Subaru Crew - Events

bluesubie

See of Tom S. is available.

Your sign should say "Edmunds members follow me for WRX test drive".

Dennis

ateixeira

So you're in the same boat as me, except I'm not even sure what would convince Lana to want to go. She's so...point A to point B, you know?

-juice

subaru_team

Can you please give me an idea if you are attending? Please send me an e-mail direct to pmickel@Subaru.com. I'd appreciate hearing from you by Friday morning. Also, can you give me some idea on the time you will be arriving? We'd like to try to set up something with one of our Product Specialist to give you a "special" view. A time will help us try to arrange this. Afternoon is best - 1:00 or so?

I look forward to hearing from you (and meeting you)!

Patti

kens

Dang! Why can't you guys move over here to the West Coast!

I keep missing out on the fun!

Patti -- Isn't one of the largest volume dealers in the US located in Redwood City, CA? How about a West Coast event?

A very envious Ken.

ateixeira

Dang, now I REALLY want to go...

-juice

subearu

And what about us in the midwest? Overlooked again.

-Brian (envious also)

subaru_team

You can always send in request for "special events" at car shows to the WWW.Subaru.com site. Tell them you want what we are doing in Philly and I'd help them. If we get enough interest, maybe I can also add some encouragement and get it to happen!

subearu

I'd be a fool to say I didn't want what you guys are doing in Philly! Yes, please! Sign me up.
I guess it really depends on who else is interested? Anyone else interested in meeting at the Chicago show next weekend (Feb.10)? I'll be heading to the there with a group of ol' college buddies. (I'm the smart one with the Subaru.) I know the WRX will be there. Will any reps from SOA be there or just the locals? If I mention "Subaru Crew on Edmunds", will they know what I'm talking about?

-Brian (intrigued)

miksmi

Change in plans; mother-in-law comes into town on Sunday..
..so I'll meet you everyone at 12pm at ScoobyBooth Philly.

..Mike

subaru_team

I don't know, but I'll check it out. After we guage response to this, I'll report that we're onto something. I seriously think our Edmunds friends are entitled to something special. I'll see what I can find out or encourage.

Patti

miksmi

Oh, I was joking about my in-law. She's a quite a lady. Actually, she's the best! I hope I will be as good a grandparent as she has been to our boys.

'cept, I won't feed them Cocoa Puffs. In twenty years or so, remind me I said that.

..Mike

lucien2

I'm in, and Kirsten, too. Man. do I owe her big time.... emailing Patti now.

bluesubie

juice, you need to change your plans. Tell you're wife that you're in high demand and "community leaders" must attend.

Dennis

paisan

Tell her Paisan from NY is gonna send some associates to collect you if she doesn't let you go!

-mike

rsholland

that so many are going to Philly! Class trips are always fun.

Bob

soon2bsubee

We folks in Florida also need some special events; THERE MUST BE AT LEAST 5 SUBIES DOWN HERE....Miami show coming up in October (not too far away to start planning your visits down here, bring along the 22b, WRX and other assorted goodies...
AND WE WILL LET YOU VOTE AS OFTEN AS YOU WANT...REMEMBER, VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN, AND IF YOU ARE DECEASED, VOTE AGAIN !!!

yellowbikedon

Sounds as if you've adapted our Cook County, Illinois slogan! Watch it, there's power in this part of our state.

Make that 2 more Subarus in Florida beginning in May. My wife ('97 Impreza) and I ('01 LL Bean) will be relocating to Boynton Beach at that time. Together, we should be a force with the other 5 owners!

Don

miksmi

Juice is at home today sans a fast Internet connection. Let me know if you want to try to persuade him over the phone and I'll give you his home phone number -- and Lana would be delighted to hear from each and every one of his online buds.

..Mike

PS - Dennis/Mike: Actually, spoke to AJ last night; we're Subapooling on Sunday.

PPS - All I've got to say to you Philly guys is.. I'm a gourmand, so think about places to sate my appetite.

Double BOOYA!

miksmi

I'll be in Miami with my wife for a boondoggle, erm, convention, 17-21 Feb. Email me if you want to meet up. I'll be driving a lovely rental, probably not Sube. Last year I think I saw 2 of the 5 Subes that Serge mentioned.

..Mike

paisan

Yeah afterward we can hit some place to eat. I usually go to chilis in University City, but we could do Dave and Busters...

-mike

miksmi

Mike, Mike, Mike -- think local flavor, not cookie cutter cafeterias (huh-huh he spake an alliteration). Those places are good but sheesh I've got the exact same thing here. Support the little guy, not the chain. Sorta like Sube/Isuzu vs. the Goliaths. mmm donuts ungh

..Mike

rsholland

When we were in St. Pete Beach for the X-Mas holidays, I saw 1 of those 5 Florida Subes.

Bob

rsholland

There's a Chat Session tonight.

Bob

miksmi

I'll be there.

bat1161

I know it's a little early yet, but for those who can't make the Philly show, how about NY in April?

Mark

rsholland

I'll be there too.

Historically, the NY show is when Subaru introduces their next year's models. So, I expect to see at least one 2002 Legacy and/or Outback, maybe even a 2002 Forester. I would think that the rest of the new Imprezas would have been launched by then.

Bob

paisan

I usually get some tix from my subie dealer for the show.

-mike

francophile

Hoo yah! I'm not really up on eats downtown, but I'll see what I can find out. Hey, maybe Patti has an idea or two! My guess is that she works in Cherry Hill, not far at all from downtown.

Cheers,
-wdb

maikii

Hey, add two more subies to the Florida list. My Black Forester S+ arrives in two weeks! I also helped my boss get her Forester S+ last month. My brother is also seriosly considering the WRX and I've seen at least 2 more Foresters running around here on the University of Miami campus. BTW, I want to get my new baby tinted. Any recommendations for good window tinters in South Florida?

ateixeira

That's it, I just have to go. Why:

* loyal duties as community leader
* pressure from paisan's, uh, "goons"
* really have to meet Patti in person
* almost the whole Crew is going

Oh, who am I kidding. I want to see the TURBO BAY-BEE!

Let's do this. Awesome. We got Hutch and Loosh, too.

Hmm, looks like the Soob population in Florida will MORE than double! ;-)

Ken - fly on over! You can crash with me in DC!

-juice

paisan

I know it's cold but we could go to Pat's or Gino's!

-mike

miksmi

Now you're talkin' Mike (I assume those have local flare).

..Mike

subaru_team

for local fare. Just remember, to seem like a local you have to say "Steak Wit" which interpreted mean's with Cheese Wiz or "Steak Witout" for a plain baby. Even being local (I grew up just outside of Philly), I have yet to go to these places, but.....

Weather is supposed to be a bit cloudy and cold though and they do not offer inside seating. If that's what you want, I'll try to have some suggestions for you on Sunday.

Patti

miksmi

You're so sweet. Can't wait to meet such a fine person. The amount of personal time and energy you put forth to keep the owners and enthusiasts happy.. you're just outstanding! I know you post mostly from home on your own time and for that we salute you.

..Mike

ateixeira

I'll have a Gino's "Steak Wit".

Folks - e-mail me (ateixeira@ifc.org) with your cell phone numbers. Looks like Loosh, Hutch, Bob, Mike, myself, paisan, WDB, and a few others too.

I have Patti's and Mike's already.

-juice

miksmi

If you've got a FRS radio (walkie-talkie), bring it; I'll be on channel 11, code 0. Low end FRS sans "Interference Eliminator Codes" (squelch) are $25-40 each. I have a Motorola TalkAbout fr50. The fr50 user interface (transmit & other buttons) is better than the 2xx series but the frxx models lack a low battery indicator and squelch codes. Here's a comparison table.

FRS are faster than dialing a phone and work well, assuming there's no interference and the channel isn't crowded with too many others. Advertised, unrealistic range is 2 miles. With sun spot activity, buildings, topography of varying elevation, and other real world interference, it's less.

As it's hard to recognize voices over low bandwidth radio frequencies, the radio etiquette for hailing is:
--
1. Wait for a pause so you don't talk over someone else.
2. Ken this is Mike. Over.

Repeat periodically (5 mins) until:

Mike, this is Ken. Go ahead. Over.
--

Also, FRS stands for Family Radio Service. Use language that wouldn't embarrass your daughter.

Over and out.

..Mike

ateixeira

Remind me to bring mine. Still have your old batteries in there! :-)

-juice

bluesubie

Would they also work inside a building where a cell phone doesn't? I should get one.

Never say "over and out". That's only on T.V. and in movies. Just say "out". ;-)

Nice write-up.:-)

Dennis

rangerron7

Neat idea about the FRS radios. I've got an old TalkAbout 2 (14 channels/38 codes). Do they work with the new Motorola FRS series? I'm thinking of maybe picking up a couple more to use with my old ones.
Ron

miksmi

Thanks, Dennis. Arg, busted with broadcast media lingo Thanks for the note; it's no fun being a buffoon.

FRS can communicate inside buildings where a cell phone's signal reception is poor. However, buildings are electrically noisy (sodium and fluorescent lights, unshielded AC power snaking everywhere, elevator motors -- oh the RFI!) so YMMV. If you have an unobstructed parabola between two points, i.e., convention center interior, you're good to go (RFI aside). Note: that's what works, not a definition of the radio wave propagation.

We use FRS when caravanning to coordinate family rest stops.

Explore the Moto site; more powerful 2-way radios have "4 mile range". Don't know if they use save frequency as FRS (doubt it).

Thanks for reminding me juice:

Get fresh batteries (alkaline). NiMH and NiCd are 2nd best, unless freshly charged (that morning). That unfortunate statement comes from a steward of mother earth with lots of experience with rechargeable (they have their uses, i.e., high drain portable electronics a la CD player).

Yes Ron, FRS freqs haven't changed so you can use old & new units. The low end ones like fr50 don't have squelch codes; set the TalkAbout 2s to code 0. New high end ones have codes just like your old units.

Found this FRS review on GearReview.

..Mike

ateixeira

Get alkaline, or spring for lithium batteries. Those are pricey, but nice.

-juice

paisan

I usually use cell for everything nowadays. Most convention centers now have cell site within the building due to the high usage that occurs within them. A lot of shows use cell phones for thier credit card machines and other connections so they started installing cell towers within the buildings IIRC.

-mike

lark6

The Convention Center is very close to Chinatown. There's a couple of great Vietnamese places right around the corner from it. The Reading Terminal Market is right across the street and has many good places to eat within. For left coasters, Reading Terminal Market (so called because it used to be just that, the terminal for the Reading Railroad) is Philadelphia's equivalent of Seattle's Pike Place Market.

Ed

subaru_team

Yeah, I was thinking of referring everyone there for the convenience, but uggghhh - the info. I have indicates it's closed on Sunday.

Chinatown is a good area though. Also, Dave and Busters??? Maybe you can get a challenge going on one of the video car racing games?

See you!

Patti

rangerron7

Thanks MIke!
Ron

hammersley

are great for camping too... electronic leash for the 9-year old adventure boy. Advertised alkaline battery life is about 27 hours. My phones don't work worth squat in most metal clad bldgs... granted, I'm still analog - don't know if that makes a difference.

Car shows are dangerous - last serious one I went to was Valentine's Day weekend 1995 - and my bride's present that year sits in the driveway at this very moment.

Cheers!
Paul

thecat

Just got back from the Philly Auto Show.

The gang was all there. Lucien, Q, Bob, MikeS, Paisan, Juice, etc. Quite a collection of Soob-Heads. Got to meet Patti, who treated us quite well. We got the VIP treatment.

The WRX is awesome! I thought for sure I was gonna like the wagon .. but after looking at both the sedan is my pick. The front seats are almost perfect, back seat is much more roomy than I would have emagined, trunk is pretty big for a little car, and it looks really cool. They even started one up for us .. it purrs .... ooh baby. The optional wheels (way too expensive) are almost worth the price .. they really set the car off. Bottom line .. gotta have one.

Thanks Patti for your hospitality .. and toys.

Hutch

rsholland

a first rate trip to Philly. Enjoyed meeting some new faces (but old names)—and a very special thanks to Patti! You're a class act all the way! Other than the threat of being arrested (apparently our walkie-talkies somehow got on a police radio wave length, which the local police did NOT like), and for Paisan threatening to crush with his Trooper, some out-of-control Forester driver (of all people!), it was a superb trip.

As Hutch said—the WRXs were awesome!

BTW, Mike (Smith), did Loosh take you home, or did you have to hitch-hike from the park-n-ride to Silver Spring?

Bob

subaru_team

It was great to meet you (and your wives) in person. I was so impressed by your enthusiasm. I had a wonderful time.

Thanks for trecking all the way up to Philly for the visit.

Patti

paisan

For the special treatment by SOA! We got to hear Omar start up the WRX which was pretty nice!

-mike