Subaru Crew Cafe

dcm61

Works for me. IE6 w/ LAN internet connection.

Are you using dialup or broadband?

DaveM

rsholland

ateixeira

I can see it, Bob, FWIW.

Ody is supposed to get variable cylinder management, or VCM, to improve fuel efficiency. So at least they're offsetting all the mass with technology to actually improve mileage.

I'm just not sure my wife could ever parallel park on of those bad boys. Maybe with a rear view camera. ;-)

-juice

rsholland

http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2004/07/12/203549.html

rsholland

http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Mitsubishi&mid=MIT20040- 60254184&mime=ASC

ateixeira

Colin: they added 20hp and dropped the price by $10 grand!

Just kiddin'. Looks like the changes are to the MR model only.

-juice

lucien2

I guess Colin's going to have to make nice with someone in Britain.

rsholland

http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Toyota&mid=TOY20040702a- &mime=ASC

I haven't priced Camrys in some time, but these '05 prices seem pretty low, especially compared to Legacy prices. I know, I know... not apples-to-apples, but still...

Bob

rsholland

Where did this come from? Mazda is preparing a Mazda 6 sedan with a 2.3L 276HP/265LB twin-turbo, AWD, 6-speed & 18" rims to be introduced in September!

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- - _code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=07383418

Bob

fibber2

All of the current crop of "large" minivans are right around the same physical spec range: 119" wheelbase, 4200 lbs, 201" length range. I really doubt that the new Honda will break the mold substantially. Today it is all about creature comforts, driving experience, interior volume and convenience to reconfigure.

As the current owner of an '02 Ody, I can tell you that it drives "smaller" than either of my previous mini's ('97 GC or '00 Windstar) by virtue of better suspension, tires, etc., and has a more versatile, yet somewhat sparse (functional, yet cold) interior. That is where a revamp would make the most difference. I really don't care that much about the exterior looks. It is a box on wheels....

Steve

rsholland

I agree. When I said it looks larger, I didn't mean a whole lot larger.

Bob

hammerhead

I was surprised at how heavy our Villager was, given its relatively modest size. Part of the appeal when we bought it was how well it handled compared to other MV's we tried.

Cheers!
Paul

ateixeira

Bob: Camry is going after volume, and those base models are largely in existence so they can advertise "Starting under $16k!"

Then you check and that's with no ABS, plastic wheel covers, stripped down to the bone, no nothing. ABS wasn't even standard on the supposedly sporty SE, in fact we were not able to find a 5 speed SE with ABS at 3 dealers!

You basically have to spend $19k ($3k in options) to get what I consider a minimum acceptable level of equipment.

And that's still a 4 cylinder, FWD.

Subaru went with side curtains standards, AWD and ABS were already. I don't disagree with their strategy of starting with very solid content.

-juice

ateixeira

That 6 will be interesting.

The current V6 is a little flat at low revs, let's see what their turbo can do. The old MX-6 turbos were quick.

-juice

rsholland

now has ABS on all models I believe.

Bob

ateixeira

That's new, then, in 2002 it was hard to even find it, especially with a 5 speed. We extended our search to LE models and still could not find one to sample.

-juice

lucien2

I doubt that. Maybe someone needs to explain to the hacks at AW (what is their DEAL these days, anyways? I'm ready to drop my subscription) the diff between twin and twin scroll?

lark6

Sorry to have been so quiet these days, but fatherhood (still getting the hang of it, but better now) combined with a new job have kept me extremely busy.

I'm sure I'll be back in full force in a few weeks once I am off the fence. As my car will be 4-8 weeks in coming, leaving the fence has been more of a slide rather than a leap. I only hope I don't collect too many splinters in the process!

Ed

locke2c

What are you buying, Ed? I assume 2005 Legacy or Legacy wagon, but don't recall hearing...

~c

lark6

I ordered an '05 Forester XT last Tuesday. Delivery estimate 4-8 weeks.

Ed

locke2c

Cool! The Forester crowd was getting a little thin.

~c

ateixeira

Yeah, we need to keep the faithful! ;-)

Good catch, Loosh. AW has its ups and downs, still the quickest way to get info, especially compared to the monthlies.

-juice

rsholland

bat1161

Congrats Ed! I guess you'll be leading the SBD's now:-).

Mark

lark6

Dunno about that, Mark; I'll have to find time for them.

Will talk more about it as delivery draws nearer. Hope I get what I ordered, not some compromise vehicle.

Ed

kens

Hey, I'm still a faithful Subie owner, aren't I? :-)

Ken

njswamplands

rock on fxt dudes

ateixeira

Absolutely Ken. To be honest I was more concerned we'd lose you to the dark side (WRX). ;-)

-juice

lark6

rob_m

LOL! Nicely done, Ed.

njswamplands

LOL

locke2c

it's a good question too.

answer? you won't!

kens

I almost forgot to congratulate you! Oh, the pain of waiting!

Ken

njswamplands

rsholland

http://www.subaru.com/allwheeldrive/ver2005/index.jsp?track=shopl- eftnav_awd&model=IMPREZA

rsholland

http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2004/07/15/203988.html

rsholland

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/suv15e_20040715.htm

Can't believe that the F-XT wasn't mentioned!

Bob

fibber2

You may remember that earlier in the summer I asked if anybody had 'taken the plunge' on one of these new-fangled backyard toys. While several posted about pools in general, nobody seemed to know much about these, so I thought I would post my experience with it. Has nothing to do with Subaru what so ever (other than it came home in my OBW), but just general interest.

I bought the boxed kit from WalMart for $235. It is pretty complete - 16' x 42" round pool (35" water depth), ladder, filter pump, skimmer, cover, etc. I had to add 2 yards of soil to level a spot, and two of us had it up and filled in basically a day. It takes a little under 4k gallons. Add some chemistry, and you are ready to swim. Since then we added a solar cover for $25 (excellent investment - the pool is now holding at around 85' F - just where I like it...), an upgraded ladder (the supplied one is fine for kids, a little under strength for 'full' sized adults), pool toys, etc. You change a washable or disposable filter cartridge every two weeks, skim the bugs occasionall (keeping the cover on when not in use makes this almost unecessary), vacuum the bottom occasionally, check the chemistry with test strips daily and adjust as needed. So far I have had no real problems keeping the water clean.

No, it is not olympic sized, but just fine for relaxing, playing, cooling off after gardening, swimming for the younger kids, etc. You take it down for the winter, reassemble in the spring. I am told that with reasonable care, you can get 3 years out of them. For those of us not really ready to make the investment in a 'real' pool ($2500 - $25000), it offers an opportunity to 'get your feet wet' with an under $400 expenditure.

16 x 42" is medium-large in this product. Rounds start around 10' x 28", and go up to 18' x 48". There is also an oval at 12' x 20' x 48".

Steve

lucien2

...the ongoing case of SoA's press-relations person out on the golf course. The FXT is AWOL from almost every major US auto magazine, as is the 2005 WRX. Maybe the press wouldn't be gaga over the 9-2X interior if SoA had gotten them into a Forester or new WRX...Tada! the same bloody center console!

ateixeira

Ugh, they mention the Vue Redline and not the F-XT? Saturn's sales are in the pits.

-juice

rsholland

http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_golf_available_awd/index.htm

ateixeira

In Europe - wonder if the US will get it?

I can't imagine a 4Motion with the 2.slow engine. The 1.8T, sure.

-juice

volkov

We got one too. 15'-42". Put it in our sandlot which had been created for the Little Tikes play structure. Made levelling relatively easy, and no grass kill. Agree with your review and especially that the $$ spent on the solar cover are well worth it. Gets our pool to about 75+ degrees on warm sunny days versus about 64-68 without it. (We're hardy up here, but not that hardy) Great for 3 five year olds to play around in on hot days. Actually wondering if I could rig up a hot-tub heater to bump it up a few degrees during cold spells.

c_hunter

Consider building a solar panel -- coil some black poly tubing inside a 2x4 and plywood (4x8) frame painted black, aim it south at an angle (depends on your latitude) and pump some water through it. In many cases the pool pump can be used. On a sunny day the water coming out of this crude panel will actually be hot to the touch. It can definitely help heat up a pool. You could actually build a manifold with valves to control the amount of water that goes through the panel.

Craig

rsholland

http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0407/16/autos-213516.htm

named after Ransom E. Olds, founder of Oldsmobile. My grandfather had a REO car 90 or so years ago.

Bob

rsholland

http://www.AutoWeek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- _code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=03874432

may be for Europe, and not US? Looks good though!

Also, small blurb on the 9-6x, aka Saabaru2.

Bob

rsholland

http://www.autocarmagazine.com/news_article.asp?na_id=209344

ateixeira

Most people only recall the band REO Speedwagon.

Where's JB? AW says the "runaway popularity of the 300C sedan" is the reason we might see a wagon. I should have made a bet with him!

9-6x, so that's the new name. Guess they are leaving room to keep the 9-7 if it's popular.

-juice

rsholland

http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Toyota&mid=TOY20040716&- amp;mime=ASC

c_hunter

The latest rev of the Celica was a real dog, and the MR2 was not faithful at all to the original innovative model from 85.

Craig