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Comments
Cheesteaks were nice but gross. The real post-show news was Termini's Pastries. Holy Cow, am I glad we stopped for that one! Mike Smith and I dropped something like 50 bux in there combined. cannoli to die for, chocolate stuff, almond horns...uuughgghgh (ala Homer)
I think Q is leaning toward the WRX wagon, and away from Mini. We'll see if that holds up when Mini actually shows up. then again, the Exploder may not last long enough anyway.
Thanks again Patti. GT-B.
Lucien
Missed the WRX starting up, but I figure I should be able to finagle a test drive come March-April. Too bad the rest of the '02 Impreza line wasn't there - would've made a good comparison to the WRXes, which I loved!
Thanks, Patti and crew. See you out here soon.
Ed
It was great to see everyone from the Edmunds hangout again too. Unfortunately my friend turned out to be a bit of a lightweight in the gearhead department; one quick trip around the show floors and he was ready to book. Audi drivers - poseurs! So I missed going around with you guys and helping you dissect the various new offerings. Next time, no Audi wimps, just Subie faithful - promise ;-)
High points and surprises: Patti-Subie-WRX, the new T-Bird, the classic English cars and other concours pieces (did you guys see the boattail Lincoln stuck in the back of their exhibit - beautiful!), Jaguar XKR. The third highest point of all is that I may have gotten my Audi friend to agree that all that gray and black gunk everyone is gluing onto the bottom half of their "rough going" vehicles is ridiculous. We were in his beloved Audi exhibit (okay, okay, they're nice cars) and we stood there and looked from AllRoad to A6; I commented on the stupid gray goop, and he said, "I can see why you might say that." There's hope for him yet! Second highest point was the WRX, a surprisingly practical vehicle all things considered. Highest point was seeing and meeting everyone.
SIA, anyone?
Cheers,
-wdb
I drove my '00 Legacy GT to the Philly car show with my Audi friend in the passenger's seat. As we were heading back to his place he told me we would be taking an exit ramp[1] that was a favorite of his. It's two lanes wide, gently banked, and curves around to the right in a broad, smooth, continuous 270-or-so degree arc. He told me he likes to rip through there in the left lane, passing people who are pooping along in the right lane.
As we approached the exit I was thrilled to see that we would have the ramp to ourselves. I downshifted into 4th and set the car on its entry trajectory; my friend grabbed for the chicken bar. Oops, heheh, maybe my entry speed had him concerned; too late now to do much about it! The Subie hunkered down, grabbed on, and confidently took us into the arc at around 4000 RPMs (I did not look at the speedo). Once the suspension was set I added a bit of throttle, then feathered the throttle and steering to keep the well-worn RE 92s right on the edge of serious complaint. They were scrabbling and scratching a wee bit but were comfortably below the howling stage. The car tracked like it was on rails, felt very neutral, and as always pulled no surprises. Although we were in the outer, left lane I felt as though I could have switched to the inside lane at any time. Nice, really nice exit ramp! My friend was right.
We eased off the end of the ramp into light traffic on Germantown Pike, headed west. My friend said, as he relaxed his grip, "wow, you took that pretty much faster than I usually do". Heh heh.
Cheers,
-wdb
[1] For those of you familiar with the area the ramp to which he was referring is the exit from I-476 North onto Germantown Pike West, the last exit on I-476 before the PA Turnpike entrance.
BTW, people saw me in the SWRT jacket and started asking me questions as though I was an SoA rep. I think I did okay - it helped that I read this forum as well as the world motoring press. One 20-ish guy grilled me as to why the US wasn't getting the full-bore JDM WRX. I told him that SoA was gauging US public response, that the accessories from STi would help, and that the possibility exists that the WRX STi may be imported into the US in a couple of years. Seemed to satisfy him.
Seriously, I think we caught poor Omar a little off guard. This is a well-educated bunch of Subaru fans!
Ed
Did Mike make it home? ;-)
Ed: did I see you there? You're not in any photos.
Patti: thanks very much for the canvas bag, flashlight, CD holder, pen, etc. Love getting goodies, and other folks at the show kept asking where we got 'em! Sorry, VIPs only. ;-)
Also appreciated the FREE passes and not having to wait in line. We walked by hundreds of less fortunate plebes and right into the show.
The Subaru stand was fantastic, with a WRX wagon AND sedan - plus they started it up! I'm sure that was way, way against the rules so we appreciate even the short amount of time that engine was running (quietly and smooth, too). Unbeatable.
Pat's cheesesteaks were great. Had mine "wit" and loved it.
Trying to keep up with paisan was even better. Now I know why he swaps break pads fairly often!
-juice
Check out the WRX and Subaru Crew albums. The latter ends in a funny note.
-juice
So when are we gonna have a BBQ this spring? Maybe in DE or something like that!
Also let's get this SIA thing going. I think we'd have a ball!
-mike
Besides that, let's keep each other posted on any rallycross events we attend. That ought to be fun.
-juice
I soon realized after I departed the convention center with Hutch, Lucien & Kirsten that upon arrival at the lot off 95 in MD (where we left the cars), Hutch would get into his Forester and I would be, um, walking. D'oh! That's what I get for carpooling w/juice and disengaging my brain.
Fortunately, Loosh & Q are troopers and schlepped me all the way home to Silver Spring (40mins detour, each way)! Hats off to you two! I think you get 5 marks in your column for that big favor.
Loosh, www.termini.com ! What a find. Good detective work!
WDB, great story!
Ed, I can't believe I missed meeting you; I'm bummed! Did you run into juice?
Bluesubie, good to meet you and your wife.
paisan, WDB, well actually everybody, wish I could have stayed longer.
WRX is schweet!
Patti, thanks again for showing us such hospitality and for introducing your sons and co-workers. I was so happy to finally meet the person that has been so helpful to owners on this board (and countless other owners).
Cheers,
..Mike
..Mike
-juice
I was thinking of the wagon (in a year or so) but the sedan looked better than I expected. It was a pleasure meeting everyone.
It was funny watching the kid questioning Ed (good job, btw). Later he called me around to the sedan and said the center console was in the way for shifting. I told him it was just because the knob was off of the shifter.
Mike, yeah I figured you were going to the rest stop (wow, mike is in the right lane).
Hope to see all (plus more) again soon.
Dennis
Nice job on the pics, juice!
Ken
Just curious...
Ken
Stephen
The wagon, though, was great. The knee room may even be better than the Forester, because the front seats are scooped out, but headroom doesn't match the tall-boy Forester.
The cargo area is potentially huge - until you have to close the hatch. Then tall, boxy items will not fit, and I'd miss that about the more functional Forester.
Still, the roof rack looked sturdy. It needs cross rails and a roof rails, but then it's sweet.
-juice
Patti
Bob
I guess I'll put out one last request for anyone interested in meeting at the Chicago show on Saturday. I'm going regardless with some friends (I'm the only one with a Subaru). I guess those interested should contact me here or at bbear@execpc.com for more information. We could even stop for some good ol' Italian beef (none of that philly steak stuff) :->.
-Brian
Patti: any chance that the reps at the Chicago show would startup a WRX while I'm there?
Bob
-Brian
Patti
Career salesmen. Doesn't matter if it's cars or industrial chemicals.
I met Omar, but he was a dribbling idiot when it came to knowing subarus, and he was the best SOA had to offer?
-mike
Dennis
Bob
-mike
Bob
Look, I am not saying he had to know it all (but he should've, since this is a debut and people are full of questions), but the "budda-bing" attitude, gum chewing and golf-swing practicing aren't traits that jive too well with the Subaru demographic. Is all I'm sayin'. Bambi.
Bob
Stephen
Bob
paisan is a tad harsh (newsflash!) and Dennis makes a good point.
..Mike
..Mike
Stephen
-mike
Stephen
The catch is we aren't typical buyers, or show-goers, for that matter. How many "normal" people go to TWO auto shows in one year, both of them out of town! And miss the local show?!
SoA should have an open house for club members only, and have a little show and tell where we can drive the cars.
Anything less, especially what's intended for the public, isn't going to please everyone here.
-juice
PS I think Pontiac nabbed the show and has a long-term contract. Shame they're wasting the exposure on such a lame duck
Frank
-juice
Frank
Look at the shape of the D-pillar. It's both ugly and REMOVES utility from the vehicle. I doubt that will change.
Plus, it's still on a not-so-safe platform with an underpowered, outdated, inefficient engine.
-juice
Frank
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1518651&a=11480675
Bargle
-juice
Patti
Bargle