Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

1644645647649650692

Comments

  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Figured I'd jump in here. As you know, my results also clash with Juice's, having not just one, but two drivers side HG's replaced on my '02 OBW over the years. Both were covered by SOA to their credit, but I doubt they will come to my aid a third time. So I think we are all on borrowed time with this vintage. Every vehicle has it's Achilles Heel, as we all well know.

    On the subject of new vs repaired/used, being in our 50's with kids approaching college years, we broke tradition (9 new cars) this past March as well. We felt that our old Odyssey might not be up to the driving schedule we had planned for this year, and started shopping for a new van. It was a painful decision, but we ended up with a CPO '08 Toyota Sienna instead. If feels 'new enough', and we are pretty happy with the $10-12k saved.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    But the passenger side was OK? So it's 50-50. LOL

    Just kidding. ;)
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I know you guys are great dads ... hope you all have a great father's day ...

    oldest stepson brought his dad a bottle of his 'home brew' .. lol (the kids are TOO old !!!)
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Thanks! We went on a bike ride on the new local rail trail. Once a year on FD I get my wife to join me. Then dinner out. Great time.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    everyone have a safe 4th holiday weekend ...
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,735
    Thanks, Brenda. I hope yours is enjoyable and safe as well!
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Yes- be careful! Don't blow yourself up! I always hated being on call on the 4th of July because of all of the dumb firework injuries that would come in! (don't hold M80s in your hand and light them!)

    Hope everyone is having a good summer!

    tom
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    we have lots of people around us who 'enjoy' fireworks often to the consternation of our dog ... right now we've had continuous rain since yesterday evening so at least it willl all be 'wet' ... I have a feeling that we'll still have lots of 'celebration' as soon as it's dry enough to get outside ...
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    edited July 2011
    A happy 4th to everyone—and let's hope Tom doesn't have to sew any fingers back on.

    Bob
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Hi guys, I haven't posted here in a long time. I see all the old stalwarts are still around. It has been an eventful year, Rita fell and badly broke her right wrist in January. She is still in therapy and probably will not regain full feeling in her little finger and wring finger due to a compressed nerve. Since she is right hand dominant you can imagine her frustration. I had prostate surgery on June 10th, and am presently waiting to see a retinal specialist, I have a separation in the back of my left eye due to complications from diabetes. Sucks to get older:-)

    On a happier note happy 4th to all my friends here on the crew.

    Cheers Pat.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Pat! Great to hear from you! Sorry to hear about Rita's injury and your problems—and I know where you're coming from. I've got degenerating disk disease in my lower back, so getting around is getting tougher every day. Yeah, getting old is not for sissies, that's for sure.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Just got this from one of my cousins. Believe it or not, this was done by a 15-year old girl. It's just amazing; there are no other words for it.

    http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

    Bob
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Happy Canada Day Pat!
  • hammerheadhammerhead Member Posts: 907
    Happy Canada Day, eh? Pat & Rita, hang in there!

    I'm not working another 4th of July, after the cluster-bleep I had to manage at the lake in our jurisdiction about 5 years ago. Seniority is worth something :)

    I get to announce a few baseball games this weekend! Woot!

    Happy, safe & sane 4th to us all!

    Cheers!
    Paul
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Hey Pat,

    I'm so sorry to hear about what you and Rita have been going thru lately. My best to both of you for a speedy recovery and some good news for a change.

    Steve
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    While it has been a rough year healthwise we realise there are folks much worse off than us. You only have to spend time in a hospital to get your eyes opened that's for sure.

    I have to admit I didn't see the diabetes coming, I am not overweight, have always worked out and eat healthy. I did everything right and still I got it. It is not called the silent desease for nothing, it is now causing a lot of concern as it is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide.

    Cheers Pat.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Funny how life works. My mom quit smoking at ~78 and is still sharp at 90.

    Are you going in for a "detachment" surgery on your eye then? I had two of those a while back (the first one didn't take). Thank goodness for the laptop - I was stuck in bed a total of six weeks, but fortunately was stuck in a manageable side position to keep the gas bubble in place while the eye healed, and was able to stay online the whole time. No diabetes to hinder the healing; that's an awful disease.

    My octogenarian in-laws have an embroidered pillow that says "The Golden Years Suck". :shades:
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    No Steve, it is not retinal detachment, there is a separation in the layers at the back of my eye. It is causing blurring in my central vision. It is much like light leaking into a camera lens and causing blurry pictures.

    Unfortunately even with surgery it can recur, so it can be an ongoing problem for life. They think though that it can be cleared up for now with laser surgery.

    I Like the pillow, I like to say the golden years are gold injections and gold teeth :D
    Yes diabetes is an awful desease, it can cause havoc with major organs.

    Cheers Pat.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    A beloved aunt of Beth's used to say that old age sucked, but it beat the alternative. I guess that is the attitude you have to hold on to, otherwise the so called golden years will be a miserable experience.

    I've been making the rounds to doctors the past few weeks. All the tick-born stuff and a variety of other things have been ruled out, so it is probably just arthritis taking hold. It sure takes the fun out of physical activities, and I hate taking pills. Oh well....
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    edited July 2011
    Yeah Steve even with all the health issues I have had over the years I still enjoy being on the right side of the grass ;) I keep saying I am gonna go out kicking and screaming regardless of how old I am. :)

    Rita has a lot of arthritic issues, most of her fingers are all bent at crooked angles because of it, and times she is in a lot of pain.

    Cheers Pat.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Check out "compression gloves" if you haven't already.
  • toboggantoboggan Member Posts: 283
    Yup, as we get more mature, our bodies seem acquire more chronic illnesses. Went to a Lung Association meeting and the speaker said people our age (retired) have at least 2 chronic illnesses. Since most of us are in our 60's and 70's, that is true.

    Makes one want to retire while your body still works good. :)
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    Hey Pat! Great to 'hear' from you, it's been a long time.

    I just got married and returned from honeymoon in France. It's my second and final wedding at age 35, first one was age 22. Hope you and Rita have full recoveries and I'm sure you still have an outstandingly clean car. :)
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Congrats Colin!

    Bob
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    edited July 2011
    Pat, Good to hear from you again, though the news could have been better. I wish both Rita na d yourself a full and quick recovery.

    Colin, mazel tov to you and your bride on you recent imprisonment, er...excuse me, I meant to say nuptials! I wish you both a long and happy life together.

    As for myself, I am off to London tomorrow to visit my friends there...then 2 weeks in Italy to see other friends and back to London for my final week of vacation. I have a tour of Prodrive scheduled for next Monday...it should be fun.
    I will post photos every now and then. Have a great summer, all of you.
    Serge
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    edited July 2011
    Hi Colin yep it has been a long time, congrats on the wedding. Yep I still take good care of my car.
    I now have a 2010 Mazda3 Gt sport hatch. I didn't think I would find anything to make me as happy as the Titan did, but this is a superb car. As well as the smile on the front of it, it puts a big smile on my face everytime I get into it.

    Cheers Pat.
    .
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Congratulations Colin!!!!

    Did you get to see any part of the Tour de France????
    Wishing you and the happy bride all the best!

    Pat, sorry about the health stuff. Hopefully after some service you'll be good for another 60k miles!

    tom
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    Tom,

    No I didn't see any of Le Tour, as we were back in the US right before it started. I've been watching it closely and lusting over the new Cervelo S5-- I previously had asked Arika if I could buy a R3 but yet haven't lived up to her qualification of 'needing' it which is riding 4 days a week AND entering a race. LOL!

    Anyway, we were in France 12 days including travel, spending really 10 days in Paris, Bayeux, Mont Ste Michel, Amboise, Antibes and Nice.

    It was an amazing trip. I'm thankful to have seen it all, but honestly Paris was my least favorite as it was a jumbled mass of humanity. We took over 700 pictures and I threw the best 170 on Facebook, but I'm not sure if I'll put them on photobucket or anything similar. Mainly because I wrote captions for nearly all of them and I'm not keen to reproduce that..
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    Congrats on the Mazda, then. :) I'm still driving my 2003 Mitsubishi Evo, 101k miles on it and going strong. (Literally, 40k miles after upping the boost to 21.5psi and roughly 330hp.) Wife drives a Suzuki Grand Vitara that I helped her pick out 2 years ago, it's really been a great mini-ute.

    I can't buy a new car until after we get a bigger house, which is probably 1-2 years down the road. Even then, I don't know what I'll get. I think a sedan or wagon, since the Suzuki is going to age well with the few miles wifey puts on it. (12.5k miles total so far.)
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Makes one want to retire while your body still works good.

    Boy, wouldn't that be nice! Unfortunately, as we adopted two kids late in life and the youngest is only 8 (been married for 30 years), I probably get to die at my desk. No retirement in my future!

    The chronic stuff is a bit scary. In my case, it is a mystery disease called Sarcoidosis. Even though it has done a number on my left lung, it really doesn't slow me down too much. But I suspect that the growing joint issues are tied to it as well. The real problem is finding a doctor that understands multi-system illnesses. My pulmonary guy seems to know nothing (or even care) about joint pain. I have an appt down in NYC next month, so maybe I'll get some answers, or at least a path.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Always liked the Grand Vitara. Is yours a V6 with the full-time AWD and the 2-speed transfer case? Automatic, I would assume?

    Bob
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    edited July 2011
    Yep, exactly! I've wished for slightly better MPG at times, and no doubt the truckish frame and fulltime 4WD is hampering things a bit, but they are huge assets when we go camping and in poor winter weather.

    I've put it in 4-Low exactly twice, once offroad and once in deep slushy snow. I've put it in fully locked 4-Hi more than that, probably a dozen times in bad conditions. But the basic fulltime mode works really well.

    I like the manual reclining rear seats, too. It's simple but effective.

    It's been dead reliable thus far in its easy life, which isn't surprising.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    edited July 2011
    Congrats on your marriage and the trip.

    but yet haven't lived up to her qualification of 'needing' it which is riding 4 days a week AND entering a race.

    I meet the qualification of riding 4 days a week (March thru Dec), but I'll never be a racer. However, she said ENTER a race, not win it - that should be a pretty easy qualification for that high end bike you lust after!

    I have to admit, that for me wrenching on bikes is as much fun as riding them. I have a basement full - largely vintage steel, some aluminum. No Ti or carbon (yet).

    My number one ride, strange to admit, is my Dahon folding bike. Aluminum, 7 speed. It lives in the back of the OBW, and gets me off-site to lunch and across-site meetings daily.
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    I actually have only 3 bikes and didn't get back into bicycling until the end of summer last year (2010). Two of my bikes are from my youth-- a 17.5" Trek chrome-moly MTB, rigid of course, that I have a tall stem on because I really need a 19" bike; and a GT Pro Performer 20" 'freestyle' bike that I got when I was maybe 12 or 13. I ride the GT with my 4 year-old son now and then, but boy, it's cramped and tiny for a six-footer.

    Last year I did a lot of research and bought a Cannondale Quick CX hybrid bike. I've done light trail with it no problem, and it's faster than a MTB on the street/path by far. But it's definitely not a road bike... I ride my dad's Specialized Secteur and it's so much lighter, more comfortable, more efficient, and faster. (Then again, I haven't tried 25mm road tires on my Quick, maybe that would make a big difference.)

    Anyway, I want to go farther and faster on the road. Seems like I need a road bike for that. :)
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,735
    I look at bikes now and again thinking I might get one, but just haven't worked myself up to it yet. Largely, I think it is the time commitment and limited amount of the year (~ five months, max) I can use it. I would guess that a ride to work would take me a solid hour (probably much more to start) on a good road bike, versus 18-20 minutes by car. I blow off nearly every other recreational opportunity due to time constraints, so I can't imagine sucking up an extra two hours a day for that ride. And, outside of commuting, there just isn't any time I would use it.

    I have a "light" mountain bike now (for the past five years), but would never consider commuting on it lest my mood were one of suicide. I rode it a mile or two a few times early on, but I think I like it better just hanging on my wall.... :blush:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Just last month it was so quiet, now messages galore.
    Welcome back Pat, sorry to hear about the health issues for you and Rita.
    Congrats Colin! We did 20 days in France last year. Paris was OK, but paled compared to Normandy or the Loire. I used to say, "There must be dozens of outdoor stairwells in Paris which are clean and don't smell of urine....we just never found one!"
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited July 2011
    I dumped an old REI MTB last summer and purchased 5 bikes off Craigslist before finally deciding on an older Raleigh with discs, working Deore LX stuff and flat pedals with old school toe clips. Then I resold the others, after tuning them up a bit, and about broke even.

    Managed to upgrade a few parts and the saddle doing that, and wound up with a pair of commuting tires that have worked out well. Wish I had done the same thing with a road bike back in Boise where there was a lot of selection. I got rid of my old '72 era Reynolds 531 bike about a decade ago.
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Colin, it's amazing these new bikes. I have a full carbon Specialize Rubaix (for old folks- it's taller at the headtube and has a smoother ride- much more comfortable!) and weighs in at about 15lbs! My road bike in college was very light- at 24lbs! I have a set of carbon rims that are lighter, more aerodynamic and again smoother than aluminum ones.

    I can ride farther and faster now than I did in college- all because of the technology that goes into these bikes.

    Maybe getting old is not too bad???? ;)

    tom
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    Tom,

    The Roubaix is at the top of my list, particularly in 2011 since there is a new S-Works frame and last year's S-Works is now the 2011, sub-$3,000 base models. An amazing value.

    The Cervelo R3 is similarly proportioned and for the same cobblestoned races. It doesn't get down into the Roubaix's Shimano 150 or SRAM Apex pricing, though, starting with the SRAM Rival gruppo and costing about $3600.

    My dad's roadbike that I frequently ride --it's in my living room right now-- is a 2010 Specialized Secteur which has the same geometry as the Roubaix with an aluminum frame. His has the SRAM Apex gruppo and it's 21.5 pounds on my scale with enthusiast grade Mavic aluminum wheels. My hybrid bike is 26 pounds... lighter than any non-carbon mountainbike, but very heavy for something on 700c road wheels. It does have a Cannondale headshok, though, and I can do light trail with it very well.

    Oh. One thing I've become very fond of is kevlar-belted tires. I hate glass/thorn flats with a passion. After several of them, all my bikes now have puncture resistant tires which hardly weigh any more and never get flats. Plus the extra weight of the tires is a lot less than the weight of carrying patches or tubes and a pump or inflator!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    One for Xwes:

    Bikers Charged by Moose (YouTube)
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Wow, 101k miles that's a lot on the EVO, didn't expect you would still have it given that you didn't used to keep cars that long.
    I sold the Subaru last January, I got well over Black book retail for it. The guy that bought it didn't even quibble, he knew what he was getting as soon as he saw it. Matter of fact he is still in touch with me.

    To tell the truth I was initially unhappy selling it, but we went down to one car and Rita thought the Sube too big for her, she would only drive it when she absolutely had to, and then she drove like an old granny which definitely is not her style. I came to the conclusion if she really did not like driving the car it was a recipe for an accident so it had to go.

    I have been extremely happy with the Mazda, man that thing likes to go and corners like it is on rails, I like to get to get on a road with lots of curves now and then and wind it out. Mazda definitely knows how to put the Zoom-Zoom in their cars.

    Cheers Pat.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I was charged by a young bull when I was on my road bike. Just a sham charge and then he was off. Luckily it wasn't cow and calf like the video. Had one of those too, but it was on foot, and the dog barking like an insane wolf made her choose to shelter the calf rather thantry to stomp two of us.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,735
    Yeah, those moose are such pests - like deer in the tamer areas of the world (except much more dangerous!).
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited July 2011
    Friend of ours just broke her leg on a trail a couple of hours away - dappled light and she didn't see the divot made in the trail by a ground squirrel or pocket gopher. Took a header. No helmet cam either. :cry:
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    That's kind of funny! Two summers ago I was spending time down with family in Fredricksburg, VA. I went in to Old Town Bikes to buy some parts, and ended up test riding a 2009 Specialized Roubaix. I was pretty impressed that this much technology could be had for a mere $2k. I liked the little inserts in the seat stays and fork for some additional 'give'. The only thing that held me back was I live in such a hilly area that a compact double and 26T rear would have me walking too often. As much as I'd prefer not to, I need that deep triple (28-30T front and 32T in the rear). Without something close to mtb gearing, it's no sale....

    One of my project bikes is restoration of a 1981 Fuji S12-s road bike. The 18 speed drivetrain has gearing that is almost low enough to get the job done. Bar end shifters aren't as nice as brifters, but the Cr-Mo steel frame is very responsive yet compliant. Good enough for short rides.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I'm a strong believer in 4-Lo, and always have been. As you said, you may rarely use it; but when you need it, it's really nice to have. Think of it as extra mobility insurance. :)

    What trim level do you have?

    Bob
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    As much as I'd like to take credit for the uptick in activity, I think Pat's return was the catalyst. All the long-timers were glad to hear from him. :)

    About Paris: it was really busy, and I'm convinced that there are no real rules of the road for scooters and motorcycles. Anywhere they fit, any time, any speed-- go for it.

    We didn't encounter a lot of urine, though. We stayed in a hotel just off Rue Cler by the Eiffel Tower and walked everywhere. Easily did 15 miles a day, maybe more. My favorite in Paris was Orsay.. post-Renaissance art is so much more interesting than the older stuff in the Louvre.
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    It's pretty flat here, but we do live in one of the rare hilly parts which means I have 'some' hills rather than 'none'.

    My middle chainring is 38 and I very rarely need to get onto the smallest one on-road. On my dad's roadbike is 50/34 and 11-32; I ride around on the big chainring nearly exclusively and only use the smaller ring for the toughest hills.

    What I have found to be REALLY tough is pulling my 4 year-old in a bike trailer. Kid + his water + one small toy + trailer = 65 to 68 pounds. Flat ground isn't too bad, builds good strength, but hills just burn up my legs. It's hard to ride with anyone else, even casually, when I'm pulling him.

    Fortunately, he is riding his own bike now. We've only had the trailer out once this year, which is good because last year it nearly killed me a few times. :blush:
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    Bob,

    We just have a base trim V6 4WD with 5spd automatic. It has cloth seats, no sunroof, 15" wheels, etc. However it does have fully defeatable stability management, heated side mirrors, automatic climate control and automatic headlights. I got it for $16,000 out the door, at the bottom of the market in April 2009, versus a sticker price of $23,500-ish.

    The only complaint I would have at all is that the rear hatch is side-hinged and on the wrong side to boot.. so you have to have about 5 feet of clearance behind you to open it, and if you're curbside another foot or two to walk around the door.

    It looks like the stock Yoko Geolanders (bleh!) might wear out before winter. Whenever it's time to replace them, I'm going to put some inexpensive 17" or 18" wheels on it. The only modification so far is a draw-tite hitch I installed, but I'm thinking about a transmission cooler.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I loved Orsay. I could have spent two days there. Barely got a day with the 4 kids along. Loved the restaurant. I couldn't believe the works were RIGHT THERE. My one boy with some developmental issues almost clocked a Gaugin swinging his back pack around to get his water bottle. One of those SLO-MO "oh $h!t" moments.
    My dad had told me that he never "got" Van Gogh until he saw the works in real life. I completely understood what he meant when I saw them. I can't explain it, but it's like you can actually feel the brushstrokes. OTOH I was never blown away by Gaugin's works and I left feeling no different.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.