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Comments
My cop buddy has license plates that read "NCIC NEG". When you get pulled over, they check with the NCIC if there is a warrant out for you, stuff like that, so it's kind of an inside joke.
They usually let him off when they see his badge, guess it's a agreement among cops.
-juice
We call it "professional courtesy"!!
Len
Len
Took the whole family to the Old Country for 2-1/2 weeks to see old friends and distant family. It's been 10 years this month since we've seen them. Our 7 year old handled all the challenges - 20+ hours travel time each way (door to door), immersion in a totally foreign environment, inability to follow the language, strange food, etc - with aplomb. We're very proud of him. He's earned his "world traveler certificate". We can take him anywhere.
Turned out to be challenging for us as well, since this trip took us back to the early days of our marriage (lived there for 7 years), and allowed us to see close friends that we've really missed. Everyone said it was as if we had never moved away. If anything, we have more in common with our friends and family over there now than then, despite becoming parents and growing older with all the changes that brings.
On the lighter side, we wrote a contract on an '03 Mazda MPV LX last night. With the incentives, we ended up paying $300 more than we paid for our Forester S+ MT 3 years ago. Since the feature set is similar (moonroof, side air bags, etc), if you swap AWD for traction control/rear air/rear heat/7 passenger seating we ended up getting a 6-cylinder and a 5-speed automatic for free. Not too shabby.
Hopefully, the Mazda will turn out to be as reliable as the Subie; the MPV actually does pretty well in that respect. Should take delivery in a week.
Cheers,
-brianV
Congrats on the MPV, too. It's been my favorite van out there, though I have not sampled the new Sienna yet. The middle row seats are the only ones in the industry that allow you to move sideways and fore/aft without removing them.
-juice
Welcome back! Good hearing from you and congrats on the new purchase. Sounds like you had a great trip. Did you take lots of photos and drink some good beer?
Ken
Anyone here who owns a Subaru with SOHC that reached over 100K or more?
Thanks.
Ummm, really not my style. Gonna sell like hotcakes to everyone who wants a big truck though, looks just like a full-size SUV to me, especially from the front (very big, dominating front bumper). The cabin is positively cavernous.
As to the MPV, like so many things, it's not for everyone, but it's a great fit for us. With one child and a small dog (beagle), we just don't need a bus. So why drive one ? We can comfortably seat 6 adults in the MPV, 7 in a pinch or if there's at least one sub-adult along.
It's a full foot shorter, 4 inches narrower and almost 700 lbs lighter than the "full-size" (not- so-mini) mini-vans. With the 3.0 V-6 and the 5-speed, it actually comes off the line with gusto. Better power:weight ratio than our Forester. Sport suspension helps, although it still leans a bit, of course. Pretty tall for it's track.
I think we're gonna really like it. It lets us haul the Cub Scouts around when we need to without driving a bus when we don't. Nice.
-brianV
Jerson: welcome to the Crew.
I'd expect the SOHC design to be more durable, if anything. It's less complex, for one. So far failure rates for things like gaskets and O-rings are far lower than the DOHC Phase I 2.5l design, actually.
The '99 and later Impreza L, RS, TS, and Outback Sport have the SOHC engine (called the Phase II). '99 and later Forester L, S, X, and XS also employ the Phase II. All 2000 and later Legacys and Outbacks with the H4 use the Phase II SOHC also.
WRX, Forester XT, and the H6 are all DOHC. They are no more or less reliable than the SOHC Subies nowadays.
Note that Consumer Reports lists every Subaru made as a safe bet among used cars, also.
-juice
I've written more about it on the Forester forum.
Chalk up one more struck with XT envy. Raven just didn't feel the same on the drive home.
Ken
-mike
The Subaru Crew meets every Thursday at 6PM PT/9PM ET... stop by and join us to talk Subaru or anything else automotive that might come up! Hope to see you there tonight!
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-juice
http://www.turbominivan.com/
just bought a Forester XT! He's mod crazy. I bet he builds the world's first 10 second SUV (assuming it has not been done before in the 1/4 mile).
-juice
Ken
Edit: Just read it. Very sparse information and less than we already know.
Dave
They're actually an Edmunds.com partner, I believe.
Chat starts soon...
-juice
Ed
-Brian
Happy birthday USA, and hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.
Jon
Computer was off for repair and we just picked it up today ... they installed a new CD-RW drive which seemed to be the problem all along ... we'll see
This was probably the only time I've EVER bought an extended warranty on a computer and I guess it was worth it this time ..
I have been 'lurking' around and reading posts on the b/f's computer, though and trying to stay current with you guys .. hope everyone has a good fourth and weekend ...
Brenda
Cheers Pat.
Doubt you'll see this Pat, but hope you're enjoying the summer. You need a computer there.
-Colin
Happy Independence Day!
-K
Bob
Brenda: the chats have run at half-pace, we missed you! ;-)
I was hoping the fireworks would keep you up, Bob.
We spent the day at the house of Deep Throat, possibly, it's rumored anyway. Yeah, the one from the Nixon thing. His daugther and son-in-law are friend of ours, the kids were playing in the pool and stuff.
He had a signed photo of Nixon and his wife, with a personal note to him, used to be one of his staffers.
So, politics, conspiracy theories, what could be more fun on the 4th of July?
-juice
Had to stay over an extra day so I caught up on some posts.
Cheers Pat.
Then she thought about it for a second, and said she wanted both! I asked her what I will drive...
-juice
Then you could have ended your XT envy!
J/K.
Michael
My step mom doesn't either, but my dad does. Still, it wouldn't be that useful because my dad spends only 4 months out of the year in the US, he's mostly in Brazil and Belize in semi-retirement.
My brother has learned, and could adjust quickly, so it could be his once my dad finally decides to retire the '92 Taurus that he's sunk $6 grand into just on repairs.
So yeah, I'll offer it to my lil bro when I do decide to sell it.
-juice
Cool marketing. :-)
-Dennnis
-juice
Ken
Bob
First the XT. Positives: Lot's of low end power. It really scoots. Nice clutch feel. Negatives: My wife’s first comment was about the sloppy transmission feel. It was kind of rubbery. This car could definitely benefit from a short throw shifter. I thought the steering felt light, but my wife thought it was fine. Handling was disappointing for me but my wife was surprised how well it did handle, for a tall boxy wagon. Not a lot of body roll, but I don't like sitting that high. I realize the XT doesn't have the greatest tires but I guess I was expecting a more solid and planted to the road feel. It just didn't feel great making the transition through the corners. Styling - I'm not a big fan of the Forester. I really think the X looks best with the black bumpers and side cladding.
On to the WRX. Positives: With the short throw shifter the WRX had very positive engagement through the gears. Not as good as my Miata, but close. Nice clutch engagement too. Great handling. This car felt planted to the road. Out on the highway this car flew. I was doing 75 by the end of the onramp. Both the XT and WRX felt great on the highway. Negatives: Turbo lag. You really have to keep the revs up through the corners. I don't mind the lag from a stop sign but in the corners it felt slow. Keeping the revs up, the engine didn't feel happy. A small car. Not sure if we could downsize from our Outback. I'd have to make sure our sea kayaks would fit the rack too. I like the 04 styling better than the 02-03 styling. I really like the darker colors better too. I know the silver would be lower profile and look cleaner, but the blue looks awfully good.
So, the verdict. Both have there positives and negatives. Before the test drive, I was leaning towards the Forester and my wife was leaning towards the WRX. Now we're both leaning towards the WRX. (Good thing, since I promised her she would get to choose our next car.) I think we may wait until next year and see what the 05 Legacy/Outback drives like. If we buy sooner, I think we'll be getting the WRX. Decisions. Decisions. It's nice to have such good choices. Bravo Subaru.
-juice
Bob
Having a Forester (XS) and WRX, I'd say handling, sport "feel", and image are the main reasons to choose the WRX over the Forester. With that great 2.5T engine, I'm hard pressed to think of any reasons to dislike the Forester XT other than to say that it's not a sports car; the WRX is. If you want a small SUV, the Forester is an excellent choice, and the XT model is probably the closest you can come to a sports-SUV outside of the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5.
Craig
WRX = empty nest, maybe a pet or two
Forester = 1 kid and a dog
Legacy = 2 kids and a dog
3 kids? Outta luck until 2005.
Craig: the XT easily outruns the Cayenne S, it's within 3/10ths of the Cayenne Turbo!
-juice
Mike k
OHH by the way I work In Avalon NJ
Bob
Mark
Mike- you may want to update your profile -it still shows you driving the XT.
Bob
Steve, Host
didn't one of you test drove a lawn-mower too?
-Dave
Sounds like a great way to spend some free time. Plus, you are helping out your fellow car enthusiasts by giving them the "real guy's" perpsective. Enjoy.
Mark
And after over 17 years, is still running strong! Hmmm, sounds ripe for a long-term test report...
Bob
Maybe you can come up to PA and do a long term / comparison test on my '71 John Deere 120 & '97 John Deere 325 garden tractors. The 325 is basically a replacement for the 120 in JD's garden tractor line.
Dave