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Comments
Bob
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061122.html
Also - that gives "no replacement for displacement" a whole new meaning.
http://vandynesuperturbo.com/index.html
I just heard Ed Van Dyne talk about his invention this evening and it sounds not only great & practical, but they are on a fast track to finish up 2nd generation testing and then on to production. They mount the super-turbo atop a regular piston type engine to get about 30% improvement in efficiency.
Wish I could buy some stock in this company...but it is only for Angel Investors & the like now from what I understand. I believe they are expecting the first "new" cars with this technology to be available in 4 years time or so...
Comments?
May be worth investing in...will try to find out more.
The diesel motor is probably for a ship. To get an idea of the engines used, google "Emma Maersk"
Bucket wheel excavators such as the one shown are commonly powered by electric motors especially in coal mines. It makes for a pretty big power lead!
Cheers
Graham
Isn't VW's 1.4l TFSI engine set up that way?
Is the 1.4L TFSI engine on the market currently? If so, it is not the exact same set up. He went over what the competitors are doing, and they have different setups. It may look a bit the same from the drawings, but he explained the differences between them in both setup and performance.
The big thing was the increase in performance was dramatic over the existing turbo or supercharger engines.
And...it won't be separate option like they have the turbo models now. It'll be the same for everyone!
We just keep fixing it, ya know? We're probably $5k into it now, in the last 12 months. I do think it's time to get serious about a new car for the wife and child, and relegate the OB to hauling jobs, inclement weather duty, and the like.
Bob
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2Vcaprfbs
http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/24/is-subaru-heaven-for-real/
Bob
uh uh she's not there yet.
Then again, I kept my Miata until it was 16 years old.
You never know...I agree with Bob about going with your gut. Plus I can vouch for a spare car being a very useful thing.
I still own a '93 Olds Cutlass Ciera that I drove, then daughter drove through college, and then it has been the "spare" for some time ... nice to have when mine has to be in during work hours .. nice for the last couple of months that husband has driven it while waiting to get his car fixed ...(long story) ...
and as of Mother's Day he is on "indefinite layoff" .... we should be fine ... and we do expect him to go back to work possibly late summer ... but .. well ... you know ...
Seriously, though, I hope things work out for him.
Today he spent most of the day trying to clear out a clog somewhere in the sink drain line. It's far enough down that he had part of the basement ceiling out (suspended ceiling in that area) and running a snake down from there ... so far it's not working ....
glad he's the one that ran the stuff down the disposal that I was going to toss in the trash can .... LOL
Have there been any rough estimates as to how much HP a Subaru Impreza driveline can withstand before sustaining severe drive line damage?
Driveshafts / half-axles permanently twisted? Gearbox teeth sheered off?
Sorry to hear of the layoff. Even the very healthy Australian Economy has slid a little with unemployment up from historic lows and forecast to peak at about 8.5%.
Perversely, I am the busiest that I ever have been and know it will get worse. Insurance claims always increase through the early years of a recession and there is a skills shortage which we have been trying to address by training for some years, but still about 40% down on our ideal staff numbers. It takes about five years to train up and I would guess potential recruits are a fraction of a percent, due to the fundamental skill sets required.
My travel (admittedly much of it by air) is up a huge amount and I wonder when to replace the Kluger. It has done a steady 25,000km per year and worst problem was when the radio rattled. Warranty runs out at five years but I am tempted to set a benchmark and run the vehicle until say repairs exceed AUD3,000 over three month period. The flip side is that my daughter starts learning to drive in a few months and I would prefer a small manual car for her to learn in. I ponder getting something small and cute, possibly a Smart car or a Mitsubishi Colt.
Cheers
Graham
Any time you upgrade one part of the driveline, the weakest link will be exposed.
The STI has a solid 6 speed manual, so I doubt it's the trans. But 4 summer tires with lots of grip put a huge amount of stress on the driveline when more than 300hp come pounding down.
My guess is we'd see axles fail once you pass 350hp or so, basically same as the C&D project EVO.
I have a PassMaster that I used on a '76 Subaru in about '80. I've lost the instructions. I would like to use it on my '91 Honda 4wd wagon. The engin is like the si engine. I want to know were would be the best place to tap into the vacuum. It is fuel injected (original equipment). Even if you don't know, give me an educated guess, because that's what I'm going to do.
http://www.stoneycreekinnrestaurant.com/
Took the family there today. Had a 12 oz crab cake sandwich. Yes, a 3/4-pounder—and boy was it good! Same with the Cream of Crab soup; the best I've ever had.
Bob
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It's a bit of a drive from my place, almost 29 miles, but worth it. Sat outside, and there was a great breeze coming off Stoney Creek. Oh, also had one of their home-made ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Yum...
Bob
This was a Sport model with CVT, no manuals available. First off, it is roomy. as roomy, perhaps slightly more so, than our current BG Outback, in terms of passenger comfort. But with only 1st gen impreza cargo capacity. Until you flip the seats down, then the thing has plenty of hauling space. Interior appointments are fine, although the door trim plastics are hard and cheap as is much of the switch gear. Dash is attractive and functional, and even base models offer full USB bluetooth integration, for iPods and mobile devices.
On the road, the car was planted, with heavy steering and plenty of grip. Adequate power, on a par with the old EJ22. brakes were good too. Ride was a little choppy, not surprising for the "sport" suspension. All in all an impressive effort for KIA. I'm sure corporate would be appalled at the $4k dealer mark up over sticker. Positively moronic.
The Cube was a much different driving experience. Here, the emphasis is on comfort....but French. That is to say, not the wafty neo-Buick dramamine of my Camry, but rather the controlled cush of an old-school Citroen or Peugeot. Try to toss it and there is drama....but it tosses, nonetheless. Interior plastics are still hard, but overall it's a little tick nicer than Soul. Interior is comfortable, relaxed, and airy. Without cargo to carry, rear passengers can slide the seats back AND recline them, making for a positively limo-like experience. Ginormous glass all around makes for an open, light cabin with lots of visibility. I found the gauges too gimmicky, but that's a minor quibble. The best part, in a way, is that the higher trim levels (integrated USB, interior lighting, bigger stereo, alloys, sunroof etc) force you into the CVT. Since the 6MT is a non-negotiable criterion for the DW, we'd be restricted from paying any more than $15,400 sticker, funnily enough.
They are both inexpensive, tremendously versatile little haulers, and they both get very good mileage. As of this writing, I'm leaning toward a Cube with a nice set of aftermarket rims...I have a feeling most of the Kia's...er, soul...is in those 18" rims and 45 series tires.
Today I got an new Impreza sedan—with NAVI. This is the first loaner that I've gotten that was equipped with NAVI—and I love it. I now wish I not listened to everyone when I was shopping my '09 WRX last fall. Everyone said don't get the NAVI as it was lousy, and not worth the money. I debated over this for some time and finally decided to take everyone's advice and not get the built-in NAVI. Now I'm sorry I listened to everyone, and should have gone with my gut. Oh well, live and learn...
I will say, however, is that dealers who equip their loaners with built-in NAVI are making a very smart move. What a great way to get customers, who are either on the fence about NAVI (built-in vs portable), or who know no little or nothing about NAVI, to sway them over to a factory built-in unit the next time they're in the market for a new car. As I said, this is a very smart move on Herb Gordon's part. I just hope that the next loaners that they put into fleet use are also NAVI-equipped.
BTW, this new Impreza sedan, as compared to my '09 WRX, is very quiet with very little tire or road noise, and has reasonable power. For someone who is not a car-geek, this is a very nice ride. It looks to be getting about 3 mpg better than my WRX under similar driving conditions. The front seats though, are terrible—and I mean TERRIBLE! There is absolutely no side support, which discourages any sort of spirited driving.
Oh, the reason my car is is in? Getting the steering wheel replaced, as the leather on my original steering wheel is starting to fray in two spots—and with only 8K on it! My service advisor said this is the second car he's seen with this problem, the other being a Legacy GT. Might Subaru have a problem here?
Bob
Very reasonable discount for such a new model. Of course that's why supply is short.
I agree - a $4,000 markup in this economy is counter-productive. They probably just turn away would-be shoppers.
How do you like the interface? Easy enough to use?
Have you entered several destinations? Did you like the path is chose to get you home?
How complete is the points-of-interest database? It didn't list the 2 Exxons at White Flint, though I'm not sure if it just didn't have the correct regional settings.
I found it cumbersome to use, the screen was a bit dim, and POIs missing. That, the $1800 price tag, and the $230 upgrade DVD prices convinced me to go aftermarket instead.
I just like a NAVI that's totally integrated into all the car's systems (maintenance, audio, preferences, etc.). Aftermarket units can't do that. Plus the large screen high up on the dash is much easier (for me) to read and operate than smaller portable units.
Bob
-Frank
I've ALWAYs been a proponent of factory in-dash NAVI units. I much prefer them over the smaller portable units. Granted, some are better than others, but I think, all things considered, the factory units do a much a much better job of integrating various car functions such as preferences, audio, vehicle maintenance, etc.
More expensive, yes. I still prefer them as I find them easier to read and use.
When juice and I went to the NY show a couple of months back, we used his smaller Garmin. I found it hard to read because the screen is small, plus I'm not wild about the graphics either; also, we mounted it on interior air vents, which are a bit lower than would have liked. The voice promps interfered with the radio, so they were hard to understand. I just found it more aggravating than useful.
Bob
I still think FIT will end up winning this, even though she's not excited about it visually. It's well received as a hoot to drive, she'd get all the USB connectivity to her iPhone and such, it's frugal, it's versatile, and it's affordable. On paper, it's the winner for me. I think once we get to the test-drive phase of this, she's going to find that FIT is the closest to the Clubbie driving experience she loves. Either that or she'll opt out entirely in favor of the exotica that is Cube.
We've got a lot on our plate this summer, so we're in no hurry.
I drove my friend Darin's new Impreza Sport. Nice. Really nice. swap in a pair of WRX seats and I'd be happy. When it comes time to replace the trusty OB, I can't see how anything else would work better than an Impreza 5 door.
And by the way, I'm with Q on the Fit, in fact I sort of like the previous version better, stylistically.
Lesser Imprezas, however, have just awful front seats. Side support is virtually non-existent. This is a shame as earlier Imprezas (my son's '06 OBS) and Foresters (my wife's 01 S Premium) have pretty decent seats.
Bob
Sorry about that Bob, must be old age
FYI, the widescreen Garmins are pretty nice. Whether you mount one on the windshield or attached to an air vent is personal preference (the first option has better sight lines but sticks out far more). I agree that the voice prompts are annoying when you're listening to the radio. My fix is to mute the volume and just glance at the screen periodically. If real concentration is required, I'll mute the radio instead.
-Frank
Bob
The new in-dash 2010 Legacy/Outback NAVI is almost perfect. For the same price of last year's NAVI they've included a rear camera, Bluetooth and Bluetooth Streaming Audio (see link). Finally, the screen is even larger, up from 7" to 8". That's pretty tempting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzvrZaQ9aQ4
Bob
About the vent mounts - I got that because it brings the touch screen closer to you. Easier to enter addresses. It is lower on the dash, but actually less of a reach, even compared to a built-in GPS on that Impreza.
The alternative is a windshield mount, which is a bit far away, depending on the vehicle. On my van it's WAAAAAY out there, you can't reach while in the driver's seat, so the vent mount made sense.
To clarify, though - I am not against a built-in GPS, not at all. It's just that I demand value for my money so I have very high standards for an $1800 option. At that price it should have:
* biggest screen possible
* backup camera
* no loss of audio options
Now I will elaborate.
The Forester w/Navi that I test drove had a 6" screen. I think the Tribeca's was bigger, 7" or so, and the new Outback is 8", IIRC. Correct me if I'm wrong, please. But the screen isn't really that big.
2nd, no backup cam is a mistake. It would let you line up a trailer, for instance. And why not? The incremental cost to the manufacturer is less than $100, and remember they're getting $1800 for this option.
I'm not sure about the last one, but do you sacrifice the 6CD changer when you get the GPS option on the Forester? I don't recall specifically.
So to fork out $1800 and not get a big screen, not get a backup cam, not get voice recognition for hands-free operation, and give up a 6CD changer, not to mention an interface I did not find easy to use (even the salesman was no help), I decided against it.
Yet another negative - you cannot turn safe mode off so while driving you cannot enter destinations. This was a pain when we had the Tribeca. We had to pull over on a highway to enter a revised destination. Totally dumb - the car has air bag sensors so it KNOWS when a passenger is in the car, and should turn that safety mode off to allow the passenger to enter a new destination.
The difference between my evaluation and Bob's is that I was looking at the functionality of the navigation tools offered for the pricey $1800, while Bob is mostly considering the design and integration of the system. He tried one destination that was already on the device, but I don't think he tried entering new addresses (not enough time). So he didn't really conduct a comprehensive test of the navigation aspect.
For $149 my screen is indeed smaller, but it's mounted closer to me so I don't have to reach as far, I can turn off safe mode so a passenger can enter destinations while the car is moving, and updates are $65 instead of $230.
No backup cam, but at least I didn't give up the 6 CD changer.
So I respect his opinion, especially when it comes to design, but I still don't regret passing on that overpriced, not-the-best OE Navigation option.
If Subaru is reading this, please put the one from the Outback in the Impreza/Forester, and keep the same price.
a. Price - As Juice pointed out, you can get similar capability for a fraction of the price.
b. Upgradability - GPS technology is steadily improving so the factory unit you get today will be totally obsolete in just a few years, long before the vehicle needs replacing.
-Frank
I agree with Frank- I was driving my parents Lexus, a 2006 and the Navi already looked old! It was awesome 3 years ago- but now is behind the times. Still works though.
tom
I do like the Recaros in the Evo X and wish we had them here- but oh well.
I just put my summer wheels and tires on my STi yesterday- will have to post some pics when I have time.
tom
I'm a software guy, so I pay attention to ease of use a lot. That's where Garmin wins, in my book.
I would pay a little more and get the Kenwood you also mentioned. They're closer to $800 or so, but again you get the Garmin navigation.
Click for pic: http://carjamz.com/zen/images/DNX7120.jpg
I will say this - it's really not that hard to install a double-DIN sized stereo, and cars like the Impreza and Forester have that perfect, standard sized opening. Add a harness and it's truly plug-and-play, no splicing required, though you will have to open up the center console and dash. It's not as hard as it sounds.
For $1800 I'd just like to see more features to justify the more-than-double price, such a big screen, backup cam, bluetooth integrated, voice commands, etc.
The catch, though, is you remove the 6CD changer to install that. If that's the plan it may make more sense to get a more basic model, so you're only giving up a single CD, and spending less on the vehicle to begin with.
I think if I had bought that Miata Sport instead of the Touring I'd be shopping for a Kenwood 7120 right now, instead of the portable.