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Wagons Subaru Crew Subaru Forester 2009 Subaru Forester
3418 messages, Last post on Jul 03, 2009 at 2:37 PM
You are in the Subaru Forester Forum. Your Host is kcram
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Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Dec 01, 2008 3:21 pm) |
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Like many other cars these days, the Forester’s navigation has the annoying safety feature that disables many of the navigation functions once the car is moving. For example, one cannot search for an address or a point of interest while driving. I understand the safety concerns associated with operating the navigation while driving, but I think at least the passenger should be able to operate the navigation while the car is in motion. On a recent road trip, we had to exit the highway and stop the car before we could look up a nearby chain restaurant in the navigation which was several exits away. I almost wished I had stuck with my handheld navigation and had not forked up the extra money for the navigation in the Subie. My web search shows after market devices that disable the safety features of the navigation on different cars, but they seem to need elaborate installation and I don't know how they’d work with the Subaru. Any feedback in this area would be appreciated. |
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In reference to some poor mileage comments. I posted an item about a year ago on this. With the winter season here it might be timely to briefly summarize my previous post. I live in Michigan (Yooperland to Bob)about the same latitude as Duluth Minnesota. After about 50 years of winter driving here are my observations. It takes an immense amount of energy for an engine to bring the engine oil, transmission fluids, brake fluids, hydraulics, power steering pumps, air conditioning units, etc. up to operating temperature so they function freely. While this is occurring your ECU is helping the engine to feed the extra energy (gas) to the engine until normal operating temperatures are there. Of course the colder it is the longer this takes. Another caution...Never shut your engine off until the engine is at normal temperature if it is below freezing. The various resins, alkalies, carbon, and distillates will accumulate very quickly and given enough time ruin an engine. I've seen cases when the drain plug was pulled that the oil wouldn't even flow from not getting a chance to cook those residuals off. Many people attribute low mileage to "winter gas'. The effects of winter gas when measured are almost negligible. It's the energy used to heat fluids that causes the mileage difference. Jim
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Replying to: w8ifi (Dec 03, 2008 10:16 pm) Currently, I am driving an old '98 Ford Escort w/ MT. I put Amsoil 0w-30 in this car as well, but the owner's manual states this car uses ATF in its manual transmission (?!).... seems odd, but I did not take the time to verify this and/or switch fluids. There is no heater on the transmission, and at temps as "warm" as -20F, the transmission is so gummy that it is difficult to maneuver the gear shifter. I went from an average economy of 35 this summer to as low as 24.5 (average for November) so far this winter. For my 1998 Dodge minivan, it was achieving mileage of about 15 mpg last winter with amsoil engine oil and Chrysler ATF+3 transmission fluid. This winter, with the same engine oil and Amsoil synthetic universal transmission fluid, it is running 16.5 to 17. What's more, that is with my wife driving it almost exclusively this winter, and she usually gets about 1 mpg less than I do as a result of driving habits. Last winter, I was the primary driver. 
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Replying to: w8ifi (Dec 03, 2008 10:16 pm) For me, the first 2 miles are so are all about warm up, so on a 4 mile drive that means you're engine isn't being efficiently at least half the time. I drove our Forester last night, fully warmed up, and zero'd the trip meter to see how high I could get. I was going 55 or so, drafted a truck for a little bit, and coasted down hill when I could, and was able to hit 36.0mpg, my personal record. That's not practical all the time, plus it didn't include the warm up, but so far on that tank we're getting about 26 mpg or so, so it's the warm up and the less efficient driving techniques the rest of the time costing us that 10mpg. |
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Replying to: w8ifi (Dec 03, 2008 10:16 pm) I remember an instant improvement in FE when I switched to synthetic in the old WRX.
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I missed a bunch, too busy at work. Let's see, people asked about reliability, well I got good news from TrueDelta, that web site that registers VINs of actual vehicles and tracks reliability as things happen, and they actually said the 2009 Forester was a stand-out among new models this year. They singled out 2 of the best new cars, and it was one of them.  Kurt commented that the non-turbo engine was responsive, and I have to agree, in fact I've said that all along. volkov mentioned it was the higher compression (agreed) and that the gearing was the same in the 1st three gears. True, except the turbo has a taller final drive ratio. So effective gearing is taller on the turbo, another reason the non-turbo feels more responsive until the turbo spools up. As mentioned here, the Ltd model does have the power seat. So as you step up among the naturally aspirated models, you get a lot of the content of the XT. One thing you don't get is the telescoping wheel, but the position is fine for both me and my wife, so we don't miss that. kurt: what do you mean by "dry lubricant" in post 2635? Just curious. TPMS saved us, too. It went off and sure enough, one tire had low pressure. I know some people complain and don't want to see more idiot lights, but this one is actually useful.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 04, 2008 1:39 pm) Liquid Wrench and a few other companies make this, usually sold at Home Depot and other builder supply stores. Wrt the Nokian WRG2's, they seem to be doing fine. Pressure is 34 front, 32 rear (PSI). They've definitely made the XT's ride less harsh on small bumps, and seem to grip the road better. So far the front doors, with vibration supression insulation added by the dealer under warranty, have stayed quiet.
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Replying to: xwesx (Dec 04, 2008 9:33 am) Jim
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Replying to: volkov (Dec 04, 2008 1:12 pm) My Subaru will warm up well in two miles, my chrysler takes 6 miles at highway speeds. Jim
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