Subaru Crew Cafe

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  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,398
    What I remember is a manual transmission w/o a clutch pedal. A friend was teaching me to drive in it. I have no idea how it worked. It might not have been a 600 but it was definitely something that small.

    Jim
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ed: you date a floor, does your wife mind? ;-)

    Learned on a rusted out Chevette in Brazil. Then some more in my Datsun, the clutch slipped to bad when I got it, then taught my wife and that's probably why it finally bit the dust.

    Jim: was that the 1-2 tranny on some VWs?

    -juice
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    of Gas Crisis #2 (late '70's). When I moved from Upstate NY to Dallas, I landed right in the middle of the 'odd/even' gas rationing. I parked my Mercury Montego and walked into a nearby Ford dealer. Pointed to a shiny, new Fiesta and said "I'll take that one". Question from sales person: "Would you like to test drive it?" My response: "No, as I have no idea how to drive a stick!" Ok, slight exaggeration, but you get the idea about the predicament.

    But I learned very quickly. As an engineer and a pretty decent mechanic, I knew fully well how the tranny worked. Now I just had to put theory to practice.

    Steve
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    on my uncle's 1941 Chevy farm truck, when I was 12. It had a crash box (no syncros), you had to double-clutch it to avoid grinding gears. It had a button on the floor for starting, as I recall.

    Bob
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,398
    juice - that small car was definitely a honda.

    jim
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Detroit Auto Show preview:


    http://TheCarConnection.com/index.asp?article=5579&sid=176&n=156


    LA Auto Show preview:


    http://TheCarConnection.com/index.asp?article=5578&sid=176&n=156


    Lexus RX330


    http://TheCarConnection.com/index.asp?article=5596&sid=178&n=158

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/comparison/articles/82209/article.html
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I love auto show season! :-)

    The Edgy new Cadillacs are a step in the right direction. I'd actually consider an SRX if I were shopping in that price range.

    I'm interested to see the Isuzu pickup. Isuzu's life in the US market depends on it.

    Doesn't that Mustang look like the old Chrysler TC by Maserati?

    Endeaver looks interesting. I can't believe the Quest van actually kept the wild styling.

    Hyundai might go after the Baja with the OLV.

    Subaru has to watch out, everyone and their mother is re-entering the wagon market. They say crossover, I say wagon.

    They should square off that RX330. Looks less practically shaped than the current car. Where's the head room for that 3rd row? It's also less attractive than the current car.

    Know that's funny? I saw an RX and a previous generation Impreza wagon next to each other, and looks like Lexus copied the C- and D-pillar design. Pretty funny.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Bob: "both editors chose the WRX". :-)

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    almost looks like a hatchback, with the severe rear rake to the hatch. And they plan on offering 3rd-row seating? Must be for headless people...

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It really doesn't mean much now, as both models will be different when they hit North America.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, but it seems like the Lancer just isn't as good of a base to build such a car on. I wasn't impressed with the Outlander that shares that platform, and Ed didn't like the base Lancer much.

    Highlander is supposed to get a 3rd row, too, so it'll be interesting to see. They did say the RX would be a lot longer, but then you won't be able to fit any cargo behind the 3rd seat.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I learned to drive a stick on a Datsun 1200. That was a reliable little car. It went well over 100k before the body rusted out completely (the passenger seat went thru the floor pan). My first new car was a 83 Sentra. IIRC, the Sentra had a Datsun badge on one side of the rear hatch and a Nissan badge on the other.

    -Frank P.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Interesting article, although it is getting to apples vs. oranges.

    I wonder how much market overlap there would be between the WRX and STi/EVO market. I would imagine a lot of current WRX owners would dream about an STi or EVO, but would they really buy one after driving it (or seeing the sticker price)?

    I drive down to SoCal frequently and I knew EXACTLY where they were stuck in traffic. I had to laugh at the visualization of a decked out EVO stuck at the 405/101 interchange.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Both are low volume cars, prices will ensure they are kept that way.

    -juice
  • toboggantoboggan Member Posts: 283
    I too learned to shift 3 on-the-tree - '50 Merc v-8 4 door. Then a '51 Chev. A few years later a '50ish MkVII Jaguar sedan (still have the factory repair manual). Followed by a '59 bug-eyed sprite, '61 MkI Austin-Healey (have the factory repair manual), '65 AH MkIII (found some exhaust parts this past summer), and a '68 Triumph TR250 (still have the hubcaps 'cuz I crashed that in Feb.). Somewhere in there got a Morris-Minor 4-door sedan (put a supercharger on that one). But the MM was super slippery on the rear wheels in winter. Also still have the factory repair manual for the MM.

    I've kept the stick shifts and let the wife drive the automatics. She now drives a '95 Jeep Cherokee Country with Selec-Trac and I've got the '98 OBW Limited with a 5-speed.

    Over the years I've managed to drive 10,000 gallon Av-gas/JP4 trucks for the Air Force, vans and motorcycles.

    But I miss my 140MPH '65 AH the most.

    Now if only it would only snow so my Blizzaks won't wear so fast.

    Steve
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    a buck-forty in a '65 Austin Healey? do tell...

    -Colin
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Really. I had the chance to swap my Mustang for an AH MkIII even-up while I was in college. I turned it down and wonder sometimes if I did the right thing. Back then I wouldn't have had the knowledge to maintain it; today I wouldn't have the time (and still maybe not the knowledge).

    A supercharged Minor must've been an interesting creature indeed.

    Ed
  • ffsteveffsteve Member Posts: 243
    I was browsing another site and came across some good quality photos of WRX's in autocross action.


    Just choose the album, and scroll down to the WRX photos. There are a lot of other cars as well.


    Steve


    http://www.pbase.com/ckriger/autocross

  • jimmyp1jimmyp1 Member Posts: 640
    but I learned to drive a stick by sneaking out my mom's 1981 (or 83, can't remember) Subaru GL-10 with a fake convertible top! I'll have to find some pictures and scan them.

    Jim
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Since you get the print edition of Automotive News at work, would you please check out this article? It's a "buy" article online, in order to view it. See if there's any mention of Subaru. Thanks. :)

    "WEAK PARTNERS HOBBLE GM'S GLOBAL AMBITIONS"

    It's on page 56. I think there are a few "topic-related" articles too.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Jim: you had me until you mentioned the top. ;-)

    I actually stopped getting the print copy of AN, it was circulating with the old department that imploded. I think they cancelled the subscription because I could not even get the info from the library in order to at least register on-line to view articles. Bummer.

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Bob: I'll bet the weak partners are Isuzu and Fiat.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Uh-oh...

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    & Suzuki too perhaps? But, yes, Isuzu and Fiat are both in real trouble, and must be a huge drain on GM. The situation in Italy is really bad right now. Fiat workers are basically in revolt.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.car-truck.com/chryed/buzz/b121302.htm
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Yes Bob, I'm aware of that; I was in Italy Dec. 1-9 and base my comment on what I saw. Lots of Communist party organization handbills denouncing Fiat posted on blank walls in the cities, and inflammatory headlines in the news media.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I was picturing gun racks, Bob. ;-)

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    searched fruitlessly for two months for a truck or SUV... found basketcases mostly, and those that were reliable enough were overpriced. So when a friend-of-a-friend was selling their '93 Taurus SHO I re-evaluated my winter criteria. I thought I wanted a truck/SUV, but all I really *needed* was something fairly reliable, cheap, and functional in snow & ice.

    So I got a good deal (not screaming, but good) on a '93 Taurus SHO. Yamaha powertrain, 220HP, etc. 109k miles, in pretty good shape other than the leaky sunroof. Adding it to my auto policy dropped my monthly premium by $28. (M3 went from $680/6 to $345/6. Taurus is liability only.)

    Oh, and I finally get in to the jaw specialist today so I'll update later about that. But for the past week things have been MUCH better and I've been able to eat real food-- still nothing really firm, like a steak-- and no migranes.

    -Colin
    ps for Paisan: that Rodeo I was asking you for advice on turned out to be a basketcase. shame.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Good find, Colin. I remember those Taurus SHOs -- they're pretty stealthy. Are those NA or forced induction?

    What happened to your jaw? Sorry -- I must have missed that topic while I was away in Japan.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oh man, you are just jinxed with sunroofs. We have to do something about your MoJo, buddy!

    You gonna seal it up somehow? Maybe a silicone caulk with do. Or fix it, or just leave it as-is?

    That car should be a good beater. Roomy and about as fun as FWD can be. Do you have the half cloth/half leather seats, or all leather? The former was kind of strange.

    -juice
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    IIRC, the SHO was 3.0l with manual tranny, 3.2l with automatic, DOHC 24v V6, NA. My father was actually thinking about one towards the end of that body series ('95).

    Steve
  • rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
    What happened to your M3?
    Ron
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    SAAB going down the tubes?
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    What a hoot! On my way back from teaching, I stopped by the Honda dealer to see if they had any Element brochures. Lo and behold, not only did they have brochures, but the car too!

    It is nippy and fun to drive. I got it out on the interstate and it was comfortable and quiet. It has an auto up/down driver's window.

    Negative: Temp spare and a 675 pound payload.

    When I got back there were two other people there waiting for test drives. One (a 30-something) of which, who had a 2-day old silver WRX wagon—and just put a deposit down on the Element! Honda will sell every one of these babies!

    The one I drove was a green AWD EX automatic.

    Bob
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I have had leaky sunroofs and the problem every time was just blocked drains, that seal on the roof is not waterproof even when the roof is closed.

    Cheers Pat.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just 675? People are gonna overload that baby, big time.

    It's also a 4-seater, but so is Baja.

    Pat: I've never even needed to clean the drains. If I do, I know who to ask how to do it!

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Bob: I've never heard that term used to describe a vehicle. Does it bite?

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think it was the cold weather!

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It's fun to throw around.

    Bob
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Ron-- nothing happened to the M3 other than getting dirty once and me getting the _h__ scared out of me... we got 4-6 inches of snow a few days after Thanksgiving and it stuck around for almost a week. With summer tires, it is completely helpless on snow, slush, or ice. This was the deciding factor between debating on the Taurus and jumping on it. So now the M3 is squeaky clean again and won't be leaving the garage in anything resembling bad weather. As it should be!

    Snow tires & wheels for the M3 would've been $1500. For another thousand I've got another car that keeps miles off the M3, gets groceries, hauls four adults more comfortably.

    This SHO is an automatic and it has the 220HP 3.0L. It has "leather" I believe, but compared to the M3 it seems a lot more like vinyl. It's not cloth, whatever it is.

    Pat-- I'll check the drains but unfortunately there's a good bit of wind noise from the sunroof at speed, and yes I've verified it's fully shut. ;-) I'll look into having a new seal put on it.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I could copy and paste that paragraph and substitute "M3" for "Miata".

    -juice
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    You just need to replace your M3 with a 330xi. ;-)


    -Brian

  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    No way, I'd get a WRX or at that price, an STi.

    The AWD bimmers are lame.

    -Colin
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    So, Colin -- any chance a STi would win you back over? ;-)

    Ken
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Yes, if I leave my job a big expense like that is very likely.

    After I fully-vest in my 401k November 1, 2003 I am seriously considering taking a job consulting. I have headhunters calling fairly often, but all the jobs are for consulting firms and I'd be travelling a ton.

    If I don't find a woman worth staying in town for by November, I seriously think I'm going to take this chance to hit the road for 2-3 years and become quite financially sound. Then I'll be 30-31 and take another shot at settling down. I think kids should have a parent at home until they're in school and whether that would be me or a wife, it would be a single income family for a few years so I'll be trying to build for that... but should have plenty to spare for an STi if I traded the M3. ;)

    I love my job but business is business. And I'd need a really good personal reason to not do what's best for business.

    -Colin
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Just looked at the image of it. It's not just homely, it's downright ugly. You really do have to question, why?

    Cheers

    Graham
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    << After I fully-vest in my 401k November 1, 2003 I am seriously considering taking a job consulting. I have headhunters calling fairly often, but all the jobs are for consulting firms and I'd be travelling a ton. >>

    Welcome to my world. I work for a consulting firm and travel a lot more than I care to these days. I've been here 5 years and while it was okay at first it's getting to be a drag. Actually the travel itself isn't so bad but the unpredictability of it. Scheduled trips get cancelled at the last minute then rescheduled when you're not prepared for it. Further all the emphasis on billable hours makes me feel like I'm in a law firm.

    You're about 10 years younger than I am so it makes perfect sense for you.

    Ed
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I say go for it Colin, like you say, you've got little in the way of attachments right now.
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