Shifting Speed For Fuel Economy; Maximum Speeds; Driving Tips - Subaru 1998 Forester Owner's Manual

shift into reverse gear.
To change gears, fully depress the clutch pedal, move the shift lever,
and gradually let the pedal up.
J Shifting speed for fuel economy
The best compromise between fuel economy and vehicle performance
during normal driving is ensured by shifting up at the speeds listed in the
following table.
Shift up
1st to 2nd
2nd to 3rd
3rd to 4th
4th to 5th
J Maximum speeds
Never drive with the tachometer needle in the critical engine speed
range except for brief acceleration in an emergency.
J Driving tips
Do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal and do not use the
clutch to hold your vehicle at standstill on an upgrade. Either of those
actions may cause clutch damage.
Do not drive with your hand resting on the shift lever. This may cause
wear on the transmission components.
When it is necessary to reduce vehicle speed due to slow traffic, turning
corners, or driving up steep hills, downshift to a lower gear before the
engine starts to labor.
On steep downgrades, downshift the transmission to 4th, 3rd or 2nd
gear as necessary; this helps to maintain a safe speed and to extend
brake pad life.
In this way, the engine provides a braking effect. Remember, if you "ride"
Starting and operating
mph (km/h)
15 (24)
25 (40)
40 (65)
45 (73)
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