You’re not wrong with either reason. In addition to what you listed, driving comfort (STI suspension is rock hard and figuratively killing me on patched and potholed New England roads), NVH improvements (car is incredibly loud at highway speeds), safety, insurance premiums ($550 less per year, apples-to-apples),…

I don’t 100% agree with you. Being an enthusiast is not about effort, it’s about attitude. As far as attitude is concerned, I believe the most basic requirement of a true enthusiast is respect. Respecting your own car, keeping it in good condition to the best of your ability and finances, and the cars of others, even…

Have a STI hatch. After 3 years of ownership, decided that I cannot live with that any longer. Was supposed to be a compromise between performance and utility, ended up being a poor compromise (too much sacrificed at the altar of performance). Trading it in on something more comfortable soon. My back just can’t take…

If this is to be believed, Subaru may be bringing back the Outback Sport, though what that would actually consist of is undefined.

But for some reason, Toyota hasn’t seen fit to strangle Subaru in their crib.

Heurberger Subaru, I heard the same thing when I was shopping around for my STI. They also sell parts for cheaper than anywhere else I’ve found.

My local Subaru dealership will change the oil in my STI for $20 + oil (I supply), and the $20 includes oil filter + gasket.

I’m racking my brain for what car Toyota sold in ~2000 that had 300hp, and coming up empty. The Supra stopped being sold in 1998, and I don’t know of anything else that even comes close from that time period. Mind sharing?

Re-3rd Gear:

Hasa diga eebowai?

I don’t think they wear significantly faster rate-wise when used in the correct temperature range (though I could be wrong), but they are considered ‘worn’ at a significantly higher tread depth than summer or all seasons. I think winter tires are supposed to be replaced at 5/32”, whereas summer and all season can go…

Winter tires function better in the rain (and I believe I read also in the dry) than all-seasons do at low temperatures (<40°).

Regarding the ignorance of the general population to the benefit of winter tires, my solution would be to offer an insurance discount for it for those of us who live in northern states. If they offer discounts for ABS, DRLs, and anti-theft systems, I see no reason that an important safety enhancement like winter tires…

When I was in the dealership looking at an Outback, the salesman told me: “It has AWD, so you don’t need snow tires.”

It has the same engine as the Impreza, and practically the same curb weight. Why is the Crosstrek so much slower?

Maybe. The Highlander and Pilot, which theoretically seat the same number of people as this, are both powered by V-6’s with generally the same output as the Subaru Flat 6 (though they also offer the Highlander with a 4 cylinder). So I don’t think it’d be too unreasonable for them to use it.

I don’t think they use the 3.0 anymore. The current 3.6 is supposed to have a lot of the same tech that the newer FA/FB engines have.

They already make one in Japan. I wonder if they’ll just sell that over here with the bigger 3.6 engine offered in the Outback and Legacy. I can’t imagine trying to power that thing with the gutless 2.5.

It’s complicated. If the islands are in international waters (debatable), then I believe the action of building them up and using them as bases is theoretically legal. Think of them more as stationary aircraft carriers, or even oil platforms.