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Re: Inexpensive AWD Vehicle II Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:19:35
In Reply to: Inexpensive AWD Vehicle II, Justin VanAbrahams  [Profile/Gallery]
, Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:07:51
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Interesting read.
I would be careful with the subies - for that vintage, I would for sure look for a turbo or a manual or ideally both! The subaru automatic back then was a 4 speed, but their gearing wastes 1st gear (to make them fast off the line), at least in the normally aspirated case. What this means is high highway revs, poor fuel economy, etc... Seriously, the revs were equivalent to a c900 automatic (I drove them back to back), but the shifting wasn't as responsive in the subies (especially down shifting)! This persisted into newer generation vehicles until they went CVT. (yes, I am saying I found the 3 speed autobox coupled to a NA c900 preferable to the subie 4 speed coupled to their NA!)
I haven't driven the turbo automatic subies, and it is possible that they have geared them differently such that they take advantage of some low end torque from the turbo.
Anyway, all I'm getting at here is if you are thinking of non-turbo subies, take a careful drive on the highway first.
I actually quite liked the older generation of Foresters - like you say visibility is good. Pretty reasonable car to drive and practical. The replacement Forster otoh was awful. Visibility was terrible, and dynamics were also unbelievably bad. So bad that my subie fanatic friends who bought them (without trying anything else of course, that's what subie drivers do) *hated* them, especially for the driving dynamics.
The head gasket problems are real. One of our close friends had an impreza from that vintage go south when the car was not even all that old. They are a pita to repair (I think typically it means pulling the engine), so most ditch the car at that point and buy a new subie. I've heard lots of other stories of this.
Interesting to hear the comparison with the XC70. That would be a car I might have considered - I'm somewhat surprised their automatic is unresponsive... disappointing to hear! I wonder if there is year - year variation in that, but I guess they are notorious for being a little boring/slow... I found the Subie 4 speed automatic to be terribly slow at downshifting, so that the XC70 is worse is unfortunate!
I suppose I'd better keep the SAAB's going for a few more years! Good luck in your quest. Sounds like jeeps might be a good option also, the only thing being that some of them really hold resale value.
->Posting last edited on Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:25:35.
, Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:07:51, Thu, 6 Oct 2016 16:28:56
, Thu, 6 Oct 2016 18:24:16, Fri, 7 Oct 2016 10:31:19, Fri, 7 Oct 2016 15:07:33, Tue, 18 Oct 2016 15:13:06, Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:49:11, Fri, 7 Oct 2016 10:36:24
, Thu, 29 Sep 2016 12:09:52, Thu, 29 Sep 2016 13:17:34, Thu, 29 Sep 2016 11:44:59, Thu, 29 Sep 2016 13:09:16, Fri, 30 Sep 2016 22:18:31, Sun, 2 Oct 2016 12:34:25, Sun, 2 Oct 2016 17:25:17, Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:19:35 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 29 Sep 2016 11:59:29, Thu, 29 Sep 2016 20:09:37, Fri, 30 Sep 2016 12:54:52, Sat, 1 Oct 2016 19:34:00
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