* Click HERE to see a video on the Subaru Forester *
What an engine!
I can still remember my very first car. It was a 1986 power-blue Subaru GL station wagon. Despite the lethargic 82-horsepower flat-four engine, the lifeless steering that required about 15 turns lock-to-lock, and the fact that I looked very un-cool in a family car at 16 years old, I had a good time with it.
My '86 Subie had plenty of space for me and my friends cutting class. Just like a clown car, 10 of us could climb aboard, the engine clattering for mercy. Its big black bumpers were great; I could frequently push my buddy's Chevette right through a red light as he was scrambling to shift into reverse. Its five doors made Chinese Fire Drills a daily hobby. But there was one typical teenager pastime that I could never do. With an engine that revved slower than a can opener, I could never imagine dropping the clutch and drag race down the streets of my hometown.
Now, if I would've had this Forester XT instead of my GL wagon, I would have ruled the streets and be the Chinese Fire Drill master at the same time.
With 230 horsepower, this 2.5XT sport-utility is a veritable road rocket. Its acceleration is pretty impressive, and it's so much fun to embarrass Mustangs and slammed Civics at stoplights. Imagine getting smoked by a family wagon. I feel like I'm sixteen again! That is, until I yell "Chinese Fire Drill!", run around the car and get back in, but my girlfriend and kids are looking at me like I was cracking up. I hate getting old.
Anyways, it's such a joy to drive the blown Forester, with the Boxer engine clattering and the turbocharger whistling. The 16-valve, 2.5-litre 4-cylinder is the same one that now powers the mighty Impreza WRX. The five-speed manual is smooth and fairly precise, and it feels like the turbocharger spools up at around 3,500 rpm, so make sure that you'll be in that rev range when upshifting, or you'll feel a slight hesitation at full throttle. Forward motion is most entertaining in second gear, that's when it feels like it's accelerating the hardest.
Like I've mentioned above, the 1.8-litre flat-four in my old Subaru GL was slow to rev, but not the one in the Forester. It claps to its 7,000 rpm redline without warning, so if you're not paying attention, you'll accelerate right past its rev limit, which will cut off the fuel supply as well as the fun. Lots of low-rpm torque is good; it allows to you pass on the highway
without downshifting from 5th gear. However, a tall sixth speed in the transmission would be a welcome addition for saving gas when driving at the posted speed limit. I averaged 14 L/100 km, which is a little high, but fuel consumption should improve after a few speeding tickets.
Although the powertrain is addictive, the heavy clutch is not. Under hard acceleration, you don't give it too much thought, but when you're stuck in traffic, your left leg feels like it's going to break straight down your femur. Maybe this problem only affected this abused press vehicle. We'll have to find out when we get our hands on another test car.
What an engine!
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| 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
My '86 Subie had plenty of space for me and my friends cutting class. Just like a clown car, 10 of us could climb aboard, the engine clattering for mercy. Its big black bumpers were great; I could frequently push my buddy's Chevette right through a red light as he was scrambling to shift into reverse. Its five doors made Chinese Fire Drills a daily hobby. But there was one typical teenager pastime that I could never do. With an engine that revved slower than a can opener, I could never imagine dropping the clutch and drag race down the streets of my hometown.
Now, if I would've had this Forester XT instead of my GL wagon, I would have ruled the streets and be the Chinese Fire Drill master at the same time.
With 230 horsepower, this 2.5XT sport-utility is a veritable road rocket. Its acceleration is pretty impressive, and it's so much fun to embarrass Mustangs and slammed Civics at stoplights. Imagine getting smoked by a family wagon. I feel like I'm sixteen again! That is, until I yell "Chinese Fire Drill!", run around the car and get back in, but my girlfriend and kids are looking at me like I was cracking up. I hate getting old.
 |
| 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
Like I've mentioned above, the 1.8-litre flat-four in my old Subaru GL was slow to rev, but not the one in the Forester. It claps to its 7,000 rpm redline without warning, so if you're not paying attention, you'll accelerate right past its rev limit, which will cut off the fuel supply as well as the fun. Lots of low-rpm torque is good; it allows to you pass on the highway
 |
| 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
Although the powertrain is addictive, the heavy clutch is not. Under hard acceleration, you don't give it too much thought, but when you're stuck in traffic, your left leg feels like it's going to break straight down your femur. Maybe this problem only affected this abused press vehicle. We'll have to find out when we get our hands on another test car.