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Comments
-Brian
Serge
That means they'll have competitors to the xA and xB, priced below the Sentra.
I'm not convinced that Subaru could compete in that price segment, with AWD being a big cost penalty, but still, it's interesting that others are betting on this niche.
-juice
Actually, just kidding, they can potentially get the same % or more improvement, and given they use more fuel and often go more miles, they can actually break even sooner.
-juice
that is rite, they only sold 1 domestic truck but they beat izuzu who sold 2 import trucks last sept and sold zero this sept.
never thought i would see the day when maybach would outsell those guys lol
The 2 import trucks from Isuzu must have been 2 left over Troopers. The Rodeo and Axiom were domestic.
-juice
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB112850275576560454.html?mod=home_whats_news_us
Toyota to buy partial stake in Fuji.
I wonder what that means in terms of the next Saabaru(s)? Go or no-go?
Bob
GM walks away with $7-800 million dollars when they need it most. Toyota is only buying 8.7% of Fuji as part of this as they already hold close to 48% of the JDM market - they don't want to incur the wrath of an anti-trust investigation in Japan.
I see Subaru getting better access to hybrid components and Toyota getting access to better AWD systems for the Lexus line. AWD is becoming a must have in the premium and above segments. At least that's what I hear from the Subanistas.
Perhaps we'll see a bigger Legacy based on the Camry platform.
Gee, don't they kind of look alike from the back already? Rob M
I can see it now. The Legacy XL GT with Asymmetrical AWD (left front and right rear only) equipped with automatic only (like most Camrys and the direction Subaru is leaning) and the sport tuned suspension of the Camry.
Running and ducking!!
Perhaps the Subaru Tacobaja - wouldn't that be a nice idea.
A special crate for dogs in the glove apartment allows owners to interact with their pets while driving. A bigger crate pops up from the floor in the back seat area and can be folded back into the floor when it's not needed. For even bigger dogs, just buckle them up with a special seat belt to the floor. The W.O.W comes with removable, washable, rollout flooring and has wide sliding doors to keep dogs happy.
Bob
But where do you store the dog biscuits? Sirius (my Pharoah Hound/Kelpie Cross) is a regular companion in my Kluger and we keep a store of dog biscuits in the glove box and a folding water bowl in the boot (trunk to most of you).
She would not approve of thi dog-crate idea. Her place is draped over a child or two for their warmth and her comfort.
Cheers
Graham
Bob
http://just-auto.com/nd.asp?art=49557&dm=yes
Wonder if this was part of the FHI/Subaru alliance deal, as the timing would certainly suggest it was?
Bob
Hadji disapproves of the slippery wood floors, incompatible with pet transport.
I disapprove of the white seats, with a dog that sheds black hair - nightmare.
Nice try, but thumbs way down.
-juice
The courses were short like the others have been, but still fun. They periodically stopped action to 'showoff' a real dragrace of the RX400h vs. the X3 and the SRX. We even saw them race the GS vs the 530i in one of the courses. ESPN golf analyzer thing was there, massages, and a bunch of food that I have no idea what it really was.
Got spoiled using the power tilt/telescopic wheel and auto power up and down windows.
IS250 AWD: new vehicle, exterior is mazda6-like, quite a nice handler, surprising
IS350: non-AWD, feels more powerful but it really isn't necessary, still surprisingly nice
GS430: I've always been fond of the looks of this Lexus. Too bad, it was dissapointing, heavy feel, not sporty, much too quiet.
RX400h: WOW, how strange to accelerate with no motor! First ride in any hybrid, this really was incredible how it did it's thing.
RX330: probably should have driven this before the 400h. Feels tall and heavy.
LX470: was able to take this to a side incline crawl (oh the excitement!). Feels very tall, quite roomy.
GX470: probably the best fit for this motor, still feels tall.
SC430: sorry, this is not worth $60k. Could fit 4 easier into the Saab 9-3 convertible, and that was more fun to drive. The SC feels like a convertible for Buick owners.
LS430: big boat feel, quiet, non-eventful drive.
Also drove a MB E500, BMW 530i, and BMW 330i. On the way out, across from where I parked was a Porsche 911 and a Lotus Elise.
-Brian
-juice
Subaru should work on tweaking the fuel efficiency of the 2.5T engines, the only real achilles heel they have.
-juice
The SVX's owners received less than they had hoped from their insurance company and so have decided to sell the now-infamous (locally, anyway) vehicle on eBay.
You can read the story and see video footage of the chase here: http://www.komotv.com/news/story_m.asp?ID=39591
The story, including the owners' decision to sell on eBay, has been picked up by Associated Press.
At least these folks are trying to turn the OJ-like chase scenes featuring their car into something good, and being humorous about it at the same time. They're even trying to sell the screwdriver the guy used to break in & hotwire it.
http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=13163&ref=archive
Bob
Any suggestions on what to get? Old Supra, RX-7, 240 sx, miata? Neon or Impreza? Old BMW?
Thanks!
tom
I would stay away from FWD cars for auto-cross, it can be quite a handicap. I have seen quite a few people running 2.5H4 Imprezas and WRXs.
Are you looking to get something and run with it, or do you want to spend some time tinkering with wheels/tires, suspension, etc.... ?
Craig
Part of this is your fault, Craig. I got to thinking about your S2000 and how fun it'd be to get into auto-x. I'm thinking about trying some events with my GT (if I still have it) but I'm also thinking about building up a pure track car/auto-x car, but I don't want to spend $100k doing it! Just for fun, you know? I saw a mazdaspeed miata which might be fun to start with- or the dealer had a '02 Miata with only 7K miles. What to do?!?!?
Maybe I could run my minivan? Do they have a minivan category?
tom
Colin and Lucien here have quite a bit of auto-x experience. I'm sure one of them will chime in soon.
Ken
I am sure a Mazdaspeed Miata would be an awesome car, if you fit in it (I didn't unfortunately). Even a base Miata would be good. S2Ks are also good autocross cars, but can be difficult to drive (especially pre-2004). I like the idea of an AWD car because it is something that you can grow into -- will handle well and break away predictably as a beginner, and then you can really push it as you advance.
Craig
Craig
-juice
Buying a Miata will place you among a great many exceptional drivers and they are affordable. I would not get a FWD car. They can be competitive-- can even dominate some classes-- but they are no fun. The autocross season is done so maybe you can see if anyone in local clubs is selling a vehicle that you could use. I wouldn't buy anything beyond a Street Prepared car (which is pretty dang tricked out for autocross) except maybe a F125 kart, but you might find a handful of cars to pick from.
But at first I would just drive whatever you have available to you and see what you think of the sport in general. At worst you'll use up a few thousand miles' worth of life on your tires and brake pads --nothing else will really wear except the clutch, autocross is honestly not *that* hard on a car.
How well your local club(s) run events could honestly make or break it for you. I find autocross a poor investment of time, money and effort but if I had all of those to spare, I do enjoy it. In my experience it is typically 4-5 runs at 30-45 seconds each, set against a backdrop of at least 4 hours and often more like 8 hours invested. It is a nice rush for the short time that it lasts and you do learn some valuable car control skills and things about your daily driver (if you use it for autocross).
~Colin
Yeah, I figure in the off season I could make plans about what to get. Maybe I'll try an event or two in my car first. I guess a Miata is sounding better than an RX-7 or Supra. I know someone selling their 240sx- I figure $3k for an SR20det conversion should make it competitive. But maybe I don't really need the engine.
Maybe I just need to borrow my dad's car a couple of weekends a year. . .
tom
For a second I thought they might use the Golf Plus since that VW will make it to the US as an SUV.
-juice
And of course Porsche will come up with another great name - Pequeno sounds good.
http://www.renaultf1.com/en/season/china/index.php?news=tcm:3-41607
18,500 Rpm sounding sweet!
Pulled my 06 FXT up to a red light today - the left lane - with the right lane open next to me (remember this, it will be important in a minute). This light is notorious for quick starts because about 1/2 mile down the road, the right lane must merge with the right and what was a straight city street becomes a rolling country highway. As you can imagine, people in the right lane try to get past as many left laners as possible before merging. Luckily there's usually not any cross traffic to interfere.
So I'm sitting in the left lane at the red light, anticipating that whatever car should pull up next to me will try to beat me off the line and pull ahead. I'm no boy racer (anymore - as evident by the lawnmower I'm hauling home in the cargo area), but I'm ready to pounce if necessary, if for no other reason than to let the FXT breathe a little.
I glance in my rearview mirror only to see a brand new Mercedes CLS coupe approaching me in the other lane. I couldn't help but laugh at how screwed I was about to be. It was one of those moments when you just know the car gods are laughing at how they've set you up. Anyway, I'm guessing it was the CLS500 pushing 302hp, because the outcome would have been greatly amplified if it were the 469hp CLS55 AMG.
I was almost ready to surrender before the light even changed, but then it struck me that this was my chance to see what the other car was capable of - driver willing, of course. And was he ever! I think I surprised him a little, but he managed to get in front once he decided to put the peddle on the floor (not wanting to be embarrassed by an awkward looking wagon, I imagine). Truth be told, I even began cheering him on.
My consolation? Mine cost half as much. And I was hauling a lawnmower.
Mark
MPV - is this any bigger than the 5? Doesn't look much bigger. Mazda needs to distinguish it more from the small vanlet.
That Mini concept is a train wreck.
New EVO should look good. It's like they predicted where Acura was heading, then put an Audi grille on it. But the results are good.
Outlander gets a Tribeca-like D-pillar. Since the RAV4 did also, you wonder where the next Forester will go. It will be me-too if they do that. They might want to stick with a boxy design.
Nissan Wingroad looks like an Armada's baby brother. Cute.
Toyota bB doesn't look nearly as good as the concept Scion showed at the NY show. Too bad. It kind of looks like they merged the xA and xB, but the result is nothing new.
Toyota Estima - clean it up and this could compete with the Mazda5.
Polo GTI - VW needs a car to slot under the Jetta since sales are down. They need a place holder to move the Jetta and Gold up a notch in buyers' minds.
-juice
Yes. The new MPV (especially) is slightly bigger than it's predecessor. Remember the M5 is based on the 3 platform. In the Zoom Zoom event they had an M5 on the track... though it was a slushbox, I was impressed on how well it handled. I mean, I REALLY tossed this mini-ute around and apart from chewing the front sidewall tires, it showed it's own on taking the beating.
Now the MX-5... all I will say is WOW!!!!
The size of the new MPV in Japan (while it is sized like the 6) doesn't matter, it's not coming here. '06 will be the last you'll see of the MPV outside of Japan. Mazda is going the way of the crossover with the CX7 to start with.
-Brian
-Brian
-juice