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Comments
Bob
http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0406/25/a01-194893.htm
Bob
Though GM's pickups are among the more efficient ones. It's the boxy styling and the horrific aerodynamics.
-juice
http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2004/06/25/200922.html
Bob
Ford Escape
Nissan Altima
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry
Toyota Highlander
Lexus RX400H
-juice
Bob
Us Subie-gearheads may love it, but not so my wife. She has always found some interest in previous DRIVE issues, because they offered articles that interested her, and were not so "hard-sell" of Subaru products. It would be interesting to find out if other non-car-oriented spouses, who receive/read DRIVE, feel the same way.
Bob
What, no article on gardening? :-)
-juice
I crossed it off my list quickly though. I was so impressed with the 300C I expected better of the Magnum, but some of the suspension sophistication is lost (cheaper dampers?). The interior and exterior leaves a lot to be desired, too. Damn that Dodge signature grill!
~c
Well, in my household, I'm the only avid reader of DRIVE and I loved the last issue. I usually skim through the stories and go straight to the tech/vehicle articles so it worked for me.
I'm sure the next issue will go back to it's regularly scheduled programming.
Ken
-mike
Bob
Living in the NW corner of NJ, I have noticed all of the local police use Crown Vics as the primary police vehicle. They seem to have no problem making these vehicles work in the snow.
Steve
~c
-mike
I'm just guessing but you need to have very secure caging (AKA "rear cell detention system") to withstand the abuse of a 300 lb male on PCP ;-)
-Frank
It'll take a lot more than a dog guard!
-juice
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jun2004/sb20040625_6- - 054.htm
Bob
One cell phone study asked if a phone that had downloadable ring tones made me feel cool. Suddenly I felt like a geek for even having to think about that.
They try to infer an incredible conclusion from something so...trivial.
It's like you have a Nav option, does that make you feel like a Geographical World Traveler? Give me a break. You might get lost less often, that's about it.
-juice
http://www.autoweek.com/search/search_display.mv?port_code=autowe- ek&cat_code=carnews&content_code=01408743&Search_Type- =STD&Search_ID=2117348&record=1
I know Mike puts much of the blame of Isuzu's fall on the shoulders of GM's marketing (or lack there of, or funding there of), but according to this link, the fault lies squarely in with Isuzu in Japan, and not GM. There are no new products in the pipeline, other than some "vapor" future SUV, which indicates very poor planning or foresight on the part of Isuzu management.
I'm not saying that GM didn't contribute to the problem, but it sounds like most of the problem stems from Japan, not Detroit.
Bob
I went to the 'Chicagoland' event this morning. What a hoot!
First the lineup (ALL AUTOMATIC TRANNIES):
2 -> Saab 9-2x Aero (one tan/silver, one)
1 -> Saab 9-2x Linear (blue)
1 -> VW Jetta 1.8T sedan (black)
1 -> Volvo S40 2.4i (white)
1 -> Volvo S40 T5 (grey)
1 -> Acura RSX (white)
1 -> Mini Cooper (blue)
We were allowed 12 drives. First drive was through the course with a Saab person. The first part of the course was the acceleration part. Basically 0-40-ish and then hard on the brakes. Turn right and start a 4 cone slalom. Enter the wide bank turns (right, left, right, long left). Last stretch is a slippery plastic sheet with water. Gun it, let off the gas and go through a mini-slalom (3 cones). Just before the 'end' is a little bumpy area (8 thick ropes lines up on the road). Basically it was 0-40-ish, then 20-ish mph the rest of the course.
First couple drives were in the Aero. I had not driven an AT WRX. No worry about squealing tires here. Oh my, what lag. But then, whoosh. Found it to ride the course well, hardly chirping tires with the aggressive turns. Steering was heavy feeling, but gave good feedback. The Linear wasn't as sure footed, felt looser, probably due to the tire package available on the Aero. But the Linear was a good runner (no lag).
We then tried the Volvo's, first the T5. I went around first. Love the engine, power is there now. Felt great through the turns, very solid and sure footed. Probably the nicest equipped too. Then the friend I brought with took 'er for a spin, literally! We switched of the traction control before he started the acceleration stage. A little 'brake torque' and the thing lit up the tires with plenty of smoke. Left a pair of 20ft tire marks on that run. He got the 'bad checkmark' on his name badge, indicating that anymore of that stuff and he's done. But, that was the most fun :-)
We proceeded to the Jetta. Wow, that little engine surprised me. Steering was heavy and needed a lot of turning to make the cones and curves. Too bad they didn't provide the GLI, would have felt better on the track with the bigger wheels and sport suspension. On the wet pad, the tires sounded like someone with a gas problem.
The Acura was kind of a letdown. It handled the course well, but wasn't 'fun' to drive. The ride was the 2nd choppiest over the rope-bumps. Perhaps the Type-S would have been more rewarding.
Finally the Mini. What a fun little impractical car. Tranny felt like a manual. You had to really give the gas some movement to get the thing moving. Strange at first. Tracked the course very well, even if it did look strange doing so. I have a feeling the Cooper S would have been even more of a blast to drive.
We then followed up with repeated drives of the fleet until we each had 12 drives complete. Got some nice eats at the end (lunch) and a hat and a pen (for completing a little 6 question survey).
Perhaps half of the 20 people there during our session were actually shopping the Aero's (and were a few husband/wife teams). The rest were just guys out for a fun drive like we were.
None of the turbo vehicles had boost gauges. The VW was actually quicker shifting in manual mode. Most of the others were about the same in either mode.
I have some pics and quite a few quicktime movies I need to upload yet. I'll post a link when I get 'em loaded.
-Brian
It's a beautiful car but way overpriced and irretrievably handicapped by FWD. bleh!
~c
As such, I've set up a page for those interested in seeing this title come to light to register. Even if you're only moderately interested, please sign up. (our privacy policy is posted on the front of the registration site)
http://www.subiesport.com
For those that don't already know me, I am also the publisher of Driving Sports Magazine, a periodical already available throughout North America that covers performance driving, Pro Rally and WRC. I'm personally active in the Northwest Subaru community and various rally sports--even rolled my Legacy Turbo attempting to complete the 2002 Alcan 5000.
Thanks for your support and input, I'll check this thread on occasion for additional feedback.
Ryan Douthit, Publisher
Driving Sports Magazine
http://www.drivingsports.com
Midnight Cafe Media, LLC
Here's a mockup cover:
also one of the fellow sailors is trading in his bmw m3 for a mitsubishi evo mr this fall ( his dealer told him it is coming this fall ). 0-60 in 4.4 and .98Gs, wow.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?previews/previews_story.php?id=4718- - - 9
or
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=39&article- - _id=1254
http://TheCarConnection.com/index.asp?article=7267&sid=178&am- p;n=158
It appears quite a bit larger. No word about what the inside or mechanicals are, but the styling is typical Honda-conservative in terms of upgrade.
Bob
Interesting idea w/ the magazine. I registered, FWIW.
-juice
Also, they still didn't hide the sliding tracks for the doors. Toyota did this way back with the original Previa!
The styling is better. Headlights are a little big but it does look beefier.
You'd better hope is comes with a hybrid drivetrain else you're buying a round a beers, Bob!
-juice
Bob
Our bet was for ground-breaking features. Not size that is ground-breaking. LOL
Actually, hybrid or even cylinder deactivation would be class firsts.
-juice
Bob
How long ago did we make it? 2 years or so? Wow.
-juice
-juice
Click on the profile shot and you can see a blue "C" pillar on the sliding door between the middle and rear windows - it looks like the middle window will roll down.
"Also, they still didn't hide the sliding tracks for the doors. Toyota did this way back with the original Previa!"
Look at the weatherstripping along the bottom of all the windows - it looks like that 3rd window may roll down as well. A track under the window would preclude that. Although I don't see a need to roll down the 3rd window - imagine the buffeting against the rear hatch.
Rob: you could be right. Now that I look closer, the window angle is the same as for the front, so it could roll down after all.
-juice
The problem is from Japan, but it's due to GM's funding of various parts of Isuzu. So yes the immediate problem is due to lack of product development, but that problem arises from having a budget of like $2 for product development combined with $10 is advertising money. It's very hard to get any talented advertising or R&D people if you have no $ to pay them, which is what GM controls/controlled.
-mike
-Frank
The 9-2X unveiling at Detroit carried a similar theme. I recall lots of Saab did this and Saab did that as if they had developed the 9-2X. Being a Subie fan, it naturally irked me.
But then again, what else are they to do? They're losing market share and desperately need the add new entry-level customers to grow in their product portfolio. I think they had no choice but to make it sound like as if the 9-2X is 100% Saab. I kind of pity them.
Ken
-Frank
1. The WRX and Legacy GT commercials were almost identical except for the vehicle name. Kinda made it all seem generic, and at the same time, gave the impression that the WRX was brand new.
2. Why saturate the WRC media?? I know that Subie is committed to it, but who would be watching almost-live WRC coverage late on Sunday night, and not know who Subaru is? Worse was that most of the ads were for the WRX with the new GT ads being the minority. What I'm meaning, is that I thought the current marketing was to increase market share? Preaching to the converted a bit I think here.
Nicholas
Did I mention I love this car?
Then I watched the WRC Rally of Turkey last night just in case I'd developped any delusions of grandeur. Man, I can't believe their aren't more serious accidents on a regular basis. Whipping along at 60+ mph through twisting goat paths on the edge of cliffs. Very impressive!
Weirdest thing was Gronholm's navigator(I forget his name) getting struck by a metal rod of some sort which was shot through the bottom of the car, through his seat and hit him in the butt. Luckily he was okay, only severly bruised, but they showed the holes this thing left and it was scary.
Nicholas
The S40 T5 was a blast, nice power and delivery. Handled the track well too. The VW was surprising for the 1.8L, with little lag (especially compared to the WRX, er, 9-2x Aero). If I had to rank 'em:
7. Acura RSX
6. Volvo S40 2.4i
5. Saab 9-2x Linear
4. VW Jetta 1.8T
3. Mini Cooper
2. Volvo S40 T5
1. Saab 9-2x Aero
Of course, I'd pick the Aero for the AWD. It handled the track well without traction control and the power was adequate for the course. The T5 was just fast fun and was really nicely equipped. I thought it was out of place in this group, it was the most luxiorious of them. The Mini was a blast too.
I've got some videos to upload yet, will post a link when they're up. Nothing spectacular, just shots of the acceleration, some of the turns, a little commentary too.
-Brian