Day 1 in Colorado: Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678) 05/26/2019 at 19:51 • Filed to: None

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Had a great day enjoying some sunshine and driving in Colorado. Checked out Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs in the morning followed up by a drive up Pikes Peak since it was in the neighborhood. Initial impressions of the ST is that it’s loud an bumpy, even compared to my STi. This car has about 57k miles on it and everything rattles. I mean my Subaru is an acceptable level of NVH but this is really another level. I don’t mind it because it’s truly a fun car but it’s still certainly notable. It is definitely quick enough on back roads and the Recaros are special. More thoughts to come as I drive it a little more.

Pikes peak off in the distance

On top of the world at 14,000 feet

With those darker clouds rolling in, it slowly started sprinkling on the way back to Denver which eventually turned into heavier rain, even darker clouds, some wild orange looking sky, and eventually hail!

Thankfully there was some room under the carport and we got home soon enough so there was no damage to be had. The hail also soon stopped and didn't get beyond pea sized so I guess it could have been worse. Heard car alarms going off so there had to have been some bigger chunks. Hopefully no more hail on this trip, don't wanna deal with an insurance claim on a turo rental! 

smobgirl > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/26/2019 at 20:06

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Hope you’re safe. We’re getting some pretty scary warnings for large hail and possible tornadoes. 

MM54 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/26/2019 at 20:12

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In a few weeks some friends and I will be spending a few days in this part of Colorado, looks like a cool area.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/26/2019 at 20:33

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Welcome to fine Mexican engineering (no offense TAE)

fhrblig > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/26/2019 at 20:42

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Glad you didn’t run into any hail! We got a little bit of small hail out our way, but it was pretty soft.

If you're going to still be in the Springs tomorrow, I recommend stopping by BJ's Velvet Freeze on Palmer Park and Union for some ice cream.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > fhrblig 05/26/2019 at 20:53

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Will just be in the Denver area the rest of the trip! But we will certainly be looking for ice cream at some point anyways. There definitely was some hail smacking off the roof/windshield the last minute or so of driving but thankfully it wasn't too bad. 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 05/26/2019 at 20:55

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Worse - it’s Mexican assembly of Am erican interpretations of British engineering.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/26/2019 at 20:56

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Lol, yeah

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/26/2019 at 20:58

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Not the least bit surprised you noticed the rattles. Give the UAW as much crap as you want, the FoST is noticeably quieter on the inside after the 2015 refresh and it is much nicer on the highway. Glad you got home safe and sound before the hail though. I had to drive my then girlfriend to the hospital in a hail/ice storm on summer tires. We almos t both ended up in the hospital...

Does that FiST have all seasons or summers?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/26/2019 at 22:47

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I’d be curious on a comparo of the ST vs the WRX and Miata.  Two cars I consider for a replacement/supplement to the ST

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 05/26/2019 at 23:28

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It’s interesting because I think the ST is someplace in between the two but hatchback practicality adds in an extra factor. I definitely don't find it to be anywhere near as quick as my STi but it's definitely not Miata slow either. I haven't really pushed the handling but it definitely corners well and not really sure where to place it yet. Interior is the most disappointing part probably. When I'm pretty happy with fit/finish in a Subaru in comparison, it's probably a bad sign for the Ford lol. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/26/2019 at 23:30

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Yeah, the fit and finish is terrible. And it is slow(ish) but I think the handling is pretty nice! I've not had the opportunity to drive a WRX but I'd like to some day

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/26/2019 at 23:32

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I'm pretty sure it's on all seasons but I didn't actually look, I'll have to check that. It's not THAT bad at rattling, I think there's just a couple of specific things that are likely solvable. The road noise and wind noise however probably aren't fixable. I don't mind that stuff usually but I could see how people could be bothered by it. I think I'd like the FoST a lot more, I've always guessed that but I need to drive one now that I've finally driven this one. 

MattHurting > MM54 05/28/2019 at 13:32

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Usually Garden of the Gods is packed on the weekends, so consider Red Rock Canyon Open Space. It’s basically the same formation, just not as popular (still popular, but it’s relative). It’s also the same formation that is Roxborough Park and Red Rocks Ampitheatre just west of Denver.

MM54 > MattHurting 05/28/2019 at 17:26

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Cool, thanks! I think we’re looking at a thursday for garden of the gods, so it shouldn’t be too packed but I’ll keep red rock canyon in mind as well!

MattHurting > MM54 05/29/2019 at 10:34

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Also worth mentioning is a visit to the Air Force Academy chapel. It is a stunning piece of architecture.