Subaru Crew Cafe

1…89111314…343

Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I probably will too, to be honest. If nothing else then just to satisfy my curiosity.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Well let's see, we've got two Fisher mtn bikes, a Bianchi hybrid, a Puegot road bike and an early edition mtn bike that weighs a ton. We use a trailer hitch carrier to transport them but to be honest, there's not a lot of places to ride in metro Atlanta where you don't risk life and limb at the hands of distracted (at best) or bike-hating redneck (at worst) drivers so we've not biked much since moving here.

    Frank P.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    OK, besides hanging out here in the Subaru Crew topics, what other areas of Edmunds do you guys check on a regular basis?

    Here are the areas I frequent:

    SUV forum:
    CRV and Forester related discussions
    Jeep Liberty topics
    Toyota 4Runner
    Honda Pilot
    Honda Element

    News and Views forum:
    SpeedVision topics
    Amateur Design topic

    Pickup forum:
    Hardly anything any more. The forums I used to visit are just too populated by too many, "my is better than your piece of , or you're full of " idiots.

    Bob
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I read a few topics in Sportscars, the Solstice and 350Z mostly. I also am reading the Toyota sludge forum in Maint&Repair, since I'm an engine hobbyist and know a little bit about oil. Plus it's morbid curiosity. ;-)

    Minor stuff though. Other than that, I'm a Crew loyalist.

    edit: forgot the Miata topic. I read that in Sportscars too.

    -Colin
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    Saturn Problems
    (any and all) Subaru related topics, includes the Subaru Crew
    Mazda MPV owners club topics

    -Brian
  • hammersleyhammersley Member Posts: 684
    Subaru Crew, of course (most, not all)
    "Inconsiderate" anythings - amusement value only
    Occasional wanderings in the Quest/Villager neighborhood
    Nothing else often or regularly enough to mention.

    Cheers! (I almost typo'd that "cheese") :)
    Paul
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Subaru Crew
    I also look at the news and home page articles, some first drive articles, and the Amatuer redesign; love those photo-shopped cars!
  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    What I monitor is:
    All Subie topics, except Baja (and I usually dash through posts by those WRX kids, whom I don't really understand)
    Mazda 6
    Honda Accord
    Altima
    G35
    CRV
    Amateur redesign studio (gotta love 'em)
    Quest
    Quest-Villager problems
    Corvair
    Deer-auto collisions
    Automobile ads
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    has new gig—and it too has to do with an AWD vehicle!

    Bob

    http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=2045
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Wow, big move for a new big product!
    Hope things go well for him and the company succeeds.

    -Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Maybe I can buy one of those for my wife! LOL

    Muller is great. I wish him luck.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Hmmm... I wonder what the towing capacity is, with and without trailer brakes?

    ;)

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Muller said it can carry only one person, but two if you add accessory trailer brakes (the 2nd person's feet a-la-Flintstones).

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    CRVs (Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle) aren't tough?

    Bob

    varmint "Honda CR-V" Apr 23, 2002 8:09pm
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177335
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    GM will almost surely put VTD in some of their cars. They use automatics almost exclusively, and the VTD system can handle the H6's torque.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    the more they remain the same...

    Bob

    http://industryclick.com/microsites/Newsarticle.asp?newsarticleid=310641&srid=10250&instanceid=5217&pageid=1120&magazineid=1004&siteid=26
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Interesting that they thought the new Mini doesn't handle as well as the old one.

    Freelander didn't score well at all.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    That's chiefly because the new Mini is a whole lot heavier.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, but it's not quite the 2700 lbs we thought. Loosh said they did well in autoX.

    Bob - did you see the M class drawing under Edmunds "Future Models" feature? Looks much better. As with the E-class, Mercedes is making steady improvements. BMW is going in the opposite direction. The CS1 (which is growing on me) is the only new model from them that isn't uglier than its predecessor.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    No I didn't see it, and couldn't find it either. Do have the link?

    Speaking of Edmunds: Here's their take on the upcoming Porsche Cayanne. It's pretty much what I've been saying all along: They're building in order to survive as an independent company.

    Bob

    http://www.edmunds.com/news/column/viewpoints/45341/article.html
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    is not so mini.

    Besides the increased weight, it is physically a much larger car than the original. If you see pictures of the two side-by-side, you'll see what I mean.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I've seen that MB ML picture before. Maybe 6 moths ago? Yeah I like it too.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I love the new Audi coupe shown there, and, I also like the new Rolls Royce too.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It's a vast improvement for the M class. I really don't like the styling on the current model - looks too much like a minivan.

    I completely disagree with almost every point Schwab tries to make in that article. The only reason is short-term profit, period.

    Here's a major contradiction: he says Porsche cannot survive without it, yet look at the wonderful and popular line of cars it offers today, like the Boxter and 911 Turbo mentioned in that very article. They were able to offer those, right?

    He says being bigger is needed to stay independent, but I disagree. That increases fixed costs and overall risk significantly.

    Funny how he says they're not selling out, but that is exactly what they are doing. I guess he wouldn't have to say it if that wasn't what everyone was thinking (probably including him).

    And if the economy suffers a huge downward fluctuation, you really think the Cayenne is going to be a hot seller?

    I almost think they should just keep their mouths shut and sell the behemoth, the less they talk about it, the better, because everything they say is a lie.

    Reminds me of Chris Bangle defending the styling of the new 7. It's like these execs are in quick sand and they are waving their arms frantically to get out, but just digging in deeper.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=2075
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Interesting. Did GM spin them off as an independent entity? Acuras and Subies will get it, too.

    I'm not sure I'd pay for that service, though. Same with satellite radio. Don't we have enough monthly bills? Cable, phone, cell, wife's cell, gas, electric, trash, water, mortage, cars (for some), credit cards, now more?

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Plenty of pixs, but only one of the seating, and a lousy one at that!!!

    Bob

    http://motioncars.com/autobuzz/articles19/2002_honda_crv.html
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    OnStar is of little value to the average person 99.999% of the time. I guess if you've got money to burn, knock yourself out...

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    How can that seat 10? I don't even see how they can seat 7. The Trooper's cargo area is about 4 times as big, and even then it's cramped.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    3 up front.

    4 in the middle.

    3 in the rear.

    We're talk'n munchkins here...

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Are a lot smaller than Americans. Also they probably don't have seatbelt laws etc, so it's a "how many people can we stick in there"

    I'm actually working on getting the OEM 3rd row seats for the trooper from Australia. :)
    They are like the TLC and fold up to the sides.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Guess so, I still don't see how 3 kids can fit in that cargo area. They need to be in booster seats until 80 pounds, and after that they're not munchkins.

    I guess in those countries the kids aren't in boosters. Hopefully the seats are designed for little tikes.

    -juice

    PS I finally got AN, what did you want me to look up again?
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Juice-
    Don't know about today, but back then in my younger Singapore years 12 people (4 adults and 8 pint size kids) packed into my Dad's OPEL wagon. We were an attraction (freakshow) at every stop light. :D

    -Dave
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    rsholland Apr 22, 2002 7:47am
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    OK, article page 6...man, what a cool Stude. You could fit nearly anything in there.

    The GMC will be a 2004 Envoy XUV, with a "sliding roof panel". Someone called it a "pickup truck with sides". Supposedly you can fit an upright frigde.

    It seats 5 and the panel is powered and slides forward. Hmm, it'll have a folding midgate, but the windows slides down into it, unlike the Avalanche (better IMO).

    Late winter or early spring 2003.

    No photo - they show a regular Envoy XL.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Haaa if GM builds it don't plan on it working after about 3 years. You know how those GM electronic do-dads don't last very long! :)

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    if this will be a GMC exclusive, or whether the long-wheelbase TrailBlazer and Ascender will also get this feature?

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    They're coming up with some very creative ideas: This new GMC, the Avalanche, the Aztek. Now if they could only make them look good, and be reliable...

    I hope GM's new-found creativity will inspire other car/truck makers to come up with equally innovative products.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'd bet on GMC only. GM would be smart to distinguish the models a little. In fact, I'd leave the V8 for Isuzu, and the XUV for GMC.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I was at my dad's place yesterday (my old house, I sold it to him), and saw that a neighbor and old friend of mine bought an Avalanche. That thing is huge, easily the biggest vehicle on that whole block.

    My dad LOVES it. To him it was the cat's pajamas.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    despite being ugly, are HUGELY successful. It's been a grand-slam homerun for Chevy.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It's funny, my dad sort of buys "by the pound". Size matters to him, first and foremost. The Outback is his wife's car. He only didn't buy one because they are packing to move to Brazil (he will maintain a house here and visit often).

    When he bought his Outback, he saw a Trooper and told me "now THAT'S the truck for you". He also likes Suburbans. The bigger the better. No minivans, in fact nothing with "mini" even in the name.

    He's also into having more cylinders, the more the better. V6, good. V8, better. I'm sure he'd take a 140hp V8 over the 220hp 4 cylinder in the Honda S2000. Or Saab's Viggen engine. He'll have none of it.

    The Outback's largish displacement helped convince him it was OK for his wife.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    It's all in the marketing.

    There is nothing utilitarian about the vehicle at all. It's amazing what the american sheep will buy. I went and checked it out. the bed is pretty much useless as a pickup, it's quite narrow. The cab iteself is the same as a regular GMC pickup, and the chassis is from the burban. If you need a pickup get a regular pickup it will be far more useful. If you need an SUV the burban will be a better bet IMHO.

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I'd agree with Mike the Avalanche marketers have done well, or at the least haven't done anything stupid. Also I expect to see the cladding go the way of the dodo soon, Cadillac's version of the Avalanche looks MUCH better aside from those ridiculous headlights and grill that announce the New Edgy Cadillac.

    -Colin
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    Sounds like your father should be in one of the new Dunkin Donuts' commercials. Does he have dreams about cleaning gutters? :)

    Greg
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.detnews.com/2002/autosinsider/0204/25/b01-473860.htm
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I dunno, you can carry plywood easily or seat 5 with room to spare.

    Extended cab pickups are cramped, with the Dodge perhaps acceptable, but not roomy. With a bed extender I guess you could carry plywood. But honestly it's not as good at either job. The F-150 Crew is better, but it's longer and tough to park.

    'burbans can't fit a sheet of plywood, can they? Besides, the interiors are cloth and would get all messed up.

    The Avalanche, like the Matrix and Vibe, uses tough plastics that you can pile things onto without tearing any fabrics.

    I don't imagine contractors buying the things, but handy home owners, like my buddy Pete? Sure.

    He still hasn't been able to sell his old 2 door full sized Blazer, though. The paint on it is gone.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    can fit a 4'x8' inside, as can an Avalanche. And unlike Paisan, I think there is a lot of utility built into the Avalanche. It certainly gives you a lot more "flexibility" than either a Suburban or a pickup.

    What I like best about it, is its many creative solutions, which until now, was pretty rare in light trucks.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ah, so the 'burban can. But do you have to remove the seats?

    Another thing - Avalanches are much, much cheaper than Suburbans. A while back I found one for $24k, while Suburbans always break 30.

    -juice
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.