Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Finished my second STP this weekend (Bike ride from Seattle to Portland) and as usually the aid cars were provided by Subaru. At the finish line they had a new Outback- it is HUGE! It sure seems much bigger than the current outback- it must be pretty similar in size to the Toyota Venza? Not sure, I might have still been lightheaded from the bike ride! :D

    Anyway, it seems pretty solid but maybe too big now. :(

    Has anyone driven one yet?

    tom
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Believe it or not Tom, The new Outback is actually about an inch shorter than the '09 model! Yes, it's taller and wider, and has a ton more space inside thanks to the increased wheelbase. The front and rear overhangs have been reduced. The Legacy is a bit longer than last year's model, but not by much, 2 or 3 inches I think.

    I've driven several new Legacys and Outbacks, and they're really nice cars, much improved on the out-going models. I especially like the Legacy GT, with the 6-speed.

    Bob
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    The man and boy were released from the hospitals on the next day - both with just cuts and bruises. I found it interesting that they were from the town where my parents live which is about 50-60 miles away on the other side of Houston.
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Oh, it sure looked bigger!

    Is it heavier? It did look nicer though.

    tom
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Not much heaver, ~ 50 pounds or so, depending on trim level. It is MUCH bigger on the inside, especially for rear passengers.

    Bob
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    we're home after about 2700 miles in the Subaru in 10 days ....

    I am soooo lucky to have a husband that travels well with me!

    We planned to be back last night, but realized I had an aunt who was visiting in New Harmony IN, so we made a slight detour (about 45 extra miles) and managed to have dinner with them last night. We all visited until bedtime, then saw them again this morning for some antiquing in town. Stayed at New Harmony Inn which was VERY nice, and very peaceful setting. We had a (tiny) balcony that overlooked 'park land' and a lake. Very private. Enjoyed it a lot.

    Now if I didn't have to do the unpacking and the laundry ....
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Post count in these forums just quadrupled today!

    Vacation must have been too good juice. I was beginning to wonder if you drowned over in Ocean City, or got swallowed up by the kiddy car rides (singing the Kingston Trio song: "M.T.A., " aka "Did he ever return." ;)

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Very sorry, Serge. That's just how it was with Ashley, my first dog. In an odd way it was peaceful.

    With Hadji I didn't really get a chance to say a proper goodbye, so we sent off balloons for the kids to have some closure. :cry:

    RIP Dina.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yep, I'm back.

    Brenda: nice road trip.

    We hosted my brother and his family, visiting from Brazil, for the past 3 weeks. It was complete insanity, busy busy the whole time, 2 events every day it seemed. We were here for a while, then in Ocean City for a week, then in New York City, then in Philly. Drove right past Subaru HQ, too.

    My brother just ordered a new Forester - in Brazil! They have a new dealer who just opened a Subaru outlet in Recife, the first and only one so far. His will be a 2.0l engine, too, not the big 2.5l we get, so I imagine it'll be very JDM, or maybe a european equivalent model.

    He told me they sell a base 2.0l, 2.0l Limited (what he got), and a 2.0l Turbo. He's not much into cars but that is what he seemed to think anyway. I'll visit the dealer when I go to Brazil next year, most likely.

    While he was here we let him drive our 2009 to get a preview of what it would be like. He and his wife both liked it, so no plans to cancel the order. She's driving around in a Citroen Xsara Picasso, a bizarre egg-shaped european people mover, right now, so the Forester will be a lot more mainstream. They have a farm so the AWD should be put to good use.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Did your brother get a 2.0 Forester Limited automatic?

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Basically, yes, though I'm not completely sure if they call it a Limited, is it their loaded up model, with leather and moonroof.

    He just got back to Brazil yesterday so he might be taking delivery this week.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Looks like they call it the Forester XS 2.0 Completa. Here's the link:

    http://www.subaru.com.br/

    Looks like it might have 16" wheels, not the 17" alloys we get.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Good catch, plus it's actually a 2.5l Turbo! They used to sell 2.0l turbos there.

    I guess they figure if you want performance, you want performance.

    Plus prices there put it in a near-luxury territory so if you can afford one, the price of fuel is not a big concern.

    He's paying the equivalent of over $40 grand. Still, it's about the same as the Hyundai Tucson and less than a CR-V costs there.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    We took the '97 Outback over to California for a week of cruising around. Coming back through the desert this morning seemed like a good occasion to mark the odometer rolling over 75k ... while doing the speed limit. :shades:

    image

    This one's for you Juice - apparently chipmunks eating wiring is a big problem up the Mineral King Road in Sequoia NP. Chicken wire fencing is common but quite a few cars were protected by laying a tarp down, driving over it, and then wrapping the car up in it.

    image
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Chicken wire?! Yikes, how would one keep it from scratching the paint?

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The cabin inholders up there build a chicken wire "garage" using metal fence posts. Those setups don't touch the cars. I guess the backpackers would rather have some scratched paint and a car that cranks at the end of their trip.

    Access is via 19 miles on a twisty, narrow dead end road - it's mostly paved, but it's also mostly one lane, especially the last 12 miles, and goes from ~800' to 7800'. I'd hate to think about the towing bill if a critter ate up some wiring.

    I guess out of ~35 cars parked near the end of the road, about 10 were either wired or tarped.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Hey Mike! Back for your annual post? :)

    Bob
  • KCRamKCRam Member Posts: 3,516
    Surprisingly, the summer has been good to me. Down 14 pounds since May 1... 16 more to go.

    kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    That's great KC - I even surprised my doc a couple of weeks ago by losing 5 pounds. I'm back on Fitday trying to watch calories.
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Hehe, yeah Bob. Saw a 2010 Outback at Fitzgerald in Rockville, MD. Didn't have time for a test drive. Lots of room behind the rear seats.

    Still have the 00 GT wagon.

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Fitzgeralds? I thought you were a Herb Gordon guy. ;) BTW, I bought my '09 WRX at Herb Gordon last Halloween. I like them a lot. Good guys.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    How funny, you'd think he cover the top of the car, that looks like it would hold water!

    I was close to that extreme after paying a $700 repair bill for the mess the chipmunks left on my van's wiring harness. :cry:

    Actually what I'm using now are moth balls. I keep them on the car port floor inside of a hollow brick. Gotta replace them every once in a while, but no chewed up wires since I started doing that.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Actually what I'm using now are moth balls.

    What poor moths have to sacrifice for juice's van.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Mothballs scattered around the parking spot would probably work, unless maybe it rained. A bunch stuck in the engine compartment should help too. I assume it's chipmunks that are the problem up there. The gaps in the chicken wire seem a bit big, but the only other critter that seems common in the area are marmots and I don't know what they'd be doing to cars.

    Looks like my speedometer pic broke. Here's the link if anyone wants to see it hit 75k..
  • hammerheadhammerhead Member Posts: 907
    You need to get to driving, Steve... 100K to go to catch up to the '99 :)

    I think I have some issues, though.. binding in tight turns, worse when warm/hot.

    Cheers!
    Paul
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I missed the pic the first time but it worked when I hit reply to your post. Strange.

    I keep the moth balls in a plastic bag that isn't sealed, so the smell leaks out slowly.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 267,571
    So... now your garage smells like Grandma's house? ;)

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  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Maybe we can get Juice to put some cedar siding on his cars - a Woodie Miata would be a hoot. Just like an inside out Lane cedar chest.

    Paul, I don't think I can find a spot to go 100 legally when the Outback reaches 100k. :P

    Even though it's a couple of years older than the van, we now trust the Subaru more than the van out of town. Plus the tires are way newer on it. The seats aren't as comfy though (I blame the leather....).
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Like her attic, yeah. :D
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Remember the Woodie Forester?

    Few do.

    image

    With whitewall tires and dog-dish hubcaps - AWFUL! :surprise:
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Augh... Forester meets K-car.

    Bob
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    lol, was that thing really for real?

    That'll make you overlook Baja cladding and B9 snouts.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It was a concept that Subaru had the bad sense of presenting to the public, but the good sense to finally can it.

    Bob
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,722
    75,000; hahah... that is almost shameful!

    Speaking of shameful, I must apologize to both you and Brenda for the trip back to AK! Happily, I will report that all family members finally recovered from that nasty bug that afflicted first my son, then me (and, to a lesser extend, my daughter), and finally my wife. We were not sure what it was or if it was communicable, but my wife's good friend in Madison insisted we stop. We did, it was fun, then her family got sick with the same bug about five days later!

    We were still recovering on the way through Idaho, but it was time rather than illness that caused us to skip the visit with Steve and his wife. On our way through (I think we actually stopped at Steve's exit to fill up with fuel!), I tried to convince my wife to let us stop "for just a few minutes," but she wisely reminded me that a "few minute" stop for me was destined to be two-to-three hours, and we just did not have time for it! *sigh* The opportunities lost. Who knows though, Steve, maybe we saved you from a frightful bug!

    Anyhow, the trip went well, we made it home on the evening of Thursday, June 18, and the van now has 213,000 miles on it. We are, sadly, starting to have some very troublesome electrical/computer gremlins arising. My wife is beginning to lose confidence in it.

    So.... I'm sure I missed stuff in my attempt to catch up, but Serge and Bob, sorry about your losses; Brenda, whoa! what sort of angel are you?! That is quite a story about the plane and amazing that help was so near; juice, apparently welcome back to you, too!

    This is a crazy but good summer. There is just no time for anything, let alone catching up in internet land. I saw that Steve (fibber2) popped in for a moment a couple months ago and am glad to hear he is well.

    All the best,

    -Wes-
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    no need for apologies ... sorry it didn't work out, but glad you didn't infect us here!

    If I'm some sort of angel, I'm not sure it's the 'good' kind when planes crash in my friends' 'backyard' ... yeah the people were VERY lucky they weren't hurt seriously ...

    glad you all made it back all right ... sounds like the trip had several days that were not much fun traveling at all ...
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,722
    From Indiana until Idaho, it was pretty miserable (with frequent stops!)... especially through South Dakota (though it had nothing to do with the landscape/scenery). We stopped in Oregon for about a day and a half, then continued onward to Alaska. That was enough of a break to make it feel like the trip was two separate, shorter jaunts, so the rest of the way north was rather refreshing!

    Oh, and I was not going to say anything about your angelic alignment. :P
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Welcome home and back to the forum. Maybe next trip. We have three different sets of AK friends converging here around the first week of September, so feel free to come on down. I may hang out a B&B sign.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Since I am still recovering from a knee reconstruction in Feb. Then a complete knee replacement on the same knee, the Titan has not been driven since February. Rita's Mazda Protege5 gets all the driving as she will not drive the Sube. Titan is coming up on 9 years old and has just turned over 54K kilometres, that is around 33k miles. Still looks brand new, no stonechips, scratchs or door dings, still smells brand inside. At this rate it will outlast me.

    Cheers Pat.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Still don't know how to get a pic from carspace into here. I wanted to post a Picture of Rita's car, it is also in amazing condition. It is like brand new in and out, it is an 02 model. If someone can post the pics of it from carspace into a post I would appreciate it or give me a heads up how to do it.

    Cheers Pat.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    good to hear from you Pat ... sorry about all the knee problems!">
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    It has been a rough year Brenda, surgeon says at least six months for the swelling and pain of replacement to subside and up to a year for a full recovery. Still on heavy duty pain killers.

    Cheers Pat.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Just click on the pic in your CarSpace album. Underneath the picture you'll see two boxes labeled URL and Embed Image. Just copy what's in the Embed Image box and paste it into your post and your post will have a picture in it like magic! ;)
    imageSee more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    imageSee more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com
    imageSee more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com

    Success This is Rita's baby which she dearly loves. Gauges and chrome gauge rings added by me of course.

    Cheers Pat.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Sorry about the knee problems. I can sorta feel your pain as I've been dogged by lower back problems for years. I've got a few disks that have what the back doctor calls "moderate degeneration," and that's permanent damage. After going to a physical therapist for a month, most of the low lower back pain has now subsided, but I sense this will be a problem that I'll have for the rest of my life. I'm in the process of trying to "strengthening the core" of my back. I'm also seeing a massage therapist periodically. Hopefully that will help as well. So my jogging days are over, and I have to be very careful when I go to the gym, so as not to aggravate the problem. Not fun getting old...

    In any event, good to hear from you again—and keep your chin up. :)

    Bob
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Sorry to hear about the surgery, but hope recovery is going well. Rita's car is beautiful; it puts my 02 wagon to shame...it hasn't been washed since I moved to a new apartment complex and it desperately needs it, as does Michael's 01 Outback wagon; ah, the life of bachelors.
    Serge
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Thanks Serge, I looked long and hard at a lot of Pro5s before I bought this one. No dings or scratches and totally rust free. No winter driving. I paid top dollar for it, but it is a condition one car.
    The dealer would not budge on price.
    The knee is coming slowly but according to the Doc. it is on track.

    Cheers Pat
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    If you look at the second photo of Rita's car, the one with the gauges you can see the Titan in front under the car cover in the carport.

    Cheers Pat.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm trying to talk my mom into that same procedure, let me know how it goes. My fear is that if she doesn't do something soon she'll be bound to a wheelchair soon. :(
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just a heads up if we missed anyone - a few of us are gathering at the Gaithersburg, MD, Fitzgerald Subaru dealer for a meet at noon tomorrow.

    Bob is going, I just got a call from Frank to confirm, so if anyone else can come, you'll see at least 3 Crew there.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Hi juice, I am not gonna lie to you this is a rough procedure, the pain is something I was unprepared for. Now though I can see light at the end of the tunnel and it will definitely be worthwhile. The rehab is brutal and if you are not prepared to put the work in then forget about the surgery. I will keep you updated.

    Cheers Pat.
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