mtsmiths

I thought it was a Mazda.

Yeah, I'm aware of the unsprung weight issue, still seems like a trade-off toward simplification to me. I guess we just have to wait for 'fresh-off-the drawing-mouse' designs instead of warmed over ICE platforms for any real utility.

Why aren't the electric motors in the wheels in new EV designs? They can then serve as power, brakes/regen, and you could set up the design as you like it ... FWD/RWD/AWD, just by placing motors in the appropriate hubs. No transmissions, no 'brakes' (except service and back-up). Cars could be built up like Legos, any way the customer wanted them. The only concept I ever saw was the GM platform/body thingie a couple of years ago, but even that had a frame mounted motor and transmission with all hte attendent weight & friction drag. Thread hijack may send this to another forum , but wait, is it possible to hijack one's own thread?

http://www.ecoautoinc.com/subievee.php Expected out next year ... $40K USD

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=80754

http://www.local6.com/technology/14318122/detail.html ... it should be).

I plan to bring it up when it goes for 34,000 / oil change next week. Just wanted to be armed if it was an obvious symptom. Seems like these were always an overcharging indication (from my pepper tree mechanic days). ALSO, :-\ I thought I felt a little crow-hopping during a tight turnaround on a paved road Sunday. I haven't had a chance to do a field torque bind check yet, but I will before it goes in. And yes, tires (OEM) and inflation match.

'06 Outback, battery using water and 'fuzz' growing on the metal battery hold-down parts. No indication from the instruments.

I think it's a problem in the steering column lock, and I think the dealer damnwell knows it.

Death-Rider bike Well, it did work, it came in at the bottom of the thread so I didn't see the pics...

And ... while you're mucking about under there, locate, remove and clean all the contact surfaces on all your ground straps - both ends. Can't hurt, could help, it's been almost a decade now.

Someone needs a cosmic dope slap. Maybe the shop was having an "I bet you a beer I can blow off a customer with a more booo-gus story than you can' day. Your friend should be right back in the dealership and make the shop writer repeat that story in front of the owner's face. OH, and call SOA.

LOL, the 93 / Reserve store huh? I confess that I've been boycotting that store for two years or so. After the moron on shift refused to sell me a six-pack until I showed my ID. I just looked at him and said, "You're kidding, right"? "Nope, no ID, no beer, that's the company rule". I said, "Sorry, I don't support stupid business policies, bye" ... haven't been back since. Maybe I'll drop in now that you're there. Back to the subject ... I could prolly live in the flathead wiithout AWD or 4WD, except for my 120', 15%, hidden in the shadows, driveway.

Just pointing out that despite the opinion of some here, it sure seems that Americans are turning toward small cars, and where we live (as you know well) AWD is a prime attribute for any vehicle. It seems that Subaru had this worked out once, and they are missing a bet by not getting back in the game. And no, I don't want anything smaller than the Barbie jeep. Actually, I'll prolly get a Baja at some point. That damn Suzuki is just too uncomfortable, and it only manages mid 20's on gas, our 'new' Outback gives us 29 in valley driving.

It's a rebadged Daihatsu, FWD only. Odd, because the article says that the Daihatsu is also available in AWD. http://jalopnik.com/cars/frankfurt-auto-show/frankfurt-auto-show-subaru-justy-298999.php?mail2=true This is NOT what I had in mind when I posted that it was time for a new Subaru mini-car, a'la Justy.

WOW, you're not trying to compare apples and oranges, you're comparing apples and watermelons! Those cars have two entirely different raison d'etre. Which do you want, luxury and room or economy? Don't know about the relative merits of either one. Our only Chrysler is a '95 LeBaron Convertible we keep in Hawaii. It's starting to break small things, but has never given us any major headaches in the seven years we've had it. I'd buy a Subaru.

http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=fa68d974-d7f2-4256-b146-2b1cf588a356&Dynamic=1&Range=NOW&FromDate=09%2F14%2F2007&ToDate=09%2F24%2F2007&Category=%2Fnews%2Fgenav.cfm I had posted this on Off Topic the day it happened, but it never appeared ... wrong forum I guess. Anyhow, here's the story from an aviation news source.

There's an amazing number of the small Yaris and their ilk around sprouting up around here. I'm sure the buyers would leap at an AWD high gas mileage small car. I would. Hey, SOA ... wake up!

We're sure seeing the better purchasing power down here in the Flathead ... on Real Estate!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari Here's a plastic car that has been a world success. I've always thought this would be a great drop-on body for a reskinned Subaru.

I must confess that I have lusted for an X Type Jag since it first came out. All the best old saloon styling cues with modern Ford inspired and engineered technology (well, it's better than Jag, at any rate), PLUS All Wheel Drive. However, I do know better and have resisted.

Our '00 which was bought at 13 months old and 100,000 on the clock ran and looked fine up until the day it was killed by a Jeep Cherokee (it did manage to total the offending Jeep in the act) at 186,000. We did regular maintance, and the only repairs we had were a wheel bearing (which my wife caused by hitting a curb I believe), a torn CV, some sensor or other. We did the Subaru goop thing, and I managed to cure the exhaust rattles myself. I hated to see it go, and had planned to run it until 300,000 or 2010 whichever came first. That said, I sure love our 'new' '06.

Careful, there may still be a valid design patent on those Brat bodies. Although, given the age, it may well have expired ... but I'd check before pirating the shells.

Nah, like a rocket gernade!

I've never owned a Honda, CAR. Several MCs however.