By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
It's about minimizing the calculated risk, not eliminating it, which I agree is impossible.
-juice
Don't buy a walker yet! That particular problem has happened before, so it's not just you.
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
-mike
Patti
Patti
Patti are you coming to NC?
-mike
Bob
I haven't heard any "official" reason to what happened. And to my knowledge this wasn't "planned". My best guess is the frickin-frack on the wazziwhozzit was miscombombaloozled.
How's that for a technical response?
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
-Frank P.
All the explanation you'll ever need!
Cheers!
Paul
Patti
Patti
The weather is typically british right now, with lots of unpredictable rain; though for the previous 2 months, we apparently had unusual amounts of sunshine and clear days.
London's transport system is a shambles. The underground (subway) is not only unreliable, it is also 73 times more polluted than at street level (that number came up in a paper recently), and has no air-conditioning. Even on 15 degree C days here, the underground is humid, smelly, and just not a place to be.
So I decided I would bike around the city, and I did that for about 5 weeks. Bikes are not very welcome in this city either - there are very few paths, and even in the parks, you're restricted to a very few areas where you're allowed to bike. But nonetheless it was far more enjoyable then the subway, until my bike wheels were stolen (someone was brazen enough to unbolt my wheels in broad daylight at a park; but that's London for you).
I went to Portsmouth over this past weekend, and discovered that the English definition of "beach" means loads of pebbles, where you're likely to cut yourself. Not exactly towel and sun-tan lotion type of beach. Quite disappointing actually.
Anyway .. that's it for now!
ash
Hopefully you can join us in Oct. We are setting it up for columbus weekend. Also it will give me a chance to see the trails 1st hand to see if a subie can do em.
-mike
Well, Photopoint finally fessed up. Two apologies, but for "uncertainty" we may have felt and for "delays in communicating" the changes.
Hello? What about the down time?
At least they gave us a two month extension.
-juice
Thanks for the update! Sorry to hear about your bicycle. I wasn't aware London's underground is dank and unreliable. Have you had a chance to hook up with the blokes on ScoobyNet? They organize charity events and for a donation, will drive you around Donnington Park in a 22B.
Have you driven anything other than a turbo Forester?
..Mike
..Mike
Actually, I'd like to take the wife and spend a week in the theatre district.
-juice
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
Bob
Mark
It's definitely a neat place to go for car lovers.
Bob
She's our pool's swim team mascot.
How is this Subaru related? Uh, she has All-Fin Drive.
-juice
Bob
Greg
Don't forget the chat tonight, everyone!
-juice
Greg
driving in london can be a nightmare -- I've done it a couple of weekends now. it's great if there's nothing holding up traffic, but in a city this size, with no major throughways, well, a bike is definitely the fastest way around (even faster than the underground).
cheers, ash
ps. juice, airfare would cost you around 700-900 US for adults on a scheduled airline, and around 500+ for a chartered flight. august is hell around here; too many tourists; unfortunately you've missed the best periods to visit which are may and june
By far my favorite vehicles on the road though, are the Audi TTs, and the numerous spotless Ferraris. The TT looks amazing in London, it's styling and character fits perfectly here.
Ed
Also enjoyed seeing all the 3-wheeled Relient cars/motorcycles. You just don't see stuff like that here.
Bob
The vehicles that stuck most in my mind over there were, in no particular order:
Smart (smallest car I've ever seen!)
Mercedes A-class and their minivan (called Vito, I think)
Audi A3 (will never see that here)
Nissan Skyline (first I've ever seen)
TVR Cerbera
Lotus Elise and Exige
Subaru P1
Subaru Forester Turbo WRSport (also given the Prodrive touch)
A wonderful unrestored maroon Aston Martin DB4 parked in front of the Royal Albert Hall
All those sedan deliveries based on little Vauxhalls and Fords
Ed
...at 6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern. Hope to see you there!
http://www.edmunds.com/chat/subaruchat.html
the funniest thing I ever saw though, was this old left-hand drive brown Dodge Ram pickup (80's style) rumbling down Oxford Street on a busy weeknight
As for the tube; it's sufficient if you're just a visitor. As a daily commuter though, it's a different story. Last night, I was stranded underground on a train for over an hour because of a power failure at the next station. There isn't a week that goes by where you aren't affected by a problem.
Well, perhaps in deference to Ash, that should read "Good Evening, Sir".
London driving is an acquired taste. Where Ash is living, Marble Arch at one end of Park Lane is fairly tame, but the intersection at the other end, Hyde Park Corner is probably the most exciting roundabout in the world. If you have ever watched fish schooling and wondered how they avoid touching each other, you have something of the feel of Hyde Park Corner.
It relies on a mix of deference to other road users, blatant aggression and sheer nerve to get around it. Mix in the London buses and Taxi Cabs and you have a really interesting experience. I used to drive around it regularly on my way to work at Lloyds and still think it is one of the great sights of the world.
Actually, my favourite trip used to take me from Paddington Station, around Marble Arch, down Park Lane past the McLaren dealership (nose rubbed against the window) and then around Hyde Park Corner. You then go past Buckingham Palace and either along the Mall, through Admiralty Arch and around Trafalgar Square and Nelson's column, or alternatively, past the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, before cutting along the Embankment beside the Thames. You pop up in the City of London, right next to the Monument commemorating the start of the Great Fire of London. Fun to drive, but even better in a Cab where you can admire the view. A great way to spend £15.
Okay, book your tickets now for the great London get-away.
Now, as to driving there. Think really hard first as most older towns do not have straight grids like American cities and finding your way around is exciting. Driving on the wrong side is also tricky.
Cheers
Graham
-Frank P.
Ash: think you can stuff one of those turbo Foresters in your luggage for me? Nah, of those cars only the Smart would fit! ;-)
Never been to Europe. I've enjoyed South America and the Carribean too much! :-)
-juice
LOL!
Graham> fish schooling .. avoid touching each other
Great visualization.
visualization -- oh, that's not the word I want. What's the word whose definition is: words that describe visual images, as Graham has done?
..Mike
..Mike
I remember the train station having no trash cans out in the open, because of the fear of the IRA placing bombs in them. How's that for reality check?
Bob
Yeah, those are sweet.
Honestly, though? I'm more into cars that I could potentially afford. While at the M-B PowerTrip event, Bob was into the S class, while I enjoyed the C class and SLK more. Guess I try to be realistic.
That's the sweet thing about the WRX. I love bang for the buck. Really that's what decided all of my new car purchases.
-juice
Bob
The S class is not for me. It felt like a yacht. More luxurious than a boat, but still a boat. I even felt the E class was too big.
To me, the Legacy is about at my size limit. So a B4 RSK would be perfect.
Anything bigger doesn't feel right. I'd just give up entirely and get a minivan. When it rains, it pours, I guess.
-juice
Bob
Bob
http://www.acekensington.co.uk/
..Mike
I always call it "theatre of the mind".
Jim
Bob
As for fish in a bowl, saw the same phenomenon in Paris. I was a passenger and it amazed me how well those drivers knew the surroundings of their cars. Just like fish!
Greg