Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Tomorrow (10/16) I'm off to South America! Main purpose of the trip is to pay pilgrimage to the birthplace of our fearless leader Mr. Juice. I'm going to meet with municipal big shots in Rio, to see if they can construct a monument to Juice and his Forester, somewhere up on the hills, visible from all angles... wait, that place is already taken by that famous Christ the Redeemer statue...

    Let's see who can guess how many Subies will I see in S.A. over 2.5 weeks?

    You can vote for overall number and/or country by country. For mathematically challenged the overall number does NOT have to be a sum of country-by-country :-)

    My guess:
    Overall - 5
    Brazil - 3
    Argentina - 1
    Chile - 1

    I haven't decided yet what winner will get. But he/she will get SOMETHING from my trip. Just don't count on a brand new Subie though! My budget is pretty thin these days.
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Overall - 7
    Brazil- 3
    Argentina - 4
    Chile today, hot tamale - 0
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    We expect you to be fluent in Portuguese when you get back. ;)

    Bob
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    to bring back lots of brazilian chocolates for us starving crew members!
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Hope you have a great trip, stay safe and enjoy.

    Cheers Pat.
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Wow! "Mr" Juice with a capital J no less.

    Let's see if I remember this correctly...
    Brazil - speaks Portuguese
    Argentina - speaks Spanish

    Kate, enjoy springtime in the Southern hemisphere! You're leaving Calif just as temperatures are beginning to drop. Be safe, come back and tell us your tales.
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Have a great trip and take lots of photos
    Serge
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Kate,

    Have a safe and FUN trip.

    As for your contest:
    Overall: 8
    Brazil:4
    Argentina: 3
    Chile: 1

    As for a Subaru holiday, a friend was asking me today if I am going to be taking "Subaru Day" off.
    I told him there is no such day yet, but if they ever come up with one I will definitely take the day off:-)

    Mark (I was at the office yesterday as well.)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I had the day off, so we hit the beach. Two days of rain, one day cold and cloudy, but it was still fun.

    There was actually a little flooding in Fenwick Island, some of the roads had standing water. It was funny to see the two other cars in our group have to tip-toe around it, while my Forester easily got by (with the extra ground clearance helping a lot).

    Got gas on the Eastern Shore, after I crossed the bridge, to avoid that sniper. He's at it again. Also got gas right before crossing the Bay Bridge on the way back. Good thing this full tank will last me a couple of weeks!

    Have fun, Kate. You won't see many Subies if you're staying in the city. I'll guess:

    Overall: 2
    Brazil: 2
    Argentina: 0
    Chile: 0

    The only WRC replicas you'll see a lot of are Peugoets, because they build them there.

    Food? Yum. Make sure you sample Feijoada (black bean stew), Churrasco (gaucho bar-B-Q), and lots of Camarao (shrimp) varieties.

    Most of South America speaks Spanish, and Brazil speaks Portuguese. But don't forget the 3 Guyanas, where English, Dutch, and French are the official languages.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Now for some other tips:

    Avoid tap water. I'd even get bottled water to brush your teeth. It may be treated, but you still aren't used to it and your body may not adjust easily.

    Besides, with the Amazon right there, they have some of the best mineral water in the world. Indaia is my favorite.

    Careful with street food. I'd stick to restaurants and established snack bars.

    The Dollar has a very, very favorable exchange rate right now. If you are middle class here, you are RICH in Brazil. It's about 3.8 to 1 last time I checked. :-)

    You can use a credit card, and I suggest you do for your protection. Cash still gets the best exchange rates, though. You can walk into any bank and get the Cambio Turista. Again, watch out for scam artists - Brazil has had so many currencies in the past that you have to familiarize yourself with the lateat Real.

    Shopping? Leather goods are great, and cheap. Shoes. Semi-precious stones, like Amethyst, Blue Topaz, Aquamarine. Go to town, with favorable exchange rates they'll appraise for triple the amount when you get back.

    Have fun, try to stay in groups. Don't wear too much flashy jewelry.

    Some of this might seem like common sense, and basically it is. I'd make the same suggestions to tourists visiting Washington. Have you tasted the city water? ;-)

    -juice
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    see you on Edmunds in 2.5 weeks!
  • sibbaldsibbald Member Posts: 106
    Sorry to hear so many of you had to work on Thanksgiving.

    Tonight, I just finished my third dinner of turkey/stuffing/pumpkin pie/etc. Tomorrow starvation for sure as the scales and I need to have a heart to heart chat.

    Cheers,

    Tom

    p.s. Much more civilized to have the big turkey dinner thing further from Christmas, don't you think? ;-)
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Tom--

    civilized, perhaps, but if our Thanksgiving was now that would be far too many days of Christmas shopping.

    -Colin
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    you have to 'wait' til Thanksgiving to cook turkey and dressing? .. hmmmmm
    I thought you could make it ANYTIME ...
    (and I have)
    Brenda
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Turkeys really get a bad rap here in the states. People only think of them as Thanksgiving food. And the supermarkets don't help any. At Thanksgiving they're less than $0.40/lb, the rest of the year, they're over $1/lb. It's got a much higher % of meat to bone than chicken.
    Wild turkeys were a very difficult bird to hunt. It's only the domesticated ones that are so dumb.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    but I took Tuesday as well.... Actually it is not a holiday at IBM, but it was a fine excuse for a 4 day weekend, as Emily was home from school. She and I went biking on some easy backwoods trails in a forest attached to a town park yesterday. Bikes on the back of an Outback, crisp Fall air, falling leaves, daddy and daughter - it doesn't get much better than that!

    Steve
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The retail industry needs those days - this year is actually one with far fewer shopping days between Turkey Day and XMas.

    Brenda: the real question is, do you make MF (*) Cookies to eat after the Turkey dinner? ;-)

    Wish I could bike - it's been raining constantly since Friday. Well, Sunday was clear, but real cold.

    Just calculatd - averaged 26.4 mpg on that beach trip. Not bad since it was loaded with 4 people, 1 dog (the mandatory Subaru pet), and tons o' luggage.

    -juice

    * Michael's Favorite
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Bizarrely, when we were first living in Britain in 1990 and were desperately broke, we found that turkey, out of season (the Brits only eat it at Christmas) is very cheap. We ate turkey until we looked like it. We had turkey curry, turkey casserole, turkey fritters and heavens knows what else. It took me many years before I could look at a turkey dinner with any enthusiasm.

    on the bright side, the first Chrsitmas we were there, a friend insited that we should eat goose with her family. Don't bother - it tastes awful and is very greasy- could replace sump oil in your Forester any day. Never again!

    Cheers

    Graham
    Cheers

    Graham
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    "until we looked like it" - LOL!

    I've had duck, and didn't care for it much either. Plain ol' chicken is better.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Give me chicken or turkey, that's it...

    Bob
  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    for duck and goose, please! Cooked properly, that is wonderful fare. You just cook it in ways that reduce the fat. Trust me, it can be great.

    Steve
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Thought I'd come up with an idea to liven up this topic. I think the sniper and the fall rain has got us all down a bit.

    OK, manana is my birthday. I have a huge cake with a single candle, and I can make one wish which is guaranteed to come true (play along with me a bit).

    So, I can wish for Subaru to make one, single change in the lineup, what should it be?

    * STi version for every model?
    * AVCS on all 2.5l engines?
    * H6 stand-alone option?
    * VTD to replace all AWD systems?
    * Shiftronic on all automatics?
    * 5 (6?) ratios on all trannies?

    What is most important to us? Just one wish, though it can be across the board for the whole lineup.

    It's tough to choose just one, isn't it?

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    5 (6) ratios all trannys. I think that would benefit all Subarus to some extent.

    Bob
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    STi with AVCS (I'm cheating aren't I?)
    Anyway, juice, have a very happy and healthy birthday tomorrow (you're just a baby!).

    -Serge and the rest of the gang...including the real dog-
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Speaking of dogs (and he is a dog!), Hadji wishes for more padded, textured armrest, since he props himself up on those and slips off easily.

    But IIRC the 2003 Forester got that.

    -juice
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Yeah, Dina lays her head on the extended armrest in the wagon sometimes.
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Let's see...STi version for every model...that would mean higher power(H6?)/6-speed(or shiftronic)/possible suspension tweeks/etc.

    This could be the change that encompasses several of the others.

    I'll take it!

    Jim
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Kate-

    Hope you had a great time! Here's my guess:

    Overall: 4
    Brazil: 3
    Argentina: 1
    Chile: 0

    Re Goose & Duck- I agree with Steve, well cooked duck can be delicious. I've never had goose so I can't comment on its taste. Out of curiosity, other that Graham, who else has had the opportunity to sample goose?

    Re Juice's wish- Jim, smart thinking! An STi Forester... Yum!

    Personally I think Juice should be wishing for a "real" dog and let Hadji go back to being a cat!

    -Frank P.
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    Gimme the STi across the board and hold the goose. I've had it and didn't like it at all. I'll take chicken and turkey any day.

    Len
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    I really like my Honda's 5 spd auto, so I might go with that for Subaru. I provides a lower low, and a higher high, with just the right mix in between.

    And hold the duck and goose. I am a white meat chicken/turkey fan, so I have yet to warm up to these other birds.

    Steve
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I would go with an STI version across the board, maybe when it is my time to change cars again this will be a reality.

    Cheers Pat.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Juice,

    First off have a happy and safe birthday (considering where you are).

    Second, regarding the wish- I would wish for the 5(6) trannies across the board. I think it would add to the Subaru appeal.

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oh boy, now you've made Hadji mad, he's hissing. Oops, I mean *growling*!

    So far the ratios take the cake (well, the candle). To be honest, I have trouble choosing just one wish. :-)

    My present to myself was LASIK, though, maybe a turbo Forester next year?

    -juice
  • rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
    In case I don't have an opportunity to post tomorrow, have a great birthday! Take Sandy out for a nice spin on a nice winding country road.
    Ron
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    "Take Sandy out for a nice spin on a nice winding country road."

    Just make sure you avoid the interstates and don't drive too slowly! ;-)

    -Frank P.
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    juice - another early happy birthday!

    and no stops while taking that nice spin...be safe!

    Jim
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    Juice have a happy one .. if you were here I'd make you MF cookies for your birthday ... that's the first time I made them for Michael last year!

    As far as Thanksgiving ... by the time we have the turkey and cornbread dressing (made the Southern way - by the washtub!) and the ham and the sweet potatoes and the fruit salad and the pumpkin pie (or sweet potato which I like even better) and the mincemeat pie and ... and .. and ... who'd have ROOM for MF cookies?

    Steve .. btw I have an Emily, too, but she's 25 !!! Man do they grow up fast!
    Brenda
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Bob -- Don't like duck? Try the grilled duck breast over at Charleston. ;-)

    juice -- Happy B-day, old man! Hope you have a great one tomorrow! Was it 33 or 34?

    As for the wish, I'd love to see the 6-speed MT become standard. Heck, wish for six wishes and wish for them all!

    Ken
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    ~three minutes to go till 17Oct02.

    Happy Birthday Juice!!! :D

    -Dave
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    You old man! :)

    -mike
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Emily is 6+, going on 15!! She has that hot temper and 'attitude' that Hunan (China) girls are famous for. We predict corporate CEO, or jail - not sure which way it will go....

    Juice - Happy BD! Stay away from gas stations & Michael's craft stores today.

    Steve
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I 'quietly' celebrated my 30th on the 12th...

    -Brian
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    to Bear and Juice!!!
    wooohooooooo!!!!1
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Like I said before, I'll have to remember it as it's also our wedding anniversary.

    Just catching up on all the posts after another working weekend in San Juan. Comping today, will just recharge the batteries, maybe try to fire up the Stude and take it for a run (hasn't been started since Labor Day, shame on me big time).

    Another auto observation from Puerto Rico: Mitsu Monteros have a very high theft rate there, I was told they're being stolen for onboard computere systems (GPS?) that are retrofitted into older models. I went to a couple of places where they had separate parking lots roped off for Monteros only, with additional security. The Nativa (a/k/a Montero Sport) didn't seem to suffer from this problem.

    Oh yeah, also saw a new 4Runner yesterday. Hideous. Crude C and D pillars, clunky "Judge Dredd" styling, taillights lifted from the new Forester. Why are so many companies going with that straight, flat line at the top of the wheel wells? Why do they think SUVs have to be styled like plastic toy trucks you'd find in a sandbox?

    Ed
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I'd have to take the STi wish for every model, since that automatically upgrades the tranny. 2 fer one
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    first off, I ain't eatin' no turkey that costs $.40 a pound, and ditto that on chicken too. That means they've been raised horribly, and were processed mechanically. did you know that processing birds this way bursts most of the organs and coats the cavity with fecal matter? yup. So then they have to go through up to 15 chlorine baths before final packaging. A nice organic, free-range bird costs a little more but is much better in quality. Garbage in, garbage out.

    Duck- anyone who turns their nose up at a medium rare, pan seared breast of duck better be vegetarian. Some folks have a problem with that layer of skin and fat. I got over that by my 3rd go-round, but I do understand it. But just cut it off and put it to the side...the rest of it is awesome! Confit of duck is also heavenly, especially when done right so that it falls off the bone (and into my belly!!). And sometimes Peking duck is good too, but hard to find. Most Chinese places are content to sling eggrolls and sweet/sour for whitey and don't use good duck.

    Goose- not for everyone, to be sure, but when roasted properly it renders a lot of its fat and can be delicious. Not for novice chefs though, or novice carnivores.

    'rant off. =8^)))
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Enjoys your days! Drink one to all of you...it's on us
  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    Happy birthday to Juice and Brian! And for everyone else, Happy UnBirthday! We had snow here yesterday.

    Steve
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I love duck.

    -mike
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    The temps plunged to around 73 this morning..first front of the season...and the humidity is finally low...ah, yes, love the Florida winters! :)
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