'06 Forester and Outback question

[Ed Maier]

Do these have the"fly by wire" throttle control systems?
If so, is there an annoying hesitation for the engine to
respond to the accelerator pedal of maybe 1/2 to 1 second?
The problem I've experienced is on a 2004 Toyota Highlander,
and it occurs when coasting down from 50 mph to maybe 25 mph.
When I push down the gas pedal, I get that extremely annoying
hesitation which they attribute to the "fly by wire" throttle
control. I'm a fan of both Toyota and Subaru, but this issue
will be important on my next new car.

Many thanks,

Ed Maier
Arlington, TX

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Do these have the"fly by wire" throttle control systems?
If so, is there an annoying hesitation for the engine to
respond to the accelerator pedal of maybe 1/2 to 1 second?
The problem I've experienced is on a 2004 Toyota Highlander,
and it occurs when coasting down from 50 mph to maybe 25 mph.
When I push down the gas pedal, I get that extremely annoying
hesitation which they attribute to the "fly by wire" throttle
control. I'm a fan of both Toyota and Subaru, but this issue
will be important on my next new car.

Many thanks,

Ed Maier
Arlington, TX

Haven't noticed any throttle response issues on my '06 WRX. Once, I
did think I felt some 'bucking' while slowing down - very subtle but
pretty sure I wasn't on the gas.

Actually, it seems the respocne may be better than my wife's '03 Outback
- certainly as good.

Carl

 

[Blair Baucom]

I have not noticed the throttle by wire on my 2005 Forester XS. It seems as
responsive as any car I have driven.

Blair

 

[Ed Maier]

I'm glad to hear that. Makes my next choice easy.

Thanks,

Ed Maier

 

[Victor Roberts]

I have not noticed the throttle by wire on my 2005 Forester XS. It seems as
responsive as any car I have driven.

Blair

The throttle of my 2006 Forester X manual seems to be overly
sensitive. Plus, there are annoying "jerks" just after I
take my foot off the accelerator and the throttle control
system seems to be switching from driving to coasting.

 

[Jim Stewart]

The throttle of my 2006 Forester X manual seems to be overly
sensitive. Plus, there are annoying "jerks" just after I
take my foot off the accelerator and the throttle control
system seems to be switching from driving to coasting.

That's the nature of Subaru and manual
transmission. You'll get used to it.

 

[Dmitriy]

That's the nature of Subaru and manual
transmission. You'll get used to it.

Agreed. My 00 RS with manual throttle and manual transmission is super
sensitive as well, especially in the lower gears. I view sensitivity as
a good thing though.

 

[Victor Roberts]

That's the nature of Subaru and manual
transmission. You'll get used to it.

I drove a 97 OBW manual for almost 10 years and never had
the same "jerking."

 

[QX]

Do these have the"fly by wire" throttle control systems?
If so, is there an annoying hesitation for the engine to
respond to the accelerator pedal of maybe 1/2 to 1 second?

Absolutely no hesitation here..05 Forester XT Automatic.
20,000+ miles.

 

[Jim Stewart]

I drove a 97 OBW manual for almost 10 years and never had
the same "jerking."

It's real and it's subjective

I noticed it in the beginning and my daughter has
a real problem with it. I have *no* problem with
it now.

It's been addressed repeatedly on this forum over
the last 4-5 years. Some drivers have had to
resort to having the clutch changed to improve it.

Whether it goes back as far as a '97, I don't know.
I had no interest in Subaru until I bought my '99.

 

[KLS]

It's real and it's subjective

I noticed it in the beginning and my daughter has
a real problem with it. I have *no* problem with
it now.

We have this problem still with our '99 OBW. It improved a bit with a
new clutch, but what really helped was a new fuel injector. The car
is still not perfectly smooth like the '98 Audi A4 2.8 that just
turned 100k miles this week, however (also a manual transmission).
This "jerking" does seem to be a Subaru feature.

 

[Jerseyj]

I have a newly purchased 2006 Forrester with about 4,500 miles on it.
Before that I owned a 99 (gave it up after 175K miles) and my wife
drives a low mileage 98.

I found that my new Forrester seems to have this high RPM rev thing
going on before it actually accelerates. I've tried all sorts of foot to
accelerator pedal options to no avail. Following the rev, the car
finally acceleartes. I did NOT notice this in either the 98 or 99.

It's a bit disconcerting and I've had to adapt my driving habits. In
addition, there appears to be a very high pitched metalic type while
coming from the back somewhere (the folks at the dealership said "oh,
that's a well known issue with new tires" which I highly doubt and I'm
asking them to take another look/listen).

Anyone else have this ?

Jerry

 

[Victor Roberts]

I have a newly purchased 2006 Forrester with about 4,500 miles on it.
Before that I owned a 99 (gave it up after 175K miles) and my wife
drives a low mileage 98.

I found that my new Forrester seems to have this high RPM rev thing
going on before it actually accelerates. I've tried all sorts of foot to
accelerator pedal options to no avail. Following the rev, the car
finally acceleartes. I did NOT notice this in either the 98 or 99.

It's a bit disconcerting and I've had to adapt my driving habits. In
addition, there appears to be a very high pitched metalic type while
coming from the back somewhere (the folks at the dealership said "oh,
that's a well known issue with new tires" which I highly doubt and I'm
asking them to take another look/listen).

Anyone else have this ?

Jerry

No noise from the rear of my 06 Forester, but I have the
manual.

 

[Victor Roberts]

[snip]

I drove a 97 OBW manual for almost 10 years and never had
the same "jerking."

It's real and it's subjective

I noticed it in the beginning and my daughter has
a real problem with it. I have *no* problem with
it now.

It's been addressed repeatedly on this forum over
the last 4-5 years. Some drivers have had to
resort to having the clutch changed to improve it.

Whether it goes back as far as a '97, I don't know.
I had no interest in Subaru until I bought my '99.

It's hard to imagine what the clutch would have to do with
this. The jerking occurs when the clutch is fully engaged
and my left foot is no where near the clutch pedal.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have a newly purchased 2006 Forrester with about 4,500 miles on it.
Before that I owned a 99 (gave it up after 175K miles) and my wife
drives a low mileage 98.

I found that my new Forrester seems to have this high RPM rev thing
going on before it actually accelerates. I've tried all sorts of foot to
accelerator pedal options to no avail. Following the rev, the car
finally acceleartes. I did NOT notice this in either the 98 or 99.

It's a bit disconcerting and I've had to adapt my driving habits. In
addition, there appears to be a very high pitched metalic type while
coming from the back somewhere (the folks at the dealership said "oh,
that's a well known issue with new tires" which I highly doubt and I'm
asking them to take another look/listen).

Anyone else have this ?

Jerry

Go back to the dealership and drive a new Forester and see if it behaves
the same.

Carl

 

[Bill Bradley]

YES!!!!!

I bought a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC, and, this has the WORST hesitation that
I've EVER felt in ANY car. The dealer, after 4 trips, has been
unable/unwilling to fix this...insisting that this is "normal".

I've almost been rear-ended several times, when I pull out to the left to
pass someone, and, the...car...just...sits...there...

It usually seems like it's first choice is to downshift, rather than
accelerate.

I'm bitterly disappointed in this purchase.

 

[NissanSalesRep]

I don't believe what you are experiencing is something wrong. I think all
Subaru's have a "slight " hesitation as you apply the throttle so that the
onboard computer can tell where the best traction is to be found on the car
and applies it accordingly. It's only a slight hesitation but that's what
I'm told is happening.

Hope that helps.

Robin