SVX Network Forums Live Chat! SVX or Subaru Links Old Lockers Photo Post How-To Documents Message Archive SVX Shop Search |
IRC users: |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
How I spent my winter vacation.
The stats:
10 days. 8 states. Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa. 3,583 miles. (If you don't count the approximately 150 miles we put on the Windstar ) I haven't worked out gas mileage yet, but it's typically around 26 mpg, and I don't expect that to be far off. Sightings: Hundreds (literally) of Outbacks, 3 (nice) XT6's, at least 4 (rusty) Brats, and 0 (zero) SVX's. Mike's (eclique) SVX was having problems when we went through Denver, and we couldn't hook up. The story: Friday night. 1 low beam was out. Aaaack! Trip to Auto Zone where I put in new 65W Super-whites at 25 bucks each. (I really like 'em.) We left on Saturday morning, the 8th, at around 5a. and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It started turning shortly after entering Kansas and we had about three inches of snow by the time we stopped at the Greyhound (dog) museum in Abilene. It steadily got worse after that - blizzard conditions - at times we could'nt see past the wipers. Interstate 70 was closed at Hayes, so that's where we napped. The SVX looked gross! The blizzard consisted as much of blowing dust as snow. Called eclique at about 100 miles to Denver, but he was having problems with his SVX. A new harmonic balancer was acting rather unbalanced. Washed the car at a car wash in a small mountain village before heading up the hill. It started (wet) snowing again. By the time we got to Steamboat my effort was completely wasted. We are so blessed! (I mean that) Getting the gear out of the car after skiing all day Monday, I noticed that the car appeared to be "bleeding". A red trail went from the center of the car, all the way up to the road. If the lot hadn't been snow-covered, I would not have noticed. Frantic calls to various tow companies and repair shops ensued. Timberline towing would be out in the morning to take the car to (Sean) Doran's shop (who did work for the local Subaru dealer - which didn't have a repair shop) for $75 plus $1.50/mi. Okay, cool. But it seemed nobody in town had a rental. Finally, we located a '96 Windstar at the last place in the book - Economy rental - which also happened to be Grama's Towing. "Let's make a deal", he said. "Since you're renting my van, I'll tow you for $45 bucks." Yeah, I had to think real hard about that one. When I talked to Sean I told him I thought it was only a seal. "Fer-r-r yer-r-r sake, I sher-r-r hope nawt", he said. "Ulp", I thought. Tuesday we called. "Well, ther-r-r-rs good news and bad news." The good news was that it was a rear seal (better than the front). The bad news was that nobody had one outside of Denver. The cost? He figger-r-red at least $150, $200 top. We went skiing. Wednesday - no seal (nice snow on the mountain though). We went skiing. Thursday we were scheduled to leave for Salt Lake City. No seal. We went to Cook Chevrolet/Subaru who had ordered the seal. They called Denver. Oh, by golly. It was at Cook Chevrolet/Subaru - in Craig, Colorado, forty miles away. They didn't have a free driver so we volunteered. It started snowing - hard. Actually, the Windstar wasn't that bad, unless you have a history of bad-weather driving in a SVX. We delivered the part in about an hour and a half. Sean started to work immediately, and we went to a book store (the best place in the world to keep your mind off something important and beat tension). Sean Doran, who bought his Snap-on Tools in Ireland, and moved them to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, is now my very best friend. Less than two hours from delivering the seal to him, he called to say the job was done. The cost, $112.00. We were elated, and on the road by 4:00p. The rest of the trip was uneventful - if you can call the most beautiful drive that I've ever done uneventful. (Route 89 from Bear Lake, Idaho to Logan, Utah. - I'll have pictures later, when I download them.) Subaru performed elegantly the whole trip. We are blessed indeed.
__________________
Steve '95 Polo Green SVX L AWD, 188K - "Kermit" (Gone, but not forgotten) '02 Outback LLBean, 56K '02 Black Sapphire Volvo V40, 133K - "Shadowfax" '06 Triumph Tiger, 19K '99 Suzuki DR350SE, 8.5K - "Geezer Killer" <*}}}}>< ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ><{{{{*> |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Uhhmmm..The Greyhound Dog Museum?? There's a museum for fast hound dawgs?? Is a lot of taxidermy involved? I mean.... oh, never mind.
Glad you enjoyed the trip. (And on the right, folks, you'll see the St. Bernard Memorial Library). Ron (woof)
__________________
Good s**t happened. 69 was worth the wait. '92 stock semi-pristine ebony - 160K '96 Grand Caravan - 240K '01 Miata SE - 79K '07 Chrysler Pacifica - 60k - future money pit. |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Gee, Hayes isn't all that far from Russel, you could have stopped to see Bob and Elizabeth. Maybe they would have given you a private tour of the E.D. museum.
Beav |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Yesterday, we met a lady at a rest stop in Missouri (driving a new Outback - plates: GREYHND) who had one in the car with her and four more at home. We (plates on the wagon: QUIK K 99) only have two.
__________________
Steve '95 Polo Green SVX L AWD, 188K - "Kermit" (Gone, but not forgotten) '02 Outback LLBean, 56K '02 Black Sapphire Volvo V40, 133K - "Shadowfax" '06 Triumph Tiger, 19K '99 Suzuki DR350SE, 8.5K - "Geezer Killer" <*}}}}>< ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ><{{{{*> |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Steve '95 Polo Green SVX L AWD, 188K - "Kermit" (Gone, but not forgotten) '02 Outback LLBean, 56K '02 Black Sapphire Volvo V40, 133K - "Shadowfax" '06 Triumph Tiger, 19K '99 Suzuki DR350SE, 8.5K - "Geezer Killer" <*}}}}>< ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ><{{{{*> |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Beav |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Re: How I spent my winter vacation.
Quote:
DAY 15! NO CALLS FROM THE TRANNY SHOP!
__________________
Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Re: How I spent my winter vacation.
Quote:
Take heart, things are never so bad, they could not worsen! I spent day one of my vacation, a wet, windy, wintry unlikeable yesterday, waist deep in muck and sheesh with an excavator in my back garden getting my sewer tank to work. And meantime, my tranny shop has not called to have my car in to repair the two gears I am missing. Also, by the way, I have still got the growling from the rear bearing. This has been with the car since I got it exactly a year ago this month. It has not worsened, so I drive with it, but I hope to replace that soon, when car gets its major service. I only mention the bearing to you, because my experience of SVX ownership has shown that the car and its components are as tough as old boots. Perforce, I had to drive in 3rd gear for 9 months, the car did it, no complaints. Currently it is driving OK with two gears working. And it has covered 20K miles on a noisy bearing. Perhaps we are reacting to every little fault like perfectionists, when the car would take more abuse than we expect. Try it! You may get some psychological satisfaction for all the damn money the cars cost to fix. No pain, no gain!! Joe Hope you get sorted soon, I know what you are feeling.
__________________
Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic 40,000 miles Jersey Girl |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Re: Re: How I spent my winter vacation.
Quote:
I'm tired of it and absolutely refuse to let them continue to trip over themselves trying to get things sorted out. I WILL NOT let the car sit for 24 days for a second time. I'll drive it 'til the tranny begins to toast, then, I'll take some vacation time and drive to the nearest Suby dealer recommended by members here (Beav, can you recommend Louisville? Bill, can you check on a Suby Reman at Duff and get a price? A fellow in SC had me a price of 2100.00 at one time and was gonna put me up -- but, he went away and I haven't heard from him since. -- see what I mean?) and point my car in that direction and hope the sucker holds 'til I get there. After all, it's only . . . credit!
__________________
Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Re: Re: Re: How I spent my winter vacation.
Quote:
I'll have the boss check into rebuilts over the next day or so and put together some prices. Beav Last edited by Beav; 02-20-2002 at 04:39 PM. |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Sure, will do.
__________________
bill Green 95 SVX - Cleo Green 97 Outback - Maxine Red F-150 Extended Cab Long Bed - Big Boy Even the best monkey sometimes drops his banana. |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks Beav, I appreciate that. I HOPE I won't need it, but, just in case, I want a back-up plan. I know it doesn't take 15 plus days to install a reman. Sheesh. Plus, for what I'm going to end up paying for the rental car, I'll be half way to a freakin' reman anyway --- AAARRRGGGHHHH! Am I hiding the fact that I'm frustrated?
__________________
Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI Last edited by Aredubjay; 02-25-2002 at 08:53 AM. |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
I just figured the gas mileage for the trip.
3,583 miles/134.122 gallons=26.71 mpg Considering the high speed (pretty much 85mph west of Missouri) and the bad weather in Kansas/Colorado, you might say I'm pleased. Of course, most of the city driving was put on the Windstar .
__________________
Steve '95 Polo Green SVX L AWD, 188K - "Kermit" (Gone, but not forgotten) '02 Outback LLBean, 56K '02 Black Sapphire Volvo V40, 133K - "Shadowfax" '06 Triumph Tiger, 19K '99 Suzuki DR350SE, 8.5K - "Geezer Killer" <*}}}}>< ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ><{{{{*> |
|
|