Getting new ride the Mtns.

[campgottagopee]

I'm thinking of getting an older Impreza Outback Sport wagon to replace my 210k 95 BMW 325is fairly soon...but probably not til I get to 250k with the bimmer first.

The 2.2l flat 4 is pretty much bulletproof, whereas older 2.5s like to eat head gaskets (not a big deal if you turn your own wrenches).

The 'other car' is a 37 year old 911, and it doesn't leave the garage if there's more than 1 cloud in the sky...to say nothing of the many other qualities that make it unsuitable for ski trips.

That's true, The 2.2 liter really is a good motor. You do get a bit mopre"piston slap" out of that motor, but that's the nature of the beast w/ a subie.

 

[Brettski]

I'm cruising to the mountains in my Town and Country

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

800+ Ft-Lbs of torque/400+ HP. Why would should my money be diverted from our great country because I want to drive a status symbol?

(Although there is something fun about having enough torque to drag race an X5 up Pinkham Notch, while towing an X5 and win that's perversely gratifying ).

Now that I'm not covering as much ground for my second job, perhaps I'll get something that leaves a little less of a carbon footprint. I just have a couple of hundred thousand miles until it's out of warranty )

 

[campgottagopee]

800+ Ft-Lbs of torque/400+ HP. Why would should my money be diverted from our great country because I want to drive a status symbol?

(Although there is something fun about having enough torque to drag race an X5 up Pinkham Notch, while towing an X5 and win that's perversely gratifying ).

Now that I'm not covering as much ground for my second job, perhaps I'll get something that leaves a little less of a carbon footprint. I just have a couple of hundred thousand miles until it's out of warranty )

Don't get it. you realize that Chev was built in Canada, right???

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Don't get it. you realize that Chev was built in Canada, right???

Au contraire, Pierre! First digit of the V.I.N, is "1". I believe the engine might have been made in the Great White North. (Detroit Diesel's rework of a Japanese engone, built in Canada?)

Aside from the V.I.N., you can tell the Canadian Made ones by the D.I.C. (Driver information center) in the center of the speedometer. If you open the door with the engine running, it says: "Driver's Door Ajar, Eh?"

 

[campgottagopee]

Au contraire, Pierre! First digit of the V.I.N, is "1". I believe the engine might have been made in the Great White North. (Detroit Diesel's rework of a Japanese engone, built in Canada?)

Aside from the V.I.N., you can tell the Canadian Made ones by the D.I.C. (Driver information center) in the center of the speedometer. If you open the door with the engine running, it says: "Driver's Door Ajar, Eh?"

So you were lucky enough to find one made in the US--good for you. Still, no truely made US cars made, doesn't matter who you buy from. As an example, all Nissan's (except Murano) have VIN #'s that start with a # 1 making them an American car????

 

[JohnGD33]

800+ Ft-Lbs of torque/400+ HP. Why would should my money be diverted from our great country because I want to drive a status symbol?

(Although there is something fun about having enough torque to drag race an X5 up Pinkham Notch, while towing an X5 and win that's perversely gratifying ).


I just got an 07 silverado. You got that right, that motor is great. I just got a tri fold hard cover made a ski holder in the back and I am set. You can't beat HP:flag:

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

800+ Ft-Lbs of torque/400+ HP. Why would should my money be diverted from our great country because I want to drive a status symbol?

(Although there is something fun about having enough torque to drag race an X5 up Pinkham Notch, while towing an X5 and win that's perversely gratifying ).


I just got an 07 silverado. You got that right, that motor is great. I just got a tri fold hard cover made a ski holder in the back and I am set. You can't beat HP:flag:

Mine's a 2004.5 with the RPO LLY engine. Stock it was 310 HP. I haven't put it on a dyno, but with an Edge Juice chip, an AFE intake and a 4" Magnaflow exhaust 800Ft-lbs and 400HP is conservative. Towing a 5,000lb trailer I passed a Toyotan Tundra on the climbing lane on Temple mountain like he was parked.

I do generally behave. I try to leave a carbon footprint smaller than the state of Texas:lol:

 

[Hawkshot99]

As an example, all Nissan's (except Murano) have VIN #'s that start with a # 1 making them an American car????

You think all the Japanese cars are made in Japan? I know basically every Toyota is made here, and many other cars from different companies. A whole bunch of Chevies are made in Canada/Mexico, but they are America's car.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

You think all the Japanese cars are made in Japan? I know basically every Toyota is made here, and many other cars from different companies. A whole bunch of Chevies are made in Canada/Mexico, but they are America's car.

I believe that most MB SUV's are made in the Carolina's. (South, I think, beacuase their collective bargaining laws are so sucky).

 

[smootharc]

X-5....

had one and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. BMW's 4wd "sensor brain" SUCKED in the snow. Just overthought everything, turning "off" wheels I would have preferred to be on.

Did not like it one bit. Been a snow belt driver for 30 years, and that thing was one of the worst. My college ride, a 1976 BMW 2002 (obviously rear wheel drive), performed better in any snow condition than the X-5 with my skinny skin skin Kleber studded snows.

Love my Acura MDX. Have dedicated snows on a winter rim set.....and performance is stellar. Trudged to and fro the 'Bush all last season, hitting all big storm systems, thus riding all road conditions at "worst" times, and the MDX was a great, stable performer.

Miss the X-5's heated steering wheel, though. Oh, the hardship.....

 

[campgottagopee]

You think all the Japanese cars are made in Japan? I know basically every Toyota is made here, and many other cars from different companies. A whole bunch of Chevies are made in Canada/Mexico, but they are America's car.

Uhm, no, in fact I'm quite aware that the majority of imports are made here in the U.S. It just always surprises me to here people claiming to buy American because they feel they are supporting we Americans. I guess to some degree that would/is true, but there's a lot of monies that leave do to manufacturing issues. that's all I'm sayin'

 

[ski_resort_observer]

My Subie Outback was made in Indiana and my Silverdao was made in Detroit, however I'm typing this on a puter that was made in China so we can try to buy things made in America but in many cases it's very dificult.
Buying a vehicle that you like you like, for whatever reason, is the way to go IMHO. Many drive several hours to ski, it should be in a vehicle of your choosing, one that works for you with maybe a little bit of enjoyment mixed in.

 

[campgottagopee]

My Subie Outback was made in Indiana and my Silverdao was made in Detroit, however I'm typing this on a puter that was made in China so we can try to buy things made in America but in many cases it's very dificult.
Buying a vehicle that you like you like, for whatever reason, is the way to go IMHO. Many drive several hours to ski, it should be in a vehicle of your choosing, one that works for you with maybe a little bit of enjoyment mixed in.

Talk about hitting the nail on the head.................

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

Hey Camp...PM me...might be looking to trade my 04 Armada LE for the new redesign...what ya got?? Any deals??

 

[Puck it]

FJ is made in Japan.

 

[MadPadraic]

All the cars mentioned here are great cars, however, I run a Nissan-Subaru dealership so yes I am a bit biased. Any of the Subaru's turbo powered cars are a STEAL as far as saftey, reliablilty, performance and build quality vs. the competition. Admittingly there are "fancier" cars out there for ALOT more money, but that's all your getting is fancy, and NOTHING as far as performance. If you don't believe me jusy go to edmunds and believe them.

Our Audi is near the end and we are strongly considering a Subaru. My main concern is that the seats are no where near as comfortable. We thought about the Lexus 400h, but the idea of a SUV is just too much to take. We can't do it, not even with a hybrid. 330xi is nice too, but the gas mileage would make me feel dirty.

 

[snoseek]

My Civic got me safely to the mountain every single powder day last year.

 

[riverc0il]

My Civic got me safely to the mountain every single powder day last year.

Word! Let's hear it for ultra light weight high MPG cars with a pair of snow tires. Same here with my 99 Saturn Coupe (which was also getting me to the mountains safely when I lived in MA and was driving long distances in storms). That said, my next car is probably going to be a Subie mostly so I can park the car in some questionable places and get out easier and have a litte more piece of mind when things get really bad.

 

[hammer]

Word! Let's hear it for ultra light weight high MPG cars with a pair of snow tires. Same here with my 99 Saturn Coupe (which was also getting me to the mountains safely when I lived in MA and was driving long distances in storms). That said, my next car is probably going to be a Subie mostly so I can park the car in some questionable places and get out easier and have a litte more piece of mind when things get really bad.

One of the incidents that drove me to buying a Subaru was the time that I got stuck in the parking lot at work with my Acura Integra. It's definitely nice to have the AWD and a little extra clearance.