small suv good in snow

[Tin]

Neither engine in the Subaru is compelling, but I just couldn't live in mountain country with the 2.5. 0-60 in 9.6 seconds is a very tough pill to swallow.

From Edmunds:
"The standard, four-cylinder Outback 2.5i has enough power for safe highway merging, but load it up with people and gear and it feels overwhelmed, especially if you're driving at high elevation. Around town, the jumpy responsiveness of the gas pedal and the spongy brake pedal also make the 2.5i harder to drive smoothly than it should be. The six-cylinder provides more punch, and if you frequently load up the car or live in a mountainous area, you're going to want this larger engine. Its fuel economy penalty isn't that bad, especially if you go easy on the throttle."

But these are personal decisions, and you no doubt believed that the $350 or so saved per year on gas was worth the performance penalty. There isn't a right or wrong answer - just what works best for you. That's why they have different models.

Congratulations the new purchase! It's an upgrade from the Civic, for sure.

The 2.5 is a slug but a big time money saver. It has a lot less mechanical issues than the turbo or 6 cylinder and a lot more room under the hood to work with (less labor costs).


Congrats TB! Definitely make sure it was not one of the June productions that has loose calipers and hubs, no big issue just a torque wrench to double check them.

 

[thetrailboss]

The 2.5 is a slug but a big time money saver. It has a lot less mechanical issues than the turbo or 6 cylinder and a lot more room under the hood to work with (less labor costs).


Congrats TB! Definitely make sure it was not one of the June productions that has loose calipers and hubs, no big issue just a torque wrench to double check them.

I will look into that Tin. Thanks. It had some pep for me and most of my driving is highway. My trips to the mountain are usually solo or in the Highlander. So is it a beast? No. But traded that off for cost, 0% APR, better mileage, more toys, and mileage.

 

[Tin]

I will look into that Tin. Thanks. It had some pep for me and most of my driving is highway. My trips to the mountain are usually solo or in the Highlander. So is it a beast? No. But traded that off for cost, 0% APR, better mileage, more toys, and mileage.

Yup, there is nothing wrong with the 2.5. If it gets you from A to B safely, who cares!

 

[billski]

I take these "professional reviews" with a grain of salt. Either these guys want to drag race when the light turns green or drive like a Masshole. If one drives with civility and patience, you'll get there 1:45 after the "professional". Fill up the car? with what, a bunch of 300 pound passengers? 'Cmon, how many people really drive this thing with four adults in it or are transporting gold bullion? Overwhelmed at high altitude? WTF, wrong octane Edmunds? I also don't get this "smoothly" comment. The reviewer must have a lead foot from the start. Every car's gas pedal takes some getting used to. Spongy brakes? Sounds like tailgate driving to me.

I bought mine for its smaller size, great gas mileage (34mpg from Boston to Franconia Notch) more to reduce my carbon footprint, but the cost savings doesn't hurt. Clearance, visibility, go-most-anywhere have great value for me.

VT, what's the problem with 0-60 in 9.6 seconds? What does that get you? I just don't get it.

FD: 2016 Forester 2.5 Limited with x-mode. I haul more maintenance gear to forest trailheads and back country destinations, and winter drive north mostly during snowstorms. Daily commute is a mundane experience I could do just fine in any vehicle.

 

[thetrailboss]

I take these "professional reviews" with a grain of salt. Either these guys want to drag race when the light turns green or drive like a Masshole. If one drives with civility and patience, you'll get there 1:45 after the "professional". Fill up the car? with what, a bunch of 300 pound passengers? 'Cmon, how many people really drive this thing with four adults in it or are transporting gold bullion? Overwhelmed at high altitude? WTF, wrong octane Edmunds? I also don't get this "smoothly" comment. The reviewer must have a lead foot from the start. Every car's gas pedal takes some getting used to. Spongy brakes? Sounds like tailgate driving to me.

I bought mine for its smaller size, great gas mileage (34mpg from Boston to Franconia Notch) more to reduce my carbon footprint, but the cost savings doesn't hurt. Clearance, visibility, go-most-anywhere have great value for me.

VT, what's the problem with 0-60 in 9.6 seconds? What does that get you? I just don't get it.

FD: 2016 Forester 2.5 Limited with x-mode. I haul more maintenance gear to forest trailheads and back country destinations, and winter drive north mostly during snowstorms. Daily commute is a mundane experience I could do just fine in any vehicle.

I agree. I read Edmunds and Car and Driver. Both only had the low power issue with the car. That was it. I also realized that these guys sit around all day and test drive cars for fun. Many probably have pretty expensive high performance cars on their own because it's their life.

And you'll probably like that we went with the PZEV version.

Off topic Bill I saw that you mention that you lug trail maintenance gear and have seen your posts that you've been volunteering time to help the WMNF. That's a great thing to do. Those trails see a lot of use. Had I still been in NE I would do the same. Thanks for doing that hard yeoman's work.

 

[billski]

I agree. ... Thanks for doing that hard yeoman's work.

Any compliment coming from trailboss is quite a compliment indeed. I appreciate your kind words.

You know, I have pzev on my car, but it wasn't anything I asked for. I just thought they all came that way.

BTW, I even spilled a quart of paint in back on the rubber mats and got it all gouged up from the cutter mattock the first month I had it. That's the other thing about it, I just don't worry about it getting scuffed up. Enjoy your Forester. I'm a small guy so I pump the seat way up high and love the sloping hood. It gives me great visibility on forest roads going up a steep incline and can't see a damned thing.

 

[VTKilarney]

Trailboss,

I have no doubt that the car will work for you. No doubt at all.

Billski, the acceleration issue definitely comes into play when trying to pass on a non-interstate highway. For me, living in Vermont, it's a actually a safety issue. I wouldn't attempt to pass without the extra oomph. When you are caught behind a truck, it can mean getting to your destination minutes earlier.

That's just the biggest example, but I understand how people can differ.

 

[JimG.]

Trailboss,

I have no doubt that the car will work for you. No doubt at all.

Billski, the acceleration issue definitely comes into play when trying to pass on a non-interstate highway. For me, living in Vermont, it's a actually a safety issue. I wouldn't attempt to pass without the extra oomph. When you are caught behind a truck, it can mean getting to your destination minutes earlier.

That's just the biggest example, but I understand how people can differ.

Wow, whole minutes?

Hopefully I never get stuck in front of you.

Or that you never get stuck behind me.

 

[VTKilarney]

Wow, whole minutes?

Hopefully I never get stuck in front of you.

Or that you never get stuck behind me.

Absolutely. A truck on Route 100 is going to delay me by several minutes if I can't get past it.

I see that I didn't word it well, though. PASSING gets you to your destination several minutes earlier.

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

Yeah, and it's only gonna get worse now with the winter weather moving in and all the idiots out there with the worn out all season radials trying to creep along in snow country, holding everyone else up.

 

[JimG.]

Absolutely. A truck on Route 100 is going to delay me by several minutes if I can't get past it.

I see that I didn't word it well, though. PASSING gets you to your destination several minutes earlier.

I have been there; when I was younger I tried to drive to places and get there before I left home.

Then I got married and had children. Having loved ones in the car with me made me realize slower works OK too.

 

[thetrailboss]

I have been there; when I was younger I tried to drive to places and get there before I left home.

Then I got married and had children. Having loved ones in the car with me made me realize slower works OK too.

+ 1. And as someone who frequently drove 125, 100, 17, and many other roads in that area, I just gave myself enough time to get to where I was going and passed when it was safe. I know those roads, as well as 2, 4, 5, 7, 91, 89, etc. all too well and know the trouble spots. I'm not sure why we are on this tangent about needing more horsepower to "pass" on these roads. I managed completely fine with my Civic for years. It was a treat to drive the 3.6 on these roads, but certainly not a life or death thing.

 

[billski]

Wow, this thread has really gone tangential! I suppose for some people,. they just get used to driving at a certain speed. For me, I've always been a fairly mellow driver, short a a road rage moment now and then. Long ago, a colleague said that when he travels on a multilane highway he stays to the left, drivers the speed limit and let's everyone else do the fighting and jockeying. It kept his stress levels down.

I always found that most people who do save that extra few minutes end up squandering it once they get to where they are going.

I also once met a couple who wanted to hurry up and get to their vacation spot so they could slow down and relax. I kid you not, they were dead serious.

If the folks in front of me are going significantly slower than the road safely permits, I will pass them, but only when I'm not going to stress about it.

There are only two times when I break out of my stress-free zone. First, when I'm absolutely going to be late, late late to a really really important date. The other is a downright emergency, like someone on their deathbed or an urgent ride to a hospital. But in that case, I'd probably call 911 anyways.

If I'm behind a slow driver, I just keep a safe distance. It gives me time to text, send email and play video games.

 

[VTKilarney]

I agree with much of what is being said, but nobody wants to be behind a log truck for 30 miles. Nobody.

 

[deadheadskier]

So, will a Porsche Cayenne turbo be your next ride then?



Sent from my XT1565 using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[KD7000]

As long as it has snow tires, sure!

 

[VTKilarney]

So, will a Porsche Cayenne turbo be your next ride then?



Sent from my XT1565 using AlpineZone mobile app

That's overkill, but something tells me that you already knew that.

I have driven the 12 cylinder Audi A8, though. That's one heck of a ride.

 

[deadheadskier]

That's overkill, but something tells me that you already knew that.

There's a long standing member of this forum that drives one. Perhaps they don't think it's overkill even though you do. Kind of like how someone else might think your suggestion of a V6 Subaru is overkill for their needs.

 

[VTKilarney]

There's a long standing member of this forum that drives one. Perhaps they don't think it's overkill even though you do. Kind of like how someone else might think your suggestion of a V6 Subaru is overkill for their needs.

Take it up with Edmunds. Trailboss said that he read the Edmund's review. He didn't hear anything new whatsoever from me. And yet you insist on arguing... Pot, meet kettle.

 

[deadheadskier]

Take it up with Edmunds.

Not really concerned with what Edmunds thinks. I just find it a little odd why anyone would post and agree with a negative review of someone else's purchase after the fact. It's kind of like if someone said, "Hey, I bought some new Rossignols!" and the response was, "Congrats, but Ski Magazine says they suck."