Subaru Crew - Meet The Members

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Comments

  • 2ndwnd2ndwnd Member Posts: 145
    A few peas short of a casserole.
  • guxxguxx Member Posts: 33
    you two are making no sense
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    An intellect rivalled only by garden tools.
    As smart as bait.
    Doesn't have all his dogs on one leash.

    Ross
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    1. Got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn't watching
    >
    > 2. Got a full six-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it
    > all together
    >
    > 3. A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus
    >
    > 4. A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on
    >
    > 5. He's so dense, light bends around him
    >
    > 6. If he were any more stupid he'd have to be watered twice a week
    >
    > 7. It's hard to believe that he beat a million other sperm
    >
    > 8. Takes him two hours to watch Sixty Minutes
    >
    > 9. Wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.

    actually all from your military appraisals. seem equally applicable to drivers of grossly un-necessary pick-ups.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    Has anyone had any trouble with the clutch on their Outback/Legacy starting to grab unevenly after about 20 000miles? Not slipping but take off from stopped seems a bit patchy. Any ideas?

    Cheers

    Graham
  • austriash1austriash1 Member Posts: 12
    A few marbles short of a full bag.
    Not the sharpest chisel in the toolbox.
    He's depriving a village somewhere of a perfectly good idiot.

    I see the 01 Forester L seats are more comfy than those in 00. How do they seem to be holding up with use?
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    We had the most amazing experience last night while driving home from a family picnic at my in-laws' riverfront cabin. It has been raining for 4-5 days in Virginia, and the ground is really soggy. We had more downpours last night. The steep road down to the cabin was really washed out and quite muddy (ankle deep or worse in spots), and we worried about making it back up after all the additional rain. It was like driving on greasy snow, but our 00 Outback made it all the way up with no problems. I could really feel the AWD working. Very amazing feeling. Would not have even attempted this in any "regular" vehicle, especially in the dark and rain.

    At that point, I figured the worst was behind us, but it turns out that all the major roads out of town were in the process of being washed out! This is in a very rural part of the state where there are only 1 or 2 ways in and out of each town. We passed through one high water area with a car-size crater developing on the edge of the road, and ultimately had to turn back at another flooded area that was at least 2 feet deep with fast moving water.

    We quickly decided to head back to the cabin for the night, but the only way back had washed out minutes earlier. At this point, we were running out of routes, and I was worried we would be stranded in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully, we had one more alternative. That road was marginal, but passable, and allowed us to make it to a main highway. We were creeping along at times. I actually had to travel about 30 miles north to head south again, but it was the only way to go.

    We ended up getting home at 2AM. So, what should have been a non-descript 1-hour 50 mile trip turned into a 4-hour 160 mile ordeal. I felt like I was driving in a Subaru commercial at times! Though it was a hair-raising experience, it made me really appreciate the Outback -- it really is equipped for the worst driving conditions. I wouldn't have wanted to be driving anything else. Thank-you Subaru!

    Patti -- some more feedback for you: the high beams seem to diffuse a lot of light vertically, making them tough to use in the rain. Raindrops right above the hood were brightly lit and right in my face. Normally, I'm accustomed to the high beams having this effect further out in front of the vehicle. I know in many cases you can't use high beams in heavy rain on any vehicle, but the Outback's headlight design seems to make it worse. I eye-balled the aim when we finally got home, and it seemed fine, so I'm guessing it's just a characteristic of the refelector design. Otherwise, great a great car that has definitely earned its keep!

    Hope everyone is having a good labor day!

    Craig
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    Wow, sounds like you had quite an adventure!

    I'm surprised that you managed to drive through tw feet of water! But then again, I don't recall where the air intake is; obviously it was high enough.

    The trick for driving through water is to keep moving at a steady speed (not too slow, not too fast). This will create a bow wave in front of your car, which will push some of the water aside. If you stop, the wave will come back and crash back against your vehicle. Obviously this is something you want to avoid. It's probably a good idea to tap on your brakes with your left foot (while still on the gas) at the same time to dry out the brakes momentarily. This will ensure that you have normally functioning brakes when you get to the other end.

    WRT to the headlamps, I suspect that this is yet another limitation of the US DOT specs. The Euro-code headlamps are generally much better, with a sharper cutoff.

    Have a good day!
    Drew
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    ...for those of you who have Speedvision.

    The FIA World Championship Rally of New Zealand (where Subaru driver Richard Burns unfortunately rolls his WRX) is on at 5:30pm Pacific (just after Motor Trend TV), or at 8:30pm Pacific.
  • jerrys2jerrys2 Member Posts: 189
    On occasion we do get off the Subaru topic so I thought I would ask you this question ( since you are a man around town in the DC area )... where can I get 2 tickets for the Army-Navy game in Baltimore on 2 Dec.? ( I have tried all of the usual sources ).

    Thanks,

    Jerry
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    It's the rally of Finland. Price of the WRC Subarus is a cool half a million each!
  • hammersleyhammersley Member Posts: 684
    Which have nothing in common, but I'm catching up here!
    Colin: I'm planning on 4 studded snows on my current wheels, then current Michelins on custom wheels come spring. The studs are pretty much SOP in Eastern Washington, if only due to ice build-up in rural areas where the plows don't get to soon enough. Michelins wear like iron, but don't grip snow/ice worth a darn.

    Explorer vs OB: Having had 2 Explorers (91 & 96) I can honestly say the only thing I miss about 'em is the roominess & seat height above the masses. OB M5 is a whole lot more fun to drive, and the brakes on mine (97) are fine.

    Speaking of fun to drive: If you're in or ever visit the Pacific Northwest, drive US2 over Stevens Pass... Hills, curves and some drop-dead beautiful scenery! I just drove it *towing* the Sube behind the motorhome - not as much fun, but I got to look at more scenery that way! Gotta go back with just the OB... SR20 (North Cascades Highway/Washington Pass) has even more curves & better scenery!

    Still more kudos to Darlene@qsubaru... bike rack arrived sooner than promised! Outstanding customer service throughout the entire process!

    Happy Labor Day, y'all!
    Paul
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    No, I didn't go through the high water -- that's where I reversed course! Sorry if I miscommunicated.

    The water was well above the guardrails and moving fast. I'm no fool! I don't mind going up to mid-wheel, but anything deeper is too risky to me.

    Craig
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    Ah, I see! I was wondering how you managed that feat :-) Although I can safely ford more than 2 feet of water in my vehicle, I'd never do so if it was fast moving. That would be stoopid!

    You can actually drive in water as deep as your air intake will allow, or up to the base of your manifold (your tailpipe may be beneath the water), as long as you don't turn the engine off.

    Drew
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Looks like that thing is screaming "Future Electronic Problems" say in about 8 years... That and trying to replace the OEM muffler (dual stage flap type) is definitely going to be a pain in the butt. I see it possibly being a downfall like the XT6's air suspension that I am now fighting with to replace....

    -mike
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    I doubt that will present much of a problem since it utilises the ABS computer and hardware, with the addition of a few other sensors. Subaru has been using the ABS hardware for their automatic tranny AWD systems, so I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing.
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Well we are all packed and ready to head out on our 2 month road trip. That's two adults an 8 year old Golden Retriever mix at 48lbs and right around 120 lbs of clothes, camping gear and stuff. 1100 miles on the 00 GT wagon now and probably well over 8k when we return. Should be fun. Mostly 2 lane with first stop southern Utah then hwy 50 through Colorado to St. Louis where we will follow the Mississippi to Wisconsin. From there New England for a little color and then the Smokeys, Florida and home.

    Will try and post once and a while to the list. See you folks later!

    Bit
  • barresa11barresa11 Member Posts: 277
    to and up from Paradise on Mt.Rainer in WA State. Just got back a couple of hours ago from Paradise Lodge and hike above there. It started out nice but as we were half way up it began to rain then hail. We were about 7000' up so not too strange but I still wasn't expecting it. Anyhow, the rain and heavy hail continued well down from the Lodge as we were driving away. The Soob handled it w/o any drama. My only frustration was the vehicles in front of me that were not AWD/4WD. I had to keep the speed down for them (tried not to feel too superior :-)). I was freezing and really appreciated the seat warmers. I only got one picture of the Soob w/requisite scenary backdrop before the weather went to hell. I'll try to scan this and send to you Juice or better yet (maybe?) post on my website. I am going to Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands (no, not Puerto Rico :-)) next weekend and hope to get some great pictures then. I have to say that the hail slush on the wet roads made me yearn for some winter driving w/the OB, though.

    Stephen
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    Subaru of America, Inc. Reports Strong August Sales...(Subaru of America)
    Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) announced sales figures for the month of
    August. Subaru recorded a sales total of 16,013 units for the month, an
    increase of 4 percent from the same period last year. Year-to-date totals of
    114,405 units are up 13 percent from August 1999 year-to-date totals of
    100,826 units
  • amishraamishra Member Posts: 367
    (cross-posted on General Maintenance and Repairs topic)

    Most of you know that I love my 2000 OB. Or used to anyway.

    However, I'm in the process of ridding myself of this car, after the 2nd time now it has left me stranded in the middle of nowhere.

    In April, a fuel injector failed on cylinder 1 with only 20,000 KMs on the car (12,500 miles).

    Over this labor day weekend, the fuel injector on cylinder 3 failed with only 28,000 kms on the car (17,500 miles).

    When these injectors fail, it basically means they are sticking, which causes the engine to run rich and vibrate heavily at all speeds. Needless to say, not driveable.

    I am not very happy with my 2000 OB. It might be just my car, but I've owned 4 other cars before this (including 2 GMs), and not one has ever left me stranded in under 100,000 miles.

    Then there's the issue of the dealer who redefines the word "rude".

    I will not buy a Subaru again, and I definitely do not consider them reliable. For the money, you can buy a vehicle with more ameneties, more power, and reliability for thousands less.

    Ash Mishra
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    My friend's Accord died 2 times when still under warranty... A brand new Toyota Camry could not start and was towed recently from the parking lot near my work. My boss' new Volvo was a nightmare. And guess how many Audis and Saabs I see dead on the curbs. I think Japanese and other import brands overall are not as reliable these days as they used to be in 80s. I decided to resign myself to this fact, and will be probably shopping for an extended warranty soon. The reliability factor is very important to me, but apparently it cannot be predicted 100% for any brand these days.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Can't say I blame you based on your experience. We'll miss you!

    Many people have such an experience with at least one manufacturer and they avoid them. It doesn't change things much for the rest of us, although you might want to mention the name of the dealership you're having so much trouble with.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ross: keep the Aztec jokes coming!

    Drew: we should compare the VDC to the BMW 330ix when it arrives. The specs match the VDC more closely than the 323i, except price.

    James: what a coincidence, Recife is my home town, and I know Olinda like the back of my hand. I recommend both to anyone going to Brazil, but don't miss Rio de Janeiro.

    The term "gostosa" literally translates to "tasty", but I'm sure they were applying it to the beautiful bikini-clad mulatas on the beach.

    That crash sounds scary. Sounds like the salesman got carried away, and more than a little! It figures the media will hype it up and mention the Firestone recall when that model wears YOKOHAMA tires! What morons!

    Craig: great AWD story. You really ought to write to Drive magazine. I bet they'd print it.

    FYI - the intake is just at the hood level (for the Phase I engines anyway), and the ignition is distributorless, so it won't stall when it's a little wet. Still, practice extreme caution when driving through water.

    Army-Navy: not sure, to be honest. The tickets are in such hot demand I probably can't afford them! Scalpers, maybe? I heard it's a riot.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Drew: that would be funny to see the exhaust bubbling out!

    Bit: try to get some interesting photos!

    Stephen: please do send photos. I'll update my site this week.

    Ash: I 2nd Colin's post.

    And to add to Kate's "feel better" post, my dad had a spanking new Camry in Belize that actually burst up in flames. I'm not kidding.

    People were driving behind him and waving frantically for him to stop. He rushed out, and they watched it burn into a pile of ash (pardon the pun).

    Very few Camrys behave in this manner, one would hope! Same goes with the Outback. I'd never heard of fuel injectors failing before.

    I disagree with your comment on price. The only other butch wagons out there are the XC ($10k more) and the Allroad ($20k more). Nothing else offers the combination of features the OB has for that price, which is obviously why you bought it in the first place!

    Anyway, sorry about your experience.

    -juice
  • amishraamishra Member Posts: 367
    Obviously there is nothing else in the price range with AWD in a wagon, but I do think if you exclude AWD, there are plenty of other choices out there which would likely prove more reliable than what I'm experiencing with my OB.

    And if you don't need AWD, most other vehicles in the price range of the OB offer plenty more ameneties.

    You hear plenty of horror stories about domestic vehicles, yet I've owned 2, plus 2 japanese vehicles. I've been surprised by the quality of domestic vehicles.

    My g/f has a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier ($20,000 CDN car) that hasn't had a problem yet with 30,000 kms on it. And here I am with a $35,000 CDN car that has died on me twice.

    As for fuel injectors failing before - well they do - at least on Subarus.
  • peterson10peterson10 Member Posts: 116
    Ash,
    If I were in your shoes I'd feel exactly the same way. Actually, I've been there and I sounded just like you (although, unlike you, I forgot my good manners). I had 14k on my 1 year old 92 Legacy when the transmission (thats right, the "bullet-proof" transmission) literally ground to a halt. Now THAT'S stranded. This was my first ever Subaru and I swore up and down it was going to be my LAST! Two weeks later my apathetic dealer had a new transmission in and I began the long road to recovery. Midway down the road, however, I found myself limping my X@!#& Legacy along the NYS Thruway, in a snowstorm, family in tow, with only three cylinders firing! Despite still being under warranty I had to pay for the repair ($200+) because the tech determined that the problem ORIGINATED with a faulty ignition wire, and as ignition wires are "routine replacement parts", it had to come out of my pocket. SOA was no help at the time (the Pre-Patti era) and so, once again, I swore off ever buying another Subaru. Since that time my Legacy has been a brick. It saw its stable-mate (a Civic) go from glorious to a rusted, sputtering money-pit in short order. Meanwhile, my Sube has cost me nothing above basic maintenance. Don't think I'm not bracing for the day when everything goes at once, but for the time being Subaru is back in my good graces; enough so that the new stable-mate is a shiney 2000 Outback. Now, if MY injectors start to fail, you can expect me to join your chorus!
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I also went to test-drive XC this Sat. I did not have a mailer for Orvis gift cert, and they did not give me one (arrgh!).

    But I test-drove XC _before_ I learned that I'll have to live w/o gift certificate, so I was not biased.

    Basically, did not like it at all. Feels very heavy (maybe it is). The gas pedal was very slooow to respond (saleswoman told me it's typical for turbo).

    Turning radius is surprisingly good for a vehicle this long. Steering was kind of detached, but may be just a bit slow because of vehicle's weight.

    Seats were very comfy around, except headrests were pushing my head way forward, so I was driving with my neck aching. Are they (headrests) adjustable?

    Brakes seemed OK, but again the "tank" feel was so dominant, it took away a lot of driving fun.

    And I just HATED the center dash: that flat gray plastic with ugly primitive gray buttons... OK, I'm a woman and looks may mean too much to me :-), but this is not a dash for $40K car, it's for Saturn (low-end).

    Safety features are impressive, of course.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ash: if you exclude AWD, you've just defeated the entire point of a Subaru!

    I'm sure there are more reliable options than your specific Outback. Like everyone else's Outback!

    My point is, yours is the exception, not the rule. I know, that stinks, why yours?

    I remembered another example. On my 21st birthday, my 1987 Honda XL 250 motorcycle (just two years old at the time) blew its top end. I mean blew it, as in valves crushed by the piston. Worse yet, it was the carb that had a leak and contaminated the whole engine. It needed a full rebuild. And Honda built its reputation on motorcycles! Thanks for the birthday gift, Honda! :p

    I'm in touch with Patti to see what she can do, or to help find her counterpart in Canada. Perhaps they can change ALL the fuel injectors and perform a thorough safety inspection for free, something like that. If a 3rd one fails, it could be considered a lemon.

    Ah, the Patti era. Let's hope this can be resolved and your future posts will sounds more like Peterson's.

    Kate: not yet. I still have the $100 certificate, but it has to be validated by a Volvo dealer after a test drive.

    -juice
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    What you experienced with the XC's accelerator pedal is called turbo lag. It is the delay caused by the turbo spooling up. Yes, turbo-charged vehicles are all affected by this, but some (particularly those with smaller displacement engines, such as the Volvo - 2.4L 5 cylinder) are worse than others. Nonetheless, it can be annoying when you want the power RIGHT NOW.

    The Saab 9-5 turbo V6, or the Audi A6 2.7T twin turbo both have very little lag. If you think the XC is bad, wait till you drive some of the high output turbo (more hp) Volvo! The S80 T6 (twin turbo) is okay though, perhaps because it has a 2.9L I6 Twin turbo engine.

    Drew
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's odd. I thought the point of the LPT (light pressure turbo) was that a smaller turbocharger would take less time to spool up. I'll have to try it.

    I may have to drive the T5 as well, though sadly Volvo dropped the V70 AWD model. That means you can't get a 5 speed with the LPT engine, or with AWD for that matter.

    -juice
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    Chances are that Volvo will add AWD to the regular V70 lineup again. I too hate the XC's permanent bra front end.

    Yes, the LPT does take less time to spool up, but turbo lag is still noticable. From a dead stop, stomping on the gas pedal doesn't give you immediate thrust as you would expect. In fact, it feels rather sluggish at first, much like the VW/Audi 1.8 turbo. I had a '95 Volvo 850 Turbo sedan a while back, so I know all about turbo lag :-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You're the only one who's agreed with me on the 1.8T having turbo lag. Owners are deeply offended when I point that out.

    Sorry guys, I felt a lag, too. I don't care if they claim torque peaks at 1750rpm, I didn't feel it until around 4000rpm!

    -juice
  • kyotzkyotz Member Posts: 10
    After much looking and searching we are buying an 2001 Outback next week!! We're getting a great deal from Pitre Subaru in Scottsdale, AZ at invoice plus TTL. As soon as I get photos of my new wintergreen 5 spd. I'll post them on the net. I am so happy about this car I can't even tell you!

    Ash: I'm sorry about your experiences and I hope that your next car will treat you right. Maybe Juice can get you set up with SofC to clear up the problem -- I hope so.

    Juice and the rest of the Crew: As a pretty silent observer of the board for the last few months I want to let you know that you have helped sell me on Subaru. Your evident enthusiasm is contagious!

    Patti: Also having you here helped to sell me because it shows me that SofA cares about its clients and its products. Keep up the good work!

    Lastly, any thoughts of a Subaru roundup in the big beautiful southwest?
  • alingaling Member Posts: 598
    Really!? I thought the 1.8T felt sluggish (especially in the Passat, much less so in the Audi TT, and just less so in the Jetta) off the line, but when it's on its way, the power comes on just fine. Note that Consumer Reports says the same thing. I have a couple of friends with the Passat 1.8T and even they agree that there is turbo lag from the get go, and that the engine could be stronger for climbing up hills.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Chris: congrats, and please do share pictures.

    FYI, I'm trying to reach Patti, to see what kind of help we can get north of the border.

    Drew: the 1.8T works fine with a manual, but not at all with the Tiptronic, IMHO.

    Just read the Edmunds review, and Holy Cow! You'd think I wrote it! It's covered with high compliments, you guys must read it.

    Some favorite parts:

    "prognosis is good. Real good, in fact"

    "we're more interested in VDC than a bunch of clothing company labels" (Drew - loved it)

    "The H6 has catapulted the Outback into the big leagues and this became obvious when we drove it"

    "bolted together as well as any Toyota or Honda we've experienced" (maybe SoC can swap one of those for Ash!)

    "wonderfully executed and quite satisfying-to-drive"

    Man, and the only negative they turn into a positive:

    "even though it looks like it'll be fairly pricey at nearly 32 grand ($31,895, to be exact), we'd certainly buy one"

    Watch out Volvo, Audi, and BMW!

    -juice
  • kyotzkyotz Member Posts: 10
    When is it coming out? If I could afford it I probably would buy one......


    Juice: I will post the photos.....I can't wait to take them!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    December? Maybe November?

    Someone shared price quotes below MSRP, with the VDC at $30.5k already. It should drop under $30k within a few months (in certain markets).

    At least you can get the engine in the LL Bean, and it's a lot less green.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    This past weekend, I took my brother shopping for a Subaru. He currently drives a VW Passat, but with a new dog, he's really wanting a wagon. Naturally, I introduced him to Subies.

    He's interested in the H6 so we went to a local dealer, Carlsen Subaru. The sales manager there was taking orders for the H6s at 5.75% over invoice. That makes the LL Bean come in at $28.7K and the VDC a touch over $31K. The sales manager expected deliver sometime around October. He already had six H6 orders in hand.

    Anyway, since test driving one was out of the question, we hopped into a OB Ltd. Overall fit and finish were great. The power (we drove an AT) wasn't exciting (as expected) but enough to make the OB feel competent. The H6 should easily make the OB feel a lot more sportier. Needless to say, my brother was impressed.

    While we were there, I saw a black 2001 Impreza 2.5RS in stick on the lot. I asked the sales manager if I could take it out for a test drive and he just handed me the keys. What a blast! Shifting was smooth. Power was more than enough to put a smile on my face and cornering was amazing. I'm used to the body roll on my Forester, but the Impreza just felt rock solid in the turns. The only thing I didn't like about it was the ugly carbon-fibre trim and the non-functional hood scoop protuding into my line of view.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Sweet. I've heard nothing but good things about Carlsen, even thousands of miles away.

    The RS is basically a lowered, lightened Forester. Or vice-versa, depending on how you look at it!

    Nothing like an turbo/intercooler to make that hood scoop functional! I wish I had the funds for an RS project car. What a hoot that would be, both to build and drive.

    Good news: SPT has added the 4 pot brakes to their catalog, and Darlene carries it ($104.35). That's CHEAP! Folks, only Porsches have 4 piston calipers!

    They also have fatter rear sway bar, in both 18mm and 20mm sizes for just over $80. I think stock is 14mm for the Forester, is that right guys?

    Sorry, folks, I'll hop over to the Mods topic for more details. Just thought it would be fun to mention that Subaru is indeed keeping us enthusiasts entertained with new stuff.

    Ash: Patti asked that you contact her by e-mail directly, it's PMickel@subaru.com. She needs you VIN and history, and is going to try to stir things up a bit for you.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Oh there's body roll in the 2.5RS.

    image
    (note to edmunds legally sensitive moderators -- that picture is free domain and is hosted on the Wichita Region SCCA website, which I am a member of.)

    The body roll is there because of the rally-inspired long travel suspension. Even on the dogmeat RE92's though, the car does have pretty remarkable grip.

    -Colin
  • amishraamishra Member Posts: 367
    Thanks for the note juice. It's appreciated.

    -- ash
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    juice,

    I'm not suprised you've heard of Carlsen. They apparently are the #1 volume dealer of Subarus in North America. Aside from the upfront pricing, they let you test drive without a salesperson yapping away at the virtues of the vehicle.

    Colin,

    No body roll compared to a Forester, that is. :)

    Ken
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I took the Forester to another mountain trip, this time with my dad. His lower back was aching again. I noticed that he wrapped a wool sweater around the lower back, to keep it warm. I suggested to him to try the heated seat. He felt better right away! At the end of the trip, he liked heated seats so much, he did not want to leave the car.

    And I thought that heated seats are of no use here in the Bay Area...

    --Kate

    P.S. Actually, I tried the heated seat myself, and found that warming the lower back is very pleasant indeed, especially with cold air from A/C blowing over my face.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Kate,

    Just wait until it starts raining in the winter. There's nothing like driving around in the rain while nice and toasty in your Forester.

    Ken
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    My dealer is taking orders on the VDC and LL Bean. Apparently less than MSRP (not sure how much less) but it's a good sign.

    -mike
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    Just installed these and they look great. QSubaru sure does make ordering parts very easy and affordable.

    I put my installation experiences of these in the Modifications topic for those with the need to know.

    -Brian
  • subaru_teamsubaru_team Member Posts: 1,676
    I'm really sorry about your troubles. Just to let you know, I've contacted Subaru of Canada and we'll see if we can get you some help. Don't give up on us yet!!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Kate: don't rub it in, my L doesn't have the heated seats! The wife loves them, so our next ride will have them.

    OK, who's gonna order a VDC and bring it over so I can take it for a spin? It'll be interesting to see who's first on the block.

    Brian: thanks for joining the bandwagon! I thought I was the only one installing accessories!

    Patti: can you make it to the Fall Folliage Tour in October? It'll be in Charlottesville, VA. How 'bout riding down in a VDC demonstrator? It would be a huge hit!

    -juice
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I checked Escape/Tribute topic and cannot believe people are so crazy as to pay MSRP+ for those. Talk about hype! Granted, they filled a nice niche in the mini-SUV market, for those craving more space and more power. Think a bunch of loyal Explorer owners who want to downsize. Still, with all the teething problems, I cannot understand how people can jump into it so easily. Aah, why would I care... time to check my mutual funds that invest (among other holdings) into Ford Motor Co :-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Not so fast, shares are down due to the tire fiasco.

    And from what I'm reading recently, they look more and more at fault.

    The Escape is value priced, though, and that's a fact. Say what you want about the shoddy quality, but it's a lot for the money, at least on paper.

    -juice

    PS They'd better pray that problematic CD4E auto tranny holds up, though! It's been a serious problem area in the Mazda 626 4 cylinders.
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