Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: El Tejon on September 30, 2009, 09:48:21 AM
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SIA plant in Lafayette, Indiana makes its 3Mth vehicle.
Apparently if you make quality cars you then do not need a government check. Go figure.
Someone call GM.
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http://www.jconline.com/article/20090930/NEWS/909300343&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
3 million down, more to come, SIA promises
By MAX SHOWALTER • mshowalter@jconline.com • September 30, 2009
When their overtime shift ended Tuesday afternoon, associates at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. plant in Lafayette clapped and cheered as their employer reached another milestone.
A silver 2010 Outback 2.5i was the 3 millionth vehicle to roll off the production line since SIA began building cars and trucks 20 years ago. The first debuted on Sept. 11, 1989.
Susan Retherford, the first associate hired at SIA, was among the employees who held a large sign that heralded the car of the hour as it was driven off the assembly line amid a shower of confetti.
"It was fun," said Retherford, a Lafayette resident who initially was hired as a temporary worker in May 1987. She became a full-time employee in September of that year and now is a member of the technical support staff in the Toyota Camry trim and final assembly area.
"I've been here 22 years," Retherford said. "I enjoy working for the company. We've grown a lot since I first started. I've seen a lot of change, but it also stays the same. We're still a team -- one big family."
Retherford was the first in a long line of employees at the plant, where production levels topped out at 216,198 in 1998 and are projected at 158,000 this year.
"Since the first vehicle was built at SIA, 9,000 associates and temporaries have been involved," said Motokiyo Nomura, SIA president and chief executive officer.
Over the past 20 years the lineup has included Subaru Legacy, Outback, Tribeca and Baja models; Toyota Camry; Isuzu Axiom, Amigo and Rodeo; and the Honda Passport.
"This milestone is a tribute to all SIA associates ... and others who play a part in this success," senior vice president Tom Easterday told the associates. "With the popularity of the Outback, Legacy and Camry, I'll bet the 4 millionth vehicle is going to come around a lot sooner than we planned.
"Thank you for your hard work, dedication and focus on safety and environmental stewardship."
Employment at the plant is currently 3,300, which includes 100 temporary workers and 10 full-time associates who have been hired since August.
Success of the recent "Cash for Clunkers" program and early customer acceptance of the 2010 Legacy and Outback models prompted the additional hiring and helped Subaru reach a record monthly sales total of 28,863 vehicles in August.
"It's resulted in Subaru having only a 16-day inventory on Sept. 1. It's normally 60 or 70 days," said Easterday.
Easterday said he anticipates the one hour of overtime Subaru employees are working on most weekdays and the eight-hour overtime shifts on two Saturdays in October will continue.
"We have tentative plans for additional daily overtime and some Saturday overtime in November and December," he said. "All we need is a little more economic recovery."
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They make a good car. I'd buy one if they made them in 2 wheel drive.
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Why is it when I see a Subaru Outback, there is a obama sticker on it or some other leftist equivalent?
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Over the past 20 years the lineup has included Subaru Legacy, Outback, Tribeca and Baja models; Toyota Camry; Isuzu Axiom, Amigo and Rodeo; and the Honda Passport.
Wow, I learn something every day. Does or did Isuzu, Toyota and Honda own a piece of Subaru, or does Subaru build other manufacturers' cars under contract? I thought they just made Subarus in Indiana.
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Why is it when I see a Subaru Outback, there is a obama sticker on it or some other leftist equivalent?
Lol. No kidding. Subarus must have some sort of lefty appeal. They are still good cars though.
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I own an 05 Outback bought new in April of 06....99,000 miles by end of week....biggest expense? a $14.00 piece of window trim that spilt and annoyed me...oh, the horror!!!
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Wow, I learn something every day. Does or did Isuzu, Toyota and Honda own a piece of Subaru, or does Subaru build other manufacturers' cars under contract? I thought they just made Subarus in Indiana.
Indiana manufacturers many different vehicles today and in the past. If you look back at history, Indianapolis had the potential to become Detroit as to auto manufacture.
SIA manufacturers Hondas, Toyotas and Isuzus under contract for those companies and organizations (such as the U.S. Post Office, the mail trucks were made here). It's just like the gun bidness where competing companies make guns for each other.
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Lol. No kidding. Subarus must have some sort of lefty appeal. They are still good cars though.
Mike Irwin, good liberal, could likely explain.
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Lol. No kidding. Subarus must have some sort of lefty appeal. They are still good cars though.
Suburu wagons are practical, functional vehicles. They're sorta like SUVs, but without the guilt.
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Interesting how AMERICAN workers in places like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Indiana actually CAN make quality products, wheras those in Detroit . . . can't.
Or won't.
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Here in Missoula (hippie town Montana) I swear that no matter where I am there is at least one Subaru product in view. I owned a 91 Subaru Legacy until 2 years ago and it was boringly reliable. My parents have transitioned to all Subaru's except for Dad's Land Cruiser for his project vehicle
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Interesting how AMERICAN workers in places like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Indiana actually CAN make quality products, wheras those in Detroit . . . can't.
Or won't.
If I'm not mistaken only one of those locations is unionized.
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If I'm not mistaken only one of those locations is unionized.
You win the thread.
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My nearly year-old Subaru Forester has 4,100 miles on it, and hasn't given me any trouble. It's about 10% as much fun to drive as the Accura Integra I traded in; conversely, it costs less than 50% as much to insure.
I've to confess I still don't like the idea of full time four-wheel drive, though I'll concede the vehicle over-steers only a very little, and does better on slippery roads than any other I've ever owned. I'd like to be able to open the rear door with the key rather than the battery-powered clicker.
Mine, incidentally, was made in Japan. I don't doubt the Subaru factory in Indiana turns out better vehicles than General Motors; I'm still not willing to take a chance on an American car, and wouldn't do business with a company that devoured tax dollars in any event.
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Our family must be the only ones on the planet to have bad luck with both Subaru and Toyota. :O
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Our family must be the only ones on the planet to have bad luck with both Subaru and Toyota. :O
Must be :) We've had nothing but good luck with both brands, 2 different legacy's about 15 years apart, a 2005 Tribeca, 91 4runner, 99 avalon, and a 94 land cruiser. Conversely the GM branded cars have been horribly bad to us though the trucks have been fine. A typical example was a 90s Pontiac that started burning oil at 25K miles and killed a factory stereo every 3 months.
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Our family must be the only ones on the planet to have bad luck with both Subaru and Toyota. :O
Yup. Over 200,000 miles on my '01 Forester.
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25-plus years ago I worked for a guy who worked in the Ford factory in Detroit to pay his way through college. He said very soon after he started he was taken aside and "counseled" by the union shop steward. It seems the young man, who was only trying to do an honest day's work, was being "too productive" ... and making the career assemblers on his line look bad by comparison.
I doubt the UAW attitude has changed since then, and that's why the (former) "Big Three" are in the shape they're in.
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My nearly year-old Subaru Forester has 4,100 miles on it, and hasn't given me any trouble. It's about 10% as much fun to drive as the Accura Integra I traded in; conversely, it costs less than 50% as much to insure.
I've to confess I still don't like the idea of full time four-wheel drive, though I'll concede the vehicle over-steers only a very little, and does better on slippery roads than any other I've ever owned. I'd like to be able to open the rear door with the key rather than the battery-powered clicker
Did you buy a 2009? I looked at the new Forester but it didn't feel nearly as sporty as the earlier models. I ended up buying a 2009 Patriot that averaged 29 mpg while towing 1100 pounds cross country and hasn't hiccupped in over 11,800 miles. My only complaint is the damn brake pads leave dust on the rotors and when I back up in the morning to get out of the driveway the brakes squeal.
I'm a huge fan of the Forester from 2001 to 2008.
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From 2005
GM used to own a chunk.Any quality issues from '00-'05?
I remember seeing literature about Subaru sourced parts being used on a couple of different platforms.That little Poncho/Saturn roadster thingy leaps to mind.
http://jalopnik.com/129235/saaburus-no-more-gm-dumps-stake-in-subaru
The Car Connection is reporting that GM is selling its stake in Subaru's parent Fuji Heavy Industries, effectively ending the rebadging exersize that resulted in the Saab 9-2X, and leaving several new Saaburus stillborn. GM's 20 percent stake in Subaru, which it took in 2000, will net the company around $315 million after the sale. Toyota will reportedly take 8.7 percent of the existing GM shares, with other investors picking up the rest. The Saab 9-2X is safe for now, but an upcoming SUV will likely come by way of the Opel Antara GTC concept, not the Subaru B9 Tribeca, as had been planned.
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I want a 2010 Subaru Outback. Wicked bad. A touch out of my price range though. :|
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That's good, because the previous version of the Subaru Tribeca is butt-ugly, reminding me a lot of the Pontiac Aztek.
It was even described here, in not-so-kind terms:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subaru-tribeca-review/
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What is pretty ugly for $100, Alex?
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I know several people in Lafayette with Tribecas. They are very utilitarian, but so ugly not even I can drive one. :O
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I find for the most part lesbians and tree huggers love them, which would explain the leftist bent and the Obama '08 stickers. I hate the friggin' things. Good cars, or at least my '79 was, but freakin liberals drive SO DAMN SLOW and I always find myself stuck behind the damn things just barely making the speed limit, maybe.
Before anyone chimes in and says how it's their road too let ME say driving 5-10 miles over the limit is not unreasonable and is for the most part the norm. I don't mind if people drive slow but the courteous thing to do, if you drive below the speed limit and have some poor SOB or a LINE of poor SOBs stuck behind you, is to pull over and let them by. I do it myself and I'm usually driving 5 miles over. If some yodel is on my ass long enough and I don't feel like going any faster I'll SIGNAL, pull over and let them go rather than have to see them right up in my rearview mirror mile after mile. I call it being courteous.
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but freakin liberals drive SO DAMN SLOW and I always find myself stuck behind the damn things just barely making the speed limit
Funny thing, one of my friends is a lefty liberal and had a Impreza WRX STI- it got him a few speeding tickets :lol: He sold it and bought a forester, and he's becoming much less of a leftey with his disenchantment of Obama, his wife is a completely different story- moonbat doesn't even begin to describe....
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Interesting how AMERICAN workers in places like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Indiana actually CAN make quality products, wheras those in Detroit . . . can't.
Or won't.
I'm partial to Nissans myself. They are made cheap and are pretty much bullet proof. We've had several in my family with no problems- my dad has a 90-ish Altima that is still his daily driver with countless miles on it, mom has a newer Altima, sister's husband still has a 95 Maxima, dad had a 87 nissan P/u which might be still running if sister didn't crash it, I have a '95 P/u rusting away in my driveway (I rarely drive it because I can't haul both kid around in it-legally) with 180,00 miles on it- there are holes rusted all the way through it, but I start it once a week and it never gave me trouble.
Americans can make good cars- most if not all of the above listed cars were made in Tenn.
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My 1997 Nissan Ext Cab PU was made in Tennessee by Americans.
I have 160K on the odo and no rust. A few things have gone wrong with it, but fo rhte most part it has been reliable as hte day is long.
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Funny thing, one of my friends is a lefty liberal and had a Impreza WRX STI- it got him a few speeding tickets
Yes, not ALL Subaru driving liberals are sooooo sloooowww and I'm pleasantly surprised when I find one. =D
Funny thing is I was following a Forester home today and yup, just a plodding along, not even doing the speed limit and not a care for anyone but themselves. So as soon as a passing lane came along I blew it's doors off. :laugh:
Then I settled into a reasonable speed about 5 or so miles over the limit. :angel:
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Interesting article. Now I'm wondering if they built my rodeo. It was built in Indiana. I wonder if they're marked differently.
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Did you buy a 2009? I looked at the new Forester but it didn't feel nearly as sporty as the earlier models.
Yeah, mine's a 2009. It's definitely a mom car rather than a sports model.
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Did you buy a 2009? I looked at the new Forester but it didn't feel nearly as sporty as the earlier models. I ended up buying a 2009 Patriot that averaged 29 mpg while towing 1100 pounds cross country and hasn't hiccupped in over 11,800 miles. My only complaint is the damn brake pads leave dust on the rotors and when I back up in the morning to get out of the driveway the brakes squeal.
I'm a huge fan of the Forester from 2001 to 2008.
Wait, did you just say the new model station wagon doesn't feel as sporty as the old model station wagon?
/car snobbery
I think people really need to take a ride in a real sportscar. A stiff suspension does not a sportscar make. And no, that big engined BMW is not a sportscar either. Its still a powerful luxury SEDAN. Mustangs and Camaros are not sporstcars either.
Most of what people call "sporstcars" are really high end touring cars, luxury GTs, or drag race muscle cars.
For a real sportscar, try one of these lovelies...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_S2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_S2000)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette_C5_Z06 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette_C5_Z06)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Atom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Atom)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_300ZX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_300ZX)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Elise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Elise)
well anything from Lotus really, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Cars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Cars)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_Midget (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_Midget)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_MR2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_MR2)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_Spitfire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_Spitfire)
I've tried to keep the list to low cost vehicle you could probably go find, test drive, and buy.
Or if you are independently wealthy, try this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_GTR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_GTR)
/car snobbery
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Most of what people call "sporstcars" are really high end touring cars, luxury GTs, or drag race muscle cars.
Yep. I test-drove a Honda S 2000. I liked it a lot and had the money to buy one; I also called my insurance agent, who really wanted me to buy it.
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I said "sporty" not "sports car"! The older Subarus felt more car like, is all. I drive a Patriot which is even more truck like in ride than the new Forester so you can see how much a sporty feel meant to me.
I also prefer my 88 Harley over something like a Honda CBR. (but I wouldn't turn down a free Ducati or SV650)
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Looks like somebody tinkled in Drewtam's Wheaties... =|
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Most of what people call "sporstcars" are really high end touring cars, luxury GTs, or drag race muscle cars.
I've always had a thing for the "touring car", mid-sized, big engine, lots of trunk room. I am still attracted to the Dodge Charger and if it was not government owned and union run, I'd buy one.
Problem is the American designers always want to turn vehicles like the Charger into "muscle cars" or some such redneck/hilljack b.s.
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There are any number of German cars that are powerful, roomy, and not even a little hilljackish.
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Problem is the American designers always want to turn vehicles like the Charger into "muscle cars" or some such redneck/hilljack b.s.
I have the same complaint. I always hated chrysler corps styling, especially when they slap outlandish decals and grotesque paintjobs on a car that only a high school tuner or an inbred goober could love. *puke smiley* Or put a 'Hemi' badge on a car - yippie, Honda Accords have them too. :rolleyes:
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HTG, yes, I know, but if I could I would buy American. It's just that American cars really stink.
At least the Germans had a hand in the Charger, until the brain dead Americans hilljackified it.
I still have not pulled the trigger on a new ride. The Toyota Tacoma TRD is still my first choice.
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I just bought a 2008 4Runner. It's spacious, powerful, and non-hilljackish. A very comfortable ride for being basically a truck. The Tacomas are apparently built on the same platform, so I would expect them to be excellent machines as well.
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I still have not pulled the trigger on a new ride. The Toyota Tacoma TRD is still my first choice.
Look no further for a smaller pickup truck.
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Looks like somebody tinkled in Drewtam's Wheaties... =|
ehhh, not so much.
I was hoping the "/car snobbery" would translate into "I am passionate about sports cars but not so much as to take myself to seriously on a gun board".
Maybe it got lost in translation.
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I'm with you, drewtam.
I bought a new MX5 in 2001. What a superb sports car. It didn't have a lot of power, but its 5-speed trans was silky smooth, its handling pushed the limits of the laws of physics, and it was as stiff and nimble at 125 mph as it was at 25.
I did, on occasion, get the "girly car" comments, but every one of those people who got a chance to drive it shut their mouths afterwards. :lol:
Then there were the Mustang drivers who thought that sporty sheet metal + big engine = sports car. Good lord, there are a LOT of those people. :rolleyes: I sometimes tried to explain the difference between a sports car and a muscle car, but it usually went over their heads.
My dad has that car now, as I'm in the minivan and pickup phase of my life, but I will have another one someday.
I won't ramble on, as this is off topic, but I understand. =)
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Former Porsche 914/6 and 944 owner here. Take it for what it's worth. ;)
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How does one haul guns and ammo about in a car that small?
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How does one haul guns and ammo about in a car that small?
Leave it at home and use your truck to go shooting. :lol:
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Yeah, that's what I did.
I hauled guns, ammo, and other large stuff in my '60 Chevy Apache 20. =D
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Former Porsche 914/6 and 944 owner here. Take it for what it's worth. ;)
The 914 was ugly and very compromised, IMHO.
The 944 was my dream car in the 1980s. In fact, it was the only "dream car" of mine that I could actually afford, but I couldn't justify a new car at the time. Usually my dream car, sort of by definition, is just out of reach.
Current dream car is a Boxter, but I also admire the Honda S2000. I still remember a reviewer of a sample from its first year who described it as "the double espresso of sports cars" because you to drive it at nine-tenths to really enjoy the characteristics that made it special.
Maybe a third-generation RX-7, vintage 1995. Yum.
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We always joked in my squadron that, "A Boxster is a Porsche with panties". =D
Google 914/6 sometime. If only a Miata could boogie like that. ;)
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I have a friend who is an obsessive Porsche fanatic (he'd call himself a collector) who owns half a dozen Porsches, old and new. He swears that the current Boxster-S and Cayman-S models (gotta have the -S models, not the regular ones) are the best sports cars ever made, better than any of the 911s he owns. It has something to do with the location of the engine and the weight and balance of the Boxter/Cayman vs the other models. Or somewthing like that. I sorta tune out when he gets to rambling on Porsche minutiae.
He's also a pretty serious racer. Obsessive about that, too. I tried to hang with him on a track once, me in his 911 Carrera against him in his tuned Boxster S. I couldn't come anywhere close to keeping up despite being in the faster-on-paper car. It was darned fun trying, though. Most of that is no doubt due to his superior driving skill, plus my reluctance to risk a $100k car that didn't belong to me. But still, he swears that the Boxster platform really is much better.
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Sounds great to me, but I think in the end a Subaru is more in my price range.
In fact, I've been thinking about a Forester vs RAV4 vs Escape for my next vehicle.
Ironically, weapon storage is a consideration. :lol:
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Subaru makes a nice vehicle. Unfortunately, most Subaru owners should be shot on sight =D
Their rear decks are designed for bumper stickers and only leftie ones stick
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Sounds great to me, but I think in the end a Subaru is more in my price range.
In fact, I've been thinking about a Forester vs RAV4 vs Escape for my next vehicle.
Ironically, weapon storage is a consideration. :lol:
I liked my initial Subaru Forester (a 1998 model, bought used in '03 or thereabouts) well enough to buy a new '08 model.
Still like the new one, too. Peppy, for all that it's a little 4-cylinder, decent cargo capacity, especially with the seats down in back, and with them up, I can carry all 4 members of my family at once, a capability I lacked in previous vehicles. Sure, it's a station-wagon with pretensions of SUV-hood - so what? It does what I need it to do and provides a ride sufficiently-close to a car's that I don't feel like I'm going to roll over when I go around corners, even if I'm going faster than I ought to.
Never driven an Escape or RAV4, so I have no basis for comparison, though.
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Subaru makes a nice vehicle. Unfortunately, most Subaru owners should be shot on sight
Their rear decks are designed for bumper stickers and only leftie ones stick
:laugh:
ItsgoodtoseeyoubackhereKenbutyouaremissingoneofyourtrademarks :lol:
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Their rear decks are designed for bumper stickers and only leftie ones stick
Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce just called, Wild. You're not helping! :laugh:
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Sounds great to me, but I think in the end a Subaru is more in my price range.
In fact, I've been thinking about a Forester vs RAV4 vs Escape for my next vehicle.
Ironically, weapon storage is a consideration. :lol:
My Honda Uglyment can haul more firearms than all those...heck it probably can haul more than all those combined.
Can be had in AWD.
Has the coolest water-proof/resistant interior yet devised by man.
Hauls four large humans in comfort.
Handles kinda like a pregnant Honda Civic...which is better than most autos.
Downside: NOT the prettiest auto out there. Not Aztek-ugly, but surely was whacked with an ugly stick a time or three.
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My Honda Uglyment can haul more firearms than all those...heck it probably can haul more than all those combined.
It’s not that big.
From the following web sites
http://automobiles.honda.com/element/specifications.aspx (http://automobiles.honda.com/element/specifications.aspx)
http://www.subaru.com/content/downloads/pdf/brochures/2010_forester_specs.pdf (http://www.subaru.com/content/downloads/pdf/brochures/2010_forester_specs.pdf)
http://www.toyota.com/rav4/specs.html (http://www.toyota.com/rav4/specs.html)
http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escape/specifications/capacities/ (http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escape/specifications/capacities/)
I get this list of maximum cargo volumes, in cubic feet:
74.6 Honda Element
73.0 Toyota RAV4
68.3 Subaru Forester
66.3 Ford Excape
Now, I admit I didn’t actually sum the last three to verify they total less than the Element, but I thought I’d leave that for the next poster. Not fair for one poster to do all the work. =)
The Element is boxier, and certainly has much easier access to cargo with the side doors, but it just barely exceeds the RAV4 in cargo volume.
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Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce just called, Wild. You're not helping
I know, middle america arming the leftists with their roaming bilboards ;/
WildasleninsaidwewillsellthemtheropewehangourselveswithAlaska TM
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Subaru makes a nice vehicle. Unfortunately, most Subaru owners should be shot on sight =D
Their rear decks are designed for bumper stickers and only leftie ones stick
I followed another one just the last couple days, the bumper was PLASTERED! I didn't recognize any of them so I have no idea what this particular nut job was trying to promote. No Obama sticker though, unless it was buried under something else. :laugh:
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Why is it when I see a Subaru Outback, there is a obama sticker on it or some other leftist equivalent?
Reminds me of something. In the days following 9-11, I saw a picture in newsweek or time of a couple of Delta Force guys who captured a Taliban Toyota pickup and put an "I love NY" sticker on it.
Wife's pushing me to get a 4 door car now that we have a kid on the way. I may have to come back with one of the pre-owned WRX STI's and put some of these gems on it =D
http://www.shopmetrospy.com/cgi-bin/sc-v4/catprodC.pl?client=shopmetro&catid=4
http://bumperstickers.cafepress.com/conservative
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I don't know how Subaru's got a liberal label.
Think about this:
1. They are heavy for their size = burns more gas
2. All Wheel Drive = burns more gas
3. High ground clearance = redneck/good ol' boy/hillbilly because they all live in the sticks in shantys with mud driveways
4. Good engine, lots of pep = burns more gas
5. High speed = more dangerous, needs to be regulated
6. WRX = dangerous teenage driver who likes to race; should be in school learning how to be tolerant
Non of that equates to the bunny-hugging principles of liberalism. And if that wasn't enough, my wife and I have a Subaru. We are both extreme right wingers since we value liberty and guns.
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I don't know how Subaru's got a liberal label.
Think about this:
1. They are heavy for their size = burns more gas
2. All Wheel Drive = burns more gas
3. High ground clearance = redneck/good ol' boy/hillbilly because they all live in the sticks in shantys with mud driveways
4. Good engine, lots of pep = burns more gas
5. High speed = more dangerous, needs to be regulated
6. WRX = dangerous teenage driver who likes to race; should be in school learning how to be tolerant
Non of that equates to the bunny-hugging principles of liberalism. And if that wasn't enough, my wife and I have a Subaru. We are both extreme right wingers since we value liberty and guns.
As some have mentioned earlier, they have most of the benefits of an SUV without having any of the ecoguilt that comes along with owning one. In other words, it's an easy way for a greenie to be hypocritical without being blatant about it.
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I'm with you, drewtam.
I bought a new MX5 in 2001. What a superb sports car. It didn't have a lot of power, but its 5-speed trans was silky smooth, its handling pushed the limits of the laws of physics, and it was as stiff and nimble at 125 mph as it was at 25.
I did, on occasion, get the "girly car" comments, but every one of those people who got a chance to drive it shut their mouths afterwards. :lol:
Then there were the Mustang drivers who thought that sporty sheet metal + big engine = sports car. Good lord, there are a LOT of those people. :rolleyes: I sometimes tried to explain the difference between a sports car and a muscle car, but it usually went over their heads.
My dad has that car now, as I'm in the minivan and pickup phase of my life, but I will have another one someday.
I won't ramble on, as this is off topic, but I understand. =)
Cool, I got a 2004 mazdaspeed. Its pretty spiffy as my daily driver.
I can fit all 3 of my rifles in the trunk with the a big duffle bag (range bag). Next time you see a miata, it just might have an AK in the trunk.
Google 914/6 sometime. If only a Miata could boogie like that. Wink
It looks like the 914/6 is about on par with an early miata. About the same weight and power. The miata, of course, are newer. The latest models (3rd gen) have gotten heavier (2500lbs) and more powerful (180hp).
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How many dead deer can you pack in the back of Subaru ??
I have carried 3 in back of my 2001 Saab 9-3.