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Subaru Crew Cafe

17119 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 9:51 AM

You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru

Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

This is the place for Crew members to kick back, relax, and talk about...whatever!

Messages Page 1702 of 1712

#17009 of 17119 Re: On the mend [xwesx] by fibber2

Feb 19, 2013 (7:41 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 19, 2013 10:55 am)
I'm a big advocate of rechargeable AA & AAA batteries, but was disappointed in their long term performance. It wasn't until I started reading some serious journal articles about the recharging process (YES, WHAT A GEEK!!), that I came to realize that cheap chargers murder good batteries. Most $10 units charge in pairs or quads - and the charging stops when the first battery reaches the full storage potential. That leaves the rest undercharged, and they get progressively weaker with each sequence. I've brought batteries left for dead back to life! I feel so much like Dr. Frankenstein!
 
I have the older model (Lacrosse BC-700), with a max 700 ma charge rate. Still, 90% of the time I dial it down to lower. Each cell takes in what it needs, and all the data is there. I numbered my batteries, and matched up the most powerful set for the flashlight with the greatest need (like the one used to search for skunks in the woods before letting the dog out). With this charger, I've seen final voltages that top 1.51 v - from a battery chemistry only rated at a nominal 1.25 v.
 
Expensive, but worth every penny. OK, I get excited over weird stuff....

#17010 of 17119 Re: On the mend [fibber2] by xwesx

Feb 19, 2013 (7:42 pm)

Replying to: fibber2 (Feb 19, 2013 7:41 pm)
Hahaha, no I think that stuff is cool, too! I must say that I have had very good luck with the longevity of my rechargeable batteries (I've never had one stop working well yet, and I have some that are older than my house [10]). I tend to lose them before they stop working.
 
But, that's not to say they're getting charged well. I've already queued one up in my Amazon cart. I think I'll get the 500ma unit, as it looks compact, simple, flexible, and is less expensive. I can go for the "full monty" if this one piques my interest, as it clearly has yours.

#17011 of 17119 Re: On the mend [xwesx] by volkov

Feb 20, 2013 (9:02 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 19, 2013 7:42 pm)
You guys are all motivating me to spend money. With 4 kids and 2 game consoles we have a constant stream of rechargeable batteries that now surprisingly are poorly managed by the kids who then have the gall to complain the batteries don't last. Really like the ability to identify the single bad battery in the charge process. As you say, one bad battery spreads its dysfunction like a virus as it "disables" its charge twin.

#17012 of 17119 Re: Tire Cost [xwesx] by ateixeira

Feb 20, 2013 (9:13 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 19, 2013 1:26 pm)
Yeah, over $200 when Lana got a flat, luckily the other 3 were still new.
 
Another change - the wider section width means the tire protects the rim better than the old one did. It may have prevented the curb rash I got with the old tires.

#17013 of 17119 Re: On the mend [volkov] by ateixeira

Feb 20, 2013 (9:15 am)

Replying to: volkov (Feb 20, 2013 9:02 am)
With 4 kids and 2 game consoles
 
I got a set for their Wii that comes with a stand inductively charges 2 at once. They have been GREAT! I think it was $25 or so but I've easily recovered that and it's so much easier than changing batteries all the time.

#17014 of 17119 Re: Tire Cost [ateixeira] by xwesx

Feb 20, 2013 (10:25 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 20, 2013 9:13 am)
It may have prevented the curb rash I got with the old tires.
 
Well, better driving will prevent that, too. Bwahahahahahahaha; sorry, I just had to say that!

#17015 of 17119 Re: Tire Cost [xwesx] by ateixeira

Feb 20, 2013 (10:36 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 20, 2013 10:25 am)
I was forced towards a curb by a person who drifted in to my lane. Jerk didn't even stop to see if I was OK.
 
I thought I had a flat so I had to stop.
 
Happens a lot but this was the only time I hit a curb.

#17016 of 17119 Re: Tire Cost [ateixeira] by xwesx

Feb 20, 2013 (10:50 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 20, 2013 10:36 am)
Oh, way to turn it around on me! Sheesh, now I feel bad about even saying that.

#17017 of 17119 Re: Tire Cost [xwesx] by ateixeira

Feb 20, 2013 (11:23 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 20, 2013 10:50 am)
It's a teeny little car, not hard to place in any parking spot. I usually have several feet to spare on all sides.

#17018 of 17119 2014 Subaru XT Forester quick notes by kurtamaxxxguy

Mar 23, 2013 (7:54 am)

When it arrived at my local dealership I took a test drive and ended up taking it home. '14 version's possibly the best car Subaru has built, outside of the BRZ, and is _major_ change from the previous generation. Is solid: going over speed bumps that rattled and pogoed the '09 XT's rear don't phase the 14. Quieter: low freq road and a little wind noise; CVT doesn't whine and engine buzz's muted. Goes around corners with little lean, tending towards understeer. Fuel economy for 100 mile mixed mode trip was 28.5 mpg, and the car's not broken in yet. Heavy steel skid plate up front and plastic "trays" line the car's bottom. Bigger inside: more footroom than the larger Audi Allroad and BMW X3. Nicer finish to dash and doors. Seats kinda hard but seat heaters easy to reach now. Many, many electronic display modes give you all sorts of info about the XT (turbo speed, throttle opening, oil pressure, oil temperature, and others to choose from). Navigation system is not quite as bad as reviewers make it, but is complex and takes getting used to: there is a 1/2" thick instruction manual dedicated to it. X_Mode's interesting as car takes a couple seconds to "get ready" in that mode; will be handy should we get spring ice.
 
My white tourer was built in 2/13 (they got here fast) so wasn't first off the line as was my '09 XT. Seems very well assembled - everything lines up and so far only minor soft rattle or two under the dash.

Messages Page 1702 of 1712

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