Yeah it's 70/30 split and that is very nice. The only change I'd make to the rear doors would be to have the 70% portion's window go into the door like a regular side door would have the window go down so that you could place larger items sticking out oh and I would also bring back the inside door handle so that you could open the rear door from the inside.
a set up like that found on Ford's Excursion, and is optional on GM midi-vans: The complete window hinges from the top, and the bottom 2 doors split 50/50. It's sort of like a "dutch-door" set up. You can open the top rear window section, yet keep the bottom doors shut.
One nasty looking Wrangler pickup conversion! Reminds me of the original Jeep pickups from the 1950s. This is a vehicle you can order. Also, check out some of the other vehicles they offer.
I had my OBS on the beach about 12-14 times in deep sand in NJ. Not once did I wish I had a full size spare. I guess because there were always plenty of folks around to tow you in case you got into trouble.
Now that I think about it, I believe that beach (Island Beach State Park) now requires a full size spare. I know the beaches in Cape Cod require it.
Since the weather forecast for this weekend was calling for rain, I decided to go out and blow the leaves this afternoon instead. However, I needed to make up some new 2-stroke juice first. So, I get a gallon of gas, mix in the 2-stroke oil, and off I go...
It turns out I needed roughly a gallon to do my yard, as my yard was full of leaves (and I did the yard just 5 days ago too!). That means my Echo PB4500 backpack blower gets about one acre per gallon (1 apg)!
YIKES! Doesn't make my Explorer seem so bad anymore...
Since I finished at sundown, now I have to haul them off to the landfill. Everything in the backyard got blown into the woods. Everything up front goes to the dump. I'm guessing 3 - 4 trailer loads this time.
Can you believe they're an option on the new Infiniti G-35? I sure hope Subaru adds heated seats to the US-spec Imprezas—and not just the WRX...
Speaking of heated things, I drove a BMW X5 (at that BMW thingy) that had a heated steering wheel. Very nice! I hope to see that feature added to Subaru's All-Weather Package.
I love my infinitely variable heated seats in the trooper. You have a heat and a hold. You leave it on "heat" til your bum is at the temp you want then push it to "hold" and it maintains it
3-4 loads? Wow. Why don't you get a chipper/shredder to reduce them to maybe one load?
I've also seen these lawn vacuums, that look like mowers but are designed to suck up leaves. I wonder if they work. I could definitely use one.
Another question - how to you get rid of mushrooms? I'm getting some in the playground area, which has a packed down layer of wood chips. More wood chips, to dry it up, maybe?
Wow, 15% of cars have heated seats? That's a lot, considering it's not even offered on so many of them.
I think particularly in drop-tops they should be standard. Near-luxury cars, too.
I think I'll get them next time around. As back-to-basics as I am, I may give in to a few guilty pleasures.
Opposite experience: hot, hot summer day; black leather steering wheel; parked facing the sun = burning my fingers on the seat belt buckle and needing to wear gloves in order to hold the hot steering wheel. Years ago before subie.
I wonder how much that stuff costs. Probably not much. The whole AWP used to cost $400, and came with the LSD, heated seats, heated mirrors, and the windshield element.
at first, people laughed at heated seats, heated outside mirrors, etc.. So I'm not surprised the reluctance to accept a heated steering wheel. I think using it one time will convince most naysayers.
for me I HAD to have the heated seats ... maybe it doesn't sound cold to some of you folks in Canada .. but my first winter here (from the tropical gulf coast of Texas to lake effect snow country) we had LOTS of mornings where I left with temps hovering around zero Fahrenheit or below with wind chills to the - 20's below ... I could brush off the snow, start the car, turn on the seats and take off without 'warming up' the car. By the time I got down the block the seats were warming up, and wasn't long til the heater kicked in ...but I can tell you the seats heat up MUCH faster than the 'heater' ... lol
Juice: Copper sulfate sprayed on the mushrooms. Kills the fungus. Also recommended for root rot.
Leaves: They either blow into the neighbor's yard, or wait for the mulching mower next spring. If my son wants to earn a little extra cash, he grabs the rake
I'd vote for the heated wheel. Don't wear gloves when I drive - too much of a sense of lack of control/grip.
The bad news on the mushrooms is that adding more wood chips just gives more food for them. Typically the fungus is feeding on rotting wood of some sort well under the surface. The mushrroms themselves are just the fruiting bodies for the fungus. Dramatically altering the doil conditio under the mushrooms by say adding lime to increase the pH may reduce the problem but I have had no luck. Alternatively, you can dig the whole area over and remove whatever is providing the food source. Cheery thought though is that frequently the fungi are eating something eighteen inches underground.
The alternative is to tell the kids to look for fairies under the mushrooms. Make sure they are edible though. You wouldn't want the kids to chomp on a hallucinegenic one or they may really find fairies.
I think anyone who appreciates heated seats would also appreciate a heated steering wheel. It warms your hands very quickly, just as heated seats quickly warm your buns; and like heated seats, very comfy.
I too am not fond of wearing gloves while driving, for the same reasons Paul mentioned.
but I don't always carry gloves with me. In fact, I rarely have gloves with me unless it's around or below freezing. So, on those 35-40 degree days, I would welcome that feature.
Very impressed! It is much improved over previous models—including the styling. They now have a larger, more powerful 3.8L engine, and all models now come with an excellent 5-speed auto (w/tip-tronic), and full-time, dual-range 4WD (5-speed auto and full-time 4WD used to only come on the top-line Limited before), and fold-away 3rd-row seating (very similar to the Odyssey's).
I stopped by a CarMax/Mitsubishi dealer in Laurel, MD and they had a good selection. A base XLS, with the optional "touring package" (huge moonroof, upgraded interior & audio) was discounted to $32.8K, which is about 2K below MSRP.
All models also now have standard, an electronic anti-skid devise that can be turned off by the driver. Towing is 5000 braked, and 1500 unbraked. It's definitely on my short list to replace my Explorer, when that day comes!
Glad you liked the Monty Bob. That is most likely going to be the replacement for my Trooper as it's my #2 favorite SUV out there! (even though it's uni-body )
The last time I checked one out, was when this new body style came out, a couple of years ago. I liked it then too. However, the only one I would have considered at that time was the Limited, because it was the only one that came with the 5-speed tip-tronic and selectable full-time 4WD. The base model XLS only came with a 4-speed automatic and part-time 4WD. I also thought the Limited was way overpriced. And then there was the CR report...
Now, for '03, all Monteros have the 5-speed/tip-tronic and the selectable full-time 4WD. In addition they all come with an electronic skid control, that can be deselected if need be. In addition they've gone from a 3.5L engine to a more powerful 3.8L, and have improved the EPA ratings slightly, as well. They're still not great, but any improvement helps.
They've also improved the funky styling a bit. My choice would be the base XLS, with the "Touring Package," which includes that huge moonroof, upgraded seat material (but still cloth!) and upgraded audio.
No, these are the stinkiest 'shrooms I've ever seen. Nasty. I actually raked them out.
Copper Sulfate? Will Home Depot carry that stuff? It is toxic? This is on a playground.
I guess heated steering wheels are yet another thing to break, but it's not like you have to fix it, so long as there isn't a short or something.
Bob: folding seat like the Ody? Really? I thought it had 2 jump seats that folded to the sides. Sounds good. Did it feel at all tippy or trucky? Those are very tall. Did it have those huge wheels we saw at the NY Auto Show?
I thought someone rolled one of those, I forget if it was CR. The anti-skid may prevent that, but I wonder if the track is wider. Was it a face-lift or a redesign? Looks like a face-lift, though I agree the changes are significant.
it's tall, but rides nice, due to the IFS/IRS. You'll never mistake it for a Subie going through the twisties...
CR lifted the wheels going through their accident avoidance maneuvers, just like they did with the Trooper, and because of that, it's not recommended. This year, all Monteros have an electronic anti-skid feature, something like the Subie VDC I would guess, that the older Montys didn't have. Hopefully that addresses that issue.
Yes, the third-row seat folds like the Odyssey. However, it seats only two, not three like the Honda. It's also much narrower than the Honda's. The 3rd seat legroom is lousy, and comfort ain't great either. But in an emergency, when you need the extra seating, it's there.
My front door bell rang Saturday afternoon and when I answered it, there was a man standing there clutching a sheaf of papers. He stated that he was looking for the Subaru dealership and couldn't find it but had noticed the Subaru in the driveway so he stopped hoping to get directions. Now the really weird thing is that the papers he was holding were MapQuest directions and they clearly showed that he had input the correct address for the dealership (located in a commercial stretch of a busy highway) but the step-by-step directions brought him straight to my street (located in a small quiet out of the way neighborhood). I can assure you that the dealership's address and mine have nothing in common and that the dealership is several miles away. My wife speculated that the word was out about what a strong advocate I was for all things Subaru and that this stranger was intentionally sent my way by the dealership and/or MapQuest to help sell him on Subarus. In fact, he was new car shopping and wanted to compare Subarus and he did ask me what I thought about them. Of course I told him I really liked my Forester and that I was already planning on my next new vehicle being a Subaru also. I then gave him the correct directions and sent him on his merry way. So, do you think I should get a partial commission if he ended up buying a Subaru?
I can't see mike in a unibody truck with IFS/IRS, it just doesn't seem right. ;-)
I was wondering if the track got wider too. Did you notice what tires were on there?
3rd seat sounds like the XL7. The back of the 2nd row nearly touches the 3rd seat, so you have to move it forward. That SUV is too narrow, though, a very LWB version of the narrow cab Vitara.
Frank: Map Quest is telling Subaru customers to come to our houses!? Hilarious.
Juice: Re copper sulfate: got mine at Lowe's or HD I can't remember... they're right across the street from each other (and HD is next door to Costco) so I might have been suffering retail overload. One of the two ought to have it. Don't think it's toxic - I used it in my yard, and if it was, I wouldn't. Comes in powder form, you mix & spray.
The skid control is a start, but you still have to consider what happens if you are tripped or hit by another vehicle. Dunno, I'd just rather stay upright.
One Jeep buddy of mine has a bumper sticker mounted upside down that reads, "If you can read this, flip me over!"
That's one area that the Pilot and MDX really shine. Both have extremely wide tracks, and are very wide to boot. In fact, they're really are much more full-size in terms of width, than mid-size.
Pilot (and Explorer for that matter) have very good space utilization. But the 3rd seat is still just for kids.
If it were me, once you give up on driving fun, you may as well go whole hog and get something like an Expedition. You'd said you saw one for $33k or so, about the same as the Monty. That just seems like a lot more for your money.
It may be overkill, but you live in a mostly rural area, tend to drive long distances on highways and country roads, and for towing all that weight will just make it more stable.
Love that story. Someone (way back when) used the tag line "Ask the man who owns one". Maybe Subaru is manipulating cyberspace to revive that approach.
Comments
-mike
Bob
-mike
Bob
"It won't fit" is a poor excuse. It fits fine in my Legacy L. The Outback doesn't fit? Fix it. Redesign the spare tire well.
The 4Runner set up is my fave. The glass powers down, and the whole thing lifts up for rain shelter. Plus lift over is easy.
-juice
-mike
Bob
http://www.aev-conversions.com/index.html
-juice
Now that I think about it, I believe that beach (Island Beach State Park) now requires a full size spare. I know the beaches in Cape Cod require it.
-Dennis
But it would be one clean-sweep way to keep all Bajas and Outbacks off the beach, even though they are perfectly capable there.
-juice
It turns out I needed roughly a gallon to do my yard, as my yard was full of leaves (and I did the yard just 5 days ago too!). That means my Echo PB4500 backpack blower gets about one acre per gallon (1 apg)!
YIKES! Doesn't make my Explorer seem so bad anymore...
Bob
Steve
Mine's electric, though. The cord is a pain, and it's not that powerful. Sounds like electric cars - limited range, limited power.
2 cycles pollute like crazy, but they make great power. Every rotation has a power stroke.
-juice
Since I finished at sundown, now I have to haul them off to the landfill. Everything in the backyard got blown into the woods. Everything up front goes to the dump. I'm guessing 3 - 4 trailer loads this time.
Bob
Can you believe they're an option on the new Infiniti G-35? I sure hope Subaru adds heated seats to the US-spec Imprezas—and not just the WRX...
Speaking of heated things, I drove a BMW X5 (at that BMW thingy) that had a heated steering wheel. Very nice! I hope to see that feature added to Subaru's All-Weather Package.
Bob
-mike
I understand heated seats, provided they are leather. I understand heated outside mirrors too, great stuff.
Heated steering wheel... aren't you generally wearing gloves when it's cold enough that you would notice a very cold wheel?
-Colin
I've also seen these lawn vacuums, that look like mowers but are designed to suck up leaves. I wonder if they work. I could definitely use one.
Another question - how to you get rid of mushrooms? I'm getting some in the playground area, which has a packed down layer of wood chips. More wood chips, to dry it up, maybe?
Wow, 15% of cars have heated seats? That's a lot, considering it's not even offered on so many of them.
I think particularly in drop-tops they should be standard. Near-luxury cars, too.
I think I'll get them next time around. As back-to-basics as I am, I may give in to a few guilty pleasures.
-juice
Opposite experience: hot, hot summer day; black leather steering wheel; parked facing the sun = burning my fingers on the seat belt buckle and needing to wear gloves in order to hold the hot steering wheel. Years ago before subie.
Jim
Same with the seats, reversed, actually, and you'd still need a hat! :-)
-juice
Bob
-juice
Bob
Laugh, but they already have power pedals, so it wouldn't take any more wiring!
-juice
Bob
-juice
Leaves: They either blow into the neighbor's yard, or wait for the mulching mower next spring. If my son wants to earn a little extra cash, he grabs the rake
I'd vote for the heated wheel. Don't wear gloves when I drive - too much of a sense of lack of control/grip.
Cheers!
Paul
The bad news on the mushrooms is that adding more wood chips just gives more food for them. Typically the fungus is feeding on rotting wood of some sort well under the surface. The mushrroms themselves are just the fruiting bodies for the fungus. Dramatically altering the doil conditio under the mushrooms by say adding lime to increase the pH may reduce the problem but I have had no luck. Alternatively, you can dig the whole area over and remove whatever is providing the food source. Cheery thought though is that frequently the fungi are eating something eighteen inches underground.
The alternative is to tell the kids to look for fairies under the mushrooms. Make sure they are edible though. You wouldn't want the kids to chomp on a hallucinegenic one or they may really find fairies.
Cheers
Graham
I too am not fond of wearing gloves while driving, for the same reasons Paul mentioned.
Bob
Just seems like another thing to fix when the car gets to be 10 years old or so.
Bob
I stopped by a CarMax/Mitsubishi dealer in Laurel, MD and they had a good selection. A base XLS, with the optional "touring package" (huge moonroof, upgraded interior & audio) was discounted to $32.8K, which is about 2K below MSRP.
All models also now have standard, an electronic anti-skid devise that can be turned off by the driver. Towing is 5000 braked, and 1500 unbraked. It's definitely on my short list to replace my Explorer, when that day comes!
Bob
-Colin
-mike
Now, for '03, all Monteros have the 5-speed/tip-tronic and the selectable full-time 4WD. In addition they all come with an electronic skid control, that can be deselected if need be. In addition they've gone from a 3.5L engine to a more powerful 3.8L, and have improved the EPA ratings slightly, as well. They're still not great, but any improvement helps.
They've also improved the funky styling a bit. My choice would be the base XLS, with the "Touring Package," which includes that huge moonroof, upgraded seat material (but still cloth!) and upgraded audio.
Bob
No, these are the stinkiest 'shrooms I've ever seen. Nasty. I actually raked them out.
Copper Sulfate? Will Home Depot carry that stuff? It is toxic? This is on a playground.
I guess heated steering wheels are yet another thing to break, but it's not like you have to fix it, so long as there isn't a short or something.
Bob: folding seat like the Ody? Really? I thought it had 2 jump seats that folded to the sides. Sounds good. Did it feel at all tippy or trucky? Those are very tall. Did it have those huge wheels we saw at the NY Auto Show?
I thought someone rolled one of those, I forget if it was CR. The anti-skid may prevent that, but I wonder if the track is wider. Was it a face-lift or a redesign? Looks like a face-lift, though I agree the changes are significant.
-juice
CR lifted the wheels going through their accident avoidance maneuvers, just like they did with the Trooper, and because of that, it's not recommended. This year, all Monteros have an electronic anti-skid feature, something like the Subie VDC I would guess, that the older Montys didn't have. Hopefully that addresses that issue.
Yes, the third-row seat folds like the Odyssey. However, it seats only two, not three like the Honda. It's also much narrower than the Honda's. The 3rd seat legroom is lousy, and comfort ain't great either. But in an emergency, when you need the extra seating, it's there.
Bob
-Frank P.
Bob
You should definitely get compensation for that.
-Dennis
What would really be the kicker is if the fellow came back for his scheduled maintenance.
Ken
I was wondering if the track got wider too. Did you notice what tires were on there?
3rd seat sounds like the XL7. The back of the 2nd row nearly touches the 3rd seat, so you have to move it forward. That SUV is too narrow, though, a very LWB version of the narrow cab Vitara.
Frank: Map Quest is telling Subaru customers to come to our houses!? Hilarious.
I'd draw the line there, though, Ken. ;-)
-juice
Cheers!
Paul
As an off-roader, it's gotten very good write ups.
Bob
One Jeep buddy of mine has a bumper sticker mounted upside down that reads, "If you can read this, flip me over!"
-juice
That's one area that the Pilot and MDX really shine. Both have extremely wide tracks, and are very wide to boot. In fact, they're really are much more full-size in terms of width, than mid-size.
Bob
If it were me, once you give up on driving fun, you may as well go whole hog and get something like an Expedition. You'd said you saw one for $33k or so, about the same as the Monty. That just seems like a lot more for your money.
It may be overkill, but you live in a mostly rural area, tend to drive long distances on highways and country roads, and for towing all that weight will just make it more stable.
Heck, if anyone can justify owning one, you can.
-juice
Steve