So a friend of mine through the local SORBA chapter is looking at picking up a new Outback at SoK and had posted to the local biking community asking if anyone knew anything about the IMBA discount on new Subarus. Has anyone here heard of such a thing, and how to easily go about taking advantage of it? Apparently it's been known to be difficult to use, but she asked if anyone locally had successfully done so. Any info would be helpful. Thanks!
Yes, there is. It used to apply to a multitude of Subaru vehicles, but now it's all the non performance cars. http://sorba.org/node/211#vip-program
VIP Program Update: Effective (2/1/13), Subaru has removed the VIP Exclusion for the WRX, WRX STI, BRZ and XV Crosstrek models.
Thanks for the info guys. Rob, it looks like you and your WRX are posted on that page Matt linked to. Hope you don't mind, but I pointed my friend, Barb, towards your website and suggested she email you at your bike198.com address to ask about your experience with the program. Seems she already has the paperwork from Subaru in hand, but still feels like its complicated and hard to do.
Ha! I am on there. I guess they better remove my picture now that they don't include my car in the discount. I actually know the guy that approves/runs that program so by all means have her send me an email.
I honestly have a hard time encouraging people to support IMBA, TBH. I don't see enough of what they do for our sport to feel enthralled with their work. It seems to me that the local groups/chapters do all of the heavy lifting and there's nothing being done at a higher level. Such as the National Mountain Bike Patrol... I've been helping people on the trail since day one of riding, and looked into joining NMBP for the logically expected perks of supplied consumables, training, and protection from liability in case of a law suit. In all reality, you get none of that and have to pay more for your IMBA membership. It's sad. I'll just keep my money going to the local groups and keep footing the measly bill for consumables used helping people, and shouldering all of the liability I'm comfortable shouldering. [/soap box] Sigh...I'm just upset because my Roscoe is down and in need of bearings that are proving difficult to find, and my hardtail puts my weight too far forward to ride the fun stuff like it should be ridden.
I would guess the bearings are of a cartridge type? https://www.google.com/search?q=bea...e.1.57j0l3j62l2.6272&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 you'll need ID, OD and width of the bearings and tell them it needs be for submersible motor use for the best seals and lube.
Thanks for the recommendation, but I was there a couple of days ago and they quoted me a rather astronomical figure for simple ball bearings. Still, at least they can get them.
Got the same MFG bearings for less than half the cost elsewhere. Pay to play, sure, but be smart about it.