Reminds me of how I still haven't tried to pull the 27mm socket from the frame rails...
Any time I turn down the radio, I'm reminded of its existence :p "Hmm, I'll do that when I get back tonight!" Holes should never be large enough for things to fall in unless there's a larger hole for them to fall out of.
Well my saga has come to an end... Sort of. I decided on fixing the car and holding on to it for about a year longer. That was a mistake. A few months later I started noticing a burnt oil smell. Found there was an oil leak directly over the exhaust manifold. The oil level never appeared to drop critically so I got it fixed. Apparently the damage had already been done though. Last week in the middle of the highway the unmistakable feel of the engine seizing showed up and it died. Mileage of death was 141,343. I had it towed it to the service center/dealer to see what they could do. Ended up deciding any more repairs will be a waste of money. After 2 VW's I know this repair will not be worth it or cheap. They agreed to give me $3000 for it as it was which I think is a good deal. No one else will take a car with a dead engine for even half that.
My mind was set up already on a 2009 WRX. The only problem is because of the slow sales they are not bringing in 2009 models until all the 08 and even some 07 models are cleared out. I walked out with a sexy red WRX wagon. Used it for the weekend but couldn't get over the feeling it was just a bad deal. I was still paying full price for last years model which is not cool considering the 09's will have the horsepower bumped from 224 to 265, will include sunroof, suspension improved with STI components among many other extra accessories which will now be standard for the same price as the 08 models. Nobody in their right mind would buy an 08 unless it came at a steep discount, but they wouldn't budge. Took it back and got another 2.5i in blue for much cheaper. I'm going to hold on to this one for a year or so until the new WRX's come in and try again then.
Vorlons, the decision was a sound one. Aside from the odd chunkyness, the MY2009 will be a much better deal. Dealers suck. :P
I'm actually having a fun time with my own cars. The decision to V8-ify the old wagon is making progress forward. A garage has been acquired, and the engine search will begin once the weather is less terrible. The current goal is to locate a 1994+ Chevrolet LT-1 and its companion automatic transmission. The automatic will live in my car until such time arrives that I can afford the T5WC or T56 needed to let me row my own gears.
So did you ever get the socket out of the frame? :D
I think I've finally accepted the chunyness of the new models. My spirit has been beaten. I have even kind of developed a liking to the new STi's bulging tire wells. Not that I'll be able to afford one any time soon. Overall the new 2.5 is slightly more refined if not a little more sedate. The suspension feels a tad too much on the civilized size for my taste. I much rather the old harsher but tighter handling but I can live with it. It's got traction control which makes me more capable a driver than I am. :P The only thing that really bugs me is the seats. My old one came with really nice stitched buckets seats. These new seats have nearly no bucket and the cloth looks like a black towel was used to make them. They are going to be a pain in the ass to keep clean.
That socket will be removed shortly after the engine goes.
All that really concerns me about the Imprezza is that I can't fit into it. :P I spent 230 miles behind a 2004 and couldn't manage to make it "work" for me. I ended up uncomfortably cramped in each seat, hurting in different ways for each one. best part: The marks the steering wheel left on my knee after having it rub up against it for the entirety of the trip. Not fun.
I'll take a 2005 Legacy 2.5GT Wagon, thank you very much. ;)
I was just checking out some of the WRX's at the local subaru place when i brought my Forester in for an oilchange. They are a sweet ride (not really approprate for me with kids and luggage)
As far as fuel economy is concerned, Subaru isn't even on my list of potential candidates for my next purchase. It was when I was in the market for a small SUV, but not anymore. I'll wait and see, maybe my next car will be an all-electrical.
Yeah the Subies are a little lower than comparable vehicles in gas mileage because of the all wheel drive. I don't think there is any significant difference when it comes to the small SUV's though. Maybe some of the small 2 wheel drive ones can do better. Moving 2 differentials plus the extra 300 pounds or so of the extra drivetrain robs some engine power and efficiency. I find it's a small price to pay for the benefits. I did factor this in when buying again but the difference isn't big enough to be a problem for me.
[QUOTE=Entil'Zha;179813]Why is it not on your list? just out of pure curiosity.[/QUOTE]
Mainly fuel consumption and price. That was 5 years ago, too much money for a somewhat fugly car. A matter of personal preference I guess. Subaru wasn't really known for making good looking cars back then. The new line-up looks better though. :)
I've always liked the Outback, but i would not have even considered the Forester if they had not re-designed it this year. i HATED the old design, as for fuel consumption, Mine was comperable to everything else in its class that i was looking at. I also looked at the CR/V (also redeisnged this year) the Ford Edge, and the Ford Escape. the Forester was the only one that came as a stick and 4wd standard for the price i wanted to pay (ended up paying $23k with the options i got)
[QUOTE=Stingray;179823]Subaru wasn't really known for making good looking cars back then. The new line-up looks better though. :)[/QUOTE]
I do believe subaru has yet to really make that "visual appeal" thing consistently work for them. Each time they hit a nice style, they either bland it to death or douse it with fugly. At least they're fun. :P
Subaru's styling problem has been the other way around, they start out ugly and in an attempt to over compesate, they bland it to death (Tribeca anyone)
Bland styling is really a general rule in the japanese car market. I've never been too crazy about subaru's suv's but then again even the old Foresters are not that much worse than the average comparable fugly suv. I've always liked the cars though. At least all their cars are generally great to drive. Sets them apart from other brands which are the automotive equivalent of a home appliance.
As someone who was seriously contemplating the purchase of a Baja, I forfeit my taste long ago, so I'm legally disallowed allowed from contributing anything of value to this aspect of the conversation.
[QUOTE=Sanfam;179890]As someone who was seriously contemplating the purchase of a Baja, I forfeit my taste long ago, so I'm legally disallowed allowed from contributing anything of value to this aspect of the conversation.[/QUOTE]
Well even though the Baja was one ugly vehicle at least it was a good car. Far worse atrocities have been dreamt up in the car industry.
I'm referring to pure visual commentary. On those grounds, I can no longer contribute!
Though I did actually research a way to remove the trip and replace it with something better, only to find that some panels are actually solidly pressed into that form and are unique to the car. (Doh!)
By the by, in future, if the chassis is sound, not bent or rusted out, keep it. Install a new driveline and keep enjoying it.
Subies are renowned for being very 'cut and paste' sort of cars... there are hundreds of frankensubies out there with engines which were never put into some chassis from the factory.
the old classic was the EJ22 into a car that was supposed to run an EA82.
mix and match transplanting across the subie range is supposedly incredibly easy.
That was sort of the original idea. I intended to keep the old car since it was in excellent condition in every other sense besides the tired engine and eventually save enough to get the new one. I wanted to keep it as a project/learning car and do the engine work. Unfortunately it gave up on me sooner than I had hoped so the buying situation was not to my advantage. I need a reliable working car immediately and could not afford the risk of investing more in the old one.
I test drove the 1.6D with DRIVe technology and 110HP... a sweet car, but that's not the one I got.
I left the DRIVe option back at the dealership. It would have cost me 4K more. You can make quite a few trips to the gas station for the price difference.
I pushed the test car up to 180kph on the Autobahn. :D (My contribution to the protection of the environment... I'll drive a lot slower with mine.)
Comments
Any time I turn down the radio, I'm reminded of its existence :p "Hmm, I'll do that when I get back tonight!" Holes should never be large enough for things to fall in unless there's a larger hole for them to fall out of.
My mind was set up already on a 2009 WRX. The only problem is because of the slow sales they are not bringing in 2009 models until all the 08 and even some 07 models are cleared out. I walked out with a sexy red WRX wagon. Used it for the weekend but couldn't get over the feeling it was just a bad deal. I was still paying full price for last years model which is not cool considering the 09's will have the horsepower bumped from 224 to 265, will include sunroof, suspension improved with STI components among many other extra accessories which will now be standard for the same price as the 08 models. Nobody in their right mind would buy an 08 unless it came at a steep discount, but they wouldn't budge. Took it back and got another 2.5i in blue for much cheaper. I'm going to hold on to this one for a year or so until the new WRX's come in and try again then.
I'm actually having a fun time with my own cars. The decision to V8-ify the old wagon is making progress forward. A garage has been acquired, and the engine search will begin once the weather is less terrible. The current goal is to locate a 1994+ Chevrolet LT-1 and its companion automatic transmission. The automatic will live in my car until such time arrives that I can afford the T5WC or T56 needed to let me row my own gears.
In the mean time, the Crown Vic lives on.
I think I've finally accepted the chunyness of the new models. My spirit has been beaten. I have even kind of developed a liking to the new STi's bulging tire wells. Not that I'll be able to afford one any time soon. Overall the new 2.5 is slightly more refined if not a little more sedate. The suspension feels a tad too much on the civilized size for my taste. I much rather the old harsher but tighter handling but I can live with it. It's got traction control which makes me more capable a driver than I am. :P The only thing that really bugs me is the seats. My old one came with really nice stitched buckets seats. These new seats have nearly no bucket and the cloth looks like a black towel was used to make them. They are going to be a pain in the ass to keep clean.
All that really concerns me about the Imprezza is that I can't fit into it. :P I spent 230 miles behind a 2004 and couldn't manage to make it "work" for me. I ended up uncomfortably cramped in each seat, hurting in different ways for each one. best part: The marks the steering wheel left on my knee after having it rub up against it for the entirety of the trip. Not fun.
I'll take a 2005 Legacy 2.5GT Wagon, thank you very much. ;)
I happen to love my 09 Forester.
***edit***
Let me qualify that by saying that i get closer to 30 mpg at 55-70, 26 or so at 85-90 on this current trip.
[I]
*pats his expansive digital dash and the brilliant "13.1" in the top-right corner*[/I]
Mainly fuel consumption and price. That was 5 years ago, too much money for a somewhat fugly car. A matter of personal preference I guess. Subaru wasn't really known for making good looking cars back then. The new line-up looks better though. :)
I do believe subaru has yet to really make that "visual appeal" thing consistently work for them. Each time they hit a nice style, they either bland it to death or douse it with fugly. At least they're fun. :P
Jake
Well even though the Baja was one ugly vehicle at least it was a good car. Far worse atrocities have been dreamt up in the car industry.
Though I did actually research a way to remove the trip and replace it with something better, only to find that some panels are actually solidly pressed into that form and are unique to the car. (Doh!)
By the by, in future, if the chassis is sound, not bent or rusted out, keep it. Install a new driveline and keep enjoying it.
Subies are renowned for being very 'cut and paste' sort of cars... there are hundreds of frankensubies out there with engines which were never put into some chassis from the factory.
the old classic was the EJ22 into a car that was supposed to run an EA82.
mix and match transplanting across the subie range is supposedly incredibly easy.
I left the DRIVe option back at the dealership. It would have cost me 4K more. You can make quite a few trips to the gas station for the price difference.
I pushed the test car up to 180kph on the Autobahn. :D (My contribution to the protection of the environment... I'll drive a lot slower with mine.)