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Comments
sounds too "racist" to me!
(Don't mind me.)
-mike
This morning I saw an Audi quattro ad that looks like they copied it from the WRX Ad. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Frank
http://www.subaru.com.au/
Jim
http://www.subaru-sti.co.jp/blitzen/
Glad to see Subaru of Australia imitating Subaru of America and using Flash.. NOT!
heh, see the Subaru of Spain site: http://www.subaru.es/ -- oops.
The cost of emissions testing is one issue that keeps the Blitzen out of the US. What about LHD vs. RHD? Australia, like Japan, has right hand driver seats. Are left hand drive Blitzens sold anywhere, or are all B4 markets (Australia, New Zealand, etc.) RHD?
..Mike
..Mike
It's got the new headlights from the home-market Legacys, but has the old (for USA) cupholders.
I like the blue-lit instruments and blue-accented interior. Notice its got the $3K BBS wheels too. It's also got the audio and auto climate control system from our VDC model.
Bob
Bob
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Aussie prices:
Liberty B-4: $55,130
Outback H-6: $51,990
WRX sedan: $43,800
So, when something like that arrives here, does that mean a $35K car (in today's dollars)?
Bob
Maybe we'll just have to get a PLAIN ol' GT sedan instead when we replace my wife's car.
-Brian
Jim
Bob
Jim
Bob
twin turbo
primary turbo (left cylinder bank) provides boost at 2,100 rpm.
secondary turbo (right cylinder bank) provides boost at 2,600 rpm.
The article ends with:
Hot turbos do not like being turned off and being starved of their oil supply.
true, true
Cheers,
..Mike
..Mike
Jim
Bob
Jim
Bob
Jim
-mike
Ken
I believe they only get this in only the sedan format, and no wagon. Interesting... I hope that's not case here when we get the hot Legacy.
Bob
Jim
The cylinder heads have double overhead cams and direct actuation valves.
What's a "direct actuation valve"?
Front brakes are 16-inch ventilated discs with 2-pot floating calipers.
Ok, 2-pot means two pistons applying pressure to the pad. What is a "floating" caliper?
..Mike
..Mike
Bob
One of the benefits of DOHC is that you can put the cams right over the valves, transmitting the cam's intentions directly. This is direct actuation. The Phase I motor is this way, with only a hydraulic lash adjuster between the cam lobe and valve stem.
With SOHC you can't put the 1 cam directly over all the valves so you need some sort of rocker arm to transmit the intentions of the lobes out to the valves. You get more moving parts and friction this way, but most manufacturers, including Subaru, use roller rockers and keep mass small to minimize the friction. The Phase II motor is this way.
A floating caliper means that the piston(s) only push on the inside of the rotor (single action), through the pad. The outside pad gets in the proper position to do work when the inside pad contacts the rotor, and because of the equal and opposite force rule, the rotor pushes back.
As it pushes back the caliper moves on its mounting pins to "center" itself over the rotor. Since the outside pad is in a fixed position, attached to the outside of the caliper, it moves closer to the rotor as the caliper moves. This ultimately brings the outside pad into play, balancing the forces and stopping the motion of the caliper, allowing both pads to drag on the rotor. Of course this happens so rapidly that it almost seems like one motion, but it really isn't.
In a properly functioning system the inside pad will always wear a bit faster than the outside because it always has to be called upon first to get things in motion... or not in motion since we are talking about braking.
High performance, racing type calipers are dual action, squeezing the rotor from both sides, with the caliper in a fixed position. This is very direct because both pads come into play at the same time, not sequentially as with a single action floating caliper. When slightly slowing a vehicle with a single action floating caliper, the outside pad may never come into play.
It's interesting how both questions were around direct/indirect actuation.
HTH!
Regards,
Frank
Patti
Thanks for the taking the time to explain it to me.
..Mike
..Mike
Stephen
-Colin
This includes Corvettes, Ford vans and trucks, Mazdas, Eclipses, Toyotas, my GLH, my Shadow turbo, my V6 Daytona, my wife's Neon, my wife's Stratus, my mean green V8 Dakota (still have), and our Foresters to name a bunch.
Floating calipers _can_ be troublesome if the slide pins get pitted, bent, or extremely dry, but as I said they are cheaper and the manufacturers love them.
I am still trying to think of the last time I saw fixed calipers, and frankly (what else?), I can't.
Regards,
Frank
Jim
The last time I counted it was somewhere between 25 and 30 vehicles, just mine. My current wife adds about 8 to 10 since we have been together.
A few on that list I didn't own, just worked on, which is also a long list.
Regards,
Frank
Ken
First a disclaimer. Mine is unfortunately not a rich man's list. That coupled with my size always made it a challenge to satisfy my "habit". There are no Porches, or Lotuses, no Ferraris or Lambos. I was always a true motorhead. It didn't matter what was wrapped around the motor, it was just a "host", and I had to fit.
I did a lot of drag racing and built a bunch of motors, but my knack was staying outside the engine and tweaking what the Engineer started. Mostly fuel, ignition, and exhaust stuff. I always wanted enough torque to change the rotation of the earth.
I have a couple of interesting cars on the list, a 55 Chevy V8 convertible that I sold for $50 (worth more than $20K today!), a 65 Mustang convert. with the hi-po 289 V8. It had solid lifters and a very lumpy cam... wouldn't idle well below 1000 RPM. That baby was honking at 8000 RPM!
Same core engine as the Shelby 350 except with a Ford intake and carb instead of the Shelby hi-rise and Holley, and performance cast iron exhaust manifolds instead of the headers. 271 HP vs 306. I loved the sound of that car, mechanical and visceral. Mine had headers and several different carbs were tried.
My best handling car was the 85 GLH, just like it was on rails, but not great suspension travel. Stiff. This would have been a great AWD car, instead of the FWD.
My 88 Shadow turbo was fun to play with and tinker. Very easy to get the power up. Good HP, not good torque, like most turbos. Response too soft for my taste.
My 71 Peugeot was a pleasant surprise, long suspension travel and good handling, similar to the Forester. This was an old car with over 100 K miles when I bought it. It had a skip "no one" could find. I found it and doubled my money.
My 71 Duster 340 was my prize, went 147 MPH with that car. Also made some money to support my "habit" through drag racing. This was my first new car.
I had a Suzuki GS1000 bike that went from 0 to 60 in about 4 seconds. That will open your eyes and get the old heart pumping!
I liked my 68 RoadRunner, taut and torquey.
I had 2 76 Rabbits, not at the same time. I always liked the German feel and liked these cars very much. First FWD car.
I _love_ my Dakota, 5.2l Magnum with a few mods. This truck is _fun_ to drive... unless it is raining or snowing. Sometimes I actually use it as a truck, but not very often. Love to kick 5.0l Mustang's [non-permissible content removed]... no, I haven't outgrown that yet!
Sorry, you got me talking cars. I get dangerous. What was your question (I'll go look). Oh yeah.
I am still very impressed with both of our Foresters. I would like more torque, I'll take the H6 please, but I am most impressed with the overall balance and the quality. The power and torque curves for the 2.5l engine are nicely designed, as is the gearing, I just ALWAYS want more power.
The engineering is intriguing and keeps me interested. I like this vehicle!
I like the default 50/50 split of my MT better than the 90/10 or 80/20 of my wife's automatic, whichever it is. My L feels more balanced overall than her S+ (black and gorgeous), but I like the stance of her bigger wheels and tires better. My L is quicker and faster, but sometimes I would rather not have the clutch. The H6 with an auto and a 45/55 split would be heaven.
Both sets of brakes take some getting used to. I actually like the feel of my disk/drum better than her all disk. Her's feels even softer than mine. Of course, every time I drive my truck I almost stand it on its nose at the first stop!
I am amazed at how many times strangers stop my wife or me to ask about the Forester. This has never happened to either of us, certainly not with this frequency. I always tell them that we have 2, bought at different times (random samples) and neither has any defects. Everything fits exactly right, no screws missing or misaligned, nothing rattles.
I always tell them how competent the vehicle is. This is defiantly the best balanced vehicle I have owned. It is not the quickest, fastest, or best handler, but it _is_ the best balanced, and highest quality.
Now that I have had AWD here in a New England winter, I am going to be even harder to please. I will stick with Subaru if GM doesn't screw it up... I hate GM.
Now about that H6...
Regards,
Frank
Ross
Wow, I think you just opened the floodgates! I enjoyed reading your post -- thanks for taking the time to reply. I can feel your enthusiasm for cars in your message. :-)
Your endorsement of the Forester was especially interesting since you're coming from such a history of vehicles. I think you summed it all up with "balance".
I'm wondering if the added weight of your wife's S+ moonroof has something to do with the difference in how it feels compared to your L.
Given your experience under the hood, have you tried tinkering around with your Foresters? Any mods?
Ken
When I spend significant time in her car I don't notice the brakes, it is only when I drive mine and hers in the same day. But, they are both very different from the "rest of the world", especially my truck, which has great brakes and great feel.
Ken
The weight could certainly play a role, but she also has a wider rear track and a bigger footprint with her wheels/tires. Coming out of a turn hers feels more like FWD, "pulling" while mine feels, well, more like AWD.
I even downshift her automatic (yes, for those who have asked, you can do this) to keep the revs up, because I first thought it might be the response of the trans, seems to have a bit of latency compared to auto boxes I am used to. That was better, but hers still feels more like FWD... not like FWD, but directionally more like it compared to mine.
mods - I wish there were more parts available because I would have some. I changed the computer (factory hi-po) on my truck and that made a world of difference. I wish Subaru offered one. I would like some more timing for throttle response. I would gladly pay for 93 octane for it.
I have put in a K&N panel filter and played with different combinations of the "Snorkus" plumbing. I want more air but not hot air. I need to get some 2.5"- 3" ducting. Stay tuned.
I have put in Mobil 1... I always use Mobil 1... at my 7K mile change, after oil and filter changes at 300/1300/4300/(7300). Definitely silkier.
I use 89 octane fuel and have reset the ECU, plus I always try to "train" it to my way of thinking. Good exercise for it.
I have played with tire pressures to "tune" things a bit.
I have put on the weather shields ("visors") that lakepop found (thanks again!) and they have already paid dividends. We have had high 90 degree days lately, with dewpoints around 70 I might add (YUK!), and threat of thunder showers. I can now leave my windows open 1/4 inch or so, and not worry about the rain. They actually don't even look open which is also good. I have seen too many cars blow out their rear windows because of no venting.
I have done some "pedestrian" things like change the front speakers, install filtration kit, and tailpipe cover. I want to get a 18mm rear bar but have received no response from 2 places.
Maybe you know, since you have one. I know the part is for the Impreza, but what I don't know, is the part the same for all years? Is the bar for my '01 the _exact_ bar as yours or Juice's? The folks I have e-mailed won't answer the question. Liability of suggesting an Impreza part for a Forester, I guess. Probably afraid someone will wrap themselves around a tree.
Regards,
Frank
bit
Most of the Impreza part should work on the Forester. As far as I know, the 18mm Impreza sway bar should fit your '01 Forester. If you're in doubt check the following link and scroll down to sway bars -- they list one for the Forester, but I'm sure it's the same part.
http://www.autocaresubaru.com/suspension.html
The 18mm bar makes a noticeable difference. Very simple installation to boot.
There are people who have purchased the JC Torque Chip II for the Impreza RSs and noted improvements. I'm sure the ECU on the Forester and Impreza are the same so that may be a possibility.
Ken
About the calipers - I have to go with you on this one. We rarely see trouble with ours.
Thanks for the good read!
Patti
The nice thing about the factory computer I put on my truck is that it is "blessed" by them. I have heard some real horror stories about other-than-MOPAR-computers, or computer "add-ons" on the trucks. I will have to check this out.
Bit - The "visors" are like the smoked plastic "VentShades" for cars with door frames, except since we don't have frames they need to go on the roof itself. They start at the bottom of the "A" pillar, behind the mirror, and go to the end of the rear door. This allows both windows to be protected with one piece. It sticks on about 5/8" above the black trim.
Here is a link to a picture on the Subaru UK site. Subaru offers them but not in the USA. The ones lakepop found are not Subaru but look the same. Mike at Exeter Subaru in NH carries them.
www.subaru.co.uk/cgi-bin/accessories.pl?brand=subaru&area=fe&county=E3610FC000
Regards,
Frank
..Mike
..Mike
I am also waiting for a real downpour so I can go for a ride with the window open a bit and not have water pour into my lap, seat, and door electronic switches!
Regards,
Frank
Ed