Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Congrats, Tom. I believe you're the first Crew member to get one! Lucky duck!
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    I was looking at miatas and S2000s, so the BRZ is a ton more practical! :D

    It was total luck, Juice. Guy cancelled the day of delivery and I just took it. It is a great drive- very similar to the NC Miata but a little quicker and more rigid.

    Would have been nice to have a convertible though, but for me with my kids it's still nice to have a back seat in a pinch.

    tom
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If it at least had a panoramic moonroof, perhaps...

    The mere mention of trading in the convertible for a hard top (sans roof) set off a revolution in my house. My kids stopped talking to me. :D
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    Well, shoot, at least it has a back seat!

    I think I'm going to pull the trigger on an '11 Fiesta today. I have everything lined up on it, so at this point it is just a matter of closing the deal. It's not the color I would have preferred (I would have gone with yellow blaze metallic), but I'm also saving several thousand over any other car I was considering (new)... and it has just under 14K on the odometer.

    Thoughts? And, be candid - I know it's a crazy color, and I've already reconciled myself to that. :blush:

    image

    image
    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
  • hammerheadhammerhead Member Posts: 907
    edited August 2012
    I will do my best to resist the urge to make any 'rolling grape' references... :shades:
    Still a nice looking little car!
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    Haha, Paul; I think it looks like a raspberry! It is quite bright, though, which is always a plus for a small car. :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
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I say go for the Purple People Eater but is that manual or auto?

    Watch the trans if it's auto. A co-worker had to replace hers and it was even that same color.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited August 2012
    No, more like a salmonberry. Fish on dude!
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    edited August 2012
    Manual. I drove an automatic when I was down in West Virginia a few months ago, and that was not my favorite transmission, even amongst automatics. It did get great mileage, though (just under 42mpg overall)!

    And juice, the PPE was my '98 Grand Caravan; this one has to be something different.

    I'm pretty sure salmonberries are more of an orangish-red, Steve. I need a name for it. The salesman said the previous owner, an older lady who traded it in on a Nissan Cube, called it "Ruby." It's not the right color for the name, though, and we already have a car (a Porsche, no less!) in the group with that name.
    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
    Here's a photo of it under flash, which is more similar to what it looks like in bright sun....

    image
    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
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    bummer, I can't see pics hosted from FB.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    Ack; sorry. I don't have a server on which to place them....
    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
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited August 2012
    Tinypic is pretty easy (part of Photobucket I guess).

    Overripe salmonberry. :P

    Er, artificially colored salmon roe?

    Pretty similar in color to my sister's '05 Forester.

    Congrats on the new ride.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    My daughter was offered a teaching job today ... She got the call at 1:00, worked her instructional aide job til 2:00, (left that job), filled out paperwork, had open house with parents at 5:30 and students start TOMORROW ...

    She is teaching 7/8 language arts (including some honors sections) at an intermediate school not far from us (or from her).

    (Mom is so proud ....)
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Well, I'm sure it will look a lot better once it's dirty. :P Is it more red than plum colored? Maybe a cherry?

    I like today's Fords. The Fiesta drive well and is even kinda fun. Hope it works out for you Wes.

    tom
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Congrats Brenda. Following in your footsteps? I'm sure you have a ton of advice for her!
  • colin_lcolin_l Member Posts: 591
    congrats to her, Brenda! my son just started kindergarten in the Wichita public school system and on his first day there were 3 classrooms, 3 teachers, about 27 kids in each class. they had a staggered start, 1/3 of the kids each day on W-F so all the teachers could assess the kids.

    then on Saturday, the principal hired a 4th teacher so they could have four classes of 20. oddly, my son has already been moved from one class to another to balance the move of a boy with "several behavioral issues". they were vague, but I got the gist that the new teacher simply couldn't handle this boy, and my son's original teacher was a better fit.

    well, yay. I went all the way through the public school system more than 30 years ago, and it was just fine. but this isn't a good start...
  • hammerheadhammerhead Member Posts: 907
    She has a wonderful mentor.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    edited August 2012
    It'll work out, Colin! Just the fact that the school hired that extra teacher is a good sign, as the students benefit greatly from smaller class sizes.

    I can't believe your son is ready for school already! Heck, it didn't seem long ago at all when you were excited to be welcoming him into the world!

    My daughter missed the public school's age cutoff by a month, so even though she is both academically and socially ready for kindergarten this year, she's not allowed to attend. I can't believe she'll be five in another month....!

    We have her enrolled in a preschool with a kindergarten program, so I'm hoping that next year we can get her moved in to first grade rather than stagnating her with another year of K.
    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
    Okay, Colin; thanks to Steve, I have the photos hosted on this Photobucket site, despite the incessant and annoying ads (I really hate ads that have sound....).

    Sorry for the double post to everyone else.

    image

    You can click here to see the other two that I posted previously. :blush:
    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
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The only thing "Alaskan" about that car is it's slippery enough for the moose to slide right over the top. Get back to us when the windshield is cracked and the sides have spruce tree scratches from front to back. And don't forget the steelies for the studded tires. :shades:

    (Congrats Bren!)
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    I don't do studs... studless all the way! But yes, I'll probably put them on steelies. And, it already has a solid scratch (through the paint) on the roof, so it has a start there.

    I suspect it will take a four to six weeks before I get my first good windshield ding. It has a leg up on the Forester, though, in that it already has a few small chips in the windshield without cracking. My first small chip in the Forester sent a crack all the way through it. The next couple did the same thing. Basically, the glass on that Subaru is junk. As with many things, they don't make windshields like they used to!
    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
    edited August 2012
    Congrats Brenda, to you and to her. ...And you should be proud!

    Speaking of kids...

    Son David will be switching jobs in mid October. He'll be moving to Frederick, MD, next month and will be an optometrist at a pretty big regional optometric practice. He'll be the chief eye doc at one of their Hagerstown locations.

    Bob
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    That's a big step, Bob! Congrats to him!

    Brenda, I'm sorry that I somehow missed your post (I even responded to a post Colin made that turns out to be in response to yours!). She's a brave soul working middle school! At this point in the game, though, it literally doesn't pay to be choosy. :)
    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! Honors, too, nice!
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    At one of my schools right now, we have one Kindergarten class with over 30 students. "They" are waiting until closer to the date of 9/21 before making a decision about splitting the class or adding an instructional aide to the classroom. (Budgets are very tight ... 9/21 is the date in the teacher contract to do "something".)

    Another school nearby has 3 classes of 31 each ... they WANT to split the classes and hire a 4th teacher but there are no empty classrooms in the building. They are trying to figure out if they can put up another wall somewhere to create a room ...

    It used to be that you knew pretty closely what your school population would be early enough to plan, but now there are open enrollments within and across districts competing for the meager state education dollars - as well as the $$ being drained through the expanding voucher program.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited August 2012
    I'm sure they try to use the census but they never know how many will go to private schools, move, or cross boundaries. It's a tough challenge.

    31 kids in a class is crazy, though.

    Around here the PTA is strong and 25+ is split, no doubt.

    Then again around here they just add temporary trailers, usually for the oldest kids.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    My daughter was offered a teaching job today ... She got the call at 1:00, worked her instructional aide job til 2:00, (left that job), filled out paperwork, had open house with parents at 5:30 and students start TOMORROW ...

    That seems to happen every year. One teacher decides they don't want the job a week before school begins and the districts start scrambling to get someone.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    31 kids in a class is crazy, though.

    Around here the PTA is strong and 25+ is split, no doubt.


    My town tries to keep it to 21 or so. Beyond that and it gets crazy.

    Then again, we have great support for the schools here. We built a new elementary school last year and the middle school is undergoing a complete overhaul and addition. The high school got a new turf field and grandstands last year and the middle school will get a turf field in the spring as part of the renovation.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    or ... as in the case with a lot of those kindergarten classes ... more kids show up than you are expecting and you have to create another class at the last minute!

    She texted today that one of the high schools (same school corporation) called her today to ask for an interview ... She would have preferred high school (and it is the same one her oldest attends), so she was a little disappointed they didn't ask a few days sooner. She is still happy to have the job and says so far all the staff has been very nice to help her get going ..
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    I am feeling very pleased to be living in Australia. Average class sizes here in Victoria for all primary is 21.6 kids and pupil teacher ration of 11.8. Prep to Grade Two has smaller classes.

    I was president of a primary school for many years and we aimed for about 20-24 in senior classes and 16-18 for juniors.

    It was very welcome after Britain where class sizes were much larger.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    That is a far cry from my first new car - a 1979 Fiesta! I had my heart set on something more powerful and substantial, but I got out of engineering school and landed my first real job in Dallas. I had little money and it was the summer of the "GAS CRISIS #2". My big choice was between a Chevette or the Fiesta. Not an economical Honda or VW to be had for miles around.

    Loved that little car! Unfortunately it all ended in a big crunch when an impaired driver with a vehicle weighing about 2x ran a light and turned our car into a compacted accordion.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    edited August 2012
    Well if further proof were needed that I am slightly nuts here goes.

    I ordered a Katzskins leather interior kit for the Mazda and this week I installed it. Man what a job, my hands are cut to bits the edges on those damn seats are sharp as razors.these are not covers that go on over the existing upholstery, the existing stuff has to be removed and the new leather installed with hog rings.

    It turned out super, the worst part of the whole process was getting the leather covers on the headrests, and getting the centre armrest reinstalled in the back seat.

    The inserts still have to installed on the door panels, but I am seriously considering taking the inserts off the panels and entrusting those to a professional upholsterer, but we will see, maybe when I get them off I will give it a go. I got perforated leather so hopefully it will be good in the hotter weather.

    Cheers Pat.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's tough work, I'm sure!

    Do you even have the heat/steam machines to shrink and soften the materials?

    That's no joke! Pics please!
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    first week of school for me this week ... so it's always a busy busy busy week ... running up and down stairs and through the halls trying to be sure all the students aren't too 'anxious' with the 'new' stuff that's different from last year .. that the aides have what they need .. etc ... and while it's unusual for my feet to swell, they were swollen in the evenings (but ... well ... i was on my feet all day long!)

    Thursday morning I hadn't been up too long when I noticed my feet and ankles were swollen and the left a bit more than the right ... so ... being the person I am who leaps to the most dire conclusion possible ... I called to make an appt to see a dr right away (and I've only been to this doctor about twice in 12 years so I'm not a 'frequent flyer' lol). They had an appt at 11:10, principal agreed to allow me to go at that time and off I went ...

    the surprise ... my blood pressure was quite a bit higher than normal ... (150 over 92) I TAKE my blood pressure pretty regularly because high BP does run in the family on both sides, but I've never had a reading that high before ... Well, the bottom line is ... don't think it's anything terribly serious (like a blood clot), but they did prescribe a mild diuretic to try to control the blood pressure ... took the first pill yesterday morning and so far I've lost 5+ pounds since Thur morning! (easiest weight loss I've ever had lol)

    I'll go back in a month to be checked again and I'll take my BP cuff to check against the one in the dr's office just to be sure it's reading correctly ...

    guess it's really time to lose that extra weight I'm carrying around ... ....
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Yea, those docs tend to harp on that weight loss thing. It's annoying that they're right :shades:

    Only diet I've ever been on that worked was to not eat, and that's no good for you either. So just after Thanksgiving 2010 I joined a local gym and dropped about 60# in 9 months and have maintained that so far. I probably eat a little less, but I haven't changed what I eat.

    It's really pretty basic. Burn off more than you take in. But it does take effort, either to eat less or burn more or some combination of both.

    The biggest obstacle/motivation I got was when I said to people that I was going to join the gym, their general response was something like "That will work IF you go". Took about 3 weeks before it became a habit and I'd feel bad if I didn't go. And with the shower and steam room and sauna at the gym, I've hardly showered at home so I'm saving on hot water at home as well.

    You can do it, but YOU gotta do it. ;)
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    edited August 2012
    Brenda, it's the stress of school! take care of it and keep an eye on the BP.
    This was also our first week with students. We have a week of pre-planning before. At the end of last year, I was told I'm doing sixth grade world history again; that was a huge disappointment as I've been doing it for six years already. Two days before pre planning, I get a call from my principal telling me he decided to give me eighth grade American History, what I've wanted for years.
    So far, I'm happy with them...three classes of advanced students and two at-level, all good kids so far; classes are 21, 21, 23, 22, and 22. Florida has a class size amendment of 22 in middle school that districts either follow or pay fines. We have a new textbook and a new AP from high school who seems to be obsessed with discipline and statistics; we all feel she won't last long in middle school, she's clueless.

    On the Subie front, Lil Blue just keeps on going, 110k miles on her and strong, but I recently had to put a new cv boot and tranny flush. Her mileage is terrible and I'm frustrated about that. The Porsche gets better mileage and I'm tempted to make it my dd. any suggestions on the mileage problem, fuel filter, plugs, etc? Let me know.

    Brenda, have a great year with the kids.
    Serge
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited August 2012
    I quit eating sugar, counted calories with an online food tracker and lost 30 pounds. Didn't change my activity level. One of these days I'm going to lose ten more and get down to my college weight. When I blip back up, I count calories again for a week or three.

    Thanks for the Katzskins report Pat. I like messing with stuff like that but it's been decades since I owned some hog ring pliers. There's just something fun about taking car seats out and dragging them inside your living room. :shades:
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    good news that you have the subject you want (finally!)

    Yeah, I'll keep an eye on the BP ... I had already been trying to eat 'less sugar', 'more fiber', 'more vegetables', 'less sodium', and 'less processed food' ... but I know it's not quite enough ...
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Well Brenda, it's never too late to start improving your health.

    Exercise regularly, eat healthy and lose a little weight and your BP should improve a lot.

    The last thing you want to be on his BP medications. They can make you feel 'energy- less' and tired.
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    Wow! That's impressive! Great job!
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    It's still a work in progress with no particular goal in mind :shades:

    Although the absolutely INSANE idea of finishing a marathon is scratching at my skull
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    Well, I took the plunge and bought it on Thursday! We immediately took it on a camping trip to Palmer (pre-planned trip), which I was leery about, but my wife really wanted to try taking the "little car." I tell ya, it did a great job! We had to leave a few of the luxury items behind, like the Coleman camp stove, but otherwise all our gear tucked in there.

    It was fairly comfortable and we managed to get 38.06 combined fuel economy over 811.5 miles. That's twelve miles per gallon better than we would have done with the Forester. And, at $3.80 a gallon, we saved a solid $40 or more having taken the Fiesta. If it can do that with four passengers and loaded with gear... check please!

    Another bonus is that the little sucker is just a blast to drive; especially through the twisty stuff. There are a few curves that cause me to slow down in the Forester. In contrast, the Fiesta handles the entire length of the Parks Highway so well with the cruise set at 70, that I am sometimes tempted into tacking on another 10 or more mph just to enjoy a particular set of curves now and again. :blush:

    Sorry your Fiesta days ended in such an unenjoyable fashion, but at least you made it out in one piece!
    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
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Went to the fair eh?
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    edited August 2012
    Know it all! :P Yeah, we did "Family Day" on Saturday (kids get in free). I'm sad at how commercialized the whole thing has become. The only goal at that event is to separate people from their money. If entertainment is desired at all, it is an afterthought at best.

    The kids still had fun (at least when they were able to go on a ride or two), but aside from that it was just crowds and beggars vendors.

    Primarily, we visited my grandparents and a couple friends who live in the area.
    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.

    I didn't see your purchase story shared on the CCB thread, did I miss that?
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,728
    CCB?! Now why would I do that? :blush:
    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
    To let them live vicariously through you. :shades:
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    We are lucky enough to still have a very family farm oriented county fair in this area. In fact, it happens to be one of the largest in NY State, attracting some 350k average attendees over the past few years. And of course, the local Subaru dealer in the Village of Rhinebeck sets up shop there for the week. I left drool marks all over the '13 OBW. The packaging of the new FJ engine is quite nice. Later this month my wagon turns 11 years old, and by it's birthday I should roll the magic 100k (almost 99.7k as of this morning). She is still a sweet ride, but I'm starting to dream of new.....
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    No kids/nephews/neices to pass the old one on to? :shades:
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