I'm glad I happened across this posting...
16' forester proudly owns me ???? I too have had what I thought as high oil consumption. My previous car was a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo so when I bought my forester I was maybe a bit naïve to think I was home safe from the quirks a vehicle can bring. I'm surly realizing I'd rather my foresters quirks over the rodeos any day; brand new and naive or not. One thing you were saying though I have to ask about...more oil consumption for better mileage but in my mind my MPG is terrible averaging at about 24mph.