OT: Forester, CRV, or Rav4

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

I call that some maximum smilage ernie.. 55 mph is good milage territory but patients is a virtue I guess, I drive with my foot to the floor.

no diesel smells hmmm maybe no smoke..

heres another use for the diesel. a warren miller film truck , looks like it made the cut...

http://www.skinet.com/skinet/videos/article/0,26958,1632136,00.html split second in the trailer. after casey and chaos thoery . good job alex and jaime and blowhard for driving... Last year in Utah.... Hd snowkiting filmin.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

If you stick with your Honda/Toyota ways, I think you'll be fine. I'd personally go for the CRV though I haven't actually test driven one (checked them out for my friend a while back). My fam's all Honda/Acura/Toyota/Lexus, so I may be a little bias. Just don't see the reliability (not just in the engine) in too many other brands.

Portland Pete · Since 08 Mar 2005 145 Posts HR Stoked

I am at 200k in my OB and want to stretch it until the 2009 diesel Subarus

Here are some articles on diesel subarus heading to the US.
Forrester might be the first one to get it after the legacy

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Subaru's New Diesel
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/news/0701dp_diesel_industry_news/concept_cars.html
"I am pleased to announce the development of the world's first horizontally opposed diesel engine; the Subaru Boxer turbodiesel is nearly complete." And with that, Subaru Europe President Hiroyuki Ikeda has provided some of the scoop on the new mill. The Boxer design is said to have minimal vibration because the pistons counteract to cancel it out: "With its firmly supported crankshaft, the crankcase construction is strong enough to resist huge combustion pressure." There's also a thin journal for the crankshaft and turbocharger located under the cylinder block, creating a low center of gravity and compact design. And, of course, there are reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
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Subaru Promises New Diesel as Boxer Engine Turns 40
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=118936

2007 Geneva Motor Show: Subaru To Unveil Boxer Turbodiesel
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119532

Subaru Puts a Diesel in the Pipeline for U.S. Sale by 2007
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109779

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The Japan-Spec WRX Shows Us the Face of Its New Personality
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=121192

"On the other hand, Subaru also reports that we can expect a turbocharged boxer-4 diesel for the WRX by early 2009. The company is eager to drop a high-mpg diesel into the Forester and Impreza soon after the Legacy gets Subaru's first diesel next summer, so the WRX is part of the program. And word from inside Subaru City also confirms that the company is working on a five-speed automatic and a continuously variable transmission, and both these options could be offered as early as mid-2009."
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pura vida one · Since 22 May 2007 80 Posts

yeah, i've had some experience w/ all 3.
honda crv's are a good for bigger folks like you, and better room-wise for the fam. awd is ok but not as good as the forester. the rav4 is better driving than the crv but doesn't hold the value quite as well. honda's are reliable. the forester is decently roomy and the subaru awd can't be beat. plus the forester has a bit better clearance than the other subes. my impreza has 230k+ and is a fuckinchamp!
my subaru burns some oil, but it's converted to biofuel. i mean e85! the ethanol that i believe registered was referring to is the cleaning agent most of the standard fuel companies use in their products. all regular unleaded in oregon is mandated at 10% now w/ the new law. however, the sequential e85 is a domestic product and a minimum 80 or 85% bioethanol. harder cold starts but does better when mixed w/ a little e10, and supports farmers here. it doesn't impact our food prices as the corn used isn't food-grade. no more blood for oil... 'how many lives per gallon are you getting?'

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

agreed on the gas situation and sad that GM would crush it's killer electric car and then refocus all it's energy on the Hummer...hopefully the Tesla gets some cheaper cousins in the next couple of years.

FYI, a car dealership opened up here in Portland that has a number of different electric cars for sale as well as hybrids and diesels...most aren't much bigger than a golf cart and strange looking but some of next years models should be more conventional - they just need to get more miles per charge and be able to stand the impact of a Ford Excursion Wink

but still might be fun to stop by for a test drive or talk to people in the know.

http://www.eco-motion.com/

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

I have had a Forester for 7 yrs. Fun, reliable, and great for rally cross. I want the XT @ 200 +hp. Large turning radius and jerky in traffic jams, only complaints

Bettyboarder · Tue Oct 16, 07 3:51 pm

Driving my 3rd Subaru, they are great cars. You can beat the crap out of them and they just keep going. They handle great in the snow.

I have a legacy right now and you would be amazed at the room it has. I fit my bedframe in my car better than it fit in my cuz's MDX (similar to a Honda Pilot).

Depending on how much you want to spend I would put the Element and the Ridgeline on the list of cars, they are great too.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1861 Posts XTreme Poster

Awesome thread--thanks.

My experience with Subarus is:

1. Toe-in problem with wheels
2. CV joints going bad
3. amazingly annoying lifter noise
4. sub-par door/window seals
5. kind of cheap plastic interior

Having said that, both of my subarus ran forever--just not as well, nor refined as I would have liked them too.

My experience with Toyota:

Change oil, put in gas, forget about everything else until 160k.

My experience with Honda:

See toyota

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

here you go

http://eugene.craigslist.org/car/450926086.html

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Eric - I would tend to agree with you, at least on some of your points... The newer subbies are a lot more refined, though I don't have any experience with them (mine is a 99.)

Its the AWD that is the main appeal with the Subbie to me. That and it seems pretty bomber even though I treat it like crap.

The Matrix and the Element have both caught my eye as far as AWD options from Toyota and Honda.

My main goal with my next car is good mileage... if I can get AWD + 30mpg or more then I'll buy tomorrow!

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

i had a 01 legacy gt that was good but automatic kills the joy in the snow and a 03 lseries that sounded like a 1980 vw with all the air leaks around the windows, andthe dealer couldn't get it to stop pulling right, or scwab either. all cars have issues of some sort though I think. out of four subies I have never had one that got much over 20 mpg realistically , but I drive aggro and 70 ... Twisted Evil

shit my big crew cab almost gets 20mpg. an excursion diesel will get 18-20 mpg if you keep the rpm under 2000 , which is about 70 mph.

wjb · Since 14 Aug 2007 223 Posts Nor Cal Stoked

Sol-flyer · Wed Oct 17, 07 7:13 am

i was wondering the same thing.

i get close to 12 mpg in the SOL bus on bio. 8 mpg whit regular diesel. Thats a big difference when you have a 135gallon tank. Laughing

endoshred · Since 22 May 2006 232 Posts HR Stoked

eric, how about a syncro vanagon. you can climb a wall with it.....at least when it is out of the shop. Rolling Eyes

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

tch · Since 08 Aug 2005 17 Posts

My 94 Legacy wagon just rolled 200.000. Great car that has held up well under some significant abuse. I agree with others that it is a solid in the snow and if you throw some studs on - it will go just about anywhere.

I learned this summer that you can override the AWD system and make it FWD. On my model, you add a fuse and this overrides the AWD. This was manufactured so that tow companies didn't have to dollie the car (you can't tow an AWD vehicle with only two wheels on the ground - it will cause some significant damage).

With the AWD overrided I was getting 60-75 miles a tank more. On average I was getting 400 miles per tank. My longtime Subie mechanic assured me that this would not cause any problems and it was his suggestion initially. I've put about 10k on it in this configuration without any issues.