Pat: I traded my Outback, and my WRX is for sale right now. It never made sense for me to have two cars, and the OB XT pretty much takes the place of both of them in my book (just a faster Outback with better handling). If the WRX doesn't sell in another week or so I will take it to CarMax. I really hope someone wants to buy it private party -- the car only has 7700 miles and is in mint condition -- it would be a real sin to sell it to a dealer for the trade-in price and I'd love to see the car go to a good home.
Sal: that's right down the road from me! Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg VA.
Brian: those gauges are wonderful entertainment! I think my wife is getting sick of me pointing at them and giggling every time they sweep on startup...
Yeah, but think of how demented it is financially. My parents, who live by the motto of "good used cars" think I am absolutely nuts. My wife thinks I am nuts (for many reasons actually). I even know I am nuts! My only hope is that the current car can hold me until the next generation debuts in 2010 or so....
Actually, upgrading from the 00 base model to the 02 LL Bean seemed like a big jump at the time, but it was not nearly as big an increment as moving up to the new 05 -- that's where there were big changes in many ways. And my 00 and 02 were even the same color. So in my complex mind, I am justifying this as more of a 4 year upgrade cycle. Yeah, that's it....
Oh, and don't forget, we have no kids. As soon as that era begins, you can bet I will be hanging onto cars a *lot* longer. Then my kids can groan when we have the same old car forever, like when I grew up!
Mike- why do you have a passenger when the s2000 behind you doesn't? (forgive my ignorance if this sounds stupid!)
Oh I was out in my session with a student. One of the guys on http://TeamIAC.com wanted me to take them out before they got out there during their own session. So I took him out during my first session. It's an HPDE so no timing so not a big deal to take out a passenger.
In order to post a photo, you first need to find some where to host it. Some people have accounts on servers. Others, like myself, use free websites like Sony Imagestation. Many ISPs offer free webspace accounts that can do the same thing.
In either case, you simply need to upload your photo to the host of your choice. Once that's done, you simply place a link to that photo in your post. See the bottom of this page right above the "Post My Message" "Check Spelling" buttons for the HTML tags to allow the link to be made.
Note that some "free" websites require users to be registered to see the photo. Also getting the link to the actual photo may involve some tricks. Let us know when you get to that point and we'll help you out. First, decide on where to host and then upload the photo.
Steve - Good question! Yakima have finally come out with a tower that works with the Legacy low profile rails. It's called the "EZ Rider" in case anyone else is looking. I'll pick mine up today (special ordered through my local REI store). I'll likely put skis inside though as I don't want a large box on the roof and I'm particular about exposing them to the elements. The OCD in me lives! Leftover fears of slow skis from my racing days I guess. ;-)
Tom - I got the tint done by a guy I "met" through the NASIOC message boards (www.nasioc.com). He's in Auburn and has been doing tints for friends, family and referals for like 15 years. He did a fantastic job and charged much less than a comparable tinting from a shop. Let me know and I'll get you his contact info.
Ken- Thanks again. I figured there had to be more, I just didn't get it! I'll try to post some photos once I get my spoiler removed and windows tinted.
Ian- How long did it take him? I was hoping you did it more locally- but I know how people can screw up tinting if it's not done right! If you could get me his contact info that'd be great- I'll give him a call. Thanks Ian. By the way, what are you going to do for chains? Ken gave me a company for cable chains- I just can't find any in my size where we live (I guess now is not a great time to look though). Just wondering if you've thought about it yet.
Wait 'til winter, go to Les Schwabs. Buy a set of their cable chains & keep the receipt. If you don't need them, you can return them in the spring for a full refund. (Not a plug, just a suggestion).
I use studless snow tires, and have never been anywhere that I needed chains. Cheap insurance, I suppose, and WA DOT says even if you're AWD or 4WD you have to have 'em with you when the chain signs are up in the passes.
I can understand you guys on the more temperate side of the state not wanting to use snow tires, for sure.
Actually, having spent many hundreds of dollars on chains over the past 7 years here, I've never once needed them. But I don't go up into the mountains enough to warrant studded tires (Just don't have the time!) I never used chains when I lived in Boston- and my cars all did just fine.
I'm going to have to drive over there this winter just to see what you're talking about! ;-)
Tom - It didn't take him that long. I don't remember exactly, but it was resonable. E mail me at goneskiian at hotmail dot com (put together with out spaces and with proper email punctuation of course) and I'll get you his contact info.
Chains? Honestly I hadn't thought of it yet being the middle of the summer and all. I'll likely just do as Paul (hamerhead) suggested and get a set I'll hopefully never use. At least that's what I was hoping for when I got an AWD vehicle. ;-)
Ken, I noticed you've got your iPod in your new Legacy. How do you have it hooked up? I just got one for my birthday a couple weeks ago and I'd really like to be able to use it in the wagon. Now I'm quite dissapointed they didn't make an aux in plug available for us! ;-)
I'm currently using a Belkin Tunecast II FM transmitter with my Belkin Auto Kit which I had from my Forester.
The Tunecast is plugged into not my iPod but the Auto Kit to take advantage of the Line Out audio signal. I also have a Y-power splitter to feed power to both the Auto Kit and Tunecast II.
I've been pleasantly surprised at the sound quality through the Tunecast. It's clearly not as good as CD-quality sound, but it sounds better than the strongest FM stations. I think it's an acceptable solution until someone brave enough takes apart their head unit and figures out a direct connection.
Luckily, my commute takes me through some areas that FM broadcasts don't make it so the Tunecast works well. Craig also tried the same setup, but unfortunately he has too many FM stations competeing in his area for clear sound.
In this case, brave means we need somebody who can figure out how to get the dash apart and the radio out so that we can get a look at the back of the radio.
The top option I am considering is a hardwired FM modulator -- it goes inline with the antenna cable and physically isolates the antenna when the modulator is used to pipe a signal into the radio. It should work fine in my area. This too requires access to the back of the radio. I have heard that the Legacy head unit may have a non-standard antenna jack, which is another potential problem.
Anyway, if we can figure how to gracefully get to the back of the radio, that is step one!
Ken, I've been trying to catch up in the 2005 Legacy Outback thread and have come across you guys discussing said blue wire between the driver's seat and the handbrake. I've got it too. You'd have thought they could run that under the carpet wouldn't you? Oh well, I was worried they just slacked on hiding mine. Guess not. ;-)
Tom, To add to what Ken said. You can use the "To post an image..." instructions below the text box you'd use to write a message here. When you are in the imagestation album you can "right click" on the image to get it to call up it's information. Somewhere in that information will be a listing of it's URL. Simply copy and past that URL into the between the " and the ". Don't forget to delete the sample stuff they have in there first! ;-)
If you're on a mac (as I am as of this week, new powerbook G4 15" to allow me to use my new iPod. ;-)) I don't recall how to do the same funtion as the ol' "right click" with a PC mouse. I'm sure someone can help us there?
Cheers! -Ian
Oh yeah, great pics Tom! ;-)
Edit: Nevermind. Looks like you figured it out just fine!
Ian- we must be online at the same time! btw I never got a hold of the tint guy. Maybe he's on vacation or something. I had the tinting done locally- he did a good job.
Ken- thanks for the Help
Ed- I wish my point and shoot digital had a shutter speed control! I may try again at night, though. I do miss film sometimes. ;-)
Congrats on the new PB! I would love a new 15" model. I just got a 12" model for work, and it's pretty nice but the screen is to small for my tastes. I have an old 15" TiBook at home and will probably keep that for a while longer.
CTRL-click = right click on OS X.
Also, if you get a two or three button mouse, just plug it in and OS X will be able to use it (no drivers needed). I use a three button scrollwheel mouse which gives me left/right click and the all important middle click for UNIX stuff.
Jim- I really like the silver! You will too! It's a nice bright silver, and here in the Seattle where it rains so much I go months without washing my car, it doesn't look as dirty!
Frank- yeah, my kids really want to keep it. But since the dealer is willing to swap it out, I'm going to let them. Maybe they'll have a lip spoiler that I could put on someday. . .
You're lucky we have a pretty good balance of computer opinions here -- the PC guys let us Mac folks blabber on once and a while, and us Mac guys try not to the PC guys' OS choice agains them! ;-)
OK, finally got around to giving her a bath, clay bar and Klasse!
Close up shots of new Yakima Easy Rider Towers, 48" crossbars and Viper bike mounts.
Sorry, I forgot to get a close up of how thes Easy Rider towers mount to the roof rails. I hope Yakima comes up with a lockable tower for these rails though. Hopefully I won't need it though.
Cheers! -Ian
Edit: OK, I had a little trouble getting the images to show the first time around but all should be fine now. ;-)
Then again maybe not. If you can't see the last pic, it's of the hatch wide open with the rear of the bike mounts still clearing by about an inch. Oh well...
I went with Klasse because of all the recommendations here from the crew! You can get it online only. I can't remember where. Ken should be able to help you with that.
I've only used the AIO (All In One). I guess there's another product that you can put on after that really seals the finish. I think they say it's good for up to a year. I think I need to get that stuff too as I don't even want to be doing this every few months. Ooops I think I just guaranteed my exclusion from the OCD club. ;-)
Seems to work well though some swirl marks (not scratches) are visible on my wifes black Acura I did a week or so ago. I think I may have let it dry too long before wiping it off. I'll try another application soon to see if they go away. Of course you can't see that kind of thing on the silver paint which is exactly why I went with silver. ;-)
I'll keep an eye out for you in your "___ SPC" sedan!
I'm not sure if everyone else is having the same trouble I am in viewing that fourth photo I tried to post. Actually the second photo should have been this one:
Craig, that "other" stuff is Klasse High Gloss Sealant. It's basically pure acrylic (vs. AIO which is cleaner & acrylic). It's a worthwhile treatment, IMO, as it leaves an even more durable layer on top of AIO. Since you don't need to polish with the sealant, you just lap it onto your paint, let it dry and then buff off -- easy.
You can find Klasse through several on-line retailers. A Google search will bring it up.
Silver with tint seems to be popular here, me likey.
Nice track pics, mike. Mine are plain blurry compared to those.
Craig - looks *beefy*. That's one quick selling point, I swear the Outbacks look a foot taller than the Legacys in the dealer lots. They just stand out (up?) more.
Comments
Fess up, how many times have you turned the ignition on/off to watch the gauges ;-)
-Brian
--sal
Sal: that's right down the road from me! Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg VA.
Brian: those gauges are wonderful entertainment! I think my wife is getting sick of me pointing at them and giggling every time they sweep on startup...
Craig
--Sal
My daughter wants to sell her Tahoe now as she will not be able to afford it and she is in the same boat.
Cheers Pat.
Steve
Actually, upgrading from the 00 base model to the 02 LL Bean seemed like a big jump at the time, but it was not nearly as big an increment as moving up to the new 05 -- that's where there were big changes in many ways. And my 00 and 02 were even the same color. So in my complex mind, I am justifying this as more of a 4 year upgrade cycle. Yeah, that's it....
Oh, and don't forget, we have no kids. As soon as that era begins, you can bet I will be hanging onto cars a *lot* longer. Then my kids can groan when we have the same old car forever, like when I grew up!
Craig
Greg
The wife and I actually drove one of those before the GT and we almost bought one. She likes the OB styling better as well. ;-)
I like that color and would likely have chosen that if it were available on the GT.
Enjoy!
-Ian
Bob
CRaig
Mike- why do you have a passenger when the s2000 behind you doesn't? (forgive my ignorance if this sounds stupid!)
Ian- can I ask where you got your windows tinted? Did they do a good job?
Can someone explain to me in simple step by step English how to post a photo?
Thanks
tom
Oh I was out in my session with a student. One of the guys on http://TeamIAC.com wanted me to take them out before they got out there during their own session. So I took him out during my first session. It's an HPDE so no timing so not a big deal to take out a passenger.
-mike
In order to post a photo, you first need to find some where to host it. Some people have accounts on servers. Others, like myself, use free websites like Sony Imagestation. Many ISPs offer free webspace accounts that can do the same thing.
In either case, you simply need to upload your photo to the host of your choice. Once that's done, you simply place a link to that photo in your post. See the bottom of this page right above the "Post My Message" "Check Spelling" buttons for the HTML tags to allow the link to be made.
Note that some "free" websites require users to be registered to see the photo. Also getting the link to the actual photo may involve some tricks. Let us know when you get to that point and we'll help you out. First, decide on where to host and then upload the photo.
Ken
Tom - I got the tint done by a guy I "met" through the NASIOC message boards (www.nasioc.com). He's in Auburn and has been doing tints for friends, family and referals for like 15 years. He did a fantastic job and charged much less than a comparable tinting from a shop. Let me know and I'll get you his contact info.
Cheers!
-Ian
Ian- How long did it take him? I was hoping you did it more locally- but I know how people can screw up tinting if it's not done right! If you could get me his contact info that'd be great- I'll give him a call. Thanks Ian.
By the way, what are you going to do for chains? Ken gave me a company for cable chains- I just can't find any in my size where we live (I guess now is not a great time to look though). Just wondering if you've thought about it yet.
tom
Wait 'til winter, go to Les Schwabs. Buy a set of their cable chains & keep the receipt. If you don't need them, you can return them in the spring for a full refund. (Not a plug, just a suggestion).
I use studless snow tires, and have never been anywhere that I needed chains. Cheap insurance, I suppose, and WA DOT says even if you're AWD or 4WD you have to have 'em with you when the chain signs are up in the passes.
I can understand you guys on the more temperate side of the state not wanting to use snow tires, for sure.
Cheers!
Paul
Actually, having spent many hundreds of dollars on chains over the past 7 years here, I've never once needed them. But I don't go up into the mountains enough to warrant studded tires (Just don't have the time!) I never used chains when I lived in Boston- and my cars all did just fine.
I'm going to have to drive over there this winter just to see what you're talking about! ;-)
tom
Chains? Honestly I hadn't thought of it yet being the middle of the summer and all. I'll likely just do as Paul (hamerhead) suggested and get a set I'll hopefully never use. At least that's what I was hoping for when I got an AWD vehicle. ;-)
-Ian
I noticed you've got your iPod in your new Legacy. How do you have it hooked up? I just got one for my birthday a couple weeks ago and I'd really like to be able to use it in the wagon. Now I'm quite dissapointed they didn't make an aux in plug available for us! ;-)
Thanks!
-Ian
I'm currently using a Belkin Tunecast II FM transmitter with my Belkin Auto Kit which I had from my Forester.
The Tunecast is plugged into not my iPod but the Auto Kit to take advantage of the Line Out audio signal. I also have a Y-power splitter to feed power to both the Auto Kit and Tunecast II.
I've been pleasantly surprised at the sound quality through the Tunecast. It's clearly not as good as CD-quality sound, but it sounds better than the strongest FM stations. I think it's an acceptable solution until someone brave enough takes apart their head unit and figures out a direct connection.
Luckily, my commute takes me through some areas that FM broadcasts don't make it so the Tunecast works well. Craig also tried the same setup, but unfortunately he has too many FM stations competeing in his area for clear sound.
Ken
I don't know if I'm the one who's brave enough to figure out how to get a direct line to the head unit, but I'll consider it. ;-)
-Ian
The top option I am considering is a hardwired FM modulator -- it goes inline with the antenna cable and physically isolates the antenna when the modulator is used to pipe a signal into the radio. It should work fine in my area. This too requires access to the back of the radio. I have heard that the Legacy head unit may have a non-standard antenna jack, which is another potential problem.
Anyway, if we can figure how to gracefully get to the back of the radio, that is step one!
Craig
I've been trying to catch up in the 2005 Legacy Outback thread and have come across you guys discussing said blue wire between the driver's seat and the handbrake. I've got it too. You'd have thought they could run that under the carpet wouldn't you? Oh well, I was worried they just slacked on hiding mine. Guess not. ;-)
-Ian
Let me know what you find back there!
-Ian
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286067783
How do I post a specific pic here?
tom
Ed
To post a specific pic, click on the pic in Imagestation to get to the original size. Then copy the URL but drop the .orig.jpg from the end.
That should be it.
Ken
To add to what Ken said. You can use the "To post an image..." instructions below the text box you'd use to write a message here. When you are in the imagestation album you can "right click" on the image to get it to call up it's information. Somewhere in that information will be a listing of it's URL. Simply copy and past that URL into the
If you're on a mac (as I am as of this week, new powerbook G4 15" to allow me to use my new iPod. ;-)) I don't recall how to do the same funtion as the ol' "right click" with a PC mouse. I'm sure someone can help us there?
Cheers!
-Ian
Oh yeah, great pics Tom! ;-)
Edit: Nevermind. Looks like you figured it out just fine!
Ken- thanks for the Help
Ed- I wish my point and shoot digital had a shutter speed control! I may try again at night, though. I do miss film sometimes. ;-)
Tom
That is my exact next car. Looks nice. Rob M.
CTRL-click = right click on OS X.
Also, if you get a two or three button mouse, just plug it in and OS X will be able to use it (no drivers needed). I use a three button scrollwheel mouse which gives me left/right click and the all important middle click for UNIX stuff.
Craig
Ken
BTW, congrats all!
Jim
-Frank
Jim- I really like the silver! You will too! It's a nice bright silver, and here in the Seattle where it rains so much I go months without washing my car, it doesn't look as dirty!
Frank- yeah, my kids really want to keep it. But since the dealer is willing to swap it out, I'm going to let them. Maybe they'll have a lip spoiler that I could put on someday. . .
Ian- Mac's are better. ;-)!
tom
CRaig
I humbly apologize. I was just trying to encourage another member of the minority here in the Pac NW, land of the PC OS! ;-)!
tom
Close up shots of new Yakima Easy Rider Towers, 48" crossbars and Viper bike mounts.
Sorry, I forgot to get a close up of how thes Easy Rider towers mount to the roof rails. I hope Yakima comes up with a lockable tower for these rails though. Hopefully I won't need it though.
Cheers!
-Ian
Edit: OK, I had a little trouble getting the images to show the first time around but all should be fine now. ;-)
Then again maybe not. If you can't see the last pic, it's of the hatch wide open with the rear of the bike mounts still clearing by about an inch. Oh well...
Wow, those bike mounts are juuuust right at the edge of the spoiler! I'll be adding my Steelheads on my LGT wagon soon!
Ken
By the way, why Klasse and where do you get it?
tom
I've only used the AIO (All In One). I guess there's another product that you can put on after that really seals the finish. I think they say it's good for up to a year. I think I need to get that stuff too as I don't even want to be doing this every few months. Ooops I think I just guaranteed my exclusion from the OCD club. ;-)
Seems to work well though some swirl marks (not scratches) are visible on my wifes black Acura I did a week or so ago. I think I may have let it dry too long before wiping it off. I'll try another application soon to see if they go away. Of course you can't see that kind of thing on the silver paint which is exactly why I went with silver. ;-)
I'll keep an eye out for you in your "___ SPC" sedan!
Cheers!
-Ian
-Ian
Craig, that "other" stuff is Klasse High Gloss Sealant. It's basically pure acrylic (vs. AIO which is cleaner & acrylic). It's a worthwhile treatment, IMO, as it leaves an even more durable layer on top of AIO. Since you don't need to polish with the sealant, you just lap it onto your paint, let it dry and then buff off -- easy.
You can find Klasse through several on-line retailers. A Google search will bring it up.
Ken
Nice track pics, mike. Mine are plain blurry compared to those.
Craig - looks *beefy*. That's one quick selling point, I swear the Outbacks look a foot taller than the Legacys in the dealer lots. They just stand out (up?) more.
-juice