RobCatron

so has anyone found a cure? Mine is dead completly and the fuse is fine.

 

- Luminati

Mine just died today. Turned if off and on and it worked for a while, but now, the Radio is on, and the ACC display and buttons are dead, though the temperature seems to blow nice, cold air as normal.

Anyone have an update on this?

Rob Catron

Rob,

 

First thing thanks for aranging this tour. I really apreciate all your hard work on this. I sent you a PM so you can add my name to the list. Is the tour going to be on the 4th or the 18th or on both dates? I'm a bit confused on that.

 

Chuck

I got your PM and you are both down for the 18th. I posted this message just to let everyone know that right now, I have 8 (counting myself) for 3/4, and only 4 for 3/18

Also, you asked about cameras, and they will not be allowed in the plant. In fact, if they are like Honda, they will check your cell phones for cameras as well.

thanks!

Rob

Im still looking into details of work. When do you need a conformation?

There is really no deadline. I think the security sheet that that I have to fax it in 48 hours prior to the tour, but I think a week would be best. I would like to have all signed up by, say the week of the 21st of this month

Rob

Hey Rob....mb I should start another tread for you and I to try and get the March 4th group organized, as it seems only you, I, and Praedet are looking at this one.

Please do. Also, I still do not have anywhere NEAR the names that voted in the poll to go. I would hope others will attend? If not, then there would be no sense at all going on the 18th

tanx

Rob

All of the hotels that are right off I-65 don't have any lounge area's, but there are several restauraunts nearby.

 

Another alternative ..... there is a really nice hotel in W. Lafayette (right over the river, near Purdue University) with a good size lounge/bar in the lobby. The parking is very secure and it is a brand new hotel. Plus... there are several bars right next door (it is near a campus, after all). My wife and I stayed there about 2 months ago on a weekend trip.

 

The address is :

Hilton Garden Inn

356 E State St

West Lafayette, IN 47906

USA

 

http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=LAFWLGI

Rates are around $110, but it is a very nice hotel. If you can give me a count of rooms, I'll even check with them about a group discount.

 

The only downside to this hotel is that is it a few minutes (~10) off the Interstate.

 

Does this sound do-able?

 

 

Praedet, you following me out on Thursday night? I am going over from Columbus, OH....

So.... a few questions....

 

1.) My wife and I will be getting in the evening of the 3rd and getting a hotel room. Is everyone booking in the same hotel, or are we just doing our own thing?

 

2.) For the 4th.... would you all like to get together early (~7 AM) to have breakfast together as kind of a meet and greet? I thought it might be nice. S.R. 26 is one exit north of the plant and has numerous restaurants available.

 

3.) I understand that the tour will begin at 9 AM at the plant. Has the meeting location been firmed up yet? If we do #2 above, I thought it would be nice for us to all caravan the cars over to the plant...

 

Let me know!

Steve

Sounds like a great plan. I will be coming up on the 3rd as well. Breakfast sounds nice, and the caravan as well. I am pretty certain that we will start off in the training facility, but I'll let everyone know for sure soon.

Let me know what you think about hotels, and I'll stay at the same one, for sure. We just need to get them booked pretty quickly.

It would be nice to get a hotel that has a lounge of some sort so everyone can unwind a bit Thursday night.

Rob

Just sent you a PM..... two more ppl.... =)

We can go either day... but prefer the 4th....

 

Steve

Just an update for all -- I was told by Mike, my contact today that they are going to pull one of the Tribecas into the lobby for us to check out on both days. Get to "kick the tires" so-to-speak.

Also, we are planning on starting 9:00 AM EST in the Training center to see the displays, then onto the Tribeca, then onto the tour. Should be fun stuff (especially to get to meet everyone).

By the way, don't make the same mistake that I made when I went to the SAAB kick-off meeting last month -- LaFayette is one of the areas in Indiana where their time never changes, so they are actually EST now until EST "Springs Forward" in the Spring.

I was late for a morning meeting with SQA, missed lunch, and was generally rushed for the meeting because I did not realize that

Live and learn....

Rob

So far I only have 7 total people that have PM'd me their names and dates. I have 5 on the 4th and 2 on the 18th. If we don't get anymore people than this, then there is definately no sense in going both days

Rob

Well the 'both days' idea came with this rationale: I mostly want to see the plant (assuming we'll be near the line and not just in a room watching a video). Isn't there enough car show, gathering, chatting stuff at home? Why should someone miss out if they have a date conflict? Seems easier for the tour guide to manage a two small groups. Whatever, just some rationale.

Also, it would be neat to go to the Training facility where they have the first Legacy built at SIA (boy were THEY ugly!) and a really neat OB XT that is cut down the middle for a cross section view. You guys would like that. It is precision cut down the middle, the entire lenght of the car from stem to stern. Neat looking at the engine, especially.

The tour will start at 9:00 AM EST by the way on both days. I still need names and dates from those of you that have not PM's me yet. Thanks to those who did already.

Rob

Won't both days kind of ruin the "gathering" aspect of it? After all, the coolest part is really a group of cars in one place, not just the plant...

True, more discussion, please!

Rob

PM sent! With important question, can kids come with their parents?

Children under 12 are prohibited. Sorry

Ok, I received all of the forms this morning. I need to have everyone's full name and date of attending for security clearance.

No sense clogging up this thread, so please PM me

I have to go on a Business Trip and won't be back until Friday, so by next Monday or so, I'd like to have my forms completed and submitted.

thanks, this is going to be fun (mainly meeting everyone, I think)

Rob

When is the absolute latest no backout date?

I am not 100% sure on what you mean.

If you are asking how long you have to make up your mind whether you are in or not, I would like to at least give them a couple of weeks prior to the tour date to add your name, out of courtesy.

My goal is just to give everyone a lot of time to make plans (both us and SIA).

Rob

If these are real numbers, could we schedule both dates? Does SOA have a preference for group size? My wife is a semi-gearhead and would tag along on 3/4.

Can I use the poll counts for my head count for both dates?

Please ring in to confirm your name and date that you will be attending. I will ONLY be going one date (I'll go the first date), but I do not think that would be any big deal.

Thanks alot, this will be fun.

Rob

Looks like the tables have turned -- the 18th is in the lead. Either day is fine with me

Rob

What is the closest major airport to Lafayette? With Jet service, I don't do the commuter plane thing!

Surely Indy has jet service. LaFayette is only maybe 45 minutes north of Indy

Rob

My plans were to set our date following this weekend. It is still very close. I will go by whatever the results are by before I go to work on Tuesday. I am going to let SIA know then.

I would like a rough headcount by then as well right now there are 12 for 3/4 I think. I am curious if the people on the "losing" date will still come on the "winning" date. If so, that almost doubles that number.

thanks,

Rob

For those of us who work for Subaru suppliers, is there a way for us to get a "special" tour that maybe might show more??

Not really unless you are in the sales / marketing / customer Service areas at your plant and know people inside SIA.

I know about 5 people, with three of which I correspond with almost weekly (especially model launch times!)

Rob

Let's do the 4th. Keep us posted re: times, cost...

 

Steve-

There would be no cost involved, other than your transportation to Lafayette and a hotel if needed (for the night prior or after). I myself will go up Thursday after work, no matter if it is the 4th or the 18th and stay all night in LaFayette. Once the date is firmed up, I will get an agenda with start time

thanks,

Rob

So far we are pretty close on dates, though March 4th has the edge. Remember, we have 6 more days. I want to let my contact know a week from today, so I am going to call the poll quits on 1/31

Our next question needs to be: if the 4th is the date, will the people that voted for the 18th be out? Or will the be able to come? I will need to get a total head count. So please be thinking about that.

thanks,

Rob

4th please

Rob

Ok, well, now that the Tribeca is out of wraps, I am going to initiate the tour of SIA again. I was up this past Tuesday, and they are out in the open, and things have quieted down a bit.

I would like to gage interest again. I got very fast response from my contact this time, so I do not think that would be a problem this time.

The ramp up for the Tribeca is mid March. I think most people on this board, though they would want to see the Tribeca (which we will), would be more interested in seeing the Legacy / Outback line, so I don't think we would necessarliy have to wait until March.

But still, February would be to short of notice, so I would like to propose two dates. Fridays won out the last time on the Monday or Friday poll, so I would like to suggest Friday, March 4, or Friday, March 18.

Please choose in the poll above. Let's run this through Monday, January 31st to get two weekends in for everyone to respond.

Let's do it this time!

Rob

Rob, how have your dealings with Oldhams been? I live in eastern KY so Oldhams is the main dealer we go to, and almost every time we've been there they've been complete a**holes with us. We went to look at a WRX a little while ago and, rather than let us test drive it, they kept us inside for about a half hour trying to get us to purchase while we kept telling them we WERE NOT READY TO PURCHASE at the time, and when they finally understood it they just literally walked out and left us sitting in the office to let ourselves out. We'll probably be getting a LGT here pretty soon and I'm thinkin that when the time comes it'll be either Huffman or Bachman in Louisville.

Although we've had a lot of bad experiences with Oldham's, they did let me test drive an STi and a 5sp LGT sedan in one day on another visit, so I can't complain too bad.

 

Sorry to get so bad off topic, I'm just surprised to see another KY person here.

Nice to see a fellow Kentuckian!

I just sent you a PM, so we can talk more about your experience. Oldham's has been top notch to me, and they really move the cars.

Rob

I was at Oldham's Subaru in Lexington, KY helping a friend with buying a new Legacy, and noticed that all 5 of the GT's (two silver, one black, and one garnet red -- all Limiteds) on the lot had the Chrome Finish Rocker Panels and spoilers on them.

Does this seem to be the norm? These were all installed at the factory.

I have to say that I was not too impressed with either option. I think the spoiler messes with the clean lines, and I just don't know what to think of that chrome strip down the side.

My buddy and his wife is looking at a black GT Limited with the beige interior, and I have to say that is a nice color combination. Not as sporty as my Garnet with Black interior, but I would say more airy and luxurious looking.

Also, I think 4 of them had the homelink mirror on them. These three items, plus the subwoofer and floor mats pushed the sticker over $31K!

By the way, if anyone is interested, they are selling them at $100 below invoice now. Not sure for how long, though.

Rob