I just spent a week in Colorado (above about 8500', mostly) driving around in a rented Subaru Forester (the NA version); the last miles were on the way down to the Denver airport (dry mountain roads and interstate). Then when we got home yesterday, it was raining, so we took Claire's Forester XT (the turbo version) out to get groceries and so on.

Needless to say, the performance differences were interesting; the handling was also different because I've upgraded Claire's wheels & tires. But generally, they were similar and, of course, the way-up-there seating was about the same.

Foresters, maybe the smallest and lightest true SUVs in the sense of all-wheel-drive and clearance (they're based on the Impreza platform), have a relatively low center of gravity, and they handle quite well for such a vehicle.

Anyway, I got used to them.

Soooo, this morning I got in my S to go to work. It had the usual flat spots in its tires, but they went away after five minutes or so. And it was nice to have some use for my left foot again (both Foresters were automatics). But, mostly, it was


Wheeeeeeeeee........

HPH

 

Nice! I must say I had a similar sensation when I started up the S and buzzed off after spending a couple of days on the road in a Nissan Armada.

 

That "wheeeeee" factor is the reason I refuse to let her go, despite the fact that she just sits a lot. Cheapest, safest high I've found.

 

I understand. During the holidays we traveled everywhere in one of the suvs. When +1 returned to work on Tuesday we had high temps and bright sunshine here, so I took the S out for a little romp. I hadn't driven it for a week or two and I felt that same "wheeeeeee ness".

 

As my S is in storage because we should be having snow here, I'm driving my Titan. The thing that always gets me is the 1st drive in the spring, it usually takes me a while to get readjusted to sitting so low to the ground. You think going from a Forester for a week to a S is a big change, go from a 4x4 full size truck for 5 months down to an S. The sensation is freekie, I swear my a _ _ is dragging along on the pavement.

Although I prefer the Outback over the Forester in a big way, I will say this, I swear Subaru has just about THE BEST AWD on this planet.

 

Yeah! That is something that never goes away for me. I love my S2000!!

 

Took mine out for a little ride last night. After a week of driving the wife's big brown turd (Grand Marquis), that was nice. Supposed to be in the 70s next week. TOP DOWN TIME!!!

 

 

I am hoping for some nice weather one of these days so the S can come out. I haven't driven it since early December.

 

Lucky guys,you...
This is still winter in my neck of the woods...

This is what mine looks like,right now...:


and this is what winter looks like in Quebec city,right now...