A glimmer of reason in the automotive world
- Thread starter iveofione
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jaredoconnor
Peabrain Chub
Late to the thread. My wife and I recently bought a new car. The perfect car for us would be a small hybrid minivan, with 8-9in ground clearance and AWD. The closest we could find is the Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s not a minivan, but it’s the smallest 3 row SUV we could find with a third row that is actually usable. It’s basically a brick on wheels. The third row has comparable headroom as any other row.
My parents stayed with us for 3 months and it handled all 4 adults and two large child seats very well. We’re very happy with it.
My parents stayed with us for 3 months and it handled all 4 adults and two large child seats very well. We’re very happy with it.
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Someone Forded the river
The build is finished...being shipped and should arrive early July...@Brute , did you get your Octa yet?
After a lot of seller's remorse, I ended saying WTF and got another Outbound 130. It's a sickness but I remind my wife remind that I barely drink, don't do drugs, cheat, and have never been in a casino...
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That is what a utility vehicle should be shaped like! Squared off to take maximum advantage of the footprint. These so called SUV's with the sloping back and tapered roof make absolutely no sense to me, just a concession to folks that are more obsessed with style than function. There is a good reason why the packages we receive from UPS are not shaped like eggplants or avocados.
Maybe fewer than you'd think. The new body style is a turn off for many outback owners. I can see the market and prices for used, pre '26 outbacks, staying unusually strong.
As long as you don’t have anything in it and need to go up any steep hills on the highway.
In reference to what?
Full of stuff and people an old VW minibus is going max 35 up the grade out of, say, Vantage, and you might have to take a break in the middle so it doesn’t overheat.
Old406Kid
Legend
I had a '69 Bug with a/c...when I turned the a/c on I'd lose several mph on level ground.
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At first I read this as the bug was faster with the motor off, coasting…Georgia Overdrive style…
Seek out one with good bones and improve from there, and they’re absolutely awesome.
I’ve owned five of them (three Westfalias and two Adventurewagens), the high top “Adventurewagen” is the best of the bunch for our northerly wet, cool camping environment. People immediately think windage could be an issue, but surprisingly it’s really no more than the “Westy’s in my experience. Proper sidewall tires and suspension is key with any of these. It’s fully insulated to keep you warm and dry ( no more wet canvas to mildew, and no more noisy flapping in the wind when you’re trying to sleep, and it doesn’t suck in a bunch of cold air when you lift up that poptop). Tons of storage in these too. Furnace, AC, stove and 12 volt fridge = home away from home.
A lot of people put in used Subaru engines for more power. I chose to spend the money on a new, fully crated VW Passat engine for reliability. Plenty of power, and we’ve travelled everywhere in it.
Plus, they’re just plain fun to drive.
Put this in (FAS GenV Volkswagen Jetta/Passat engine). Plenty of power along with dependability… problem solved.
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
MattB has a point about lack of horsepower in the old bus. those pancake air cooled 4's only put out about 80 hp and that was straining them.
theres a movememnt right now to refit old buses that are road worthy with a newer subaru boxer engine for reliability and horsepower. the VW plants in Mexico and Brazil stopped making the pancake 4 long ago. not sure you could even import a used one to rebuild and install.
theres a movememnt right now to refit old buses that are road worthy with a newer subaru boxer engine for reliability and horsepower. the VW plants in Mexico and Brazil stopped making the pancake 4 long ago. not sure you could even import a used one to rebuild and install.
There’s always the Porsche option, too.
I like the VW buses. They just have their limitations, like any vehicle.
son-in-law and daughter's get away is a pop-top 4x4 Westy...loaded with their SUP's and mtn bikes, without the boxer engine transplant it has would likely be one slo mo heading up hill to the mtn destinations they favor.
Initial reports from the usual auto rags is positive on the 2026 Outback with the 260 HP turbo four banger. Looking forward to seeing it, give one a test drive. Wife owned two Outbacks before her current 2020 Forester, I never liked the low seating/visibility in them. Sure are hella nimble in ice and snow however...
Initial reports from the usual auto rags is positive on the 2026 Outback with the 260 HP turbo four banger. Looking forward to seeing it, give one a test drive. Wife owned two Outbacks before her current 2020 Forester, I never liked the low seating/visibility in them. Sure are hella nimble in ice and snow however...
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Old406Kid
Legend
I see where you're coming from...edited.
