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Comments
Later.
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
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
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.
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
Bob
I caught some WRC yesterday on Speedvision. That station Rocks!
-mike
I missed the Speedvision action. I need to print their weekly schedule and watch or at least tape.
Dennis
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
-mike
Patti
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
I need a few things and would like to place an order.
If not,any recommendations? Also need numbers.
Thanks, Juice.
Don
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
http://www.libertysubaru.com/
http://www.subaruparts.com/
bit
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.
Don
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
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
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
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
bit
Ross
Chat with you later!
Patti
See you in a week, "bright eye bushy tail".
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
-mike
-juice
http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2001/06/26/home_auto/q_mateja_ford/
Patti - Have a great vacation. You deserve it.
Dennis
Oh, paisan. You have a good one too.
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
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.
-mike
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
Ross
-juice
-mike
bit
-Frank P.
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
Bob
Chat with you guys live tonight. Be there or be square.
-juice
...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
-juice
PS To clarify, I meant Dave #314,324,346
Bob