Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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Comments

  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    juice,

    Now, let her have fun with HER new car. You just drive your minivan and be quiet!

    Len
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Man! Tell me about it!

    We picked it up last night. Or, I should say, SHE did.

    She did the test drive, and got to drive it home. I haven't even touched it yet! Hilarious! :D

    Fitzgerald Subaru was great, as usual. This was the 5th Subaru we bought from their Rockville store, and yet another good experience. We were in and out of there in under 1 hour. Amazing.

    355 Toyota kept me for about 3-4 hours and the process was painful in comparison.

    Two funny things happened.

    First, when we were leaving, I got in the passenger seat. Wifey looked at me like I was crazy. "Get out", she said. I actually FORGOT that I had to drive the minivan home, LOL!

    Second, she took off like a mad woman, sped home as quick as she could. Later when I asked her if she was testing the acceleration again, she said that she heard that there was possible HAIL in the area, and she wanted to get home before her new baby was pelted with the stuff!

    The dealer is about 15 minutes away and I think she beat me home by about 10 minutes! :D

    Any how, no pics yet, it was pouring rain last night, too dark for a good pic. We'll try to snap one tonight.

    Edit: it was actually our 5th Subaru from Fitz, come to think of it.
  • rob_mrob_m Member Posts: 820
    Congrats on the new car. Your wife is a smart woman - I would avoid the hail at all costs, too! Rob M.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    First, when we were leaving, I got in the passenger seat. Wifey looked at me like I was crazy. "Get out", she said. I actually FORGOT that I had to drive the minivan home, LOL!

    That is too funny, and I'm sure it's exactly what I would have done.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We have a date tonight and she said I could drive....IF I'm a good boy.

    Uh-oh. Wonder what that means. Do I have to mow the lawn first? Take out the trash? :confuse:

    :D
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    You'll probably have to hand wax her new baby to qualify as a good boy. :)

    Congrats on the new ride, juice. Looking forward to the photos.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Well guys on the first Thurs. I have been able to make it in months I tried getting in the chat at 9.20 and was told the chat was closed. I was under the impression We were under ET. in Canada Did somebody change the time zone when I was at the lake? :) Don't know when I will get to try again.

    Congrats on the new Forester juice, but I fear you are gonna have be a real good boy to get behind the wheel of that baby, maybe if you are lucky you will get to wash and wax it. :)

    Hope everyone else is enjoying their summer, Hi Kate, long time no hear.

    Hi Rob, and say hi to Mikey.

    Cheers Pat.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Today is Wenesday here in the States :P
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Hey Pat, you must be in a different time zone—one that's 24 hours ahead of the rest of us. ;)

    Bob
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Someone is waaaay too relaxed up at the lake. :D
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    hold the phone.....the Forester is HERS, and you get the minivan? How does that work, I thought the van was for hauling the kids around?
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    well, he still has the Miata for weather that allows it.

    -Brian
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    Juice must be on his best behavior if he ever wants to lay hands on the new Subie :D

    Congrats... or should I be saying this to your wife? LOL!
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    reminds me of Mike Smith tooling around in that miserable Civic with the busted door locks as his wife got the 2002 Legacy GT wagon.

    Mike now has the GT......coz wifey rocks a 3-series now, LOL.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    It's Thursday and that means time again for the longest running chat here in CarSpace, the Subaru Crew! The chat opens at 8:45 pm ET and runs until 10 pm ET. I hope you're able to join us tonight for another enjoyable evening with members of the Crew!
    See you there!
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Congrats Juice. I guess looking at your wife's Forester is almost as good as having your own! ;)

    You'll have to tell us how it does mileage wise and fit and finish wise for a 1st year car.

    Oh yeah, pics!

    tom
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    juice hasn't been here in a few days now. Maybe the wife caught him trying to sneak a drive in the middle of the night?

    Len
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Congrat's Juice! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So all I have to do is buy her a new BMW and the Forester is mine? :D

    Finally got a chance to drive it. Ride is a lot firmer than my 98 was, yet it's not uncomfortable at all. The body rolls a LOT less than before, too.

    Visibility is fantastic. My wife had the seat up high and I swear I felt like I could almost see the front bumper. Backing up was also a dream compared to the van, which isn't so bad itself.

    Love the laser cut keys. Just hope we don't lose them.

    My wife *loves* the whip antennae. Funny how little details are what draw people in.

    She also found the hatch opens higher than before, clearing any heads below. The old one you had to duck under. Much better.

    Dislikes? The passenger seat is lower than the driver's seat. It's OK when she's driving, since I'm taller, but when I drive she seems about a foot shorter than me, when in fact she's tall. I will be checking that seat track to see if there is an easy and safe way to lift it half inch or so.

    Love the moonroof. Feels like a convertible, almost.

    Also like the blue LED interior lighting. One seems to light up the center console, while another lights up the storage bin in front of the shifter. It sets the mood just right, an upscale touch.

    Didn't test acceleration because it's breaking in, but the transmission shifts mores smoothly than the Sienna, even with bigger spaces between ratios.

    Steering is still fairly light, but that's OK on this type of vehicle. In fact all controls are light. It's very easy to drive, basically.

    Have not yet really tested the brakes, again let's wait until after the break-in period. Let the pads get seated nicely.

    We haven't named it yet, and the wife says she still feels like she's "moving in", getting used to it.

    For a day it was parked right next to the Legacy, and the one thing that stood out was how much taller it is. It feels like you're about 2 feet higher up, yet body roll is well contained and it's actually a bit more nimble overall.

    So far, so good. We got it with just 10 miles and the trip computer was averaging 5mpg, and it's up to 22 mpg already, and we haven't even used 1/4 tank. Fitz did deliver it with a full tank so that was cool, in fact I have yet to find any defects, and I'm OCD about that, as you know. ;)
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    Good feedback Juice...

    You probably have (or haven't) but the passenger issue is being heavily discussed on nasioc. Seems to be catching SOA's attention. Just go to the N&R - Forester thread :)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I bet they fix that for the 2010 models, then...
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    From Pat with the red face ;) Well I know today is Wednesday, don't know what I was thinking last week. Must be all the damn rain we are getting giving me water on the brain :)

    Cheers Pat.
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Would that make it the headwaters of your stream of consciousness? :D

    (I may be reaching a bit too far on that one!)
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    I think it's Thursday again! :P
  • rob_mrob_m Member Posts: 820
    Pat, I hope you make it this week. Mikey asks for you every week. Rob M.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    OK, I've been driving all over town (in my Subaru Outback of course) shopping for kitchen appliances. We have drawn up plans to completely remodel the kitchen - and that probably won't happen for a couple more years yet, but I have to replace my stove. The oven hasn't worked since last fall, and it has some other 'quirks' that make it time to replace the thing!

    What I know is that I will have a freestanding gas range. We have looked at all sorts of things and I also think I'd prefer the smooth black to the stainless. Stainless appears to need more maintenance than I'd want to do to keep it looking nice. I like the gas ranges with the heavy-duty grates all the way across the cooktop. Other than that I'm not sure.

    Whatever we buy will need to be 'matched' to refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave in the future. Anyone been out there looking and/or buying anytime lately?

    Brenda
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    When we looked a couple of years ago we loved the Kitchen-Aid products. We have the black/stainless mixed look for our appliances. Both the black and stainless are prone to showing the evidence of kiddie fingers and doggy noses. Wouldn't really say that one is higher maintenance than the other in our house. There are stainless cleaners that you use instead of the usual product you do now and also some one use wipes that are great for a quickie touch up.
    How big do you want to go? We bought a beautiful 36" gas top from K-A with 4 burners and a central integrated stainless griddle ; unfortunately it didn't fit our cupboards and had to go back. We have a cassette Jenn-Air instead. If you are doing any sort of regular pan-frying, pancakes etc the built in griddles are without equal. With the Jenn-Air we have to switch it out for another two burner cartridge when needed but that is a minor inconvenience. We would never want to be without the griddle and are close to getting a second with the amounts the boys are eating now.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Love the cassettes - I have 6 of them (2 grills, 2 smooths and 2 coils), plus the griddle, so I can boil 4 pots or grill like crazy. I scored an older JennAir stove identical to ours at the Habitat for Humanities store here for $75 and combined them into one - but the working clock I saved still died a couple of weeks later (but the oven timer/cleaner is back).

    Brenda, they do have a stainless steel look out now but it's embossed to hide fingerprints. My ski buddy went with that look and likes it.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    thanks guys ... I have friends in TX who are gen contractors and they swear by the Jenn-Air cooktops. I also like the black "floating glass" look that Jenn-Air has on some of the units ...

    we'll figure it out eventually .. wish we could afford to do it all right now !

    we're looking to do some redesign to the front entry and make a bit bigger entry than the 3X3 postage stamp we have now .. some redesign to the master bath and extend into the main floor family room (we also have a 'formal' area for 'living' room plus a huge basement family room) so that we can expand closets ... the master in our house has the smallest closet !

    and .. the kitchen remodel .. so it just can't all happen at once .. we're trying for a 'master' plan ...
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    We are in the middle of a kitchen renovation and are appliance shopping like mad.

    We currently have a 25 year old electric Jenn-Air - we are converting to gas. We've narrowed it down to either a Jenn-Air or a Kenmore Elite with the Kenmore and tilting toward the latter due to aesthetics and $$$.

    We're probably getting an LG french door with a bottom freezer - no ice or water in the door. Although we love that feature, we've discovered that area needs lots of maintenance to keep it clean. Plus it's Energy Star which warrants a rebate from the electric company.

    I'm leaning towards a dual drawer dish washer while my wife really couldn't care less. All she wants is top controls.

    We're going stainless.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    thanks for the input ... we also like the LG french door with bottom freezer and i've had the water/ice thing in the door ... it IS a lot of maintenance. I'm not sure why the fridge people haven't figured out a way to make some sort of small 'drain' in the bottom of that area to keep from having water stand there or have spill-overs ...

    we had the ice/water in the door in the 'first' marriage .. i was in the house last summer and the fridge is now probably about 12-13 years old ..I hadn't seen it in probably 8-9 years and was really surprised because it looked TERRIBLE at the ice/water with the finish literally bubbling up around the tray ..

    my husband loves the dish drawers but they seem rather expensive to me ... it would be nice to be able to run the 'small' load, but I'm not sure it's really worth it ...

    (and while it's been forever since I bought one from Sears, the last fridge we had from there -a side by side - was a real lemon ... they were out all the time to repair it and we lost food more than once )

    Brenda
  • rob_mrob_m Member Posts: 820
    FWIW, run from Jenn-Air. My BIL who is in the know has had 5 years of grief from his. It was fine, until the warrantee expired. The circuit boards were replaced every 6 months.

    Kenmore may be retagged Whirlpool.

    I replaced my gas stove with a top of the line Whirpool Gold with the sealed burners, full top grate, etc about 3 years ago. Because the new 'almond' is now called 'bisque', it stood out from the other appliances. Because I am so OCD, I replaced the hood, refrigerator and dishwasher with matching appliances the next day. Rob M.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    my husband loves the dish drawers but they seem rather expensive to me ... it would be nice to be able to run the 'small' load, but I'm not sure it's really worth it ...

    My wife is turned off by the cost as well - although she has no issue spending $2K on a stove!! It's about $400 more than a nice dishwasher like a Bosch (which I highly recommend) - not much more money in the grand scheme. We have friends that installed one and they love it. The single drawer is enough for their family of four for one day and the second unit comes in handy when they have guests.

    As for the Kenmore - we've had a side by side for 11 years now. It's still going strong and will find its way to the basement for extra food storage.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    *I* have an issue with spending $2000 for a stove ... LOL ... we'll see if I'm able to part with even $1500 for a stove !

    and yeah .. he likes the Bosch too ...

    ooh .. ooh ... ooh .. have you seen the new LG microwave that goes over the range and has the "Dolorean gull wing door"? (That's what the DH called it.) The door opens UP instead of to the side and it's just a little bigger than the usual over the range microwave with some really nice features ... of course it's also $800 !
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Get a good vent and a CO detector. Even a properly adjusted gas stove generally emits 5 to 15 ppm - the average CO level in a house without a gas stove varies from 0.5 to 5 parts per million. Could turn your remodel into a real headache. :shades:
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    How tall are you? Problem with the upturning door is that it puts it up quite high which can be an issue if you are short. Kinda like the boys having to jump up to reach the open hatch of my WRX.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I'm 5'7". I liked it because the door was UP and out of the way if you are just checking food, etc. Just seemed like better access in and out of the microwave - but then we are all pretty "big" at our house.

    One of the possibilities for our kitchen includes a peninsula near the eating area. If we go with that plan, I may opt for a regular microwave in an open shelf just under the countertop. That would get the microwave out of the main kitchen area entirely, and closer to the table for the "convenience" foods.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    http://us.lge.com/products/model/detail/home%20appliances_cooking_over%20the%20r- ange%20microwaves_LMVM2277.jhtml

    here's the url if you want to take a look - although it's tough to tell from this pic how 'different' it really is ...

    this is the specifications page which has a couple more pics .. and yeah it really IS blue inside .. lol

    http://us.lge.com/download/product/file/1000003028/LMVM2277STss.pdf
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We did a remodel of our kitchen in '99, the year we moved it to this house.

    My #1 recommendation is this: do not get a white floor.

    Never. :sick:
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    I'll agree with the others here that some manufacturers have low-maintenance stainless now that's quite good. We recently put in a mid-grade Frigidaire electric range which we're pretty happy with. No problems with the "brushed" stainless it has - it looks great, doesn't show prints (unless your hands are really greasy) and is essentially maintenance-free! It does have a flat-top black cooktop, and THAT'S what shows every speck of dust and every spatter. I wish it were a speckled gray color. I'd shy away from black appliances just because of that... it's like having a black car. :)

    If you want a step up, check out the Electrolux appliances which have been making their way stateside from Europe. Electrolux makes Frigidaire. Same carefree stainless steel we've got on our range, but higher-level aesthetics and technology. They even have a "Perfect Turkey" button! :D Here's one of their gas ranges:
    http://www.electroluxappliances.com/node31.aspx?categoryid=1006&productid=18093

    Juice would like this brand... their lighting slowly fades out, just like a new Subaru's does. :shades:
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    For the calendar-impaired :P even though it's Tuesday, you can still come to a chat!

    Tuesday means Mazda chat night! The chat opens at 8:45 pm ET and runs until 10 pm ET. I hope you're able to join us tonight to meet and greet with your fellow CarSpace members!
    See you there!
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Brenda,

    We picked up a GE Profile dual fuel stove similar to this link title last year. It is a nice stove that has the middle burner/griddle which I agree is great for pancakes :D . Because it is dual fuel you can cook/bake either convection or conventional - although I haven't found that big a difference, except for chicken which comes out nice convection.

    A kitchen is one of our last projects that hopefully we will get to within 2 years; that and re doing the master bath.

    Good luck with it!
    Mark
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    thanks .. we're trying to 'expand' our entry (which is about 3X3 directly at the foot of the stairs and in the middle of every trafficway in the house) ... using existing roof lines and only bumping out about 2.5 feet underneath it ...

    we also want to expand our master bath and create a new closet (our bedroom has the smallest closet in the house .. go figure) ... and put in a new 1/2 bath as a public one since the main floor has to share with the master bedroom ...

    we then want to redo the entire kitchen - expanding cabinets, countertop, and adding a small hanging area just inside the garage door .. it's all do-able in the existing space... just don't have enough existing money !!

    but I definitely have to replace the stove SOON - before school starts at least ...

    thanks for everyone's input ...
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Brenda,

    My wife and I have come to fully understand a word that we feel is synonmous with home ownership- "eventually". Hang in there.

    Mark
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    oh, i completely understand the "eventually" about home ownership .. this is the fourth house i've owned in my lifetime ...
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Speaking of the joys of home ownership... last month we got the exterior painted and just last week replaced the roof. My next project is to rip up the carpet in the living and dining rooms and replace with wood floors. The fun just never ends :P

    -Frank
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    By coincidence we also painted the exterior. House looks great.

    Wifey wanted siding and a roof but I didn't want to open those can-o'-worms, so we compromised on the paint job.

    We stopped there because we're going to spend most of July in Brazil. :shades:
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Nice, we are in Attny Review right now on a townhouse on the Hudson River in NJ. Hopefully be in contract on Monday.

    -mike
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    good luck with the townhouse .... ahhhhh .. the joys of ownership .... lol
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yeah, looking forward to the first home. At least right now prices are at a low point so it'll hopefully be a good investment.

    -mike
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