Sup guys, I am new here, and I'm exploring the option of a Subaru as a hunting/fishing/ backcountry vehicle, as an alternative to a truck/SUV. I'm really interested in better fuel economy.

My current full size truck gets approx. 15mpg.. I've found a really nice, stock 2002 Forester, its rated for 19city 25hwy. If one were to put, say a 2" lift, some BFG ATs or MTs, what kind of gas mileage would be realistic?

You will lose some MPG, but not a ton. Probably average somewhere around 20 to 22 I would guess with something like that.

 

That rating seems a bit low - I would expect closer to 30 freeway from a newer EJ like that.

 

You may not want something so old, but you can't beat the 90 to 94 Legacy wagons. And actually they have more cargo space than the Forester since the Legacy platform is larger - the Forester's are built on the Impreza car platform which is quite a bit smaller than the Legacy. The older EJ22 is a super rugged engine often lasting past 300k miles and they are non-interferance so timing belt breakage won't result in damage. I have hit close to 32 MPG on the freeway with a stock '94 Legacy wagon. Outback struts and springs will bolt right on giving it a "factory" 2" lift. There are lift kit suppliers that can get it even higher. The AWD automatic's do great off-road since the TC acts like a gear reduction and you can add a switch to one of the duty solenoid circuits in the transmission and get them to lock into full 4WD for the really nasty trails.

 

The 90 to 94 Legacy's are my personal favorite's - they are cheap, unkillable, and easy to work on. The phase II 2.5L in that 2002 Forester is known for head gasket seepage and they are interferance engines. Plus the Forester's, like the Impreza, and frankly everything that's '95 and up, have really cheap interior plastic and overall the cost-cutting that was done is not to my liking.

 

GD

Nicely stated, GD. Thanks!

Sup guys, I am new here, and I'm exploring the option of a Subaru as a hunting/fishing/ backcountry vehicle, as an alternative to a truck/SUV. I'm really interested in better fuel economy.

My current full size truck gets approx. 15mpg.. I've found a really nice, stock 2002 Forester, its rated for 19city 25hwy. If one were to put, say a 2" lift, some BFG ATs or MTs, what kind of gas mileage would be realistic?

 

Do you drive a Nissan Titan by any chance? lol.