Subaru Crew Cafe

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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/100643/page009.htm- l

    leave it to Subaru to make a hybrid electric concept that gets us car people excited

    coolest-looking Subaru in a long time


    I agree! :-)

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Honda ASM: wait a sec, this interior does match that lower photo from the other link, Bob. Nice! If this hybrid powertrain makes it to the next Odyssey, I owe Bob a beer...

    Honda HSC: profile looks like the Enzo, but the front end is better sorted. Rear isn't, it's too "Modern Corvette". Nice overall.

    Honda IMAS: overdone. Headlights look like they melted. Fender skirts are silly. Interior is plain ridiculous. Just a concept.

    Hyundai NEOS II: kinda pug-nosed, eh? The bull dog stance and Murano C-pillar work, though.

    Kia KCV-3: not bad. Note the Lamborghini A-pillar. Headlights looks like the new Solara's. And they stole an STi wing! hee hee. Folding hard top? Wow, they're getting serious.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Lexus LF-S: huge improvement over CALTY's GS design. Looks like the Mazda6, in a good way. Hey, maybe this one won't rust in the first week! LOL

    Lexus LF-X: too FX-ish. That D-pillar kills visibility. They should have boxed off the rear like Volvo. The sedan's styling is more successful, but what do I know? The FX is a hot seller for Infiniti.

    Mazda Ibuki: bring me a bucket! They ruined my Miata! I will RUN, not walk, to a B9 Scrambler over this hybrid toy. Has all the style of a bar of soap! I like some of the ideas, but give it some muscles.

    Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE: mouthful of a name. They should not have bothered. This does more to argue against alternate fuels than in favor. Kill the cargo space, but at least it has no power! ;-)

    M-B F500 Mind: looks like the Jolly Green Giant stepped on a Murano, LOL. Actually, it looks nice, half way between a Mazda3 and the Murano. I guess the upswept D-pillar is the new "look". Hybrid diesel, too. This would cost an arm and a leg, though.

    EVO MR: I'm more impressed by the adjustable AWD than by the adaptive suspension, but bring it on.

    Mistu SE-RO: you gotta love Tokyo. It's a retro 50's style toaster, folks! 660cc turbo CVT, you think it would sell well here? LOL

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nissan Fuga: so here's where they used the extra G35 tail lamps! C-pillar looks like the new Legacy's. Overall effect is handsome and a big improvement over the 80s style M45.

    -juice
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    Gimme time ... don't you think I can respond to a TOOL Q????

    OK ... for small jobs I measure carefully, then go to the lumber yard and pick out what I need - sighting carefully down the boards to check for warp ... then I take it to the nearest employee and say ... where do I take this to get it cut??? Because most places will do a few cuts for NOTHING ... especially when it's a nice helpless woman ... lol

    Otherwise, I hire someone ...

    OK .. we do have a number of saws in the garage, some of which I helped to pick out, and occasionally I have been known to pick one up and use it ... and I can ... however, I'm usually better off on a 'bigger' job to hire someone to do it right and I don't have to worry about anyone's fingers (arms, toes, legs, .... )

    AND I LOVE THAT SUBARU CONCEPT HYBRID!!!

    (My next car???)
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I believe it is hard to go wrong with Makita stuff thats what most of my tools are, and a good first tool like everyone says is a 7/1/4" circular saw.

      But then for me every type of saw is a good first tool:-)

     Cheers Pat.
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    I feel quite inadequate. I have a selection of good hand saws, used regularly. For virtually all home tasks they are more than adequate. General rule is the finer the teeth, the finer the cut.
    Few teeth per inch = rip saw for cuitting along the grain.

    I do have a cheapish 10" mitre saw for repetitive cutting but rarely use it.

    What I do find frustrating is the absence of a hand drill for dooing those little on-off jobs. Do I really need to go to the hassle of hauling out power tools for one 1/16" hole?

    Cheers

    Graham
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ding Ding, Brenda wins, she's the smartest, if not the handiest. Indeed, I think you get one free cut per piece, something like that.

    OK, Brenda and I are buying B9 Scramblers. Any one else?

    Graham: get a cordless. Takes the hassle right out of it.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nissan Redigo: now this is a cool concept. Modern beach buggy. I like it. I'd rent one if I went to, say, the Dominican Republic.

    Nissan Serenity Crossover: isn't serenity Lexus' new word? Oh well. Nice wagon.

    Subaru B9 Scrambler: please, pretty please make it affordable!

    Suzuki Landbreeze: looks like that Isuzu Funky Box whatchamacallit. 2 doors, 660cc, looks hopeless for the US. Hybrid, too.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Suzuki Mobile Terrace: can you imagine the A/C power required? Actually, the interior looks comfy. Too bus-like, though.

    Suzuki S-Ride: seems built for Colin. You like? If it really performed? I think it's cool, just register is as a motorcycle, not a car, cause it would get too heavy.

    Toyota CS&S: headlights have eye lashes, looks silly. The seats look like toilet covers! LOL And is that the rear, with those headlights? Weird.

    Toyota Fine-N: the windshield has teeth, check it out! :o) As a concept it's cool, I guess.

    Toyota PM: as opposed to the AM, which came earlier...I guess the crumple zone is your legs. Way too big and complex for just one passenger capacity.

    -juice
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,398
    If you get a 7-1/4" circular saw, buy a really good (yes, probably expensive) blade when cutting new lumber and plywood.

    Use the blade that came with it for railroad ties and the like.

    For accurate/detail cutting, I use a miter box and a hand back saw.

    Jim
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    The nissan fu-gat-bout-it?
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Throw the high speed steel blade away and get a carbide tipped blade. For the Skil saw, I think I have a 28 tooth, for the bigger saws - 40 tooth.

    Correction: My Bosch version of the Sawzall is called "Panther Saw" (not Tiger).

    Steve
  • wrxsoon1wrxsoon1 Member Posts: 158
    paisan wrote:
    "Was cool in AWD til I heard that it becomes RWD over 19mph like the MDX/Pilot that becomes FWD over 19mph."

    Actually, what I think you're trying to describe is the "Snow" mode. You push a button if you're starting in snowy (or other slippery conditions) and the AWD will get you going with a 50:50 torque split. It switches back to automatic (read adjustable from 50:50 front:rear to 0:100) once you hit 12mph. Otherwise the system is always adjusting (on a continuum) between the 50:50 and 0:100 depending on the conditions.

    Too bad this adds 308 lbs to an already portly sports sedan. ;(

    -Ian
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    but they HAVE to drop the Scrambler bit. It's a Jeep, fer crying out loud.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Just went to the Fitzgerald's web site, and noticed, under "Subaru," there is no longer a "Baja" choice to check on their inventory!

    I checked their inventory, and they don't have any Bajas in stock, so maybe the site deletes a model name if they're are no inventory listings for it (by default?). Or... they don't expect any future Bajas, like '04 models?

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nice pix, Papa Bear. Some of those almost look like Twisters!

    Let's rename the B9 Scrambler. B9 is silly, and Loosh is right about the Scrambler part. If it has to be alphanumeric, what about Hybrid 20B, so that it at least means something?

    The STi 22B has a cult following.

    -juice
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    I vote for the "Pleiades Prowler"
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Come to think of it, Hybrid 20B doesn't exactly roll off the tongue...

    Maybe just "B9 Roadster" or "B9 Hybrid". Still not sure about the non-malignant label.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I think Subaru was just market-testing names. I doubt a production model will have both B9" and "Scrambler" attached to it.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Holden just introduced an Outback-like AWD wagon. The name: Holden Avalanche.

    I wonder how the Chevy folks feel about that?

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The Chevy truck is prolly too big for that market anyway. I doubt they care.

    Anyone want to join me for another test drive event? This one is for the new Malibu.

    <yawn>

    Hello? Bueller? Bueller?

    OK, you get to drive a Camry and Accord back to back with it. Free autocross practice. Takers?

    Anyone? LOL

    Register here:

    http://www.malibutestdrive.com/pls/malibu/frmHome.show

    I'm on for 11/8 at 10am. It's in the 6 Flags parking lot in Landover, MD. The new one is supposed to be hugely improved, Autoweek actually liked it.

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Do you mean the Holden Adventura??
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I like the way it looks but doesn't B9 remind anyone else of a BINGO NUMBER????
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Brenda: if they change the whole lineup, it will be a game of Bingo. B4, B7, B9, ... BINGO!

    Bob: pretty cool looking. Pontiac would price it in the $30s, though.

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    You sank my battleship!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    hee hee, I remember that game.

    Acura lost a lot of name recognition when the Legend became the RL. I hope Subaru keeps the names.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Motor Trend just named the VW Touareg their SUV of the year. I just got the issue in the mail, and haven't had a chance to read it.

    Included were the all-new Durango, Armada, Caddy's crossover, and a whole bunch more.

    Here's the link:

    http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/112_0310_suvoy_touareg/

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I can't wait to hear paisan's rant about it being a station wagon, LOL.

    Hey, we gotta solidify plans for Sunday, at the track. We're still on, right?

    Anyone have directions to the track at Summit Point? Bob, you know how to get there? I guess we'll call paisan on his cell when we get there?

    -juice
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    Take I-70 West to Frederick, get on 340 south. Follow 340 to Charlestown WV (stay on business 340, do not go on bypass). Where business 340 makes a left turn,(look for Ford-LM dealer on the corner) go straight. In About 1/4 mile Summit Point road bears off to the left, Track will be approximatly 9 miles. You will go through the village of Summit Point and it will be on the left after Smoot's Junkyard.
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    for me. Like the blue/grey color noted.

    Also, just bought (OK, my wife bought me) a Ryobi, 10" compound miter (mitre) saw. Lots of trim work to do since we got new siding and windows. Need a chain saw next.

    Greg
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Chuck-
    Sounds like you've been there a time or two. If juice and I get lost, we know who to blame. ;)

    Juice-
    Yeah, we need to firm up plans for Sunday. I'm good just about any old time. :)

    Bob
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    I used to race at Summit Point 7-8 times every summer from 85-91. Before that I went as crew for a friend with a Formula Vee from 78-85. So yes, I've been there a few times ;). Checking the website, it seems some route numbers have changed. Here are their directions.

    http://www.summitpoint-raceway.com/SLOCDCM.HTM
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Be VERY careful on your approach to Summit Point, especially the last couple of miles. The local constabulary earns a handsome sum popping pilgrims who can't contain there enthusiasm to the track.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    Have fun at the track, take pics of course!

    This is from http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/ - a daily comic strip page:

    image

    -Brian
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I have always admired Lutz, i he can turn around GM, that would be something amazing!

    Craig
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    As I was leaving for lunch, I saw something very odd in the parking lot of my office complex. A pair of birds (sparrows by the look of them) were attempting to build a nest in the tailpipe of an Infiniti G35 sedan.

    I can't imagine they will get very far. ;-)

    Total non sequitur, just felt like sharing.

    Ed
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    In response to Ken's quiery on the WRX forum, I have a 3rd-generation 10GB iPod (the low end $299 model). I totally love it, and it has started a musical renaissance in my life when coupled with Apple's online music store. Some nights, I browse the store for an hour or so, and find all kinds of cool songs, new and old (recently downloaded a Def Lepard tune from my junior high days). Many of the CDs I have collected over the years have become scratched or worn out, so I like the idea of buying the digital rights to my music, which I can then share on a couple of computers, put on my iPod, or burn to CD, for as long as I want.

    Now that iTunes is out on Windows, I can recommend the iPod without reservation (previously I would only recommend it to Mac people). The recently introduced Dell player is pretty decent too, but Walt Mossberg of the Wall St Journal just reviewed them all and still gives the iPod first pick. I have never gone wrong with Walt's recommendation, by the way.

    So, definitely put one on the Christmas list! For me, the 10GB model (holds ~2000 songs) was plenty, but it's worth paying a little more if you want to hold more music, or take advantage of the iPod's other features (like photo storage) that will eat up disk.

    There's a strong aftermarket/accessory business for iPods, which is also cool. It's a product that has spawned lots of innovation.

    My main uses:

    - Listen to music in the car, way better than carrying a crate of CDs, and the iPod's OS makes it super easy to browse and choose tunes while driving (I tend to hold the iPod up at eye level while working the controls, so I can also keep an eye on the road).

    - Dock it next to my stereo system at home for continued access to my music.

    - Listen to audio books (from audible.com) on my computer at home and work, and on the iPod when I'm on the go. A new feature in iTunes keeps everything synced, so the book picks up where you last left off no matter what.

    There's a whole bunch of non-music things you can do with the iPod (calendar, photos, voice recording, games, etc...) that I haven't even tried. I've only had the iPod for about two months (my wife has an older model, about 1.5 years old, and loves it).

    The design, fit and finish, and look of the iPod are classic Apple elegance, as is the operation. Truly a first class product. I think opening it up to Windows was a brilliant (and refreshing) move from Apple. Now the other 97% can get in on the good stuff too!

    Since I could keep talking, feel free to ask questions!

    Craig
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    The new Seamist green monotone Outback has that same black lower buffer strip that the silver monotone Outbacks have. This is a narrow black band that runs around the car, at the very bottom edge of the body, which "hints" at what the '05 model has.

    That color, BTW, looks very nice. :)

    I also noticed that the VDC has a slightly different style of wheel, so it appears each Outback trim level now has its own unique set of wheels.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The QX56 came out oddly proportioned. Does anyone else think the headlight is set about a foot too low?

    For that G35, I'm not sure if that says the emissions are clean, or if the tail pipe is too big! LOL

    Bob: I prefer Wintergreen. ;-)

    Lutz? I have mixed feelings. He's into good design, but he's also into cost-cutting. Deleted ABS to compete with the Koreans was a bad move. He's also cut out content and made carpets thinner.

    Dodge had interesting cars that were poorly built. You need design AND quality, not one or the other.

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I'll prolly get one for my wife for x-mas. How do you interface it with your car stereo, Craig?

    And remember, they aren't waterproof. ;-)
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I've been pretty happy burning MP3 cds to bring to work -- 700mb a shot. I know someone that has a 256mb click drive, he uses that to move all sorts of stuff around.

    None of my carfi gear is installed at the moment, I'm radio-only. Not sure if I'm going to keep the M3 and really don't think a few thou in carfi gear belongs in a Taurus I paid $2000 for!

    -Colin
    PS... not waterproof! BWAHAHA!!! inside joke for nabisco OT vets. hehe
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I always get a chuckle out of that one...

    Right now, I'm using a Sony cassette adapter with a Belkin auto-kit (charges the iPod and routes the iPod's line level out through a mini-amp before going to the cassette adapter), and the sound quality is surprisingly good (on par with CD). A company just came out with a gizmo that can connect to the CD changer input on Subarus, but it's too new to say if it's worth the price ($199). For now, I'll stick with my cassette adapter.

    I spent all day hiding the wires and making it a permanent installation. Now, all you see is the one white docking wire stick out of the dash. I was able to tuck in the cassette adapter's wire too, so that's nearly invisible. I'll take some pics tomorrow, it's a good mod.

    Craig
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    But how will I listen to my MP3s when I'm snorkeling? ;-)

    6 CDs are more than enough in our Subies, but the Miata has just one and that skips to boot. I may break down and buy a 6CD out of a Tribute, they apparently fit right in, about $180 last I checked.

    -juice
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    Juice: check out Aiwa--they make an Mp3/CD deck that is only $160. I have one in my RNPU and it is nice because you can burn an MP3 disk with 8 hrs of music on it. Also this deck (and the cheaper ones that Aiwa sells) has a mini jack so you can plug in an iPod or a CD player? Whay a CD player? Well major brands now have MP3 capable ones for $50 and again there is 8 hours of music.

    More iPod thoughts: here by the way are the downsides of an iPod. I have a gen 3 ten gig model. The battery life is not as good as the gen 1/2 however I have played the equivalent of 7 CDs music on a charge. Also the touch buttons can be activated a little too easy. Fortunately the lock switch to disable the buttons is on the top and very handy. Last small point is that the interface/charge cable has a dedicated plug for the iPod on one end and Firewire on the other. Original iPods were Firewire both ends so you could go to a Best Buy (although it is doubtful that the word "Firewire" for IEEE 1394 would not be understandable to the typical Windoze geek) and find your own Firewire cable. That's about it. It is tiny. It has great sound. It is easy to learn to operate. It is easy to load with music courtesy of iTunes. I don't use mine in the truck too much but I really like to use it when I'm sitting around web surfing or reading.
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