Subaru Crew Cafe

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  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    image
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    no, because the stock lateral links are too weak for that. So the tabs that mount the swaybars snap. So then you gotta get STi lateral links. and the sway bar is NOT a direct swap, I have the pretzelled rndlinks to prove it. And the front swaybar that snapped in two because it rubbed against the A arm. I thought it would be a simple, and in Subaru terms, orthodox upgrade. I was sorely mistaken, and probably lost somewhere in the neighborhood of $600 on the whole mess.

    This, compared to our '99 Outback, which has been happily carving roads with an upgraded RSB, FSTB, and +1 wheel package for 130k.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I'm sorry, now remember you posting about that stuff, including the pics showing how the tab attachment was nowhere near as robust.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Well it's long known that you can't swap the Turbo/Non-Turbo sway bars and end links. Sometimes the rears can be swapped but the fronts have a totally different cross member and suspension setup.

    As for the snapping of the rear lateral links due to weaker welds, I'm not so sure of. If anything it's because the bar and end links are at a different angle.

    Gotta research before doing upgrades like that, these cars aren't all 100% plug and play.

    Take it from someone who's done 100s and 100s of suspension changes, swaps, etc.

    -mike
    Motorsports and Modifications Host
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Mike, off topic, do you know if my front skid plate from you will bolt to the 09??
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    It will not bolt up. The front of the 08+ is more in tune with the front of the 05-09 Legacy GT than the 02-07 WRX/STi. I'm not sure a Legacy one will bolt up either but it has a better chance.

    the 08+ WRX also shares the current Legacy strut top mounts, rear struts as well from what we've seen.

    -mike
    Motorsports and Modifications Host
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    all true. But remember, at the time us '04 owners were pretty much the guinea pigs. And it was made worse by the fact that COBB signed off on all this and was selling the parts as OK for the FXT.

    NOT.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Wait on the FXT they should have worked. I thought you were talking about the OBS.

    The crossmember and sways should have been very close, if anything you might have needed longer end-links. Heck I think we've installed them before.

    Similar to the OBXT/LGT stuff, not everything works 100%. We've been trying a lot of trial and error stuff on an OBXT customer's car recently.

    If Cobb sold it for the 04 FXT, then they should have stood behind it and at least took it back.

    -mike
    Motorsports and Modifications Host
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    agreed....At this time, the bars they were selling were actually rebadged bars for the STi from another maker. Yes, the back bar fit, but the stock lateral links couldn't take it. So that meant $500 worth of STi lateral links. Then the endlinks failed. That was more problematic, because there were no direct replacements that had the right geometry without also bolting up struts and springs from an 04 STi. And there was something different enough about the Forester in front, presumably geometry, that caused the upgraded front bar to rub against something. Well, it was a hollow bar, so eventually it suffered a catastrophic failure and snapped in two. I wasn't the only owner with the problem.

    What blew my stack was that Cobb never openly admitted to rushing the parts into service- eventually conceding that Trey's FXT suffered the same problems, but only at the track, so I must have been racing. In my view, track punishment is simply accelerated road punishment, so what's the difference? And of course I never tracked it, not on stock struts, that's too risky. Eventually they offered to sell me a new and improved set of bars for 30% off. Needless to say, I stopped doing business with them and put the car back to stock, leaving theSTi lateral links on there for good measure, since they made a difference, even stock. Now, as you know, I'm no whiner, and am probably patient to a fault with vendors. I was very, very disappointed in the whole affair, especially with Cobb.

    Others forged ahead with experimenting on the cars, but my shade tree wrenching days were fast coming to a close with the approach of Elie's birth. I learned to live with the car in stock form, plus a good set of wheels and summer tires, until I sold it. That little Impreza that followed, now THAT was turning into something interesting. WRX brakes alone transformed the car. I miss it....but it made no fiscal sense to keep it once the company car arrived. Maybe when I have more disposable income in the future I'll have a little project again, but for the next few years, I'll live vicariously through you! :)
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    but for the next few years, I'll live vicariously through you! :)

    Let me help you with that Loosh. I've been trying to sit on my typing fingers until I could take and download some pics, but I've been too busy. Signed the papers and brought home the WRB WRX on Monday. No buyers remorse yet and both the boys and Dra give it a thumbs up. Dra really likes that it is smoother to drive than the 04 was. I won't bother gushing on any more about how it drives right now, but will post a mid-term review after some more driving. Although head and shoulders above the 04 in performance in so many ways, it is still a better daily driver.
    The one downer is that the snow has already started and I was driving on frost covered streets this am so I had to rush to get winters on. Nobody locally could get Subie compatible alloys in 16" so I ended up getting those ugly black steel rims. I could have ordered from Tire-rack, but that could take up to a month and I didnt want to be driving in winter conditions with those Dunlop summer tires. If I hate them, I can always order some next year and sell off the winter rims. The local dealer has previously helped customers sell their used tires and rims when they trade in their Subaru so that's a real option.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The real news from the concept is that they are considering offering a 6MT on the XT model.

    They have it on the shelf, from the diesel.

    The catch - only 6% are XT models, so manuals would be an even smaller subset of that - 1% at best.

    We may be more likely to see an X model with that 6MT.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    If you'd have come to pick them up at Tire-rack, I'd have sprung for a cup of coffee!
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    But you know, for a daily driver, I'm not sure I'd want a 6sp that wasn't a DSG or auto. I remember that the STi was quite busy in stop and go traffic. It would probably be okay if it was geared like a 5 but with a really long 6th for highway mileage.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Tempting, but that impromptu road trip would cause some friction at home and work.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The real news from the concept is that they are considering offering a 6MT on the XT model.

    They have it on the shelf, from the diesel.

    The catch - only 6% are XT models, so manuals would be an even smaller subset of that - 1% at best.

    We may be more likely to see an X model with that 6MT.


    Juice, I know the guy who built those show cars. They aren't related to any current or future actual options they are considering.

    My guess is that the future cars will get 6MTs across the board as std equipment. as Volkov said though, I want a 6MT with the 6th gear as a highway gear, even if I have to downshift to pass anyone. 6th gear at 80mph should be roughly in the 2500 rpm range, not the 3500 rpm range our 5th gear is now. :(

    -mike
    Motorsports and Modifications Host
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'd like a taller 6th as well.

    The Forester XT is geared taller than our Forester X - revs get too high when you're at high speeds, so fuel economy could be even better.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 267,571
    I'd like a taller 6th as well.


    In my experience, it never turns out that way, though...

    6th usually ends up with the same ratio as the old 5th gear, and numbers 1-5 are just closer together..

    I'm not really interested in more gears, unless I get a taller overdrive... :(

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  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I agree. All of the 6-speeds I've driven have ultra-close gear splits, which are more of an annoyance in normal driving. On the track, it may be fine, but for daily driving it's a hassle to be constantly shifting. Also, it's harder to keep track of what gear you're in.

    I have no problem with the current gear splits of my 5-speed WRX. A 6th gear, to be used at 60 mph+, would be great, however. It would also help highway gas mileage.

    Bob
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Yep, that's why some reviews have even posted faster 0-60 times for the WRX than the STi - there's one less shift to slow things down. I think in manual form a 5sp plus overdrive is the best functional arrangement for daily driving. I remember the Volvos with a manual plus overdrive set-up in the 70's. I wonder why that idea was abandoned?
    BTW, is the lifted Legacy in that picture deliberately idling in front of the "No idling" sign?!?
  • fandcfandc Member Posts: 51
    80 mph = 3000 RPM in sixth, for the Spec B.

    Better than 3500 on my previous Legacy, but nowhere near the 1900 of a Corvette in 6th.

    As for overdrive (Volvos, Sunbeams and MGs among others), I got the impression that they were too expensive when compared to a 5-speed. The unit in my Sunbeam Rapier was temperamental, which led to some interesting results on occasion.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yup, in shopping for Miatas, I found I actually prefer the 5 speed. The 6 speed has roughly the same RPM on the highway in the tallest gear, so it just adds unnecessary shifting.

    Shift quality is great, but still. For my commute it's just more of a task than needed.

    So I'm actually looking for 5 speeds.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    So far we have 2 inches of wet snow on the ground with the temperature right about freezing after warming up through the day. The type of conditions that mean we have that grey ice-slush wherever it's been driven on. I just came back to the office and was stopped at a red light on a moderately sharp incline. Genius in the Volvo behind me parks right on my rear bumper. Luckily for me the dealer expedited putting on my snow tires yesterday, but it's a brand new car and I've already seen the VDC light come on pulling away from a stop sign so there is still a little doubt in the back of my mind. Anyway, light goes green, I pull away smoothly although the VDC lit up and off I go. As I look back in the rear mirror, I see that the grill of said Volvo never moves from where he'd stopped and just knew he was sitting there spinning his wheels in futility. I stopped looking after the light turned red....priceless! Dumb part is that if he'd left 10' of gap he'd have been starting on basically level ground so he would have had a run at it.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I'm spoiled by those French rental cars..... TDi engines, good ratios 1-5, then a tall 6 for 2500rpm cruising.........at 95mph.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,722
    Hahah; that is priceless!
    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
  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    Given that Subaru claims they couldn't sell the XT Forester with a manual (and gave up that option in '09), what has changed so they they can now sell XT's with manuals?

    Perhaps CU top-rating the XT has made enough difference in its sales? Or Subaru misread something (as they did with the '08 WRX's suspension calibration)?

    If Subaru goes back to offering manuals, they should also put the 5spd AT in the Forester. The 4spd works reasonably well, but a 5speed AT would quiet all the journalists that are bashing Forester for "not having enough gears".
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Now that's how you gear a 6 speed.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Ahhh... the beauty of AWD :shades:
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    As much as I complain about Subaru dropping the manual option from the XT, I'm secretly glad that's it's not available since that's my number one argument for not being tempted to consider upgrading ;)

    -Frank
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    The only thing Kirsten will give up her clutch for is a hybrid....so the list of potential new cars shrinks every year. Alarmingly, 2 top Subaru contenders are now off- Legacy wagon and Forester. That leaves only the Impreza 5 from SoA.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    ok, so Kirsten needs, really really needs, a new phone. And it ought to be a smartphone, to boot. I don't really know much about the market- I take whatever Blackberry the office gives me. She's dying for an iPhone.

    She has her calendar on an ancient Mac, via Palm OS leftover from a long dead PDA. She gets her email (a verizon acct) via Outlook on a more recent PC given to her by her Dad for Skype purposes. She has a low tolerance for tech problems, and is happiest when things turn on and "work." She expects to be able to use the device for emailing, scheduling, phoning and such. She'll get PO'ed if it doesn't sync easily to her desktop; while she loves working with tools on the house, she's more or less allergic to electronics troubleshooting. Yes, I realize it is probably time for her to start using Outlook on her PC for her calendar needs, and put the 6-7 year old iBook out to pasture. I will work on that. Any thoughts?
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    My son recently got a new iPhone G3 (the cheaper version with less memory), and he loves it.

    Keep in mind, however, that the monthly rates for iPhones are higher, which is a bummer.

    Bob
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I wanted a smart phone last spring when we were in the market for new phones .. I wanted to consolidate the gadgets that I carry around.
    My husband surprised me with an iPhone - albeit the older model (pre-release of the 3G). I absolutely love it. It is very user friendly. That being said, I will tell you that I rarely try to sync things between desktop and the iPhone. There is a backup in the iTunes should I need it. I love the calendar on the iPhone - and can set 2 alerts for appointments. It's a "set it and forget it". The only thing that it does not have is a voice activated dialing. You have to press at least one key to call anyone. The internet can be a bit slow at times, but if you are using it where there is a wireless connection it's very quick. It's extremely easy to text once you are accustomed to the keyboard. In some areas (such as browsing) you can turn the phone horizontally and have a larger keyboard.
    My husband has a Samsung Blackjack. He loves his phone, but he also asked for an iTouch for his bday in September - which is also loves.
    My aunt also has an iPhone (since about a year ago) and also really loves the thing.

    Any other questions?
    Brenda (goddess_with_an_iPhone)
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I'm going through much the same decision making process myself as my old phone will no longer charge and I'd like to text more, but hate having to use a number keyboard. Everyone I know with a "Crackberry" really likes it, but don't be afraid to invest in a more "cost-effective" version if you don't need all the fancy business integration.
    As a business tool the i-phone comes up a little short, but as a consumer device it gets great reviews for ease of use and would readily perform all the tasks it sounds like you need. Does she have long nails? One of the problems with the i-phone interface is that it is a heat sensor, so women with long nails have trouble typing and can't use a stylet as she may be used to from her Palm.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I hope everyone took a moment today to remember the sacrifices made by our Military personnel past and present.
    Don't forget that the ceremonies were begun both to honour the fallen and to commit ourselves to solving our conflicts in more peaceful ways.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    she's a cellist, so no girly nails for her. From what I've read today, it looks like the best bet is to wait a couple of weeks. The pre-holiday explosion of new gear is about to erupt, apparently, and it sounds like the Blackberry Storm is going to be worth a serious look.

    Save for that, and based on Brenda's enthusiasm, an iPhone will probably be it.
  • saedavesaedave Member Posts: 694
    as my old phone will no longer charge

    Of course, you have already tried a new battery? $30-$40 usually is the cost.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    It appears to be a charger interface issue with it kicking out of the charge cycle and shutting off after a couple of minutes even though it indicates the battery is low. Then I wiggle and shoogle it a bit and it starts charging again. Sometimes for a couple of hours and sometimes for 30 seconds. If the planets are aligned, I can get a full charge which lasts. I could try a battery, but if it doesn't work, I'm out the $$. I can get a new phone for the same amount as a battery, plus get the keyboard option. The i-Phone or Crackberry will be more but really only a minor indulgence.
  • caliberchiccaliberchic Member Posts: 402
    I am a crackberry user and love mine to death! I just checked out the Bold yesterday and the screen is so clear it looks fake. The Storm(touch screen) is coming too.

    With the BB you can use google calender and easily do an over the air sync. As for importing the calender from the Mac to google you'd have to check that out. Importing the settings from the verizon email will be simple, you just need the server settings and BB will set that up automatically in "email setup".

    If you get the curve and it doesn't have the video camera there is an OS upgrade for that, but if you're area has 3G I'd say definitely go for the Bold or Storm..there are many new applications on that version such as PDF, Word, Excel and PPT viewers and simultaneous voice and data capabilities.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I love technology ... was headed home from teaching the college class last night just after 8 PM. It's about a 20 min drive home, and I was starving .. mentally cataloguing what was at home to eat and coming up pretty short. I decided I really wanted fried rice from a little place close to home, and was thinking that I wished I had the phone number.

    AHA ! ... get out the iPhone and browse online for the phone number, call and order the rice, and it's ready by the time I drive there ....

    How did I ever survive without all this?

    LOL
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,722
    Wait.... Brenda, you did all this while you were driving?

    Whoa. I have a hard enough time driving and listening to my wife at the same time.... :blush:
    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
    Note to self: Don't drive in rural Indiana after dark. There is one too many multi-tasking teachers on the road :P
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    did the browsing at a red light, and then only had to touch the call button to order the rice ...

    gimme the benefit of SOME snese !
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    It's a sobering sight and read.

    link title

    Maybe Subie is doing even better than it looks with even modest increase in market sales. Can't help but think that they would have been much better off if their new products could have been out a year earlier and more established before the financial collapse.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    We dropped about 2k into the '99 Outback a couple months ago (134k, it needed a steering rack and a couple of other things)

    Car started leaking badly last week, took in today.....

    It needs head gaskets, and a main seal. Once the transmission is dropped for that, clutch should be done as it is original. Also, the car is overdue for timing belt and water pump. Cost could go as high as $3500. On the horizon....who knows? struts? other engine issues? Transmission? *sigh* Brakes are good, body is good, interior is good. Tough call. What do you all think? Fix it or bail?
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    With where the car market is headed at present, there are likely to be some very good deals around. That means that new car prices are very negotiable. Equally, used car trade ins will be depressed but not to the same degree.

    I'd be tempted, if cash flow is strong, to take the opportunity to replace.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    cash flow is okay, there is some debt we were going to pay off first....but $3500 would dampen that!
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Its awfully tempting to replace at the moment. The new car trade here is stuck with a big problem. Toyota are trying to shift 40,000 excess cars. The Australian car market is usually about 1,000,000 per annum of which Toyota sell maybe 25% (largest market share). So they are carrying about 2 months excess stock. Other makers have similar problems. The Australian Dollar has slipped a long way in the past few months, devaluing about one third against US Dollar) and most hedging will run out in about March or April 2009. That means that the stock of vehicles on dealers lost and at distribution centres has been bought with a strong currency . Fabulous deals are around right now but come April next year, virtually all car prices will skyrocket.

    Even the local manufacturers are having to cut prices dramatically, in order to compete with importers. Toyota, Ford and GM (Holden) have manufacturing plants here but a lot of cars are imported, often from Japan, Korea or Thailand (where Honda have manufacturing plants).

    Toyota have a fold out sheet advert, measuring about six feet by two in today's newspapers, pushing the massive deals they are offering. Whilst some of it is orphan stock (a lot of manual transmission models) the prices look very competitive. Here in Melbourne it is a cold rainy day (decent snow forecast on the Australian Alps and Storm force winds) near the end of the month with sales reps getting increasing desperate to shift stock. Could be a lovely day for car buying!

    Cheers

    Graham
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,722
    Well, were you not practically a half-world away, I would come get that bugger from you and fix it myself. But, as that is simply a pipe dream, Graham presents a strong argument.

    Fixing that car is still cheaper than buying a new one, but the question is whether you want to dump your money into an old car or not.
    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
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    you speak the truth...most of the $$ is labor. I have not the tools nor the space, myself. Still, I am leaning toward fixing it. We could easily keep it in frontline service for another 2 years, buy a car, and put this one out to pasture as the winter/vacation hauler. Fixing it now means crossing the point of no return...where more than 50% of the major late-life repairs have been made. Plus, it has a brand new butt thanks to that PA driver who rear-ended us in August.

    A new car right now.....oof. I'm not sure I'm ready. I wouldn't have much of a down payment, and the prospect of more monthly expense isnt my favorite thing to contemplate in this time of job uncertainty.. Still, a new car means no maintenance, more airbags, LATCH, probably better economy (unless we stay in the subie fold), etc.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Bail. Once you get well past 100K, you can expect a bunch of expensive repairs. That's been our experience.

    I say look at a new Impreza 2.5i 5-door or Forester X. There are ton of new Foresters on dealer lots, so getting a good deal should be pretty easy. I think Imprezas can be had for @ $16K.

    Bob
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