Klayfish wrote:The Forester isn't going to get better mileage than the Element. I don't know first hand, but I'd bet it'll be worse. As nice of a car as the Forester is, it's heavy, shaped like a box and is AWD.
I think you described the Element to a T. It's heavy, shaped much more like a box, and has AWD. It certainly gets worse mpg than the Forester - users report 18-24mpg and I'm on the high end of that - EPA is 18/23.
But your point is taken. I plan on keeping the Element until I can find a better deal on an 09+ Forester, then I can take advantage of the 9 inches of ground clearance when I head off road, and get better gas mileage to boot.
