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Knot, I'm going to skirt this question, because I realize I should not have posted that. In the clear light of day this morning ( :) ) I realize I might have started a discussion that could quickly become divisive on a lot of levels, and I don't want to do that!Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
me three, tell us! I know about Forresters but not Elements.Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
well, I just got this:
As I was giving my Subaru to my son, had to replace it.
Our requirements were wagon, affordable, +30 mpg, nice trim level.
Mazda 3
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/misc/newmazda.jpg
I honestly don't understand why anyone buying a car today would look at less than a 30 mpg vehicle. Subarus are great and all that, but until they can bring their mileage up I wouldn't consider buying another one. I hear that if you are really, really careful you can squeak about 28 out of them, but that is not most people.
I get 32 mpg out of my Impreza, 36 on the freeway if I stay at 65 mph. (Imprezas are the little Subies with the regular engine.)
I still wanna know about stereotypes for Elements and Foresters.... anyone wanna PM me? :confused:
Well, my Element doesn't get great mileage...but it is the perfect mix of everything I want my vehicle to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irulan
- The AWD is great in the snow.
- The low height and interior dimensions make it a snap to load my bike and keep it locked inside, without removing any wheels.
- I can sleep in it fully stretched out, also with my bike locked inside with me.
- I can stand up in it (with a hunch, of course) for pee'ing (TMI? But this is very handy) in the night while camping and for changing.
- It is a GREAT tent for when I camp...which I do alone, and like being locked in.
- I moved furniture last weekend, and the taller interior made it easy for dressers, etc.
- The non-carpet interior is easy to clean and does not pick up moisture like carpet-lined cars.
- The rear power jack lets me work on my computer as long as I like when out for working-weekends.
There are just a lot of things I really like about it. So far, it just works for me. I looked at a lot of other cars, but none had this combination of what I wanted (except the Chevy Astrovan 4WD...but mileage wasn't any better, and there were other things I didn't want in the Astrovan...although those things, on their truck chassis, are amazing, affordable, and go like 300,000 miles easily...they also have cavernous space.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
Oops, I meant for Outbacks.
Yeah, the larger Subies are not the best at mileage. My Legacy (the big wagon, but not as sexy as a Legacy Outback) got 24 mpg or so on a good day. Then the engine kinda went toes-up and i was getting 17 mpg!!
A new engine was tooooo expensive, so I traded it in on my Impreza. But I was pretty tempted by the Element and the Scion XB. I was looking for room for the dog/kid/bikes/junk.
My concern with the Element was that at the time it wasn't available with stick and all wheel drive. The dealer tried to convince me I'd like an automatic just fine, but nope. I was also a little worried about getting SKnot in and out of the car through the overlapping doors, and the stability of the "B" pillar. (now that he's big enough to sit in the front seat that's no longer an issue)
I could get 30 mpg out of my 95 legacy on the highway, on a good day,with a tail wind.
But that car is gone now.
They all spec the same (or used to under the old EPA mileage ratings) - is the reality different? Both times we kept looking at the Imprezas and noticing that they got the same claimed mileage as the Legacy/Outback, so why not get the bigger capacity.Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
they all have the same engine (except the big engine in the one Legacy Outback trimline, and the turbo in the WRX) but there does seem to be a difference Impreza to Legacy in actual use.
My uncle and I have each had both Legacies and Imprezas, and we've each gotten better mileage in the Imps. Maybe cuz we haul more in the Legacies, maybe cuz they're a heavier car, I dunno.
I still want the Subaru diesel boxer engine... gimme gimme!
I bought an X-Trail this year. . .the first car I've ever bought on my own. I looked at the Element, Rav, and CR-V. But I really dislike the squashed down back end. And I had heard the Element is only ok in snow. I love love love the look of Jeep Wranglers but couldn't possibly justify the awful gas mileage.Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycanuck
So the X-Trail gave me the boxy look I like. Good gas mileage (not great). The option to put it in AWD on snowy and slippery roads and put it in 4 wheel lock if I have to. And I can put my bike in the back without taking a wheel off (but I need help for this) and can put it in by myself with the front wheel off. I'm sure there's a better way than I do it, though.
This is an long winded way of me saying I agree it's kind of soccer mom looking. I like something that looks a bit rougher, too. But it ended up being perfect for me right now. I hope you find something that suits your needs!
yes...BUT..the boxer engine on the Subaru has very low emissions....
I'd like to know too - PM is fine:) Just wondering what my car says about me:confused::eek::confused::eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
and those horizontal cylinders are just so *cute*! (they really are cute! I have a picture of the diesel engine in a perspex mount at my desk at work.)Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
heck, there's 25 pages of google on the subject...
http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/othe...esbianCars.htm
I love the one about the Dodge Magnum! The boyz in my old 'hood in DC would be chagrined if they knew Magnum's reputation!
Very interesting:) Thanks for the link!Quote:
Originally Posted by Irulan
Funny - I associate most of the cars on the list with other things - being hip (Mini), being environmentally friendly (Prius), etc. Interesting to think about:)
CA
Yeah, I too was wondering what Starfish referred to about the Element. I've been driving mine since 2004 and don't know if I fit any "profile" or not (married, no kids, 40-something, active, athletic). I do know that when I did my original research on the Element, Honda originally positioned them as cars for 20-something males who were into camping, hiking, mountain biking, and other adventures, but quickly found that Baby Boomer couples (like DH and I) and empty nesters were buying most of them!
Emily
Huh. Once again I learn something new everyday. I guess I feel kinda naive or something because I had no idea there were broad stereotypes about cars and sexual orientation. I only knew of the Subaru one, which I actually read about in a major newspaper up here about a year ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irulan
I guess I've always associated cars with people I know and have seen drive them. The Element owner I talked to was a very outdoorsy guy and talked up all the room his had for bikes and surf boards and dogs and stuff. I kind of associate Jeeps with the hot athletic guy I had a crush on in high school. Acura Integras were the popular girl car. My parents bought me my first car, an old Volvo, that I felt was a very dorky :) I wanted a cute, sporty, popular girl Integra :p (but it got me from A to B faithfully, just couldn't stand up to our winters)
Well, this was not what I was referring to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irulan
But, you can all understand why I would want to bow out of the discussion, right? If I write a list of stereotypical attributes that I didn't want the Element to say about me (in other words, if I described the stereotype I did not want to be identified with), then I have immediately implied an insult to everyone here who does have those attributes.
Do you see?
I don't know why everyone thinks the Forester is awkwARD looking....(re the article) I LOVE my Forester; it was love at first sight in fact, because it looked so sturdy...like a good pair of brogues...solid on all 4s..
Like a cross between an old Volvo and a Jeep...
I DO admit a preference for the 1st & 2nd gen. This new one..like most new cars these days..looks like all the other new cars...Volvos don't even look like Volvos anymore...they look like freakin' Mazdas....
(not that there's anything wrong with Mazdas...Volvos aren't mazdas, that's all.)
'08 Ford Escape - converted from driving Chevrolet all my life, and I love it. Can't comment on the Forester.
My son just bought a Scion Xb. It is much more curvy than it used to be. A bike would fit in it, but only lying down. And there's carpet on the back of the back seat, just like the Subaru's. It would be an okay car for a cyclist, but not as utilitarian as an Element.
Karen
Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
Mazda and Volvo use the same platform.
And Ford owns Volvo.
Yep. We love DH's 98 V70, but there will probably be no more Volvos for us. The safety isn't what it was, and they don't have the same feel anymore:mad::mad: Ford seems to have made their cars safer at the expense of the Volvo safety:mad: (I'd be happy so long as they had kept Volvos safe, but they DO NOT crash test well from what I've read).Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
My step-dad stopped buying Volvos after they got bought by Ford. Now he buys Toyota.
Same here. I was kind of upset when I heard Ford bought Volvo. (Not that I have anything at all against Fords, my Dad has an F-250 that has served him well and is now a farm truck and I seriously considered an Escape.)Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
When my parents bought the Volvo I drove in high school, another family came in looking for one. They told us a story about how their son had just crashed theirs. He wrapped it around a telephone pole and came out of it alive and ok. They thought the Volvo saved his life and vowed to stay with the brand.
I considered getting another Volvo (yeah, I know I said I thought it was dorky in high school but I really did love that car) but found the reviews were pretty mediocre now. It's disappointing.