Subaru Crew Cafe

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  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    so, then we should expect Edmunds to be closing in a few years? ;)image

    imageshack.us is good, they've been adding more functionality over the year too. you can purchase an account, but they have free ones too (with some limited functionality, mainly how many photos you can upload at one time)

    -Brian
  • caliberchiccaliberchic Member Posts: 402
    Yes you can host your car related photos in your carspace albums. To link them into forums you just have to right click and copy "image location" and then click the image button below the message box and past the code in.

    For non car related photos I use picturetrail.com. They have free hosting.">
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    While these sites sound great (always happy to learn about a photo sites) all of these are still blocked on the job. I understand about productivity issues, but it makes it hard to share photos with friends.

    Mark
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Well I finally got the company car. It's a 2008 Camry LE automatic, Barcelona Red ;)

    It arrived reasonably equipped, with all the usual bells and whistles like auto windows, CD player and such. It is a roomy car for sure. It feels like a palace compared to my GF4. I like the luminescent gauges, and the iMac-style, ice blue glow-in-the-dark radio surround. Suspension is comfortable when cruising, taut when slightly pushed, but pretty wallowy when really asked to work, which 99% of owners will never do. But....

    I kinda like it. OEM tires are a weak spot, but the car is pretty capable. Steering is light and numb, but precise in a "point and shoot" kind of way. Brakes are competent, almost delicious. The 2.4l has comparable grunt compared to our 2.5l Subie, with understandably better mileage. It is a great highway cruiser, but the engine would be well served by a manual, which pretty much exist only in sales brochures....none on the lots. At all. I actually had the chance to drive the V6, and I think I would take the 4 if I had a choice. It is lighter in the nose, and seems to transition slightly better.

    in a nutshell, a comfy bidniss cruiser that delivers the expected vanilla driving experience, but it turns out to be real vanilla with some depth and complexity as opposed to imitation extract.
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    The Camry is a pleasant drive. Certainly not as engaging as a Subaru but great for long distances and fuss free travel. I recently ordered one as hire car from Hertz for a long fast trip that I needed to make. Scored a Hyundai as a supposed "Camry class" car and found it fussy and tiring to drive. Given that the trip was over long fast desert roads with risk of kangaroos leaping out a constant hazard, I found it pretty tiring. This is the sort of trip where you want to be relaxed and concentrating on the area either side of the road some distance ahead, Not constantly sdjusting the car back on the road.

    I've found the Camry 4cyl to be more than adequate and a little more engaging than the V6 which I also drive regularly. A fine car with little hassle factor

    Cheers

    Graham
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Hey graham! Where ya been hiding?

    Bob
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Hmm... do you have kangaroo whistles to put on your vehicle like we've got deer whistles in the States?
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,398
    Nah, they have Roo Bars. :surprise:

    Jim
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Roo Bars?? Is that where they all go to tip back a frosty cold Foster's after a hard day of hoppin', or something like the cattle guards on the front of locomotives?
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,398
    Good one Jeff!

    I was referring to the latter, and not those flimsy things we see on Land Rovers here in the states, but something like 2" to 2.5" dia pipe mounted around the nose and windshield.

    Jim
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Did you notice the driver's power window is auto express up and down? Neat for drive-throughs.

    Also, if you play MP3s, you can get the artist, song title, and all the track info.

    I know, I know, I'm not talking about late apexing but cut me some slack, I got the van version! :D
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    *sniff* no auto up on mine :cry:;)

    Shocking, I know, but I do not own an MP3 player. But now that I have to drive a lot, and the car has an aux in, I may be tempted. Also need to try out XM again I guess.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Strange, I thought they'd use the same supplier for the switch...guess not.

    I meant MP3s on a CD, though. It reads those.

    You can fit about 20 songs on an audio CD, or about 170 MP3s on a CD instead. With a 6CD changer that's over 1000 songs built-in, no wires and nothing to get stolen.

    Check if there is an "MP3" label on the face of the radio. I bet it will play burned CDs with files in MP3 format on them.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    yea it does, plus the aux in. No changer though, but hey, 170 tracks is ok by me. Seriously though, with a decent set of tires this car could be driven quite fast. It wouldn't be pretty, but it could be done. I'd love to take it to BMW CCA's highway safety school, just to probe it a little...not a full on HPDE. Too bad, I won't risk it with a car that isn't mine, no way.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It is a basic, comfort-oriented sedan but people often forget how much better cars are today, so even a mainstreamer is decent.
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Long time Crew Members will recall one of my private pleasures, the British obituary. There is a peculiar code attaching to it. Phrases such as "He was a convivial host to his many friends" implies that the subject was a well known drunkard. "He never married but had a wide circle of female friends" suggests a spectacular skirt-man, whilst the deletion of the reference to "female" implies something quite different!

    It is a literary form brought to its zenith by The Times and sustained, in recent years, by The Independent and The Daily Telegraph. Today's obituary in the Telegraph of John Gardiner (of Crosthwaite and Gardiner - vintage car restorers) is a gem. I particularly like the following:

    "After C&G had restored and prepared an original pre-war Auto Union Grand Prix car, Crosthwaite talked Audi into funding production of perfect running replicas of these complex machines. Gardiner master-minded the project, and visiting Audi engineers were astonished to find him working from a modest farm at Buxted, Sussex.

    When Audi insisted on manufacturing the V16-cylinder engine crankshaft for these cars, it failed Gardiner's rigorous inspection; and when an Audi committee quibbled endlessly over technical details Gardiner told them: "Listen, all you've got to do is sign the cheques and tell us how big you want the swastikas painted."

    Gardiner's insistence on high standards extended to his customers; he would work only for clients to whom he took a shine. He was as happy to take on a project for Ralph Lauren as he was to offer his services to humble Vintage Sports Car Club members who paid by barter. But he once trapped a slow-to-pay millionaire inside his office until a bill had been settled."


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2007/09/- 26/db2602.xml has the full text.

    Ah, the peculiarities of the British

    Cheers

    Graham
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Good stuff Graham. :) I especially liked the following:

    He was baffled by the British establishment's lack of regard for manufacturing, observing: "I don't know how people can live without a lathe."

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Interesting tid bit.

    A friend of mine reads the "obits" regularly, the wording will now have new meaning to me! :D
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    I agree with you Loosh. My camry hybrid was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect much but I find it handles quite nicely and can be driven quite, uh, rapidly. :) I'm not sure if the hybrid drives differently as it is heavier and has a different suspension setup, but I think toyota is finally coming around and realizing they need to make their cars a little more entertaining to drive.

    tom
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well, the extra weight is mostly in the trunk, right? Isn't that where the batteries are?

    I bet it's less nose-heavy than the I-4 and V6 models.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Definitely a different approach that is memorable. Can you imagine all the rubber necking that would cause here in the States?

    Mark
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Hey I was in Costco yesterday and they were selling Subaru portable generators. It was news to me that Subaru even made portable generators! Guess I've been living under a rock :shades:

    -Frank
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Can you imagine all the rubber necking that would cause here in the States?

    Won't happen. They're too afraid that they might cause a accident and get sued for it :sick:

    -Frank
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think it's just a branding deal, was it a Briggs and Stratton engine?

    They also put their logo on some Igloo coolers.

    Subaru - keeping your beer cold NO MATTER WHAT! :D
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Not a branding deal at all. Subaru has been making generators for years, but selling them under the "Robin" label.

    http://www.electricpowergenerator.com/RGD5000.html

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, DIESEL, too! :surprise:

    I'm happy to be in the wrong!
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Well these definitely had the Subaru name and coporate logo on them. I may just have to go back and check out the data plate...

    -Frank
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I think Subaru may be in the process of phasing out the Robin name, or at least downplaying it in favor of the Subaru name.

    Here's another link, which is the corporate site:

    http://www.robinamerica.com/generators/index.lasso

    And here's a link on the hisory of Robin and Subaru:

    http://www.robinamerica.com/about/index.lasso

    Bob
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Yup. Takes up 1/3 of the trunk! NiMh batteries are right above the rear axle. I would say it would shift the wt distribution to the rear but there's the additional electric motor and the fancy hybrid transmission sitting over the front wheels that still makes the car nose heavy.

    tom
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    I bought a Ryobi pressure washer at Home Depot a few years ago. It has a Subaru engine, also. No boxer, but it sure does shake!

    Len
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Our Landlord at the shop has a Subaru/Robin engine in his go-carts as well. We are an all-subaru shop!

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    How does it perform?

    I'm shopping for a pressure washer now.

    I had a 1300 psi electric one but it burned up, and I often felt like I wanted more pressure (to clean concrete patios).

    Any recommendations?
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    My Ryobi works great. It has 3000 PSI, I think. I cleaned my (huge) concrete patio and several hundred feet of fence with it, along with some smaller jobs. I don't think Home Depot sells that model anymore, though.

    One caveat when working with any pressure washer...wear shoes. You'd be (painfully) amazed at what that water can do to the skin on your bare feet. Trust me on this!!!

    Len
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oh, yeah, I'm careful about that.

    With 3000psi you have to be real careful about how close you get, too, I'm sure that would cut through a lot of things, even wood.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I went back to Costco and checked... yep the generator has a Subaru engine (data label says Robin) :)

    -Frank
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,704
    The discontinued Subaru Baja also recorded 9 units in September.

    I am somewhat astonished that this model, discontinued for two model years now, is still available as new!
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Any recommendations?

    Funny you should ask... one of the things I was looking at in Costco was a Karcher electric pressure washer ($225). It's got 1850 psi, a longer life induction motor and pretty good reviews. I can't justify getting a gas-powered model but this one seems pretty capable.

    -Frank
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Ok folks, just wanted to clue by crew in...

    Those pics that Bob posted in Inside Line of the supposed Forester 09 with the Legacy body on it.... As suspected, it's not the Forester, but the MY10 Legacy/Outback. For those H6 fans it looks like the new Leg will have an optional 3.6L H6 Turbo + 6MT trans available with those dimensions in that article which are roughly those of the tribecca. All as suspected but it's good to hear it from a reliable source :)

    -mike
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,704
    Well, shoot, that is news worthy of drool. I wonder how much weight will be added simply due to the increase in size. Will the 2.5L NA H4 be adequate to power it at that point?
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    From what I've heard, also from a reliable source, the next Legacy and Outback will grow in wheelbase, but I'm not sure that the length or width will grow that much. Like the new Impreza, it will be a lot roomier, especially for rear seat passengers.

    That test mule that Mike was referring to showed a longer wheelbase, but the other dimensions appeared pretty close to the current car.

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yes, the overall dimensions may not be significantly larger, but the width and the actual usable area will be increased, which for most drivers is what matters, basically a car a paisan can fit in! :)

    As for the 2.5L NA pushing it? Dunno if it'll have the grunt, perhaps they'll need to go with the H6 3.0 as the base? Diesel base? 2.5 NA Direct Injection base? If DC can get away with like a 3.0L or 3.5L V6 pushing the led-sled of a Chrysler 300/Charger, I'm sure that a Direct Injection 2.5 NA could push whatever they will come out with for the OB/Legacy.

    -mike
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    "For those H6 fans it looks like the new Leg will have an optional 3.6L H6 Turbo + 6MT trans available with those dimensions in that article which are roughly those of the tribecca."

    Palpatations beginning now. WOW! I figured my next Subie would be a diesel, but this could be enough incentive to do something a bit less practical... looks like I've got some saving to do and some hard decisions in my future! As sweet as that powerplant would be in a Legacy sedan, I hope it's not exclusive to that body style and (nobody hit me, please) available with an auto or semi-auto tranny as well.

    I bet they'll keep the 2.5... it's adequate, especially with DI. They'll need the CAFE credits and it helps the green image. I do wonder if the 3.0H6 will be around in the future, though. Perhaps the 3.6 will make it obsolete.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I'm sure they'll keep the 2.5 engine. The new (and very large) Camry and Accord still have 4-cylinder engines, so I expect Subaru to continue offering one. Besides they (Subaru, Honda and Toyota) sell a LOT(!) of 4-cylinder models.

    Hopefully Subaru will upgrade the NA 2.5 with direct injection, DOHC and a timing chain. If so, that should give it around 190 hp or so, and will keep it at least equal with the best of that class.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    $225 is a bit pricey for an electric one, though. And I'll be really disappointed if it's still slow to power wash my rather large concrete patio. :(

    WalMart.com had one for $120 with 1800psi, has anyone heard of McCulloch?

    http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6371184
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They should drop the 3.0l, it prefers premium fuel.

    Look at that the change to the 3.6l did for the Tribeca.

    H6 turbo sounds great but IMO the 3.6l is plenty, and it runs on cheap ol' regular fuel.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Well, I hope they offer "both" the current 3.6 and a 3.6 turbo. If they offer the long-rumored Legacy STI, a 3.6 turbo is the only way to go.

    Bob
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    has anyone heard of McCulloch?

    Power equipement company that's been around forever. I sold their chain saws in a retail store back in the 80's. Now part of a Taiwanese company called Jeng Feng that makes power equipment/tools for a number of companies as well as automotive and garden lighting.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I may get that, then.

    If it's not that great, I could always take it to the beach condo, and use it there.
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