Subaru XT Turbo Forester

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Comments

  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    All literature that I get from Subaru lists my car, VIN number and all, as a Forester WRX 2.5 XT.

    Kinda cool :-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I have Xtreme Torque (XT) Envy, personally.

    -juice
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Don't remember if it was Jack aka ballistic who wanted a tighter seatbelt. I posted a link over in Modifications.

    -Dave
  • rickroverrickrover Member Posts: 601
    All the literature for my STi just lists it as an Impreza - no WRX or STi - just plain Impreza.

    I thought that was odd.
  • jchagtdijchagtdi Member Posts: 55
    Hopefully, your insurance company thinks you have an "Impreza", too.

    I'm sure one of the digits in your VIN gives away the fact your are driving the Impreza's wild, red-headed step-sister.
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Don't remember if it was Jack aka ballistic who wanted a tighter seatbelt. I posted a link over in Modifications.

    Can't tell from his limited description exactly how the gizmo works, but I ordered one anyway. If it keeps the lap portion tight while the chest portion can give and take, it'll be well worth it. Much obliged.
  • zmanzman Member Posts: 200
    Just got back (before the big storm hit) from a three-day trip to Rochester. To pass the time I decided to count the number of new-style CRV, Forester, and RAV4 on I-90 from Albany to Rochester. Going out on Sunday afternoon 14,14,and 13 (Honda, Subaru, Toyota). Coming back today 9,8,7. (H,S,T) Many Subies in Rochester area especially (VanBortel influence?)

    I figured this was a pretty good count for the Forester, since the new style Forester is a year or two behind the others--am I right?

    Didn't bother to count the old styles, but it looked to be about the same--pretty even.

    Of the 22 Foresters, I saw only one XT.

    Zman

    p.s. counted only 5 Elements total
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If anyone will test that gizmo and report back quickly, it's JB. :o)

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm familiar with the baby clips he's talking about. They are difficult to move, though, so you'd want to set it and forget it.

    But then it would dangle on the B-pillar when the belt wasn't being used. It would look awful.

    That is a better solution.

    -juice
  • stuhallstuhall Member Posts: 59
    I just watched the Rally races in Mexico.

    Anyone else see that? The Petter Solberg Subaru team was assessed a 5 minute penalty (they killed the battery and a photographer helped push the car into the time pit) and still almost won. They did win 8 or 9 of the 12 stages. With the penalty they came in 4th place 90 seconds behind the winner.

    I'm downloading the Sweden rally (snow instead of gravel!) and will be watching it soon.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Yeah, if it weren't for that penalty, he would have won. That happened on stage 1 BTW, so you know he was hauling [non-permissible content removed] to make up time—and almost pulled it off!

    Regardless, it was a good showing for the new Subie WRC racers, which debuted in Mexico.

    Bob
  • ozman62ozman62 Member Posts: 229
    Give those of us who had to tape it a week at least to watch :(
    Thanks, Owen
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Let's try to keep the pictures a little smaller - they are kind of rough on dialups!

    tidester, host
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    this is a stinking XT turbo fast crowd who would never accept slow speeds like dial up.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Believe it or not, there are still many who don't have access to or don't wish to pay the higher rates for broadband!

    tidester, host
  • zorzor Member Posts: 24
    njswamplands, I thought I was up-to-date having AirCard cellular internet connectivity and a power inverter on the road. Yet, those informative pics clobbered my connection. How much weight and cost did broadband add to your STi?
  • zmanzman Member Posts: 200
    I just read the 19 consumer reviews of the XT 5-speed on the Edmund's site. More than half noted that they'd like to an improvement in the fuel efficiency (this was the top complaint, surpassing the lack of a sunroof and the idiosyncratic climate control), either with a sixth gear (STi style) or with a reduced final drive ratio to help smooth out highway driving.

    I know this has been a point of discussion on this board for a while. My question: are there any hints yet that Subaru is responding--if indeed they even should respond?

    I really want to get one of these babies, but the price of premium fuel in my area just topped $2.10, (that's about $450 more than the XS in an average year for me). I know it's worse in other areas--California for one--and I don't see it going down any time soon.

    Zman
  • miamixtmiamixt Member Posts: 600
    they take about 10 Minutes to load, and change the Diameter of my screen! Zman, all your points are valid, bottom line, if you can afford the extra Gas costs which should come down someday (it's a conspiracy you know) the XT is Fun, although I admit it's a strange SUV, in either the Automatic or 5 Speed!
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    I've deleted the post.

    -Dave
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
  • zmanzman Member Posts: 200
    You're probably right. I've come to the conclusion that it's all (including consciousness itself) a conspiracy--or a hoax.

    Zman
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    When you're broadband challenged, doesn't matter where. ;-)

    -Dave
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Yeah, but if you link to them, those of us with faster connections can go there and look. Or at least I can when my wireless doesn't hiccup :-)

    Steve, Host
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Can't post the link... not allowed ;-)

    Anyway, Jack, let us know what you think of the CG Lock. Maybe some could use them for child seats install.

    -Dave
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    We'll have to decide if we want power or mileage someday...it's difficult to have both. Add to that the Forester isn't exactly sveldt and lots of guys are driving 70+ mph and you're not going to see anything close to the advertised mileage.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Then I'll link to some pics:

    shmoo.com

    Or you can visit the manufacturer's site.

    Steve, Host
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Steve-
    thanks for locating a link that wasn't a no-no :D

    -Dave
  • lbhaleylbhaley Member Posts: 91
    Raybear, That's actually not true. I have averaged around 20 mpg commuting to work this winter and consistently get 21+ on the highway crusing at 78 mph. I don't baby it at all and my mileage remains remarkably consistant. If you compare this mileage with the overall mileage that Edmunds got with their long term forester XS there is really not much difference. Given the difference in performance between the XS and the XT this small difference is even more amazing.
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    I was referring to those who want to see mpg's in the upper 20's.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    i agree with dave on fear of posting a link
  • lbhaleylbhaley Member Posts: 91
    But Subaru doesn't advertise mileage in the upper 20's for the XT. When you compare a Subaru's mileage with other all wheel drive vehicles the mileage is better than almost all of them.
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    Subaru advertises 19/23 on the XT...but I've seen folks who wanted a lot more, that's all I was commenting on.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    its subarus fault with that needs desire campaign. i have the need for speed and desire higher mileage
  • pon1pon1 Member Posts: 196
    the problem for most of us is the double whammy of (slightly) reduced gas mileage (few less mpg) and premium gas (equivalent to a few less mpg), partiucularly if you are coming off an older, less performance oriented Sube.

    I suspect most of us contemplating the FXT or other Sube turbo models may have an internal selling job to do - "why do we need a vehicle that costs more to buy and run than the cheaper one without the funny scoop thing on the hood?"

    The utility arguements dont quite cut it (OK better towing and passing). You have to admit to yourself and your significant other that you just plain want it.

    Once you own it, I doubt the difference is really that noticeable, I mean if you can afford/finance an expensive new vehicle, you can swing an extra $500/year to drive it.

    I just hope the premium over regular difference does not widen in years to come.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    So you want a car that is infinitely fast and burns no fuel. Get real folks. Everything is a tradeoff. You can't get 50mph with a car putting out near 300hp. Just isn't gonna happen.

    -mike
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    Paisan - I think you meant 50mpg, not mph. I personally don't mind averaging 21-22mpg on my 5mt XT. And I don't baby the car, either. I doubt taller gearing would help the gas mileage, it would just lug the engine more and lugging wastes gas, therefore the overall mpg would be pretty much the same. A less sensitive throttle might help more, since the way it's calibrated, even the lightest press on the GO pedal, opens up the throttle plates quite a bit, hence not very efficient. Repositioning the intercooler and getting rid of the hood scoop would also help highway mileage. That scoop is a tremendous "air brake".
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Well 26mpg real-world hwy ain't shabby (you just have to stay off boost and keep the speed down).

    There's actually a silver lining to the higher gas prices... the higher they go the smaller the price differential betweeen regular and premium :-)

    I figure a fill-up costs me about $2.60 more per gallon and I get maybe 50 miles less per tank so I have to fill up a day sooner than before. So the annual additional cost of gas is somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 (based on 18k miles a year) and I'm okay with that.

    -Frank P.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    meant mpg.

    As for the scoop, don't think it will dissappear soon, as the reason for the TMIC is to prevent it from getting damaged from road trash.

    -mike
  • zmanzman Member Posts: 200
    Your points are well taken.

    Unlike paisan I'm not looking for 50 mpg, but the Forester X/XS are worthy vehicles too; and vis a vis the XT, there is a real world comparison. ($19.5K vs. $24K)

    I admit, power has its price, but there's always a limit, and we each have to find what is for us (and for our significant others).

    Zman
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    The power only costs a very resonable $1800. Unfortunately you can't have it without getting all the XS's goodies.

    -Frank P.
  • zmanzman Member Posts: 200
    Frank,

    To be honest, I'm not the one I have to convince. My wife just does not feel the extra power is worth the trade-off (and now I find out from Juice that the F-XT in the MT gets the moonroof in the '05 model--another delay!!).

    I think there a psychological syndrome for this: as a buyer, I'm a "perfectionist" (I think that's the term) as opposed to a "satisfier."

    Anyway, your highway mileage numbers were impressive, even given the care with which you drove. Remind me: are you driving the MT or the automatic?

    Zman
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Me I personally don't care what the milage. I drive:

    Trooper: 13/17
    SVX: 17/28
    Legacy Turbo: 19/25 (not sure what the actual is yet since I just got it)
    Impreza L: 6mpg (Track miles :) )

    -mike
  • zorzor Member Posts: 24
    per #3911

    Juice, All,

    Where did you hear about this? Did that source mention anything about the leather option for the MT? If 05 FXT's are expected to start arriving this June, options like these may sway me towards an 05 FXT purchase. Might MT models lag behind AT models in arriving at the dealers?

    All,

    The salesman told me that their repair shop could "adjust" the hill holder to the point it never engaged. Any info on that here?

    Zor
  • zmanzman Member Posts: 200
    "For 2005, looks like the Forester XT will offer the Premium Package (huge moonroof) with the manual tranny. It's also getting the 3 spoke steering wheel from the WRX STi, improved climate control, and a better cruise stalk."

    Juice; PP includes leather still, right? Do you think this will apply to the XS as well? What is the source?

    Zman (piggybacking on Zor)
  • zorzor Member Posts: 24
    Now give it the WRX STi transmission and suspension, and you have the FXT STi we always dreamed of.

    Sounds like the MT FXT design is getting better with age. Thanks for the enlightening info.

    -Zor
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    If it's like the old ones, you can just remove it with 1 bolt and it won't be a problem.

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    A lot of people like that feature, myself included. Maybe add a deactivation switch, down near the fog lamp switch, for those who don't want it?

    Bob
  • zorzor Member Posts: 24
    Mike, it's good to hear of that possible option.

    Bob, Good thought. For me, I'll probably be the only driver, so just removing or incapacitating the Hill Holder (TM) will do the trick. On the test drive, I just couldn't get used to that much torque-up to get the vehicle moving. Perhaps I'd get accustomed to the right clutch work once I buy; but I want to make certain first that I can just make the feature go away.

    -Zor
This discussion has been closed.

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