Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

1279280282284285692

Comments

  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    You nailed a very relevent point, the Integra like all Hondas has no grunt low down where you are likely to need it most in auto x, and for that reason I was also going to recommend the impeza over the integra.

      Cheers Pat.
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    The State of Florida has finally released some retraining funds for various things, but the only IT related funds available are for a combination A+/MCP training. Tuition and other expenses are fully covered...Is it worth my time to take this type of training (I have a software/programming background)? Are there jobs out there in this profession, do they pay decent salaries, etc? Any help and thoughts would be much appreciated.
    TIA
    Serge
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Serge,

    A+ and MCP will prepare you for a workstation support or helpdesk type job.

    If that's of any interest to you, sure. If not then the training certainly won't hurt your credentials but probably will not be relevant to you finding another software developer job.

    What languages do you know? Perhaps it would be time better spent to do your own studying and get versed in another language.

    -Colin
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Hmmm.... what ever that is,
    wonder if this is offered in NYC.
    I would have to seriously look at a lane change.
    Would be a drastic lane change from banking.

    -Dave
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    There are literally millions of computer support people out there now w/o jobs. For programmers, it's below the salaries you guys are used to for sure. It can't hurt since it's free, but definitely not worth paying for IMHO.

    -mike
  • bluesunlionbluesunlion Member Posts: 38
    If the training is free, and you have the time, go ahead, but at this point in my area, there are tons of MCSEs with out jobs(my husband being one of them) I agree with the MCP/A+ being certifications needed more for an entry level helpdesk type job, which would probably only net about 30-35K per year here. I'm going to agree with Colin that it would probably behoove you to look at another language.
    On that note, anyone know of anyone looking for a 2000/AD administrator with two years of experience in N. Texas?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If my memory serves (it may not if I'm geezin' again), the A+ is basic training for hardware. That's the true low-end of the spectrum.

    MCP = Microsoft Certified Professional, right? I think there are all kinds of sub-categories for those. IMO they are more useful. They will make you an expert in any given MS product. Well, supposedly.

    By themselves, without a college diploma, they mean little. But combined they can be useful, especially the MCP.

    Side note - I started at a Help Desk right out of college. Later, we interviewed candidates and the MCP and MCSE were given some attention. But they'll look at your degrees first.

    -juice
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Brian (bkaiser1) and I made it into the Wall St. Journal in a little article on the Outback.

    Steve
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Rachel, you should've spoke up sooner if you're interested in *very* North Texas... like South-Central Kansas. ;-)

    We just hired two. One was an internal transfer actually, learning a new job... but we were looking!

    Regarding the college diploma, they do help you get your foot in the door (very important in this market) and help command more salary but experience matters a lot more for getting the job. A LOT MORE. You can't learn in college what you need to know to be much of a sysadmin...

    -Colin
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Thanks for reminding them about my WRX! They (Santa Cruz) did mess up my reservation, and Sylvia called me to tell I may not get my WRX tomorrow after all (there's a hope though). Arrggh. We'll see. She promised Forester'03 if WRX is not available.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Cool, lots of publicity for the Crew. :-)

    Great chat, lots of folks, a couple of newbies. Someone is cross-shopping Soobs with an A4.

    -juice
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    Just think, in the near future, people could be cross shopping Soobs with Saabs. :)

    DaveM
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    what happened? I tried to log onto chat ... uh oh ... as I'm typing this I remembered ... you guys are all on DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME now so that means I have to look at it as if I am on Central time ... ARGGGHHHH (I don't mind not going on DST in Indiana .. but I forget it changes how I adjust to the rest of the world!)
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    We'll have to remind Mod-Bob to send out the chat notice with a time note for those in Indiana ;-)

    -Brian
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    I thought maybe your new pup kept you outside looking for just that perfect spot to pee for the entire hour!

    Steve
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    steve (fibber) that 'new pup' is so wonderful she runs outside and pees FIRST and then is just content with whatever time you stay outside with her ...
    we took her with us this week when we went to b/f's mother's overnight .. she did great on the 2 hour trip in the car and was a great 'lady' while visiting ... his mother lost an aged westie last fall and told me she wished I'd find another one like this one for her!
    Subaru related? .. well of course we took her in the OUTBACK!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I was able to keep up! But come next week, I need to practice my speed reading. ;-)

    Glad to hear the pup's doing well.

    -juice
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    was good.....for the 2.5 minutes I was on it. Need a break from life.

    Greg
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    that's why all those 'tegs and st00ks vamp around the course is 1st gear- to keep the revs up north of 6000
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Well, I was HOPING to get to the chat last night when I got a call from the wife that she's in the hospital being monitored. She was feeling some pressure in her lower stomach that she had not felt during the rest of the pregnancy so she went to see the doctor.

    It turned out that she was starting to have contractions. She's still at 35 weeks so the doctors were concerned about a pre-term birth and sent her to the hostpial. After giving her medication to stop the contractions and about 5 hours of observation, they released her late last night.

    She's been ordered complete bedrest for the next 4 days until she hits the 36 week mark. After that, if the contractions resume, they're going to let them take their course.

    Ken
    (getting anxious!)
  • hammersleyhammersley Member Posts: 684
    Ken: Easy does it, Dad... newborn care is truly & miraculously amazing... if the little rascal shows up a bit early, it will still be fine. We had our share of fits & starts with our three as well. Trust & faith will get all three of you through.

    Sorry to have missed the chat...was still unloading & recuperating from a fabulous spring skiing day - warm weather, cold snow, and I'm sore in a couple new places this morning! :) The car's a muddy mess from the access road, but small price to pay!

    Cheers!
    Paul
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Hope everything stays okay, as long as wife does what they suggested it should be.

    Loosh I am well versed in the shortcomings of Hondas, IE. all the power being in the top end,it is not horsepower that gets you off the line as much as torque and the Sube has that in spades all through the rev band, wheras Honda's torque does not even register until about 3,000 RPMs.

    It is all okay to say the S2000 has 240HP out of 4 cylinders but the RPMs are up in the stratosphere and it gets tiresome after a while to keep rowing the gears for performance.

      Cheers Pat.
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Black wagon with 4EAT. Someone had carved on the dash "KenS was here" -- who could it be? :-) :-)

    First impressions.
    Much better off the line than Forester. Tested on several metered ramps. But at RPM lower that 3000 -- nothing special. The beast wakes up between 3000 and 4000.

    Much noisier than Forester. Most of the noise comes from tires and wind, but engine and turbo add to that.

    Handling is better than Forester, but I wouldn't say it's that much better. Maybe, because I'm running very firm tires on my Forester. Body lean is of course less noticeable in WRX, but somehow I was expecting it to give me more of the "on the rails" impression. I liked the "road feedback" in WRX: a very clear feeling of the rough road surface, w/o excessive harshness and jolts.

    Breaks are wonderful, much better than on my Forester. WRX stops NOW.

    Momo steering wheel -- nothing special if you ask me. In fact, it felt too thick for my hands. Probably not a problem for most male drivers ;-)

    Interior. No thrills, but looks ok. I don't like YELLOW hands on gauges, I just don't like them, period. I did not feel too cramped in WRX, even coming from Forester, but I'm short.

    Seats. Great. Wonderful. Comfortable. I am ready to bolt one out and take it to my cubicle.

    Gadgets. A small boost gauge is fun to watch. I missed compass mirror that I have on my Forester. After making many turns, on Santa Clara streets, I felt I really needed to check which direction I'm going.

    Misc. Side mirrors are too small, especially for the car that is designed to be passing others and jumping from lane to lane. I missed sunglasses holder that I have in Forester.

    A very good car for a modestly aggressive driver, I think. Though no doubt 5MT should allow for much more aggressive driving.

    In sum: Forester offers more space, utility and comfort (except for seats). WRX offers more driving fun, often at the expense of quietness and comfort. Did I say anything new here?

    My personal choice would stay with Forester for now. I'll be VERY interested to test Forester XT when it comes. That might be just the ticket.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Keeping my fingrs crossed for you guys! :)

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hang in there, Ken. Braxton-Hicks contractions are very common. My wife had them so often that when she really went into labor she didn't even know it. I had to point it out to her! :oO

    Just be "available". Let your boss and co-workers know. If you can, leave your job organized if you need to make a quick exit.

    Heck, even I'm excited about it.

    -juice
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    Hang in there. Funny story. My first daughter was "near" and we went to the hospital (in a snow storm in a Mustang GT). It was early labor so we went home. I went to lay down and fell asleep (2AM) on the bed. My wife stayed downstairs since she couldn't sleep. At 4AM her water broke and the contractions really started. My wife couldn't climb the stairs to get to me and her yelling didn't wake me up. Finally, she threw a shoe up the stairs and it made it through the door opening and woke me up. Back through the snow, this time in the Corolla. She was born the day before Easter after 19 hours of labor and a C- section.

    Greg
  • leo2633leo2633 Member Posts: 589
    My first was due around mid-November 1984. I got a call from my wife one night while I was at work, telling me that her water had just broken, and that she was going to the hospital. I raced 50 miles to the hospital from work, and when I got there, her contractions had stopped. They wound up inducing labor, and my son was born the next morning, October 4th, 1984. Talk about an early arrival! He was six weeks premature, and boy, was he TINY! He had to stay in the hospital an extra 2 days, but other than that, no problems. I laugh about it now, as it seems like only yesterday. Now, he's in college. How the time does fly by!

    Anyway, good luck and best wishes to you and your wife through the rest of her pregnancy.

    Len
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, Greg. She has a good throw! Great story.

    -juice
  • bluesunlionbluesunlion Member Posts: 38
    Thanks for the laugh =) That would make for one heck of a commute!
    We have gotten a couple of bites on employment, but nothing really solid. If I weren't the breadwinner, relocation might be possible, but then again, we just refinanced.
    It makes me feel better to know that SOMEBODY is getting hired. Hopefully the economy will turn around before we run out of money/hope.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I would encourage your husband to take a job, any job, and find the one he really likes later. I've been there when you try to find something better or at least even to what you had... and I strongly believe that anything is better than nothing. I'd swallow my pride and work the tech desk at a Best Buy if I had to.

    The other reason to do this besides 1>0 of course is that if you work hard and prove yourself, internal promotions can happen-- sometimes quickly-- like what my co-worker is benefitting from.

    Unless of course child care costs more than he would make at a lower-end temp job, or some kind of similiar situation.

    anyway, stepping down from the soapbox now...
    -Colin
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    All the best on the pending arrival!

    First was 3 weeks early, she's now 25 with 2 sons and pregnant with her third child!
    Second was right on time, she's now 22 and has 2 sons
    Third was about 10 days early and we were in the hospital 14 minutes before she made her arrival .. talk about "close calls" ... lol
    (she's 20)
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Thanks, everyone, for all the reassurances regarding the baby. Since we're close enough to 36 weeks, I wasn't worried that the baby would be at any risk -- just mom and dad were caught off gaurd. What a dose of reality!

    The medication and bedrest seem to be helping a lot. Hopefully, this will buy us the extra time the doctor wanted. Who knows -- I might be a dad this time next week!

    juice: Actually, they weren't Braxton-Hicks. They were the real thing. Kana has been having Braxton-Hicks all through her pregnancy and what clued her in was that these felt "different".

    Kate: Glad you got a hold of that WRX! Isn't it a blast? It's interesting how our impressions differ although we drive similar cars. In my case, I thought handling was more impressive than the power. Also braking was about the same -- I think my upgraded rotors have something to do with that. If you can, try the 5-speed WRX when you return the wagon and let me know what you think.

    Ken
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Ah geeze, another discussion to subscribe to :-)

    Car: (new to me) '97 Outback Ltd purchased ~3 weeks ago w/ 34,000 miles on it. Drove it from Anchorage to Boise.

    Me:

    Name: Steve (one of the top 3 "male" owner's names - sometimes heard by others as "Dave"). No "K" around anywhere.

    Pets: Two (of course) cats.

    Computer: Much prefer pc's but one cat is named Mac after Mr. Job's company. The other cat is Beemer, after the pc, not the bike.

    Job: Hey, I'm a host here so that makes me sort of a techie, in a tangential kind of way.

    Wine: yep, like it. Currently on a sirah kick.

    Sports: Ski (on a board), mtn. bike & tennis (both only occasionally now), hike and camp and do the whitewater thing. Gardening is big around the ranchette too. Follow semi-pro & WCHA hockey a little now and then. Scott Gomez is my hero.

    Type of driver: Rather fogieish now that I've hit my 5th decade. Guess that counts as "courteous."

    Catalogs: None save the occasional REI flyer and the wife's seed catalogs.

    What did I miss on the "list"? Oh, got through undergrad in 3 years, so guess that's an aberration.

    Steve, Host
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Steve, Welcome and you found a treasure, a 97 with 34,000 Miles is barely broken in, enjoy.

      Cheers Pat.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    for knowing the beemer/bimmer distinction, Steve!
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    STOP ALL TALK OF WRX AND FORESTER TURBO NOW!!!

    :^))

    The dark side of the force grows stronger here every day. I had to haul 16 cases of wine in the GT, the 4th time in 3 weeks. The GT sedan's interior is starting to take a beating; nothing bad, but more than a 4 year old car should have. My thoughts turn to WRX wagons more and more. But the higher tech, better torque set up of the Forester 2.5t sounds good also. I won't be able to afford it though, and I bet I would go wanting for better handling too. *shrug* nothing happens unless I make a bit more change.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Lucien2, I usually have to look that up; guess it's finally sinking in:-)

    Steve, Host
  • cusafrcusafr Member Posts: 184
    "16 cases of wine in the GT, the 4th time in 3 weeks" That's a lot of wine to drink! When do you find time to drive...LOL

    cusafr
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Occupational hazard.... :D
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    loosh, sounds as if your job is going OK if you're hauling around that much wine!

    good news.

    -Colin
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I bet you could fit more cases of wine in the XT ;-)

    -Brian
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Colin- yes and no...a lot of it is last minute orders that don't make the truck or fixing mistakes made somewhere along the line- warehouse, order desk, etc. It is going o.k. though. Not great, but o.k. And who can argue with the perks? another 9 days in France starting May 8. So that will be thrice in 11 months. Even though the trips are hard, I just love the place. Great food, great wine, relaxed lifestyle, beautiful scenery, perfect roads (and the massive speeding epidemic that goes with them) and scary fast trains. Lousy place to make a living from what I understand, but hey, I earn my keep on this side of the pond.

    Brian- true, true. I'm pretty sure I would yearn for better handling though. I think. The last Forester I drove handled pretty well- '00MY. But if I get the time to auto-x once and awhile I bet I'll be bummed. And as an "suv" it is certianly barred from participating in any track days I may eventually have time to get back into.

    Boy SOA wants to get rid of the bugeye WRXs pretty bad right now.... *cough* NO NO NO must....resist....dark...side..........trying to refinance house....don't need...to think....about...cars...

    :)
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,399
    Kens, get used to being caught off guard! It just happens with kids.

    When my first was born, I came home from working a graveyard shift and went to sleep. My wife woke me at 5am to say she'd been up for several hours with mild contractions. We went to the hospital, spent the next 11 hours there 'til she was born at 5pm.

    It's an awesome experience! Praying that everything goes well for you and your wife, enjoy it!

    Jim
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Re post #14203: Dennis, you can't say I didn't warn you! As rough as this past winter had been I sort of expected an April snowstorm. I got caught in the beginnings of it on Monday morning as I was headed to the airport - hail, sleet, snow. My flight to San Juan was delayed 1.5 h for de-icing.

    I got back yesterday afternoon. Successful trip workwise, not too exciting except for being behind the wheel. Highlight was attending the first game of the Expos-Mets series on Friday night.

    While I was away the snow/ice storm knocked down a big limb of the pine tree in our front yard. I just came back in from dealing with it, sawing it up and running all but the biggest stuff through the wood chipper.

    I hope I can get to go to the NYC show Friday afternoon. I am beginning to think more seriously about buying a Forester XT (to make a 2 Subie household) and want to know more about it.

    Gotta run and clean pine tar off my hands. More later...

    Ed
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Loosh,

    I see the dark side grows stronger in you too. :-)

    Have you driven a WRX wagon before? What were your impressions?

    Would you consider waiting for the Legacy turbo?

    BTW, have you heard of a wine brand called Charles Shaw? It's selling like hotcakes at our local Trader Joes for 1.99/bottle. People are walking out with cases of this stuff. I guess it beats getting jug wine.

    Ken

    Ken
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    it grows strong, yes, but Mr. Checkbook is stronger, and he says, "What You Talkin' 'Bout, Willis!?"

    Have only driven the sedan. Sat in a few wagons though.

    Detailed the GT this weekend, so she's looking good. A gash in the front lip though....I hit, of all things, a firehose coupler on Pratt Street Friday. The ESPNzone was on fire and I got to that part of Pratt just as they ran the hoses across the street to the hydrants. Cars were swerving everywhere (5-0 hadn't got there yet) and the SUV ahead of me just passed over the thing. Well I had no time to react and hit it. About the size of a healthy Star Ruby grapefruit, it clobbered the lip and then lodged itself under the car and pulled about 3 feet of hose off the firetruck. Mayhem everywhere, they held the hose while I tried to back up. No dice. "Hell with it," says I and just yanked the car back, freeing the thing. I had to get out of the way. No apparent damage underneath, but for th lip. But it is unpainted grey plastic, so you really have to look to see it.

    Lesson learned? Don't run over fire hose couplers with an STi v5 suspension and 16 cases of wine in the car at the same time. Michael Schumacher has more clearance.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I'm going to wait for the Leg turbo, although I suspect it will be more than I can afford.

    Charles Shaw- it's just a brand, part of the massive Bronco Wine Group. Nothing special about it, but it's probably pretty decent for $2! There's a wine glut in CA (well, world wide really, but especially CA and OZ), and a big corp. like Bronco can survive taking a loss on the stuff just to clear the pipeline. They probably made a deal with TJ on price in exchange for a huge commitment on quantity. I'm sure it's a good value for the money....wow, $2. That's almost as cheap as Mad dog 20/20!
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I now own 2 subies...

    Bought the Impreza L beater on sat! :) This winter it will get a 2.5 or a 3.0 installed in it :)

    Now I just need to sell the 89 Integra I got from my boss!

    -mike
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Switched back the Firehawk's yesterday. :-) That storm brought NYC's winter total to over 4 feet for the season! I'm sure my town has to be close to five feet if NYC got that much.

    I'm heading to SC tomorrow.

    -Dennis
    edit: Mike, looking forward to hearing about and seeing the progress on the L. :-)
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Exciting time! It only gets better once the little one arrives. I'll keep fingers crossed and positive thoughts that it's an uneventful and smooth "coming out". ;-)
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.