[AWDfreak]

Browsing the internet for a Subaru XV-specific forum, and here I am! (I'm no newbie to Subarus, I have the same username on many other car and Subaru-specific forums)

Well, the Subaru XV promises exactly what I want from a Subaru:

* compact
* sporty handling (well, for what it is anyways)
* high ground-clearance for decent off-road capability compared to other regular passenger cars (NOT off-road kings like a Jeep Wrangler).


And I hope more members join in and contribute to make this forum a decent technical database regarding the XV for the future! I am awaiting technical talk and adventure/off-road threads

 

[ClubCrosstrek]

Hello! Welcome and thank you for joining, it sounds like the Crosstrek is a great option for you. Have you had a chance to drive one yet (or do you already own one)?

The forum is small now but we will continue to grow and turn into a great discussion board for the Crosstrek. Please, be more than happy to tell all of your Subaru enthusiast friends about the site .

 

[CouchPotato]

welcome!! glad to have more people signing up. order a crosstrek yet?

 

[AWDfreak]

Haha! An XV Crosstrek is a long ways away with my income (or severe lack of).

Perhaps in 1-2 years, I should be able to buy one, preferably pre-owned. I don't want to have the issue of new-car depreciation.


My previous car is a 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon with a 5-speed manual that I beat to the point where the suspension, drivetrain, and engine all are in need of replacement. Sadly, she's rotting away in the backyard.

I hope to carry my many mistakes as a lesson and intend to treat the XV Crosstrek with more love and care, since I learned the various maintenance quirks of Subarus the hard way with my old Outback.

 

[AWDking]

Well, this is awkward....

just kidding, welcome aboard!

 

[AWDfreak]

Well just to put into perspective on what I love doing, here's some footage of Subaru pornography ;D

Onboard sand driving
Subaru XV Offroad Bullsbrook 26.08.12

Messing around in some small mud puddles
Subaru XV off road

Crossing some water (though I'm sure that's deeper than the engineers intended it to go)
Subaru XV down river (3)

 

[CouchPotato]

awesome videos! most of the off road driving I am going to be doing with my Crosstrek will be on the beach. we have really deep, sandy beaches here but i don't think the crosstrek will have a problem navigating them at all.

 

[AWDfreak]

Regarding sand, I think lowering the tire pressure may be necessary. Other than that, I tend to go full-throttle just to get out to avoid getting stuck.


And since I've shared that I enjoy off pavement driving, let me show you guys the kind of roads I do enjoy. Here are two local gems

Calaveras road

Mount Hamilton Drive July 30th 2011 Highlights

 

[PhilForce]

Welcome aboard and great videos. I think you and I are into Suby's for the same reason...

 

[AWDfreak]

Welcome aboard and great videos. I think you and I are into Suby's for the same reason...

The engineering advantages of all the Subaru technology (low center-of-gravity, AWD, etc), off-road capability of the raised-suspension models, and general good balance between soft off-roader and enjoyable mountain-pass carving fun?

I enjoy getting around, adventuring off, intentionally getting lost. I feel safer doing that in a Subaru, both for the capability and the safety (hell, they've practically got Volvo beat in a few safety aspects).

 

[CouchPotato]

tire pressure is definitely a big factor in beach driving along with ground clearance which the crosstrek has enough of. power isn't too big of an issue unless you are going crazy in un-driven territory.

 

[Twist2Stop]

You floor it in sand AWDFreak?

 

[AWDfreak]

You floor it in sand AWDFreak?

Sorry for the late reply, but yes.

From a standstill, gotta get the momentum going immediately (in anything loose! whether it be mud, sand, whatever is loose!), otherwise, risk getting stuck due to lack of momentum. When driving off-road, one should not be afraid to go full-throttle.

 

[AWDking]

You floor it in sand AWDFreak?

Sorry for the late reply, but yes.

From a standstill, gotta get the momentum going immediately (in anything loose! whether it be mud, sand, whatever is loose!), otherwise, risk getting stuck due to lack of momentum. When driving off-road, one should not be afraid to go full-throttle.

is that true with most/all AWD/4x4 vehicles, or mainly just the Crosstrek since it is a little underpowered?

 

[AWDfreak]

You floor it in sand AWDFreak?

Sorry for the late reply, but yes.

From a standstill, gotta get the momentum going immediately (in anything loose! whether it be mud, sand, whatever is loose!), otherwise, risk getting stuck due to lack of momentum. When driving off-road, one should not be afraid to go full-throttle.

is that true with most/all AWD/4x4 vehicles, or mainly just the Crosstrek since it is a little underpowered?

Any factors that will hamper your off-road capability (for example, lack of a dual-range transmission, pavement-only highway tires, etc).

My issues resulted from:
* no low-range
* did not reduce tire pressure for soft terrain
* pavement-only all-season highway tires
* not being aggressive enough on launches, which got me stuck (AND NEVER AGAIN IN THE SAND!)

All those factors taking into consideration, and driving like one is on pavement, is a recipe for disaster. With that many factors against the driver, one must be aggressive to get momentum going. Otherwise, risk getting stuck.

As for 2WD/FWD/RWD in sand or soft terrain, that's always a gamble, unless one has the optimal-for-sand rear-engine, RWD layout (AKA the RR layout).

 

[Twist2Stop]

Have you ever floored a 4wd truck/jeep in sand?

 

[AWDfreak]

Have you ever floored a 4wd truck/jeep in sand?

I've floored an AWD (NOT 4WD) "truck" (actually a full-size unibody vehicle) in sand, works nicely in sand, especially with the larger-footprint of the larger LT-metric size tire compared to a typically-smaller P-metric size tire.

I would imagine a genuine 4WD truck would feel more planted in sand.

 

[Twist2Stop]

I have never had an AWD in deep sand except my father's Outback XT. When driving it, I just applied what 30 years of driving in deep sand taught me when I drove the Subaru though. And that is, one of the last things you want to do is floor it in sand.

 

[ClubCrosstrek]

I have never had an AWD in deep sand except my father's Outback XT. When driving it, I just applied what 30 years of driving in deep sand taught me when I drove the Subaru though. And that is, one of the last things you want to do is floor it in sand.

Is it bad for the car or just a bad idea in general since it won't get you anywhere?

 

[AWDfreak]

I have never had an AWD in deep sand except my father's Outback XT. When driving it, I just applied what 30 years of driving in deep sand taught me when I drove the Subaru though. And that is, one of the last things you want to do is floor it in sand.

If you do have off-road experience, I think it would be a good idea to write up a nice tutorial on off-road driving. It would especially be relevant, since the XV Crosstrek is the kind of light off-roading vehicle that will require good driving technique to get anywhere a full-size truck can. I'd greatly appreciate it