Subaru Crew Cafe

14483 messages, Last post on Nov 09, 2009 at 1:14 PM

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Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

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#2442 of 14483 Jesus, again... by rsholland Nov 13, 2002 (7:55 am)
Just got this in my e-mail box from a UK auto site. Thought it would be worth passing on: Let’s get something absolutely clear. I’m no big fan of SUVs. Brick-like aerodynamics and the fact that they tend to be big and heavy is almost enough for me. But what really kills them in my eyes is the simple fact that the people buying them, in the main, don’t use them off-road. Now I know there’s a safety aspect with 4WD that people understandably buy into, but there’s also the not entirely lost fact that your big mass will obliterate anything of substantially smaller mass in a collision – slightly uncomfortable territory in my personal view. People find all kinds of justifications for owning SUVs (‘it was great on the beach on vacation last year’) but deep down they’re a bit of a con. Over engineered for what they do means wasteful to me. The lifestyle marketing guff fishes people in of course, but that’s human nature and they’re free to buy one if they want to. Hey, you know the arguments for and against. But something in the news today has put me in alliance with SUV drivers everywhere. They’ll be indignant when they hear about it and rightly so. Certain religious groups in the US are planning a campaign against SUVs saying that your choice of vehicle is a moral issue and that SUVs are anti-social. This strikes me as a can of worms of immense magnitude that they would do well to steer clear of. ‘What vehicle would Jesus drive?’ Are they serious? I would guess that today he would have a bicycle and would be a keen supporter of public transport. If he had to have a vehicle then maybe he’d plump for a gasoline-electric hybrid like the Toyota Prius. Okay, if he has to have a pure gasoline ICE, then something modest surely – Perodua Nippa? Suzuki Alto? But my real gripe is this: if your choice of vehicle is really a ‘moral issue’, then what about luxury cars and performance cars? They’re not exactly eco-friendly and if you trade down to something more basic, the money saved can surely be diverted to morally good causes. And what about other areas of discretionary spending on luxury or non-essential goods? Should we all live the lives of monks? No, your SUV, should you choose to have one, should not be lambasted on purely moral grounds in this way. The vehicles are perfectly legal and in terms of the wider picture, no morally – or environmentally - worse than many other types of vehicle. Some SUVs are better than others of course and I’m not saying that there is not a case for discouraging the worst excesses via the regulatory environment. But SUVs – or their drivers – should not be singled out as wrong on moral grounds in my view. I’m reminded of Beatrice Hall’s line about free speech: ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death you’re right to say it.’ (The friends of Voltaire, 1906) For ‘say’ substitute ‘drive’. The fact that there is still massive poverty in the world is a serious and complicated question for all of us who live in comparable luxury – and this isn’t really the place for dwelling on that. But picking on SUV drivers seems to me to be a little ill advised in this context, as well as missing the point (unless the point is simply to stir things up). Bob
#2443 of 14483 by ateixeira Nov 13, 2002 (8:00 am)
Luxury cars have only a small portion of the market. SUVs are extremely popular, and cars are outselling trucks. So they took aim at a big target. I use my Forester to capacity and my next vehicle might be bigger, if it's as fun to drive. -juice
#2444 of 14483 This may(?) have been posted before... by rsholland Nov 13, 2002 (10:52 am)
More on Subaru 2002 Tokyo Motor Show http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2002/02_10_11e.htm FHI 5-year plan http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2002/02_05_17_e1.htm
#2446 of 14483 by ateixeira Nov 13, 2002 (11:07 am)
I'll pull some interesting things from that: * Next generation new platform (SUW?) * hybrid power source (GM?) * new design language (the Alfa dude) * Increase joint purchasing and strategic procurement with GM group (careful!) If they want Innovative, Individual, and Courageous, they'd better bring us all the models we're asking for. Innovative? Let's see some 5/6 speeds right away. Side curtain air bags as an option. Shiftronic more widely available. They are way behind here, not innovating anything. Individual? OK, I'll give them that. They'd be courageous if the Forester STi and Blitzen were sold here. SoA is actually the opposite, very conservative. And I don't see how "driving, safety, and environment" mesh with being courageous. -juice
#2447 of 14483 by ateixeira Nov 13, 2002 (1:00 pm)
Bob - did you see Edmunds' review of the GX470? It's on the home page. You know I've been a big fan, but two misses are mind boggling. First, the hatch opens toward the curb side. Stupid. Just stupid. 2nd, the glass does not open separately. That wouldn't be a big deal if the 4Runner didn't address both of those concerns, and it shares a platform. 4 Runner doesn't offer the 3rd row. So neither of them really nailed it. -juice
#2448 of 14483 Lexus GX470 by rsholland Nov 13, 2002 (2:40 pm)
One thing I'm not wild about is that the body is 3" taller than the 4Runner, which means a higher center of gravity than does the 4Runner. I do like having the 4x4 lever that includes a Neutral position, unlike the 4Runner. I do agree with about the rear door. As you know it's sold in other markets a Land Cruiser-Lite, and the rear door also has the spare mounted on it. Probably because it is sold mostly in Australia, Japan & the UK, is the reason for the US-unfriendly rear door. They probably don't think it's worth the expense to re-hinge the rear door just for a few markets in which it is sold. I don't agree with that thinking, especially here in the USA, where it' marketed as a premium product. Bob
#2449 of 14483 Once again by paisan Nov 13, 2002 (3:49 pm)
The Trooper has the door in the "right" direction! Damn I wish it wasn't discoed! -mike
#2450 of 14483 WWJD not the link I expected, Bob by lark6 Nov 13, 2002 (4:43 pm)
Some time ago I got an e-mail from a Studebaker friend which included the following: For centuries, theologians have squabbled over the type of transportation the Lord would use: Public transit or private car? Stick shift or automatic? A sport-utility vehicle roomy enough for all twelve apostles or an economy model? One theory is that Jesus would tool around in an old Plymouth because the Bible says God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden in a Fury. But there may be several other scenarios. In Psalm 83, for example, the Almighty clearly owns a Pontiac and a Geo. The passage urges the Lord to 'pursue your enemies with your Tempest and terrify them with your Storm.' (We're not sure how a Geo Storm could be considered terrifying, unless it had those scary shooting flames painted on the sides.) Another scripture indicates that Yahweh favored Dodge pickup trucks. Moses' followers are warned not to go up a mountain until 'the Ram's horn sounds a long blast.' Some scholars insist that Jesus drove a Honda, but didn't like to talk about it. As proof, they cite a verse in John's gospel where Christ tells a crowd, 'For I did not speak of my own Accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say.' Other theories include one in which Moses rode an old British motorcycle, as evidenced by a Bible passage declaring that 'the roar of Moses' Triumph is heard in the hills.' Someone else has suggested the apostles followed Jesus' lead and carpooled in a Honda because Acts records that "the apostles were in one Accord". Ed
#2451 of 14483 by jfl Nov 13, 2002 (4:57 pm)
Ed, well done. ROTFLOL! Must have been a tight fit in that one Accord... Jim