Thoughts on Turbos in Forester and Baja?

The turbo is available on the 04 Forrester (XT), and it is extremely fast.

My only thought about my '04 Forester XT is that it is extremely fast, doesn't look like it would/should be, and therefore you can have fun surprising people driving more ostentatious cars. I especially enjoy the look on the face of a BMW driver in my rearview mirror.

As for the Forester's boxiness: yes, of course it's boxy. It's an SUV. It's not beautiful, though it looks fine for what it is, IMHO; no SUV on the planet is a beautiful vehicle. One reason I bought the XT is that it is boxy and can carry stuff, in contrast to my Volvo S60, which now seems very low to me. And there's another reason I got the XT: the perfect seat height. Don't have to climb up into it; don't have to crawl down into it. Put all that together with Subaru engineering, reliability, the fact that it doesn't weigh over two tons, and---did I mention the power?---you have my perfect vehicle, beautiful in its own way.

HW

Did you read Edward's post? He's aware of the turbo Forester (one "r"). He's upset that the turbo Forester and turbo Baja have an additional .5 Liter of displacement to his 2.0l WRX.

Edward, I'm not certain, but I get the impression that the STi gets a stronger block (at the very least) than the turbo Forester and Baja, meaning you probably couldn't get 300hp out of these (and still have acceptable reliability). Take a look at

I have the '03 stock Baja and, like many Baja/Forrester owners, can testify that they need more umph. Well Subaru listened and obviously knew it from the start(marketing, pure marketing) and we now have the option for the newer models. Its my impression that it would be suicidal to increase engine capabilities to make the entire fleet flush, especially when a manufacturer has a vehicle like the WRX STI in its fleet. I don't have any hard figures, but its just my opinion that i doubt the newer turbo incarnations, regardless of that extra half liter, will be beating you at stop lights. I don't think that is the intention Subaru is reaching for.

To stereotype, Baja owners really could care less about going 120mph after they spent an additional $30,000 on their car, only to have another speed demon steal their vehicle...lol...eventually.

All i'm looking for is smoother grade acceleration when my Baja is packed with two couples, their camping gear, and their bikes.

I believe it's pretty well the same engine but with a smaller turbo and different gear ratios.

Ed,

The Forester 2.5XT is indeed faster than a WRX (with both in stock form, and comparing 5-speed to 5-speed), based on my test drives of both cars. I haven't driven an STi and probably won't, but the ratings on the engines would lead me to believe that the STi is much faster than the Forester 2.5XT despite their having seemingly similar engines. (Those ratings are 215hp /

235 lb-ft for the Forster and 300hp / 300 lb-ft for the STi.)

The last time I did a Google search, there wasn't yet much in the way of bolt-on HP for the Forester 2.5XT in the aftermarket. But there undoubtedly will be. They've only been on the street for a couple of months, after all.

The STi also has a more advanced AWD system than any other Scoobie, with various types of limited slip differentials in all three places (front, center, and rear). Both the Forester 2.5XT and the WRX have limited slip center and rear diffs, but open diffs in front. Limited slip front diffs are extremely rare in production vehicles. The only examples I can think of off the top of my head are the STi and a new Acura coupe that employs a Torsen diff in its FWD drivetrain. Jeep has a new Wrangler with a manually-locking front diff and I think the Hummer H1 has a manually-locking front diff, but that's not really the same thing.

And you'd better believe that I'd *love* the hell out of blowing the doors off your (stock) WRX with my unassuming-looking Forester!! ;-) (Car and Driver printed a 0-60mph time of 5.3 seconds for the 5-speed!!)

- Greg

--

1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Formal Limousine (for sale: Audi 200 Turbo Quattro sedan 5-speed2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue2001 Chevy Astro AWD (wife's)2004 Forester 2.5XT 5-speed (coming soon!)

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Greg,

Thanks for you great post. I was aware of the more advanced AWD system on the STi, but thanks for all the info. And as for ya "blowing" the doors off my WRX, that's what I'm worried about! Glad your enjoying your Forester!

Ed

manually-locking

It's less rare in FWD cars than before:

2003 & 2003.5 Mazda Mazdaspeed Protege has a limited slip front differential 2000-1 Nissan Sentra SE/PP had one also, as well as the 2002+ Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V new Acura TL sedan has it, new Nissan Maxima also has LSD as an option, 2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4

Somewhere--Subaru site, I think--there was a short list of STi aftermarket stuff that fits the Forester XT engine. As you say, more should be coming.

One item I was specifically interested in is the air filter from the STi, which the site said would fit my Forester. Lets more air through, more easily. That would be a good thing, right? Would it be worth the $79 price?

Thanks.

HW

manually-locking

Wait till a Forester blows you away with over 700 horsepower: :))))))))

EJ25 High Horsepower Engines, 2.5L/740hp:

includes:

-Bored engine

-Crack treated, tested

-Balanced crank, treated, tested

-Custom steel rods

-Forged pistons

-Modified rings

-Oringed block

-Copper head gasket

-Head stud kit

-Modified heads, big valves, modified retainers & springs

-Custom planum intake

-Retainer groves for orings

-Billet flywheel

-Custom button clutch

-Modified pressure plate

-Additional components, timing belt, seals etc.

-Ignition system m&w

-Garret Turbo w/ custom housing and ball bearing core

-External gate

-Custom up pipe

-Custom down pipe

-Custom planum, std or reversed (loose a/c)

-700cc injectors

-Bosch external pump

-Surge tank

-Front mount intercooler (depending if using a/c or no a/c, offer two types) -Radiator (depending if using a/c or not, offer two types)

-Catch can & pipin

Higher flow capability thru the air filter is not going to be much of an improvement on an otherwise stock vehicle. Under full throttle acceleration, thru most of the rev range, the ECU limits the amount of air supplied to the engine by the turbo. It does this by controlling the amount of boost pressure applied to the wastegate. Increasing the ability to flow air upstream of the turbo is not going to do much by itself, as the turbo is already capable of providing more air to the engine than it is usually allowed to do.

The ECU is where the big performance gains are to be found. I would wait until Cobb or ECUtek develop a new map for the FXT, then send my ECU off for a reflash. I have a Prodrive/ECUtek modified ECU in my WRX, and it transformed the car. It's MUCH faster and more fun to drive.

The stock ECU is optimized for emissions and fuel efficiency, not performance. A reflash can change that.

Steve

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Not so. Same block, same internals - look at the Canadian site for details.

- D.

ed,

there are of course a lot of mixed emotions about this topic.

one one hand, great... it's a subaru, it is a brother, and it is a nice car. be happy for the fact that it exists.

on the other hand.. damn--an extra 25% of displacement is a nice thing!

i've got a 03 rex sportwagon, and i love it. i love the bug eyes. i love the fact that i can fit a water heater in the back. i love the fact that it doesn't look so boxy as a forester.

bite the bullet and mod your car. there's enough untapped power to scare the shit out of you in that seeminly small 2.0. astounding hp/liter numbers... ~300 _wheel_ horsepower is possible, even with a stock block/pistons/heads. that's about twice what you're putting to the ground now! :)

if/when you blow your bottom end, get yourself a brand new 2.5l shortblock for less than 1500 bucks and never look back!

jm2c ken

I'm waiting for the Legacy GT Turbo wagon. Then I'll sell my WRX wagon, and the difference in price will get me a new car, and the new bigger engine, and maybe a 6 speed and sunroof. Heaven..