Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Apparently the folks at the shelter met the mother, and she was a Doberman. They're often wrong, though.

    Could even be the mom was a Doberman Mix, if so then Tank is only 1/4 Doberman.

    Bob: he doesn't purr like Hadji did. :D
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    Dobermans, without their tails docked or their ears cropped, are pretty cute as puppies! We used to have a rescue Doberman who was purebred. He was incredibly cute until his features started "sharpening" as he entered adulthood, then he just looked a little awkward. My mom gave him away about then though, so I don't know how he would have aged.

    Hah - Max; what a fun dog.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I wanted a mutt anyway. Always have liked 'em. One of a kind!

    Actually, he had a sister, but she was bigger and her coat was more red/brown. Go figure.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    Mutts are the best and generally avoid most of the genetic issues of the purebreds. My wife's dog, Girl, who was a Pennsylvania street dog (looked mostly like German Shepherd mix), lived to 16 (Spring 1991 to April 2007) and was amazingly free of any problems. She went mostly deaf around 14 (or maybe just selective hearing!) and suffered from sore hips from 12 onward, but daily glucosamine tablets (human type, cheap) took care of that for the most part.

    She was happy and active literally to the day she died, and even that day she went on her own terms. :shades:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    He's cute Juice! He must be pretty energetic!

    tom
  • rob_mrob_m Member Posts: 820
    welcome to the crew, puppy!
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Bob, that was my first thought also! Hadji was good, but not quite a dog. Juice, what's his name?
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Ah, the patter of little feet around the house again! It's good to have a dog, even though I constantly complain about the restraints on life that a dog creates.

    Our yellow lab, now 3 years old, is starting to settle down and become a good family member. I sometimes take her to watch my daughter's High School marching band practices, and she can sit in the van, doors open, and stay put when I walk away! Amazing!
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    With two final weeks of competition left in the season, the Arlington High School Marching Band is currently in First Place in Class 5 (National Class) competition in New York State! Emily (freshman/rookie flutist extraordinaire) is flying on a cloud tonight.
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    I went up to visit Michael in Philadelphia...we didn't do anything special other than hang out...it was great!
    image
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    edited October 2010
    32082 - Steve, first place, that's great! As a freshman, I bet your daughter
    really is ecstatic about it!

    32083 - Serge, looks like a great time! I imagine Michael really appreciates your
    support and the time you spend with him.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    32082 - Steve, that's terriffic!

    32083 - Great photo Serge, everyone's color coordinated. Sounds like you guys had fun. :)

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    His name is "Tank", we didn't change it to avoid name confusion since some friends had him for a couple of months, and gave him up (transfer adoption).

    Energetic - yes, in fact that's why they gave him up. We have kids and a more active household so he was a better fit for our family. They were having to crate him during work hours, and he was chasing/terrorizing their cats when he wasn't crated!

    He's extremely intelligent and surprisingly well potty trained. He's not much of a long distance walker but we're working on that. We have to train him not to jump on people when he greets them, but he loves company and won't even eat when he's alone.

    This one is very much a dog - barks a lot, strong, full of personality.

    Once he grows out of the puppy phase, we all think he'll be a fantastic pet. He's already getting there. :shades:
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    And remember, they are usually fully grown at about 1 year, but for some reason, males seem to stay "puppy in the head" for about two years. All ours have been like that. Run around all the time like they are set to 11 and then suddenly it's as if someone flips a switch and they turn into rugs. Until you say, "walk" or I put on my bike clothes, that is.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    Only two? I would love that! My dog, now 9.5, was a puppy for six years... and is a female! I was just giving her a rub-down a few days ago and thinking that she had become a pretty decent dog when it dawned on me that she's starting to get old already! :sick:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    He's very high energy, so it may take him 2 years or longer to settle down. Hadji was also high energy, so I'm ready for it.

    He had a fight with himself in the mirror the other day. LOL

    He also stretches out from head to tail, it's hilarious. He must be 5 feet long when he does that.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    juice - get him to training ASAP. Dogs have to learn who's boss right away.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yep, we're required to by the dog pound, and I think my wife already signed us up.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    What?! That's ridiculous! If somebody told me that, I would either laugh in their face or punch them in the face, I'm not sure which yet. :mad:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Obedience training? No big deal.

    When we adopted Ashley we didn't have to go, but they still did a home visit.

    Now they require a home visit, proof of spay/neuter, chip ID, and obedience training. Our friends (the original owners) did the neutering and the chip, so we just had to re-register the chip and show receipts for the neutering.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Too bad they don't do that for children....
    Our shelter no longer allows people to browse the puppies. They require the adoption formalities first and then they can see the animals. Too many puppies bouncing back after they ceased to be cute and cuddly.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    I should start up my own animal rescue operation. I could double it as a soup kitchen and really have something valuable! No waste and every animal finds a home. :shades:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    What?! That's ridiculous! If somebody told me that, I would either laugh in their face or punch them in the face, I'm not sure which yet.

    Many shelters require some sort of owner training when taking on an adoption. The only exceptions seem to be older dogs that are already pretty mellow or those already trained.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Before we had kids we always said we would run a dog rescue farm after retirement.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    edited October 2010
    Think this is cumbersome? Some day I'll have to tell you guys about the process required when you want to adopt children!

    Fingerprinting, criminal records, good citizenship letters from the police department, letters of reference from employers, church, civic organizations & friends, financial disclosures, age and health certification, residency requirements, home studies before and at least two after, etc.

    Of course, the requirements vary by State, adoption agency, and where the child is coming from, but the whole process is downright insulting.... Yet teenagers jump into the sack on a regular basis & produce offspring, and nobody would dare question their ability to raise them....
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    I have seen the results of state custody and foster care on children (my brother and many of his peers) - of them all, he's the only one who is a productive member of society and I greatly respect him for that because he has done it all on his own. Frankly, aside from a background check / criminal record check, if someone is willing to accept the responsibility of raising a child on their own accord, they should be duly commended; the vast majority of people out there, including the "state custodians," could not possibly care less.

    A friend recently told me about the State of Alaska process for becoming a foster parent and what goes along with that. I now have no doubts as to why my brother's experiences as a teen were so terrible. The process, with all its "safeguards," ensures to eliminate everything that is truly necessary to raise a child and turns them instead into objects of burden.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    edited October 2010
    Yet teenagers jump into the sack on a regular basis & produce offspring, and nobody would dare question their ability to raise them....

    Well it's my one politically INCORRECT indugence that I wish we were all reversibly sterilized at birth and then had to pass various similar tests to have it reversed and be allowed to breed.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Wes,

    I'm sorry to hear that this topic hits you & your family so close to home. While I recognize that these rules are intended to protect the child, they can be taken to such extremes that they ultimately hurt those they are designed to help.

    Long story short, we initially attempted (early 90's) to foster with the intent to adopt if the child was legally relinquished. Our request was turned down. Why? Well, we are white and Jewish, while most kids in the system are black/hispanic and Christian. To us, that made no difference. Diversity is really kind of cool. To the family court in NYS it was unacceptable. They would allow one mismatch, but not two! So if we changed the color of our skin, or our faith, we'd qualify....

    Fortunately, many of those old statutes have fallen over the years, but I'm told that it is still not easy to do. Net, we decided to go overseas to build our dream family.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    edited October 2010
    Big thumbs up on that one!

    Unfortunately, you know that would just lead to subjective selections on who is "fit" to breed, etc., which is a terribly slippery slope to traverse.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    edited October 2010
    Well, that's what happens when you have one or more parents who just aren't worth the air they breathe. It happens. Unfortunately, it will have lasting impacts on my brother for all of his life. I am very proud of him, yet very worried as he will bring a son into the world very soon, and I am just not confident that he has the skills and emotional control to deal with it. I very much hope my fears are unjustified. With 4,400 miles between us, there is little I can do to help him. *sigh*

    As for your situation, I am glad there was an outlet to allow you to move your dream forward. It is insulting that anyone should decide your fitness/worth based on criteria such as those.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • css1css1 Member Posts: 247
    Hi everybody , how are you?

    Once again I'm at the end of my Tribeca lease. I have an Outback on order. I planned to buy this car as leases are getting more expensive. I am concerned about the "shakes".
    Does anybody know if production line fixes have been put into place?

    My dealer's service dept. is exceptional, so no problem there, but should I even take a chance and risk going through the "fix" process?

    Thanks
    Charlie
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    On the theme of Adoption/Fostering and Dogs, I think we have a weirder story.

    We have wonderful caring friends in England who dearly wanted children and were, at least to outsiders, very suitable - caring and loving, wealthy home owning professionals, happily married and indulgent of children (our kids were always spoilt like royalty). They also own a black labrador called William who likes to doze on his back on the sofa with all four paws (and male appendage, always discrete) in the air. It is the sort of house where kids or dogs doing inappropriate things with expensive and tasteful furnishings are indulged. They think that kids leaping off the sofa or the curtain rails need encouragement and cushions for a soft landing

    Unfortunately a Social Worker interviewing them found William's pose (on back with all bits pointing upward) disconcerting, asking why he was doing it. The answer "Because he is a dog!" was apparently aberrant.Scratched as potential adoptive parents!

    Some years later and through another agency, they are the happy parents of two very fortunate and wildly indulged kids.

    William is still dozing on his back.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    edited October 2010
    Thank you, Graham. You nailed it very well! Stories like this abound in the adoption community. I think one of my offhand comments during the home study about the indignities of the process almost got us blackballed. Beth almost killed me on the spot...

    We heard of one couple that was asked what their typical dinner meals consisted of. The social worker then inventoried their pantry and refrigerator to see if the items they stocked supported their claim of the meals they ate! Luckily they had a decent supply on hand, including some fresh vegetables. I guess they would have remained childless had the fridge only been filled with beer!!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Hi Charlie. My guess is yes, only because I haven't heard any complaints in quite some time. However, I haven't heard anything specific to that effect.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Seems like a small percentage of them are affected. Dunno, hopefully Subaru can address those few.

    None of the car mags have mentioned it, just some owners.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    The only thing that makes sense is marketing. They didn't want the Forester to upstage the Outback with more power. I bet when the Outback gets this engine, it w ill have more power.

    Bob
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Unfortunately, you know that would just lead to subjective selections on who is "fit" to breed, etc., which is a terribly slippery slope to traverse.

    Fully agreed, and the reason it's only a fantasy indulgence. I would fight wholeheartedly against it in the real world. Any step towards the Brave New World should be avoided.
    Recent studies suggest 20-25% of prison populations are FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder). Imagine what could be gained for the sufferers and society by eliminating that affliction.
  • css1css1 Member Posts: 247
    Thanks
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    edited October 2010
    Steve - A few years back my sister and her husband decided they wanted to do their part for society and become foster parents in the state of Georgia. The stories they told about the bureaucratic hurdles they faced were enough to make anyone see red. Despite the fact that they had already raised four children of their own and could have been featured on the cover of a good parenting book, they were forced to sit thru dozens of hours of all sorts of mandatory (and totally useless) training and of course various background checks (their kids even had to be tested for drugs).

    The most ironic part was that although Georgia is desperately short of Foster families period and good foster families especially, my sister had to take the initiative and make countless follow-up phone calls and trips to the local office to ensure that their application didn't end up languishing in someone’s inbox (or file 13) indefinitely. My hat’s off to them for persevering and there's no doubt that they've made a huge difference in the young lives of numerous children (they normally only take infants). They wanted to adopt several of the kids but of course that was unacceptable since the foster kids were all most always minorities.

    Our court system believes that a kid is better off with either an ex-con / drug addict single parent or a distant relative who has never even seen the kid, than with a stable family of a different race (who have already raised the kid from new-born to 2-year old). Go figure :confuse:

    -Frank
  • css1css1 Member Posts: 247
    Hi,

    I agree , I believe it's a small percentage. There is also a problem with the Continental tires, which clouds the issue.

    I picked up my Outback yesterday - 3.6R LTD. Silver steel metalic, However, I leased again. The fact that the Outback is still a bit de-contented along with the "shaker" issue influenced my decision to lease. In three years if my fiscal health allows - I'll revisit purchasing.
  • nickelnickel Member Posts: 147
    After 3 years with a Tribeca, I bought an Outback 3 weeks ago. Mine is a 2.5 Premium with the Moonroof Pack. You will feel 2 huge differences:

    - The steering in the Outback is hard. I thought it was only mine, after so many web induced preconceptions. This steering is never going to have a shaking issue this hard. It looks like Subaru, concerned after the shake complains worked it that way to avoid the noise. After 1 week, I even had to go to the dealer to try another one, but is the same. So no worries about shaking, but coming from the Tribeca you will feel like in the new car no sporting steering (direction wise) will be found. To be more precise, the Tribeca is a marvel when you address the highway curves. You feel you can take any curve over 100 mph. Forget about that in the Outback. Car and Driver refer to it when the first reviewed the car, to use their words: Artificially heavy steering just off-center.

    - The pump trips will make you happy. I have been averaging 25.2 mpg in 60% highway. That is more than 460 miles per tank, that in my case is over 6 days between fill ups. The Tribeca was 19.5 mpg, or 300 per fill up (4 days). Maybe for some people the act of filling the car is smooth, but in Minnesota, those 13 to 14 more fill ups per winter are good to avoid. They wear you down.

    - I paid Subaru VIP, that is, invoice.

    - Inside the main difference again the OB are the sound system (I had the premium sound before) and the automatic passenger seat (OB is manual).

    - In favor of the OB, the back seat is easier to in & out. I like the wireless link mirror (the OB had the link on the visor). Also, the OB came with the rubber tray in the back. I use the parking brake a lot, and it takes to get use to the new, electronic one (nothing to be concerned other than no one but you knows where it is, so explain to wife or friends when you lend it).

    - The Tribeca never gave me issues with the transmission, but I am amaze at the easyness of the CVT. Of course the car is slower (from 0-60), but in highway I go 50-80 quick enough as to be afraid of cops.

    - My estimated costs are going to be down at least by $700 a year, because uses less fuel and oil. Marginally, the 17 tires will be at least $300 cheaper when time to change comes. Also the resale can be easier and maybe better residual.

    - I plan to keep the car six years. My biggest gripe is the fact that the original hitch (to be used just to carry bikes) is close to $600 installed. I still have months to decide.

    All in all, is my 4th Subaru, and I am happy with it. Is a notch down in my own personal preference to the Tribeca, but I couldn't keep it for personal (marriage) issues.

    I will also publish this in the OB forum.
  • css1css1 Member Posts: 247
    WOW - you took the words right out of my mouth.

    I had leased 2 Tribecas - I did not want to lease or buy the same car without updates for more money. I also needed to get better mileage.
    They had to do a RFB on the Outback - It drives great now - at the last minute I switched the purchase to a lease.

    I'll post in a couple of weeks after I live with it for a while, but I would say compared to the Tribeca the 3.6R Outback had a "5 hour energy drink"
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Charlie, didn't you have the old 3.0 Tribeca? If so, then yeah, the new 3.6 Outback will feel significantly quicker (plus it takes regular gas).

    Bob
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    edited November 2010
    Okay, "final" update on the crazy truck project and my leg:

    I plowed my road for the first time on Saturday! Yeah, it was only about 6" of snow, but it served for a good test run since that was my first go at plowing (ever) and the first run for the truck after all the work I did over the last couple months. I ended up having to clear up several hiccups (including a non-operational oil pump!) with the engine and the transmission, but the engine is running great now and the tranny is doing well enough to get the job done, though I think a rebuild is in the not-so-distant future. I think the gears are fine, but clutch packs, maybe seals, are close to shot (perhaps it is just the torque converter?). It seems to do the job fine when I put the transfer case in low range, but doesn't have much power in high range.

    I was very excited about it, but my wife was less enthusiastic even though she was willing to "tolerate" the whole thing. She changed her tune a little when a neighbor stopped by a couple hours after the plowing and gave us a bag full of various meats from the pigs they butchered earlier this summer! Hah! That was probably $15-20 worth of meat from the store, so hey, it more than covered (about double) the fuel I used to plow that day. I'm thinking about offering up driveway plowing services to the folks in my neighborhood. :blush:

    My leg is getting better. I tore the Soleus muscle (on the "inside" of my right calf) quite a bit; the doctor said there was nothing to be done. Now that the swelling has *mostly* subsided, the deformity looks rather intense. I am gaining some strength back and have stretched/exercised it enough that I can walk normally, even run for a little while, but doing a "calf raise" with that leg is really difficult. I can do about two sets of ten on my stairs before my leg screams for mercy and literally can't lift me up any more. In contrast, after doing that many with my left leg it says, "So, were you going to exercise me or what?!"

    :sick:

    I'm not really sure what to think about my legs talking to me, but I suspect that if I seek treatment, I'm just going to be told, "there's nothing to be done." :D
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Congrats to both you and nickel. :shades:
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    image
  • css1css1 Member Posts: 247
    I had a 2006 and a 2008
    The Outback feels very light on its feet. Very different from the Tribeca. I need a while to get used to the way it drives
  • css1css1 Member Posts: 247
    Thank you
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Are you related in any way to Bob Holland? The resemblance is amazing...

    :D
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Well Wes, if you were Brett Farve, they'd probably try to fix you. ;)

    I would suggest you get PT and remember that scar tissue will not be as strong as the muscle fibers you tore, so definitely avoid too much instantaneous stress! (umm, like how you injured it in the first place) Hopefully, the muscle will heal. . . somewhat.

    I'm sure you'll be up with the use of your leg soon enough.

    Hmm, plow a couple more driveways and you'll have Thanksgiving dinner!! :D

    Good luck Wes

    tom
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