"DCCARGEEK" (dccargeek)
06/19/2014 at 12:00 • Filed to: None
3
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"DCCARGEEK" (dccargeek)
06/19/2014 at 12:00 • Filed to: None | 3
| 17 |
Every night I browse new complaints submitted to NHTSA from vehicle owners. Some are very valid, things like my Ford Escape caught fire, again. Others are more typical like the check engine light is on in my new Ranger Rover and no one knows why. I've been sitting at the dealer for 34 days waiting on my Cobalt to be repaired.
Occasionally I come across a complaint worth sharing. Like the one below from a Subaru owner that reeks of Got-AWD-bro?.
My wife and I used to love this car but......while driving my relatively new 2013 Crosstrek 11,000 miles from Wisconsin to Detroit to attend the winter hockey classic had repeated problems with ghostwalking. (This is my 4th Subaru and my 36th winter driving season so not an inexperience problem.) It was snowing but the roads were clear of thick snow but had a thin greasy sheen. It was difficult to keep a straight line and the rear end felt like it wanted to spin out (the old rear wheel drive feel) especially if the wind blew. Most cars were passing me old new big small . As a Subaru driver I am used to passing others on winter roads and did not like feeling like the little old man everyone was steering around. Thinking the problem was the factory installed tires; we bought new snow tires for $925 at belle tire the morning of the return home. Similar weather (snowy blowing greasy roads). The car handled slightly better. But each time we got up to speeds over 40 mph the car would try to turn abruptly whenever we went under or over an overpass on a straightaway....very nerve racking. Ended up bailing out in a hotel in Toledo until the next morning when the roads were mostly bare and dry. I am very familiar and like the feeling of the AWD kicking in to enhance the traction and control of the car. In this situation it feels like the AWD is kicking in and trying to turn the car anytime there is a slight slick spot. Did check to see if the car would try to drift left or right on a dry flat straightaway (goes straight). I am hoping the problem is related to a rear end alignment issue but disconcerted by my car which feels dangerous when I most need it to be reliable. Very similar complaint descriptions on this website for Outbacks described as ghostwalking.
I do hope that Mr. Subaru, and his wife, are able to tame the ghostwalkers in their Crosstrek so when the next blizzard arrives they can get back to passing people on the freeway screaming "AWD!" while jamming to the latest from Dave Matthews.
yamahog
> DCCARGEEK
06/19/2014 at 12:06 |
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11,000 miles from Wisconsin to Detroit
How many trips did they take??
Nibbles
> DCCARGEEK
06/19/2014 at 12:06 |
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...while driving my relatively new 2013 Crosstrek 11,000 miles from Wisconsin to Detroit...
What the hell route did he take?!
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DCCARGEEK
> Nibbles
06/19/2014 at 12:07 |
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Wheelspin, bro.
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DCCARGEEK
> yamahog
06/19/2014 at 12:07 |
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WI to MI via ANTARCTICA TOUR
Collin
> DCCARGEEK
06/19/2014 at 12:09 |
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Ghostwalkers? He needs to fear the white walkers.
Cajun Ginger
> yamahog
06/19/2014 at 12:13 |
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maybe he headed west to get to Detroit.
spanfucker retire bitch
> yamahog
06/19/2014 at 12:14 |
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Seriously, what the shit?
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> DCCARGEEK
06/19/2014 at 12:16 |
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Maybe the adapted driveline from the Legacy isn't really calibrated to cope in a sane way with snow? I don't know how the current-gen Legacy manages torque, but it sounds like overzealous traction control or lock of the center diff. It may even be that weight distribution is enough different with the Crosstrek that a torque balance that works on the Legacy doesn't work as well elsewhere. He wouldn't see this for non-managed AWD, I don't think.
Regardless, he's being a total ninnyhammer. What he's describing is absolutely characteristic to any 4WD (not AWD) operated in snow. IOW:
not an inexperience problem
Mattbob
> DCCARGEEK
06/19/2014 at 12:24 |
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Sounds like it was just windy, and when there wasn't wind under overpasses it moved.
Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
> Nibbles
06/19/2014 at 12:32 |
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The lake
tromoly
> Nibbles
06/19/2014 at 12:32 |
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And why on his return trip does he go into Ohio?
red014
> DCCARGEEK
06/19/2014 at 12:36 |
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Hehehe... Maybe he misspoke, but full time AWD doesn't have to "kick in"... Some winter driving Subaru expert he is...
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DCCARGEEK
> red014
06/19/2014 at 12:38 |
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When Honda owners Upgrade.
My Other Engine is a Wankel
> Mattbob
06/19/2014 at 12:49 |
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IDK why, but since moving to Michigan I've found it to be very icy under most overpasses here. Well I do know why: no sun and wind funneled under bridges makes ice, but it seems like more of a problem than other cold states. And with some good ice it doesn't matter if you have thirteen wheel drive, if there is a crown or of camber to the road you're going to slide some if you're going too fast. The only thing that would help is studded tires, which are illegal.
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Mattbob
> My Other Engine is a Wankel
06/19/2014 at 12:57 |
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I've lived in Michigan all my life, I guess i'm just used to it, but in that weather, I just treat everywhere as if there could be ice, so I don't really notice under bridges in particular. Also have always driven RWD most of the time, rarely putting it in 4WD so maybe I'm just extra careful.
TwoFortified
> DCCARGEEK
06/19/2014 at 20:03 |
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...when Nissan owners downgrade :)
(The way he described it sounds a lot like ATTESA ETS-Pro)
ilostmypants
> DCCARGEEK
07/02/2014 at 23:30 |
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*places soap box on floor and steps up onto it*
Ahem.
The best part of owning a subaru is passing all the fucker's who bought a more sensible civic, corolla, versa or what have you, as well as passing all those fat rich mofo's in there suv's and crossovers and pickup trucks. winter time is play time, look up "subaru snow" on you tube and it says "About 251,000 results"
and I dont yell "AWD!" I just yell "Subaru!!"
because I haven't found myself in a situation I havent been able to subaru my way out of yet.
*tips hat*