Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

rsholland

Toyota sells a Land Cruiser Prado in other markets such as Australia. In the UK it's sold as the Land Cruiser Colorado.

It is essentially a "mid-size" SUV, much like the 4Runner is, that we get. It does get the 4Runner 3.4L V6 and its IFS too. The body, however, is boxier, much more like the Isuzu Trooper (Jackeroo in Oz?). IIRC, it has a split-rear door like that of the Trooper.

The new '03 Lexus GX470 (which will be on sale here next January) is probably going to share that same platform as the (next generation) Prado and the upcoming '03 4Runner, which is due next fall.

Bob

rsholland

This link is from Toyota's Aussie site. If you go to 4WD, select Land Cruiser Prado, then select Grande. It is probably the closest to our 4Runner in terms of specification and content. It does have a split rear door with the spare mounted on it, as I thought.

Bob

http://www.toyota.com.au/index_showroom.asp?forcenav=showroom

grahampeters

G'day

Closest I can see from looking at US websites is the Highlander. It is a long way from the SR5 or 4Runner. No wrap over roof.

Mind you, it looks as if you get a much narrower range of landcruisers than we see. We get the 78 |Series for on farm use and a wide range of 100 Series, I gather you only get the full on version of the 100.

Cheers

Graham

rsholland

The Highlander is unit-bodied and based off the FWD Camry. It's car-based with no low range, and comes with either a 2.4L four or a 3.0L V6, at least in North American trim. It also has IFS/IRS. In Japan it's sold as the Kluger V (great name, huh?).

The LC Prado is very much a truck. It has a full frame, full-time 4WD with high and low ranges. It has IFS and a solid rear axle. Did you check the Aussie Toyota site I posted?

Yeah, we only get the full-boat Land Cruiser 100 (marketed here only as the Land Cruiser) with V8, auto and IFS. There is also a still more expensive Lexus version, the LX470.

Bob

hypov

from another board.

Firestone Wilderness AT Tread Separation
Another 'Dave' - not me ;-)

http://forums.vmag.com/suvsubaru0200/messages/5334.html

-Dave

c_hunter

While I don't dispute that tread separation of any kind is a serious matter, the Wilderness tires on the Outback are Wilderness HT tires, not AT tires as this post indicates (obviously a marketing strategy that backfired on Subaru).

That person should be getting a free replacement of the affected tire from Firestone. Due to the fact that all 4 tires on an AWD vehicle like the Outback should be within 1/4" in circumference, he may have a legitimate reason to get four completely new matching tires. This in turn, would give him the opportunity to upgrade to the tire of his choice. Something to keep in mind for anyone else who has a tire failure on an AWD vehicle. That said, I am not sure how you could convince the tire supplier to replace all four tires in a situation like this -- my bet is that they would only want to replace the affected tire.

Craig

paisan

Overseas they can still get the SAS in the front of the TLC. The highlander is just a Camary wagon raised up and added some power to the rear wheels. The Prado is as others have posted a mid-sized TLC, boxy like the TLC just not as big overall as the TLC and only has the V6 option. It will be re-badged as the 4-runner and some other equivilent Lexus product. From what I see it looks nice, but I'm sure they'll over-price it here like the rest of the toyota products. I really want to see the Hyundai Terracan come over here!

-mike

lucien2

All Soobs in our fleet got a thorough scrubbing today. then I took a Sunday drive, even though I drive all week, just because the car is clean and I am still in love with my new seats.

hondafriek

Glad you found what you were looking for do share results.

The Titan also got a bath today I am sure you could hear his sigh of contentment from there.

Cheers Pat.

subearu

to see someone down our block washing their car in the driveway - in JANUARY!?!? And in Wisconsin?!?!

I probably would have done the same, but I'm just recovering from a bit of a flu bug. But, I did run 'er through the car wash this morning at least.

-Brian

paisan

I brought the trooper to get washed today. $28 for the complete wash/vaccum, dash protection etc. It was less than par, probably cause they were loaded, but it looks much better, although my mother nature pin-stripes are not looking so good. Once spring comes I'll have to get is compounded out, I can rub em out with my finger, so they aren't too deep.

-mike

armac13

We actually got a decent snowfall today in Vancouver. About 6-8" where I live 10-12 in some other areas, temp right around freezing. I went out early to play, but it was totally uneventful. I did see 2 cars in ditches and a few that were having obvious traction and control problems, but Rufus was rock solid even with the stock Geolanders. It's so easy to tell that with snow tires the car would be truly awesome. The only problem I experience is a tendency to be overconfident. I've never driven any other AT car in the snow in the almost 40 years I've been driving and with the Forester accelerating from rest is so uneventful that it's easy to forget, temporarily, that one needs to also be able to steer and stop. For these latter activities, better winter tires would be appreciated. Maybe if we get another foot or so it will be a challenge. :-)

Ross

locke2c

it hit 68F today and I took my bike out for a spin. actually had an officer of the law say something to me about the exhaust... what a punk. harleys are often much louder, and I'm sure I'd meet the state's 89dB limit (well, maybe not at WOT but I wasn't near that).

anyway Ross, hope you and Rufus get a chance to play in the snow a bit.

-Colin

lucien2

I dunno, I can't bring myself to name the car. I can't seem to assign gender to the durn thing. I was sharing a pint at the pub with a couple of friends, and the girl in question swore one must name one's car in order to properly bond with it.

Now, I certainly feel a bond with the car, but I think names are earned, or come up out of an event or trait (like a nickname), but I just haven'
t been able to do it.

fibber2

Got a call from 'Friendly Honda House' that our Odyssey EX just came off the truck. We headed over and got a peek at it, still filthy and covered in white tacky plastic.

As I did with the Subaru, I negotiated some dealer installed items at Internet prices. That's the only deal you get on this model. It sells pretty universally for MSRP. We will probably buy this one outright, rather than lease. Should be driving it by next Saturday, a few week overlap with the Windstar before we turn it in.

I just hope that it is reliable. Unfortunately, the Ody has some less-than-Honda-like history of tranny failures, secret recalls & warrantee extensions, etc.

Steve

kens

Sorry for the cross post, but SOJ just released a Porsche design-tweaked Impreza wagon:

http://www.subaru-sti.co.jp/typeEURO/top.htm

Ken

mrk610

Wow the posts really add up when you don't keep up with them . I've been up in the pocono's sking all week and the outback was great . It was my 1st long trip with it . Total of 756 miles on all types of roads and in different weather conditions . WE were going to stay and extra day but its no fun skiing in 60degree temps .Had a great time but I'm going thru OCD withdraw my car is so dirty you can't even tell what color it is . Thankheavens It's going to be in the 60's tomorrow so I can spend all day taking care off her .

mike k

paisan

The wing is a bit too boy racer if you ask me.

-mike

lucien2

that's really strange to see boy racer add ons on a JDM model sport compact.

I don't think it's too bad myself, but close to the bleeding edge for me.

miksmi

Glad you're enjoying your RS seats. I too did the washing thing for the Civic and GT. Unfortunately I left two holidays on the left "aerodynamic body-color ground effects", and wouldn't you know it, the car now pulls to the left due to the extra drag! ;-)

Ross, I'm envious of the snow!

..Mike

ateixeira

That's the first I've heard of tread separation on an Outback. Then again, I don't think a single case means much. The bad Firestone tires had very high failure rates, so we'd be hearing about dozens of them.

Mother nature pin stripes, LOL! I changed Sandy's oil, this time at about 5000 miles instead of my usual 7500 mile interval. Why? Pine Barrens, mostly. Plus it's impossible to synchronize all three cars, so I'm just going to change them all together whenever the first car is due. Saves time that way.

She was pretty filthy, so I washed her too. Looks great sans those pin stripes, which got waxed away last time. I loved waxed wheels. Wiped the brake dust right off with a damp paper towel.

Loosh: all of my cars have been female. It's traditional, whether you're talking airplanes, boats, no matter. Settle into the new seats and ask her what she want to be named. She'll communicate with you sooner of later.

Plus, it becomes your mistress. I have two, Blanca (the Miata is white) and Sandy (she was named on the beach). My wife's car is Emmy, as in Emerald Green.

Congrats, Steve. Even if she's not perfectly reliable, resale on those things is hard to believe. Hard to go wrong.

I'd love to see a Subaru minivan, but I bet we'd get a Montana clone with AWD. I'd rather wait for the 2005 SUW.

-juice

1subydown1togo

for the Wagon...maybe I should have a naming contest? Winner gets to drive in the South Florida snowstorm!

ateixeira

Tell us about her. Color, character, behavior, and especially any funny stories.

-juice

1subydown1togo

She/He (not sure yet) is WR Blue, wants to go but is held back by my foot and South Florida traffic. We went up to the Cavallino Ferrari festival this weekend, and I opened it up some on I-95; it was the first time that Michael has seent the acceleration. I've carried stuff with the seats folded down...no complaints...

ateixeira

OK, so she's young and fiesty, impatient but playful. Outgoing, flashy. See, we're getting there.

-juice

1subydown1togo

are you sure you haven't been hanging around our resident shrink? (Ross?)

ateixeira

Ross has been providing me with "Virtual Therapy" to ease my car-nuttiness. We've only just begun!

-juice

hypov

ateixeira Jan 28, 2002 8:42am

KEFIRA = Lion Cub

-Dave

armac13

The first name that came to mind, given your "dream car" is "Enzolita". I'll work on it though. :~)

Ross

ateixeira

Name it after someone you knew way back in elementary school. Someone that fits all those characteristics. Add big eyes, fun personality.

-juice

1subydown1togo

Little Steven Katz??? I don't think so...the shortest kid in class (I was second), but the meanest dodge ball thrower around...man, that hurt!

Dave, I like Kefira,,,what language is that....

 I saw a truck the other day that had "Blue Roo" and a pic of a kangaroo on it, don't know what it was...I thought that was a possibility...

Graham,there's an Aussie software company... also has a neat logo

 http://www.blueroo.net/

ateixeira

just Katz. That's a cool name, and we're all pet people. Double meanings are clever. :-)

-juice

1subydown1togo

I call my friend in Chicago Ketzele...kind of Yiddish dimunitive...little Cat

hypov

Hebrew feminine name meaning Lion Cub.

-Dave

ateixeira

Sounds cool, too. Now you've gone from not knowing to having too many good choices! ;-)

-juice

1subydown1togo

I've forgotten most of my Hebrew...Michael can read it better than I can at this point, and I lived in Israel for 3 years!
The choices so far
Kefira
Ketzele
BlueRoo or BlueRu (that pouch can carry stuff)
Any other suggestions are welcome

hypov

Forgetting most isn't all too bad.
10 years was invested to educate me with Mandarin, and I've only picked up a few words; my name inclusive. He he...I won't even know I'm holding a chinese newspaper upside down if not for the pictures. :-D

Here's a mix

BlueRu+Li = BlueRuLi

Blue - she's Blue
Ru - Kangeroo pouch [storage]
Li - Strength/Beautiful in Mandarin

-Dave

ateixeira

Use BlueRoo and then get personalized plates as a name tag.

You could use the word for blue in lots of languages. Azul or Azure, for example.

-juice

bluesubie

I vote for anything with blue. :-D

-Dennis

ateixeira

Just thought of one: Azuroo! Italians will get a kick out of it.

-juice

armac13

Azuwere. Sorry.

Ross

jimmyj1945

LOL. Good one Ross.

Jim-Chief Master Sergeant, USAF, Retired.

paisan

Read the "R8" page of Monday Wall Street Journal. Yours truely was quoted in there about leasing v. buying cars!

-mike

mortpeaberry

woke up this morning.

1) did not hve to work

2)it was snowing!

http://homepage.mac.com/skvolk/PhotoAlbum10.html

woo-hoo!

steve-v

hypov

http://www.aaany.com/automotive/savings_services/tips_stories/794tips_stories_template.asp

Got my new Empire State plates yesterday...

couldn't resist putting two coats of polish on 'em.

-Dave

paisan

I read it last month in AAA I still like my AWD 4ME Liberty Plates (I'm gonna keep em on even after I get my new ones) Also it's amazing, my Trooper has CAROGA L as the plate on it and I've actually met at least 2 other Isuzu owners from the town where my place upstate is (Caroga Lake) because they saw my pics on http://isuzu-suvs.com and commented on my plate! Its weird cause there is only 4K people that live in the town (and thats in the summer)

-mike

bg18947

Not what you think! A Subaru driven by a man from Metuchen, NJ caused a 14 mile backup on the NJ Turnpike near the East Windsor exit. A tractor-trailer carrying potatoes from Maine was swerving to avoid the Subie that rear-ended another truck, and the truck spilled its cargo. In was in the The Record and NY Times.

Where's the snow? Another 60 something degrees day in the NY area.

hypov

Dennis (bluesubie)-
hope it wasn't you.

-Dave

bluesubie

it wasn't me. My town borders Metuchen though. :-)

-Dennis

rsholland

will start exporting (only) the WRX to China. Interesting...

Bob

http://www.veh-tech.net/