mtsmiths

With top crash test ratings, electronic stability control for added security and an inherently stable design, the Legacy comes out on top. I think it mostly has to do with the underlined phrase. The 'safest' wreck is the one avoided.

Our steep driveway was a solid sheet of unbroken ice for 120'. Even the Subie with studs took two tries to make it out. I ended up backing back into the garage until the bumper was touching the motorcycle then flooring it until I started to spin on the ice. The fact that there is also a long sweeping left on the slope injected even more excitement into the venture ... can you say 'throttle steer'? Our neighbors had come home late, and left their car (Passat) up on the road. They watched us coming up and couldn't believe we made it. Damn warming trend.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2006/autos/0612/gallery.best.best/index.html ... is anyone surprised?

Seems pretty steep to me for a reconstructed car ... http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/car/251445449.html ...compare. But maybe it's a regional thing. Unless you're desperate, I'd keep looking.

Whatthehell has happened at Subaru? Our 00' has factory installed posts for the cargo net (which came with the car), each in it's little indent in the plastic trim so the 'T' posts won't catch on things. And our car is a BRIGHTON fer cryinoutloud! And this is an L.L. Bean? sheeeeeyeeesh

I don't know about it ... the site never opened. It DID, however freeze my compooter, and I had to cold boot to make it let go!

What year? I've been deBrightonizing our '00 Legacy since purchase in .01 (with already 99,750 miles on it). So far - Map light, lighted mirror sunvisors, WRX alloys and decent tires, Outback struts/springs, cruise, remote starter. We already had power windows. Haven't bothered with a tach, since the car is an automatic, and then I would lose our clock! Ditto rear discs, it's The Pretty One's carr, and she doesn't drive haed enough to warrant the trouble. Left to dos is bedlinering it below the rubstrip and mudflaps. That.s about it. As for the rest, I'm on the KISAS bandwagon. I can live without power mirrors, and I HATE power door locks, especially when they lock you in at 5 mph. The upholstery is OK as is, and all the other fancy stuff is just a repair waiting to happen in my book of simplicity.

I think that EVERYONE is entirely missing the point of the switch. It's primary purpose is to provide the members of this board (and others like it) entertainment and great glee when we encounter the deflowering of yet ANOTHER 'SUbaru Virgin'!

Right Gnu, it's a good thing that most Montanans don't read this sort of thing. If they found out that Subarus were an effete eastern snob car, they would go back to 4WD F-250's just to not appear to 'affected'. That would be Subaru's loss, Exxon's gain.

First, despite the reaction that has resulted from your post, this actually is a usually friendly place. Second, welcome to the board (that makes three Kalispellians, keep it up and we'll rival Spokane). Third, most folks don't seem to have a problem with the virgin switch, especially if they ever read the owners manual. I can't even, in Subaru ownership and driving totaling over ten years and 300,000 miles, never killed a battery with it. I have on many occassions deliberately switched it on when parked at night. I was at a meeting at Glacier Natl. Park HQ last month and a friend commented when we cam out, "My Subaru lights are on and I can't get them to go off, my husband has been disconnecting the battery at night for almost a week!" I walked up to the car witrh her, reached in flipped the switch off and said "Subaru virgin no more", shw as so flabbergasted she almost dropped her notebooks. She said she had bought the car new in 1998, and never even noticed that switch was there 'til now. Love it or hate it, it's a Subaru thing, I think you should just learn to live with it, although if *I* were the king of Subaru I would make it illuminated when on.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/08/MTGMSLUIJ228.DTL

Even if she hadn't purchased the extended warranty it would still be covered if you took it to the dealer regarding the problem while it was in warranty and they couldn't/didn't fix it at that time. But at 43,000 is should still be under the Subaru warranty.

Can't hurt. My son is a broker in HNL, but even he has a hard time getting agents to respond from da Beeg Islan'. Mus be all dat Puna Buttah. Onliest problem is that I'm kinda rain adverse. Our place was in Waikoloa village, and we really like dry side mo bettah, but $$$ reality may prevail. We're selling a rental in Kapolei, and will be doing a 1031 exchange to avoid taxes. Kind like to find something we can rent for a few years 'til we retire back home ... where that turns out to be. Oh, and just to keep this message kosher ... we WILL be bringing a modified Subaru back. I'm going to do the mods on the mainland and then ship the completed and licensed car to Hawaii, NO WAY am I fooling around with the absurd Hawaii 'reconstructed vehicle' regs (there's the S.P.R.H. factor again, ne?).

So subaroo808, wheah you stay Puna side? We going try look Puna fo' da kapuna hale ... or mebbe down da bottom Wapio. There was a lot for sale that we really liked, but we could never get the lolobutt real estate agent to respond to our query. Maybe they though we weren't fo' real 'cause the posting came from Montana? Was a great almost beach lot on the Hawi side of the river. Prolly couldn't get there by car when the water is up, and no power, but we can work around all that. I think I'll hit the MLS again and see if it's still offered. I would LOVE to live at the bottom of Waipio, so long as I wasn't back deep under the cliff where it rains more than Hilo! There's even a good sand bottom break there, when the north swell is running in the right direction.

One day John, one day about late 2009.:-p But we're going over scouting this spring when we go back for her [CENSORED] year high school reunion. And speaking of SF hills. I usted to have a Model AA Ford, 11' stakebed truck that was my shop (and parade) truck for my custom sign shop in Dorrington, CA. I did a lot of specialty work in the bay area and delivered my work in the Ford, driving those hills many times. Air brakes? Hell, that Ford didn't even have HYDRAULIC brakes! As Henery used to say "The strength of steel, from foot to wheel". Thank gawd for granny low, indeed.

Ahhh, the Peoples' Socialist Republic of Hawaii, a third world country masquerading as a state ... Waipio road rules, just as the Saddle road ban, has everything to do with pandering to the rental car industry, and northing to do with safety or common sense. I lived on the Big Island from 1978 (on & off) to 1996, and have driven down the Waipio Rd in a 2WD Ford Courier pick-up, an MG Midget, and a Ford Mustang 4-banger. Never had a problem with any of them. All you gotta do is drive the damnmthings, whatever they are. That said, dem touris so lolo, mo bettah day stay on da bus. We'll be back in May to look for property to build our Hawaii-ne retirement home, Big Islan' or Molokai, checkin' both out.

Remember frag ... ICE water, better yet, grab the Stoli outta the freezer!

I got under the Legaback and tightened all the nuts, then with a large Vice-Grips squeezed all the tabs and joints to a fair-thee-well. Quiet so far.

The answer to the question is that all (at least) western states recognize Subarus as qualifying for severe condition driving. If your state says chains or 4WD required, your Subaru is OK. They may however, still require that you have winter or snow rated tires to qualify. Call (or look on-line) the CHP or CalTrans to confirm.

Our O2 sensor has been replaced twice under the TSB by Subaru. After clearing codes for four years on our '00 Legaback, and never experiencing any driving problems I gave up and performed the Click & Clack fix. A 3/4" dot of black vinyl tape. :-\

Our local dtealership charges two dollars more, $2.00 folks, less than the cost of a decent cup of coffee. They do a competant fluids check of the entire car, fill up the windshield washer if it's low, AND wash the car. Plus they have free coffee ... it ain't gormet, but it ain't Navy either. Plus I get to hang around and talk Subarus with Justin the young service writer (who just may be a lurker on this board ... HI Justin!). It took a while to break The Pretty One from dropping into Mr. Lube Rack or wherever, but she's now trained. So, my answer is, if you live anywhere near a dealership, why risk it.

Jeeze frag, the last car I did this to was a flathead Ford, so who knows? OTOH, if a little steam could kill a cat every HG whine on this board would have been followed by a thousand dollar catalytic converter howl! I can't imagine, but that's pure speculation, so you best wait until someone who knows whereof he speaks responds. I just didn't want you to feel lonely with no responses.

"the bugeye Impreza. We loved it" I still do, if I ever buy an Impreza sedan it will be a bugeye. The snout sucks.

Let's hope you're right. If not, someone needs to shoot the entire Subaru stylist team.

And always make sure you tighten the gas cap after a fill-up. A loose cap will also throw a CEL code. Don't trust the stealerships recco on the cat. They are notorious for selling cats when they know good and well all is needed is an O2 sensor.