Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino
IT was far from the usual media drives focused on the road en route to the final destination to relax and look back at the experience. From the start, there were already set of challenges waiting for the participants to hurdle. It involved tasks that tested our wits, patience, composure and driving skills, utilizing different arrays of Subaru vehicles.
Motor Image Pilipinas Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines recently hosted the two-day Eco Adventure Drive to Angeles, Pampanga, where select members of the media were invited for an exciting, fun and taxing event.
The day started in a rainy morning assembly at the Subaru Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) showroom where we registered, had breakfast and briefed for team assignments. Parked outside were array of Subaru vehicles, namely, Forester XT variants, XV, Outback, Legacy, Imprezza WRX and STI versions, along with two BRZ acted as lead and sweeper cars.
Teamed up with fellow motoring journalist Yabee Eusebio of Time Attack Manila, we boarded the 2.0-liter turbocharged; boxer engine-powered white Forester XT. Opted to be the passenger for the fuel economy contest, the convoy took off for a quick fuel tap up at the Shell gas station along Edsa in Ortigas Avenue. The objective was to achieve the lowest amount of gas consumption, while cars were categorized per type for accuracy in tallying.
While on Edsa, the volume of traffic already started to pile up and it was not a good way to start an economy run, but we patiently rolled until we reached the North Luzon Expressway. By the time we reached Shell gas station in Balagtas, all teams gathered for the game of shopping with list of numerous items to buy without overspending a budget of P500.
Afterward this writer took the wheel and we resumed traversing the freeway with the goal in mind to succeed in the economy run. Determined to win, a relatively low Revolutions per minute was maintained in the final drive and we cruised between 65 kilometers per minute to 70 km/h on manual mode to make sure we stayed at the final gear.
The Forester XT demonstrated a superb comfort ride matched with an impressive noise, vibration and harshness suppression. And as a result, the journey became tranquil without even minding the relatively slower speed we were at.
Momentarily, we finally reached the outskirts of Clark, Pampanga, and instructed to proceed at the Shell gas station in Clark for a refuel to determine the actual consumption from the entire trip. Our team was very satisfied with the final reading, which came out to exactly 7.56 liters after traveling around 106 km.
Meanwhile, we moved to the Widus Hotel for a quick rest then transferred to Pepper 21 restaurant where we savored the sumptuous meal for lunch. Just when everybody thought we cleared a tough mission, it was time for a more arduous encounter—an off-road adventure to test our driving skills and ultimately put the all-wheel drive Subaru vehicles to a run-through in the extreme terrains of the lahar plagued landscape.
Still aboard the same Forester XT, this scribe joined the pack of XVs and Outbacks led by no other than off-roading expert Beeboy Vargas together with recovery vehicles and started navigating the sandy surface. Since it has been raining sporadically, the surface was softer and filled with water that formed scattered shallow river beds along the way.
The symmetrical all-wheel drive capabilities of the Subaru vehicles reinforced our piloting skills as we sliced through unpredictable lands employing constant counter steering to avoid getting stuck.
Every single Subaru vehicle in the convoy displayed outstanding water-wading abilities where every splash added to the exhilarating sensation behind the wheel.
As we learned several vehicles got trapped, the level of competitiveness rose to avoid falling into the same situation. In the end, everybody enjoyed the occurrence and head back to the hotel, cleaned up and enjoyed dinner.Finally, the moment everybody has been waiting for has come, and it was time to award the team with best fuel consumption per vehicle category. With slight expectations, our team emerged as victors in the Forester category that registered a 14.06-km/liter utilization. Everybody celebrated and ended the day accomplished and proud.
The next day, after a hearty breakfast, the convoy left the hotel and traversed the same route going back. On the highway, the Forester unleashed the acceleration power from its turbocharged engine coupled to a six-speed CVT automatic transmission making swift accelerations within high speed limits. But what astonished me the most was the way it behaved on the road—still as quiet and comfortable even at high velocity within restrictions. Routing the freeways became seamless until we all made back to the Subaru Edsa showroom safe and sound.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino