Why All The Subarus?

[wiiawiwb]

I've never had a Forester or Outback but have had three 4Runners. I think in a SHTF scenario, the 4Runner would be my choice over any Subaru.

Having said that, in winter if you put Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 on either Subaru, with x-drive, there's not much that's going to stop you.

I'm looking at Subaru come Spring.

[ScAtTeRbOnE]

Originally Posted by Justin

Can't resist sharing this photo of a mid 80's Subaru, trapped and abandoned in a spot where it probably never should have been, along Buttermilk Road Extension.

I'm not a big "off-roader" but I remember seeing this when my brother convinced me to take my Jeep as far as we could go in there a few years ago, needless to say this was the end of the line! Had to back out as there were boulders blocking the narrow road there. As noted above I now believe this is far beyond where the state would approve access. The road was rough then, I don't know how it is now, but even this year I saw "no-clearance" cars go past Buttermilk Falls PA.

PS: My brother (A Jeep fanatic) and his wife just bought a new Subaru, just shows what marriage can do to you. They really like it, they even let me drive it and it seemed fine to me, although the dash looked like a Star Wars X-wing instrument panel. Right now I'm looking for a used Jeep or maybe even a Subaru, if anyone has one let me know!

[yellowcanoe]

We've had a fair bit of snow the last week. 40 inches.

Yesterday it was only a foot. The roads were plowed once. ( no salt and sand, just plowed. ) We do not have a lot of traffic in the backroads of the foothills of the Whites.

So the Forester was called on to negotiate up and down hills ( about four in the 800 foot/ mile ascent category). Plus a few farm areas with about 12 inch drifts.

It was a blast and we only slid once in 70 miles.. Snowbank pinball ( the banks are nice and high and if you glance off, soft enough you dont dent the car)

We try not to take it off road. The Forester is not meant for that. though we do drive it on the lake in the winter. Its a 2009 so its a little bigger than the older models.

[ADKpondhopper]

While snowblowing the driveway to our camp I saw what appeared to be a touring club of Subies from all different states heading north on route 30 outside of Speculator. There were at least twenty cars and some looked pretty tricked out with various accessories. And when heading home the next day we passed another group near Northville. Has anyone else seen or heard of these clubs touring through the Adirondacks?

[fintastic]

Bought my first Subaru this Spring. Nice vehicle so far. Had to find a replacement for the. "03 Grand Cherokee with 298K miles

[rickhart]

Me too. My 2009 Honda Fit was totalled several months ago (by a kid who was texting), and I used the insurance $$ to buy a Forester. I've been so frustrated, esp. since starting to paddle 7 years ago, by the number of access points requiring higher clearance than the Fit (which is a great car, overall) -- especially in Maine, but other states too. Haven't had a chance to do a remote trip yet, but my options are much wider now. I like the Forester a lot, except the lower mileage.

[Klinkhamer]

Only time I ever got stuck. Damn beavers flooded a trail I was trying to get through near the Ausable and it sank past the axles. On my fifth Subaru now after I convinced my wife to get one too.

[richard1726]

Mine lasted to 314,000 miles, still running fine but rusted to the point of not being able to register it in another state, PA. 2000 Outback Limited, (it had the most airbags at the time.) Told the people at CARS FOR KIDS where it was parked on the dockyard area of Baltimore - keys and signed over title under the passenger floor mat, doors unlocked. Two week later I received acknowledgment and thank you from them! (My son used the Subaru to drive one way to the docks to pick up his car that had been shipped from over seas.)

[fintastic]

Back Atcha Folks! Thinking about purchasing a Starlink account...

Curious to know what people's thoughts are about the functionality/reliability of the Starlink system within the Adirondack Park? Is it on-demand reliable, even in remote roadway areas (based on YOUR proven experiences)?

Online blog posts seem to indicate Starlink communications are 4g LTE based (AT&T network), while others instead suggest Starlink is satellite supported.
I do realize nothing on earth is "fail proof", however, from a peace of mind standpoint, I like the idea of having access to a satellite based comm. system in the event that a comm. need would arise in a location where cellular coverage is scant/weak; perhaps a satellite would have a better chance punching a signal through into a deep valley, where cellular is insufficient.

The economy of cost for the system is debatable. What is too much $$ for some may seem like a peace-of-mind bargain for others. Not here to debate the economics, since paying even just $1 for it would be a waste if it is not spot-on reliable.

[dockless]

I'll simply address the question of reliability between Sirius XM and cellphone.

I find cellphone - Verizon - to be unreliable in the Adirondacks.

I have been using XM radio for more than a decade all over the Adirondacks and Allagany National Forrest and find it the be quite reliable. Occasionally I lose a signal due to driving close to a mountain side while listening to a ball game (still follow St Louis so I need XM) due to the mountain blocking the signal .... like being in a tunnel..... blocks the signal.

I also have noticed an inability to pick up a signal parked under a large tree, especially during heavy rain... I think the wet leaves block the signal.
I've also noticed a difference in the strength of the signal when I go to park the car at a campground. It can change from poor to good in a few yard distance. Again I think it's the trees......

So it's probably an issue of whether Starlink is SirusXM based regarding the signal.

Others will need to help you regarding it's value during an accident. I'd drop by a hospital or police station and talk to them......

Let us know..... I'm also interested in something like that and will probably just buy it if I can afford it...... better than nothing or not having it I'd expect.

Wish you'd have started a new thread regarding the issue.....

[mmcmdl]

Originally Posted by fintastic

Just returned to my home state from my second Adirondack trip in the last four weeks. Peculiar question, maybe, but why the preponderance of Subaru Outbacks/Foresters on the Adirondack roads? Many with the paddle-powered vehicle of choice lashed to the roof racks, of course. Is there some sort of transportation cult I should be aware of? I have heard some Subarus have that "can run forever" reputation ( I have never owned one myself), but jeeeeese, what is in the water people are drinking?!?!

50% of the vehicles I see from I 81 88 205 and 167 are Subaru Outbacks . We started noticing this a few years back . I figure they run good and the all wheel drive helped in the winter .

[Lucky13]

When my wife was in the market a few years ago, I researched and talked to some mechanic friends, and she bought a Forester. Price was right, and it has held up like a champ. The all wheel is also a game changer living in upstate New York, with our half year lake effect weather. Just a really well designed and made car, when my truck starts giving up the ghost, I'll be looking at one, too.

[Wldrns]

I'm on my 4th Subaru. it was a huge move up from my old front wheel chevy sedan. With the old car I had to get up to a specific speed with a 90 degree turn to get up my curved driveway hill. Too fast and I end up in the snowbank on the lawn on the curve, too slow and I am stopped and sliding half way up. My Subarus always simply crawled up at slow speed. Never purchased nor had any need for Starlink.

A couple of years ago I drove mu fully loaded Forester with a C4 canoe on top to Dawson City YT and back to NY. Then a week later I drove loaded to San Antonio and back. No mechanical problems on either trip other than needing new tires after the dug up rough gouged surface pavement on the ALCAN.

I had always noticed that my Tracfone flip using Verizon worked better than my wife's using AT&T almost everywhere the Adirondacks.

My SiriusXM has frequent annoying drop outs, unexplainable especially when it often occurs in flatland with no trees, buildings or hills anywhere nearby.

By the way, I purchased each of my Subarus through their VIP program. If you belong to any one of several outdoor related organizations (LNT for one) you get a no haggle no questions asked price of 2% below invoice. The same discount price that their own employees get.

[rickhart]

Actually it's the logo. Who wants stuff like stylized bull's horns, fancy "H"s, and so on, when you can have an elegant constellation of stars?

[MaximusFunk24]

My motivation was the winter performance combined with better gas mileage than an SUV. 2nd winter with it and as an avid xc skier, I could never go back to FWD year round. I can now get into parking areas or down un-plowed dirt roads with confidence. I have a wagon with lower clearance, so the only problem I ever run into is an ice hump hiding underneath a snowbank, but I keep a sledge and shovel in the back for those.