Subaru Crew Cafe

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Comments

  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Is that in the same sentance they say they increase the offroadability of it, by moving the wheels closer to the corners (less overhang) but they also INCREASE the wheelbase, which detracts from offroad ability. I hate when advertising puts all kinds of buzz words in there to make people THINK they are getting a better product, yet it's probably equal in capabilities as the old one.

    -mike
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Good write-up on the arrogance of both Americans and American companies. I find it appalling (and embarrassing) how ignorant the average American is on even domestic issues, much less his or her understanding of foreign cultures and business practices.

    -Frank P.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Any how, the old one rode and drove like the primitive pickup that it was based on. That's where it needed to improve: ride/handling.

    Well, fuel efficiency, too.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Good point but decreasing the front overhang by 2 inches (and thereby increasing the approach angle) should more than make up for the 2" longer wheelbase. For example if they were to increase the approach angle by 10% vs lengthening the wheelbase by 2%.

    -Frank P.
  • atlgaxtatlgaxt Member Posts: 501
    I'm also guessing that the new Nissan 4.0 variant will be a good truck engine. HP was another weakness for the old Xterra. It is pretty sad to have to get a supercharged engine just to be somewhat competitive with other brands NA engines.

    In the 4.0 they increased the engine size about 15% while maintaining an ample 250hp, which is similar or slightly less than most of the 3.5 variants. In all probability that means the 4.0 truck engine will be running on regular unleaded. The increase in size is reflected in the higher 270 lb ft of torque. This new engine will be competitive with the smaller domestic V8s.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Excellent commentary. I also enjoyed the passage:

    "Culturally, this is a reflection of the narrow world experience of many US citizens. Americans are, on average, less traveled and less aware of the world than their fellow humans in Europe, Canada or Australia. "

    After having lived in Japan and traveled to most countries in Europe and Asia, I could not agree more.

    It pains me when I see an American tourist or business person overseas who complains about: no one understanding (American) English, the lack of Big Gulp sized sodas served with mountains of ice, but has never even cracked open a book to read up on the local culture.

    Ken
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    the new Xterra is better than the outgoing model in just about every way. The engine and transmission(s) most likely will be light-years better than the old version.

    Interesting, other than perhaps the Wrangler, Nissan is the only SUV maker pushing a manual version. Why else would they come out with an all-new 6-speed manual as standard?

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Even the S/C 3.3l in the XTerra only made 215hp, the specific output is awful for a forced induction engine. The 4l VQ will be much better. 6 speed too? Cool.

    Ken: that's funny, I've hosted lots of Brazilian tourists and the first thing I do is go to 7Eleven to get them a Super Big Gulp. It's hilarious, one guy thought it was a PITCHER of soda meant to be shared by the whole family!

    In Brazil you'll typically find one size of soda (small to us), never served with ice (it's already cold from the tap).

    Major culture shock. Globalization has lessened that slightly, taking some of the fun out of travel, but still, there are plenty of things like that I've observed.

    -juice
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    It could have been the original Pathfinder. Ours was very reliable, but 150 horses dragging that beast around was not a stimulating highway drive. Unless by stimulating you mean, "Wonder if we'll get past this RV before that oncoming truck hits us."
    Even worse was a friend of ours who bought the 4cyl 4Runner that same year. "Excuse me, I need to turn down the radio so I don't slow down going over this overpass."
    AND now the gas mileage is better. We really are spoilt these days.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Most offroaders prefer ATs v. MTs it has lots of advantages when offroading. MTs only advantage offroad is engine braking on decents, but most concensus is that the ATs are superior for offroading, especially rock crawling due to the left-foot braking ability.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I remember that, the upgrade V6 had just 150hp. Torque was OK, though. I think the 4 cylinder had something like 120hp!

    And we complain about the 165hp in some (much lighter) Subies...

    -juice
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I the only one wondering why young men are dying in greater numbers for the people of Iraq, when they appear to be totally ungrateful.

    They just got rid of one tyrant and now they appear ready to embrace another religious tyrant.

    If you look at the experience in Iran and Afganistan these religious nuts make the worst tyrants of the lot.

     And to a more pertinent question how in Gods name did the powers that be in the US administration not see this coming and have taken steps to head it off.

      Cheers Pat.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    This is for car talk.... Thanks...

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    New car thoughts. Well it's a new week, so Mikey has a new car plan....

    This week:

    Summer '05 Yukon XL 3/4 Ton w/6.0 and Snow plow :) and all the nifty items like Navi and DVD and 2nd row buckets. Aftermarket sky-roof like my Trooper :)

    Save up for a 5MT for the SVX sometime in the next year.

    Summer '06 300c AWD or MB E500 4-matic possibly on a lease.

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    That 2.4L 4-banger is pretty strong. The Doc took it to VIR flat towing the beetle, and the bed loaded with 15+ tires.
    We maintained 65-70 the whole trip.

    -mike
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    I'm no expert on off-roading, but I have been instructed by the Land Rover driving school. Their instructors are all ex-Camel Trophy participants. In my training they instructed us that whenever off-roading the vehicle should be in low range, and if using an automatic transmission you should have the auto gear selector in "1" or "L" whenever the vehicle nose is pointed downhill. We had plenty of engine braking with the automatic trans. When the nose of the vehicle is level or pointed upwards, then you move the gear selector to "3". You never put it into "D" when off-roading. They also preferred A/T for the ability to left foot brake.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    This has been rumored for a long time for the US market. Now that it's official I wonder if Nissan will offer their DOHC 4-valve 3.0 I-4 turbo-diesel, which is used in Australia and other markets, in the new Xterra? This could get interesting...

    Bob
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    This is the cafe and is for off topic as far as I am aware.

      Cheers at.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    car stuff. IE: Other than subaru makes/models. We already went through this last year when the war broke out. Let's not start it all over again.

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It's just off-topic, which can be anything; but anything political here is risky. While we all share a "common" passion for Subies, not so when it comes to world issues.

    Bob
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Said I am not about to start a war here, but for FYI MIke the reason the cafe was formed was to discuss whatever, not just auto stuff thats what the rest of the threads are for.

      Cheers Pat.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I'll do a search and bring up where we decided that political stuff would STAY OUT...

    Like I said it's for non-subie stuff to be discussed, still automotive in nature and the occassional OT stuff, but I am just heading off a war of words here that I know will ensue.

    -mike
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Yes the cafe is for off-topic but I believe that there's an unwritten rule to stay away from the really polarizing subjects. We're all friends here but you start talking politics and that changes quick.

    -Frank P.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Like I said in the last post enough said, If I went beyond any written or unwritten rules I apologise. I for one value the friendship and goodwill that exists on these boards and I would be the last one to put the civility here in jeopardy.

      Cheers Pat.
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    I fully agree with your posts.

    TWRX
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Diesels look yummy. Might help Jeep's reliability too.

    RL looks great. Huge improvement. I really like it. 300hp, AWD, handsome, and very likely reliable - this is what Subaru's full sizer should strive to be (at a better price, perhaps).

    LR3 has a much better 3rd row now. Angle of approach is tight, too. I like how Land Rover has a corporate face now, especially the headlights.

    Let's cut Pat some slack, he may not have been reading at the time (or didn't remember), but FYI we did informally agree not to bring up politics here.

    As for controversial topics, we can't even decide which chips are better, corn or tortilla chips. I mean, c'mon, you guys all know corn chips rule.

    -juice
  • damish003damish003 Member Posts: 303
    Corn chips?? Not with salsa they don't. <G>

    -Dan-
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Dip, man, dip!

    See, these tortilla chip fans just don't get it! LOL

    -juice
  • damish003damish003 Member Posts: 303
    If I wanted dip, I'd choose Ruffles. You know, "rrrridges" and all that. That said, corn chips are pretty good, I'll admit.

    -Dan-
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    *gasp*

    Potato chips don't count. Besides, the only good potato chip are those hand cooked ones, and they're fried in lard.

    :o)

    -juice
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    I agree on the potato chip issue. As far as the Corn vs. Tortilla chip, I'm a fence sitter ;)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The Fence lives!

    OK, but if you had to fall off, and one side had only tortilla, and the other only corn, the corn chips would break your fall better.

    -juice
  • kenokakenoka Member Posts: 218
    I like corn tortilla chips
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    See? Now we're all compromising. ;-)

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    White corn tortilla chips with con queso. Yum... must be lunch time :-)

    -Frank P.
  • damish003damish003 Member Posts: 303
    Gibbles chips...fried in lard...yep, damn tasty. I wonder if they make tortilla chips?

    -Dan-

    p.s. It's lunch time!!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oh man, now you're playing the race card. ;-)

    Have you tried those blue chips? They're actually really good. And the red ones, too. What about yellow banana chips?

    It's funny how you can find controversy in any topic.

    -juice
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    I gave up chips over a year ago because I have no control once I start eating them. I've lost 40 pounds since I stopped. Of course, I imagine the running 5 days a week has been a factor there.

    All this talk of chips is making me nuts! Nuts? Hmm...I think I'll go grab a handful of almonds.
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    Plantain chips are best...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Try non-fried corn or flour tortillas, those are healthier. With all the wraps they sell now they're abundant.

    -juice
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I would add a little bit of levity here with this joke I got sent to me.

    An old farmer in Georgia had owned a large farm for several years. He had a large pond in the back, fixed up nicely; picnic tables, horseshoe courts, basket ball court, etc.
    The pond was properly shaped and fixed up for swimming when it was built.
     
    One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the pond, as he hadn't been there for a while, and look it over. As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting and laughing with glee. As he came closer he saw it was a bunch of young women skinny dipping in his pond.
     
    He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end. One of the girls shouted to him, "We're not coming out until you leave!"
     
    The old man replied, "I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim or make you get out of the pond naked."
     
    "I'm here to feed the alligator."
     
    Moral: Old age and cunning will triumph over youth and enthusiasm every time

    Cheers Pat.
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Glad to see you're following the sensible (and sustainable) approach to weight loss. Eating in moderation and exercising regularly have always been the best way to lose weight (note I didn't say easiest).

    -Frank P.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So you mean muching on Fritos and a sedentary lifestyle don't help you stay fit?

    So *that's* my problem! :o)

    -juice
  • amsbearamsbear Member Posts: 147
    I'm staring at my bag o' Fritos right now. Thanks alot juice et al for putting this chip thing in my head. Really .... thanks alot ;<

    Alan
    98 OBW Ltd
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I got married 37 years ago I weighed 138LBS.and I had a 30" waist. I now weigh 148 LBS and have a 32" waist.

    I am not going to say it has been easy but I think it is easier to keep it off in the first place than to gain and then take it off.

      I congratulate anyone who takes weight off and keeps it off it is a complete lifestyle change in order to do it.

      Cheers Pat.
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