Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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Comments

  • 2ndwnd2ndwnd Member Posts: 145
    Well, its been nice talking to myself.
    Later.
  • nvynvy Member Posts: 74
    It's good to know you have your ride back!

    It sounds like your better half showed a bit
    of emotion for the Subie. Sometimes you need
    to add an E to motion to get things rolling!

    Later
  • amishraamishra Member Posts: 367
    Here is a story of a passenger with Tom McGeer in the Toronto Star. For all you WRX rally fans.


    http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer? pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=992988113402& call_page=TS_Prestigewheels&call_pageid=972403873938&call_pagepath=Weekly/ Prestigewheels&col=972403874481


    You'll need to join the URL unfortunately, to read the story because of Edmund's stupid 115 character limit / word ...


    -- ash

  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Hi all, sorry I was gone all weekend. Um, actually. no I'm not, I was at the beach!

    1st off, Welcome to our new Crew Members that have un-lurked; we're certainly happy to have you all here.

    Enjoyed the drive back from the beach in the GT. The OB would technically have been the better choice for hauling boogie boards and such, but we're still in the honeymoon period with the GT, so...

    NEway, rode up there in a friend's 5MT 4Cyl Honda Accord ('97 I believe). Nice enough and certainly a fine choice for her, but it does not have the character of the Legacy. And she paid about the same for it as I did for the GT. Kirsten joined us tne next day in the Legacy, and we drove back last evening. I kinda miss the sound of my JC Sports intake, but I am convinced overall power availability is improved. The car is pretty unflappable now too, with the 18mm bar, end links, bushings, and tower brace. Hard cornering is pretty un-dramatic. Looking forward to new tires, and I do wish I had the cash for a strut/spring upgrade. We just sat out there on Rt. 50, cruising across the Bay Bridge with the smell of sea air washing in through the sunroof.... :)

    p.s. 1st Auto-X this weekend coming up. I'm already a little nervous; I hope I can remember the course properly while I'm out there.
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Bob,
    You could probably find the differences between Open and Group N at www.scca.org (think that's it). I believe the "big boys" compete in the Open class. Hyundai and Mitsubishi are other factory efforts, IIRC. One of Subaru's Open cars was a WRC car, but it was too pricey so they shipped it back to the UK. :-(

    Dennis
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Are Mitsu and Hyundai using AWD (non-USA based) models?

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    using the EVO AWD, but I think the Hyundai is not an AWD model.

    I caught some WRC yesterday on Speedvision. That station Rocks!

    -mike
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Yes, I believe the Tiburon is AWD.
    I missed the Speedvision action. I need to print their weekly schedule and watch or at least tape.
    Dennis
  • sibbaldsibbald Member Posts: 106
    I have owned both vehicles (automatics), 43,000 k. on the 97 and presently at 32,000 k. on the 2000. I like the 2000 better, I have to say that because it cost me $6,000 plus taxes to upgrade.

    F.W.I.W. my comparisons ;

    97 interior is quite utilitarian
    97 has a lot of road noise and is even worse in the wet
    97 has more motor noise when you push the throttle
    97 produces a lot of wind noise in the roof racks and radio antenna
    With the 97,there is quite a bit of shift shock between gears (especially 1st. to 2nd.)
    97 the outside mirrors do not fold in
    the 2000 has greatly improved all of these areas plus having remote door locks, and power seat for driver.

    I do agree with you about the power, esp. with the automatic. The 97 had more grunt at highway speeds and I preferred the steering feedback which is less with the 2000. I also find the 2000 seat quite uncomfortable on a long trip. Yes, the 97 seats were too firm but I could tolerate it. The 2000 drivers seat puts me in agony after some hours. I have been know to be a big [non-permissible content removed] but not necessarily to have one. What I find uncomfortable are the side wings of the 2000 seat. Anyway, what I found was that most of the things I didn't like in the 97 they changed in the 2000.

    cheers,

    Tom
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Tom, I agree with you totally. The 2000 is a more comfortable and luxurious car and therefore a much better overall vehicle. I was going totally based on a performance standpoint in my comparison.

    -mike
  • pattim3pattim3 Member Posts: 533
    Glad you folks had a good vacation. I'm on my way next week.

    Patti
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Dave: sorry to hear about the body shop's shoddy work. You really think you can get it looking good with those little touch ups?

    On the Miata, I just left it there for them to clean up a bit, add the wheel center cap they had forgotten, and replace a plastic seal on the door that they cracked. IMHO it's better not to hurry them, so they can get it right.

    Pat: I let the insurance folks worry about car theft. It would just give me an excuse to get a new Subie! Actually, though, I do not believe Subarus are sought after by thieves, except perhaps the WRX.

    Loosh: good luck this weekend. Where are you going? Bob and I will be at the M-B Power Trip event.

    -juice
  • yellowbikedonyellowbikedon Member Posts: 228
    Do you know if Darlene's "shop" is back in operation?

    I need a few things and would like to place an order.

    If not,any recommendations? Also need numbers.

    Thanks, Juice.

    Don
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I placed an order for some parts with Darlene to find out.

    UPS hasn't been paid by QSubaru lately, so she had to use ground shipping. The parts aren't here yet so I haven't come to any conclusion.

    -juice
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    I spoke with Darlene a week ago and she still could not ship. I ended up going to Liberty Subaru and they were great. Didn't need the part number and the price was good. I bought an alloy wheel for my GT for $160 vs $239 from my dealer. I have also used SubaruParts.com and they were good too but you need the part number.


    http://www.libertysubaru.com/

    http://www.subaruparts.com/


    bit

  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    -------->......from the "Events" topic.....

    I don't think most poeple buy Forester for its SUV "wannabe"characteristics. Whatever SOA's intentions for the car might have been when they cobbled it together, it has ended up being the catalyst for a niche that is now being referred to as sport crossover, a niche NOT inhabited by CRVs and RAV 4s, but Protege 5s and Toyota Matrix, uh, Matrices?

    What Forester did, intentionally or not, is show the market that there is a buyer for a vehicle with more utility than the average hatchback, but withouth even trying to be trucklike in mission (and without the usual visual cues like high clearance for no good reason, spare tires mounted aft, etc.). That is the coup that Subaru has pulled off with it, intentionally or not.

    That said, I hope they don't go for truck with the new one. The SUV thing is topping off, and the "sport crossover" market is heating up big time.
  • yellowbikedonyellowbikedon Member Posts: 228
    Thanks for the replies. I'll try Liberty Subaru and wait until Darlene is "ready" for the next order.

    Don
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Lucien,

    Interesting observation. I also purchased the Forester because I did not want an SUV. I started looking at the OB at first, but the Forester simply fit my needs better. I also like the Protege 5 and Matrix styling so you may be on to something here.

    I do think though that Subaru did have SUVs in mind when they designed the Forester. Although it is quite different IMO from a CR-V or RAV4, it does address SUVs through styling hints such as the toothy grille and fender blisters. Foresight or luck, we may never know...

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Agreed, Loosh. I mentioned in Events that I bought the Forester because it was a wannaNOTbe SUV. The nimble handling and overall efficiency won me over, and those are not SUV traits.

    I had looked at the Outback, too. Had they been available at the time, I definitely would have cross shopped the Matrix and Protoge5, and throw in the Focus wagon (5 speed).

    But it kind of falls in between, and it is cross shopped with the CR-V and RAV4. Though I'd say most choose the Forester because it is most car-like. At least I did.

    Having said that, the competition is heating up. The Matrix and Vibe will have 180hp, and the IS300 Sportcross will offer 225 or so.

    On the other side, the Santa Fe has 181hp, the XTerra will have 210hp with a S/C, and Ford and Mazda both offer 200hp.

    Time for Subaru to up the ante, at least on top models.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Need more power...

    Oh yeah found a webpage I bookmarked awhile ago about a turbo kit (4-5psi) for the svx. bumps it 80-100hp and needs no other items (no IC, or fuel controller) 300+hp SVX yummy, now I really can't wait to get my aunt's!

    -mike
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    from taking Rufus on his birthday drive. Now that we have gotten to know each other better, mountain driving is getting to be a real pleasure despite the automatic transmission. Setting up so that I could go though the curves with a bit of throttle became second nature after a while. I drove the old TransCanada Hwy., now lightly travelled. Passing is still an art-form since it's mainly a 2 lane road with the occasional passing lane - always uphill. Timing is critical - pass now or wait until ???. Rufus had plenty of power hitting 155 kph and climbing on one long uphill. I had no idea he was going that fast - very smooth and still quite quiet .


    We did get to do some off-road work. Some pics at http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292506555 Traction, much to my surprise, was never an issue. Clearance, however was. I literally scraped through several times. Some of the mud holes were in clay. I could barely stay on my feet when I got out to take pictures but Rufus just powered right through. Amazing. He did manage to throw large clumps of mud onto his roof (how I have no idea) but just kept on going. Being alone and old I chickened out on the really outrageous "roads" realizing that I didn't want to try digging out by myself if I over did it. Great fun! I also caught 30+ trout to 4 pounds in less than 10 hours fishing (released them all) so it was a good trip for both of us. :-)


    Ross

  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Hey Ross - our big roadtrip this fall is going to take us north from SF to Canada, then east and back down through Glacier Nat'l Park in Montana. Any suggestions for the trip? We love 2 lane.

    bit
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    why don't you email me a bit (sorry) later about your plans and I'll try to be of some help. If you're going to be in Vancouver before heading to Montana I would highly recommend Hwy #3 - the Hope-Princeton Highway. It's primarily 2 lane with lots of hills and curves. Quite a beautiful drive. It had a reputation for being one of the most dangerous roads in BC and in fact all of Canada. With less driving pressure and some upgrades the situation has improved. It continues all the way to the Rockies so it may be just the ticket for you.

    Ross
  • pattim3pattim3 Member Posts: 533
    sounds like a great trip. I'm leaving on vacation tonight (I'm going to try to make the chat first). I'll be out of touch for a week as family rule mandates - no phones/no computers while we are at the shore.

    Chat with you later!

    Patti
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    enjoy the vacation!!! :D
    See you in a week, "bright eye bushy tail".
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nice pix Ross. I guess the folks before you didn't understand the meaning of "tread lightly". I'm sure your footprint wasn't as deep.

    Trout sound yummy. You didn't save any for dinner?

    Cool, Patti, have a nice vacation. Bet it's nice to leave home when you actually planned to, eh? Take some photos if you ever get off the beaten path.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I'll be on vacation next week as well, although I should be logged in at least 1x a day. We'll see how well my Trooper does towing 5000lbs. I'll be flatbedding the XT6 on a uhaul behind the Trooper to bring it upstate Friday night.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Why are you taking both cars? Planning on doing some off roading AND autox?

    -juice
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Ross- Great pictures. I love off-roading Scooby's.

    Patti - Have a great vacation. You deserve it.

    Dennis
    Oh, paisan. You have a good one too.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Too late for a name change. It would have to have been done already. Besides, you have Escape, Explorer, Expedition, and Excursion, so you'd have to change your entire naming philosophy.

    Plus, I think the Ford name is hurt just as much as the Explorer name is. But what about:

    Eddie Bauer (just drop the Explorer label)

    That way you still have name recognition, if the clothes retailer would allow it. Despite the bad press there is also an enormous pool of Explorer owners that like them.

    Or, what about the Ford IshouldahadaSubie?

    -juice
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    :)

    I seem to be locked in a tug of war over the Subaru Website poll question on the Community home page. The approval rating rocketed to 75% a couple weeks ago, and everytime I throw 20 or 30 odd votes in there to whittle it down to 70%, someone out there goes in and boosts it right back. Must be a sore programmer. :)
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yep, need the Trooper to tow the boat to various lakes up there, and do some off-roading. Sunday July 8th is an auto-x in Rome, NY not far away, and there are also some nice cruising roads up there, that are nice in the Trooper, but are outstanding in the XT6. Also planning on leaving the Trooper up there til laborday to save about 10K miles on it that I put on last year ferrying myself from Staten Island up to the Adirondacks nearly every weekend. The Trooper will make an appearance downstate in Mid-July for the NC Uwharrie National Forrest trip with the Isuzus (and hopefully some of you subie people will join us, hint hint suttle suttle, I'm dying to see patti with a VDC on the off-road trail pulling stuck rodeo out of a ditch!)

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Loosh: that or they removed duplicate votes. ;-)

    paisan: you ought to figure out a way to pull the engine from that 2nd XT6 you looked at and put it in your boat! You'd have to call it a Scuba-ru though. :-)

    -juice
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    you are right about the "tread lightly" problem. In the Kamloops area most of the forestry road users drive full sized working pickup trucks, often 2wd. They all have great ground clearance and evidently just spin their way out of mud thus creating the pits you see. Oh well. BTW, I left the campsite with a sore back. 4 hours of nonstop driving later I got out of Rufus and my back felt not as bad! Luxury is driving with both A/C and seat warmer on at the same time. :~)

    Ross
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Grrr, I'm jealous!

    -juice
  • blaneblane Member Posts: 2,017
    With all of those deaths and injuries...how about the new Ford Exploder?
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yeah people (even owners) affectionately call it the Exploder! :)

    -mike
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    no, that would clash and cause confusion with the Ford 'Xplode' that's out in the foreign market.
  • blaneblane Member Posts: 2,017
    Well, since the photos I've seen of the wrecks show the sides and tops bashed IN, why not the new Ford Imploder?
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Thanks for the trip tip Ross. I will email you when we get closer to heading out.

    bit
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Bit- I took much the same trip a number of years ago. I'll have to get the road atlas out to refresh my memory but the Canadian portion was definitely scenic. This is a trip I would certainly recommend to anyone who has the time.

    -Frank P.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Imploder? LOL!

    Ford should make the side curtain bags standard ASAP. That would create far more goodwill than following that consultant's (IMHO bad) advice.

    Check out the new Edmunds review on the 2002 model. They like it, pretty much, and think it'll continue to be the best seller. I agree that it will sell.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Having the chat transcripts available is an excellent idea. However, it might make better sense to put each chat into a "dated folder," rather than loose, as it now is. Then you can click on whatever chat week that interests you.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, but then the search feature wouldn't work. ;-)

    Chat with you guys live tonight. Be there or be square.

    -juice
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    no access to computer, nights, Mon -> Thur. :(
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    image

    ...at 6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern. Hope to see you there!
    http://www.edmunds.com/chat/subaruchat.html



    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    But with these weekly chats, we'll then have a massive (and growing) amount of folders!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Dave: work late! :-)

    -juice

    PS To clarify, I meant Dave #314,324,346
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    The Chat Folders could be archived

    Bob
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