Article Comments - 2009 Subaru Forester XT First Drive and Full Test

71 messages, Last post on Aug 26, 2009 at 11:14 AM

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon, SUV

First Drive: 2009 Subaru Forester XT - First Impressions: The style factor is up, but so is the practicality.(more)

Full Test: 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited - Bottom Line: Bigger and better, the quirky little Forester has become a grown-up SUV. (more)

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#24 of 71 Re: New Forester [kurtamaxxxguy] by kdshapiro Apr 06, 2008 (4:58 pm)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 05, 2008 2:30 pm) I would like to know what the final drive ratios are for the 09 vs the 05 for the auto. Replies to this message: tinycadon (Apr 06, 2008 6:05 pm) kdshapiro (Apr 06, 2008 6:12 pm) ateixeira (Apr 07, 2008 9:34 am)
#25 of 71 Re: New Forester [kdshapiro] by tinycadon Apr 06, 2008 (6:05 pm)
Replying to: kdshapiro (Apr 06, 2008 4:58 pm) You can find a lot of Subaru info from this guy's website: http://www.cars101.com/ 2005 Automatic: 1st 3.027, 2nd 1.619, 3rd 1,0, 4th 0.694, rev 2.272, final 4.444 Turbo: 1st 2.785, 2nd 1.545, 3rd 1.0, 4th 0.694, rev 2.272, final 4.444 2009 Automatic: 1st 2.785, 2nd 1.545, 3rd 1.0, 4th 0.694, rev 2.272, final 4.444 Turbo: 1st 2.785, 2nd 1.545, 3rd 1.0, 4th 0.694, rev 2.272, final 4.111 Replies to this message: kdshapiro (Apr 06, 2008 6:12 pm) ateixeira (Apr 07, 2008 9:34 am)
#26 of 71 Re: New Forester [tinycadon] by kdshapiro Apr 06, 2008 (6:12 pm)
Replying to: tinycadon (Apr 06, 2008 6:05 pm) Thanks! Interesting so with the turbo the automatic has a lower ratio. That may make a bit of difference cruising at highway speed. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Apr 07, 2008 9:34 am)
#27 of 71 Re: New Forester [kdshapiro] by ateixeira Apr 07, 2008 (9:34 am)
Replying to: kdshapiro (Apr 06, 2008 6:12 pm) Yep, and we should remember the torque peak occurs sooner with the new state of tune for this engine, so it should not feel much slower. This is probably how they got the fuel economy numbers to improve.
#29 of 71 XT Fuel economy by hank119 Apr 12, 2008 (7:35 am)
I'm considering the Subaru Forester but in this era of high fuel prices I am turned off the XT version because of the requirement for Premium gas. I was unable to find any mention of this in the article. This factor makes an appreciable differerence in fuel cost and the writer's quoting of EPA mileage is incomplete without mentioning this. I'm going to test drive the non-turbo version with automatic tranny. Have test driven the Rav4 and like it very much. My requirement is for a vehicle which can tow at least 2000 lbs short distances and up a slippery boat ramp. If not for the premium gas the XT would certainly be a contender. It's surprising how few small vehicles there are which can tow 2000 lbs with reasonable fuel economy. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Apr 14, 2008 7:38 am) kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 14, 2008 1:18 pm) ateixeira (Apr 15, 2008 8:39 am) and 4 more...
#30 of 71 Re: XT Fuel economy [hank119] by ateixeira Apr 14, 2008 (7:38 am)
Replying to: hank119 (Apr 12, 2008 7:35 am) What about an LL Bean model? 170hp should be adequate if fuel economy is your goal. FWIW, premium fuel is recommend but not required. The higher boost Legacy GT engine does require premium. Replies to this message: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 14, 2008 1:18 pm) ateixeira (Apr 15, 2008 8:39 am) kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 16, 2008 8:09 am) and 3 more...
#31 of 71 Re: XT Fuel economy [ateixeira] by kurtamaxxxguy Apr 14, 2008 (1:18 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 14, 2008 7:38 am) Actually, the Forester manual states that you can use lower-than-Premium (91 octane) only in emergencies. Steady use of lower octane fuel may cause the "check engine" light to go on, at which point you have to go to the dealer to get it reset (and the dealer will know __why__ that light is one). Subaru has a marketing video discussing engine overheating being one concern of using lower octane fuel. Subaru redesigned the Tribeca's motor with a new parallel flow cooling system to alleviate that. The video can be found on Youtube.com Replies to this message: ateixeira (Apr 15, 2008 8:39 am) kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 16, 2008 8:09 am) ateixeira (Apr 16, 2008 9:09 am) and 2 more...
#32 of 71 Re: XT Fuel economy [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira Apr 15, 2008 (8:39 am)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 14, 2008 1:18 pm) Get an OBDII scanner, mine was $99. I used it on my sister's car just yesterday. It paid for itself a long time ago. Around here we get 93 octane, a bit overkill. Replies to this message: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 16, 2008 8:09 am) ateixeira (Apr 16, 2008 9:09 am) kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 20, 2008 4:32 pm) and 1 more...
#33 of 71 Re: XT Fuel economy [ateixeira] by kurtamaxxxguy Apr 16, 2008 (8:09 am)
Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 15, 2008 8:39 am) Not sure where the ODBII port is in the '09 Forester. On the GM cars it's right under the driver's left knee. It wasn't there when I looked under the Forester dash. Octane here is 92 - I think Subie requires 91, so perhaps I can get away with intermediate every so often which is 90 (average of 92 and 90 = 91). Replies to this message: ateixeira (Apr 16, 2008 9:09 am) kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 20, 2008 4:32 pm) ateixeira (Apr 21, 2008 12:01 pm)