Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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Comments

  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Craig,

    there's some excellent general advice to be found in the smartshopper forum if you haven't checked that out. (actually I just looked for the first time in quite a while, a few 'selling' threads but it's heavily trade/purchase biased) edmunds.com also hosts some good stuff from their homepage, outside of these forums.

    anyway here would be my approach. first, think of all the things you can do to market the vehicle in an affordable way. to me, for a car worth well over $15,000 I wouldn't sweat spending up to $500 to unload it. so definitely use the local paper, and anything similar that carries classifieds. post a sales notice on the vehicle too, but keep it brief and don't expect to sell it on that alone, you need the real ads mentioned above. mention it to your friends and co-workers, post it at work if you have a notice board.

    then after that, keep the vehicle in impeccable condition at all times. be ready for someone to take a long hard look at it, and cleanliness is a must. *ditch* the idea that you will only sell to an enthusiast-- try to drum up enthusiasm in a would-be purchaser but if someone just wants basic transportation and doesn't tout the Subaru mantra, don't be afraid to sell to them!

    also be sure to capitalize on the car's poor weather capabilities. you don't have to be sleazy about it, just make sure you mention to everyone interested what the car is honestly capable of.

    oh, almost forgot. on anything resembling a newer car I always pay to have all minor dents, dings & scratches cleaned up. it might cost me $500-750 at my favorite bodyshop, but having a clean car (or at least one with a lot less obvious flaws) increases interest and selling price quite a lot in my experience.

    -Colin
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    is that Forester sales will continue to slide until the new model hits the streets. Too much new and tough competition out there. I think the new CRV, when it debuts this month, will really put a dent in '02 Forester sales.

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Don't forget it's only for a limited time the 7yr warranty.

    -mike
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    7 year powertain warranty, anybody who buys a chrysler needs all the help they can get.

    Cheers Pat.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Well let's see. I spun it not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 times in 3 runs on the auto-x today. It doesn't handle at all like it does on the R-compounds, when it's raining and I have my 1/2 worn Firestone GTAs on it. I think I need new tires for the winter for this baby, cause it's scarry spinning around and around like that.

    -mike
  • cptpltcptplt Member Posts: 1,075
    I've had several people tell me that places like Carmax give you very good deals buying your car off you compared to dealer trades. My cousin got 2K more on a Lexus LS from them than a dealer and someone at work got 2500 more for an Explorer.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    My buddy got 5K for his '96 T-bird last year. No dealer would give him more than $3200.

    -mike
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    The salesguy at Fitzgeralds also mentioned Carmax as an option, and they happen to have a location in Richmond, about 45 minutes from me. I may check them out. Right now, my wife is poo-pooing the LL Bean upgrade plan, which deflates the whole deal (and my fun). Something about an empty new house that needs furniture, mortgage payments, we need a vacation instead, . . . blah, blah, blah. Of course she's right, which makes it even worse. I can see my days of irresponsible spending and fun are over!

    Craig
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    "I can see my days of irresponsible spending and fun are over!"

    Craig- You poor fool... you really have no idea what you've gotten yourself into. ;-)

    -Frank P.
  • pattim3pattim3 Member Posts: 533
    Hi all. Hopefully, my crazy schedule will ease up and I'll be posting more after this week, but I had to share a funny story with you all.

    I drove my daughter and three friends to their first major cheerleading competition yesterday. Excitement was in the air as the girls primped and preened to make sure they looked just right. They were waving at other drivers on the road and giggling away.

    All of a sudden they notice a bright blue sports car pull up next to us. They all giggled and waved at the "cute" driver with the cool sun glasses who had pulled up next to us (quickly). He gave a thumbs up and nod and the girls went nuts. My daughter said "I hate to burst your bubble, but that car is a WRX like this one and he's smiling at the car,not us". Groans all around but a smile for me. They've got plenty of time - they're only 12.

    Have a great Monday!

    Patti
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    You should have been on the GSP yesterday! It was a riot. We had about 20-30 subies cruising down the GSP like harleys! We just swarmed all the way down to Cape May for the day and back. Good to see Bluesubie, Bat, and Dave!

    -mike
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    Needed a laugh this morning. Thanks!
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    The Dec issue of CR rated the WRX against the RSX. Basically, they liked the WRX better and rated it highest in "fun cars" catagory. Their only complaint was that the fuel economy was a little low (21 mgg).

    Greg
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm sure with a WRX-ful of cute 12 year olds (and a slightly older driver), that a lot of young boys were noticing more than the car. :-)

    A longer warranty could be a selling tool. Look what it did for Hyundai. Even with a bad rep and fewer dealers, they outsell Subaru by a wide margin. I say bring it on, match Hyundai's, especially now that Toyota and others have stretched theirs.

    Forester sales down, ouch, you're hurting me. 25 units, gimme a break! 0.05% down, yes, technically, that's true. Forester has withstood the arrival of the new RAV4, Sante Fe, Escape, Tribute, Liberty, XTerra, you name it, with sales remaining roughly flat. Not bad for a design in its 5th year!

    Rotated the tires this weekend, and took pics for fun, so I'll have those up later (check Maintenance & Repair later today). OCD clubbers will appreciate that I washed and waxed the inside of the rims, and torqued each lug nut.

    Bad news, though. I found what appears to be an oil leak on the 626. Oil level was down more than a quart. Oddly, I detected oil inside the front passenger side rim, when I rotated those, and none on the driveway. Have not had time to trace it yet, but that may be the cause of the intermittent check-engine-light we've been getting. Ugh.

    Sandy is in the body shop, finally. She'll be perfect by the end of the day. Can't wait to get her back. Of course, now the wife will be driving her until the 626 is fixed. :-(

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Cape May was great. mike, I got cut off by a tractor-trailer coming into the left lane on the way home. This guy didn't move for 15 minutes. You can never leave a gap! Still made it in pretty good time though. Nice meeting Mark, another Mike and seeing Dave and paisan again. juice, next time you should drive up to DE and take the ferry. Or just wait for the next off-road excursion.

    Patti - Was that the State Cheerleading Competition in/near Trenton? :-)
    Funny story.

    Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Pretty solid. WRX on top in the class, with a recommended rating. Better braking, acceleration, ride, and noise levels than the RSX. Good review, and nice to know that even non-performance oriented media like it.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Dennis, that's why yous need to get some CBs. Dennis and I put Dave between us on the trip back and we were just opening up holes left and right on the way back. :)

    All in all it was a great ride.

    -mike
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    Love the story! My housemate has borrowed my WRX wagon a couple of times. The last time he needed to put gas in it as I was on "E". I gave him the entire litany of must "do's". Use premium, make sure the gas cap is tightened at least 3 clicks, right down the mileage from the trip odometer, reset, etc. He gets back from the gas station and proceeds to tell me how he hates using my car because invaribly someone comes up to him to ask about the car and he doesn't have the info (he's not really a car person). He said that as he was filling up, an old man (about 70 or so) came up to him with a bunch of leading questions from his limited knowledge. My housemate just nodded. Then, as he thought he was safe, a guy in his 30's peppered him w/a bunch of questions. The whole ordeal was almost too much for him. I reminded him that he was from LA and just pretend that he's a celebrity or something. :-) Just to be safe, I've included a cheat sheet in the glovebox. :-)

    Stephen
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    You loan out your WRX wagon?? I'll be down in Seattle on about 3 hours. :~)

    Ross

    PS I can answer a lot of the questions.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Patti -- great story. Pat your daughter on the back for being so knowledgable about cars!

    juice -- I read that CR review too and was pleased with the positive comments about the WRX. I've noticed one common thread through all the recent RSX and WRX reviews -- the WRX shines when the road gets rough. That's rally racing heritage for you!

    Ken
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Had a good time yesterday at the Cape meet. Nice meeting Dave and Dennis, and seeing Mike again. It was nice that there were 3 Outbacks there, along with Dennis' OBS, besides all the WRX and RS's. I'm seeing more and more of the WRX on the road, even got stuck behind one on the way to work this morning.

    Dennis- It was nice to meet you and your wife. I was behind you when I saw that truck cut you off. Good reflexes!

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Stuck behind one? Not for long, right? ;-)

    If you're going to get run off the road by a semi, what better than AWD to help get you out of trouble? OK, a VDC, but that's about it.

    I have to conspire to get the wife behind the wheel of a WRX wagon. This oil leak is bothering me. She found the Protege5 cute, so here's hoping she likes the similarly shaped WRX.

    -juice
  • mortpeaberrymortpeaberry Member Posts: 69
    after reading comments posted by people bagging on how cheap and uncomfortable subie interiors were ( i always thought they were great coming from a 35 year old vw squareback) I am forced to write.
    I borrowed my father's '96 4-runner limited for a couple of days, talk about uncomfortable ironing board seats and cheap! cardboard sun visors (crappy radio, major body roll, terrible braking, etc.) The ride was terrible. I always felt 23 MPG was bad for the subaru, but after getting 18 MPG in the yota, 23 doesn't seem so bad.
    I was real happy to get back in my GT wagon after that weekend, it might not be a volvo, but it's also not a volvo (which is about as fun as a wood paneled minivan.)

    -steve AKA mort
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well, Subaru is guilty of having similar card board sun visors in the Impreza and Forester models. The roof liner and carpets could use an upgrade, too.

    The Legacy is better. IMO it doesn't need improvement.

    -juice
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    I got a ride in a friends 2001 Volvo V70 wagon just before i bought my GT. I had always liked the look of the Volvo but what a buckboard.

    After that ride I would not have a Volvo at any price. there were rattles everywhere even the rear hatch rattled and shook with every bump in the road I could not believe it was so bad.

    On the other hand my GT wagon is smooth and rattle and squeak free, I have since been in another V70 and it was almost as bad as the first.

    Cheers Pat.
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    Sure...I'll make sure I'm on empty...I mean, the gas will cost you less than Vancouver B.C. :-)

    Seriously, the next time you're in Seattle, e-mail me before hand, we'll meet up and you can drive (I'll make sure I have it filled up before you get here.) :-)

    Stephen
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    I'm sending WRX energy your way, buddy! I actually sat in the P5 at the Seattle Autoshow this past Sat. I liked the car and wondered how it would be w/my motor and AWD!

    Stephen
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    juice,

    The Protege5 is a very nice looking vehicle, IMO. Didn't C&D give the MP3 variant rave reviews for handling?

    Not that I wouldn't wish anything less than a WRX wagon for you, but a Protege5 is an interesting alternative (for the wife, of course!).

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Pat: the XC I test drove a while back had that "pass the dramamine" wallowy handling motion. It reminded me of my dad's 70s Buick Electra. But it is a softer ride than the plain V70.

    I drove a Protege5 recently, and it's fun, but definitely could use a little more oomph. Also, it's too small for our needs.

    Now, needs go out the window when you're driving something as fun as the WRX. "Pack light, honey, if we forget something I'll drive back!"

    -juice
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    Thanks for the invitation, but with the border situation being what it is (1-2 hours wait most of the time) I won't be heading to Washington in the foreseeable future. I do appreciate the kind offer though. If you head up to Whistler again this year, let me know. I'll buy you lunch and you can give me a ride.

    Ross
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    The Protege5 is one sweet looking little wagon, but too small for us also, even the Titan is hard put to haul all the stuff back and forward to the cottage.

    Now if we did not have those needs methinks I would be looking at the Impreza plus the protege5 but the protege definitely needs more oomph.

    Cheers Pat.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Good to see you Saturday- too bad you couldn't stay out late, but I am glad you had a good time. Would've liked to shoot the breeze a bit more, but oh well.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    mike and Dennis, good to see y'all again (Francis too).
    Mark, a pleasure to have met you.
    I like Doug and his tree-killer.
    Had a good time. The 20-30 Subies on the GSP into Cape May was indeed a sight to see. He he, the ride home was a blast - too bad I took the wrong side at the last leg and ended up in the express; but I sure could hear Doug's "PAJERO" (can I say it?) most of the way. :-D
    Looking forward to seeing y'all again.

    -Dave
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Yes, I enjoyed it greatly - you all updated some oft-played Irish classics with a nice twist. If I didn't have to get up Sunday morning and talk for 9 hours straight I'd have made it past the first set. Got back home at 9:45 last night, up at 6 and back at it at 9 again - though today it was just a half-day class. Truly beat. Hope I catch you again - if not playing music then definitely at a Subie event.

    Dennis, paisan et al - sorry I missed Cape May meet. I missed the annual banquet of my Stude club too - usually a really nice affair. Maybe there'll be some midwinter event for crazy Subie nuts to play in the snow?

    Ed
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Ed, I'm planning another Pine Barrens run.

    -mike
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I might be persuaded to return there. Not up for this year's TSD, though I do want to do that someday. I still want to take the Forester to a track day, if only for the sheer novelty of it. Gotta get those 17" wheels and some sticky rubber on there, though.

    Ed
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Ed, be careful, if you get too sticky a tire, you'll snap-roll the forester over w/o the proper suspension modifications. That is what happened to a VW golf in philly.

    -mike
  • pattim3pattim3 Member Posts: 533
    good idea to maintain a cheat sheet in the car!!

    FWIW - I have improved the gas mileage I'm getting in my WRX. I'm resisting hanging in 4th for the love of the growl. I've got it up to 24 MPG, so that is a major improvement at the pumps. But...every once in a while.....I've just got to get on it!

    This competition wasn't at the state level. Our kids just do the local events. Last week it was in Pine Hill. This week, Camden County College, then to Burlington County College. Having raised two football boys, this is a whole new world to me. Watch out for things to come, Juice! Girls things can be fun, but "hair issues" can be traumatic.

    Have a good one (and I'll share your comments on the warranty!)

    Patti
  • bill_cabill_ca Member Posts: 10
    I can see whay they sold so many cars in October. I bought an '02 Outback VDC around the middle of the month, and the dealer basically said, "Give me a price where I don't lose money and you can have the car". There was good traffic at the dealer, and the 2.9% financing didn't seem to me, or others I talked to, to be all that far from teh 0% being offerd by other companies.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Tree-killah's Pajero goes roar-roar-roar down the road with those knobbies, doesn't it?

    Ed: defending another thesis in order to earn a 7th post graduate degree? ;-) Sorry I was not able to join you guys, I love Irish folk songs. Clap, clap, clap, clap!

    You need to pair up the 17"s with a nice set of ground control coil overs. They are adjustable, too, so you can lower it for autocross and then raise it for TSD. Though I'd also put the 16"s back on for TSD to get a little more sidewall.

    I was hoping Tati would get into soccer, given the Brazilian roots, but it looks like she tackles boys twice her age, so right now it looks like Rugby or Football.

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Ed - A Forester was the only thing missing from Cape May. A Brat, XT6, OB's, OBS (only mine), lotsa Rexes, a modded 2.2L Impreza and of course RS's. Last winter there was a tricked-out SPO Forester there.

    mike - Is that the VW guy that had his window down and instinctively put his arm out to brace his rollover? Ouch!

    Dave - I took the Local lanes at the same time that Mark took the Express. I think the Express was a little less crowded and quicker. So many left lane slow cruisers the entire Parkway ignoring the "slow traffic kept right" signs!

    - Dennis
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    juice: Only a master's and a doctorate here. Any more education will be of the continuing kind; no more degree programs. I was in Baltimore hosting a pre-conference workshop on the use of electronic records and electronic signatures in FDA-regulated environments. This week we are training clients on validation of computer systems used in those environments (labs, manufacturing, clinical trials).

    Auto-x stuff: I've heard about those coilovers - sound very nice but I'll bet they aren't cheap. My suspension mods are limited to the 18mm rear bar for now, but I expect to be adding a front strut tower brace before too long. I think it'd be wiser for me to learn the limits of the car on pavement one step at a time before I dive into strut/spring changes.

    As for tires, I'm not really sure. JDM and UK Foresters running 17" wheels are also running 225/45/17 tires. The Prodrive WR Sport version in the UK runs on Pirelli PZeros, which are supposed to be adequate in the wet. I don't see myself springing for Bridegstone Pole Positions, nor do I see myself going for those cheap Kumho 712s. Maybe Michelin Pilots - not too sticky and decent wet performance? I want these to be 3-season street tires that can take a little spirited driving like an auto-x.

    Had I not gone ahead and bought those two P7 wheels, I might've just gone for Dunlop SP Sport 5000s for the 16"s - which I still may do.

    Dennis: I'll get my chance to show up at a Cape May meet, I'm sure.

    Ed
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    quote: Had I not gone ahead and bought those two P7 wheels

    Eh? You have two wheels? I assume someone curbed or otherwise thrashed the other two and sold what was left to you... Did you plan on getting two more?

    -Colin
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Colin - it was an Ebay deal. The guy bought four for an RS; only two were delivered, by which time he changed his mind, cancelled the other two, and put his money into suspension and tires, keeping the stock wheels. Nothing wrong with them, never used or out of the box. He had the original receipts so my fears of receiving stolen property are alleviated.

    I will most likely buy the other two as a Christmas present to myself.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Looks like I missed a weekend full of events. Daddy was stuck watching the toddler both nights; I'm still not sure how the wife managed to pull that fast one on me.

    $800 or so for the coilovers, but remember they are adjustable so they're like 2 in 1 (lift/lower). The front brace was $113 from Darlene, so figure $120 or so. 17" rims and tires probably start at $800 and go way up from there.

    I heard the Kumhos were good?

    Yeah, two wheels? Hey - you could moun them on just one side, then take photos! Noone would know! ;-)

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Which color?

    Dennis
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    A pretty close match to the lower body cladding.

    juice: I still have to put tires on them! Maybe paisan can help me choose!

    Ed
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    If I get a Rex, it will be a black wagon and my wheels of choice would be the anthracite P7's. I guess we are cousins. :-)

    Dennis
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    I have been looking at black WRX wagons, too, in the odd hopes that I can convince my wife to take the Forester. The P7s would get swapped over and winter rubber would go on the stock rex wheels.

    Ed
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yeah the Pajero makes even more noise since from the cat back, doesn't exist right now.

    Dennis: yup the same guy who stuck his arm out to prevent the roll.

    -mike
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