It has been absolutely nuts. Firewood is mostly processed and at a standstill until (if) we get a January thaw. I need to build an internal structure for our new metal shed so the roof doesn’t cave in with our heavy snowpack we get every winter. Christmas shopping isn’t done yet. The Forester has (another) coolant leak. Lots of visiting to do, traveling, relatives coming…wow.
I know it will all work out, but it’s awfully trying in the midst of the process.
Driving the Forester I’ve noticed an appreciable savings in gas for my daily commute. The Ranger got 20mpg average while the Forester is getting 26mpg. Per week I drive 280 miles, consuming 14 gallons of fuel in the truck but only 10.77 gallons in the Forester. At the current rate of $3.40/gallon that equates to a savings of $10.98 per week. That means a total of about $48/month or roughly $575/year. Not bad Subaru, not bad.
It’s not gone yet actually, but the Ranger is for sale. Anyone interested? We’re asking $3,500. It’s in great shape, just the frame is starting to get rusty. We have replaced it with a 2003 Subaru Forester. 2.5L boxer 4cyl engine, 5spd manual transmission, AWD w/limited slip differential…I love it! It can tow 2,400 lbs.
It is weird driving an import though, I’ve only ever owned domestically produced vehicles.
The Turkey Farm’s new website is up and running, hope everyone likes it!
It’s weird driving your college car 5 years after you’ve been out of college. I sold my 2001 Ford ZX2 to my parents a year after I got out of college. I needed a truck and bought a 2000 Ford Ranger. It is now a bit rusty in the frame (to say the least) and is getting welded up (stuck in Rumford for a few days). My folks are letting me borrow one of their cars, and they chose to let me borrow my old ZX2. It’s has more miles, a lot more rust, and is much more worn out than when I sold it to them…but it has been 4.5 years and is a 12 year old car, so that is to be expected. That said, it still drives really well. A lot of times I miss that old car. If it wasn’t for needing a truck I never would have sold it. 30-32mpg on regular gas, 0-60 in 8.0 seconds and as amazing through the corners as it is in the snow. Too bad Ford cancelled it for the Focus. I owned my ZX2 for 4 years in college, I now own a Focus Wagon ZTW and have driven a few others Foci including a sporty 5spd hatch I test drove. I can vouch for it, the ZX2 is a better car. The Focus is a bit more refined, comfortable and spacious. But the ZX2 is the poor man’s economy compact racer. 2,400lbs, 130hp and a 5spd manual transmission. The new Ford Fiesta comes closest in specs, but is 150lbs heavier and has 10hp less at the crank. That doesn’t sound like much, but on a lightweight car with low horsepower, it makes all the difference.
