A New Chevy El Camino

[Inor]

Awesome!

Now for the real question;

Does anyone have a Subaru Brat? Haven't seen one of those in years!



HA!

Funny story...

Maybe 15 years ago I was in Denver, CO on a gig. It was mid-June and I was staying right in the heart of downtown Denver, but I did have a rental car... a Subaru something. (I do not remember the model, maybe a Subaru Cyst?)

Anyway, I hated cities even then and just decided one evening to just take a drive into the mountains for supper. I got on some little winding two-lane and got up into the very high mountains. I know I was well above 10,000 feet because there was still snow on the ground. I stopped for supper and called home and did my normal evening routine. Driving back into town I was on some really treacherous small county road coming down the mountain. I ended up riding the brakes for about 10 miles because the road was damn near straight down and winding around the sides of mountains with no guard rails. By the time I got about 2/3rds down, the front brakes were actually smoking. I got about a mile from my hotel and brakes seized up!

The rental company had to send a tow truck to get the Subaru and bring me a new car. Thank God I was traveling almost every week back then or I am sure the rental company would have charged me a fortune to fix their car. As it was, they gave me a free upgrade.

(That was the last time I ever drove a Subaru anything.)

[Piratesailor]

Funny story...

Maybe 15 years ago I was in Denver, CO on a gig. It was mid-June and I was staying right in the heart of downtown Denver, but I did have a rental car... a Subaru something. (I do not remember the model, maybe a Subaru Cyst?)

Anyway, I hated cities even then and just decided one evening to just take a drive into the mountains for supper. I got on some little winding two-lane and got up into the very high mountains. I know I was well above 10,000 feet because there was still snow on the ground. I stopped for supper and called home and did my normal evening routine. Driving back into town I was on some really treacherous small county road coming down the mountain. I ended up riding the brakes for about 10 miles because the road was damn near straight down and winding around the sides of mountains with no guard rails. By the time I got about 2/3rds down, the front brakes were actually smoking. I got about a mile from my hotel and brakes seized up!

The rental company had to send a tow truck to get the Subaru and bring me a new car. Thank God I was traveling almost every week back then or I am sure the rental company would have charged me a fortune to fix their car. As it was, they gave me a free upgrade.

(That was the last time I ever drove a Subaru anything.)

Well.. although I don’t care for Subaru, the brakes seizing up was the drivers fault. Very common for people that aren’t use to steep roads to make.. riding the brakes. I grew up in Colorado and we could always tell the “flatlanders”… but those going down hill that had their brake lights on. I’ve seen a more than a few lose their brakes on the roads.

[Piratesailor]

Subaru Brat… one of my college friends had one. This was late 70’s early 80’s. Seemed like a good car.. emphasis on CAR. He decided to follow us and do some 4wheeling.. we were all in Jeep’s, etc.

Had to tow him back. Don’t remember what he did but he seriously ****ed up the car suspension and transmission.

[Inor]

Well.. although I don’t care for Subaru, the brakes seizing up was the drivers fault. Very common for people that aren’t use to steep roads to make.. riding the brakes. I grew up in Colorado and we could always tell the “flatlanders”… but those going down hill that had their brake lights on. I’ve seen a more than a few lose their brakes on the roads.

Absolutely it was my fault! I make no bones about that. I was just lucky, at the time, I was traveling enough the rental company did not want to lose my other business by charging me to fix their car.

[Piratesailor]

Saw a semi truck lose its breaks on berthod pass. He made the escape ramp but it wasn’t pretty.

[MountainGirl]

Well.. although I don’t care for Subaru, the brakes seizing up was the drivers fault. Very common for people that aren’t use to steep roads to make.. riding the brakes. I grew up in Colorado and we could always tell the “flatlanders”… but those going down hill that had their brake lights on. I’ve seen a more than a few lose their brakes on the roads.

I drive my Subaru Outback in the mountains all the time, no problems at all; automatic side on the flats, shifting side for downhills using the gears to keep her slowed. Only need to brake for jumping deer etc. The awd does great in the snow too; I carry chains but I've never needed to use them.

[stevekozak]

I drive my Subaru Outback in the mountains all the time, no problems at all; automatic side on the flats, shifting side for downhills using the gears to keep her slowed. Only need to brake for jumping deer etc. The awd does great in the snow too; I carry chains but I've never needed to use them.

Don't the automatic Subarus (I don't think the make them with manuals anymore, at least for US consumption) have a CVT transmission?

[MountainGirl]

Don't the automatic Subarus (I don't think the make them with manuals anymore, at least for US consumption) have a CVT transmission?

Yes. On mine, when I start down steep, I slide the shifter from drive over to manual and use the paddle shifters on the steering column.

Attachment 17174

[Prepared One]

Awesome!

Now for the real question;

Does anyone have a Subaru Brat? Haven't seen one of those in years!



HA!

My Dad used to sell Subaru back in the late 70's I think. The Brat was fun as hell to drive. I haven't seen one in years either.

[TJC44]

The Brat was a Subaru that had personality. My experience with Subarus (since wife #1) is that they are devoid of personality. Have you noticed that tree-huggers all drive Subarus? I'm surprised they don't have an electric model yet.