Subaru Crew Cafe

hypov

The third page is pretty much family and friends....
people potraits?
One of whom being pictured is the Founder of Commodore/Amiga. The last pic on page 3 is his home, now sold to a couple from Florida.

I guess his talent comes from viewing the world from an "off-the-wall" kind of perspective.

In fact he sold a print of one of them, I think it's image# 3, to a friend in CA.

-Dave

jeffmc

Good stuff, Dave. iWeb shows them off elegantly, also. Thanks for sharing!

kens

Very nice! What kind of equipment does he use?

Ken

fibber2

Dave,

I just arrived in San Jose after a long day of travel. Grumpy Monk? I think that is pretty much the look on my face right now!

Nice work...

Steve

PS: Ken/Jim/Kate - sorry for no confirmation before hand. I'll know more tomorrow about how my hosts have my days planned. Perhaps we can hook up on Thursday night if anyone has it free?

hypov

All I know is that it's a Nikon.

.... shows how much I know about cameras

-Dave

tsy

Some nice pics there, Dave. Nice use of perspective, different lenses (I kinda like the fisheye pics) and I really like the b&w ones. I still like to shoot b&w prints, haven't played with it with digital cameras- I don't think the resolution is there yet.

He didn't take those pics with a p&s camera, did he? (One of the pics is someone reading a Nikon 5700 manual)

tom

hypov

Brother told me just now.

He is using the d70 and the d2x.

-Dave

dstew1

I'm heading down to the Dallas auto show this Saturday... any word on what Subaru will have there? I haven't heard anything special so I'm assuming their standard set-up, with maybe the B5-TPH thrown in since they have still been showing that since the Toyota merger.

500,000+ square feet of new cars... getting excited just thinking about it. Unfortunately it looks like the NY show next week is stealing most of the thunder in the way of unveilings and announcements.

Doug

rsholland

Hey juice, I wonder if this was part of the same program you saw at GWU the other day?

http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/04/05/44335de112b55

Bob

ateixeira

play the car racing game “Juiced,”

That was my idea. Just kidding! :P

But yeah, that was the same event, food and games and the whole shebang. They had 2 cars instead of 5, but it's an urban campus so that's all there is space for at GWU.

Attendance was quite good so I bet the concept is a success.

-juice

ateixeira

ateixeira, "The Forums Test Drive Team" #178, 7 Apr 2006 10:13 am

kens

Nice! I thought I felt a Nikon "vibe" in his pictures!

Ken

ncseba

Salutations Subaru Crew!

I'm a long time Subaru fan and lurker, who posted back in November 2004 asking about buying a 1997 used OB for $7800. Some of you, including Juice, were terrific about offering me advice. Ultimately I passed on that deal and decided to hang in with my old Blazer for a while, but this February it finally gave up the ghost at almost 280K. I thought it was going to be time to buy my Subaru at long last....however, I found that used Subarus are really pricey, and as the head gasket issue scared us away from anything pre-2002, that left anything I could afford being either really high mileage and or out of my budget (wanted to stay as close to $10K as possible, criteria were safe/comfortable/appealing AWD wagon).

And so after shopping madly and combing the internet comparing cars over the past two months, I've come to realize that I'm only going to be an honorary member of the Crew for the time being....even so, I'd still really appreciate your advice on a non-Subaru, because no other forum seems so knowledgeable and friendly. I have found another AWD wagon that I like very much indeed, a 2000 GLX Passat 4Motion with just under 50K...not Subaru, but VERY nice indeed. My only concern is reliability down the road.

The issue is: we thought we'd be able to get a transferable VW warranty via the owner (he's the original owner), who was more than willing to help us do that. However, his VW dealership has told him he couldn't get an extended warranty (mileage okay, but age is over 72 months). It's a beautiful car in beautiful shape, clean carfax (yes, I've really taken to it!), and we are going to have a mechanic inspect it pre-purchase. The owner (this is a private party sale) is willing to drop $1000 off the $11K price of the car in order to compensate for us not getting the VW warranty (we were going to reimburse him for that, so I thought that was very generous). Does anyone think this will *not* be a safe deal? And what would be better IYO, risking buying with no warranty or buying one from an independent source like AAA (~$1800)?

Again, I apologize for this not being directly Subaru related which is why I posted here in the cafe (though guess it's indirectly related because I came to this after realizing I couldn't afford my Subaru! And it is AWD :-).

Again, I'd really, REALLY appreciate any comments.
Cheers to you, Crew, and thanks for years of reading fun,
SusanB in central NC

ateixeira

That's basically the Torsen AWD system from Audi. Those cars got a little heavy, so they don't perform like a sports sedan, but it's a solid, safe, car with a good AWD system. GLX is very well equipped, too.

Reliability, that's a tough one. They aren't known for it. VW had serious problems with both ignition coils and window regulators, and I mean 3-4 per car some times, not infrequent.

I dunno, if you want a car to last as long as your Blazer did, this is a bit risky. Just hedge your bets with a savings fund to pay for a first repair or two, say at least a grand socked away.

Honestly? I'd look for a VDC or LL Bean wagon from 2001 or so. The H6 has been bullet-proof. It should cost about the same.

Good luck shopping. The VW may be nice enough that you would enjoy it despite the issues I mention, so don't let that alone be a deal killer.

Best of luck.

-juice

ncseba

Thanks for responding so quickly, Juice. I did look at the 6 cylinders from 2001, but there wasn't *anything* in the ballpark of $10K....and I really, really looked.

The VW is a pretty nice little car and very comfy (really adjustable seating which is great since I'm 5'2" and my SO is 6'4"), and if the mechanic inspection goes well, I'm inclined to take it. I don't expect it to have anywhere near the lifespan of my Blazer; if I could feel okay about it not being a major repair hog for the next 3-5 years, I could live with that. Maybe then a Subaru :-).

That said, would you buy a warranty of some kind? Or just put $$ aside for car repairs and hope not to keep it?

Thanks again,
SusanB

ncseba

Whoops, last line should read, "hope not to NEED it". Hope that isn't too bad a psychic moment/Freudian slip!
SEB

tsy

The Passat is a very nice car. I had a 2.0T wagon which was lighter and more nimble, and I thought more fun than the 6cylinder. But I had problems with the ignition coils, wipers costing $100 (I think their much cheaper now), and lots of squeaks and rattles.

VWs aren't known for their reliability, so I'd definitely get the warranty, because there's a high liklihood you'll use it, and repairs will not be cheap. (They charged me $70 to remove mud flaps!)

I have had 2 VWs. They are fun cars, and great when they run, but I've been burned twice, and won't ever buy one again.

Good luck. As usual, your mileage may vary and maybe you won't have any problems. I think CU doesn't rate the Passat very well reliability wise though, which is something to think about.

tom

ncseba

Thanks, I'll definitely have the mechanic specifically check out the ignition coils and will very likely go for a warranty if we get it;I'm pretty infatuated with this particular car (sure is better than my Blazer!), so may be willing to take the (very real) chance of getting burned.
Thanks again,
SEB

PF_Flyer

Susan, just a reminder that most of these folks have been known to join us in our Thursday evening Subaru Crew chat sessions as well! :shades:

You're CERTAINLY welcome to join us for a little social interaction as well as automotive (and food) chat every Thursday evening from 9-10 PM ET

ladywclass

Not much real 'experience or knowledge' on this other than the fact that my daughter and son-in-law had a Passat from just about that era and didn't keep it long as it had LOTS of problems ...

ncseba

Thanks for your input. Definitely sounds like another pro-warranty vote!
SEB

newtosubie

Hi Susan.

I've been a Subie owner for one month now - traded in a '99 Passat sedan for a Tribeca. While I loved the pep and sportiness, I have no regrets giving up that car for the maintenance headaches I had. You'll probably want to change the timing belt at around 70K or so before it goes out on its own, and they suggest you replace the water pump at the same time. That's about an $800+ or so job. Mine blew at 32000 miles and took out half the engine, but the $6400 repair bill was covered under warranty. Rotors had to be replaced every time I needed brakes, at least for me. And, the tie rod ends and control arms were being replaced often. For peace of mind, I would probably get the warranty, but I'm not familiar with what it would cover vs. wear and tear items. Good luck - sounds like a nice car with low miles for its age. Will the owner give you the maintenance records?

Marcy

ncseba

Thanks Marcy, that is very helpful. I think the warranty is definitely in order :-). I'm sure the owner will give us any maintenance records he has--he's been very straightforward and has played very fair about everything. We are going to take it to be inspected by a local mechanic that has done work on it before, so we should be able to get more of the story there too. I feel that the seller feels good about this car, ie he isn't trying to unload what he thinks is a lemon; he'd planned to sell it to his daughter, but she'd already gotten another car. He's selling because he got a Prius (this is environmentally friendly Chapel Hill, they're everywhere here :-). Again, I'd love to have been a Subaru owner, but budget just isn't allowing for the ones I'd want right now. And at $10K I think this is a good deal for me.
Thanks again,
SusanB

rangner

Susan, I also had trouble shopping for a used subaru wagon. I think because subaru doesn't produce that many cars as compared to other auto manufacturers--your choices are limited. I ended up buying a 2000 outback wagon for about $1000 over private party tmv and haven't had any trouble with it for the 35k or so miles I've owned it. OTOH, my dad bought a new 2001 golf diesel and it has been going great with no trouble at all. Basically it's a crap shoot. I hope you will be satified with your purchase. Eric

ncseba

Eric, thanks for your thoughts, I think you're right, both about the availability of used Subarus and about purchase (any purchase, really) being a crap shoot. Guess it's a testament to how much people love their Subies--people hang onto them so tight that finding a good used one is like panning for gold! Limit your search to post-2001 or to H6 and the pool gets smaller still, and even more expensive. I do like the Passat a lot and hope it doesn't let me down if we buy it, which I think we will. Pre-purchase inspection today, so fingers crossed.
Susan

PF_Flyer

Due to a tech issue with the chat room, we may not be able to chat this evening. It's possible that the problem will be resolved in time for our weekly chat, but I just wanted to let you know in case the chat room won't open for you this evening.

Must be the full moon! :P

jeffmc

Just announced: Impreza earned the highest rating possible with the IIHS "Top Safety Pick Gold" award. The Institute called Impreza the "gold standard" among small cars.

http://vocuspr.vocus.com/vocuspr30/DotNet/Newsroom/ViewAttachment.aspx?SiteName=- SubaruNew&Entity=PRAsset&AttachmentType=F&EntityID=100468&AttachmentID=673405ce-- 3e85-400e-8738-2ef0cfe4b5d3

ncseba

Just a PS in case anyone was wondering how the story ended--we did indeed buy the Passat--AND, to hedge our bets, a 4 yr/48 mo gold warranty from AAA, with whom we've had good warranty experiences before. So far we're very happy with "Lizzy" (got over 31 mpg on a 128 mile highway trip on Saturday). Thanks again for all your helpful advice and comments; maybe I'll get to join the crew next vehicle!
SusanB in Carrboro NC

newtosubie

Thanks for the update Susan. Congrats and enjoy your Passat -

bat1161

A few weeks ago I was asking about towing with a trailer for my wifes Trike. I figured to post a picture of the hitch rack I picked up from Hitchrider.com.

">http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=yrj7hoz.b5wixe1j&Uy=fgyys3- - &Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0<img src="
Hope this works.

Thanks to Steve for several ideas.

Mark

tsy

Good luck Susan! I hope you got a good one!
Maybe you'll get a Subie next time.

tom

ladywclass

My ABS light came on and stayed on for the trip to the local college (about 10 miles), and then it was on again from there to home (about 5 miles). I went out one more time for a trip of about 15 miles and it was off the entire time, but then coming home it was on the whole time again.

Looking in the manual, ONE possible cause is a weak battery. I have the original battery which is now been in service for 66 months. Anyone think that's the cause?

I checked the brake fluid level and it's fine.

Any other possibilities?

Thanks!
Brenda

jfl

A faulty switch?

Is the float/sensor in the brake fluid reservoir ok?

hondafriek

I had that problem in the first year Brenda, and it was a faulty ABS sensor causing it. It was replaced under warranty.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira

Holy cow, that is so elaborate! Makes mine seem so simplistic, just 2 regular bikes, and it doesn't really like oval frame tubing.

Jeff: great news for Subaru.

-juice

bat1161

I agree it's elaborate, but it does the job without pulling a trailer. That trike is a pain, but with this rack I can tilt the bikes down and still get into the rear of the wagon.

Mark

cknox

Hi folks,
I'm a non-subaru owner, but am strongly considering one. I've noticed a number of the Legacy/Outback models recommend premium grade fuel. How necessary is this in everyday driving? Would I damage my car by using 87 octane? Void the warranty? What other ramifications (loss of gas mileage, loss of power) might I expect?

I looked at the Legacy 2.5 wagon - very nice, but in need of some more oomph, and this is in comparison to my '98 Volvo V70 AWD wagon...

Any advice, comments?

ateixeira

Basically, the 2.5i models run on regular.

For the H6 premium is "recommended", though on several occasions different sources from Subaru have confirmed that regular is OK, though you may give up a couple of horsepower. Not a big deal for many, and members here do run regular in some cases.

Turbos? Forget it. Premium is a must. Required.

That's the story.

Your Volvo probably takes premium, too, right?

-juice

ladywclass

Yeah, well, with almost 79,000 miles and over 5 years, I don't think it will be covered under warranty!
lol .. thanks guys

fibber2

Mark,

That is an amazing assembly! Need a "WIDE LOAD" sign and an escort car to follow you up the highway?

I just got a Yakima FullSwing 4 for our Odyssey. Undo a fastener, and the whole assembly, bikes and all, swings out to the side of the van allowing access to the rear. Unfortunately, it warns against use with a 2" to 1.25" adaptor. Yet it looks like yours has a 1.25" stinger attached to a 2"?

Steve

rob_m

... and if this is the only repair you have done to your car, you are still ahead of the game! Rob M

cknox

Thanks for the info. By "H6", I assume you are referring to the 6 cylinder non-turbo engines in the 3.0 Outbacks? Just want to make sure I have my info straight.

Any chance to see a little power boost on the 2.5i models in the next year model (or '08)?

As for my old Volvo - manual recommends premium, for "maximum performance", but says 87 is fine. I bought it 2 years ago with 77k and have only used 87 octane. Absolutely no problems. Good car overall, but I'm jonesin' for something a little newer.

ateixeira

Yes, the H6, just as you wrote.

Basically it's like your Volvo, you can get by with regular, but might give up "maximum performance".

Power boost for the base model? I doubt it. In fact they may revise the figure downward when they start using the SAE method of measuring HP, though that does not mean the engine will lose any power, it's just a new way to measure it.

The 2.5l came out for '96, with 155hp. In '97 it was bumped to 165hp. It stayed there for a long time, and then in 2005 it went up to 168hp. 2006 it was bumped up again, to 175hp, so I don't expect another boost any time soon.

-juice

kens

Right. Let's not forget that we're taking about a naturally aspirated 4-banger! 175HP is already very impressive.

Ken

bat1161

Steve-

From the pictures it looks like it sticks out a lot, but it is actually just a little bit shorter than tip-to-tip on the side view mirrors. Car rides fine with it, locally at least. I hope to get a realevalutaion when we go up to the Berkshires in a couple of weeks.

The hitch has an adapter welded to the main frame to accomadate the 1.25" hitch. The biggest pain with this thing is it takes me 10 -15 minutes to take off/on. I finally decided to just leave it on for the summer. Maybe it'll force the two of us to go bike riding!

A regular bike rack for regular bikes are a LOT easier.

Mark

ateixeira

Yeah, I think Nissan has the only other mainstream engine to make that much out of 175hp, and I just heard it would drop 10hp when they start using the new SAE method.

-juice

tsy

Does anyone have any good experiences with the new intel Macs? Ken, didn't you get one? Is it stable? Any problems?

I'm thinking about buying a Macbook, but am not sure it's worth the premium over a regular intel PC.

tom

jeffmc

There have been a few buggy issues with the new MacBooks. Not sure how much has been resolved yet. Check out TUAW's MacBook Pro category to hear about some of the problems:
http://www.tuaw.com/category/macbook-pro/
I'm hoping to nurse my six-year-old PowerBook along 'til the next MacBook Pro version comes out.

tsy

Thanks for the link, Jeff

I'm on my second Titanium powerbook- the first got replaced a week after I bought it- major hard drive/cpu crash. Otherwise, I love my Powerbook, but it probably doesn't have much more life left in it.

I'm a little leary of v1.0 apple hardware, and may just end up buying an IBM (Lenovo) laptop.

Heck, maybe they'll come out with OSX for the pc!

tom

jeffmc

I've got a v1.0 TiBook... it's been great except for lifespan of the batteries, and slightly weak wireless reception. I don't want to pay for a third battery on a machine I hope to replace in a year, so I don't spend too much time not plugged in anymore.
If you're going non-Apple, try Toshiba's pro (rather than consumer) line - my wife uses two (one old laptop, one new tablet) at work and likes them a lot. Toshiba's customer service is also highly rated, like Apple's.

OSX on a PC? Ya never know!