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Comments
thanks
Bob
I put snowtires on the FWD Sienna in winter and it is pretty darn good in the slick stuff with TCS/VSC. Watch out for the bumpers they are real flimsy!
This afternoon I noticed that I had left the passenger window down. Tonight around 10:30 I remembered I should raise the window. Turned the key and nothing happened.
So I pull the van around and jump start it. Naturally the alarm goes off.
After idling a few minutes I shut it down and noticed the parking lights were on. I think one of my cats must have stepped on that durn button while exploring the land beyond the open window. I've a good mind to unplug the thing.
Here's hoping things work out for the best.
Mark
My use of the car has become severely limited, primarily because I cannot fit a rear child safety seat into it. My son is of the booster seat size now, and all booster seats on the market must be used with three-point seat belts. The Studebaker only has two-point belts and the structure cannot support retrofitting three-point belts without substantial reinforcement. Further, my current commute is far from conducive to the use of a 44-year-old car with four-wheel drum brakes. (In previous jobs I was able to drive it to the office sticking mostly to two-lane backroads. not possible now.) When the flow of traffic is at 75-80 mph and no one leaves sufficient space between cars for stopping with modern braking systems - much less 1963 braking systems - you can imagine the worst. When the flow of traffic is at 10 mph for 25 miles well, old cars are far more prone to overheating than more modern ones.
I have very little opportunity to putter around town running errands on the weekend solo.
Hopefully another Studebaker is in the cards down the road.
I doubt it.
The car's make and model also play a part in my decision. Any serious car buff knows of Studebaker's role in automotive history but by and large virtually no one under the age of 40 has any personal attachment to Studebakers. Hence a Studebaker is a pretty hard sell to any younger person. Unbeknownst to me at the time, within that Studebaker community is a very well entrenched ownership pecking order. The Avantis, 1953-54 Loewy coupes/hardtops and the Golden Hawks are at the top of that hierarchy; grandma's six-cylinder, automatic-tranny grocery getter Lark sedans like mine are at the bottom.
I'd often heard from some club members that any Studebaker was worth saving - and my car, with its straight body and relatively low mileage, seemed to fit that bill. Not long after I bought it there were a couple of guys on the local level that told me it "should've been a parts car." Fast forward to just this past March and the last local chapter meeting I went to. When I told some of the same guys the problems I'd had in trying to sell my car, they suggested I try taking it to a non-Studebaker swap meet. Implied: that no Studebaker person would want to buy it. That's the sort of elitism I'd expect,say, Porsche 911 owners to express to Porsche 924 owners. To top it off, these guys as a whole are on the cheap side - they want top dollar for everything they have but want you to give away your parts and cars to them. I think moderator Mr. Shiftright here has pegged them on this several times.
I hope to be back in the old car hobby in a year or two, provided my personal fortunes continue in their current direction and the cost of gasoline doesn't become prohibitive. In that event I expect that my next hobby car will have to be capable of handling modern weekday traffic as well as support the use of a three-point child safety booster seat. I also expect that will rule out many if not most pre-1970 vehicles. I can never rule out another downturn in those fortunes, and so any hobby car I buy I will have to be able to sell. I don't see the Studebaker market growing, so I've learned my lesson there.
Ed
MNSteve
http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/2721
http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/2792
When I was growing up, back in the early 1950s, our next door neighbor had a 1950 bullet-nosed Studebaker Land Cruiser. Neat car.
Bob
Brenda: hang in there, I'm sure you're a pillar of support for your daughter in tough times like these.
Dennis: thanks for the heads up on the fragile bumpers, hopefully I never find out. The Forester was darn near bullet proof in that regard.
Right now my only complaint is the radio reception, which is AWFUL. Is this thing supposed to have a mast antennae, or is it embedded in the window? The Forester held reception a good 20 miles farther away (towards the beach).
Ed: you can pick up the hobby again once the kid shows interest. At 7 years, my daughter can hand me tools (she knows most of them by now). It can be a way to spend quality time together with your son. :shades:
sorry ... couldn't help myself ....
She had used Vioxx way back then and had a stroke because of it; a lot of pain but not too much pain management and rehab...she is now getting that. She will still have to go to a home afterwards, though.
Today is the last full day of school...yay!!! Early Release tomorrow and then half a day of teacher planning; then EOY luncheon. I am looking forward to my trip. I have my last certification class in July, and then will have my permanent certification in 1 year instead of 3...more money.
Still no buyers for the house, but we are getting traffic, which IS good in this market.
This paragraph really hit home (minus the screaming part), though:
Does a family really look any different stumbling out of a $50,000 SUV than a minivan? It might not be what you're driving that hurts your image, it might be the fact that you're exhausted, screaming at your kids, hauling two diaper bags, pushing a double stroller with a venti quad-latte, carrying an extra 15 pounds and sporting a huge strained peas stain on your shirt. Think about it.
In my case it was a ketchup/mayo stain, plus some Sprite too. At least the Sprite was transparent.
It's so much fun!!
Guess I am a soccer mom after all.
-mike
Actually, I'm astounded that Juice (font of knowledge about everything automotive) wouldn't already know where the antenna is :surprise:
-Frank
Ed
Not sure what gremlin was in effect, but you DID manage to figure out the secret handshake and get in!
This look like yours, juice?
Looks like it does, and that certainly explains the lousy reception.
They also missed the small rubber plugs that go near the jacking points, which are used for shipping and are supposed to be sealed during PDI.
That plus they didn't air down the tires.
3 strikes on the PDI. All very minor, at least.
There goes your membership in the OCD club!
Funny, my friend just bought a car this past weekend. Her car didn't have an antenna- so the salesman just grabbed one off another car next to it! I guess they just keep doing that until they run out of cars?
tom
The set up on the Sienna looks very similar to that on my Kluger (Highlander) and the radio reception is dramatiallly improved when the aerial is ftted. If the radio is simlar (which I gather is the case) than AM reception is likely to excellent over long range. Here in Australia, where distances between radio stations is a bit further than the USA, the Toyota gives better long range reception than the Outback's in-glass aerial (which is very good). FM reception is pretty much the same no matter the aeial, but it does need an external aerial.
The missuing ribber plugs on the tie down points is a recurrent problem for Toyota's. The plugs are left in the glove-box with fairly explicit instructions but I have frequently seen them missed at the PDI.
It is not a bad idea to take a good long look under the car soon after purchase. All sorts of strange stuff gets left behind under there, presumably left over from the production process. A friend had a minor mystery noise traced to a tag left over on a spring mount.
The over aired tyres is another common problem. No harm done though as handling and comfort improve when they are corrected.
Cheers
Graham
We were too busy to make it this weekend - back to the beach again, actually. I'll try to go back to the dealer one night this week.
Tribeca reviews are out - looks like they lifted all those embargos. Subaru still doesn't have a real brochure for them, though (again). Edmunds confirmed my impression - the new engine is a lot quicker, they shaved nearly 2 seconds off their 0-60 time on their 08 vs. 06 Tribeca test. :surprise:
When I sat in a Tribeca at the last car show I was very impressed with the interior and the bump in performance is a definite plus.
If I were in the market for a mid-size CUV (hey you never know), the Tribeca would certainly be on my short list. Too bad they don't offer it in a manual but I don't think there's a mid-size out there that still has that as an option
-Frank
Low blow, buddy.
At least I now have an antennae, so I can hear music that makes it seem less boring. :P
I got it set up nicely now, 12.1" DVD player, my own GPS, and the radio works. 450 mile range with fuel to spare. 800 miles so far and I have yet to pay more than $2.99 for gas, yet it costs $3.40 in Potomac.
I still say noone would have called the 08 Tribeca bland if they had not seen the 06 model first. Or if had been labeled a Saab.
Bob
Hang in there!
-mike
Hang in there Brenda, hopefully this new marriage will have a happier ending.
Mike- Good luck with whatever you decide on. Talk about options all at once!
Mark
Can't go back to the morgan account, so that eliminates 1 option...
Waiting for PSEG to get back to me on the union job, supposedly an offer on the way.
Waiting on the management position at the electric co. in VT in their IT department.
For now working in a grunt job driving all over north jersey replacing HDs in server farms...
-mike
Work is pretty crazy for me, too. In a couple of weeks we have a big retreat where I'm responsible for 8 A/V setups that will be going on simultaneously. I can't be in 8 places at once so it requires a ton of planning. :sick:
swiss cheese and/or delegate
-Dave
I'm helping friends shop for an inexpensive (as much as is possible) vehicle that can carry 4-5 comfortably in, and sometimes up to 8 people (4 kids in carseats, 4 adults). Didn't realize so few vans had 8-pass seating. I've narrowed it to Sienna 8-pass LE ($23k-$25k depending on option pkg), or if they can't stomach a van and can accept the space trade-off, a Honda Pilot LX 2WD ($23k). Can find little official info on Sienna's LATCH equipment - does it really have ability to attach 5 carseats via LATCH?! Gotta spend $2200+ to get VSC in the Sienna. Grr.
I don't think Odyssey's 2nd row middle seat will pass muster for adult use, but I'll look at it in person to be sure. Any other vehicles I should include?
The Odyssey EX and EX-L have 8 passenger models, even though the middle seat is more of a bridge. This is the primary reason we picked the Sienna over the Honda, we got a real seat that is actually comfortable for an adult to sit in.
Someone described to me the sensation of sitting in the Ody's 8th seat as that of wearing a thong bikini.
Any how, I definitely recommend what I got (LE 8 pass pkg 3). The Ody EX is similarly equipped but adds Auto Climate Control and a sportier ride. The Sienna LE package 3 is quieter and adds a bunch of stuff, many I didn't even realize until later:
* trip computer
* power 3rd row window vents (Ody doesn't even open)
* 3rd row faces back for tailgating
* puddle lamps a la Tribeca, love those
* roof rack cross bars a la some Subies
* tow-ready with a trans cooler
Not to mention prices are about $25.1k for the Sienna now that the rebate increased to $1500, vs. $26.8k for the Ody at local no-haggle dealers.
For me, the way I wanted it, the Sienna was a much better value.
The catch - no AWD on the 8 seat model. And you can't retrofit a 7 seat model because the floor pan is different.
Ody doesn't even offer AWD. At that price you don't get VCM, either, so you get less power and less mileage.
Pilot does offer AWD and 8 seats, but it costs more than the Ody even for FWD, so the AWD model costs a bunch more.
I realize the packages are confusing, and by the way Toyota's brochure is wrong, my package 3 includes a power driver's seat. Do the research, though, and you get a lot of content for the money.
This is TOTAL deja-vu for me, just like when I got the Forester over the CR-V and realized Subaru simply offered more content when you looked at the detailed content.
As for the Pilot- not a chance of fitting 3 carseats in that 3rd row. Unless they have narrow carseats. But usually carseats are wider than adults!
Best advice is to bring all 4 carseats to the dealer and try putting them in.
tom
I had read a post on the Sienna owners forum (saw you joined up, juice!) that the Toyota offered LATCH in 5 of the 6 rear positions. My friends only have need for 4 LATCH spots.
Pilot doesn't have LATCH in the 3rd row, but does offer top tether anchors there, which I think would be adequate in combo with the seatbelts, though not as convenient as LATCH.
Basically, the Sienna and Pilot are comparable in most ways except sheer volume. We'll see if my friends can sacrifice a little image and get the Sienna, or sacrifice a little practicalility and space and get the Pilot. I think practicality will win out over "SUV" style. They've still got a Forester they can have a little fun driving.
Besides, a FWD SUV isn't an SUV at all. :P
The Pilot LX is pretty rare, hard to find, even. I once checked a dealer's inventory and only 7 out of 100 were LXs. It looks a bit odd with steel wheels and no window tint. Single CD, too.
The Sienna LE is better equipped than a Pilot LX. You get a 6CD with stereo controls on the steering wheel, heated mirrors, wiper de-icer, power 3rd row vented windows, window tint, and a roof rack with cross bars. The passenger side door is powered even on the base LE now.
I would try to convince them to get Package 3 for the stability control and trip PC, and the other power sliding door. Even if they can't, it's less of a compromise than the Pilot at that price level.
An SUV without AWD, I mean, what's the point? :shades:
Without Package 3 on the Sienna, it's a harder decision.
Hmm... I see what you mean about scarcity of Pilot LX... I just searched 3 large Honda dealers and there were no 2WD LXs out of over 200 Pilots. Is Honda even making the 2WD LX? This could definitely make the decision easy - you can't buy a vehicle you can't find!
Craig
I was in a few mini-vans over the weekend, and while they were good for transporting 6 people, they weren't luxurious nor well riding and would probably not opt for one for myself.
-mike
Now, a full-size FWD Astro, something like that, I can imagine. Mini, no.
Or maybe it's a 4WD Econoline - they all look pretty much alike!
Mini-van? Nah, not my style to rock one of them.
-mike
Minivans are unique in that they cater to the passengers, not the driver. My wife never asks for the keys. She'd rather sit with the kids and watch a movie.
At least I have my GPS. :shades: