Subaru Crew

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Comments

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I hadn't thought of airplane or historic vehicles; but now you got me thinking.

    Historic Garage Wing:

    A black 1941 Buick Special 2-door fastback sedanette. This was the first car I remember my father owning. I've sort of bonded with it (much like a small chick bonds with the first thing it sees). a 1950 Buick Roadmaster Riviera (how could you not love that buck-tooth grille!). A black 1965 Honda CB-77 Super Hawk, with flat handlebars (my first [but not last] motorcycle). A 1972 Honda CB 1000 6-cylinder motorcycle. Not an especially great bike, but, oh what an engine! And, to satisfy my English heritage, a 1955 MG-TF, an early XKE coupe, and a TR-3. Finally, anything from Jay Leno's garage.

    As for airplanes: I think I'd be happy with just some sort of ultra-lite to play with.

    Bob
  • soobersoober Member Posts: 11
    FrankMc -- Just to clarify: I said no *problems*, not "no maintenance". I actually did a lot of routine maintenance -- brakes, wires, belts, etc. etc. Even had to change the distributor itself (not just the cap) one time. But with this maintenance, had NO problems.
    Good karma on the Impreza!

    Also -- what do people think about using synthetic oil? I'm a traditionalist, and believe in standard oil, which worked so well for me in the 626, but my husband thinks I should use synthetic in my OB. Any thoughts?
  • nvynvy Member Posts: 74
    Perhaps one Aircraft Hanger and a parking lot
    would suit you better.

    Parking lots can be cool too!

    Just add lighting and landscape design that sings.
    Be created w/ the stripes. And it's a good idea
    to construct a high curb and one heck of a fence.
    Remote control gates are a must.

    Break out the Coolers, And its party time.

    Later Ya'll
  • amishraamishra Member Posts: 367
    I put 280,000 miles on a 1989 Chevy Corsica LT hatchback. When I had bought it, it had 76,000 miles on it, and in about 6 years the rest came on.

    The Corsica did not stand up very well though. Passenger door handle broke, air broke long ago, automatic transmission has problems shifting gears, all the plastic map holders on the side of the doors fell off, the drivers seat is jammed (can't move it), the hatchback hydraulics are toast, the climate control system broke (the fan still works, but it only puts heat out even in the summer, because I hooked the intake pipe directly into the rad, so I wouldn't freeze in the winter!)

    The only thing that really did last was the paint job.

    Chevrolet. Tried, tested, and true. Hmm...

    -- ash
  • ramonramon Member Posts: 825
    you can purchase a short shift kit at kartboy.com, alot of impreza owners bought it from him and had great results. try it. it's only 50 bux
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    JP: if you work outside, do you drive your Sooby? Are they paying you for the mileage? Hope so...

    I drive about 15k miles per year, with many road trips, and about 15 miles each way to work. My last car hit 107k miles and someone in a Jeep rammed into my side, and they totalled it because of the high miles. That was a '91 Ford Escort GT, with a Mazda engine. Powertrain was fine, but the interior was riddles with quality problems.

    I change my oil every 7.5k miles. I'm not in bumper to bumper often, and my drives aren't usually short. I monitor the oil, however, to make sure the level doesn't dip, and I change it myself.

    Slick 50? They were slapped on the wrist and had to remove the claims they made that they couldn't substantiate.

    Synthetic oil? Hmm, if you race, maybe, but in normal driving you're just paying 4 times the cost for something you don't need.

    If anyone's interested, let's discuss these in more detail in the maintenance topic.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Now, for the dream scenario. What would I do?

    I buy some land. I'm talking LAND. I'd have my own private race track, air port, and a lake. A small cottage house for the wife, I guess. Maybe a seperate hotel for guests.

    I'd have a fleet of grey market STi's (sorry, can't wait). Maybe a dozen or so. You'd all be invited to racing school with Colin McRae himself teaching us. Of course I'd have my own pit crew and mechanics on-site.

    But that much money makes it easy. What if it was just 1 million?

    I'd do a full lift of my Forester. 4" lift, big tires, dual range tranny from Australia. Add a supercharger, hood scoop feeding the intercooler, cross drilled and vented disc brakes from the STi all around.

    Then I'd wait for the WRX model, and get one when it came out.

    As a hobby, I'd restore a Jaguar E-Type convertible.

    A VDC Outback for the wife and we'd be all set. A practial wagon, a sports car, and an off road toy, plus the hobby car.

    Makes me feel warm all over.

    -juice
  • fvkllrfvkllr Member Posts: 26
    Does anyone know if door guards are available for
    the 2000 Outbacks?
  • ramonramon Member Posts: 825
    we can get whatever we want with those money, then we would've lost the "joy" of longing....
  • nvynvy Member Posts: 74
    THAT SWINGS MAN!

    If you ever hit it big and need a Designer,
    consider nvy.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Well I'm new to this forum. My family is die hard subie fans (we have about 10 all told). Anyhow been on impreza-rs.com for a while. Just saying Hi.

    -mike
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Hi Mike,

    We let some i Cluber's post here, like Ramon and Colin, so I guess we can let you in too ;) They're usually over in the Future Models and Modifications topics, so you might not see them too much here.

    Mike has an 88 XT6 and is well-versed in AOL Instant Messaging ;) I met him (and sister and friend Brian) at the Valley Forge, PA meet on 9 April. For those that don't know the XT6 has an H-6.

    Welcome aboard (or is that back?).

    ..Mike Smith . Silver Spring MD USA

    ..Mike

  • ramonramon Member Posts: 825
    Eh? Mike Smith, how did you know I post at the i club? :-)
    Wondering when will juice come join us at the i club...
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Being the "francophile" that you are, I'm surprised that there isn't at least one Citroen amongst your dream list.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I don't know about a chopper you put together yourself. When you're done, and there are those two or three bolts left over as always, do you still fly it? ;)

    The XT6 was a car before it's time. Did you know it was the first volume model to produce a coefficient of drag of 0.29? It was aerodynamic before that was popular.

    Paisan: you got a photo for my web site? In particular, I'd be curious to see a shot of the engine.

    I registered for i Club membership but the password never came. It's hard to keep up there, too, so I just drop in silently once in a while.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The XT6 was a car that was basically a concept car that they decided to produce...

    Fully Active Air Suspension
    Cybrid Power Steering (electric pump, rather than drawing HP off the engine)
    H6 2.7l, 145hp
    Tilt and telescopic Steering wheel
    Tilting dash "pods" and guages that move with the tilt of the wheel so you are always at optimal viewing position.
    Single 1990s mercedes wiper style. (2 years prior)

    I'll get some shots of it this coming weekend when I take it to Carlisle. What is your website?

    -mike
  • ramonramon Member Posts: 825
    Citroen = Lemon in french.... hehehe.... actually I love the Xsara.
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    hehe, very good Ramon. Too bad they had such a poor showing in the States earlier.. we have elephant memories. [sigh] maybe in another 10 years when the X-ers are middle aged and have no grudges against the ghost of Citroen past. ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    paisan - Ford also copied the tilting dash idea with the original Probe.

    Here's a directory of the Subaru-related pages on my site:

    http://www.thejuiceman.homepage.com/directory.html

    Check 'em out, many of the regulars here are pictured.

    Citroen are seen as premium imports in Brazil. Claudia Schiffer crashed one to prove their air bags were effective. They sell the Xsara and Xantia there.

    -juice
  • francophilefrancophile Member Posts: 667
    Okay, a DS19 wagon. "Mushroom" brake pedal, height-adjustable suspension. Probably the single oddest looking car of all time, followed closely by the Saab 95 (ninety-five, not nine-fice), the wagon version of the Saab 96. I had one of them. Cured me of things Swedish forever.

    Juice, a question re the Schiffer crash; was she naked?

    Thought so.

    WDB
  • ramonramon Member Posts: 825
    I think teh Xsara participates on some tarmac Rallys in WRC. they are lighter so they post great challenge on tarmac rallys against the heavier AWD WRC Imprezas, EVOs , Focus etc....
  • abhidharmaabhidharma Member Posts: 93
    LOL Francophile! So, you're cured of all things Swedish, are you??

    juice -- you serious about the crash test? The mind boggles at the thought of a celebrity, (who's dependant on her looks, no less), willing to do such a thing.

    Oh, and BTW, juice, I'm impressed that you could say "Claudia Schiffer" and "air bags" in the same sentence and try and get away with it.

    ;)

    Randy
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Anyone know what the pricing will be for the new H6 Outbacks? I'm tempted to wait and get one of those things, but don't really want the loose suspension, just the engine...

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Mentioning Saab remind me of the 9-3. The way its written makes it look like "9 cubed". Why not just call it the "729"?

    Yes, Claudia wrecked a Citroen, in a controlled lab, though. They used it in their marketing.

    paisan (hope you don't mind me calling you that, it's just we have another Mike around...): the VDC and LL Bean models should arrive this fall. The H-6 should be in other Legacys for the 2002 model year.

    -juice
  • yellowbikedonyellowbikedon Member Posts: 228
    Mike,

    From what I've gleaned, the L.L. Bean model will go for approximately $30,000 with auto trans only (no manual trans yet) and the VDC model is expected at $32,000 with auto trans only and the McIntosh Audio system.

    No info yet on models other than these two regarding price. Unfortunately, the 2001 GT will NOT be available with the H6 engine, so I'm told!

    Don
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Let's chant: G-T-6! G-T-6!

    C'mon Subaru.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Juice,
    Yep Paisan is no problemo... Yep that is what I'm hearing as well on the VDC and LL Bean, as well as the other legacies. I have to see what my dealer says tonight when i pay a visit, about the VDC and how much it'll cost me. The other thing is the no manual tranny :(

    Hmm, you say around $32K for the VDC... That's a bit pricey just for the H6. It's about 5K more than the MSRP on the GT Limited.

    Looks like I'll have to do the GTL and then when the warranty is up, I'll just put in the TT and IC. Super sleeper :)
    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Anyone know if the H6 gives the Outback any more towing capacity on the official stats? Also why can't they just let me have an H6 in a crate without all the bells and whistles of the outback? ARRRRRGGGG, this is why subaru has such a bad rep!!!

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    towing as with H-4, so I've been told. Bummer!

    Bob
  • centavocentavo Member Posts: 24
    Today has been a glorious day. Is election day in the Dominican Republic and I had to go to the city where I lived before, 75 miles from Santo Domingo, to vote. This is the Forester first trip. The manual says that no more than 4,000 rpm this first 1,000 miles. What are your experiences in the broken-in period? I only have 300 mi. in the odometer now. I'm impressed of the grip on hard rain.
  • texsubarutexsubaru Member Posts: 242
    Wow, centavo, just made me feel better about owning a Forester in Central Texas, where I will seldom have tales to tell of mushing it through the snowdrifts like the majority of Subaru Crew folks seem to. Now I know that I am *far* from the most southern (in the Northern Hemisphere; I'm not forgetting our Subie friends Down Under) Forester owner posting here!
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Indeed WOW, centavo. In addition to keeping it under 4000 rpm, you don't want to keep the same rpm. Periodically (every 5-10 mins?), downshift to a lower gear and cruise in that gear. In another 5-10 mins, upshift to the normal gear. Repeat the process. However it's hard to maintain highway speed, downshift, and remain below 4000 rpm. Anyway,

    Welcome aboard! Now we've got Australia (grahampeters), Japan (stevesuzuki), Dominican Republic (centavo), North America, and Chris (torek) in California ;) Ok so until the next big one I guess Chris is still attached to the continent. So the rumors of the Internet being international are true!

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • torektorek Member Posts: 92
    Although Calif. is technically part of the continental US, they make you swear an oath of loyalty to the state before they let you move in. It's all part of the plan to sail off into the Pacific and become an independent island country. :-)

    (On a more serious note, CA is not going down, it's going up -- the central valley, now at an elevation of ~300 ft above sea level, used to be a shallow inland sea. The lower side edge of CA is sliding northward though. See here for a nice map of fault lines and current quakes. The Pacific plate pushes northwestward, twisting the land inside around and raising various mountains. The Sierra are also tilting upward on their east side and there are nearly-live volcanos bubbling about near Mono Lake and in the Long Valley. There are some bits that are going down, but they sit between other bits that are going up, all as part of the complex tilt-a-whirl action we have going on out here. If we could just watch it in "real time" over the course of a few million years, it would be quite a show. :-) )

    Chris
  • 2ndwnd2ndwnd Member Posts: 145
    I was driving down a local road yesterday with Daughter #1, and there's one short section of this road which goes through a small valley. It's steep down, then almost immediately steeply back up, with several sharp curves on both sides. This was the first time we'd been down this road since we got the Subaru, and I was going a little faster than I normally do, to see how the car felt. Now this kid has never commented on my driving, or the vehicles we have owned, or how they performed, ever. But after we got up to the other side of the valley she looked over at me and said, "Wow Dad, this thing really handles good!" I could only nod and say, "Yep, it does."

    Dave
  • nvynvy Member Posts: 74
    2ndwnd:
    Yes Sir, the kids do notice and learn do they not?
    Learn-em right now, you hear!

    francophile:
    For you I'll say "One Heliport and a Big-@$$ Garage is a project worth taking on.

    Torek: You're the teach!


    Later Ya'll
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Chris - with those fault lines moving, I'd sure rather have AWD and that rear LSD just in case you get stuck in the middle and one wheel loses traction :o)

    What I love about the Forester is whenever I have an SUV tailgating me, it's very, very easy to lose them around curves, especially on-ramps. Just LOVE to see them fade in my rearview mirror. And that's with my 70 series tires, imagine with better rubber!

    paisan: The VDC is about high-tech and luxury. It offers more than just the engine. Hang in there, though, 'cause Autoweek said that H6 may be the ONLY engine in the Legacy for 2002.

    For the break-in period, follow Mike's advice. I'd even add that you should not floor the throttle, and avoid slamming the brakes hard before they warm up.

    -juice
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    haha, juice I need to follow your lead in adding Sube content to my "humor" (at least to me) posts. ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Well, I have a '97 rodeo with 115K miles on it. Drove it hard from the day I got it. (Cruise control, Hard Starts, Heavy Braking) I've done 1 set of tires on it, 2 sets of brake pads, and oil changes. It starts and runs like the day I got it. So I'm not sure what the big hub bub about the breakin period is.

    I also found out my dealer can get ANY subaru with factory leather for about $1000 additional. So it looks like i'll be getting a GT WAGON w/ Leather.

    VDC is going to kill subaru. Anyone who is going to pluck down $32K on a subaru will go for an audi. Just like the SVX was priced out of subaru's market.

    -mike
  • centavocentavo Member Posts: 24
    Paisan, as long as Subaru keeps the reliability up, they are going to have a cult of followers. Audi has some problems (check the Car and Driver long term A4, a new transmision early). I'm not telling you Audi is a bad car, but a lot of the Subaru buyers buys Subaru again.
    About the break in, my fear is about future mpg, as the vehicle makers always say that early in the live of a car determines the future of it.
  • yellowbikedonyellowbikedon Member Posts: 228
    Today's (5/17) N.Y. Times Car Section has an ad for the new BMW 323i Sport Wagon with Sport Package and Metalic Paint for $31,945. The 6 cylinder wagon is available with sport suspension and Dynamic Stability Control but I can't tell if the price quoted includes either/both of these items. A 3 year, 36,000 Full Maintenance feature is included at the price!

    The list price for the basic 323i sport wagon is "from $29,770."

    Competition is good for everyone. I trust Subaru has a "good view" of the players and their resources in the entry level luxury field! If so, the H6 Outbacks should be priced fairly (I hope).

    Don
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    3 sets of brake pads sounds like a lot to me.

    I'm sure that modern tolerances are very tight, so it's less important than it was years ago.

    It seems counter-intuitive, but Subaru's move up-market has increased sales. The 2000 Legacy is selling like hot cakes, despite significantly higher sales prices (and the 2.2l engine being dropped).

    The A6 costs at least another $5 grand, and the base model is underpowered. Subaru's H6 actually offers more power and more torque.

    The 3-series is much, much smaller. Even the Forester is capacious in comparison. Plus, it's a 2.5l engine with RWD. Compare the new 330ix coming soon, and you're more on target. That'll cost $38 grand for a sedan, though.

    -juice
  • dnickeldnickel Member Posts: 17
    Has anyone had any experience fixing scratches in the silver/grey plastic bottom body panels. I have two scrapes from sum ?!# in a parking lot. There appears to be a textured paint applied to grey plastic - the paint has been scraped off. Autobody places say the texture cannot be replaced so they would have to replace the pannels (about $300 CAD for the door panel and small 1/4 panel piece).
    Also does anyone have any links or advice on fixing very light paint scratches?
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    2ndwnd -- Once you get used to the body lean of the Forester (it's a tall vehicle, afterall) you realize that it has amazing roadholding characteristics for an SUV. In fact, it handles better than many passenger cars out there. One of my friends owns a 6-cyl Jeep Cherokee Sport. He can dust me on the straightaways, but once we're on twisty mountain roads, I take over.

    dnickel -- If the scratches are minor, you can use touch up paint to repair them. Your local dealer should have them in the parts department. I treat the lower cladding like any paint job. You should be able to fill any scratches fairly easily with touch up paint.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Audis are more expensive to repair, but if you think the subarus are in the same class as the audis you are very very wrong. The subaru as I see it is basically the poor man's audi, no offense, but I'd get an S4 before a GTL w/ H6 if I could afford it.

    -mike
  • amishraamishra Member Posts: 367
    If a Subaru starts costing $30,000, I'm betting a lot of people who considered them in the first will look at other choices.

    The reason I bought my base model OB is because I could afford to. Now if I had 30,000 USD, I probably would buy IMHO the better looking Audi, BMW, or perhaps the Passat 4-motion wagons. I'd probably even consider a decent SUV or Lexus.

    Subaru has to be really careful not to price their vehicles out of the market that's their bread and butter.

    My honest opinion is that the 6 cylinder VDC and LL Bean models are not going to be that hot of sellers as the Legacies and base OB and OB-Limited's, mainly because they have a lot more competition at those higher price ranges.

    -- ash
  • 2ndwnd2ndwnd Member Posts: 145
    >>Even the Forester is capacious in comparison.<<

    I nominate this for the sentence of the week. Had to break out the dictionary, although using context, I had a good idea what you meant. I like learning new words, it only takes a minuscule effort after all, and the benefits can be prodigious.

    Dave
  • 2ndwnd2ndwnd Member Posts: 145
    After we had the Legacy for a week or so, I realized that my wife hadn't driven it yet. So we used a trip to the outlet mall as an excuse to get her behind the wheel. Afterwards she said, "Yeah, it's pretty nice."
    I told her she was welcome to use it whenever she felt it would serve her purposes better than her Protege. She said, "Oh, I'm happy with my car, I won't be driving yours much." Also, at about the same time, I offered to install a CD player in her car, the Sube is the first vehicle we've ever had one in. She said, "No, I don't need a CD player."
    Cut to several weeks later, when, due to routine maintenance I needed to do on her car, she had to drive the Subaru to work and then to the supermarket, about 70 miles altogether. When she pulled in the garage afterward, she got out and said, "Are you sure you don't need to keep my car another day or two? I don't mind driving yours... and I really like the way that CD player sounds!"

    Dave
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Haha Dave, you're describing my life except the roles are reversed (wife's car and I was impressed). If you like words see Anu Garg's WordSmith.Org and subscribe to A Word A Day and you'll get just that. Nice way to start your day. Highly recommended for linguaphiles.

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • polki921polki921 Member Posts: 1
    I was wondering if anyone out there can advise me whether the Subaru Bug Deflector is worth considering. Is it effective, or does it "launch" the bugs/stones higher on the windshield? Also, does it create noise, vibration, or paint damage to the hood where it is installed? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Lars
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    dnickel - I take it you have the Forester S? The Forester L's plastic cladding is unpainted, so scratches don't show up (nice!). I have a few battle scars to prove it.

    paisan - I really like the S4, too, but that's over $38 grand for a subcompact. Plus, no Avant version here. Though IMHO an Audi shopper looking for better prices would buy a 4Motion Passat.

    That said, the base Outback should continue as the leader in terms of volume, with or without the H6.

    Dave: that's the first time I've read the word "prodigious" without the word "torque" after it in the context of Subarus.

    -juice
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