My new Subaru

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:50 am

Been in Austin for just over two weeks now, and finally found a good cheap subaru. Originally I was just going to buy a brand new forester xt, but after seeing how cheap houses are we decided to buy a house before we buy anything else big.

Ended up getting a Maroon '93 Legacy sedan with 177,000 Miles on the clock. Everything seems to work well, aircon is nice and cold ( a must for texas! ). Paid $2,150 for it including state taxes and 12 months registration.

Now for the really crazy bit, the seatbelts are automatic!! Apparently here car manufacturers were required to provide 'passive safety' ... i.e. stuff that will save the lives of American's too stupid to wear a seatbelt. The should strap is on a track that moves the top of it from above the shoulder, to above the front of the doorframe when you turn the ignition off. The lap strap still needs to be bucked in though.

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:07 am

sweet as pual, btw you need to change your sig now you own 2 subies now!!

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:39 am

Ive seen seatbelts like than in a photo of an L series, but i couldnt work out how they worked

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:57 am

Now with a member in Texas it is time to prove a rumour correct. It has been said that if in Texas state you disobey a roadwork speed limit sign you are likely to be caught and end up in prison - no ifs or buts ! Watch YOUR speed over there and keep an eye out for offenders

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:43 am

I've seen the seatbelt thing in left hand drive SVX here in australia. I thought it was weird bec i've never seen anything like that.
Goodluck over the US.
What are the interest rates there?
Cheers
AP

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:03 pm

lol nice, I've seen that seatbelt thing too but only in movies! Put some pics up when u get a chance

By the way, is that dollar figure in $AUD?

Albert · Post by **Albert** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:41 pm

stinky wrote:Paid $2,150 for it

Sounds like a good deal.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Fri May 01, 2009 7:21 am

It appears to have a coolant leak, haven't tracked it down yet, but I'm pretty sure it's just a hose or something and not more sinister.

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Fri May 01, 2009 12:11 pm

must be time for sum pics?

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:18 am

haha yeah its time for some pics, i was going to wash it first as its dusty, but I might sneak down and take some shortly anyways.

Good news on the coolant leak, it was simply a matter of it being low when I got it, and then the bumbling mechanic I took it to and asked for a oil,filters change and a radiator flush forgot that you need to fill the radiator after emptying it. a gallon and a bit of fluid later and I'm sweet, albiet a bit pissed at my first experience with an american mechanic.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:21 am

photos in original post!

Post by **Alex** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:45 am

looks very nice! why cant they release subis with interiors like that over here! that cream leather looks nice!

alex

Fabes · Post by **Fabes** » Mon May 04, 2009 3:19 pm

steptoe wrote:Now with a member in Texas it is time to prove a rumour correct. It has been said that if in Texas state you disobey a roadwork speed limit sign you are likely to be caught and end up in prison - no ifs or buts ! Watch YOUR speed over there and keep an eye out for offenders

I can stand testimony to this. I lived in Huston Texas for two months before moving to California. I had just purchased a white five year old Ford Escort with extremely dark tinting and tookit it out for a spin on a Friday Night and was pulled over by the Highway Patrol and was greated with a flash light closely followed by a 9mm pistol, all this because my registration sticker was out of date. Explained to the Officers that I had just purchased the car that day. I am not sure if they appologised or not, let me of with a warning...

Got to love the Highway Patrol.

Thalass · Post by **Thalass** » Thu May 14, 2009 1:02 am

I've been told you never, ever, do anything they don't tell you to when they pull you over in america. Don't switch the car off if they don't tell you to, don't open the door and get out or you'll be shot, etc.

It's craziness. Of course my only personal experience with american police is COPS. :P

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:46 am

haha I don't think it's that bad. But you definately want to do exactly what they tell you, and if you have a gun in the car ( perfectly legal! ) it's always best to tell them straight up.

They actually stand so they're just behind the pillar and flashlight you. This makes them a very difficult target to attack and plenty of reaction time if you do something dumb.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Thu May 14, 2009 9:11 am

now thats the definition of ugly towbar right there!!

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Thu May 14, 2009 9:20 am

haha yeah it looks terrible doesn't it. Haven't had a good look to see if it's properly attached or not, as it's surely not a factory fitting!

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Thu May 14, 2009 4:29 pm

vincentvega wrote:now thats the definition of ugly towbar right there!!

just what i was thinking, but i think the interior makes up for it!!