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Comments
Ty- it's usually better to get the newer model, unless like everyone was saying you will keep it a long time, or you want (or need) to use the cash for something else.
But in the end, it's probably a wash whatever you do. You might do a few hundred better one way or another.
So, are you going to be 'borrowing' your mom's car much? I would if I were you. ;-)
tom
Steve
I was skimming through my issue last night. That is the two of you?
Always nice to see a face to go with the name.
Larry
Of course, it depends on the type/amount of driving you do. I could certainly justify winter tires for the ski trips I make into the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia every winter. However, in total, the ski driving is likely to only be 10% of the total miles I put on during the winter (considering the normal commute and all), and I may hit messy roads only a third of the time I go skiing. Couple that with the fact that we rarely see winter snow/ice where I live and I am down to 3% chance or less of encountering winter-tire conditions. So I continue to run all-seasons, and they have been adequate for ski driving. Would I prefer winter tires when I head into the mountains? You bet! But they would be the wrong tire for the other 97% of my November-March driving.
I am getting new all-season tires for my OB, since the new RE-92A are so noisy. If I get a new set of wheels, perhaps I can work some winter tires into the mix and only install then for ski trips where I expect nasty weather. That would be the best scenario, especially since it only takes me 15-20 minutes to change 4 wheels. I could do it on demand!
Craig
Bob
due to a more aggressive pattern and softer compound, you will probably have more road noise and less mileage life than all-seasons. but there's nothing else to loose and a LOT of ice and deep snow traction to gain!
steve, I was sold on winter tires back in 2000 after mounting them on my (now ex-) wife's Miata. as long as the snow isn't deep enough to high-center on, the car is extremely capable in the snow now. I had a set of winter tires on 15" steel wheels for my '99 Impreza RS, also. that thing was unstoppable. I haven't tried a performance winter tire yet, but I think the Dunlop Wintersport M3 will be good for my uses.
~Colin
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/8C37227C9B6E9EB- DCA256F2300072DFF
This Holden's take on the Subie Outback.
Bob
Actually, in all seriousness, she recently relocated from California and is living with us in Utah. My wife and I don't have "his" and hers" cars, so the Subie will be another addition to the fleet and we'll just drive whatever is available or most appropriate. My mom will use our minivan for business needs, and we'll use the XT for mountain trips without the dogs (a bit small for 3 golden retrievers, two adults, and a baby).
-Ty
Surprisingly, the "ultra high performance" all season tires I am considering -- Michelin Pilot A/S and Pirelli P-Zero-Nero M+S -- are quieter and have a higher treadwear rating than the "high performance" all season RE-92A, which furthers my notion that the RE-92A are not too good. It's a pity; the RE-92 on my 02 Outback were decent tires -- quiet and good in the snow. I have had other RE-92 on my WRX and a couple Hondas that were poor in the snow, however. So you never know how good each variant of the RE-92 will be.
Craig
One thing I found amazing is that was an article about how quiet the new 05 Legacy/OB models are, which had a chart flagging the different noise reduction features. They specifically pointed to the tires, which boggles my mind. The RE-92A on the 05s are some of the noisiest tires I have had. People who have switched to other all-season tires say it makes a huge difference in the car. So I wonder what the heck Drive was talking about when citing the RE-92A as a "quiet" tire???
Craig
Bob
Colin- 235 is a fairly wide footprint for a winter tire ;-)
Mike- 911 wins hands down!
Tom- You can actually fit 18" rims on the Forester.
-Frank
and I thought it might look a little silly if they were substantially narrower as the Evo has pretty large wheel wells.
~Colin
I love my mom more than words can describe, but I don't think I'll ever walk into car negotiations with her again. The shopping experience was fun; however, the buying experience was downright miserable. She paid WAY too much for this vehicle and would only listen to the sales guy and F&I manager no matter what I said. Very frustrating to sit there and explain that things are negotiable, then have her pay whatever the dealership wanted. Ugh. Acid etching, extended warranty, $300 doc fee. Wow. At least she didn't option for the "paint sealant" and leather protection.
Oh well. It's her money and her vehicle. She's happy and that makes me glad.
-Ty
even though I negotiate hard, the frequency at which I've changed vehicles the past 10 years means I've poured a lot of money out the window. but hey, it was mine to pour.
hope she enjoys the pilot!
~c
She had actually decided on an '04 Pilot even with the '05s on the lot. Get this: they were only willing to go to $1,000 over invoice on an '04, and that would be the largest discount to date for the year. Wow.
So, I told her I would make up the difference of $2,700 between an '04 and '05. Now we have an '05 EX-L sitting in the driveway, which for this year has the bigger engine (255 hp and 250 lbs torque), new safety cage, brake assist, vehicle stability control, moonroof, 6 CD changer, integrated key/remote, yadda, yadda, yadda. She loves it.
-Ty
It just means you'll need to get one for yourself soon!
tom
Ed - Great picture of your son.
juice, Bob, Patti - thoroughly enjoyed the spotlight on what you guys have done. In my short time here, I have found a wealth of information along with hours of pure entertainment value.
I am now going to register my 1999 Legacy GT LTD 30th Anniversary Sedan with 111,500 miles - and no major problems at a Subaru high mileage club website. Rob M.
I'll give feedback soon after...
tom
For mike? Lessee, I'll just toss some idea out, we'll see where it leads:
* 300C R/T (more power in the Hemi)
* Audi RS6
* CLK 430
* M3
* Legacy GT Ltd Nav with aftermarket suspension
All seem like a lot of fun.
Would I pay $2000 more for the '05 Forester? To be honest, probably not. They look nearly identical. The little bit of extra mileage will never help you recover that investment.
For $1000, I might. Maybe.
To be honest, I'd way 11 months and buy a 2005 when the 2006s came out!
-juice
Ed
This week i'm leaning toward the 996 AWD or a 993 AWD because theoretically I can use it as my daily driver cause I'm not sure how much longer the legacy will be my daily driver. I'd probably stick in the Pioneer GPS/DVD in the dash on the Porsche as there are very few used ones with navi in it.
-mike
they handle great, brake devine, and have a lot of soul... but a 993 isn't *that* fast. plus I'd hate one as a daily driver in NY. the heater is a joke.
~c
-mike
Thanks!
Ed
Sorry if I came off sounding heavy handed. Even here in NY, winter is fickle. Some with gobs of snow, some with mostly dry roads. I ran all seasons since selling my last RWD car back in 1990 until returning to 'seasonal tire changing' in '02.
I have to agree with Colin, though. The Dunlop is an excellent winter compromise tire. It didn't top Consumers list in snow performance (close), but was head of the class in virtually everything else. So the net is cornering and braking on cold, dry roads is equal or better than the RE-92's. Yes, it is money that I could have spent on more fun things (almost $1600 for 8 tires on rims), but I felt it was a must have after years of occasional white nuckle drives.
Steve
-Frank
Ahh, I sometimes miss the wonderful winters in Boston (but not often!). Luckily I usually just took the T into work. Snow never stopped the Red line!
tom
No not at all -- no apology necessary! I was just providing a counterpoint, not really disagreeing with you.
Craig
-Frank
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=7655&sid=27- 0&n=156
Bob
Bob
Patti is mailing me a few extras.
I'm surprised at the APEAL results, usually more boring cars score low here. I don't think those scores include the turbos, not yet. Watch them creep up in the next year or two.
Also, though they are way down the list, they aren't really that far from the industry average.
That list is surprising, though. Malibu? Marauder? Both are flops. GTO also. Not to mention Baja. Canyon and Monterey?
Almost seems like to make that list, being a sales flop is a pre-requisite!
-juice
4:57 pm Tuesday I received an email that the tires had shipped from South Bend, IN.
last night when I came home from work, they were sitting on my front porch! I couldn't believe it.
they're, uh, big. I'll take some pics later, maybe next month when they get mounted. I think I'll have to hit up some of the dirt roads I usually ride dual-sport bikes on!
~Colin
How many Kias and Hyundais are on the list? I mean, maybe it's appealing becuase they're so cheap? They're nice cars for the price, but not the first cars on my dream list.
Wow, Subaru has their work cut out for them!
tom
Jim
I went to test drive an new AWD Acura RL today. The cars came in the other day, and the dealer only had one for test drives. All the others were sold. I would have had to wait maybe a 1/2 hour or so for a test drive, as there was a line of folks in front of me waiting to test drive that car. I decided to leave and come back another day...
One thing I did notice while waiting: I have long complained about the new Legacy's and Outback's location of the power window switches, as the vertical inside door pull interferes with accessing those switches. Well both the new Acura TL and RL have a similar vertical door pull, but the power window switches are in front of the door pull, which is a perfect solution to my complaint. Why Subaru couldn't have come up with that same solution is beyond me. I think I will go post this in the "Suggestions" thread...
Bob
I agree that the location is not the best but I had an '05 loaner for two days and had no problem using switches.
DaveM
The current location is an inconvenience, not a problem. With the Legacy/Outback you have to move your whole arm to reach the switches. With the TL/RL, you move only your fingers, it's that simple. I think you if try the Acura TL/RL, then the Legacy, you'll see what I mean, and come over to my way of thinking.
Bob
http://www.acura.com/models/model_gallery_showroom.asp?module=rl
If you click on the "Interior Interactive" button, there's a whole host of information links, some of which are very informative about the new RLs' features.
If Subaru intends to really go "premium," these are the kind of features it will need to offer. Maybe not on the Legacy/Outback models, but certainly on a larger, luxury Tribeca spin-off sedan.
One thing I wasn't aware off, the RL also has steering wheel shift controls, like the Legacy GT.
Bob
It should be balanced- not all out performance (no M, AMG, etc) while sacrificing comfort, but it shouldn't be a wallowing boat either. Of course, a luxury car with the prestige behind it (ok to take to the country club-so no VWs!), I would think at least a V-8(no RL, sorry Bob), reasonably reliable to 75K miles (driven less than 10K/yr), it won't see weather worse than some rain, and it will be driven very conservatively most of the time. Oh, and nothing used.
What would you get and why?
Thanks for the help
tom