By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
tom
I always love looking at their automotive section, as they have publications that you basically cannot get anywhere else short of Shinjuku. They carry the HyperRev series that is heavily into Subaru mods. I cannot read a word of it (going to have to get Ken to translate....), but the photos are great.
http://www.hyperrevusa.com/category.php?category_name=subaru
Steve
I didn't know that they opened up a Kinokuniya in Nyack. Another large Japanese bookstors chain is Asahiya. They have a location at 360 Madison Ave in Manhattan.
The HyperRev series is an interesting read (for those who can!). I have one for the Forester that I bought a few years agto and it contains a bunch of information on mods as well as reviews/commentary from various driving editors.
I'll need to pick one up for the Legacy -- thanks for reminding me!
Ken
Steve
No travel plans that week -- should be around! Let's get together!
Ken
I'm just concerned as to what can be towed on a highway. I figure if we have the trailer for the bikes, then we can put other supplies on it as well and take the bikes with us when we go up to the Berkshires this spring.
Thanks for any info.
Mark
Some possibilities for you:
http://www.lightfootcycles.com/transporting.htm
I have not seen a trailer with 8" wheels, but I would imagine it would not handle potholes or other road irregularities very well. I have a small landscapers trailer that I pull behind the OBW and it bounces around on it's 12" tires quite a bit.
Steve
I've been looking into both the Hitchrider and the Draftmaster hitch racks already. One reason I am considering the trailer is the Hitchrider rack goes for $510; the utility trailer is around $249.
I am going to look at some of the other sites they mention - look interesting.
Thanks!
Mark
Both methods have their issues. When I have the bikes on the hitch mounted rack, getting into the back of the wagon becomes a major pain. Plus loading and securing becomes an art - I took pictures once I figured out the best way to hang and bungee cord them so that they didn't clash.
But owning and pulling around a trailer, even a small one, is more annoying than it might initially appear. For one, you need a sizable space in your yard to store it, and it needs tags and inspection each year, so the cost is not zero. Eventually I figure wheel bearings and tires, plus occasional electrical work as the wiring, fixtures & components are of decidedly low quality.
On the road it bucks and jumps unless you have sufficient tong weight. When it is evenly balanced over its wheels it is very unruely. You need to go slower & increase your following distances, as it does not have brakes. Panic stops are definitely out, unless you want to see that trailer pass you! Not saying it is horrible, but it does take the joy out of driving.
Just aspects to consider.
Steve
I understand what you are saying regarding a hitch rack. I have one for regular bikes and it can be a bit of a pain when opening the back of the wagon.
The more I think on it, the more the Hitchrider bike-n-trike rack is looking better and better. The only thing is, I'm the type of person who likes to actually see the thing before I buy it. Hitchrider is only mailorder; they do have a 30 day return policy, but it's not exactly the same thing.
Of course one other alternative is to have a roof rack for my DF bike, and a special rack for the trike in the back. I just don't want to go too nuts here.
Mark
I like it.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/.ee8f66f
Bob
Bob
John
The reason I am asking is I found a rack (http://www.draftmaster.com/t.html) that can transport the bike and trike I have. When I spoke with the company rep this morning, he was explaining they normally recommend a class III hitch (2"receiver). He was saying that he recommends a "heavy duty" type of suspension.
Does the OB qualify for that? I mean you can take it off road- is that the same thing. The rack itself weighs approx. 70-80 lbs; the bikes weigh probably a total of close to 100 lbs.
I appreciate any help on this.
Thanks,
Mark
Jim
What would be interesting is if Subaru could show some objective data on the benefits of full-time AWD combined with their symmetrical layout. Things like response time, handling improvement -- anything to show a difference. And sometimes it doesn't even have to be objective like the Audi Quattro ad on the ski jump.
Ken
Some sites list class III (2" x 2") as up to 600 lbs tongue. Now could you find one of these that would mount up to the OBW? Even if you did, it might not buy you anything if the frame rail mount points on the car are not up to the job. And they are heavy beasts! I just ordered one from Honda for my Odyssey so that I can get a larger rack with a 2x2" post, and almost couldn't lift it!
Steve
I'm down in Lancaster County, PA for the weekend, and saw something you might be interested in parked in front of Tractor Supply Co. It was a 4'x6' open trailer (a mini landscaper design) made by Carry-On (same make as my 5'x8'), for only $349.
Steve
http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2006/06_02_20e.pdf
A little late on the reply, but thanks for thinking of me. I have to check one or two things before making up my mind. Just as an FYI, the 06 is rated with a 300# tongue weight and 3000# towing capacity. The hitch I installed was form u-haul, but it has those stats.
Mark
The prescription isn't that strong, but I'm amazed at how much clearer things are on the screen. Like someone adjusted the sharpness setting.
I wonder if past posts of mine actually contained real words or were just letters that *looked* like words to me... :P
-Brian
Bob
I don't know how close I am to being legally blind but I know that my prescription is super strong. It's -6.75 in my left eye and -6.0 in my right. I'm nearsighted like you wouldn't believe.. if I don't have my glasses on and I try to use my blackberry at night, I have to hold it about 6 inches from my face.
I've thought about eye surgery but I'm going to wait a few more years for that to mature a bit more. My mother had lasik about 5 years ago and now she is already wearing glasses again. --Far weaker prescription than she originally had, but it's still disappointing.
~Colin
Once you have the surgery, it's amazing how many people I work with keep coming up and telling me they have had it as well.
As far as age goes, working with computers affects everyone. One of my co-workers who just turned 25 is looking to get a set of reading glasses! Welcome to the world of technology.
Mark
Bob
A few years ago I consulted on a problem with a major maker of opthalmic keratomes. The metalurgical sharpening techniques were leaving burrs on the blade end, and of course they were breaking off and being left behind under the lasik flap. FIB was one of the possible solutions. I also work with excimer lasers, and know how damn finiky they can be. Zap, zap, splat! Needless to say, as much as I want eye surgery, I know way too much about the problems, and that scares me to death.
Steve
According to my doctor, once you have it some people do require an "adjustment procedure" a few years down the road. That may be for people who had the surgery a few years ago. The only glasses I was told I may need will be reading glasses. Although all the material give you does say there is a small percentage (2%-5%) of people who will need an adjustment later on.
A friend had the surgery 10 years ago, and now has to go for the adjustment surgery.
Mark
Bob
I've also been interested in eye surgery, but there always seem to be reasons to wait. Techniques are still constantly improving and most importantly, the long-term effects are just starting to be known.
Also, contact comfort continually improve narrowing the reasons to switch. I've been using the new Acuvue Oasys lenses now and they are incredible comfortable. I found that with these, I can travel on international flights, doze off and wake up without the lenses being glued to my eyes.
Ken
(don't ask how or why I remember stuff like that - it's a curse!) I'm a -6.75 left eye, half of that in the right, but a BIG astigmatism factor as well.
I'm not eligible for LASIK, etc, (scar tissue on corneal surface) nor contacts (same, and thin corneas as well), so glasses it is. I, too, was amazed at the difference when I got my first pair of bifocals. My biggest hangup now is the darn things fogging up under my ski goggles - going to fix that with Rx goggles for next season. $165 (ouch) but worth every bit if they work as advertised!
Cheers!
Paul
I mainly use the Smith Anti-Fog cloths to reduce fogging. I also have some ancient Apollo Anti-Fog that's fantastic.
Jim
Wow, you guys must be blind without your glasses! LASIK has become much cheaper over the years, but I can't imagine having my eyes messed up and am quite content wearing glasses. Besides, they make me look smarter!
tom
The model we tested had the new 2.0 FSI turbo plus the DSG tranny.
The DSG was just incredible. I could not believe I was driving a tranny with a clutch. Shifts were quick and seamless in both auto and manual modes. In fact, I thought the DSG had less drivetrain shock compared to the 5EAT on my LGT wagon! I was thoroughly impressed at how this unit performed.
The GTI has a great connected feel to the road. The suspension was firm yet compliant. The steering, nicely weighted.
The 2.0 FSI has an impressively flat torque curve that starts at 1800RPM. There was no lag at all and it felt more like a NA engine. We drove a 5MT LGT back-to-back and we agreed that past 3000RPM, the LGT did pull harder.
It was a rainy day here in the Bay Area today and on uphill starts, we spun the front tires all too readily. Too bad this car doesn't come with AWD.
Things I didn't like about the GTI were mainly cosmetic. The front grille and wheels were not to my taste. Also the cloth seat material and pattern as well as the dash plastic felt a little cheap.
Ken
Tom - I'd be interested in finding out more on those Rudy's.
Can you e-mail me details or share them here? Thanks!
Cheers!
Paul
Here's a link:
http://www.e-rudy.com/pages/sunglasses/ekynox.htm
They're not cheap, but I figured since I could use them for several activities, it was still better than buying multiple Rx sunglasses!
Ahh, but I just noticed the max it will do is -4 diopters. I don't know if they can do better with these newer high index lenses. (My lenses are incredibly thin!) I'm sure there are places local to you you could try them on and ask about the Rx inserts.
Is it snowing there? We got some snow last week and now it's just raining.
tom
But I think there's just something fun about clutching and shifting- I will be sad if manuals disappear altogether.
I would think the GTi would be similar to the WRX, not the LGT. Maybe your friend is living out his teenage dreams when GTis were popular?
tom
My understanding is that the GTI will also be offered as a 4 door. Might be a nice balance between family and sport.
Seems to me that a GTI with DSG would be a lot more than a Legacy GT...
~Colin
Cheers!
Paul
The sticker price on the GTI w/DSG was around $28K. That's with cloth seats and no navi system.
A LGT sedan 5MT invoice is around $28K also but you also can get a $1500 rebate.
He's seriously considering a Spec B, however. There's one on a local dealer's lot that's sat there for three months and they want to get rid of it. Without any haggling, they already offered invoice+$250, or around $33K.
Ken
My friend who turns 40 is definetly trying to dream out his teenage years. I told him the bright red GTi we drove is screaming mid-life crisis. ;-)
Ken
Jim
Cheers!
Paul
Ken
Bob