2006 SUBARU IMPREZA sport mode

8
Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000
miles (1,600 km) .................................. ............ 8-2
Fuel economy hints ................................ ........... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ......... 8-2
Catalytic converter ............................... .............. 8-3
Periodic inspections .............................. ............ 8-4
Driving in foreign countries ...................... ........ 8-4
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ..................... ...... 8-5
Off road driving .................................. ................ 8-6
All AWD models except OUTBACK SPORT and vehicles with 17 inch tires ....................... ............ 8-6
OUTBACK SPORT ..................................... ............. 8-6
Winter driving .................................... ................. 8-8
Operation during cold weather ..................... ......... 8-8
Driving on snowy and icy roads .................... ........ 8-9
Corrosion protection .............................. ................ 8-10
Snow tires ........................................ ....................... 8-10
Tire chains ....................................... ........................ 8-11
Rocking the vehicle ............................... ................. 8-12
Loading your vehicle .............................. ........... 8-12
Vehicle capacity weight ........................... .............. 8-13
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ..................... ...... 8-14
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) .............. ....... 8-14
Trailer hitch (if equipped) ....................... ........... 8-17
Connecting a trailer .............................. .................. 8-17
When you do not tow a trailer ..................... .......... 8-19Trailer towing ....................................
.................. 8-19
Warranties and maintenance ........................ ......... 8-19
Maximum load limits ............................... ............... 8-20
Trailer hitches ................................... ...................... 8-23
Connecting a trailer .............................. .................. 8-24
Trailer towing tips ............................... .................... 8-25

8-6 Driving tips
Off road drivingAll AWD models except
OUTBACK SPORT and vehi-
cles with 17 inch tires
Your AWD vehicle is neither a convention-
al off-road vehicle nor an all terrain vehi-
cle. It is a passenger vehicle designed pri-
marily for on-road use. The AWD feature
gives it some limited off-road capabilities
in situations in which driving surfaces are
relatively level, obstruction-free and other-
wise similar to on-road driving conditions.
Operating it under other than those condi-
tions could subject the vehicle to exces-
sive stress which might result in damage
not eligible for repair under warranty. If
you do take your SUBARU off road, you
should review the common sense precau-
tions in the next section (applicable to the
OUTBACK SPORT) for general guidance.
But please keep in mind that your vehi-
cle’s off-road capabilities are more limited
than those of the OUTBACK SPORT.
Never attempt to drive through pools and
puddles, or roads flooded with water. Wa-
ter entering the engine air intake or the ex-
haust pipe or water splashing onto electri-
cal parts may damage your vehicle and
may cause it to stall.
OUTBACK SPORT
Your Subaru can be driven on ordinary roads or off-road. But please keep in mind
that an AWD SUBARU is a passenger ve-
hicle and is neither a conventional off-road
vehicle nor an all-terrain vehicle. If you do
take your Subaru off-road, certain com-
mon sense precautions such as the fol-
lowing should be taken:
Make certain that you and all of your
passengers are wearing seatbelts.
Carry some emergency equipment,
such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel,
wheel blocks, first aid kit and cell phone or
citizens band radio.
Drive carefully. Do not take unneces-
sary risks by driving in dangerous areas or
over rough terrain.
Slow down and employ extra caution at
all times. When driving off-road, you will
not have the benefit of marked traffic
lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and the
like.
Do not drive across steep slopes. In-
stead, drive either straight up or straight
down the slopes. A vehicle can much
more easily tip over sideways than it can
end over end. Avoid driving straight up or
down slopes that are too steep.
Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, espe-
cially at higher speeds.
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel. A bad bump could jerk the
wheel and injure your hands. Instead drive
Always maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden braking
or under other similar conditions.
Always use the utmost care in
driving – overconfidence because
you are driving an All-Wheel Drive
vehicle could easily lead to a seri-
ous accident.
Do not drive on rough roads or over
curbs in a vehicle that has 17-inch or
other ultra-low-profile tires. The
wheels and tires could be damaged
by shock forces, leading to abnor-
mal vibration or poor straight-line
tracking. Driving would then be
more difficult.

GAS STATION REFERENCE
Fuel:
2.5-liter non-turbo models
Use only unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI or
higher.
WRX
Use premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI or
higher. If premium unleaded gasoline with an octane r ating of 91
AKI is not available, regular unleaded gasoline with octane rating
of 87 AKI or higher may be temporarily used. For opti mum engine
performance and driveability, it is required that you use premium
grade unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI or higher.
WRX-STI
Use super-premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rat ing of 93
AKI or higher. If super-premium unleaded gasoline wi th an octane
rating of 93 AKI is not available, premium unleaded g asoline with
octane rating of 91 AKI or higher may be temporarily u sed. For op-
timum engine performance and driveability, it is requir ed that you
use super-premium grade unleaded gasoline with an oct ane ratingof 93 AKI or higher.
Fuel octane rating
This octane rating is the average of the Research Octane
and Mo-
tor Octane numbers and is commonly referred to as the An ti Knock
Index (AKI). Refer to “Fuel ” section in this manual.
Fuel capacity:
15.9 US gal (60 liters, 13.2 Imp gal)
Engine oil:
Use only API classification SM with the words “ENERGY CON-
SERVING ” and the ILSAC certification mark (starburst mark) dis-
played on the container.
Engine oil capacity:
4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
Cold tire pressure:
Item 2.5i, OUTBACK SPORT WRX WRX-STI
Tire size P205/55R16 89V 215/45R17 91W 225/45R17 90W
Wheel size 16  6 1
/2 JJ 17
 7 JJ 17  8 JJ
Pressure Front 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
) 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
) 36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm 2
)
Rear 30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm 2
) 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
) 30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm 2
)
Temporary spare
tire Size
T135/70 D16 T135/70 D17
Pressure 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2
)