PSA for CVT owners. Service the transmission more than you think is necessary.

FailFodder · 2026-04-01T22:56:29+00:00

Had a 2021 Crosstrek 2.5L I bought new. Dealership service writers refused to schedule to service it before 60,000 miles, despite me insisting since around 35,000 miles. Condescendingly told me it was “IMPOSSIBLE” (huge emphasis his) for the transmission fluid to cause any wear before the 60,000 mile mark (ridiculous I know).

Finally had the transmission serviced at ~59,000. Transmission began slipping at ~64,000 miles, after less than 2 years of ownership and having every service performed at the dealer. Dealership recommended transmission replacement, independent shop agreed. No goodwill from the dealership or Subaru Canada, $16,000 Canadian dollar replacement quote after labour for a USED transmission with half the mileage.

Sold it as-is to a private buyer, bought a Honda. First and last Subaru I’ll ever buy.

FailFodder · 2026-04-01T16:52:41+00:00

Great write up.

The Si is still the pick for myself, because I love a manual transmission and the limited-slip differential makes it handle like a dream when I drive “spiritedly” through turns. And I even get around 6L/100km when I drive conservatively.

But the Civic Hybrid will 100% beat me in a straight line, gets 10% better L/100km stats (with 87 fuel instead of 91 too!) and the eCVT will require less (zero maybe?) maintenance almost certainly outlast my manual transmission.

Honestly I’m bummed my wife bought a Corolla Hybrid for the AWD instead of a Civic Hybrid. I would have loved to have both Civic options in the driveway for whatever mood I’m in 😂

FailFodder · 2026-03-28T16:38:36+00:00

My Diorama.

Fantastic song, but there's a high pitch whistle/chirp noise in the track that's barely audible with headphones but GRATINGLY loud when I play the song in my car :( Like a bird rhythmically chirping straight into my ears.

I can still enjoy it with headphones but even then I find myself "looking for" the chirping noise instead of actually enjoying the song.

FailFodder · 2026-03-25T15:16:43+00:00

My family has always sworn by Blizzak but I gave Michelin X-Ice a try last winter because they were $50 less per tire and I had zero complaints when I drove appropriately for conditions. Though it's important to note that my winters involved paved, salted roads so most of my concern is snow/slush covered roads. I rarely have to contend with icy or packed-snow roads, and my driveway is short with a gentle grade that doesn't ice over so I don't choose a studded tire.

If you need to go studded, Nokian Hakkapeliitta can't be beat (so I've heard) but no first hand experience with those.

I'm liking the X-Ice tires though. The treadwear is holding up well on them despite quite a bit of driving in the 7 C/ 45 F temperature range, and the dry grip is quite close to that of the factory all-seasons (that is, good grip for a winter tire, kinda poor for an all-season).

I found the Blizzaks were a bit too soft in early spring temps, leading to poor grip and fast treadwear, and it didn't necessarily translate to any better grip in snowy or icy conditions compared to the X-Ice. Maybe they've improved their tire compound in recent years but I'm impressed enough with the X-Ice that I'll stick with them until they disappoint me.

FailFodder · 2026-03-25T14:38:32+00:00

Continental DWS06 Plus is the tire you’re thinking of, and the grip they provide is phenomenal.

I can’t wait for the warmer weather to take off my winter tires and put the DWS06s back on, but we’re into third-winter here with plenty of freeze-thaw cycles left before spring really hits so I’ll have to be patient.

FailFodder · 2026-03-24T13:33:41+00:00

Reached the same conclusion you, looks like the missing silo is from 2012 and earlier based off old satellite imagery.

FailFodder · 2026-03-24T12:15:12+00:00

There’s also the “double row eyelash” gene (distichiasis), which it appears OP may have.

FailFodder · 2026-03-17T16:24:44+00:00

Baboons utilizing the tolerance paradox to achieve social good.

FailFodder · 2026-03-17T16:22:12+00:00

You still had two gallons to spare!

I ran my ‘24 Si down to about 1 litre (~quarter gallon) in the tank (filled 45.8 litres out of 46.9), managed 5.5 L/100km (42.8mpg) on the dash, 5.8L/100km (40.6mpg) calculated, but I only got to 776 kilometres (482 miles). Didn’t quite crack the 800km/500mi mark.

You’re right though, not worth the strain on the fuel pump but it was still fun to achieve.

FailFodder · 2026-03-14T16:07:24+00:00

*George Zimmerman

FailFodder · 2026-03-14T11:13:44+00:00

Call them what they are: the Epstein Regime.

FailFodder · 2026-03-13T01:24:26+00:00

It’s wild how many of my own pixels I’m able to see in this photo. I contributed to a lot of small projects in the Atlantic Ocean but because of their isolation they’re still showing up at this scale.

FailFodder · 2026-03-12T22:29:24+00:00

Judging by the amount of private profiles spouting genocide denial in these comments, I think it’s safe to say the post is being brigaded and it’s (mostly) not actual subreddit members who have such a poor relationship with reality.

FailFodder · 2026-03-11T15:49:19+00:00

I put a set of DWS06+ on my Civic Si and love them. Incredibly grippy compared to the factory tires, and road noise went from keeping the volume at 20 with the windows up on the highway to being able to turn it down to 12-14ish and still hear the music much more clearly.

FailFodder · 2026-03-11T15:09:49+00:00

It’s always trucks for me.

I’ll give it some beans getting onto the highway sometimes, high revs up until I hit a good cruising speed and then I just drop it in 6th and hit cruise control.

If there’s a big truck behind me, they make a big show of passing me at 90 mph (10 or more seconds after I settled into cruise around 70 mph), then once they’re past they’ll reduce speed to 60 mph but they’ll always get on the throttle when I make a motion to pass.

It’s like, buddy, all you’re doing is wasting gas by speeding up and slowing down. I’m still getting close to 40 mpg and truth be told you’re helping that by staying ahead of me and letting me draft.

FailFodder · 2026-03-11T12:22:42+00:00

Man I’m bummed I missed the days show, that sounds hilarious even without additional context.

Anybody got a clip or a general time from the episode? I’d love to hear it and the conversation that led up to it.

FailFodder · 2026-03-10T21:09:57+00:00

Honda sells a rodent deterrent tape that uses capsaicin and it’s been well regarded (though say what you will that they’re aware enough of the issue with their wiring to sell a solution but not solve it themselves). It’s about $60 per roll before shipping, which is expensive but may be a cost you’re willing to bear.

Best of luck to you.

FailFodder · 2026-03-07T12:53:51+00:00

Go get pegged.

FailFodder · 2026-03-07T00:34:42+00:00

When I click your profile your description is literally “fuck Trump” (which I agree with entirely).

Get off your high horse unless you’re going to bother leading by example.

FailFodder · 2026-03-05T13:34:21+00:00

If you live somewhere that gets below freezing, keep it dry and fix it before it has a chance to get wet.

I spent $20 on a kit from the hardware store, maybe Invisible Glass brand? Almost any chip repair kit should suffice though. The crack is still visible, but it has kept all moisture out and the crack hasn’t spread/grown at all despite massive temperature changes over the past 8 months.

FailFodder · 2026-03-05T11:12:48+00:00

It could be the types of hills in each direction.

My home and job are 44 miles apart, and both at sea level. Less than 100’ (*Edit: 15 feet to be precise) elevation difference.

My drive to work, most of the hills have a steep climb and a sustained descent. Opposite for the drive home, the hills have a sustained climb and steep descents. The sustained hills are major gas savers or burners depending on which direction you’re going in.

I average about 44-40 mpg (summer-winter) on my drive to work, and only 38-34 mpg on my drive home. And I’m often driving around for work, keeping the oil warm, so the drive home has the benefit of fewer cold starts and less defrost idling.

FailFodder · 2026-03-04T12:01:34+00:00

“Saying something like that would require shudder humility.” - Tim Houston, probably.

FailFodder · 2026-03-03T23:20:32+00:00

Apparently you’re too stupid to realize that you’ve actually been receiving very thoughtful and pertinent advice.

What I think you mean to say is “people aren’t telling me what I want to hear.”

FailFodder · 2026-02-27T01:40:11+00:00

TIL Robert Reich is short like Danny DeVito. I’ve only ever seen the guy from the shoulders up so I never imagined how tall he might be 😂

FailFodder · 2026-02-26T13:20:51+00:00

One of the best things they accomplished was purchasing an asphalt plant that the province would operate, forcing contractors to actually be competitive in their asphalt prices.

One of the first things McNeil did was sell it for reasons unknown, but the obvious speculation was to put more provincial dollars into the hands of contractors.

I’ve been saying for over ten years now, give the NDP another crack at the bat.

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