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Comments
Last time I checked, the center diff replacement was about a $1500 item.
Cheers!
Paul
Bob
Surprisingly, the amount of space needed is inverse to the size of the child.
Babies: strollers, port-a-cribs, diaper bag, kitchen sink.
8 year old: Nintendo DS, a book, a pillow and a blanket.
11 year old: her Nintento DS and a pillow.
That worked for a little while. Now it's about what they like to do:
13 YO - 6' lacrosse sticks, bag o' equipment, backpacks and tents (SUV or minivan)
11 YO - gymnastics leotard and water bottle (a Mini would work)
Everyone - skis and snowboards, camping gear (SUV or minivan)
Guess we're still leaning SUV or minivan.
If the kids aren't into things that require gear, then we won't need a big car. But if Elie plays cello and Axel plays lax, then yea, we're gonna need an Outback. All that is years away though.
If you do end up with a 2nd Mini, just leave a small budget for the occasional van rental if you plan big road trips. You'll appreciate the space, yet you won't have to drive it daily.
Right now, I am strongly leaning toward another compact (or sub-compact) and my current short-list (looking at the 3-year-old used market as new cars coming online about now) includes Fit, Fiesta, and playing with the idea of a Mini. If I go Mini, I will definitely look at the Countryman first.
When it comes to space, it all depends on how often you need the space as to whether or not you need it inside the vehicle. Between the roof basket, hitch-mounted cargo tray, and the option of our 8x8 trailer, we can haul anything we could with a minivan in our Forester, plus some! But, if I needed that much space very often, I would probably opt for a Powerstroke F350 crew cab long bed.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/29/hyundai-of-america-wants-a-sonata-wagon-do-yo- - u-w-poll/
Check out the poll - 2/3rds of people think it should be sold here (myself included).
I think it looks great - roofline reminds of the CTS wagon, which I liked from the get-go.
I saw a trio of camouflaged test mules on Farmer's Loop about a week ago during a mid-day run (driving) home. One was a wagon. I didn't catch the manufacturer logo on the fronts (may have been covered also?), but there were three in succession: a sedan, a wagon/hatch, and yet another sedan. I was surprised to see them here, as it is pretty early in the season for Fairbanks testing, which is usually done during our extreme winter cold.
Few athletes seem to travel light although I do think hockey takes the cake. My son's friend plays goalie and he has the biggest bag.
I chuckle when I take my son and some of his teamates to lacrosse. 5 boys piling out of my van with multiple sticks, big bags of pads and helments, food, et al. Then the girls walk by with their little stick bags and goggles. Kind of hard to call it the same game!!
All their own bags, plus the team bats, helmets, ball buckets, etc.
They fill up a full size van in absolutely no time flat!
Seriously, we've become Marching Band groupies, traveling all around NYS this fall following our daughter. Car pooling means kids, uniforms, instruments, flags for the Color Guard girls, coolers, etc. The OBW would simply be overwhelmed. The Odyssey really fits the need.
At some point during the child rearing years it becomes all about them. Hopefully someday it will again become all about Beth and me.
I fear (relish?) our next path in life may be the 'band parents' - both the younger ones play in middle school now, with no sign of letting up. Saxophone & flute. Easier to listen to home practice than drums!
Cheers!
Paul
http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/10/29/stig-farm/
Bob
Helped that we rented a 26' box Freightliner to carry all the instruments and stuff. Now if you cant fit your crap in one of those, you travel too heavy. And quite fun to drive.
Kids road a bus. Thankfully parents only had to transport themselves to away competitions.
and did the baseball coach gig. fills up the trunk quick.
my younger daughter did gymnasics and soccer, so a small car would do.
I want a wagon for myself now, but mostly so I can transport the dog without having to swap out for my wifes van!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
One of the important lessons that I learnt whilst very young was the desirability of children learning portable instruments.
My family has rather too many musicians. My mother's cousin studied Piano and became very proficient, winning a scholarship to the Conservatorium to study it. Proud father bought her a VW Beetle (we are talking 1960 where this was a major parental indulgence) and she happily tripped back and forward. Pianos are not portable but every venue has one, so one never needs to carry one around - you just turn up with your music.
However, the Conservatorium dictated that all student had to play two instruments. She chose the Harp and promptly proved to be very proficient - so proficient that she rapidly became Principal Harpist in the local Symphony Orchestra and then in London. Her indulgent father bought a harp for practise at home (it does sound very pretty!) and then a second one for use at the conservatorium. However she rapidly found herself playing all around town.
Harps are not very portable. They stand about six feet high and three wide.When packed in a travelling case they are quite unwieldy. Very quickly, indulgent father found himself buying a large station wagon to carry the beast.
The sight of a small woman, driving a large station wagon crammed full of ponderous harp was an early warning to me. I vowed to learn the piano, and encouraged our daughter to the piano, flute and clarinet. When she sat her most recent flute exam on Thursday, I reminded myself how wise I was. Even better, she is planning on concentrating on singing next year - no carry on baggage for that!
Cheers
Graham
So the moral of the story is this: become proficient at singing, and you can drive a sports car. Need to work on my vocal cords...
Bob
Kirsten: Cello, electric bass
Elie: ??? but starting cello and piano lessons next semester
Axel: ???
I don't play out with the bass anymore, on any given night Kirsten can pull down 2 or 3 times what I could earn. But she works a far bit still, and the cello does take up some room. Fits fine in the Clubbie plus room for a back seat passenger.
ps here are some pictures of family life in a small car:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=2059580&id=1128733928
my girls were all in the band ... and marching band in Texas is a HUGE deal ... oldest played flute, middle played percussion, youngest played euphonium (yes, the 'baby tuba!).
In order to accommodate them, their instruments and assorted friends' instruments, I drove a big honking Suburban during nearly all of that time of our lives.
During the youngest's junior year in high school, her band took a skiing trip and I picked her up at the airport with a friend of hers. At this point, the ex had taken over custody of the Suburban (and the payments) and I was driving a 93 Olds Cutlass Ciera. I had 2 adults and 2 large students, all of their ski equipment, luggage, AND their instruments - a euphonium and a full-size TUBA. We barely fit it all into the trunk and car with room for people. As I recall, the kids were sitting on bags and one of the instruments was in the backseat with them.
Thinking you might have to look into a Transit Connect, or maybe even a Sprinter van.
Bob
Here's a link to all their blog postings on it.
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/Vehicles/2010-suzuki-kizashi-gts/
The question is: will Suzuki be around in 5 years, as their sales are in the dumper, and have been for some time now.
Bob
Huh, the same tired old line yet again "A Subaru of America spokesman told Inside Line there are 'no plans' to offer a similar model in the U.S."
So it should come as no surprise that there is a virtually identical statement here 2011 Subaru Forester tS: For Japan Only
That's okay though, neither comes with a manual so I wouldn't be tempted. Were Subaru ever to decide to grace our shores with a manually equipped STi Forester, I would be first in line with my down payment :shades:
-Frank
How many Subaru owners would buy the mini non-AWD hyper miler to offset the Forester STI?
Meanwhile every auto journalist on the planet and some Subaru service techs I talked to are saying Subaru should have a 5 speed AT in the Forester. The new "touring" model might be the best canidate for that, as the "touring" stuff it got is essentially window dressing.
Somewhat off topic :surprise:
I got to drive a '10 Audi A4 Avant around town and immediately found it can't park at the dealer lot without getting its front end hung up on the curb. No such issues plague my XT.
Also, Subaru offers a factory sponsored extended warranty that, while not covering everything, does a pretty good job for the expensive stuff. Audi, meanwhile, relies on obscure third party "insurance companies".
Finally, Subaru dealers in my area have Saturday service. None of the Audi dealers do (including the three story high monster that just opened near me).
But that would only marginally improve mpg. My 2010 Forester XT with 4EAT gets about30-40% better in-town mpg than my 2005 3.0R six with 5EAT did.
The offsetting vehicle would need to be a 1.5-1.8 liter 2000 lb weight econobox.
The real problem is what I just mentioned - sales numbers would be so small.
The offsetting vehicle would need to be a 1.5-1.8 liter 2000 lb weight econobox.
The XT's 4 spd AT seems Ok so long as top speed's around 65 mph. Above that the XT's engine's spinning pretty fast and fuel economy drops.
Not a big issue in Oregon, but would be in speed happy California and Nevada.
FYI I drove an Audi 8 speed auto and noted just as many clunks in its drive train as I get from the Forester, despite the Audi costing nearly $15K more.
Off boost, you could potentially get better mileage. But of course you're using premium fuel, so it won't be cheaper to fuel.
My Forester XT's transmission is infinitely smoother than was my AWD 2000 Passat 6 and my AWD 2002 Passat W8's trans.
I suspect the real limit to the Forester's high speed performance is that it is shaped like a brick. The near vertical windshield with minimal reflections and great visibility that I like has a price.
Loosh, I think what you want is to buy a minivan for Kirsten and take the Mini!
Otherwise, the closest thing I can think of (other than the BMW wagon) that is fun to drive (not fast in a straight line, but handling) and has space is an Audi A3. It's peppy, handles well, is reasonably nice inside and has room for your kids and some stuff- especially with a roof rack for trips. The downsides are reliability and cost- although you can get CPO ones for mid 20s here.
Actually, you could get a small cargo pod on a roof rack and make any of these cars a vacation car, since you probably don't need a ton of room all the time.
It sounds like you REALLY want a Mini. So get one. And a roof rack.
See, not so impossible.
tom
tom
I decided I wanted to have a track car, and I didn't have the heart to turn the SVX into one (although I did seriously look into a 5 speed swap) but I found it a good home. My wife wouldn't let me keep too many cars. :mad: Oh well.
So now I am looking into an NA or NB Miata or an e30 or e36 BMW to turn into a dedicated track car. Who knows, maybe I can start club racing! If only I could find the time!
tom
Emissions are old-school, so mods are less limited. NB will throw CELs more readliy.
It has the 1.8l engine and bigger brakes than the '93, plus an extra rear chassis brace.
It's the last year with an actual working oil pressure gauge, in '95 they went to a dummy guage.
Yeah, 94 and 95 (pre OBD IIs) are hard to find.
I found a 94 that a guy has taken realy good care of- but he's got a Flyin' Miata turbo kit in it (250WHP!!!). But other than that it seems like something worthwhile.
I'm looking at some early NBs as well since they did get some more chasis bracing and are actually lighter than the outgoing NAs.
tom
Well anyhoo this is fun, but in reality it'll be a while before I do anything other than keep fixing ol reliable here, rust and all
To me it doesn't matter what I'm driving-- probably because almost no car I've ever owned could clear a curb or parking bump-- but you NEVER pull forward until the tires hit. Stop short if you're unsure, as you can always pull up a little bit more if you really need to.
I did a lot of research years back to determine if I wanted to get into road racing or track days with cars or motorcycles. Ultimately my choice was neither, but honestly first finisher would have been a Suzuki SV-650 and second would have been a 125cc shifter kart.
Anyway,
First step is to do a lot of talking to locals and see what tracks are within range of you, and what kind of events they run. It may take you a few more google searches and phone calls to penetrate the karting group as most of their tracks are going to be private. Usually it's easier to find out about events for cars.
Second step: determine what you might have fun doing. If you've never driven a 125cc kart, in the process of step 1 you will make contact with some people that probably would let you take a spin. They are crazy fast. They also cost a fraction of a race car, any race car, to purchase and maintain. If you have your heart set on cars, then determine if you might ever want to really race or if you're just out to have fun.
If fun is your main objective then, again, I suggest you let your budget guide you. Someone campaigning a E30 or E36 M3 can tell you honestly what the minimum annual spend will be, how much they pay for spares, and what major repair or overhauls cost. (I'll give you a hint: you don't want to blow up a S52 3.2L or a ZF 5spd.) Spec Miatas are far cheaper to run but let's be honest: they're damn slow.
Don't forget that a track serious car can't be driven on the road. I've seen a few towed flat on the ground, but that's not a great idea. You probably will need a fullsize truck or SUV to tow your car, whereas a kart could fit into some wagon / vans, or be towed behind almost anything seeing as the trailer would weigh more than the kart and no more than 1,000lb total.
Third step: find the best bargain. My suggestion is to get a car or kart that someone else is getting *out of* rather than try to build your own.
Hope this helps. I'm sure if you've been thinking about this a while you are already down this path...
Yup, I've been talking to some folk in the area and what actually get's raced here in the PacNW. Hence my narrowing it down to the miata, e30 or e36. I also spent some time talking to a garage near me who preps cars for club racing. I came up with many of the same conclusions, the Bimmers would be much more expensive than the miata (but perhaps more fun?).
Part of my reason for doing this is that my boys are teenagers now and I thought it would be a fun and educational winter project building up a car. Also, I just taught my son how to drive stick (on my STi!) and now he doesn't have anything to practice on, so another reason for my madness!
I've decided to take it in steps. Since I no longer have a car I'd want to track, I figured a used miata can be had for a song. Replace some parts and throw in a roll bar and it will be good enough for light track duty. If I have zero aptitude then I can always sell the miata to someone else.
If I actually have time (and money) to get more serious, perhaps spec miata??? I always thought Rally Cross/Rallying looked fun (we actually have a school near me) But we're talking a year or two (or 5!) down the line.
Some of those carts are really fast Colin- somehow I feel safer with a whole car around me! But not something I really though about. I don't know much about the carting scene here- they have some indoor tracks here but it's all pretty light duty stuff.
Maybe when you get restless you can think about it again!
Tom
A miata with $1,000 in aftermarket suspension, less than $750 in tires and $200 in a real rollbar indeed is a fine beast to get a taste for the track.
However if you do like what you're doing, it probably will be quickly outgrown. That would be my concern...
tom
Another problem of the older vehicles: no advanced dynamic stability control to save your butt. The lack of it is a good thing when it comes to learning the basics, but once you get some seat time in... even the pros leave the Corvette ZR1 in competition mode when trying to set the fastest lap. Besides being faster, it can keep you out of the tire barrier.
Last-ditch sales pitch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJMCuTn5SDg
I have a Miata and I want one!