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Agreed and also one of the reasons why some OE systems can be out of date. What they do is to get the original version from the supplier and then modify the data to "remove" some of the data that comes with it (like say Acura removing the details of the Lexus dealers and so on, even though you can still get there by keying in the physical address), which in turn adds some leadtime before the customers can buy it. They of course will try to make a profit out of every DVD update sale. Acura/Lexus in turn would also put in firmware lockouts that prevent the users from getting the map updates directly from a supplier like Alpine (a LOT cheaper than the $150 that an OE manufacturer would charge) and using it to operate the NAV systems.
However, as a long time user of OE systems (especially the better ones like the Alpine systems used by Honda/Acura and the Denso based system used by Lexus/Toyota) I prefer them to portables (even the best ones like Garmin). Of course the OE systems used in BMW, Audi etc are not something that I am impressed by. In the past when Acura used to have a full-fledged DVD based NaV/Maps system, Audi was still plodding on with a text-based NAV interface (no moving maps - just text to read from !)
The key here is that portables have come a long way, while the OE products have only had incremental improvements (since they were really good even several years back). The functionality gap has seriously closed, with the portables keeping on adding more functionality at a more frequent pace (since that is their livelihood).
Except for the minor inconveniences during usage, I am okay with using the portables, especially when one brings the cost differences between the two into the mix.
PS: Last year, we drove from Minnesota to Dallas, TX and used my Garmin 6xx model as our pilot (I no longer have this, since it got stolen). Basically, it was I-35 all the way down till Texas. The Garmin was a nightmare after around 250 miles or so, since it led us down a path (and I blindly followed it, instead of using my instinct to stick to I-35) that took us through side roads and essentially lengthened a 12-14 hour trip into a 18+ hour nightmare. On the way back from Dallas, it tried to lead us down the same path but I ignored it and resolutely stuck to I-35 and got home a lot quicker.
During a second trip a few months back, with my Garmin 855 (the 6xx model's replacement), the system was flawless all the way from MN to Chicago but around 200 miles from home, on the way back, the system just completely froze. No response whatsoever and it gave some kind of an error and the screen went blank. I called up Garmin and sent it in and they sent me a new replacement unit in a week, as a warranty replacement. Luckily the problem happened closer to home but I certainly would not have been a happy camper if it had happened when I truly needed to be navigated.
My OE systems (Acura, Honda and Lexus) have been blemish free in several years of usage. Rock solid reliable with no mis-steps - ever ! And that is the reason why I would be willing to pay a little extra if need be, for one of those OE units, over a portable ($2000 is definitely over the top, however) and use the portable only during trips by airplane, where I have to get a rental car at the destination. But would I pay $2000 for one of those OE ones ? Nope ! I will stick to the $200 Garmin ! :shades:
BTW, Michael was accepted to the fall term at Temple University in their advertising program...so happy. I envision more trips north.
Hopefully, we will be able to get together while I'm in DC the 26th-29th or 30th.
When you get it - IMPORTANT - make sure you have v2011.10 maps, which just came out. You are eligible for that upgrade the first 60 days, so make sure you update those first thing. It can take several hours but it's crucial.
Congrats.
It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen, what seemed like just a few yards away. My kids loved it.
I'm pretty certain it was a Right Whale, especially since it matches this description and is found in the Mid-Atlantic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_whale
I'm leaving Friday morning for DC. Im staying at the Hampton Inn on Leesburg Hway in Alexandria. Leave me a message and we'll all try for dinner..maybe Capitol Brewery...Bob, remember that place where we met last time? That was pretty good.
I guess late if you leave from Ft. Lauderdale.
Let's see, I'll be watching USA vs. Ghana soccer from 2-4pm, and then we have an Os game in Baltimore at 4pm Saturday (wifey got tickets long ago).
Bob was thinking brunch on Sunday but it would have to be early because we're invited to a friend's house in the PM, not sure what time.
So I could do Happy Hour on Friday, if you're here, or maybe brunch/lunch Sunday. Unless you want to come to the Orioles game with us, I could pick you up at a Subway stop or something. :confuse:
In front of the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art (Bob's WRX in background)
(all in jest, of course...)
Bob
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/01/subaru-forester-gets-new-engine-for-2011-impr- - oved-fuel-economy/
Manufacturing cost may be higher; perhaps pricing will be adjusted.
Chain drive (no need to replace belt) should be a marketing advantage.
Bob
Honda seems to be the only manufacturer who makes credible high performance SOHC engines but even in case of Honda, their DOHC engines up the ante a notch higher, when compared to their SOHC counterparts.
Not bad, but I hope we see incremental improvements next year and the year after that as well. DI and a CVT would be nice.
Bob
those of us still rocking the Phase I EJ25 DOHC are left to wonder what's the big woop
Soooo...... Ford Fiesta. Thoughts?
• Timing chain; no timing belt to replace
• Long stroke engine means better power throughout the rev range
• Long stroke engine means a shorter engine, which means less front overhang which should improve handling
• The EJ25 is an old engine, meaning it is less likely to easily adapt to state-of-the-art technology
• Being "all-new" likely means better gas mileage and cleaner, or at least the potential to do so
Bob
Some of you may remember that we began this saga a bit earlier this summer ... his car had "problems" which we were pretty sure included a blown head gasket .. it sat on the driveway much of the past 18 months as he tinkered with it off and on ... he finally took it to the garage to have it fixed ...
As a reminder .. the first things were replacing the catalytic converters (2 of them!) and the manifold ... at that point there were able to diagnose that it did indeed have a blown head gasket ... and they requested that we bring some $$ if we wanted them to continue working on it ... (because at that point it was already going to be more than the value of the car ...) While they had all the rest of it apart, they also replaced the water pump at no charge ... (you can imagine what it already cost at this point)
So he got the car back and we knew it was also going to need a brake job but we thought we could wait just a bit ... Just over a week after getting the car out of the garage, we were walking to it in a parking lot and realized there was a brake line hanging down under the car ... (even *I* knew that wasn't right!) .. back it went to the garage for a repair to a brake line and complete brake job with new rotors ... (yeah, not cheap)
OK .. so we now have it 'all fixed' right? ... uh .. you'd think so ...
About 2 weeks ago, he's driving home from work and puts down his driver's side window ... and .. after some nasty grinding noises, it would no longer go up ... He finally managed to get it most of the way up, and then pulled it up and TAPED it so it wouldn't rain into the car .. back to the garage and a new motor for the driver's side window ...
The week ... after everything else we've put into it .. he took it in to be painted. The body is in good shape and the interior is in good shape .. the paint was nasty ... it had been "blow away black" for quite awhile ... he had christened it "the big black turd" ... guess since he figured he'd be driving it forever, he decided to go for the paint job ... at the first place he went .. the guy looked at this 97 Lincoln Town Car and asked him ... "this car have sentimental value to you?... if not, you don't want ME to paint your car!" ... and for the price .. HE WAS RIGHT .. lol .. we'll see how it looks when we get it back ...
at this point, I think we've put as much into the car as he paid for it about 5-6 years ago ... and ... he'll be driving it forever ... (it only has about 130,000 miles on it)
for some reason he just really likes that car and body style ... he calls it his 'old man car' .. LOL
Maybe I ought to just keep the trusty OB for foul weather and get something more efficient and fun as a DD. I'm still amazed at the combination of those two criteria the mini delivers.
Why would you presume the new engine won't soon come to the Impreza, also manufactured in Japan like the Forester? Production volume of the new engine may still be limited and lots of old inventory is probable. The Forester may be more profitable than the Impreza which would make the Impreza the logical vehicle to use up the inventory. I think we will see that engine in all models soon.
With that in mind, the 2012 Impreza should be all-new—and I would expect all 2012 N/A models to get that new 2.5 engine.
Bob
We sure are all handsome fellows. Bob takes the prize though with his skin-colored helmet; he insisted on wearing it, even in the restaurant!
Why am I the only one with hair though??? A question for all of you fine folks here to ponder for the rest of the summer; pop quiz( I AM the teacher ) in 2 weeks!
Now for something completely different; Michael, who will be working his butt off at Temple U. this coming term, is selling his 2001 Outback Ltd wagon, no room for car, no band, etc. If you know of anyone looking for a Subaru, please let me know by email (bluerex02 at yahoo dot com or on my facebook page. Here is a link to the posting on the other subie site
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2031696
I can be persuaded to buy dinner, or more if you send me a photo of yourself in a helmet!
Does anyone know how the Quattro or Infiniti AWD systems compare with Subaru? Not for offroad but for poor weather/snow?
I'm thinking of trading in the STi for something more refined, but I think the new Legacy went down in terms of the quality of the interior and I can't say I like how it looks (although that never was a big issue with any Subaru!). Anyway, just thinking and haven't really decided yet.
tom
What color did he paint the car?
tom
A co-worker is getting one, only a matter of time. It will replace an older Escort wagon.
We drove a BMW 328xi, Lexus IS250 AWD, and Benz C240 4Matic, plus the Audi A4 V6 (they cheated and used the V6 instead of the 2.0T). I liked the Bimmer and the Audi, virtually tied. The Benz was susprisingly soft and slow and the Lexus was way too soft.
Have not sampled a G35x but given they call it VDC, I would not be surprised if it has a lot in common with the system in the H6 Legacys and Outback.
I have owned at least 9 VW/Audis over many years and will never buy another. They were models costing up to $40,000.00. As a life member of the Society of Automotive Engineers I'm too old to tolerate gross unreliability.
Now, as to the mysterious person I hung out with, it is someone I had a teenage crush on when I was 16, a girl in my building in Washington Heights, Manhattan. We were friends, but I was a shy fellow and never asked her out. After 43 years, we reconnected on Facebook; she's in NJ near my brother. We went out a bunch of times while I was up north, it was like lightning for both of us. We text each other multiple times during the day, speak to each other every night for 1-2 hours before we go to sleep, and we are going to be seeing each other constantly, taking turns flying back and forth.
This is us at 17, in front of our building
This was on our first date at the beginning of July.
Life at 60 is great (we are both 60).
...Serge, she looks to be 30 (if that), not 60. She must have been caught in a time warp. In any case, great news all around.
Bob
Congrats on the wheels too! I have the RE960s on my STi as my "winter" tires. They are great tires- did fine going up Seattle hills in the snow (no salt!) and in spirited driving on the road no different than my summer tires (well, they are a lot quieter).
tom
Brenda
(who found 'true love' at 45 ...)
I don't really need more power, but I'd like to see a more focused suspension a la Mazda3, MINI, Fiesta, Golf, and better stopping power. An interior refresh would be nice too. It seems the Impreza has been drifting toward Corolla lately. I think it would do Subaru better to drift toward Golf.
I think you're hoping for best small car handling.