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Subaru Crew Cafe

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  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/mitsu24_20040424.htm

    http://www.usautonews.com/

    http://www.detnews.com/autosinsider/
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It won't be long before the US stops selling them, I bet.

    http://www.gmcanada.com/ssi/english/vehicles/isuzu/isuzu.html

    Bob
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    I don't remember the model number but it's the model with the split rear door... a large panel with the spare mounted and a very small panel next to it. It was new with a temp tag on it. Said Acura something on it. I didn't know Acura was having Isuzu label vehicles for them.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    http://www.nctd.com/review-intro.cfm?ReviewID=214

    It's a version of the Isuzu Trooper. Honda had their own Isuzu too, the old Honda Passport was the Isuzu Rodeo. And Isuzu used the old Honda Odyssey as their Isuzu Oasis.

    -Brian
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Saw my first new Chrysler 300 in the flesh today, one word, UGLY! Thing looks like it was carved out of a brick. The Aztek now has competition for most ugly.

      Cheers Pat.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I live in SE Wisconsin, specifically where there is a engine plant for one of the V6 engines in the 300C. The Chrysler dealers are foaming at the mouth for these things. The newspapers have been showing pictures of 'em practically coming off of the trucks.

    -Brian
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Would'nt give that thing a second look, It's just terrible looking to me.

      Cheers Pat.
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    I hadn't seen one before today. I remember the Honda Rodeo but didn't know Acura was using one of them as well.

    I like the 300. It has a very forward, aggressive look to it. It's not "good" looking but it is "strong" looking.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    perhaps you've 'put your finger' on something here ... in these 'unsettled' times, maybe people want a vehicle that looks strong enough to protect them .. possibly not consciously .. but may appeal to the subconscious ..
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I like the styling, but I don't like RWD. At least there will be an AWD version coming in the fall.

    The styling is inspired by Chrysler-Ghia concept cars from the 1950s, so there is a Chrysler historical link here.

    Bob
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    concur
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    and 1955-56 Chrysler and Imperial sedans were the inspirations for the latest 300C.

    http://www.imperialclub.com/Articles/53GhiaSpecial/

    http://www.team.net/www/ktud/ghia/k310.html

    http://www.imperialclub.com/Articles/GhiaStory/Page01.htm

    http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/vehicle.asp?car_id=1861

    Bob
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    don't like RWD??? blasphemy!

    AWD is better in wet and poor weather. otherwise, give me RWD any day. I'd like to Subaru's sporty offerings move towards more static RWD bias (like the STi's 35/65 selection).

    ~Colin
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    I guess it's too new to Acura? I thought it would at least be on their website even if it hasn't made it here yet. For that matter the Trooper isn't even on the Edmunds Isuzu section.

    I see the 300C as the next MIB movie vehicle for T.L.J. to drive.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Not me. My choices, in order of preference are: AWD, FWD, RWD. I could care less that RWD is considered more the "driver's car" choice. I'm more interested in year-round traction, hence my choices.

    Even though I rank FWD second, it is a VERY distant second, and really (for me) not even a consideration. Been there. Done that.

    Bob
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    The Acura SLX was sold from MY1996 to MY1999. Acura's own crossover SUV (MDX) came out in MY2001.

    Apparently MY2002 was the last year for the Isuzu Trooper in the US.

    DaveM
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Colin,

    What do you think about AWD systems like in the G35 that are RWD until needed? Is that the best of both worlds?

    Ken
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    I guess. The one I saw today had a dealer plate on it and looked brand new so I just presumed it was a new association.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    that you'll read about the Laguna in a news story ;-)

    http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/22/amorous.rhino.reut/ind- ex.html

    -Brian
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    ken,

    no because it's carrying around a lot of extra weight for no good reason and who knows how fast it actually reacts. the 911 AWD biases have it about right, if you're going to bother with AWD... 30-35% up front.

    bob,

    basically we agree on nothing. :) not style, not cruise control lights, and not drivetrain layout. ;) I think your driving style is probably a lot different than mine, too.

    ~c
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I do prefer AWD that is rear-biased for the very reasons Colin mentioned. Pure 100% all-the-time RWD has zero interest for me, however.

    Ken, my only problem with the Infiniti set up is it is RWD until the wheels slip. I prefer (at least in theory, until it's been tested in real life) the new Acura SH-AWD. It's RWD biased (good) and always AWD (also good).

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    You forgot timing chains vs timing belts. :)

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Hey... here's something we agree on!

    the 911 AWD biases have it about right, if you're going to bother with AWD... 30-35% up front.

    Bob
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I'm writing that down on my calendar. :-D

    ~c
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Volkov is seething right now. I ran into the drugstore to pick up pictures and as I walk back to my car I watch this womam THROW open her front door and see it bounce off my passenger side. I'm only 20 feet away, and as I come up she rolls down her window and I even notice her look over at the side of my car.
    I said, " Would you mind being careful please?"
    "What are you talking about?' is the reply.
    'You just swung your door into the side of my car.'
    "No I didn't!"
    'I saw you do it' I am standing between the cars now, 'you can see the line you left in my passenger door.'
    "Well I was here first, you probably hit my door when you got out!"
    'I don't get out of the passenger side usually. There's a door on the driver's side.'
    She just pulls out and says "go to Hell."

    It was surreal. Luckily only small scratches and no dent or I'm not sure what I'd have done. I hadn't raised my voice or sworn at her believe it or not. I made a point of controlling myself and being non-threatening. When I got in my car, I was physically tense and just seething. My immediate thought had been that I wished she been a man instead so I didn't have to be non-threatening. Call it road rage or whatever, but I have no tolerance for people who show complete lack of consideration for others. It's not even like I parked close to her. There was easily 2.5 feet between the cars. Enough that I was able to squat between them to look for damage without touching either car. Most parking lots require a little caution when getting in or out, and I am always very careful even when someone has sardined me. I don't understand the arrogance of people like that.
    I'm sure everyone has similar experiences, but I really needed to vent or it would have festered in my head all day, and I'm working.

    Nicholas
  • cusafrcusafr Member Posts: 184
    Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. I had a similar experience not long ago. There are too many people who just don't care, or only care about themselves. What does one do? A lot of people don't understand how you can care for your car (or other possessions) with so much feeling. Of course I have my opinion about those *****.

    Sorry, I do feel for you.

    CUSAFR
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    a significant door ding 36 hours after I took it home that that was the last straw. Now I park very far away and if I do have to park by someone I take down their license plate number. I decided if I saw it happen I would confront them politely but firmly. I will give them the option of cooperating or having me file a hit and run charge against them. Things have got to change back toward people having some consideration of others. The only way it is going to happen is to be extreme until change occurs. That is why from now on a ding in my door is a collision and if they leave I file hit and run.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Careless door dings etc... are one of the few things that drive me towards violence. I have never caught anyone in the act, but I would probably freak right out. Just reading volkov's post, my first reaction would be to go kung-fu on the other person's car.

    Craig
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Gee thanks, maybe you feel better now after venting but you've probably raised the blood pressure of everyone reading your post. LD's solution of filing a hit & run accident report is a good one (if you had the presence of mind to write down the tag number). However, I think my reaction would have been more along the lines of Craig's. I mean it's bad enough to witness someone bashing the side of your car with their door but to have them actually cuss at you would have pushed me right over the edge.

    -Frank P

    P.S. Pat, I know you read Nicholas' post and I'm imagining what your reaction is so I want you to take several deep breaths and go lie down in a dark room with soothing music playing ;-)
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Sorry if I raised anyones blood pressure. Thing is, for me it's not even an issue of it being my car. I'm probably not that attached to "things" and any damage would have been strictly cosmetic. What drives me to distraction is this arrogance that the normal rules of polite behaviour and consideration don't apply to them. "I can do whatever I please and to Hell with everyone else." It wasn't acceptable from my kids when they were 3 years old. I have no respect for spoilt brats, it's just unfortunate that some of them are adults.

    Nicholas
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I was at a light on Thursday when the woman in the trashed Dodge minivan (1990?) directly behinf me decided she was going to cut through the parking lot to our left and beat the light.....but there wasn't quite enough room for her to manage it and she scraped my bumper. I was soooo mad, I was going to try and follow her. But then I saw the damn van, it was a bloody mess, this lady probably doesn't have insurance. Then, as she tried to cut through the lot, her engine blew up and vomited coolant all over the place. I figured that was pretty good justice right there, and getting money for it was going to be more hassle than it's worth. Especially when I saw her lug her 240+lb frame out of the miserable tin and waddle toward the nearest business with both elbows at waist-height, arms flapping and flailing- both car and driver were utterly broken down. Then I just felt sorry. At least my woes will (mostly) buff out.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Didn't raise my blood pressure reading your post... I can understand your anger. I would've cussed at her in a manner that would make a sailor blush and then let it be. :)

    ~c
    actually, it would've been tempting to kick a dent in her car as she was driving off.
  • ldbrickerldbricker Member Posts: 140
    but I'd be seen by dozens of witnesses while the moron wasn't seen denting my car by anyone but me. That's why I've told myself over and over during calm moments to write down the license plate first. If/when I get to talk to them, if they're nice we'll work it out and if they are jerks then I file hit and run and let them suffer through that. I've concluded the reason we have so many problems is because people don't suffer nearly enough consequences to make them think about their behavior. I think the 3 strike rule should be upgraded from life in prison to public hanging in front of the county courthouse where the crime was committed but that's a different thread.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    My reaction also, I probably would have too right after I put a dent in her head:-) witnesses be damned.

      Cheers Pat.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    This is the place for Crew members to kick back, relax, and talk about...whatever
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Frank: you had me rolling with that pre-emptive warning...

    Mitsu is in real trouble. They should go indy or they'll be the next Isuzu. We all know what happens when you starve a brand of cash.

    300C is controversial but I give them credit for a bold design. I prefer the Magnum wagon, by far.

    Renault Laguna: some where there is a joke about this being a sexy car, but I just couldn't fine-tune the punch line enough to mention it.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Finally went to that event, let me say first that it wasn't nearly as good as the Fire & Ice event from a couple of years ago, when they intro'd the S60 AWD. The cars, the food, even the courses weren't as good.

    The S40? To be honest I was a little disappointed. There is plenty of good stuff, like a strut for the hood, multi-link hinges for the wide-opening trunk, door sill protectors, and obedient Geartronic trannies.

    But then there were just as many let downs. The carpet in the trunk is unfinished, they just cut the edges off like the Ford Escape's cargo area. The A-pillar is wrapped in fabric but it's not padded, so why bother? Plastics on the lower half of the dash and console felt cheap and hollow. The seat fabric looked cheap also, perhaps durable, but shouldn't it feel nice?

    The rear seat is tight, my head rubs towards the back just sitting there. I would hurt to go over a speed bump too fast. Leg room was adequate, about what my Forester has. Even front head room is limited. It's not wide enough for 3 across in the back, plus the hump is pronounced (with FWD, why?).

    They drove only a little better. The base 2.4i understeered like crazy, and leaned a bit much also. The tires were loud and squeeled a lot. Steering was a little too light, clutch take-up was a bit abrupt, though these were worn cars from an 8 city tour.

    The automatic would hold a gear if you used Geartronic, at least. But they sapped a lot of the power from the base engine.

    The T5 was a lot better, but still had more throttle lag than I'm used to. Much more lag than the Subaru 2.5T, maybe about the same as the WRX 2.0l turbo.

    The Geartronic spoils the fun, it would not stay on boost. The track was also too short for this model.

    The 6 speed T5 was nice, but again, this track was way too tight so you could not open it up. Half the time you'd be waiting for the turbo to kick on, and by then you'd be on the brakes.

    The T5 didn't understeer nearly as much, thankfully, but the ABS and traction control kept interfering on the course and spoiling the fun. Still, handling was tight.

    This may sound hilarious, but the best model for that track was the base 2.4i, in a "more fun to drive a slow car fast" way.

    They had one V50 parked, and head room was better in that model. The back seat is still tight, though. The Legacy has more room and far, far better interior materials, IMO.

    I sat in an S60 with leather, and that felt like a luxury brand's car. The V40 doesn't. It would probably make a better Mazda3 or Focus because expectations are lower.

    Ken: IMHO you'd be crazy to pick one of these over a Legacy. Even over a Forester XT. Heck, perhaps even a WRX wagon!

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    quote: The 6 speed T5 was nice, but again, this track was way too tight so you could not open it up. Half the time you'd be waiting for the turbo to kick on, and by then you'd be on the brakes.

    learn left-foot braking. :) it'll help keep the turbo spooled.

    ~c
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well, they'd asked us to take it easy. I got a verbal warning after one lap in a base model automatic. Too much tire squeel. ;-)

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    juice will that verbal warning go on your school permenent record? great a drive event that says dont drive the car hard. what might you do kill a cone?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I put the Geartronic in "2" and left it there right after launch. I think my revs got a little high in the higher speed corners, but I never once hit the rev limiter.

    In full auto mode, the tranny was very, very slow to respond. By the time it downshifted for power I was turning or braking.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    juice,

    Sounds like you had some fun there. I also did notice that the 2.4i leaned A LOT more through the turns. The T5 was tons more fun to drive.

    I almost lost it taking a T5 6-speed through the slalom. Luckily, we were out by the Bay with a stiff sea breeze so the ground crew didn't really her the tires squeal.

    Rest east: The test drive event put the V50 out of my consideration. I think I was a lot more V50-crazy from NAIAS. Part of it was due to the very cold reception from Subaru in contrast to the excellent showcasing by Volvo.

    Ken
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040425/bs_afp/- japan_auto_nissan_040425180619

    I imagine some of them may be named Twingo, Scénic, Espace, Kangoo, Clio, Mégane, Laguna and Vel Satis? ;-P

    Ed
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I agree AWD->RWD->FWD and also agree on the 911 awd bias, especially having just tracked one last weekend! :)

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just shows that Subaru has to do a better job displaying their cars. The Legacy at NAIAS was almost invisible, yet it's a better product (than the V50) by far.

    Maybe some special STi models to demand attention?

    Ed: Nissan can come out with all the new models it wants, if it doesn't address the issues it has with its current trucks it's not going to improve at all. Armadas still have resonance and overall truck sales are below projections.

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Agreed. The only Nissan product I can get excited about at the moment are the G35s, and their interior quality turned me off. The Armada and its Infiniti sibling (FX56, right?) are hideous. Not only that, but IMO "Armada" is a terrible name for a vehicle - sort of like naming a vehicle the "Maginot."

    Ed
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    mike, I sure wouldn't let you drive any 911 I owned. hehe

    ~c
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I know I wouldn't let me drive any 911, let alone a 2002 Carrera4 Convertable with R compound Michelins on it on the track!!!

    But it was a blast and I'm hooked on Porsches now!

    -mike
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    wanting to dump Mitsu, but a bit surprised that they want to divest in Hyundai. H had a reasonable year, and seems well positioned in North America. But lucky for them, 10% isn't a huge number, and will probably be snapped up even if dumped, rather than privately sold.
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