Probably for homologation purposes. The FXT has a less rigid chassis and poorer aerodynamics. That being said, I would buy a 2004 Forester XT if I were to do it over again :thumbup: (though the 4.44 F/D makes for an annoying highway commute )

Keep in mind that a true WRC is about as far removed from even the top-trim STi as a regular road car is to Touring Car racing.

 

Make sure to drive the cars in question, as numbers don't always tell the tale. I drove a friend's FXT around during some camping escapades...great engine, but it handled like what it was, a small SUV.

 

What is it that makes 4.44 annoying on the highway?

I know the forester is built on the imprezza chassis, does it have less reinforcement that makes it less stiff?

I can see it handling more like an suv with the longer struts, but i sure have seen enough video of them sitting flat in the corners!

My original plan was to pick up a 2.oL rex wagon and put in forester struts. I live in backcountry BC but love a car that feels tight on the roads, too. Kind of working at cross purposes ( :

Less stiff doesn't sound good to me though! Seems to me like a rex w/forester struts should feel pretty similar to the actual forester.

 

What is it that makes 4.44 annoying on the highway?

You'll be at about 3000 RPMS at 60 mph in top gear and pushing 4000 RPMs at highway speeds. The rex with 3.9 F/D is at about 2300 RPMS at 60 mph in said gear.

 

It has the same short block from the EJ257, but it's not an EJ257.

You forgot to mention that it's lighter than an Impreza too...

I do love Forester STI builds though!

 

You forgot to mention that it's lighter than an Impreza too... ;

It's not. The 2.5L WRX, yes... but not the 2.0L. The 2004 FXT was billed at 3190 pounds, while 2.0L WRX wagon weighs in at 3160 pounds. The 2.0L Sedan is 3080 pounds.

After 2004, the FXT just got chunkier

 

Not trying to hijack but what would the F/D do to fuel mileage if you have lets say an 2 -3 hour highway commute every day? What does that look like for top end power. I would assume the FXT would would run out of gears before the WRX wagon stopped pulling.

 

Not trying to hijack but what would the F/D do to fuel mileage if you have lets say an 2 -3 hour highway commute every day?

Higher revs when cruising typically mean poorer fuel economy. There is always a balance between economy and performance: you can't have both.

What does that look like for top end power. I would assume the FXT would would run out of gears before the WRX wagon stopped pulling.

Yes, despite having precisely the same gear ratios, the FXT will reach the end of 1st gear before the WRX shifts into second, the end of 2nd gear before the WRX shifts into third, etc. However, because the output shaft spins at a different rate from the WRX to the FXT within each gear, the FXT will be able to climb through the revs quicker i.e. faster acceleration. So, although the WRX will continue to pull in first after the FXT has shifted into second, the FXT will be ahead of the WRX in a drag race. This accounts for the quicker 1/4 mile times the FXTs typically post (this is also part of the reason why JDM WRXs have quicker acceleration).