I traded the STi for a 2005 Forester XT

[SilverXT (was BlueSTi)]

Yesterday, I traded my STi for a Forester XT. As much as I loved the
STi it was just more car than I needed. And the payment and insurance
was WAY more than I needed. The FXT is better in everyway except for
brute power and racing handling. And on my daily commute to work, it
was just a waste of a nice vehicle.
The FXT is still no slouch when it comes to power. The turbo is very
smooth and comes on strong down low. The improvement in riding
comfort is huge! Road noise is a practically non-existant. The STi
is purpose built for one purpose: to be fast with sacrifices in
amenities. The FXT seems to be fast will all the creature comforts.
It seems to strike a good balance between a daily driver and still
being able to have a little fun. Time will tell.
BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[JD]

Yesterday, I traded my STi for a Forester XT. As much as I loved the
STi it was just more car than I needed. And the payment and insurance
was WAY more than I needed. The FXT is better in everyway except for
brute power and racing handling. And on my daily commute to work, it
was just a waste of a nice vehicle.
The FXT is still no slouch when it comes to power. The turbo is very
smooth and comes on strong down low. The improvement in riding
comfort is huge! Road noise is a practically non-existant. The STi
is purpose built for one purpose: to be fast with sacrifices in
amenities. The FXT seems to be fast will all the creature comforts.
It seems to strike a good balance between a daily driver and still
being able to have a little fun. Time will tell.
BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

Sorry to see another STi driver make the jump from the 'dark side'

 

[Jim Stewart]

Sorry to see another STi driver make the jump from the 'dark side'

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I guess this
means you're gonna have to change your sig.

 

[SilverXT (was BlueSTi)]

Sorry to see another STi driver make the jump from the 'dark side'

I really liked the STi. It was a blast to drive. But, not the best
of daily drivers. It would have been a fun car to have as a second
car but not as a daily commuter. The harsh ride and noise just wore me
out. It just didn't make sense for miles and miles of interstate day
after day. The FXT on the other hand is a pleasure to ride in. You
gotta love those heated seats! It seems to strike a good compromise
between comfort and performance. I just had to have something I could
live with on a daily basis. The STi is not your best choice as a
commuter or long distance vehicle.
SilverFXT
"Hey you just got smoked by an SUV!"

 

[Ian Brown]

"Use the Forester, Luke."

"The Forester is strong with this one."

"The Forester is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created
by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy
together."

 

[JD]

"Use the Forester, Luke."

"The Forester is strong with this one."

"The Forester is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created
by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy
together."

I think you are talking about duct tape; it has a light side and a dark
side, and it binds everything together

 

[SilverFXT (was BlueSTi)]

I think you are talking about duct tape; it has a light side and a dark
side, and it binds everything together

Yep, I'm pretty sure it's duct tape. Hey wait, my FXT is just about
the color of duct tape! It is the Forester!

SilverFXT
"Hey you just got smoked by an SUV!"

 

[Clive]

Yesterday, I traded my STi for a Forester XT. As much as I loved the
STi it was just more car than I needed. And the payment and insurance
was WAY more than I needed. The FXT is better in everyway except for
brute power and racing handling. And on my daily commute to work, it
was just a waste of a nice vehicle.
The FXT is still no slouch when it comes to power. The turbo is very
smooth and comes on strong down low. The improvement in riding
comfort is huge! Road noise is a practically non-existant. The STi
is purpose built for one purpose: to be fast with sacrifices in
amenities. The FXT seems to be fast will all the creature comforts.
It seems to strike a good balance between a daily driver and still
being able to have a little fun. Time will tell.
BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

It'll be interesting to see how long before you get bored.
I went from '96 Impreza turbo 5 door with very few amenities
but a hoot to drive to a '99 Forester turbo sport all weather
which had the lot. A comfortable and uninvolving drive.
I got totally fed up with it after 6 months and dumped the lease
at considerable cost to get another Impreza WRX 5 door.
Many creature comforts and a great drive with more than enough
performance available.
I agree the STi is not the ideal every day car but the WRX
certainly is and a far better drive than the Forester IMHO.


--
Clive Norris
Selectron (UK) Ltd
www.espguitars.co.uk
www.espshop.co.uk
www.mightymite.com
www.emgpickups.co.uk
www.tube-shop.com
www.whirlwindusa.com
www.deanmarkley.com

 

[Nige]

It'll be interesting to see how long before you get bored.
I went from '96 Impreza turbo 5 door with very few amenities
but a hoot to drive to a '99 Forester turbo sport all weather
which had the lot. A comfortable and uninvolving drive.
I got totally fed up with it after 6 months and dumped the lease
at considerable cost to get another Impreza WRX 5 door.
Many creature comforts and a great drive with more than enough
performance available.
I agree the STi is not the ideal every day car but the WRX
certainly is and a far better drive than the Forester IMHO.

I'll second that, I do 1000m a week in my WRX & it rocks!

Nige

--
Subaru WRX (The Bitch)

Series 3 Landrover 88" (Albert)

"If you tolerate this then your children will be next"

 

[-rick-]

I'll second that, I do 1000m a week in my WRX & it rocks!

I happily commute in an '02 wrx wagon. My only complaints are noise/buzz
on rougher pavement and occasional clutch shudder cold.

The new Legacy GT looks interesting but the rex is paid for...

-rick-

 

[SilverFXT (was BlueSTi)]

It'll be interesting to see how long before you get bored.
I went from '96 Impreza turbo 5 door with very few amenities
but a hoot to drive to a '99 Forester turbo sport all weather
which had the lot. A comfortable and uninvolving drive.
I got totally fed up with it after 6 months and dumped the lease
at considerable cost to get another Impreza WRX 5 door.
Many creature comforts and a great drive with more than enough
performance available.
I agree the STi is not the ideal every day car but the WRX
certainly is and a far better drive than the Forester IMHO.

I've never heard of the '99 Forester Turbo Sport. I didn't think they
put a turbo in the Forester until just recently.

I doubt I'll be getting bored soon. My wife has been driving the FXT
most of the time. When I bought the STi I had driven the STD WRX. In
a side by side comparison they are totally different cars. IMO, the
STD WRX has a horrible amount of turbo lag. The STi would snap my neck
off the line where I felt like I had to flogg the STD WRX to get any
performance out of it.

The 0-60 and 1/4 mile time for the '05 FXT and the WRX are almost
identical. If anything the FXT is just a smidge faster. Truth be
told, my wife just wanted something a little more civilized. I'm
actually looking at picking up an early model DSM and doing a little
work on it. I had considered an older WRX. But, there doesn't seem
to be that many available.

SilverFXT
"Hey you just got smoked by an SUV!"

 

[Clive]

I've never heard of the '99 Forester Turbo Sport. I didn't think they
put a turbo in the Forester until just recently.

I doubt I'll be getting bored soon. My wife has been driving the FXT
most of the time. When I bought the STi I had driven the STD WRX. In
a side by side comparison they are totally different cars. IMO, the
STD WRX has a horrible amount of turbo lag. The STi would snap my neck
off the line where I felt like I had to flogg the STD WRX to get any
performance out of it.

The 0-60 and 1/4 mile time for the '05 FXT and the WRX are almost
identical. If anything the FXT is just a smidge faster. Truth be
told, my wife just wanted something a little more civilized. I'm
actually looking at picking up an early model DSM and doing a little
work on it. I had considered an older WRX. But, there doesn't seem
to be that many available.

SilverFXT
"Hey you just got smoked by an SUV!"

Forester Turbo Sport = UK model.
Handling between Forester and Impreza
is chalk 'n cheese...and that's what I missed
in the Forester the most....not even close to
the chuckability of an Impreza
Sheer grunt is academic if it's a slouch in the
twisty bits and we have lots of those in the UK!

--
Clive Norris
Selectron (UK) Ltd
www.espguitars.co.uk
www.espshop.co.uk
www.mightymite.com
www.emgpickups.co.uk
www.tube-shop.com
www.whirlwindusa.com
www.deanmarkley.com

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Yesterday, I traded my STi for a Forester XT. As much as I loved the
STi it was just more car than I needed. And the payment and insurance
was WAY more than I needed. The FXT is better in everyway except for
brute power and racing handling. And on my daily commute to work, it
was just a waste of a nice vehicle.

Welcome to adulthood.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

"Use the Forester, Luke."

"The Forester is strong with this one."

"The Forester is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created
by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy
together."

That's pretty good, can you come up with any Star Wars references for an
Outback?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I really liked the STi. It was a blast to drive. But, not the best
of daily drivers. It would have been a fun car to have as a second
car but not as a daily commuter. The harsh ride and noise just wore me
out. It just didn't make sense for miles and miles of interstate day
after day. The FXT on the other hand is a pleasure to ride in. You
gotta love those heated seats!

You mean you paid all of that money for an STi, and it didn't even come
with heated seats? This must be an American thing. So the Canadian STi's
come with heated seats, anybody know?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Ian Brown]

That's pretty good, can you come up with any Star Wars references for an
Outback?

Episode V - The Empire Strikes Outback.

 

[JD]

You mean you paid all of that money for an STi, and it didn't even come
with heated seats? This must be an American thing. So the Canadian STi's
come with heated seats, anybody know?

Yousuf Khan

They do. They come fully loaded; stereo, anti-theft, A/C and climate
control, heated seats, auto-dimming mirrors, etc. All the enemities of
home...

 

[SilverFXT (was BlueSTi)]

You mean you paid all of that money for an STi, and it didn't even come
with heated seats? This must be an American thing. So the Canadian STi's
come with heated seats, anybody know?

Yousuf Khan

The '04 model fo rthe U.S. came pretty much stripped. No stereo,
heated seats, or floor mats for that matter. I think the '05 models
now come with a stereo. But, good luck listening to the stereo in an
STi. There is so much road noise and background noise that you have
to really turn the music up just to hear it! Most of the time I left
the stereo off. I would rather listen to the sound of the engine.
That sounded better than any stereo anyway.

SilverFXT
"Hey you just got smoked by an SUV!"

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Episode V - The Empire Strikes Outback.

Or how about: Outback Won Kenobi?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

The '04 model fo rthe U.S. came pretty much stripped. No stereo,
heated seats, or floor mats for that matter. I think the '05 models
now come with a stereo. But, good luck listening to the stereo in an
STi. There is so much road noise and background noise that you have
to really turn the music up just to hear it! Most of the time I left
the stereo off. I would rather listen to the sound of the engine.
That sounded better than any stereo anyway.

Sounds like they are marketing it like a Ferrari. Those things come
with pretty much nothing either: you have to put it all in yourself.
Yousuf Khan