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Comments
Since the XT is supposed to have little lag, does it also wheeze out at high RPM? Does this explain why the horsepower rating is relatively low?
I'd definitely go with the Silver Metallic!
... a color i won't tire of?
Only you can answer that one!
tidester, host
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned how much I liked it!
Wheeze out? I doubt it, I didn't redline the engine, but it felt very satisfying up to 5500rpm, at which point I'd shift.
As far as colors, think about the interior color, too. For instance, I'm tired of beige now, so I want gray for my next car. But then my previous car had a gray interior, so I wanted beige at the time.
-juice
Ken
Satch
-juice, still suffering from XT envy, worse now after the test drive
I'm paying $100 over invoice...
- jb
Both are great vehicles, with different personalities. The Forester IS sportier especially with a 5 sp and "short shifter". The Legacy DID have more rear leg room, but starting in 03 the Forester has an inch or so more. In either case, I have not heard a complaint about that from the rear peanut gallery.
My $.02
Sorry for the off-topic post
CJ
I'd have preferred that all-gray interior to the mixed black-and-grey that is the only choice on XTs. The XT dash, console, and door panels (except armrests) appear to be the same as that all-gray XS interior, but the seats, armrests, and carpets are black. I don't like that as well as the XS look.
As for heat, aren't you able to crack the four windows an inch or so to help reduce interior heat buildup?
Someday I'd like to get two of those slender solar-powered fan gizmos that fit at the top of a door window. After rolling the window up against the fan, it's reasonably secure. Meanwhile, the solar-powered fan circulates a little outside air into the interior. With one on each side (one blowing in, the other exhausting out), you'd get pretty good cross ventilation. Anybody have any firsthand experience with these?
- jack
I'm about to head over to Fry's and pick up a set of Polk EX365 speakers on sale for $49 for the front door to improve my midrange. Anyone had any experience with these? BTW, when people talk about the speakers they've installed, how about giving the mfr. name and exact model number so we can see what works and what doesn't.
My clock problem hasn't returned since I reset it and it keeps great time. Had my first oil change at 1600 miles last weekend and it was a freebie included in the local "Welcome Neighbor" kit I got when I moved to SDiego. Great place, this!
My only gripe so far, in addition to the still unimpressive mileage - I generally cruise the freeways at 3K RPM: at a somewhat husky (cf. "portly") 6'1, I'd like to scoot the driver's seat back further than it goes for more legroom and ease of entry. The rails on which that seat sits extend further back into the rear passenger's legwell than do those on the shotgun side. Besides not being the most visually appealing thing to see every time I open the rear door, it also adds insult to injury by reminding me that there seems plenty of room left on those rails to move the driver's seat back further. Any thoughts on this? Were the rails installed improperly and is safety an issue? I sure would like to take advantage of that wasted room if I could!
I'm thinking about adding the moonroof air deflector to keep some of the windnoise down; anyone have any thoughts here? Someone earlier had mentioned the lack of door wind deflectors, in light of the frameless design. Has anyone found a way around this issue? I like to drive with the windows and roof open, but the rushing air has caused tinnitus and I've been "rolling up" lately.
Finally, any thoughts on the old "brake or downshift" debate? I've got the auto and frequently shift into 3rd when going down hills or coming to a stop, and stay off the brakes as long as possible while I decrease speed. I've also noticed that at low speeds, the auto doesn't shift up when I let go of the gas, but stays in a low gear while slowing down, which is a bit disconcerting at times. Any ideas here?
Happy weekend, all! Mike.
With manual transmissions, you can (and should) blip the throttle at each downshift to speed-match, so that the clutch isn't dragging the engine up to the new RPM. Done properly, I think it's fine to use engine braking to complement the brakes. With automatics, there's no good way to avoid the stress on the transmission each time it downshifts against an engine that's running at lower RPM and at closed throttle. Even on long moderate downgrades, modern all-disk brake systems have plenty of fade resistance to make this unnecessary unless you're towing a heavy load. I manually downshift automatics only when I want to force the transmission to hold a particular gear on twisty roads.
- jack
It was, I believe, a 65 Mustang convertible with a manual tranny. It was a beautiful clear night, the top was down and I was in heaven driving that car from Blacksburg Va. to Petersburg area. I'll never forget it.
Sorry about drifting off the subject a bit.
It's 64.1 on non-sunroof models, and slightly less (around 63, I don't have the exact figure) with the sunroof, because of the lower interior ceiling that extends nearly all the way back.
- jb
I knew somebody would bring that up.
Any help would be appreciated. Would like to purchase before weeks' end if all goes well. OR should we wait for Turbo?
Bob
No need to wait for an XT; they've begun arriving at dealerships in quantity pretty much everywhere in the past week. I'm taking delivery of mine tomorrow evening. My dealer has four others ready to sell.
As for power, I'd guess that the 5-speed manual X or XT (non-turbo) Foresters will be adequate for 80-90% of buyers. If you want the automatic and/or routinely carry (or tow) loads, or if you do a lot of mountain driving, or if (like me) you just like having abundant power in reserve so the car does everything you ask with no strain at all, then the XT is a better choice - and not all that much more expensive. Mine, at $100 over dealer invoice, will be slightly less than $24000 with everything I want, including a $200 boost gauge.
- jack
When I typed "As for power, I'd guess that the 5-speed manual X or XT (non-turbo) Foresters will be adequate for 80-90%..." I obviously meant to say "X or XS".
As for back seat comfort, that's one of the Forester's few real shortcomings. It's probably fine for kids, tolerable for adults for short distances, but almost surely unacceptable for adults for trips of any long duration. And whether or not there's any kneeroom back there depends a lot on how far back you need to set the front seats to be comfortable. Only way to evaluate this is to set a Forester's front seats where you and your husband want them to be, and then try to sit in the back. You may or may not find the back acceptable. In my case, any time I want to carry adults in back, I'll have to move my seat several inches farther forward than I'd prefer. That makes operating the clutch awkward. Fortunately, we also have a full-size Chrysler Concorde with several more years of life left, and with an extremely comfortable and spacious back seat, so that's what we'll usually use to carry adults. When it's due to be replaced, we'll check out the next-generation Legacy to see how adult-friendly its back seat is.
- jack
Thanks,
Satch
The solution really is to go down to Maryland and just get one at Fitzmall or some other giant volume discount place though, at this time, Fitzmall doesn't seem to be discounting the XT nearly as much as the other models. I'm not endorsing them in any way as I've never purchased from them but you can see their inventory online and what they're asking.
I live in New York and sympathize with your position. Be patient if you can or try out Fitzmall and see what you can find.
I'm not sure why that is. Or why we have in the past had to pay a higher freight charge than folks in MD, for example.
I think folks in New England pay an ever higher freight charge.
The ads are right, the XT has "power to spare", as Armstrong says. Given you expressed the concern, there's your answer. The XT is a hoot and if you get one, I'll be jealous!
-juice
At any rate, the turbos are just arriving. It won't be long before there are plenty around to test drive.
Bob
I can't find anything about the vehicle on the Subaru web site - what gives?
I'm getting Popular Equip Grp 1C (rear bumper cover, cargo tray, silver splash guards at $177, Popular Equip Grp 3B (cabin air filter, rear cargo net, gray armrest extension) at $145, column-mount boost gauge at $200, and rubber floor mats at $33. Prices in each case are invoice, not MSRP. If the dealer can get them, I'll also have him install an uncomon option: protective rubber moldings on the four bumper covers - cost not yet known, but somewhere under $100.
Total cost, including $100 over invoice, not counting the last item, is $23,978.
- jack
Each of the six Portland, Oregon area dealers has at least two, most have more. My dealer has five, only one of which is a manual, and that's mine, to be delivered Monday evening.
- jack
Until then, you can check http://www.carsdirect.com and price out an XT with available options.
I'm still waiting for a 'real' brochure on the XT as well. *shrug*
-Brian
http://www.writerguy.com/primitive/skid.htm
IIRC the EPA ratings are 18/23 for the manual, and 19/23 for the auto. Not great but then again what will match its performance that does better in gas mileage?
chassol owns the first auto I've heard of on these boards and got 20.7 on the first tank in mixed driving, not bad at all for a green engine. Remember that Edmunds' XTerras and Escapes typically get 14-16 mpg and are slower.
-juice
-Brian
I'm going to be in Kenosha later this week, and just might have to check out one of those dealers.
If you don't mind a trip north, however, I CAN recommend Bill Kolb, Jr. Subaru in Orangeburg, NY (just north of Alpine, NJ). We've purchased our last two Subarus from Kolb, and couldn't be happier with our experience. Their sales and service departments are excellent! I hope this helps.
Len
(1) WRX - equal or better performance, and trounces the XT on gas mileage.
(2) STi - trounces the XT on performance, and delivers moderately better EPA ratings even though it's much more highly tuned and even weighs more.
- jb
Below 3500rpm, the XT trounces the WRX. There is just no comparison. We're talking about a torque-rich V8 vs. a 4 banger Civic.
The EPA tests are mild, they're done at rpm where the WRX would seem like a slow car (mostly off boost). The city test does not exceed 55mph, while the highway test does not exceed 65mph, IIRC. The XT would be fast, even under those very mild circumstances. Very different IMO.
The Forester is far less aerodynamic than either, also. Plus the XT has the huge side mirrors standard as well as a roof rack.
Chassol reported 20.7mpg, do you really think in the real world an STi owner will do better? ;-)
-juice
(trying to be back 'on-topic') Anyone know how the magic of the AVCS works on the new motor? (I understand what variable valve timing is, but how does it work on the Subie?) When does it start switching modes or timing?
-Brian
Obviously I assume you're right; I'll be driving an XTpicking up an XT tonight, not a WRX.I've never driven a WRX. Some magazine testers (and owners) assert that the WRX is fine at low-to-mid RPM; others say it's flat as a pancake below 3500-4000. Is the car schizophrenic, or just the drivers?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item- =2420772169&category=13484
I have no firsthand knowledge quite yet, but the pre-purchase research I did indicated that the Subaru AVCS is continuously variable, and thus would not have discrete modes, as some other systems do. On the 2.5 liter STi/XT/Baja engines, it's applied only to the intakes. I saw a note on a Japanese site indicating that the next-gen Legacy will have dual-mode AVCS. I took that to mean that variable valve timing may be fitted to both the intakes and the exhausts.
- jack
I've always said, the WRX has a split personality. It's a docile, efficient commuter up until 3000 rpm. Then boost builds and it's an animal.
I really think the EPA test does not take the WRX into the rpm range where it's making lots of boost (if any).
The Forester IS fast at 3000rpm, it's fast at 2000rpm. Heck, it almost doesn't matter what gear or what speed, I hit the throttle and it just lunged forward immediately.
Obviously the boost comes on much sooner so it's using more fuel, more often than the WRX.
-juice