here is a lil snippet on a car/suv i just purchased
http://www.discriminations.us/2003/09/off_topic_cant_see_the_foreste.html
The Mazda RX-8 and the Nissan 350z, the object of their affections, are hot, high performance sports cars. They will carry two people with little luggage in fine style, and fast. The Subaru Forester XT, a newly turbocharged version of the venerable van-looking family box, will carry your kid?s basketball team ? minus the coach, if one kid sits in the open area behind the rear seat (or is tied to the roof rack).
Now, let?s look at some numbers. But first, let me say that numbers aren?t everything, and I?m only giving two of them anyway, 0 - 60 speed (the first number in parens) and elapsed time to 1/4 mile (the second number in parens). Still, since those of us who are interested in performance are particularly interested in those two numbers, I think the comparisons will be worthwhile. I apologize for not taking the time to figure out how to make the following list look better, but at least you?ll be able to read it. These numbers were taken from the August 2003 issue of Car and Driver, but every issue of C&D has a road test summary in the back. Prices are manufacturers suggested base prices taken from the same issue; your prices will vary. So, without further ado:
SPORTS CARS (0 - 60mph / 0 - 1/4 mile) $Price
Mazda RX-8 (5.9 / 14.5) $28,300
Nissan 350z (5.7 / 14.3) $33,788
BMW Z4 (5.4 / 14.2) $45,320
Porsche Boxster (6.0 / 14.6) $43,365
Porsche Boxster S (5.3 / 13.9) $58,088
Porsche 911 (5.5 / 14.0) $85,934
SPORTY SEDANS (just for the heck of it)
Audi A4 3.0 (7.5 / 15.9) $44,385
BMW 330i (7.4 / 15.6) $40,319
Mercedes E500 (5.8 /14.3) $63,602
Jaguar S (7.9 /16.1) $46,775
SUVS (again, just for the heck of it)
BMW X5 3.0i (8.1 / 16.2) $46,570
Mercedes ML 500 (6.7 / 15.3) $45,615
Volkswagen Toureg (7.5 / 15.7) $46,500
Porsche Cayenne Turbo (5.0 / 13.5) $94,980
And now, the ugly duckling that?s always ignored in these automotive comparisons:
SUBARU FORESTER XT (5.3 / 13.8) $25,520
We had a 1999 BMW M3, a fabulous performance car, and a 2001 Subaru Forester with about 90,000 trouble-free miles on it. We hated to give up the M3 but thought Jessie?s final year at Bryn Mawr was more important (though it was a close call), and so we sold it and then traded the Forester for a new Forester XT.
What?s the best thing I can say about the XT? I don?t miss the M3 at all. Charlotte, our yellow Labrador, likes the XT much better, but I wouldn't put too much stock in her opinion since we never let her in the M3.
ADDENDUM
If you look at Glenns last couple of posts linked above, you?ll see that Mazda has given recent purchasers of its RX-8 an offer to buy back their cars at full purchase price or a whole basketfull of expensive goodies because it overstated the RX-8?s horsepower. Interestingly, the various Subaru discussion boards (a good one is here) have been teeming with speculation that Subaru understated the XT?s horsepower (given as 210) so as to minimize competition with its own WRX and WRX Sti performance cars. (The consensus seems to be, however, that the combination of variable valve timing, a very responsive turbocharger, and a very fast final drive ratio make it possible for its claimed 210 horses to perform like more.)
http://www.discriminations.us/2003/09/off_topic_cant_see_the_foreste.html
The Mazda RX-8 and the Nissan 350z, the object of their affections, are hot, high performance sports cars. They will carry two people with little luggage in fine style, and fast. The Subaru Forester XT, a newly turbocharged version of the venerable van-looking family box, will carry your kid?s basketball team ? minus the coach, if one kid sits in the open area behind the rear seat (or is tied to the roof rack).
Now, let?s look at some numbers. But first, let me say that numbers aren?t everything, and I?m only giving two of them anyway, 0 - 60 speed (the first number in parens) and elapsed time to 1/4 mile (the second number in parens). Still, since those of us who are interested in performance are particularly interested in those two numbers, I think the comparisons will be worthwhile. I apologize for not taking the time to figure out how to make the following list look better, but at least you?ll be able to read it. These numbers were taken from the August 2003 issue of Car and Driver, but every issue of C&D has a road test summary in the back. Prices are manufacturers suggested base prices taken from the same issue; your prices will vary. So, without further ado:
SPORTS CARS (0 - 60mph / 0 - 1/4 mile) $Price
Mazda RX-8 (5.9 / 14.5) $28,300
Nissan 350z (5.7 / 14.3) $33,788
BMW Z4 (5.4 / 14.2) $45,320
Porsche Boxster (6.0 / 14.6) $43,365
Porsche Boxster S (5.3 / 13.9) $58,088
Porsche 911 (5.5 / 14.0) $85,934
SPORTY SEDANS (just for the heck of it)
Audi A4 3.0 (7.5 / 15.9) $44,385
BMW 330i (7.4 / 15.6) $40,319
Mercedes E500 (5.8 /14.3) $63,602
Jaguar S (7.9 /16.1) $46,775
SUVS (again, just for the heck of it)
BMW X5 3.0i (8.1 / 16.2) $46,570
Mercedes ML 500 (6.7 / 15.3) $45,615
Volkswagen Toureg (7.5 / 15.7) $46,500
Porsche Cayenne Turbo (5.0 / 13.5) $94,980
And now, the ugly duckling that?s always ignored in these automotive comparisons:
SUBARU FORESTER XT (5.3 / 13.8) $25,520
We had a 1999 BMW M3, a fabulous performance car, and a 2001 Subaru Forester with about 90,000 trouble-free miles on it. We hated to give up the M3 but thought Jessie?s final year at Bryn Mawr was more important (though it was a close call), and so we sold it and then traded the Forester for a new Forester XT.
What?s the best thing I can say about the XT? I don?t miss the M3 at all. Charlotte, our yellow Labrador, likes the XT much better, but I wouldn't put too much stock in her opinion since we never let her in the M3.
ADDENDUM
If you look at Glenns last couple of posts linked above, you?ll see that Mazda has given recent purchasers of its RX-8 an offer to buy back their cars at full purchase price or a whole basketfull of expensive goodies because it overstated the RX-8?s horsepower. Interestingly, the various Subaru discussion boards (a good one is here) have been teeming with speculation that Subaru understated the XT?s horsepower (given as 210) so as to minimize competition with its own WRX and WRX Sti performance cars. (The consensus seems to be, however, that the combination of variable valve timing, a very responsive turbocharger, and a very fast final drive ratio make it possible for its claimed 210 horses to perform like more.)
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