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Comments
Of course, steering becomes interesting though.
Don't you guys have salt for when it snows?
Here in Seattle when it snows 1/2" everything stops- it's miserable for someone who moved here from the east coast!
tom
I think that's because half of the people here are from California. :P And our snow hardly ever sticks around more than a day or two. If we had snow on the ground for a week or two, people would be forced to get out and get some experience driving in it.
I thought about that later, but I managed, so it wasn't necessary. May use that tip later, when there's more snow. I may have to!
I bet my Miata would do better making it up the hill. I just don't drive that at all in the snow.
They do salt the roads here and in the NE, you get a nasty white haze on the bottom half of your car. I'm sure the undercarriage is a mess, too. I'll wash it off once we get a night that isn't freezing.
When we drove the Legacy the funny thing was you didn't really even notice the slippery ramp. Also, the steering feel is *much* better, so you know exactly what the tires are doing. Night and day.
Yes, it is SO much better - a far more rewarding vehicle to drive.
Our '98 Caravan does stunningly well in the snow, even though the driver cannot really appreciate it because the steering is so numb; far better than the Outback, actually, though the van does have studded snow tires and the car has OE RE-92As. I even backed it up a steep, narrow (about 12' wide), ramp to what will be, some day, my front door. It had a little trouble with that, but then there was 8" of heavy slush/ice through which it had to dig. Considering it was not a straight shot and has nasty drops on both sides, so I had to take it slow, I was amazed it made it up there. Not once, but 4 times! After all, it is a minivan! :P
I don't even think those are allowed in MD, they may be illegal.
They are at least a winter old, so the studs are fairly well worn. But, the tires themselves are nice and knobby - good for digging and expelling snow and slush.
If we have the van long enough, I am thinking about replacing them with Green Diamond tires. I have heard great things about them (excellent ice and snow traction) and they are moderately priced.
Bob gave me a set for the Forester, but I sold them with that vehicle (size wouldn't have worked for me on any other car).
-Frank
But, the thing gave us 33 mpg in mixed driving, so who's complaining?! :shades:
Roads are already fully ice covered up here. Three snow storms followed by -20 degree weather for the past week are to blame. Thinking of replacing Dra's Bug with a 328xi Touring (wagon) to get more seating and AWD but issues with the run-flats and the problems of replacement snow tires has us holding off for now. It does drive very nicely, handling honestly feels tighter yet still more comfortable than the WRX wagon.
Studded tires: 3 so-so ones and one new one on the 99 I just bought - traded them in for a set of 4 Observe studless - way quieter! The 55-series are wider than the 70's on the OB - we'll see if they handle the snow any differently.
Cheers!
Paul
Driving the van is more or less like sitting on the roof of the Miata and driving via video-game style remote controls.
Not really, I just thought that sounded funny.
No doubt the very long wheelbase exacerbates the weight shift to the rear axle when climbing hills. Good point, volkov.
-Frank
People just don't have common sense when it snows here. They think because they have a 4wd SUV they can do anything. They don't understand that 4wd SUVs don't stop any better in the snow! I'll bet a lot of them don't even know how to put their SUVs in 4wd!
I watched this lady in a Range Rover go down this steep hill in the snow (I work up on 1st hill), she coudln't stop at the stop sign at the bottom of the hill- lucky for her no one was coming!
Jeff, it really must be all these Californians.
tom
-mike
-mike
Great day skiing today - blue sky, sunshine, Mrs. HH got some good patrol training time, the new skis got to play... had a full crew though, so the Subies had to stay at home in favor of the Suburban. Just us grownups on Friday, though, so the LGT shall prevail!
Cheers!
Paul
I know, but that involves buying a brand new set of 5 tires for Summer and another set for winter on a new vehicle, which may only be mine for a 3 year lease depending on how she runs. I can spend the money, but it leaves a bad taste to be sure. With the wagon I would also have to come up with a safe way to secure tire and jack without defacing the vehicle and ensuring the passengers remain safe. Doable, but more work than I want. Many long term BMW owners are upset that old school tires plus spare and jack weren't an option. If you think Subie owners hate RE-92's, you won't believe how strongly the Bimmer-boys detest the OEM run-flats.
Likely only going to be a city car, so running 4 reg. tires with a tire-sealant compressor and CAA (our AAA) would likely be adequate. Where I am leaning at the moment is to get a full set of regular winter wheels/tires and run the RFT's in summer. Could always slap on a winter wheel for the slow speed inner city driving Dra does while waiting for the RFT to be replaced/repaired if that happened.
The twist? According to other boards, BMW has also been saying they will not warranty suspension components on vehicles with standard tires. You see, the vehicle has been engineered to fun RFT's. Yeah right. You couldn't make this cr@p up! If only I hadn't driven it, I'd have moved on by now.
-mike
Oh Puhlease! That's just the lawyers trying to cover every angle. Of course in BMWs defense, some dumb idiot who wrecks his Bimmer while racing it with non-OEM tires will try to sue
I'm sure you'll be fine if you keep a comparably sized spare tire & rim in the garage on the off chance you have to wait for a replacement RFT.
-Frank
Now I just need to get a new set of tires(not the first obviously!!) Had a few issues so far- but covered under my extended warranty.
THe only problem is my fiancee hates the car- too low and she feels cramped. had a Forester a few months ago from the dealer for the day- she liked that better, but may go another 100k!
Robert
Let me guess... she drives a SUV
-Frank
what a tough choice ....
is SHE going to be the one DRIVING the car on a regular basis?
(hey ... i'm probably not the best one to go to for advice here ... lol)
we have ice ... interestingly enough ... we're the only large school corporation closed today although the small ones are all closed ...
(not knocking it ... )
Your advise would be appreciated.
A
-Frank
Maybe the budget should be $120k this year?
That way you can buy 12 hyundai Accents- one of each color they make!
tom
For '08, they offer VDC optional in the higher-trim cars, such as the Limited.
• WRX 5-door w/NAV ($30K)
• Honda Ridgeline w/NAV ($35K)
• Tribeca 7-passenger w/NAV) ($37K)
That's it for this year. I really would rather have the new STI over the WRX, but it's not on sale this year. I'll take the remaining $18K and have one heck of a vacation.
Bob
Finish the house (~80K)
Build wife's art shop/studio & the out-building (~30K)
Maybe bask in the glory of a real garage - actually used for cars - for a few moments, then use the last $10K to make some meaningful progress on my '69 Chevy's restoration.
Philly Show: not sure? Sounds interesting. Kids liked seeing the Liberty Bell last time. I'd want to get a hotel and spend the night. Let me ask the wife. She thinks we've been traveling too much lately.
yoda: go with the 07. Subies are very capable in the slippery stuff, plus you don't have to bother pressing the off button every time.
Any how:
08 Tribeca 7 pass LTD NAV + DVD, $34,627
For the wife, the most loaded model fitzmall has in stock right now.
08 Sienna LTD AWD with the works, $36,827
For the kids, again the most loaded one I could find right now.
That still leaves $48,546. 100k would be easier because I'd just pick the best Miata I could find for $28k.
For $48k I think I may join Frank with a SLK350 nicely loaded, or a Porsche Boxster S if that fits the budget.
Think again... a "nicely loaded" one tops $60k! Now you know why I opted to go the pre-owned route :P Oh and they've stopped offering the 6-MT in the 08s
-Frank
Come to think of it I DOUBT I could get a Boxster S for that money nowadays. My friend paid in the $40s for his non-S, and that was before the re-design. I'm sure today's prices are higher.
I'm thinking a Boxter S and a Shelby GT500.
Or maybe the new Audi R8.
Or maybe a 911 C4S and a Miata.
Ooh, too many choices. maybe we should decrease the amount!
tom
Here's my Christmas wish list:
Subaru Forester XT Limited (for me) - $30k
Lexus RX 400h (for the wife) - $50k
Infiniti G35 Sport (what the heck, it's a nice car so might as well) - $40k
Of course I'll keep the SLK350!
-Frank
ok .. really ... I'd pay off daughter's student loans, put some aside for the daughter that has moved back home to go back to college next year, give some to hubby to buy himself a newer used car ... and maybe put a little in a savings account ...
oh .. I have to spend it on cars ????
Then I'd buy me a WRX wagon ... husband gets a nice big boat of a car ...
Dodge Dakota Quad Cab... probably another 35K...
Mrs. HH gets a new bling-bling Suburban or YXL...
120K... easy come, easy go LOL!
Cheers!
Paul
Mini Cooper S to motor on my daily commute and good gas mileage
Subaru Legacy Spec B for the power, AWD, and trips to the mountain
Audi TT Roadster 3.2L 6M for the power and AWD on sunny days
Jim
A Cobb tuned ) Tribeca Ltd / Nav fitted out with all the European/Canadian/Australian options we don't have here...............60K
A loaded Legacy 3.0R for my daughter.........35K
A 10K mall gift card for my younger daughter.
A European vacation for my wife & I for our 25th........15K
Think this way, it's use it or lose it, what's left is donated to charity.
-mike
You guys tell my daughter she can't go to the mall and my wife that she can't have a vacation.
LOL