Subaru Crew Cafe

colin_l

LOL definitely not.

colin_l

I don't know about Subaru or Audi, but Toyota systems are not self learning. You need to manually program the TPMS computer with the sensor's ECID thru the OBD port, and tell it which set of 4 you are running with each changeover.

I think this is true for all cars, but I suppose there could be a few that you can change sensor codes through the infotainment system. It wouldn't be that hard to implement.

I would need to buy a VAG (volkswagen auto group) specific dongle and software, which runs about $350. Once I have that, though, I could datalog and change allowed parameters such as resetting the maintenance interval, but you can't do full-on ECU tuning..,. at least not with the software that RossTech provides which everyone uses.

xwesx

Simple way around that is to take the wheels in for tire mount/balance sans car.

fibber2

I agree, Wes, there are certainly ways around the law. The question is, why would you want to? Personally, I think it’s one of the better safety ideas to come along. Personal testimony:

Last year Beth hit some small object with the Sienna while on the Interstate. She didn’t think too much of it, until a minute or so later when the TPMS light came on. She slowed and pulled off the road, and within another minute the front left tire was completely flat. Punctured, but whole and repairable.

Now what if she hadn’t had a minute of advanced warning? Certainly loss of the tire, probable loss of a $300 alloy wheel had it separated at 70 MPH, possible loss of vehicle and even the risk of loss of life. So is TPMS worth the expense and hassle? That 'near miss' made me a believer and convinced me to go ahead and upgrade the Snows to TPMS.

colin_l

that is a very good example of a near miss. in hindsight, striking anything on the highway it would be a great idea to pull over and inspect the tires and vehicle in general. but who has actually ever done that when you don't hear or feel anything wrong at first?

TPMS was not meant to be a nag to fill your tires every few months at the gas station. it was meant to deal with situations exactly like you described, or on a less frightening note, my wife's slow leak.

speaking of that btw, the Suzuki looks a lot meaner on the new tires. they look a lot like BFG All-Terrain, but ride better and quieter. not surprising, given the venerable (and well loved!) BFG was invented... what, 30 or 40 years ago?

colin_l

I noticed a co-worker (unknown person-- kind of a big company ) driving a new Acura TSX Sport Wagon and by chance parked next to it after running errands at lunchtime.

It's eerily similar to my car. Almost everything is the same except for the wheel arches bulge on the Acura, the grille and headlights. The overall shape is identical. The lower fascia is identical, which is remarkable because it's kind of a "W" shape with two distinct prongs left and right of center. The Acura has this. Even the hatch shape and a built in 'wing' at the top of the hatch are the same.

Since one of them hit the market in 2008 (in Europe, 2009 in US/CAN) and the other in 2011, I think we know who copied whom. :P

xwesx

Because in a practical risk assessment, the cost outweighs the risk. It is a nanny, designed primarily to make the job of driving and owning a vehicle just a little more dumbed down. Can it possibly come in useful from time to time? Yes, just like any nanny can, but that doesn't mean it is necessary or preferred.

The real problem isn't the technology, it is the mandating of it. As long as backup cameras, lane departure sensors, that silly contraption Subaru just added to the Outback/Legacy for 2013, etc., are optional, I don't care so much that some people prefer them and want them on their cars. When they become required fare because some government official thinks they know what is best for all drivers, I have a problem with it.

I'm glad you like them. I don't. I think they're silly and annoying, so I choose not to use them. And, if they were to illuminate on my stock rims because I keep 44 PSI in the rear tires during the summer when I haul cargo and pull trailers when the "recommended" setting is closer to 30, I would yank them out in a heartbeat. As it is, I'll tolerate them in the stock units, but I won't go out of my way to incur excess cost on something that might, someday, come in marginally useful.

As a driver, I accept the inherent risks of driving, as do I accept the inherent risks of living simply by being alive. I know that's not the American way any more, but I'm old-fashioned like that.

xwesx

No, no, Colin... that's just "convergent design." :P

fibber2

Wes, I respect what you said. I share your feeling that not everything should be legislated, but in some ways that's the only way to make sure technology filters down to all in a timely manner. I think about air bags two decades ago.

There is also an economic reality to mass deployment, as it drives the cost down quickly when it's included in the car because it has to be, and isn't a 'markup' or luxury item. Adjusted for inflation, cars contain infinitely more today for essentially zero additional cost thanks in part to legislated content.

Hey, I also wear a helmet when I bike too! What can I say?

xwesx

Haha; yeah, I make my kids wear helmets, too, but I don't. I might if I ever prioritized the purchase of a helmet for me, but I ride a bike rarely enough that I just don't consider the miniscule risk worth the cost.

When I finally buy a motorcycle, I'll definitely get a helmet at the same time (and leathers)!

colin_l

We rediscovered bicycling about 2 years ago and always wear helmets. Our 5 year-old does too.

Speaking of bicycling, we're going on vacation in mid-July to Colorado, assuming the Breckenridge / Frisco area doesn't burn. (It probably won't.) We are going to do a lot of cycling, I'm looking forward to it!

kyfdx

My '06 has the old design that works off the ABS sensors... I realize that this isn't quite as comprehensive as the new design... but, it works 90% as well for 10% of the cost and aggravation (my estimates..lol)

fibber2

Check out your local firehouse for a decent quality bike helmet dirt cheap. Some national program provides them. Stylish with removable visors for under $10.

xwesx

I remember you talking about your biking... you do it seriously! Mine is a "mountain bike," one of those that isn't really any good for riding on pavement, and not really any good for off-road biking either. It works well enough on gravel, though!

Sadly, it was about the same time I bought that bike that I tore my meniscus in my right knee. That was 2004, I think, and I haven't ridden that bike more than maybe ten miles since then. Biking makes that knee burn like the fires of Hell.

Honestly, if I rode a bike more, I would get a helmet just as cheap risk abatement since it doesn't take much to bump one's head.

xwesx

Thanks for the tip. I should look into that the next time the kids need new helmets. Their heads seem to grow ridiculously fast. :sick:

fibber2

I still bike on average 4 days per week, using my Dahon Vitesse D7 folding bicycle that has lived in my OBW for years now. It's my lunchtime getaway. I keep it below the 'smelly' threshold, and do approx 5 miles around the site and down a state road to a deli. It does wonders for my mental state to get away mid day. This winter was mild enough that for the first time I continued biking all thru the winter! On weekends I use one of my 'real' bikes!

Knee problems also, but it is OK when biking. It seems to originate in my ankle, and as long as I rock that right, my knee doesn't pop. So right now I can bike with fury, but cannot walk a city block without pain. Orthopedic appt on July 8th to see what can be done about it. Yes, this getting old sucks.

hondafriek

When I had my right knee replaced biking was out of the question. Due to the limited range of motion of the prosthetic knee I had lot of pain in the knee. A different pain from what it was pre replacement, and if I have to still endure pain in the knee this pain is infinitely more preferable.

However I started about 9 months ago trying limited time on an exercise bike. At least I couldn't fall off this if I screwed up.
Well I got some range back and decided to try a real bike, so I borrowed a friends and tried it. The same day Rita and I went and bought new bikes, we ride most every day, round trip about ten miles. The knee is still painful, and the left knee is maybe about a year away from needing replaced, but as long as I can ride I am gonna do it.

Cheers Pat

pugjoy

Hi everyone,
Subaru Drive magazine arrived and we really like the pic on p.22 of the Saddle Brown Leather. Here it is on another website:
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/outback/outback2013photos2.html

Memory settings also come with the SAP -- hubby misses those!

Car is at 15K and think it is great.

rsholland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MMhN9B1Jos&feature=player_embedded

This is an option on 2013 Legacy and Outback Limited models.

Bob

colin_l

I was biking 6 days a week before it got ridiculously hot about 2 weeks ago. Now I'm happy to get 4 days in. I got in a bunch of miles riding over my lunch break, 14-18 miles, but now it's just too damn hot to do that and not be able to shower afterwards. (Starts at 92F, ends at 95-98 if I leave at 11am.)

I do some mountainbiking but I'm mostly a road biker. It's because I have to drive 20-45 min to a proper MTB trail, but I can ride 15-50 miles from my front door on my road bike.

xwesx

I like the those seats. I was talking about getting leather in my next car, and my wife balked at the idea. I told her I was going to do it anyway and that made her think about it a little more. She said, "if you could get a rich, dark brown, I think I would like them a lot more."

In that respect, it's too bad I will not be considering an Outback for my next car!

pugjoy

I would not care as much about leather if you didn't need it to get heated seats. But now that we have kids, leather cleans up so easily. Kids just come with sticky attached! I do not enjoy the hot seat in the summer, cloth is better for that. All we need now is perforated leather with A/C!

xwesx

I have not owned a leather-seated car, but I do recall many times as a child wearing shorts in the summer and trying to keep from getting burned by hot leather or vinyl seats.

I think they would be much better for cleaning up, though, and that is a primary concern for me. Given my northerly location in Fairbanks, Alaska, even "hot" isn't all that hot, and it doesn't last long either. So, I'm thinking I want to give leather a go. Since I don't buy new vehicles very often, I might as well get what I want. If I change my mind, I'll know better for next time. :shades:

dcm61

I would not care as much about leather if you didn't need it to get heated seats.

You don't need leather to get heated seats in an Outback (all the way back to '96). Nor do you need leather in an Impreza, Forester, Legacy, or Tribeca.

fibber2

It's nice to see cloth still available in some models, but it usually relegates you to the lower end of the line. I've only had leather in one car, but really didn't like it very much. We have one leather couch in the house, and I just avoid it!

colin_l

I like sitting on leather couches just fine, but if you take a nap on one you will wake up really sweaty. Eew!

I don't have cooled seats in my A4. I believe that option comes with the top-level Prestige, which is also how you get the rear seat heaters. I don't know who can justify paying near/over $50k for an A4 to get that, though. :confuse:

rsholland

Agreed. I'm not a big fan of leather either.

Bob

rsholland

...Another sales record

http://media.subaru.com/index.php?s=43&item=336

Bob

pugjoy

That is interesting -- did not know that. This is our first Subaru. Leather (and 6 cyl) is one of those not-optional options with DH. Would never get black leather though!

KCRam

When I ordered my current 2005 Ram, I passed on the Big Horn package simply because I didn't want the leather steering wheel. Had one in the 1996 Ram, and it was always a pain to keep clean. Every vehicle I've ever owned has been cloth seated... and that is not likely to change.

kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host

dcm61

Would never get black leather though!

I recently bought my first car with leather ('12 Impreza Sport Limited). It has black leather!

colin_l

there's no problem with black leather getting hot, provided that you tint the windows of the car and crack the windows a tad (about 1/2"). it works best if you have 20% or darker and don't park with the windshield facing the west, towards the afternoon sun.

dcm61

Not to start a heated discussion, but I personally feel that tinted (darker than standard tint) windows are a safety hazard ... to other drivers, as you can't see "through" the car in traffic.

Just like most people don't like following a truck, van, SUV, I don't want to follow a car with tinted windows.

Another pet peeve are trucks, SUVs with more than half of the tire exposed (i.e., no mud flaps/splash guards) ... there's a rock just waiting to get picked up and deposited on my front end.

P.S. I park in the parking garage at work and under a tree at home.

volkov

link title

xwesx

So, I finally ran that leak-down test on my Escort, and I don't think the results are promising....

It was a little difficult to get each cylinder perfectly at TDC of the compression stroke, and any variation from this at all resulted in movement of the piston and air escaping one valve or another, but that aside, I found that each one consistently lost significant air into the crankcase. I homebuilt my unit, so I don't have a fancy two-gauge system that shows a comparison between the set pressure and loss. Applying the pressure set at 100psi resulted in a max reading of 82 PSI, consistently on all cylinders, with the pressure almost instantly dropping to zero when the flow was shut off.

The flow of air out the hose that used to be connected to the PCV valve was significant. Interestingly, when I plugged the hose with my finger, the pressure (under my finger) would build for a little while, then I would hear air whistling from the vicinity of my air filter. Pull my finger away, and *POOF* goes the air out the crankcase hose.

So, I'm thinking the rings are shot (or at least on their way out), possibly combined with intake valve leaks on three of the four cylinders (the #4 cylinder did not exhibit any air filter whistling when I restricted airflow from the crankcase).

Does that seem about right?

colin_l

You shouldn't be relying on seeing over or through vehicles. Some vehicles are taller or otherwise opaque, particularly if you drive a low-slung vehicle.

I understand the gist of what you're saying, and I don't like following semis for a lot of reasons including visibility, but you can't control other vehicles on the road so worrying about their tint-- or not tinting your own windows so that people can see through *you*-- is pretty silly.

Besides, as I said, in hot areas of the country a very high percentage of cars have dark window tint.

dcm61

Nope, not silly at all (in my case).

Have you ever driven in bumper to bumper traffic? If you have, you know that you CAN'T follow at a safe distance and being able to see "through" a vehicle gives you a huge advantage.

If all my driving was at a safe distance, then tinting would have little impact, but unfortunately, I can't control the daily traffic jams.

colin_l

ah. you bet I can control daily traffic jams-- I choose to live somewere that does not have them.

sgloon

The tinted windows have a worse advantage. Driving at night. I drove a friend's car with full tinted windshield and side windows and it really impacted the visibility at night...when things aren't so bright outside. Enough to realize that accidents could happen due to the tinting.

colin_l

5% limo tint is indeed bad, even with perfect eyesight. it's only legal in a few states on normal cars.

20% - 35% is all that is legal in many states. I've had no problems.

dcm61

I did live someplace that didn't have daily traffic jams. Then all the city people move out and want to bring the city (and related traffic) with them.

P.S. Don't you live in tornado land? How good are you at controlling those tornadoes?

hondafriek

I don't know about the US, but in Canada a tinted windshield is illegal. Like Colin pointed out 5% limo tint would make night driving difficult. I have had every car I owned tinted, usually 20% on the rear windows and 30% on the front. I have never had a problem driving at night neither has Rita my wife.

Cheers Pat.

colin_l

why yes, I can do that too!

I think I can safely say Wichita won't ever grow like that. this *is* the city and it isn't big.

colin_l

ah, I didn't see that the first time, Pat.

fully tinted windshields are very illegal all over the US and I've never seen a single car with one. what is legal in many states is a 4" (or less) windshield brow, which can be any level of tint. I have such a brow.

fibber2

I believe front window tinting is still illegal in NY and a number of other states. Safety of an approaching police officer is one of the stated reasons why.

hondafriek

Yep actually a lot of cars came with that band tinted at the top from factory.

IIRC all of the Honda Accords I owned had it.

Cheers Pat.

fibber2

I was reading some of the background on NY States window tinting laws, and one of the key points was 'eye contact'. Whether it be at an intersection or other situation, the ability to clearly see the driver of the other vehicle, and know that he understands your intentions was sited as a component in crash avoidance. A nod, hand gesture, or even a head turn is a level of non-verbal communication that helps to determine who goes first, etc. When you simply cannot see another driver waiving you on, safety is compromised.

grahampeters

G'day

Subaru in Australia decide to do on-line orders only at a fixed drive away price for the new BRZ. All available in Australia this year sold with three hours at full asking price of $37,150 including three years free servicing.

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/subaru-brz-sells-out-in-three-hours-201207- - 16-22613.html

The Toyota 86 also has a waiting list of at least 19 months although the link below says October or November. I ran my eyes over the Toyota last week and it is very tempting. Looks fabulous on the road too.

I suspect that they may keep supply tight on this one!

Cheers

Graham

volkov

Almost caused an accident two weeks ago when I passed one on the road. Subie blue with regular aka non dealer plates. I had no idea they were available to Canadian market yet.

xwesx

Talk about inconsiderate drivers! It just isn't right that they allow vehicles that look that good on the public roads. :P