Subaru Crew Cafe

rsholland · April 2003

If you think of what a new SVX might cost in 2003 dollars.

I'm not worried about it being a Subie-Edsel. If anything, I think it will attract a whole new audience to the Subaru brand.

Bob

rsholland · April 2003

A RWD Subie racer! With a rear-mounted tranny!

http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=9147927b69e2bebfd48- 9e0f8d59df84c&threadid=12534

Bob

lucien2 · April 2003

...on a Saturday.....

So as you know I love my GT. But I am really jonesing for a wagon. But to trade now would be financially silly. I guess I will wait a couple more years, as the choices will be greater- New Legacy turbo wagon, new or used Forester 2.5t, new or (maybe) used WRX 2.5t wagon(??), or even used facelifted 2.0t WRX wagon.

But I really wish we had another wagon RIGHT NOW!!

) with a turbocharger.

I have all my stock parts ready to bolt back on should the need arise, and I have been careful to use proven aftermarket bits that will still have some re-sale value used.

hondafriek · April 2003

You could always trade even money for a 98 or 99 GT wagon and modify that.

Cheers Pat.

rsholland · April 2003

I stopped by Fitzmall Gathersburg today, hoping to see the new '04 Imprezas. Well, no cars, but they did have the brochures, so cars must be arriving shortly! BTW, juice, I picked up an extra brochure for you too, for when we get together to go to the NY car show.

I love to collect car brochuresfor two reasons: One, I'm a car nut. Second, because I'm a graphic designer, I very much like to look at, and study the design of the brochures. I've found them to be an excellent source of creative inspiration which I can apply to other design projects I may be working on. If brochures are well designed, I often keep them for future reference.

The '04 Impreza brochure is by far the best brochure that I have seen come from Subaru. Besides being a visual feast, it "functions" much better than any previous brochure that I seen Subaru do.

In the past, Subaru has always grouped the accessories on to a spread or two in the back, thatat best was boring to look at, and at worstjust plain ugly. This year they have woven the accessories throughout the brochure in a very artful, and natural way. Now the accessories are displayed in a manner which shows off the items to their best advantage. For example: This year there is a large photo of a red WRX wagon with the optional (non-BBS) anthracite 17" wheels. The car is parked, so the wheels aren't blured. It's a great shot, and the wheels look great on this car. The photo caption indicates that these are accessory wheels. It's very well done. There are many other examples of displaying the accessories in a similar fashion.

Interestingly, there is only one spread in the middle of the brochure dedicated to the STi. This makes me think that there will be a separate STi brochure to come when that car is released. They've also included the Outback Sport again in the Impreza brochure (good!). Last year it was deleted from the Impreza brochure, and only included in the Outback brochure.

There is also a separate insert for the colors, which contain actual color chips (not CMYK printed) which are then "tipped" on. A very nice touch, and very classy.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of the '04 Subaru model brochures! Good job Subaru!

Bob

ateixeira · April 2003

WSJ has all the technical merit of Family Circle magazine. At least in terms of cars. Don't mean much to me!

I prefer wagons too, so I know how you feel. Some times I have the Miata and the wife asks me to pick up groceries. I have to shop light or it won't fit! LOL

Hey, I finally, finally got my Autoweek, the one in which we were quoted. Funny thing is that I got the following week's issue first! Mail man must have loved the B11S too!

Upgrade brochures sound good, but let's upgrade those engines! :-)

-juice

rsholland · April 2003

paisan · April 2003

Saw the 4.4l version towing a porsche 911 Carrera 4 this weekend, the guy had been to a track day @ VIR

Had one of the expensive aluminum trailers for it, I'm assuming that's to save weight. Seemed to be handling the weight pretty well.

-mike

ateixeira · April 2003

Check out how the bed is taller than the Baja's. Subaru should do that.

That one-tonner is a little over the top, though. Subaru would have to put in leaf springs for that kind of load.

Holden's Outback gets an A+. AWD, V8? You gotta be kidding. That's what the Pacifica should be, rather than an overweight V6 van look-a-like.

That compact 4WD is hideous. Hard to believe these are all from the same company.

-juice

lilbluewgn02 · April 2003

In regards to the comments on Michael's poem, I find nothing wrong with posting it here...this is the cafe, where topics should be free-ranging and varied, not just car related (for that, we have the other crew topics). I've been on here a while (I think going on 2 years) and feel like you are part of an extended family.
Second, Michael just turned 13 on Feb 15, and Susan and I are proud of the work he does, and the fact that he IS politically aware and able to express his opinions; after all, what else are the troops fighting for but to uphold our rights to freedom of expression. Should we be raising a son who feels nothing and cares nothing for what is going on in the rest of the world? If we did, we would be shirking our responsibilities as parents.

Thanks for listening.
Serge

rsholland · April 2003

Another nail in the coffin for Saab?

http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=5004

Point well taken Serge.

Bob

ateixeira · April 2003

Ugh, I'd much rather see a crossover based on the very good 9-5 wagon. Just give it AWD, raised suspension, and maybe a 3rd row.

-juice

rsholland · April 2003

Based on the full-size Titan, the PF Armada will be introduced at the NY auto show. Like the Expedition, it will have an IRS, and it can tow 9100 pounds.

http://www.nissannews.com/?http

/www.nissannews.com/events/autoshows/nissan/2003newyork/armada.shtml

If this link doesn't work, I found it over on the Nissan Armada forum here at Edmunds.

Bob

ateixeira · April 2003

Hmm, not a very good first impression. The curves are weird. It's round in the middle but boxy in back. The rood rack is really strange, looks like two seperate roof racks.

The fender flare reminds me of the Durango, but I have to see the full side to make final judgement.

I liked the original Hard Body, since then they've just gone down hill in terms of styling. The XTerra was styled nice until they put that goofy plastic grille on the front, now it looks like the old one wearing glasses.

-juice

locke2c · April 2003

I finally returned the 2003 X5 service loaner this afternoon and got my M3 back. I put about 380 miles on the X5 in 6 days and might post some more comments later about it.

My 1995 M3 at 74,000 miles was due for an Inspection1, which is an EXTREMELY through check of um, pretty much everything. Inspection1 is about $400 purely in labor required to do it properly.

Resulting from that they figured out what's been making a scuffing noise at full steering lock pretty much ever since I had the car; the right front splashguard (fender liner) needed replacement. They also detected a slight leak from the tranny tailshaft seal, worn wiper blades, a burned out tail lamp bulb, worn brake linings, and a leaking power steering hose. Plus they diagnosed my real problem, horrible idle quality and rough running at cold start, as a faulty coolant temperature sensor. They originally though the cold start issue was VANOS, which on my car not unlike other M3s of its vintage, makes a bit of a buzz every now and then but functions *just fine*. After saying no to a $1200 VANOS replacement, they pulled their head out and noticed the coolant sensor issue the following morning.

I had them repair/replace everything except the brake pads ($400! the rotors are true and I can get a full set of Hawk HPS pads for $150) and the tranny seal ($375, going to wait until next oil change to see if it's still a slow leak or not). Total damage including an oil change... $1050.

Walking up, I see that they have detailed the car judging by my reflection in the silvery metallic flake black paint. This color is called Cosmos Black and it's not the same as a regular 3 series' black. Sitting down I note that the car starts much easier and settles right in to a cold, steady idle of 750rpm. Driving off, I immediately notice stiff clutch, and much higher pedal effort for gas and brake inputs. Sitting about 3 feet lower visibility is a tad different. I pull onto a major road and I notice that whereas the X5 wasn't horribly slow (for what it is) my car is, yes, in fact pretty fast. Noted same cornering and passing on the highway too... nothing like a quick blip downshift to 3rd at 65 and then near instantaneous --or so it surely seemed-- acceleration to 80mph and hearing my preset speed warning chime. DING!

it gives up after two or three dings if you keep speeding. :-D

-Colin

kens · April 2003

It sounds like $400 well spent given the detailed inspection they performed. Do any other car manufacturers offer such a tight inspection process?

Japanese cars until the 80s used to have the preset chimes for 100km/h. The only problem was that it didn't give up on you. DING, DING, DING as you sped down the highway.

Ken

ateixeira · April 2003

Glad to see an enthusiast who understands you gotta pay to play. That's a fine car that deserves the special (and expensive) attention it's getting.

-juice

locke2c · April 2003

I must be playing a lot then! ;-)

Ran like a champ this morning. Rock steady idle at 32 degrees F... Aw yeah.

Of course, the mirror finish is already sullied by dust. I keep swearing I've owned my last black car, and then I buy another.

-Colin

hondafriek · April 2003

a California car duster is a black cars best friend, black cars are almost as bad an addiction as smoking.

But I swore off both, I will never go back.

Cheers Pat.

subearu · April 2003

get the car duster, they do work! midnight blue mica (MPV) and winestone (Outback) are like going from smoking to second hand smoke! ;-) I could dust 'em 3 times a day!

I gotta clay 'em both this spring too.

The Forester XT or Legacy Turbo that I'd replace my Outback with would be black, no doubt, even knowing in advance that it's just OCD punishment! ;-)

-Brian

bluesubie · April 2003

What kind of oil do you (or your dealer) use in the M3?

I just switched to M1 10W30 but the engine is tappier now in the cold (never really tapped before).
Maybe I'll do an analysis in the future and compare it against Syntec (to see if Group III vs. Group IV makes a difference in my case).

Then again, my dad ran GTX 10w30 in a V6 Chevy pick-up in SC and occasionally towed cattle. He sold it after 205K miles because he just wanted something new.

-Dennis

locke2c · April 2003

My M3 snarfs up 7 quarts of BMW-branded (but Mobil made) 5w40 synthetic. The other oil approved for general use is 15w40 mineral.

Are you saying that you've noticed an increase in valvetrain noise immediately following an oil change, or are you saying that it seems louder now with synthetic than ...say last year?

I didn't notice any noise difference in my scoob with either Syntec or Mobil1 10w30, but I did notice more noise at cold start with Mobil1 5w30...

-Colin

bluesubie · April 2003

Start-up is much quicker in the cold, but noisier until it is warm. I just switched a few hundred miles ago, and rarely got valve tap with the dealer mineral oil. It's very slight, but I notice it. Maybe I'm just listening more closely. :-)

-Dennis

hypov · April 2003

I switched over to M1 5W30 and it's nosier when cold, compared to whatever that was in there before my first oil change.

-Dave

rsholland · April 2003

I went to the SOJ site, and for fun, translated a page on the Subie Sambar truck from Japanese to English. Some of the "translations" are hilarious!

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr?tt=url&url=http%3- - A%2F%2Fwww.subaru.co.jp%2Fsambar%2Ftruck%2Ftruck_05_1.html&lp- - =ja_en

Bob

ateixeira · April 2003

Plenty of funny phrases. You think SoA might publish this one if they sold it here?

Multi use spaces under suicide seat

-juice

rsholland · April 2003

"Power Bone Structure!"

Bob

hypov · April 2003

what's a suicide seat?

<<Mist attaching 2nd gear wiper
The large size type where the wiping off aspect is wide. (TC supercharger, as for TC intermittent attaching) >>

is interesting too. ;-)

-Dave

outback_97 · April 2003

Check out this website:

http://www.zztrailer.com/index.html

utahsteve

rsholland · April 2003

a new Acura TSX 6-speed!

Very nice, and very satisfying to drive; a real pleasure. Not as fast as the WRX, for sure, but still plenty quick. This is the second 6-speed I've driven (the other an S2000), and I've found with 6-speeds, you're always shifting, even out on the highway. This can be a plus or a minus, depending on how tired you are.

IIRC, the car stickered just under $27K, and is loaded. The only major option is a navigation system. As with all Hondas/Acuras, the interior is a very nice place to be. Everything is there, and in the right place. A few details:

 When you turn on the cruise control, a small green "Cruise Main" lights up in the center of the instrument cluster. When you actually engage the cruise control, an additional "Cruise Control" lights up just above the other light. I like that a lot.

 The center front armrest has a slide forward feature, again very nice; and it has double-tier storage, with a cell phone plug inside.

 It has automatic dual-zone climate control.

 I wish it had a gear indicator, like the STi, on the dash. With so many gears to play with, it would be nice to have that "reminder" feature.

 It comes with 215/50x17" tires standard. This is what the WRX should come withstandard.

 It drove and handled beautifully. It's very nimble.

 It seemed to be sized close to the Legacy GT, perhaps(?) a tad smaller. It's certainly larger and roomier than the WRX.

 I like the styling a lot, as I do with the RSX.

If I weren't such an advocate of AWD, this car would definitely be on my short list, next go round. I would love to see the up-coming all-new Legacy GT come off as nicely as this car is. I can see a lot of people, who are not convinced in the benefits of AWD, cross-shopping these two vehicles.

Bob

paisan · April 2003

What size are the rims bob? I know I was disappointed at the very narrow rims on the TLS, can't imagine those being any wider.

-mike

rsholland · April 2003

Probably 6.5"7" I would guess.

Bob

kens · April 2003

Bob,

Nice write-up. How was the power delivery on the TSX?

It's kind of funny how the need to shift a 6-speed more often would make one wary of shifting -- almost oxymoronic!

Ken

lucien2 · April 2003

.....wagon.

lucien2 · April 2003

Well.....hmmmm.....what can I say? It was a great drive; thanks to an associate who bought it last fall:

boost comes on pretty quick, quicker than the turbo on a WRX spools up. Interesting swoosh sound to the blower, too. Not super duper fast, probably a second faster than my modded GT 0-60...call it 7 seconds or so? It likes to rev though, very tractable. This powerplant pulls hard as soon as that blower gets going, and the suspension is completely ready for the power. taut, flat, and sophisticated, with little crashing and lots of grip. Hard to believe this is a front driver- it corners willingly, with nicely weighted steering and good communication. Drift is neutral, and the tail (such as it is) can be woken up with a little throttle lift or trail-braking (as with my AWD car). Obviously a breeze to parallel park. But too small for my needs (luckily!) The perfect urban terrorizer if you don't need to haul a lot of stuff.

himiler · April 2003

In my opinion, the TSX would also benefit from more torque, AWD or RWD, and a diet.

There isn't much in the way of steering feel, either.

rsholland · April 2003

It's got a chain-driven 2.4 DOHC engine. it's a tweaked version of what the Accord and CRV uses, and puts out 200 HP. Like all Hondas, torque is lacking somewhat, at least compared to a turbo WRX.

In terms of 6-speed shifting: 6th gear is an overdrive gear, really for highway driving. So if you're used to driving a 5-speed, and normally upshift into 5th at say, 4045 mph, with the 6-speed you might upshift into 6th around 5560 mph. So, unlike the 5-speed, at highway speeds there's still another gear to go. After a while, I discovered my right hand rarely left the gear shift, because it seemed like I was always shifting. With most 5-speeds that I've driven, highway driving is mostly for relaxing. With a 6-speed, because of the gearing, if you want to pass anything, it almost requires a downshift; not necessarily so with a 5-speedand you can forget about using a cell phone, unless it's hands-free.

It has a 105" wheelbase, which is a tiny bit longer than the Legacy GT. It's certainly a lot quicker and more fun than the Legacy, but it's not as quick as a WRX. Even though it's not as quick as the WRX, it's almost as much fun, and a whole lot more luxurious.

Bob

rsholland · April 2003

at Herb Gordon Subaru, in Silver Spring MD. So, they're starting to arrive in the DC area.

Bob

paisan · April 2003

Dodge was having a dealer event this week (probably before the auto-show) and had all their fleet in the lot next to us at giants stadium, so they came over and auto-xed with us for a bit. Some pics:

More pics at the "April 13th Autox" on http://TeamIAC.com

-mike

rsholland · April 2003

http://www.autonews.com/article.cms?articleId=43249

subearu · April 2003

The Crossfire looks like it's really zipping in the photo. Did they share their times?

-Brian

paisan · April 2003

If they got actual times, they went out during the fun runs. The crossfire actually looked pretty slow on the course, the neon seemed faster.

-mike

hypov · April 2003

It did about 49.xxx secs despite missing a turn (didn't go off course).
I didn't hear the time for the CrossFire, which too missed the turn the SRT-4 missed.

The CrossFire looked like my driving.... SLOW ;-)

-Dave

rsholland · April 2003

is not meant to be an autoXer. It's a GT, pure and simple.

Bob

lucien2 · April 2003

=8^D

lol

*wipes eyes* heh heh here we go, even on the "grown up" boards! Yea, I think it is safe to say it was probably faster. Like bob says, Crossfire is a GT.

A slow GT, from everything I've read.

hypov · April 2003

The SRT-4 looked to need mods...
Rolls [no not that roll ;-)] like the Legacy L.

-Dave

paisan · April 2003

I was suprised that it had so much body roll for a "sporty" car. On a side note I ran the L with Rs and the AT on the same course at ~46 seconds

-mike

himiler · April 2003

The SRT is crying out for a LSD.

paisan · April 2003

it nees shocks and springs more urgently IMHO.

-mike

ateixeira · April 2003

Those matching trailers for the Beemers are cool. Prolly overpriced, though. Like the one for the Prowler.

How was the ride on the TSX? I wonder if the 17s will stand up to our pot-holed streets, honestly. A co-worker with a Z3/Sport package has bent THREE rims already. Two he got fixed but one he had to replace, and it took weeks to get it.

Loosh: they DO have a wagon, in Europe. But they won't bring it here because it would cut into MDX sales.

Crossfire is basically an SLK320 coupe, mechanically. I prefer the TT's styling. The Crossfire it too "busy", but not bad.

-juice

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