That's what I asked myself on Friday when my parents and I left home to drive me to school, me in the SVX, them in the Forester.
The Match-Up:
1992 SVX LS-L, one person inside, 4 stock wheels with winter tires, ~75 lbs of tools, misc stuff. 3.3L engine, heavy-weight car, 16 years old.
2005 Forester, two people, two laundry baskets full of clothes, an Ikea bed, cooler with food. 2.5L N/A engine, auto, much lighter car, new, 1/4 the mileage.
The tally:
SVX: just shy of 30 MPG (about 29.7-something)
Forester: 28 MPG.
BOOYA!!! Better aerodynamics, 3.54 gears, and not having to downshift going through the mountains wins the day for the SVX.
