Friday Fleet Notes: 05.11.07

By David Thomas

March 5, 2015

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This week we get some new blood into the reporting, namely our multimedia producer, Eric Rossi, who drove a Subaru Forester XT up to Wisconsin loaded with gear and some of our staff. He probably wanted to drive the new Nissan 350Z a bit more, but he still gives some interesting insight on the Forester’s long-haul attributes. The rest of us weigh in on the Volvo C70 and Jeep Patriot.

2007 Volvo C70

The C70 has impressed us before (we named it our Play Car of the Year for 2007), and I was thrilled to get the chance to drive it on a long-distance trip. I was a little worried about what it might cost at the pump, because the heavy car moved spiritedly, but those fears were not realized. Driving at highway speeds for more than three hours, I was able to get 29 mpg in the C70.

The C70 had great acceleration, handled the road well and was very comfortable. Perhaps the best thing about it, considering it’s a convertible, was the lack of wind noise with the top up — way better than I expected. Also better than expected was the visibility in the car, especially considering the low, arcing top, I expected to find blind spots on the sides and limited visibility out the back, but I never felt like it was difficult to see. On the downside, the doors are a little heavy, and getting into the backseat was a challenge for the kids. Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to put this on my list of possible next cars.

Patrick Olsen, managing editor

2007 Subaru Forester XT Limited

Considering I drove the Forester/Cars.com – equipment – transporter from the Chicago suburbs, into downtown, up to Wisconsin and back again, I spent a lot of time behind the wheel. At first, the drive was a little uncomfortable. The four-wheel-drive wagon’s turning radius made for a less-than-fun trip out to the street from the top floor of the parking garage, and a short 1st gear made for difficult starts. Once moving, though, the gearbox was smooth and the throws were surprisingly short. The performance took me by surprise. The ride was smooth and the steering was nimble. The turbo had enough power to make me forget I was piloting a red station wagon through the busy streets of Chicago. Even loaded with three people and several hundred pounds of A/V equipment, the Forester had plenty of muscle to pass on the highway.

I was not a fan of the leather seats in our 2.5 XT Limited test car. They were fine for short drives in the city but didn’t provide adequate support during my six-hour drive home. The panoramic moonroof was great for ambient light inside the car and a nice breeze while moving, but in order to close the sunshade the driver has to unbuckle and reach back several feet. Thankfully, I had a backseat passenger who was able to close it when the sun got to be too much on the highway. Also, the turbo gauge mounted to the steering column made for a cool WRX look and was entertaining to watch, but it completely blocked the fuel gauge.

Eric Rossi, multimedia producer

2007 Jeep Patriot with Freedom Drive II

This was a tough test for me. I’ve driven the Dodge Caliber and reviewed the Jeep Compass for the main Cars.com site, so I know this platform – all three are basically the same car with slight variations.

The Patriot was the best looking of the bunch, it handled an offroad course with ease and was equipped with the Trail Rated four-wheel-drive system. The ride was nice, steering feel was plenty precise for an economy hatchback and the seating was comfortable. I just couldn’t stand the engine. The four-cylinder was lackluster in city driving, barely able to get out of stopped lanes in time to beat other drivers, and the CVT never seemed to respond with the right “gear.”

Then last Saturday I was heading to a Cubs game with my wife and three friends. We were going to cab it over to Wrigley since parking is such a mess, but the cabs didn’t show up so we all piled into the Patriot. Not a good idea. The parking turned out OK — we scored a spot on the street relatively close — but the Patriot struggled the entire way there, which was about 20 minutes of heavy city traffic. I felt like I was driving a golf cart. It’s too bad, too, because I think with the low starting price the Patriot could be a huge success.

David Thomas, KickingTires editor

In the city, the Patriot’s four-cylinder engine can keep up with traffic and the small SUV’s compliant suspension smoothes rough urban roads. The plush ride largely remains when on the highway, but the 2.4-liter four-cylinder — which is actually a step-up engine from the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder — is less than ideal for quick acceleration, passing and merging; it just runs out of steam. A V-6 might change my tune, but unfortunately one isn’t offered.