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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 8, 2014 - 06:20pm PT
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too bad honda stopped making elements.
my mother was keen for me to buy an Element. "You can wash the interior with a garden hose," she said.
I investigated it with an open mind. But the lack of all-wheel-drive and laughable ground clearance made it nonviable.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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I just got a really nice Ariens Wood splitter with a Subaru motor on it. I really dig this tool but seriously hope the motor holds up better than their auto motors. I know several mechanics who swear that Suburus have hands down the most blown motors of any cars they see. Kid i work with his mom just blew up her Subi.
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couchmaster
climber
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The deal breaker for me, on why the Outback was totally elimanated from my pool of potential cars, was that it didn't have a manual seat reclining feature. You had to press a button and it was a slow thing to get the seat back. As an over 50 dude, I finish a day skiing or climbing, I'll kick that seat right back and take a snooze. None of the outbacks have a manual lever. Deal breaker.
Bought a Forester. It's OK. 3 people going to Yos for a week fills it up to the max, less interior room than my old CRV, mileage isn't better, slightly quieter on the road.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Have had my 2015 forester for a few weeks. In general I'm happy with it, but have yet to use it off road/snow/camping; just city driving. Steering is tight, ride is smooth. 300 miles on the initial gas fill.
Stupid sterio system is complicated as hell and requires way too much eyes off the road. The whole technology package requires you to spend half your drive focusing on the dashboard controls. Not really safe. Then again, maybe it is a learning curve.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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I have had a few different rental cars in the last few years and they had a video screen on the dash with the stereo controls in that thing. way easy to crash trying to figuer it out!
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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I was looking for a cheap winter/baba's very steep dirt driveway rig and bought a used 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. It's surprisingly nice! Get's 24 MPG on the highway with plenty of power in the 2.5 6 cyl engine. I like that it's got a low 4WD transfer case. Seats fold flat. The the biggest rig but I don't like feeling like loosing touch with the road like a boat.
For those who don't mind crap gas mileage and and that bigger feel, those Infinity Q4s can make a good used purchase as they are off the radar but basically are a luxury Pathfinder.
Peace
Karl
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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 10, 2014 - 05:29am PT
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the controls notwithstanding, what is the sound quality of the 2015 Forester's audio, and how quiet/noisy is the cabin at highway speed?
I don't mind a cheap interior but I can't abide crappy audio. And the finicky controls don't bug me as I don't mash through the dials; usually just play CD or my local public radio jazz station
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lars johansen
Trad climber
West Marin, CA
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Jun 10, 2014 - 07:04am PT
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You might want to think about one of these while they are still available.
lars
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Jun 11, 2014 - 01:46pm PT
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the controls notwithstanding, what is the sound quality of the 2015 Forester's audio, and how quiet/noisy is the cabin at highway speed?
I don't mind a cheap interior but I can't abide crappy audio. And the finicky controls don't bug me as I don't mash through the dials; usually just play CD or my local public radio jazz station
Mine is a forester limited with a harmon kardon sound system. Kicks ass!
edit: The ride is smooth and highway noise is minor. The cabin is pretty quiet.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jun 11, 2014 - 05:21pm PT
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How about we identify the quality of people's climbing skills based upon 42 years ago?????
Cool. I'll start. I climb better than I did 42 years ago....
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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Jun 11, 2014 - 10:45pm PT
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EPA Cargo volume 34.3cf
That equates to no more than 2 kids, 2 dogs, an ice chest and a day pack. Although the Legacy (Outback wagon) is a "poor man's Mercedes," if you need cargo space, it won't cut it. I upgraded to a Sienna with so much more room and nearly the same HWY MPG (29 vs 25).
The cargo -Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (cu. ft.): 87.1 is huge. Bring everything!
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Jun 12, 2014 - 01:02am PT
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Dont spend 7900 bucks on an old toyota van. Just dont. The physics are off, they arent very stable, are horribly underpowered, and difficult to work on since the engine is under the drivers seat. Not very commodious in there either. I had to swap an engine in one in the early 90's....ridiculous. Everything to work on is pretty ridiculous in those. Only benefit is cheap parts. You could do a lot better than that for the price.
This thread is about considering a newer subaru, not the dream climbers van, theres eleventy billion other threads for that. A toyota space van isnt a dream climbers van anyhow. Its a make-do van.
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sheepdog
Trad climber
just over the hill
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Jun 12, 2014 - 03:50am PT
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point taken, carry on!
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Jun 12, 2014 - 08:44am PT
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Ive seen many try the toyota van route, skip the previa too, go sienna or none, they didnt get it really right until then.
There are rumors of a subaru minivan coming to the states soon. Theres already a model in japan called the exiga, but isnt right for our market.
For subaru info, the best encyclopedia is cars101.com that guy has been chronicling them for years.
Also nasioc.com is good, lots of news and info there too.
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