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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#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)
#34 of 71 Re: XT Fuel economy [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira Apr 16, 2008 (9:09 am)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 16, 2008 8:09 am) It should be under the steering column, to the left. Open the door wide and you should see it if you peek up at the bottom of the steering column. It was that way for 1998 models, and for my sister's 2003 as well. Replies to this message: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 20, 2008 4:32 pm) ateixeira (Apr 21, 2008 12:01 pm)
#35 of 71 Re: XT Fuel economy [ateixeira] by kurtamaxxxguy Apr 20, 2008 (4:32 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 16, 2008 9:09 am) Yes it is, centered right under the columm and just behind the leading edge of the lower dash. Thanks for tip. ...though it was kinda cheap of Subaru to leave off any kind of driver side under dash cover keeping feet from all that wiring and sharp edged brackets (there are attachment holes for one). A nice touch on the Malibu was they covered all that stuff. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Apr 21, 2008 12:01 pm)
#36 of 71 Re: XT Fuel economy [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira Apr 21, 2008 (12:01 pm)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 20, 2008 4:32 pm) I wonder if they do it on the Legacy and Tribeca, perhaps.
#37 of 71 Article note on the Turbo by kurtamaxxxguy May 11, 2008 (7:07 pm)
Everything I have been reading wrt the USA Forester suggests that yes, it did get a new turbo design for '09, apparently a Twin Scroll version that greatly improves drivability and gets rid of the old school "turbo rush". But...the Edmunds article suggested this is the same turbo used by the Outback and Legacy. Not as far as I can tell, for Subaru did not change the turbos for '08, and the Outback XTs' I drove were no way as drivable as the Forester was. In the '08 Outback, turbo power didn't kick in until around 3 - 3.5K RPM. When it did, there was a big rush from the engine that made it kinda a chore to drive in city traffic (one sample I drove was like a bucking bronco). Sometimes it took 2 or more seconds after pushing the accelerator before the car would respond, and that was in Sport Sharp! With the Forester, if the revs are around 2500 or higher, you get turbo right away, if not as big a rush at the end of the acceleration. If you push the accelerator, you get action in no less than a second or so. My guess is possibly in '09, and definitely in '10, we'll see the new turbo and other enhancements on the Outback.