    Subaru has indicated, in writing, that the XT engine can operate safely and satisfactorily on ordinary 87-octane regular, if needed. 91 octane is for those who require the maximum performance their XTs are capable of providing. I'm seeking a better balance between performance and fuel cost.
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    on my fillup yesterday, '03 XS 5spd (non-turbo), 80/20 highway city. Plenty quick off the line with the tall first gear and torquey engine. Had a new VW GTI try to show me his stuff yesterday, but I was 2 car lengths ahead at 40 mph in 2nd gear.

    John
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    I just filled up, got 21.5 MPG. My average over 6900 miles has been right around 21. I don't understand why all the complaints about getting "low" 19-20-21-22 MPG. That's not low, the car is rated at 18/19 city and 23 highway. My worst was 19 and my best was 23 with a 5-speed. If the car performs within that range, then it's performing according to specifications. Didn't anyone notice the MPG rating on the window sticker before plunking down 25+ large?

    On the other hand, the oddball 13 MPG is low - I wouldn't like that either. If that's consistent, I would have the dealer look at it.

    P.S. - shifting early actually hurts the MPG because the engine is over-taxed and the turbo kicks in more than needed. Keeping the revs up and downshifting more often will improve MPG slightly. My MPG improved by about 1 once I started shifting at 15-25-40-50 instead of 10-25-35-45. From personal experience, this is true for most turbo cars.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    the engine is over-taxed and the turbo kicks in more than needed.

    This is only true if you use more acceleration than I do. With moderate throttle, I can easily drive with low-RPM upshift points and never get the boost gauge into positive boost territory unless I choose to.
  • miamixtmiamixt Member Posts: 600
    While you are out enjoying your "Torquey" high Mileage Forester & Drag Racing VW GTI's, I would ask why you post in the XT Forum? We might speed on occasion, but we don't race here!
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    John- 28 mpg ain't bad but a few N/A Forester owners have managed to break 30 mpg on occasion. As far as acceleration is concerned, the N/A 2.5 really is sufficient for most people. Just don't ever get behind the wheel of an XT because once you do, there's no going back! :-)

    -Frank P.

    P.S. Don't mind miamixt. You're welcome to post here any time.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    ...I, like Miamixt, will likely land like a ton of bricks on anyone who engages in street racing. Following the murder of my brother-in-law by a 20-year-old scofflaw dropout drug-dealing unemployed worthless punk with a suspended license, no insurance, and a 2-page record of driving arrests, I have zero tolerance for racing on public streets.

    Getting broadsided by a 6,000 pound 4WD GMC Yukon at nearly triple the posted speed limit doesn't leave much chance for survival.

    We all share these roads. Irresponsible and reckless speed contests are senselessly killing innocents.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Maybe it's me but it sounds like you're awfully quick to condemn without knowing the facts. John's post only mentioned accelerating to 40 mph and I see nothing inherently irresponsible or reckless with that. It certainly doesn't qualify as "street racing" (Fast & Furious style) in my book.

    -Frank P.
  • miamixtmiamixt Member Posts: 600
    So engaging in a Street Competition at 40 Miles an hour is OK Frank? What speed is safe for Street Racing, the answer, unsafe at ANY Speed. The one thing XT Drivers know, there isn't enough time to drive the XT safely and count the Car Lengths of the Car your Racing (Fast and Furious style). You of all people should know that, as you have owned both Models of Foresters.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    No one here condones streetracing, it's illegal, edmunds.com disapproves of illegal activity and street racing ... and it's off topic. Let's get back to the XT.

    tidester, host
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    .....and fuel mileage seems to be heading that way too! Keep up the good work....ez
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    Acclerating up to 40-50mph is flat out DANGEROUS!!! It is even MORE dangerous if there is someone in the lane next to you who might also be accelerating. Of course, if they don't accelerate then they won't be moving and there will be a whole lot of pissed off drivers behind them. BUT THAT IS BESIDES THE POINT. Acclerating is dangerous...accelerating 0-50 in 20 seconds is an OK if necessary evil. Doing that same 0-50 in 8 seconds should be flat out illegal if someone is driving next to you!!!!

    We need some more rules. You CAN do 0-50 in 8 seconds if the driver next to you does 0-50 in under 5 seconds OR if they are over 12 seconds. If the driver next to you is anywhere in the 5-12 second range then you are a despicable STREET RACER and need to adjust your driving habits accordingly! You acceleration should never match the driver in the lane next to you...EVER. Case closed.

    ;-)
    ;-)

    overtime
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    So what happens if you define street racing as just trying to beat someone no matter what the speed??? This means we need some rule clarifications!

    For example, lets say you are next to an X3 at a stoplight and it turns green. You let out a little bit of throttle and do 0-60 in about 8 seconds (totally slow). What you don't realize is that the X3 is RACING in order to keep up with you! You have created an unsafe racing situation without even knowing it!

    Next rule: Know the accleration capabilities of the slow Bimmers in the lane next to you and take into account the desperate actions of their drivers in justifying their purchase by not letting you 'beat' them at all costs! Of course, you aren't racing to beat them but that is besides the point. The situation is clearly unsafe.

    ;-)

    overtime
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Some may find others' objections to street racing amusing; I don't. The rule, if one needs to be defined, is really not complicated. If you and the driver next to you are both attempting to find out whose car outaccelerates the other on a public roadway, you are street racing, and it doesn't even require exceeding the speed limit to be illegal and dangerous to others in the area.

    If I see you do it, your plate number and location are immediately telephoned to 911. It's that simple.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    John's post only mentioned accelerating to 40 mph and I see nothing inherently irresponsible or reckless with that. It certainly doesn't qualify as "street racing" (Fast & Furious style) in my book.

    Our books differ. Two drivers accelerating at full throttle side-by-side to see whose car is faster are racing, regardless of the speeds attained when the race ends. When done on public roads, it is illegal, and this is not news to anyone. I know how deadly it can be and often is. As noted above, I have zero tolerance for it.
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    That also implies that all-out acceleration isn't ok. I live off an access road that has a 60mph speed limit and there are multiple stoplights along the way. I FREQUENTLY push the XT to redline in 1st and near redline in 2nd and still stay under that 60mph. Given the conditions I do it under...it is never unsafe.

    Accelerating up to the speed limit is not illegal unless done in a reckless manner. I do not believe there is any clause that specifies if a car is next to you or not.

    And what about my example of the slow vehicle who thinks he is racing? You can't avoid that unless you have some law where vehicles shouldn't drive side-by-side. Illogical.

    overtime
  • stuhallstuhall Member Posts: 59
    This isn't another racing post, but I frequently find that when I'm at a stoplight and it turns green I drive off.....and then realize that everyone behind is WAY back after only half a block. I'm not speeding or racing, but the torquey XT just puts you naturally ahead of the regular folk.

    It's almost curious, because I don't "FEEL" like I'm driving fast, but in comparison it seems like it....

    I'm headed to the mountains again this weekend...and it might actually snow...and it could be "chains required" Any suggestions on chains? What questions do I ask if buy chains (size etc)? I've never used chains before and have "no professional training". (sorry for the american idol reference)

    While we could have a love fest on the XT, I still find this board useful for posting on the "idiosynchronices" that bother the crap out of me in hopes that someone has suggestions for improvement. My #1 gripe is the dash illumination. Driving to work today in slightly overcast skies I could barely read my odo, with or without lights on. It's like having a splinter under your nail. Anyone have suggestions? I did a search for black on white dials, none of which are avaialble and seem very painful to install.
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    I did get a ticket for a "false start" when I was 16 years old (some 30 years ago). But I have never had or seen a problem getting up to the speed limit off a stop sign and using whatever potential is in the vehicle doing so. Safety is important, that is why there are speed limits. I haven't had a ticket in 20+ years (which means that I haven't done anything out of the ordinary, not that I have toed the line on all traffic rules).

    Gee guys, if sharing some fun with you is such a problem, I will take my party elsewhere.

    John
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    You are misinformed about the legal definition of racing. Whether you think the law is logical or illogical is immaterial to me. I think laws prohibiting racing on public streets are totally logical and necessary, and I do what I can to assure that they are enforced whenever I see them violated.
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    That doesn't answer my question.

    And where might I find the details of these laws? Acceleration is acceleration. I want to call in some of the X3 drivers who are going ba11s-out to try to stay with me when I'm barely giving the XT any gas at all ;-).

    OT
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    While we're on the topic of illumination, the next time someone is driving with the sun directly on their radio - especially if you have the sunroof option with it's curtain slid back, please let me know if you can see anything.

    I understand how to get the illumination brighter with the headlights on by pressing the power button, but on mine all that does is to "undim" it back to the same anemic level as before the headlights were turned on.

    I really liked the LCD from the 03 much better in direct sunlight.

    Before I fruitlessly float this up to the dealer, I would like to know if my radio is typical or atypical.

    TIA

    Larry
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    ...that I usually go redline from stop when its safe to do so. 95% of the time there is not a car remotely close to me. Should I care if there is a car next to me? Should I care if they are 10ft behind me? Even with me? 50ft back? 20ft in front?

    BTW, I'm not a 'racer' at all...I just like to accelerate with the XT cuz it is fun!

    overtime
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    The tach on my XT probably hasn't reached redline four times in 8 months.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    "Getting broadsided by a 6,000 pound 4WD GMC Yukon at nearly triple the posted speed limit driven by a 20-year-old scofflaw dropout drug-dealing unemployed worthless punk with a suspended license, no insurance, and a 2-page record of driving arrests"

    Jack- I fully understand your anger about the above scenario and the resultant loss of your brother-in-law's life but implying that fellow Forester owners are in the same category is insulting.

    -Frank P.

    P.S. It only takes the Forester 3 seconds to reach 40 mph :-)
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    No fellow Forester owner need feel implicated by my description of the punk who killed my brother-in-law unless they engage in similiar irresponsible behavior.

    By the way...the moron had his illegitimate year-old daughter in his Yukon with him while he was having "fun" racing at 3x the posted limit.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Trouble is your definition of what you consider to be illegal apparently would stop most people from driving period (as Overtime has tried to point out) and you are running off poor guys like John who just wanted to share a humorous moment.

    -Frank P.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    What I may or may not consider to be illegal is irrelevant. It's what the legislatures define to be illegal that matters. Street racing is well defined, and it's illegal whether or not posted speed limits are exceeded. You may approve of that, you may disapprove of it, it doesn't matter to me. I concur with these laws, and that's that.

    If I offend people who engage in this dangerous and reckless activity (especially those who brag about it), I couldn't care less.
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    Where can I read this definition of 'street racing' and find a corresponding law that says it (as defined) is illegal?

    I have a big hunch that the legal definition of 'street racing' is quite different than what is being discussed here.

    overtime
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Start with your local police department.
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    ...you are basically saying you don't know how it is defined and what the specific laws might be. But you choose to believe that what is posted here meets the criteria.

    Ok...

    overtime
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    <Banging head against wall>
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    After 7 months and 7,000 miles, I'm starting to grow attached to my XT, and the Lexus is sitting in the garage more and more often. The shifting smoothed out considerably after about 1,000 miles, the climate control is now a joy to use (after I fixed it), the car has proven wondreful in snow, the MPG went up slightly over time, and the SPG (Smiles Per Gallon) has definitely gone up :-)

    Anybody wanna buy a mint Lexus? ;-)
  • lfdallfdal Member Posts: 679
    I posted the Blackstone results from my wife's 03 OBW over on the Legacy / Outback board. I wasn't entirely thrilled with the results re: Al and Si, but can understand their thinking.

    I decided to invest a little more in a custom analysis from Dyson Analysis.

    Basically I may have to back off my fondness for Quaker State Synthetic 5-30.

    Keep in mind under Subaru's definition of "severe duty" or whatever, I'm pretty well locked into 3k or so oil changes. Heaven knows I don't want to leave them any wiggle room on warranty support.

    Mobil 1 isn't that much more expensive. Given that, has anyone got a fondness for Mobil 1?

    This is ultimately on topic because I'm using the same Q-State syn in my XT - and one of the problems may be its (in)ability to hold up under temperature.

    I was going to wait a full year on the XT before I got the analysis done, but now I think I'll get it done next month when I change the oil.

    Any comments, help, etc appreciated.

    Larry
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I think most US states have a basic rule that requires you to be &#147;reasonable and prudent&#148; in your driving, regardless of the posted speed limit. Idaho does. Good luck getting out of a ticket if a cop nails you for flooring it between lights.

    Let's drop it in here - for those interested, take it to Street racing - how to cut down on it.

    Steve, Host
  • overtime1overtime1 Member Posts: 134
    I think we'd all agree that reckless driving should be punished.

    overtime
  • beanboybeanboy Member Posts: 442
    Ah ballistic, nice to see you are keeping Steve busy! ;)

    XT eliminates the biggest aspect the fuzz can nab you on while accelerating "briskly" from a stop: wheelspin.

    Actually, with all of the low-end grunt of the XT, I don't think it would take an all-out launch to get wheelspin from the XT, especially in wet conditions. Anybody have those Geolanders chirp a bit in the wet from a normal launch?

    -B
  • bobshere1bobshere1 Member Posts: 59
    Samiam made an interesting point. He's not driving his Lexus because of FXT. I've heard from another FXT owner who's beginning to take out FXT in preference to his RX-330. With the very large "moonroof" on my FXT and the 17" tire performance upgrade I've made I'll have a tough time deciding whether to take the Miata or FXT !!! Maybe when the novelty of FXT wears off I'll go back to the Miata on sunny warm days; but maybe not ;)

             SO, WHAT CAR AREN'T YOU DRIVING BECAUSE OF FXT ????

                   Bob
  • rslnp1rslnp1 Member Posts: 29
    Although I love my FXT/AT, I still end up driving my Infiniti G-35 most of the time. The smooth power, refinement of the engine and the luxury interior are hard to beat. But I sure cannot picture the Infiniti transporting my kayak to the Carolina Coast.
  • ruthchiunruthchiun Member Posts: 4
    3 weeks ago, I began my lease of a 2004 Subaru Forester. I was convinced I wanted a Toyota or a Honda (RAV/CRV). I scoured the RAV vs CRV messages (on edmunds) for a couple of weeks. These annoying Subaru lovers kept posting junk about this great Forester. I disregarded the postings for awhile, but then decided to put it into my research.

    After test driving a CRV, Rav, and Forester (crammed my parents, my son, a salesperson, and myself into each of these cars), the CRV and Forester were in a dead-lock tie.

    I am a sucker for big sunroofs and heated seats (Forester), but I really liked the space in the CRV. My long-legged boyfriend sat in both and said he was most comfortable in the Forester. I am REALLY loving my Subaru. The dangerous thing is the crazy turbo. Man, I have to conciously force myself not to drive fast.
  • dnestrdnestr Member Posts: 188
    Congrats with it.

    Offer your boyfriend to sit behind. I hope he will be comfortable again. But you should measure his legs more precise in this case:-)
  • cmunizcmuniz Member Posts: 604
    Beware that the XT does not replace your boyfriend as the love of your life.The turbo is addictive. Congratulations!!
  • ruthchiunruthchiun Member Posts: 4
    cmuniz -

    Yes, that is a danger because I REALLY love this car. I now find excuses to drive to the store or coffee shop, etc. My son is constantly reminding me to not drive too fast (out of the mouths of babes).

    dnestr -

    It was hard to get him to test the back seat (he was convinced that he'd spend little time back there), but he claims it was o'kay back there also.

    Thanks.
    - Shanna
  • akasrpakasrp Member Posts: 170
    Mighty smart woman to use such a sophisticated lure ;-)

    Gotta love a gal in a fast car...

    Congrats (on the new XT) Shanna!

    -srp
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Shanna: Lets check out the Forester XT
    Boyfriend: [Mmmmmm tur...bo]
    Shanna: Honey, check the seat and tell me what you think?
    Boyfriend: It's very comfortable [Mmmmmm tur...bo]
    Shanna: How about the back seat?
    Boyfriend: Don't need to, I can see they are comfortable [Mmmmmm tur...bo]

    Congratulations Shanna! :)

    -Dave
  • john284john284 Member Posts: 71
    First impression on the power of XT will wear off in about a month, and after that, you will start checking on the other details of the car, and you will find something that not so appealing. But you will always come to senses that you make the right choice.
  • bobshere1bobshere1 Member Posts: 59
    Gee, I've had my FXT over 3 months and I still can't get over the boost!!! I think that may have something to do with my less than stellar gas mileage ;)

            Je Regret Rien....

             Bob
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