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Subaru XT Turbo Forester
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Comments
Pros:
-Acceleration/Power even at highway speeds
-AWD and handling, no matter the weather
-Fit and finish (Mine's a XT/PP)
-Utility
-Safety
-Audio quality of the factory stereo
-The smile my wife gives me when the heated seats warm her in the right way!
-The smile I get when I blow the doors off all SUVs and most other cars when the light turns green!
Cons:
-Fuel efficiency (I now understand power vs. fuel)
-No MT w/ PP (Come on, Subaru--Canada gets it)
-Climate Control has a mind of its own (at times)
-Interior road noise transmitted (likely the tires)
-Stereo--need to press "load" before loading CDs or risk irreperable damage to the head unit?
-Smallish fuel tank and range (only 15 gals?)
-Not enough seat time!
-Not enough seat time!
-Not enough seat time!
(Sorry about that last one. My wife uses our XT as the daily commuter while I'm either hoofing it, pedaling, or riding a bus.
--dcdouglas
Vague steering, too?
Saturn has to realize they can't just plop in a powerful engine, you have to balance the whole package. It needs to handle better too, brakes, maybe even chassis bracing. Definitely get rid of those spongy seats, too.
Altima is fast, but rides a little stiff and has wicked torque steer. That plus the interior is cheap. Handling and acceleration are excellent for the price.
-juice
Try it out.
-juice
-Frank P.
stuhall "Subaru Crew: Problems & Solutions" Dec 24, 2003 2:59pm
93 premium just dropped to $1.33/9 at a Shell/Texaco nearby...
Happy Holidays!
jb: It's good to know that despite all your ranting, you do like your XT. Sometimes people need to know that.
Geolandars: I thought they were a decent all-season tire too. I replaced mine at 45,000 miles with some tread left to spare before hitting the wear indicators.
Ken
On balance, I don't feel I've stepped down from the BMW. With due respect to Hondas, Acuras and Toyotas I've owned, the XT has an overall road competence (superior AWD system) and solidity that I haven't seen matched by another $24,000 car -- and I looked hard before buying. It damned near leaps the Sierras in a single bound. It's solid and remarkable advancement over my trusty '92 Legacy AWD wagon.
Lastly, after three years, I'll own it outright, instead of still owing over $30,000.
Happy Holidays to All!
At that price, I'd be adding smileys, too.
$1.73.9 in Oregon. ) ;
I've nearly always blended criticisms with praise. It's like a love-hate relationship; some things I like, a lot. Some things, I dislike - a lot. Most of the latter were unnecessary and avoidable, making the car's failure to attain my definition of true greatness all the more maddening. Then again, not many people would share my standards for greatness. Most folks scorn Fiats. My beloved little 850 Spider with graceful Bertone coachwork met and surpassed them with no reservations whatever. Pure delight. I'd still own it today if an 18-wheeler hadn't crushed it like a beer can with me inside.
Geolandars: I thought they were a decent all-season tire too.
We've been having typical heavy Oregon winter rains lately, and I haven't detected a trace of hydroplaning. Very confidence-inspiring.
Ken
Gas here is $1.63 - no Oregon full serve surcharge, but still way above the national average.
Steve, Host
#2 was a 1986 4Runner I bought used with 90k on it and sold 6 years later with 186k on it.
#3 is our 1999 OB, which my wife started driving after her 1991 Exploder bit the dust and I bought...
#4 a used 2.5GT. This is the first car I own that I won't drive into the ground or be done in by some outside force, only because my needs have shifted quite a bit and I am looking seriously at the XT. Should I buy an XT, I intend to keep it for a looong time.
Personally, I liked the 850 over the X/1/9 & the more "upscale" 124 - driven all 3...the 850 had more heart & character, IMO. Now a Fiat Abarth...
-juice
-mike
We are alleged to pay the highest gas prices in the nation here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I figure my recent 500 mile trip down to Yosemite to X-C ski cost maybe $10 extra because I bought XT instead of, say, XS. I can live with that. The XTra fun of driving XT was worth that sum to me. It DOES sound like a lot more, when viewed as a percentage though; because I'm figuring, roughly, $40 instead of $30 for gas, which is a 25% penalty.
If I were commuting, and putting on lots of miles (some here are already at 40k miles!! It will probably take me 5 years to get that on my odometer. I'm retired and XT is a "3rd car".) I might have viewed the gas considerations for this vehicle differently. Or not. Each of us is probably paying quite different prices in different parts of the country/world. We are all in different financial situations and driving different yearly mileage.
On an unrelated issue: I put a Yakima "Basket Case" and a bike mount (ankle biter) on my XT. I didn't want bars protruding outside the sides of the car (I'm using the flat OEM bars). I discovered I could mount just a front fork mount to the front of the basketcase (think U-bolts) and have the rear wheel of that bike rest on top of the rear side of the basketcase, where I tie it down to the basketcase. I get two bikes up there + the basketcase (mounted way back so as not to obstruct the big view out the moonroof) doing it this way. I also found that I could just bungie strap my X-C skies to the basketcase, so I've also, in effect, got a ski rack up there too! I think this is a good solution to the limited width of XT compared to some big SUV for mounting items on the roof.
The basketcase gives me those few cu/ft I "lost" by not buying the hulking Honda Pilot that I was comparing to XT. The $7 or $8,000 I saved with XT over a comparable equipped Pilot will pay for a lot of that Premium Gas in XT over the years....
Never drove an X1/9, but I'd like to find a mint example someday, or another 850 spider. And if I strike it rich and start a car collection, a double-bubble Abarth 750 coupe would be high on my target list.
Hope everyone is having a safe and satisfying xmas.
-mike
#1 - used '86 Honda Accord LXi 5spd
#2 - used Audi 80 3 speed auto (yep, no overdrive)
#3 - new '96 Camry base model, auto
#4 - new '98 Forester S, 5-speed
#5 - new '00 VW Jetta GLS VR6, auto
The Yakima Basketcase is very nice. I think it's great that you retain the functionality of the cross bars and get a cargo basket as well.
Ken
FWIW, my son & I don't have any issues with the seatbelts in each of our XT AT's. I drive mine for business purposes covering a lot of miles & a lot of entry / exits each day.
However, in the attempt to be intuitive, the auto climate control does require too many operations to deselect the options you don't want for the functions you do. The heating & cooling capacity is outstanding, though.
True, and I'll definitely change to the tallest 70-profile tires that will still clear when the Geolanders wear out. Unfortunately, the improvement will be limited to only about 5% without installing a lift kit, which I wouldn't want to do. Anyt further improvement requires changing the final drives, and the parts & labor cost for that is in the thousands.
On the X1/9, my brother had one for a few years & I was the one who called to work on it over weekends... Mechanical access to the engine compartment was not friendly. The handling was decent with the mid-engine setup but performance was sluggish - in stock trim anyway. Space utilization overall was very deficient. Quite honestly, I preferred the 850 spider as a driver.
In nice weather, so would I; thoroughly enjoyable. In Oregon's 10 months of on/off drizzles, the X1/9 lightweight lift-off targa roof with quick underhood storage would be really nifty. The 5-speed would also be good. Engine access is difficult on any mid-engine car I ever saw.
Sorry about the topic drift. Slapping hand. Done.
Steve, Host
Steve, Host
Foresters wouldn't look quite right in Ferrari Racing Red.
-mike
The ony thing you can do about the gearing, is get a used diffy from another car (maybe the Outback H6?) from a junkyard. If the H6 diffy fits, I'm sure it will be able to handle the power. Or, you can wait until someone totals their A/T XT and buy a diffy from them. In either case, you'll have to recalibrate the speedometer.
-mike
64 Malibu(u) 74 Corolla(n) 78 F-150(n)
81 Citation(n) 73 VW Bus (u) 68 Camaro(u)
71 Fiat 128(u) 74 Fiat 128(u) 63 Nova(u)
XX Valiant(u) 79 Colt(u) 66 El Camino(u)
75 Bronco(u) 81 Bronco(u) 73 Fury(u)
88 T-Bird(n) 94 Explorer(n) 97 Audi A4(n)
01 Audi TT(n) 04 XT & 10 motorcycles.
Note the two 128's. They were his and her cars. I always thought of them as a poor mans'BMW.
Yes, I'm probably older than most of you, but not Jack as he gave his age away already. The last five have been new so I think I may have cured myself and the way I feel about the XT right now may keep me from another purchase for several more years.
I asked several posts before but received no replys, so I'll ask again. Does anyone know of any Subaru Clubs. I live in NE Ohio.
I'd like to thank whoever it was that posted about playing with the seat height. I'm rather tall and by raising the seat it changed the angle on my right ankle and now I'm pretty much satisfied. Thanks.
John
John
-mike
Was flipping between XT 5spd and Baja turbo 5spd. I can buy any subie at invoice through prof assoc, so xt would be ~$23, baja turbo would be ~22. Now I have come across an 04 maxima 5 spd, many options, sticker at $31, but has hail damage and could buy for 24 or 25 grand. But now am getting excited about an 04 Infiniti G35 sedan, 6spd with sunroof for 31 grand sticker, purchase for 29 or 30 grand. ANy thoughts?
Baja turbo: lowest price, utility of truckness, slightly slower than XT, a little better gas mil than XT. Honestly, it's pretty ugly to look at.
XT: Insanely fast acceleration, funky looks, usable cargo, but no messy stuff like baja, a grand more than baja but much nicer interior with wx band radio and climate control, no sunroof versus standard roof on baja.
04 Max 6spd: Luxury, front-drive torque steer, fast, very smooth and lots of neat options, big car, good gas mil (20/29), it's too family car like? (do not need family car), sloppy shifter?
04 G35 4dr 6spd: great styling, superb rear dr chassis, very fast and great top end (146mph), decent mil (20/27), great shifter/clutch, no folding back seat, limited cargo, no offroad ability, possibly would look to rich for my neighborhood (kind of white-trash neighborhood)...it might get vandalized.
Right now I am seriously leaning on G35 with only sunroof option, sticker 31.5k, invoice 28.5k
ANY THOUGHTS??
thanks!
PS - neon turbo with front limited slip! it's only 20grand, as fast or faster than all the above, but it's ugly and it's a chrysler...
Also, would faintly consider wrx wagon but no sunroof, and it's small!
Man, there are some great cars on the market right now!
If you are looking for high performance check out the Subaru STi, if you are looking for utility look at the Forester XT or Baja, if you are looking for performance and looks but don't care about utility check out the 350z. All those cars can be bought for under 30k.
Happy shopping.
overtime
I can under 30k, want something fast, reasonably confortable, fairly reliable, decent mileage, good looking. i currently have a 96 240sx and a 92 pathfinder. right now am leaning toward getting rid of the pathfinder, would like to hold onto the 240 for sentimental reasons and because i love the car. i really like the g35, but haven't driven one yet. i tested the XT and really was impressed with the accel, hwvr it's not exactly sporty, lots of lean in turns, but has a ton of utility and is a fair price, plus i can buy at invoice price. i do not want to look like i bought something real extravigant, and am thinking the g35 might be that way, and i would constantly have to worry about scratching it, etc. i don't really want to stick out via the vehicle i drive, altho it is a 4dr sedan. i really like the z but think for the price the g35 can do almost all the z can plus it is a luxury car but not nearly the chick magnet...
thanks!
Been too busy with other stuff the last few days to keep up on the boards. Plenty to read to catch up. Kind of a long post but lots to update and a couple of questions.
1) Mileage - driving at 80+ on the interstate = 22 mpg. Driving at 65 with cruise control = 22.63. Think I'll stick with the 80 (only when safe, and with good road conditions - I like my speed, but only when safe for myself and fellow highway drivers :<) ).
2) Winterforce tires - I've now driven them in heavy stow, light snow, pouring rain w/50mph crosswinds, snow covered ice, slush - kind of everything I could hope to test out a tire. More than I'd hope to in one season actually.
For $52 a pop from tirerack I think they're a heck of a deal. Got to drive them in the mountains of NH this week in areas that were too much for the Geolanders on my XS. The only downside I've found is they're very noisy depending upon the pavement you're driving on. Sometimes a little noisy, sometimes a lot. I've now put over 1000 very tough miles on them.
3) Rattles - still got that snapping and popping from the dash - pulled the pages from the service manual and have studied the attaching points.
Hope to try to adjust this week. Minor rattle from drivers door at elbow height. Responds well to nudge from elbow.
4) Defroster - When up country this week I hit some foul weather the defroster couldn't keep up with - the snow hit the windshield and iced immediately on the passenger side. Fine on the drives side.
Poor design, or should I be having the dealer take a look?
5) Turbo / engine noise - when I accelerate steadily to 5500 rpm, I get a really loud rattle from the engine - is this wastegate noise? I seldom push the engine past 5k, (maybe twice since I've owned it). Doesn't inspire confidence for going higher - although if I toast anything its under warranty.
Comment about driving the turbo at several thousand feet of elevation - no loss of power at all vs NA engine. I loved it.
Thanks
Larry
If you want more utility you can't beat the XT this side of a $90k Cayenne Turbo. It isn't a sportscar in the corners but people on other forums I'm not supposed to mention have had very good success with changing tires and adding aftermarket swaybars (cheap).
If you want a blend of looks and performance the G35 coupe looks hard to beat but might be slightly outside your price comfort zone.
The G35 sedan doesn't do much for me...its nice...but the Maxima looks as nice...totally personal opinion of course.
OH YEAH. One other car that might be worth looking at is the Mazda RX8...it just beat the Z in the sportscar comparo here at Edmunds. It will seat 4 people (unlike the Z), looks very cool (again, my opinion) and will set you back maybe $26k.
It all depends on what kind of car you are looking for.
overtime