Subaru Crew Cafe

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Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    But he's making me look bad...

    ;-)

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.big-boys.com/articles/lawnfly.html

    Warning - do not open this at work, I laughed uncontrollably, someone thought I was having a heart attack because I was unable to speak!

    -juice
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    What is even wierder is reading the comments from folk who have watched the video. A surprising number seem convinced it is a modified real mower and miss the joke.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    RC plane I have ever seen. OK, am I totally naive? It is late, I am tired, and I will believe or buy into almost anything.... I suppose good computer movie making can make you believe that Mary Poppins can really fly.

    Steve
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    if you have a closer look you will see that the deck and apparent top of the motor cover are actiually two aerofoils with the sides acting as the upright thingeys which stop air spilling. Looing at the website it apparently is a very easy to contol RC plane.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    oh c'mon ... as gullible as *I* am, I knew what it was ... lol
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Check out is ideas on importing Chinese cars here.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Subaru did extremely well in the latest CR Annual Auto issue. It was the most reliable brand, and the Forester and WRX/WRX-STi also took top honors in their respective classes. The Baja's rating improved, and the Legacy and Outback got their usual "recommended" ratings too.

    This is great news for Subaru, and should reflect very nicely in improved sales, as many people take CR's ratings as gospel.

    Bob
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Congratulations to Subaru for some long-overdue positive publicity! However, IRT the "Most Reliable" accolade, brand me as a skeptic if you want but I'm viewing the results with a grain of salt. First off I don't see how any manufacturer could improve its score that drastically (cutting problems by more than half) in just one year. Second, just as I didn't believe that Subaru had worse than avg reliability last year, I don't honestly believe that Subaru is the most reliable brand this year. Personally, I still consider Subaru’s reliability to be well above avg but just below that of the Honda & Toyota brands.

    -Frank
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    as consumer reports has shown in the past that a single grain does not really effect the overall taste.

    << the anti cliche man
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Bricklin is nuts. Did you see his plan for dealerships? Who's gonna invest that much to sell cheap econoboxes from China?

    I can imagine the sales pitch: "Invest billions, and you might make $5 per car you sell, if you don't lose money on each transaction operating your billion dollar dealership!"

    Frank: think about it, though, Subaru was in the top 5 before, with all the head gasket issues. That went away some time during MY2002.

    CR specifically rated 2004 models alone, no other model years. My 2004, head gaskets were just a memory. Other issues like the wheel bearings from 98-01 are also in the past. You might say clutches up to 2001 or so.

    All sorted out by the time 2004s came out.

    Besides that, there hasn't really been a single stand-out problem with any of the cars. What's the biggest complaint now? Brake feel? Not even an issue of reliability.

    I believe it. What we observed here is right in line with CR's reports.

    As much criticism as CR gets, look at the reliability scores and the head gaskets are starting to show up on the surveys (below average for the 98-99 Forester). Same with Honda transmissions (99 Ody) and other common issues we hear about here on Edmunds.

    It's just data, but it tends to be accurate IMO.

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    he just bought a 70s 442 cutlass convertible and is offering me his 52 chevy pickup ( fully restored ) for about 20% below average i see on the internet.

    grrr i hate when friends find a weak spot...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Edmunds only covered the Dodge Caliber, aka the Neon replacement, but there were a few more, shown here.

    Check out the Zaroot, I thought the lower door folding out as a step was an innovative idea. This could be a 3 door version of the XTerra, I guess, probably without the gullwings.

    It has windows like the SVX!

    Then check out the Civic - if you look closely it has a J-curve character line around the rear flanks, just like the Tribeca does.

    Interesting, no?

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I heard (or read) a blurb about the new XTerra going on sale with a base price $1500 higher than the previous model. Is the new model really that improved? (I haven't been paying attention)

    -Frank
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Is the new model really that improved?

    Yep. 5-speed auto or 6-speed manual, plus a great new 4.0 DOHC V6, which is based on their excellent 3.5 engine. These items are all found on the all-new Pathfinder and Frontier too. Lot's of refinements in just about every area too. It's a much better vehicle than the one it replaces.

    Bob
  • What Bob said, plus a whole lot more. Basically, only the Xterra exterior cosmetics are remotely similar; everything else is different and based off the Titan platform. The engine sports 265 hp and 284 lbs of torque.

    My wife and I are looking at the Off Road version which includes hill start assist, hill decent control, locking rear diffy, VDC, Bilstein suspension, off road tires, and 4-wheel limited slip. It's one of the few remaining SUVs that can handle true off road duty.

    The Off Road will sticker for around $28,000 with all the options we want (side air bags, tow package, blah, blah, blah).
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The new 4.0l is better than the old S/C engine, so if you look at it that way the price didn't go up at all.

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    got a friend buying an acura mdx with nav for 38,500 today. i saw something posted before about what to inspect at the dealer. anyone with a link?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    oh v6 check, brakes check lol

    no it was more detailed

    btw i think this is pretty detailed

    http://auto-information.org/checklist.htm
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm not sure that list is practical. It might take several hours to do all that.

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    well he buys a car every 13 years so its a big event for him. so let him crawl lol
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well if you put it that way...13 hours is still just 1 hour/year invested. LOL

    -juice
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    But isn't pulling out pistons and checking for ring/cyl bore wear a little over the top? j/k

    Steve
  • jon_in_ctjon_in_ct Member Posts: 137
    There's an interesting article here which describes testdriving vehicles from a mom's perspective. I wonder whether Subaru pays attention to this stuff. If so, then expect to see lots of moms with todlers and baybies and child seats in tow at the Tribeca Ride 'n Drive.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Well I'm no Mother, but my kids have shaped my vehicle purchases over the last 6 years. All have had to go through the car-seat and child secure test for 3 small occupants. Even the WRX was subjected to it. The only one spared was the Beetle I bought Sandra for our Anniversary, because that was a vehicle purely for her. Ironic that in our house, Mom's car is the only one not intended to transport kids.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    guess those people where right when they called me a mother.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Saab will follow Isuzu's foot steps into the grave. They'd better be careful.

    I have taken the kids with me on test drives. In fact the lowlight of the Nissan Armada test drive was when my daughter (age 5) could not reach the rear door handle.

    Kids like to be self-sufficient, so that ruled it out right there, off the bat it got crossed off my list.

    I might not have noticed if I went shopping alone.

    She can let herself in the Forester. In fact I have to open the door but even my 2 year old can climb in and out of the Forester by himself.

    Try that in a taller SUV - like a 4Runner or Armada. Ain't happening. Might even be dangerous.

    Call that Ease of Use or whatever, but it matters every time you use it.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I know this has been discussed thoroughly and the bad news just continues to roll out of Mitsu regarding sales drops...

    but I'd always thought they could pull out of it until now.

    my loan through MMNA finance was sold to a third party effective 3/1/05. my loan is A) not 0% B) in good standing and being overpaid every month C) for a reasonable sum.

    to me those three factors would indicate that this loan would be something you would want to own, as a finance company, in the long run. selling my loan makes no sense unless it's a desperate grab for cash before the doors close...

    so now I'm starting to suspect that might be what's going on. cue the funeral march--

    ~Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We should start taking bets on who will fold first, Mitsu or Saab.

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I have taken the kids with me on test drives. In fact the lowlight of the Nissan Armada test drive was when my daughter (age 5) could not reach the rear door handle.

    Kids like to be self-sufficient, so that ruled it out right there, off the bat it got crossed off my list.


    Wouldn't your 20 MPG threshold have ruled it out in the first place?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ask Bob, I nearly passed out when I saw the Monroney.

    After I came to, he explained to me that the EPA numbers are actually not bad for this class.

    I actually went there to test drive a Quest, but I met Bob and he wanted to test an Armada. So we drove both!

    -juice
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    locke2c, "Subaru Crew Cafe" #10266, 10 Mar 2005 1:44 pm

    It may not necessarily be so.
    In the Financial Industry, Loan Swap has become a common staple and your loan could well be that.

    -Dave
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's where GM makes all its profits, in fact GMAC probably carries a lot of other non-profitable divisions.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    OK, I'm no finance major-- just a humble BA business here :) -- but seems to me that whomever owns the loan long-term is going to make more money than selling it early to a 3rd party.

    perhaps I'm looking at it in an overly simplistic way but it seems to me that immediate liquid cash is the only thing you gain by selling a loan.

    combined with all the other bad news about Mitsu, I started wondering if I'd have warranty coverage pretty soon. :(

    bah.

    ~Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Best Backed cars in the world - until they fold.

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Your loan may have gotten packaged in with zero percent loans so it averaged out. Remember, very few people actually qualify for zero percent so I would be suprised to find many of them.

    Was it sold to a "name brand" company? Also, many times when loans are sold they only transfer the servicing. Mitsubishi Finance may still be getting the money and it would cost them less to pay someone to service them instead of doing so itself.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    combined with all the other bad news about Mitsu, I started wondering if I'd have warranty coverage pretty soon. :(

    Colin you answered a question I had formulated to ask, what actually does happen if they go bellyup as regards warranty coverage?

    I think I read somewhere that even though GM took over Daewoo they would not honour outstanding warranties.. In Canada they are selling the old Daewoo Lanos as the Chev Aveo.

    Cheers Pat.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    You won't believe this! I just heard from Peter Ebstein, John Ebstein's son!!!

    (for those who don't know, John Ebstein was one of the principal designers of the Studebaker Avanti, and who also was a good friend of my father-in-law)

    Peter apparently was doing a Google search on his dad, and came upon my post to you here at Edmunds! As I had mentioned before, it's probably been 30 years since we last spoke, maybe more!

    Send me an e-mail, I can fill you in on some more details. BTW, I invited Peter to post here, so don't be surprised if by chance he does.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    There's been much made here recently about Subie's "Most Reliable" rating just given by CR. Well, I just got the latest issue of Automobile magazine in the mail today, and in it was a feature article on the lousy quality of german cars. There's a table in the article that states that Subaru's "image" in Germany is just so-so, but in terms of "satisfaction," it ranks 2nd. The German brands are at or near the bottom of the satisfaction listing.

    Not too shabby a week for Subaru. Not too good a week for German automakers.

    Bob
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Funny how "image" and "reliability" are rarely mentioned together when talking about any given manufacturer ;-)

    -Frank
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, look, you can fit one single carry-on bag. Maybe. If it's not stuffed too much.

    :o)

    What I like about Subaru is not the quality or reliability alone, it's the fact that among the more reliable brands Subaru is one of the few that actually has some CHARACTER.

    Get in a Subie and even blindfolded you know it's a Subaru just from the sound of the boxer.

    Blindfolded you could not tell a Honda from a Toyota from a Mazda from a Mitsubishi from a Suzuki from a Nissan to save your life!

    In a world where cars seem to have converged, Subaru is one of the few that stand out as unique, and yes, quirky. They have personality.

    That is why I think they might be perceived as more of a threat to BMW than other Japanese manufacturers.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Someone's gotta offer a little variety.

    They say it's Accord vs. Camry.

    I say it's Accord = Camry.

    Civic = Corolla. They're all virtuall the same.

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    like a subaru boxer ( not a good thing )
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Any 4 banger that large will shake. But I'm referring to the sounds.

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    sound? i start the car with the radio cranked, i have no idea what it sounds like.
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