by Aaron Richardson (RSS feed) on Apr 28th 2011 at 5:58PM

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Keeping YOU in the Loop April 29, 2011
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This special individual will be honored during the USA Cycling Professional Championships weekend (May 27 -30). We will choose a local cancer survivor, patient, caregiver, or advocate who has played a crucial role in developing breakthrough medicines from among your nominations. This individual will be someone who is making a difference within the community and inspiring others.
Breakaway from Cancer Champions will be granted special access to the VIP Areas of the 2011 USA Cycling Professional Championships, and be recognized on stage at the Stars and Stripes Challenge presented by Amgen. See more information at www.p3ride.org under "About P3". On the left side of the web page Click on Breakaway from Cancer Champion. |
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Beginners: 10 Mile Option
Beginners and recreational riders may choose between two 10 mile options. Ride the first five miles of the road route (which does have a climb) OR ride the Swamp Rabbit Trail from Travelers Rest to Furman and back. This second option will include a beautiful swing through Furman's Campus. Bring the family and ride the trail. What a great way to start the morning! |
Fairway Subaru: Bike Giveaways
Four bicycles will be
given away to registered riders courtesy of Fairway Subaru over the next four
weeks.
This week's bicycle drawing opportunity:
Pedal
Chic located on Main Street in Downtown Greenville on Tuesday evening, May 3rd
at a mix and mingle from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. Drop by and enter for YOUR
opportunity to win. Recruit your friends and co-workers to join you for a
healthy ride to benefit cancer reserach and
advocacy.
Thanks, Fairway Subaru for your continued support of the
Stars
and Stripes Challenge Presented by Amgen.
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Subaru originally launched the Forester back in the late 1990s. That vehicle
had the look of a station wagon with an oversized and out-of-proportion
"greenhouse," that is, the roof and windows. As out-of-kilter as that original
Forester looked, its performance made me a believer in Subaru's all-wheel-drive
system.
It was a summer-without-rain that had led to bans on outside
watering and car-washing all over New England. The dry spell finally broke early
on a Friday night. And it wasn't with a shower. Instead violent thunderstorms
hit the area, creating what one a friend calls "Southern ice," ? roads turned
into a skid pad by the accumulated grease, oil, and dirt. We saw vehicles off
the road, accidents and skids. That Forester, meanwhile, passed through it all
as though it were on rails.
Fast forward a decade to the 2011 Forester we
drove through recent heavy snow with the same feelings of security. It's the third
year of the third generation of the Forester, a vehicle that has morphed
into what we call either a crossover vehicle or small SUV these days.
Our test vehicle was the 2.5X Touring model, near the top of the Forester
lineup. The MSRP of the 2.5X Touring, including destination, is $29,020. The
lone option on our well-equipped vehicle was a $48 cargo net. The only step up
is the same vehicle with the turbocharged engine. From a driving standpoint,
we'd have loved to drive the turbo; from a realistic standpoint, the normally
aspirated version was fine. The same engine is standard on the decently equipped
base model (air conditioning, cruise control, all-wheel-drive), which you can
get into for approximately $21,000.
That standard engine ? the latest in
Subaru's development of its basic four-cylinder, horizontally opposed "boxer"
engine ? puts out 170 horsepower, the same as its predecessor, and increases
torque slightly to 174 lb.-ft. However, it now has a chain-driven double
overhead cam instead of the previous belt-driven single camshaft.
We
found the powerplant totally adequate in all situations, though it was so
responsive that it tended to jump ahead from standing starts. It's also an
engine that tends to be a bit noisy, especially right after cold-weather starts,
but something you don't notice on the road.
Both manual and automatic
transmission versions are rated at 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. We registered
22.7 mpg under lousy driving conditions ? messy roads, warm-up time while we
scraped windows, traffic delays, short trips, and unusually cold weather. In
other words, we'd have expected to do better in warmer weather and on longer
treks.
Somewhat surprisingly, Subaru has kept the engine mated to a
four-speed automatic transmission when the competition ? Chevrolet Equinox,
Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-7, Toyota RAV4 ? has upgraded to five- and six-speed
units.
Something else that hasn't changed is that all-wheel-drive
capability. We went joyriding on a snow-covered lot with the security of the AWD
and vehicle dynamics control that includes all-wheel traction control and is
standard on all models. The Forester's 8.7-inch ground clearance was enough to
keep the vehicle from getting hung up in deeper areas.
Handling was
secure and predictable when trying to break the car loose in that lot, but more
importantly, it was even more stable on an ice- and snow-covered dirt road with
gullies beckoning on either side. On paved road, the ride was refined and
relatively quiet.![]()
Gauges and controls were intuitive and the interior, even with leather, had a
nice-but-uncomplicated presentation. USB and iPod connections were in the center
console and using the Bluetooth connection was a snap.
We found lots of
nice touches. The rear seats were raised, affording rear-seat passengers a good
view and easing conversation between the rows. There also was plenty of legroom
for two couples to ride in comfort on a Saturday night date. Headroom, both
front and rear, was amazing even for taller folks. Several times, we checked
that the rear doors actually had closed tightly because they felt so light and
latched quietly without the expected "thunk."
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Standard on our Touring model was a rearview
camera with a 4.3-inch display screen, a wonderful addition that isn't part of
an additional navigation package. Also standard were bi-xenon headlights,
dual-zone climate system, one-touch folding releases on the 60/40 rear seats,
electro-luminescent gauges and a welcome all-weather rear mat that covered the
cargo area when the rear seats were raised.
Inside a Forester, front or
rear, is a good place to be sitting in a New England
winter.


NEW BADGE OF OWNERSHIP ICONS NOW AVAILABLE - Subaru now offers a 10+ Vehicle Bade and Family, 200K+, and Rally Icons.
Have you ordered yours yet? It's free, along with your choice of icons that reflect your personal interests. The numbered badge shows how many Subaru vehicles you have owned, and icons include everything from family to mechanical to motorsports!
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new and used vehicle information, has announced that Subaru has been awarded 2011 Best Retail Brand and the Subaru Outback has also been named a Top 10 Best Resale Model at the Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards.
News Release Issued: November 17, 2010 12:00 AM EST
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America today announced that it has received four Residual Value Awards from ALG (Automotive Lease Guide). The ALG Residual Value Awards recognize the vehicles predicted to retain the highest percentage of original price after a conventional three-year period.
The company, which is enjoying record sales in 2010, won awards in several categories:
Subaru Legacy -- Best Midsize Car
Subaru Forester -- Best Compact Utility
Subaru Outback -- Best Midsize Utility
Subaru Brand -- Best Mainstream Brand
The Best Mainstream Brand is retained by Subaru following its nomination in 2009. The Subaru Forester now holds three consecutive ALG titles and the Subaru Outback is also a repeat winner. The two Subaru crossovers are joined as winners for 2011 by the Subaru Legacy sedan.
Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies are among the key factors that affect ALG's residual value forecasts.
Tom Doll, COO for Subaru of America said, "These awards are a fantastic testament to the inherent value in Subaru products. Our combination of all-wheel drive, safety, reliability and value is unmatched in the industry and we thank ALG for their recognition of that."
Speaking of the winning Subaru products, Raj Sundaram, SVP, ALG said, "The latest Outback has been a huge success because it delivers exactly what consumers want in a crossover; the handling of a car combined with great utility and a spacious interior. The Forester offers a great mix of value, ruggedness and efficiency that continues to resonate with loyal buyers. With strategies to keep resale value strong, the Forester is the top compact utility vehicle for the third consecutive year. The Legacy has pulled off the impressive feat of ending the Honda Accord's three-year run at the top of the midsize car category. Market demand for the Legacy just keeps growing due to a fresh design combined with the all-wheel drive and turbocharged boxer engine for which the brand is famous, and the new model has commanded higher prices without the need for incentives."
Regarding the mainstream brand win, Sundaram said, "Subaru's superior quality and standard all-wheel drive inspire extraordinary loyalty among a customer base that continues to grow. Subaru has realized this growth without resorting to incentives and fleet sales, helping it to earn the top spot for mainstream brand the second year in a row."
About ALG (www.alg.com)

Fairway Subaru is now on facebook !!! 
by Randy Johnson
ONE OF THE GREATEST GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS IS 75 YEARS OLD IN SEPTEMBER 2010.
The Blue Ridge Parkway?s 469 meandering miles of milepost (MP)-lined, billboard-free bliss got its start on September 11, 1935. After 52 years of construction, the parkway was completed, and it follows the spine of the Blue Ridge from Virginia?s Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
Subaru of America reported today that it posted its best-ever October sales results, including all-time best months for two models: Outback and Forester. It sold 47% more vehicles in October than in the month last year.
Year-to-date sales are 22% higher than in the first 10 months last year. It has sold so many vehicles, in fact, that before this week is out, 2010 will beat last year's full-year sales record for the brand -- with two sales months left to go. The brand's reputation for gas thriftiness is one reason.
The results "reflect that demand for Subaru products continues to outpace supply despite the uncertain economy," said Timothy Colbeck, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America. "We have been increasing shipments to dealers, but they continue to sell everything we send them."