Engine revs up when starting, is this normal?

Yes Subaru programs the engine to rev high when starting from cold in order to warm it up faster, it will lower after driving then stoping again or once it reaches higher temps, this is because engines are beat run at optional heat, Therefore heating up faster is more desirable for longevity, performance, ext.

What is too high? 5 grand is too high. 2 grand is not.

My idle stays at 1500 rpm at startup, on a cold engine and goes down to under 1000 (don’t know the exact rpm) when it heats up, I touch the accelerator a bit or I put it in gear. This is on a 04’ Forester SG XT Ej205

starting ending sees to race up to over 2 rpm once i put it in drive goes down to 1 rpm or little higher .. , when i get out of the car seems like the engine is still racing a little fast. is this normal operation.

You take 2019 Forster ..take the car to a car wash, above the window you have two electronic eyes above the wind shield . Do you have to shut them off going thru a car was and were is the off button if you have to shut them off ...

My New 2020 Impreza cold start idle is at 1800 rpm. That 0-20 weight synthetic oil had better stick to the cylinders on shutdown or I can see problems down the road.