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Comments
Ross: Sandy says her owner (me) has split personalities. One's a responsible father, the others is a car nut. They can't agree on exactly how far to go with the mods. What does the good doctor suggest?
Graham: tattoos? Good idea...
I think I own a suit. Some where. Work is (thankfully) casual.
Patti: how come the ozzies get over 3500 lbs towing and we get only a ton? How 'bout that towing package, with bigger brakes and a tranny cooler?
More importantly, how 'bout starting a "Free Turbo for the Juiceman" program?
Hey, one can dream!
-juice
-Colin
Ross
Welcome back! So were you able to drive both the LL Bean and VDC? I'd love to hear your impressions.
Also, do you know if any major car magazine is planning on doing a full review on either model? It would be very interesting to hear what a publication like Car & Driver has to say.
Finally, one last question: Is there a way to "lock" the power split on the VDC for very low traction situations?
Ken
Sorry, that may have been my golf ball. I know you're in Canada. It's just that I'm THAT BAD!
Patti: my question is this - beyond all the marketing hype we've already read, what surprised you about the H6 models? What stood out that you remember best?
-juice
Cheers,
WDB
Stephen
<<<'You can no longer order a 2001 Impreza. In order to purchase a 2001 Impreza, you would need to do so from a dealer's existing inventory.
The short model year for the 2001 Impreza is because of the early introduction sometime next year for the next generation 2002 Impreza models. Below you will find the only information available on this model line:
We will be directing our future performance strategy toward the Impreza. We plan to make the next-generation Impreza our performance leader. It will also feature a turbocharged model. Details about this model are not being made public at this time. The next-generation Impreza is scheduled to be on sale sometime in 2001 calendar year as a 2002 model. It's also too early to say exactly when.'>>>
With the Press intro supposedly scheduled for March 2001, IMO, I can see the new Impreza being in the showrooms in the spring.
-juice
Then again, a new age impreza might be enough of an improvement to merit waiting. It REALLY depends on what will happen to the wagon. Gotta have that.
At the same time, my Bimmer buddies are trying to talk me into a late eighties 325is series with, say 80K on the odo. There is a scary amount of stuff coming out for the Focus too.
WDB, I believe Alfred E. Newman's saw was "What, me worry?".
..Mike
Re golf: Not original, feel free to use
About four or five years ago I was standing in a ticket line at LAX and a fellow in a line parallel to mine had a golf bag slung over his shoulder.
Since the line was long and airline ticketing is a slow process at best, we struck up a conversation.
He brightened when I admired his golf bag, and he proudly stated that he was on the PGA Tour. Then he turned to me and asked the question all golfers ask: "Do you play?"
I shook my head, "I used to, but I quit because I wasn't very good. I shot consistently in the lower seventies."
There was a long, low in-take of breath, then "The lower 70's?!"
"Yes," I admitted.
"Consistently?" he queried admiringly.
"Every hole," I confessed.
Ross
I personally think the ZX3 is stupid looking, but I think it will become the next "Civic" as far as sport compact tuning goes. Being really, really affordable helps a whole lot.
-Colin
It never stops!!!
-mike
Ex-Escort Owner, nuff said!
Today, ClassicSoftTrim (prior to taking the vehicle home from the dealer) is installing leather in my Aspen White 2001 Forester S. They remove the cloth, add a bit more "cushioning"
padding, and recove with leather on ALL sides. The door cloth gets leather as well. Anyway, the color which we have chosen is a very dark grey, called Graphite.
I thought the bottom of the 2001 Forester's were dark grey, but they are apparently Titanium, the kinda' tan color previously seen on the Outbacks. True?
Can I get some opinions. What do you think dark grey leather will look like on the inside, and how about with the Titanium cladding on the outside. The leather people said most people go with the color "Nickle" but I thought the contrast would be nice than trying to match the present color of the interior.
Here are the colors:
http://www.classicsofttrim.com/Colors.asp#Colors
BTW. It is costing me $1,100 (retail $1,700)
Dave B
Ross
Cheers
Graham
Surprises - I think the Bean and the VDC are both beautiful cars. What surprised me was the technology in the VDC. It was acronym city in training, but to break it down to basics, the VDC is coupled with sensors and computers that are mind boggling! There is a TCS (traction control system) that detects problems with traction that in turn works with the AWD and with the ABS. Other sensor's detect problems with steering (we had the wheel turned to the right on a surface and skid that made it want to go left. The sensors corrected the direct of the wheels. Also there are sensors that determine the yaw and latitude of the car and make adjustments. It was amazing. We tested out the components under EXTREME circumstances and you could really see the systems at work. One test involved putting the VDC on a lift and in drive. Then we accelerated hard and turned the wheel back and forth. It was strange watching the power cuts to the engine and the wheels while it tried to figure out what we were doing. (No folks, don't try this at home - they allowed us to beat up the car - I don't think you'd want to do this to one that you own).
I asked about towing increases because of the system providing more power to the rear wheels than before. I was advised that they are looking at increasing the recommended towing weights, but it will still be a class 1. From what I heard, in order for the class to change to 2, they need to change things with the body structure to provide optimum performance. Maybe for the STX?? We'll see.
I also loved the stereo. It will NOT be available as an accessory on other models and it can't be added to the Bean car because of various wiring and insulation issues. The stereo works off it's own power source to eliminate interference. It really had a beautiful sound. The only time I was able to hear any distortion turned out to be because of a very old CD (John Tesh??). Turns out that the CD was bad.
I'm still pushing the donut spare issue and I'll let you know what I hear. From what I understand, the issue relates to the additional space needed to allow for it. To put in a full size, the size of the tires would have to be adjusted (smaller).
I'll be back later!
If they're got to make the body a bit stronger, in order to give it a Class II towing, they might as well increase the size of the spare tire tub at the same time. Knock off two birds with one stone.
Also, if they do go to a Class II rating at some point, all the more reason for a full-size spare - and NOT the smaller 215/60x16 tire size used in other markets.
Bob
I think you may be right about Focus. I don't want the car to get too boy racer, though. Nor am I a fan of FWD, which is why I shy away from the Golf. Drat. I knew this was going to be difficult. If only there had been a 2.5RS wagon, I would be in better shape. the Impreza wagon, as it stands now, does need a fair amount of upgrading. Theoretically it is a worthy platform, I suppose.
a. Take Graham's advice. :-)
b. I'd go with the niclel. It will stay cooler in the summer.
-Frank P.
Exciting stuff!
Daniel
I just got back from a week in Santa Fe, and that town is definitely Subaru heaven. I must have seen 100 Soobs around town. OB's, Loyales, Outback Sports, Imprezas, you name it. I talked to a guy with a new OB Limited and he said it was the best car he had ever owned.
Thanks.
texbean (beancounter/accountant from Texas)
The Subaru in contrast has been spectacularly reliable. Maintenance costs are not the absolute lowest around and regular servicing is a good idea. It seems to be sensitive to plug condition and dirty/low grade fuel which is an occassional problem here in Australia. (On one occassion, I drained the fuel tank of an earlier car to discover water, rust and grass stalks, picked up from dirty fuel)
There have been other posts on this board, a long way back, about buying in Texas.
Best of luck with your new purchase. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do
Cheers
Graham
If anybody is interested in improving upon the traffic crisis in the Washington, D.C., and the DC suburbs in both northern Virginia and Maryland, you need to visit this site.
It is a group that is proposing a new crossing (bridge[s] or tunnel) of the Potomac River. I, as many of you, often travel to northern Virginia. It is a drive I dread. I am all for a new bridge, or anything else that would seriously alleviate the traffic crisis we have in this area.
Bob
http://mdsecondcrossing.org/
loosh: careful what you ask for. Bimmers only recently became reliable. Porsches are very high-maintenance. I'm not saying they're not fun, just leave room for mods AND running costs.
That said, go RWD. You have bad weather covered. FWD is boring. You don't have to be practical all the time!
apexin: choose the lightest colored leather that you think matches.
patti: ALL Tesh CD's sound that bad. The player was working perfectly!
texbean: welcome and no you don't have to have the Soob in hand to join the Crew!
-juice
http://www.bitman.com/gt/
Will be adding the final report on our road trip to this site also in the next day or so. Kinda got sidelined by the great weather and we took off last Monday again for a few days camping in the eastern Sierras. Excellent weather. Made up for the freeze out in Utah.
BTW, did the final mileage calc for our trip. For the 7400 miles that we recorded mileage (of 8500) we averaged 28.33mpg! No kidding. Will double check one more time just to be sure.
More later,
Bit
Drew/aling
Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference
I had mine done at Classic Soft trim in Chantilly VA. They did it for $899 plus tax and they threw in a box of cleaner and conditioner. You should be able to get them to come down some on that price a bit. It took about 3 hours to complete. I dropped it off in the morning and they even drove me the 10 or so miles to work. I was very pleased all the way around.
I can confirm how nice Dale's leather looks. Very professional install, and the color matches well. The leather was medium soft, while looking very durable, and even had the "SRS" logos on the sides purpose built for the side air bags.
I didn't try the heated seats, though, do they still work, Dale?
BTW, hers has EVERYTHING! Flares, auto, leather AND convertible top (OK, giant moonroof).
That was at the Fall Folliage tour, organized by SCOA (thanks Garry!). Check out my write-up on the Events thread.
-juice
-mike
Read back and you'll see I predicted awful tranny problems with the known-bad CD4E, especially in a heavier vehicle with more torque.
That's the 2nd recall already. Maybe they'll eventually replace the entire tranny, piece by piece!
-juice
purpose built for the side air bags"
Will the side air bags still work with the aftermarket leather on these Forester seats? Those little "SRS" logos on the original seats are weak spots for the air bag to deploy through. If these spots are covered with leather, the air bag cannot deploy. I would hate to see what will happen to all that high pressure air in a confined space.
I was under the impression that the reason for the Forester S+ not being available with leather was becuse they could not get the side SRS bags certified in time. To cover those with leather looks pretty dangerous to me!
Please help me if I am wrong.
Daniel
-Frank P.
Craig
I'm sure that leather installer has tested the side bags. They make leather for several models, so I'm sure that some have even deployed.
Lumbar support - LOL!
-juice
-juice
If SoA did not have time to complete testing, then how could the aftermarket leather company have done it? Does the aftermarket company provide a document to verify their testing?
Be careful guys. That sudden "lumbar support" could be fatal. Especially of there is a child in the back seat where they are supposed to be. We are talking here of a very serious explosion when these bags are deployed.
I have no personal interest in the leather or aftermarket industry. I am just amazed at the risks people take.
Take care,
Daniel
Does anyone know who the supplier is?
-juice
Juice - Yep, the heated seats (hallelujia*) still work like a charm! In fact, I had them on this morning and they felt S000ooo good while waiting for the forester to warm up! It may have been my imagination but could they have heated up the interior faster too?
-mike
Juice - Yep, the heated seats (hallelujia*) still work like a charm! In fact, I had them on this morning and they felt S000ooo good while waiting for the forester to warm up! It may have been my imagination but could they have heated up the interior faster too?
You got a great deal, Dale. On Yahoo Forester Club someone was quoted $1100.
If you want, drop in and give them a phone number or URL, that's a lot more than you paid!
-juice