Forester '03 poor gas mileage

[Mike]

I own a 2003 forester XS for almost 2 yrs and have noticed very poor gas
mileage around town. I'm getting about 16 to 18 mpg around town. On the
highway, the mileage is much better, around 27 to 29 mpg. Why such a huge
diffrence between the two? Is there something not adjusted correctly with
my car's computer? Should I complain to the dealer and have them check this
out. Has anyone else noticed such lousy mileage around town like this?

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

I own a 2003 forester XS for almost 2 yrs and have noticed very poor gas
mileage around town. I'm getting about 16 to 18 mpg around town. On the
highway, the mileage is much better, around 27 to 29 mpg. Why such a huge
diffrence between the two? Is there something not adjusted correctly with
my car's computer? Should I complain to the dealer and have them check this
out. Has anyone else noticed such lousy mileage around town like this?

Are the around-town trips very short? When the engine is cold, the
mileage will be much worse than for a longer drive.

Larry Van Wormer

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester S yields about 22 mpg around town. I have an AT and usually
shift at ~22-2500 rpm. If I push it to where it shifts at 3000-3,500 rpm the
mileage drops to ~18 mpg. I also do a fair amount of gauging the stop/go
lights by not keeping power on while driving toward red lights. My freeway
driving at 68-72 mph yields about 27.5 mpg. ed

 

[mikey]

I picked up my '03 Forester with 8400 miles on
it Aug 3rd, 2004. I drive 22 miles each way to
the office and back five days a week. 12 miles
or so of that is highway driving (>55mph), 10
miles or so is city streets.
I've put 6K miles on the vehicle since Aug 3rd.
The average is 25.5mpg (denver, colorado area).
Lately my mpg has dropped to 22mpg, I expect due
to my driving closer to 4000rpm than 2000rpm.
I use mid-grade (87 octane) fuel.

mikey.

 

[MattB]

My 2000 Forester S yields about 22 mpg around town. I have an AT and usually
shift at ~22-2500 rpm. If I push it to where it shifts at 3000-3,500 rpm the
mileage drops to ~18 mpg. I also do a fair amount of gauging the stop/go
lights by not keeping power on while driving toward red lights. My freeway
driving at 68-72 mph yields about 27.5 mpg. ed

But aren't you supposed to accelerate to red lights and then slam on the
brakes? That's how I've always seen it done!

Matt

 

[Jim]

But aren't you supposed to accelerate to red lights and then slam on the
brakes? That's how I've always seen it done!

Matt

22/27.5 is also about what I get (and always have) with my 97 Legacy
although I don't have a tach and I don't manually shift my AT. I do
exactly the same thing with red lights (making it pretty amusing to
creep to a stop behind someone who just whipped around me). I don't
think Subarus are known for their great gas mileage.

 

[BlueSTi]

22/27.5 is also about what I get (and always have) with my 97 Legacy
although I don't have a tach and I don't manually shift my AT. I do
exactly the same thing with red lights (making it pretty amusing to
creep to a stop behind someone who just whipped around me). I don't
think Subarus are known for their great gas mileage.

Nope Subaru's are not known for their great gas mileage. Still, with
my STi I don't consider 24 mpg to be too bad for a car that has 300
HP. I have seen it dip down to 20 mpg when I play around a little.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[P T]

My '04 Forester base model, AT, five months old gets 23 +/- in mixed
urban driving. Light footed driver.

 

[hippo]

Nope Subaru's are not known for their great gas mileage. Still, with
my STi I don't consider 24 mpg to be too bad for a car that has 300
HP. I have seen it dip down to 20 mpg when I play around a little.

So are you saying *infidelity* causes poor fuel figures?

 

[P T]

jbparks (romy) offered

since most people are really clueless
about good driving practices. It seems
that nowadays everyone drives with their
fog lights on all the time to look cool.

It is better to look marvelous
than to feel marvelous

 

[SimpleMan42793]

I own a 2003 forester XS for almost 2 yrs and have noticed very poor gas
mileage around town. I'm getting about 16 to 18 mpg around town. On the
highway, the mileage is much better, around 27 to 29 mpg. Why such a huge
diffrence between the two? Is there something not adjusted correctly with
my car's computer? Should I complain to the dealer and have them check this
out. Has anyone else noticed such lousy mileage around town like this?

Typical mileage. I own an 08' Forester with a/t; commute 40 miles everyday at 40-65 mph and average 27mpg consistently. I get 18-20 in town. So you're not too far off.