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Old 03-31-2013, 09:44 PM   #2776
A W
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gathermewool View Post
I was really excited for a good comparo, since I'd definitely be cross-shopping each. Sadly, this was nearly worthless...
Not completely. I like their ideas and tests but we need to see what the competition could do too (or couldn't). It's obviously biased but not completely worthless so far.
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Old 03-31-2013, 10:12 PM   #2777
staryoshi
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They didn't show 3 of the 4 other cars going up the sandy dune hill :/ I too wanted to see more of the competition.
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Old 03-31-2013, 10:27 PM   #2778
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That video was dumb. At least show the interesting aspect (i.e. how the competitors fail compared to the Forester).

This video was just a poorly done version of the Ford/Chevy truck comparison videos of recent. SOA should have done better.
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Old 04-01-2013, 12:15 AM   #2779
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Dumb vid. And since when are LEOs an authority on driving dynamics?
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Old 04-02-2013, 10:59 PM   #2780
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Finally drove a Touring XT today. Pretty sure Ill be buyin one. Pretty impressed with the drivability of this rig. Think Subaru nailed it. Seats were very firm, but after about 45m in the seat, I wouldn't say I was uncomfortable. Suspension, power, and tranny all felt really good.
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Old 04-03-2013, 01:25 AM   #2781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brahmzy View Post
Finally drove a Touring XT today. Pretty sure Ill be buyin one. Pretty impressed with the drivability of this rig. Think Subaru nailed it. Seats were very firm, but after about 45m in the seat, I wouldn't say I was uncomfortable. Suspension, power, and tranny all felt really good.
You got a big or flat butt? or no butt at all?
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Old 04-03-2013, 11:22 AM   #2782
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For those concerned about how well child seats fit into the new Forester, Cars.com's "Car Seat Check" blog now has an entry for it at http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...heck.html#more.
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Old 04-03-2013, 01:58 PM   #2783
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I drove the car to pa last night, about 109 miles each way, my friend drove on the way back. They said it was quiet nice to drive, my friend loved the visibility. I'm still loving the car, about 1600 miles in now.
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Old 04-03-2013, 02:51 PM   #2784
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Quote:
Originally Posted by emac08 View Post
You got a big or flat butt? or no butt at all?
LOL
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Old 04-03-2013, 03:35 PM   #2785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocoa Beach Bum View Post
For those concerned about how well child seats fit into the new Forester, Cars.com's "Car Seat Check" blog now has an entry for it at http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...heck.html#more.
I installed my daughter's rear-facing convertible in the Premium that I test drove. It was extremely easy to get in and tight thanks to the firm lower cushions. The lower cushions in my Mazda5 are so spongey that it's extremely difficult to get the seat in properly
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Old 04-03-2013, 10:39 PM   #2786
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lcrazyaznl View Post
I drove the car to pa last night, about 109 miles each way, my friend drove on the way back. They said it was quiet nice to drive, my friend loved the visibility. I'm still loving the car, about 1600 miles in now.
I, too, loved the visibility when I drove a 2014 Forester. Read my long-ass windbag review here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/11547941...ts/Nxys1bHKP8X
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Old 04-04-2013, 12:25 AM   #2787
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocoa Beach Bum View Post
For those concerned about how well child seats fit into the new Forester, Cars.com's "Car Seat Check" blog now has an entry for it at http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...heck.html#more.
Good post!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brahmzy View Post
LOL
I only say this because it's flat so those with big butts or whom are obese should def love the room... And I myself have a flat/no butt and don't really like the seats. They could have some added bolstering to keep me in one place hahahhaha
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Old 04-04-2013, 04:04 PM   #2788
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shikataganai View Post
I, too, loved the visibility when I drove a 2014 Forester. Read my long-ass windbag review here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/11547941...ts/Nxys1bHKP8X
Good job w/the review. Our '06 Outback 3.0R was just right w/2 kids (once out of those darn rear-facing seats). 3 kids put us in a Pilot instead. Love the room but definitely miss driving the Outback, and the vastly superior AWD. If it were me, I'd go for the Forester until (if/when) that 3rd kid arrives, especially with the now-larger backseat.
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Old 04-05-2013, 12:33 AM   #2789
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Purchased an XT touring Forester last week for the wife. I really like it. Ride is surprisingly firm. Have not played much with the paddle shifting SI drive yet because still in the breakin period. I definitely think Subaru hit a bullseye with this one. I can't wait to really start having some fun with it. If they ever make an STI version with a 6spd manual I might just have to pass on my planned purchase of the `15 WRX to replace my bugeyed rex.
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Old 04-05-2013, 01:18 AM   #2790
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IronChef View Post
Purchased an XT touring Forester last week for the wife. I really like it. Ride is surprisingly firm. Have not played much with the paddle shifting SI drive yet because still in the breakin period. I definitely think Subaru hit a bullseye with this one. I can't wait to really start having some fun with it. If they ever make an STI version with a 6spd manual I might just have to pass on my planned purchase of the `15 WRX to replace my bugeyed rex.

Was told by a SOA service manager that you shouldn't baby these new engines, but play with them. Take that as you will...

The conversation started with the oil consumption of the N/A motors.
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Old 04-05-2013, 07:27 AM   #2791
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Originally Posted by JustyWRC View Post
Was told by a SOA service manager that you shouldn't baby these new engines, but play with them. Take that as you will...

The conversation started with the oil consumption of the N/A motors.
Just show them some Subaru right-foot love, right? Because that's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru... love.

--kC
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Old 04-05-2013, 08:09 AM   #2792
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Just show them some Subaru right-foot love, right? Because that's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru... broken ringlands

--kC
fixed for you
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Old 04-05-2013, 08:45 AM   #2793
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fixed for you
How do you get a broken ringland from an OEM stock tune (which are known to be quite conservative to prevent detonation)?

I would think the Forester XT wouldn't be leaned out all that much yet considering it's a new design...

--kC
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Old 04-05-2013, 09:10 AM   #2794
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How do you get a broken ringland from an OEM stock tune (which are known to be quite conservative to prevent detonation)?

--kC
You mean like the '08 STI that leaned out near redline to meet emissions? The only people who weren't busting ringlands were those of us who had a more realistic stage 1 tune installed during break-in.

*the FA20 DIT in the Forester shouldn't have this issue... I'm just sayin'...
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Old 04-05-2013, 09:57 AM   #2795
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Yeah, it's not an STi engine. 4 years later, I think Subaru would have learned their lesson.

--kC
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Old 04-05-2013, 10:45 AM   #2796
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Originally Posted by KC View Post
Yeah, it's not an STi engine. 4 years later, I think Subaru would have learned their lesson.

--kC
They still have to tune for EPA emissions regulations, rather than true engineering correctness. Government is not an entity that I would trust to make those two things one in the same.
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Old 04-05-2013, 11:45 AM   #2797
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But the direct injection component gives them a lot more control over detonation and NOx near redline than the 19+yo EJ did with it's traditional port injection.
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Old 04-05-2013, 11:47 AM   #2798
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Hi all,

After ordering my Forester 2.5i Touring with EyeSight at the end of January and originally being given a March 11 delivery date, my Forester finally arrived on April 2.

The VIN# was different than the one originally listed in my dealer's system for the Mar 11 delivery, so for those of you whose order dates are slipping, I wouldn't be surprised if Subaru shifts around allocations for logistical reasons.

The late delivery was a blessing in disguise: Subaru reset the "Guaranteed Trade-In Program" maximum mileage limits on April 2, and my 2010 Outback's 30k limit was raised to 45k (I had 36k on it, causing me a $1200 penalty at $0.20/mile). The elimination of my $1200 penalty more than offset the slight GTP monthly depreciation, and so my trade-in value went up by -- get this -- $705 overnight!! I could almost hear the steam coming out of the sales manager's ears in the back room, but they honored it without hesitation. I felt like I won the lottery!!

I've had the car for 2 days now and am extremely pleased with it. There's been so many first impressions here, but I'll try to focus on my unique details. Here are some highlights:
  • First, for those that find their Forester twitchy, please check your tire pressure. Dealers often leave the tires over-inflated from shipment (meant to keep them from getting flat spots on the cargo ship). Forester 2.5i is 30psi front, 29 back IIRC, and XT is 33psi front, 32 back IIRC.
  • Took me a while to find my new optimal seating position, and I was a bit worried given the relatively short bottom cushion, but I'm really happy now and have no issues with thigh support. I found that being lower and further back worked better for me than high up, given how high the position is to begin with.
  • Also, thanks to the wonderful adjustable headrests no longer pushing my head forward, I found that I am comfortable with a much more vertical seat back position than my Outback, allowing me to stay within good reach of steering wheel despite having the seat so far back. Very, very comfortable now.
  • It's 2014, but the Gentex Homelink rear view mirror is STILL not compatible with newer (> ~2010) Chamberlain, Liftmaster, and Craftsman rolling code garage door openers. You will need to go to Homelink.com and read the FAQ for ordering a repeater, which should be free and resolves the problem.
  • Initial Bluetooth sync with the nav was super-easy, but I had a terrible time keeping my phone from prompting me for permissions to pair EVERY time I turned the car on, even though I checked the box "never ask again". It seems this is a quirk with Android Jelly Bean. The solution was convoluted but worked, and I found it through Google. It basically involves letting the phone sync your phonebook, then erase the connection from your Android phone (but not on the nav), rename the Bluetooth name on your phone to anything different, re-pair but decline permissions to sync the phonebook. Change the phonebook autosync settings in the nav to "No". Now it automatically connects every time without having to take the phone out of my pocket. Downside is that the contacts in the nav do not update with my phone -- it's like a snapshot in time. Not a big deal to me at all.
  • The voice commands on this car with the nav are FANTASTIC compared to my 2010 Outback. You can do almost everything by voice -- including searching iPod by artist, and speaking a specific street address for the nav while driving. So the nav lockouts while driving are less annoying because you can do it by voice. Even natural phrases like "Find a gas station near here" work. And the recognition seems to be pretty accurate. You can also speak your cell phone contact names without having to train it. So all 200+ of my contacts are now accessible to me while driving, even though they are locked out on the touchscreen.
  • IIRC, the manual states you can program 5 speed-dial numbers, but it's actually 10. These speed-dial #'s are accessible even while in motion, so it's great for the people you call the most.
  • The nav seems to be universally criticized, but it is really massively feature rich and once you get past the learning curve, it seems to work quite well. I'm quite happy with it so far. Only quirks I have found are that when you enter a street name, it sometimes gets VERY laggy while searching the database for a match, and the voice search for iPod by artist will only play the first album by that artist.
  • Also, the Aha app works flawlessly with my Motorola RAZR MAXX HD, and it even reads out my Facebook wall while driving, streams audio books and radio stations, and so much more. I've only just touched the surface and it seems like a promising technology. I'm curious how it will evolve. For Android phones, it must be paired via Bluetooth and be compatible with media audio profile. I guess that's how they stream the data. FYI, the manual says that for iPod, you must use it through the USB connection.
  • Handling for the 2.5i meets my expectations -- definitely WAY better than the 2010 Outback 3.6R, which had much more body lean. The Forester feels way more composed and neutral coming out of a fast turn. I still may consider putting the 19mm rear sway bar on to make it even more solid feeling. I have to check if it still uses the same one as the WRX/Impreza/Outback/old Forester. The low rolling resistance Yokohamas definitely show their weakness if you try to take a turn too fast, but they're not quite as bad as I thought they'd be, losing traction gradually rather than suddenly breaking free.
  • Oh, and when driving home from the dealer with 7 miles on the car, through secondary roads, hills, and stoplights, I got 27 MPG!! That put a big smile on my face for lots of fuel savings to come.
  • Lastly, for comparison, I have also driven my wife's uncle's new XT, and I have no regrets getting the 2.5i. The turbo XT is definitely faster (and deceptively so with the smooth CVT), but the 2.5i is still quite peppy in real-world suburban driving. I also prefer the platinum gray 2-tone interior. I think with a thicker rear sway bar and some grabbier tires, it'll probably handle as well as an XT, too.
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Old 04-05-2013, 01:56 PM   #2799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HipToBeSquare View Post
Nice... barn door sized side mirrors, that actually hinder front quarter visibility instead, and are aero drag brakes.

Shoulder room is good... but were people really hurting for headroom in the Forester?

I suppose I should probably take this discussion to the 2014 Forester thread...

I hope Subaru does continue to sell lots of cars, but I hope they do something actually compelling with the revenue generated.
The mirror didn't get in the way of anything when I drove the new Impreza. Visibility was better because of the small A-pillar window. Mind explaining? Also, I thought having door-mounted side mirrors actually helped decrease drag because of how small the arms are? I remember reading a statement about that from Subaru when the car was first released... I'll have to check out their media site.

@eps105: Congrats! Sweet deal on the trade-in!
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Old 04-05-2013, 02:07 PM   #2800
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Hi all,
Great review, thanks. Funny, I haven't heard of a single XT owner getting anywhere near the 23/28. Lets hope break-ins make it better. Good to hear the 2.5s are getting the advertised mpg. The XT guys said they drove like grandmas and still were barely in the 20s. Any XT owners wanna chime in?
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