Is the turbo 2.5L stronger than normally-aspirated mill?

[H. Whelply]

I'm thinking very seriously of getting a Forester XT. Is that engine somehow
stronger than the regular one to take the higher pressures and stresses from
the turbo? In general, do Subaru turbo engines last as long as the regular
ones? Do the turbos have more problems over the life of the car?

Thanks.

 

[TransFixed]

I'm thinking very seriously of getting a Forester XT.

Good choice.

Is that engine somehow
stronger than the regular one to take the higher pressures and stresses from
the turbo?

Yes, it is basically the same reinforced engine as the one in the STi -
it is *not* the normally aspirated engine with a turbo bolted on. There
are numerous important differences that have been listed here in the
past (you can also take a look at the .pdf files for the STi on Subaru's
US web site, of take a look at the XT specs on the Canadian Forester
mini site).

In general, do Subaru turbo engines last as long as the regular
ones? Do the turbos have more problems over the life of the car?

Subaru has built turbo engines for over 20 years or so. I would say
they truly have the experience to get it right. With any of the main
manufacturers of turbo engines, I believe you don't have to worry about
reliablity (even if the turbo itself is usually outsourced). Think
about it this way, the most reliable engines in the world are turbos
(turbo diesels).

- D.

 

[H. Whelply]

TransFixed,

Thanks for the encouragement.

Another question: how about Subaru resale value? Do they hold their value
reasonably well? And insurance---better/same/worse that average?

Thanks.

Hal

 

[Bill Putney]

Good choice.


Yes, it is basically the same reinforced engine as the one in the STi -
it is *not* the normally aspirated engine with a turbo bolted on. There
are numerous important differences that have been listed here in the
past (you can also take a look at the .pdf files for the STi on Subaru's
US web site, of take a look at the XT specs on the Canadian Forester
mini site).


Subaru has built turbo engines for over 20 years or so. I would say
they truly have the experience to get it right. With any of the main
manufacturers of turbo engines, I believe you don't have to worry about
reliablity (even if the turbo itself is usually outsourced). Think
about it this way, the most reliable engines in the world are turbos
(turbo diesels).

- D.

I sold my '86 turbo wagon last year with 275k miles on it with original
engine and turbo unit - still running strong as it ever did. I did have
to replace the heads at 180k miles, but only because I waited too long
to replace the radiator when it quit doing its job, plus a couple of
coolant hoses burst and it overheated. If I had known to replace the
radiator at the first signs of problems and had done a better job of
preventative maintenance on the coolant hoses, I'm convinced that the
heads would have gone the distance too.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

[GRL]

Data point:

A friend has an early '90's Ford Probe (Mazda 626 in a sexy body) with a
manual gear box and the 2.2 L turbo four. He is original owner. Car has over
160,000 miles on it. no engine problems, no turbo problems, still on
original clutch. There is no reason to think a Subaru turbo would be any
less reliable.

--

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)

 

[Orion]

The resale values of Subaru's are usually pretty high, but it does depend on
your area too. In Alaska, were every third car is a Subaru, they're in
fairly high demand. Resale value is quite high. I see people still selling
WRX's at just a couple grand less than they were a couple years ago.
There's one a few blocks from me trying to sell his for 24 thousand, I
think. That's more than what I paid for mine new! He'll probably have to
drop the price, but not by much. Seems up here that within a couple of
years you just need to shave off a couple of thousand rather than the many
thousand for other cars. My girlfriend's Focus dropped over 5 grand when
she drove it off the lot. She went back about a month after the purchase to
see how bad it would be if she wanted to trade in for the SVT (she jumped
the gun, against my requests...which were originally a Subaru until the
dealership said she couldn't order the old style (bug-eye) and would need to
order her the '04's (this was back in December or so). Neither of us much
like the body so she went and while I was working, drove this Focus. I told
her to wait for the SVT to drive it also. The next day she showed up in her
new SE. Damn it.

Incidentally, Car and Driver did "Battle of the Winter Beaters" in May of
this year. The 3 writers were given $1000 bucks to get an old car, fix it
up, and race it on the ice. They bought an '83 Renault Fuego 1.6 Turbo
(FrWD), an '89 Camaro RS (RWD) and an '89 Subaru XT6 (4WD). The Subaru was
the most expensive (and needed the least amount of money to get it up to
par...that is a leaky fuel tank patch kit ($6), a new battery($56) and wiper
blades ($11). Everything else in the car worked like new).