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Comments
Mark
My best wishes for a speedy recovery - I'm sure he'll be fine.
Thanks again to everyone for the thoughts and prayers. They were much appreciated. You guys are the best.
-Jeff
Bob
I remember having eye surgery when I was a kid, and it was harder on my parents than it was on me.
All I remember is the laughing gas!
Last Saturday I had a chance to drive a new STI. Today I got to take a spin in a new EVO and put over 40 miles on a new Forester! Not bad, huh?
As it turned out, my WRX was due for a oil change, so I made an appointment with Herb Gordon Subaru in Silver Spring, MD for 2:30 this afternoon. When I got there I noticed they had a brand new '09 Forester as a "courtesy loaner car," so I asked if I could use it why my WRX's oil was being changed. No problem the service advisor said.
So I figured I'd take it home to show the wife, and then swing back to the dealer, as that would take about an hour, which what they said the oil change would take. Oh, when I said this car was "new," I wasn't kidding, as it had only 36 miles on it when I got it!
This Forester was a base model. The only option was the automatic tranny. Even so, it's a much more refined car than our '01 Forester S Premium. It was quiet on the road, and much roomier than our old car. The steering seemed a bit quicker too, which is good.
On the downside the side bolsters on the front seats are miserable; much like those found on the Impreza loaner I drove back in late December. They DO NOT hold you in place when cornering; nope, not one bit. The other thing—and this is because I'm used to my WRX—the handling is nothing to get excited about. Oh I'm sure it's better than the old Forester, but it's not going to get your heart racing; then again, this is not a WRX type of vehicle. Yeah, I could see it replacing our Forester, but I couldn't see it replacing my WRX.
Oh, as to the wife, she wasn't home...
The EVO thing came by accident. When I drove into the auto park where the Subie dealer is I noticed that there's a new Mitsubishi dealer there. So I figured, once I was done with the oil change on my WRX, I'd stop in.
They had several EVOS there, so I said what the heck, I'd ask for test drive. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? To my surprise the salesman said I could take it around the 1/2-mile auto park loop a few times. Heck anything is better than nothing.
Bottom line is this car is hard-core. The engine is loud—but in a good way. The ride is very firm, but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The Recaro seats hold you very firmly, but I wonder how comfortable they would be on long trips. More to the point, I'm not sure large people will like them, simply because large torsos may not fit. This kind of seat really needs adjustable side bolsters that can be sized for a variety of body types. For skinny people they're fine. Those not so skinny should think long and hard about whether this is what they really want.
The car is a blast to run through the gears, even more so than the STI. Off the line it requires a bit more finesse with the clutch, as there's not much torque down way low. Once you get moving though the twin-scroll turbo spins up quickly, and there's not much turbo lag.
As much fun as this car is to drive, I'd take the STI any day of the week over it. I want a hatch, not a sedan; plus the trunk in the EVO is TINY. Also, the car may be just a bit too extreme for me. It's pretty raw, which while a lot of fun, could get tiresome after a while. I think it would be a fantastic car for one day a week, to clean out the cob webs in my head, but I'm not sure I'd want it as daily driver. Then there's that big wing on the rear that screams boy racer. Nope, that's not for me.
So that's the good news. The bad news is I got my second speeding ticket in two months from a speed camera today. grrrr....
Bob
Sorry to hear about the speed camera. How does it work? I take it that it's not a moving violation? I heard about the cameras but don't know how they work.
-mike
I found the one on Connecticut Ave. in Chevy Chase, MD that got me the first time. This one was on Montgomery Ave. in Montgomery Village in Gathersburg, MD. I didn't know there was one there, but will be looking for it the next time I drive it.
This speed cameras are popping up all over. Both times I got nailed I was in Montgomery County. It looks like we may be getting them here in Howard County shortly. Not looking forward to that...
Bob
Bob
That's like our red-light cameras here in NYC, I get busted about 1x every 2 years on them by accident and as soon as I see the flash, I know i've got a $50 fine coming.
-mike
My bigger concern is Howard County, where I live. There's been much discussion of putting in speed cameras here. We've already got red light cameras, and the powers that be are HOT! to install speed cameras here as well.
The future here looks grim.
Bob
Dallas is now shutting off some red light cameras because they are no longer bringing in enough revenue. The city guarantees the camera operater around $5K a month per operating camera and less than half that if it's shut down. Looks like the golden goose has stopped laying eggs.
Exactly, and the "owner" may not be the "driver" who committed the offense. In addition, if there are two names on the registration, the person with the name is listed first, is the one who gets the ticket.
Bob
-mike
However, you will need to know their coordinance.
-Dave
-Brian
Len
When you have POIs loaded and the Proximity Alarm on, the alert tone will sound and show on the screen your alert.
-Dave
Sense weight of passenger?
At what weight will trigger the ON switch?
Well, the DW is a wee smaller than pint size, and I can see the airbag indicator toggle to OFF and sometimes bounces OFF and ON.
-Dave
I still have the 2000 Legacy GT wagon, now a classic since all Subaru wagons are Outbacks. Returned yesterdeay from a three day backpack trip to Canaan Mountain, WV. Wet trails + a little sleet/snow + 20F night temps = cold feet! A lot of fun, though. Beautiful area with mountain laurel and rhododendron. Didn't need the AWD but if it would have been handy if it snowed more. The Forest Service gravel road was pothole-ridden.
I lost touch with Loosh when he moved and no response at his Carspace address. juice/Bob/Hutch, please send me his email or telephone privately.
BOOYA!
Thanks.
..Mike
As to Loosh? I didn't know he moved—and, now that you mention it, he hasn't posted here in quite some time either.
I just tried to send you an e-mail with the last address I have for him, but your e-mail address that I have for you doesn't work anymore.
Bob
They sent him a picture of the car going through the intersection and one of him driving!!!
Big brother is watching. . .
tom
I did this with my Garmin c series. To be honest there are so many, and the warnings got a bit annoying, so I turned off the audible notification, but left the markings so I saw them coming.
The catch? The proximity alarm warns you when you get close, but even if you're going the other way, or even driving on a cross street that is not policed by the camera.
At least you can even set a speed threshold, i.e. only beep if I'm 10mph over the speed limit or more.
Here are some detailed tips for Garmin owners:
ateixeira, "Navigation GPS Systems" #723, 12 Sep 2006 10:29 am
I complained about the flat seats, too. My '98 had much better side support. I'm sure this new one will fit more shapes.
The wife actually liked it better. She thought my old Forester's seats were way too hard.
I'm just surprised that they would limit body roll that much, and then not put seats in that would hold you in place as well as the old ones. If anything it should have been the other way around!
she wasn't home
LOL! So you drove 40 miles and she did not even see it?
I'm sure that's not the only reason, but it is funny.
EVO - gotta agree here, I know people love 'em but I just don't fit. Total deal killer. They pinch my sides badly. I'm with mike on this one.
The switch is weight-activated; it is set at 105#, if I recall correctly. Anything over ~20# will activate the seatbelt chime for the passenger seat. If the passenger is near the weight limit (105), the bag will engage intermittently depending on road conditions (bumpy roads). My wife took some boys home from school last year and the older boy, I think he was nine or ten, weighed about 90 pounds. He sat in the front initially, but since the bag would engage periodically, she made him sit in the back just in case. His mother did not want him riding in the front if there was an airbag.
But, my son, who weighs 36#, rode in the front of our Subaru all the way up from Oregon, and we did not have any problems with the airbag engaging. I would guess his car seat is about 5#, so he was less than half of the trigger weight.
Others have reported intermittent engagement of the airbag when passengers are near the trigger weight.
I got to see if she triggers the seatbelt chime
Thanks
-Dave
I wonder if it's different for each manufacturer?
For us that meant she had to sit in the back seat.
So 80 lbs was enough to turn the front air bag on, at least on that rental.
Mark
Interesting story, a driver going 90+ mph on a local freeway blew past several cameras (they’re spaced a couple miles a part) and knew his pic was going to be taken because he was photographed flipping off the camera. He thought he would get away with it because he had just bought the car and there was no tag on it. Unfortunately for him, giving the finger motivated the authorities to track him down by combing thru recent car sales transactions (it was a fairly unusual make and model). I don't remember what his punishment was but I know he didn't get off lightly
-Frank
If they do it in NJ, they'll make tons, cause I tried to go 65mph today in my company truck and nearly got run off EVERY road I was on!
-mike
Anyone try that photoblocker license plate spray stuff? Does it work?
tom
But with just the front sides (also illegal in most states) tinted that should be enough to prevent the image from identifying you for the pics.
I run 20% on all but the windshield of my LGT and Armada, I like the way it looks and it keeps it cool in the summer as well.
-mike
Eventually we'll all just have to drive around in Richard Nixon masks or something.
A doctor's note can fix that problem (for the windshield too)!
-mike
-Frank
MythBusters did a segment recently on the various products on the market and determined that the license plate was still legible in the photos.
-Frank
-mike
tom
I bought a vent mount for my Nuvi 200 wide. Worked well. It holds more securely than I thought, since the Nuvi is so light.
I got it because it's much closer to me than it would be on the windshield or on the dash, which is where I had it before in the minivan. I see it better and can touch the screen without leaning way forward.
Just $15 delivered, so nice upgrade.
-mike