On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 23:17:54 GMT, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net>
wrote:

>kaboom wrote:

>> I'm now visiting family in CT and the other night I drove some unlit,
>> tiny curvy roads and was *really* displeased with the lights. Every
>> corner was a surprise, fast and unexpected is right! I wasn't even
>> going fast (Gran was in the car) either but it felt really weird.
>> I had the dealership look at it a few days later but they said that
>> the headlights were correct. I shouldn't have to have my high beams on
>> at all. They used to be a rare occasion but I have to use them all the
>> time for night driving with this car. I don't think that's right.
>
>Your high beams should be used ALL of the time at night, except when
>another car is oncoming or you are driving in fog, snow, etc. That is
>what high beams are for.

**And all those etceteras add up to: My high beams are rarely used.
There's usually always traffic, oncoming or I'm following or I'm
already in a well-lit neighborhood or area. I don't like running
through people's neighborhoods with my high beams on. Do I use my high
beams in sparsely-populated areas, low traffic, and/or underlit areas?
Yes, of course, I do. I'm saying that my previous vehicles had
excellent lighting, that I did not need my high beams to see up ahead.
With the Impreza, I feel that I absolutely *must* use them or else I
can't see and that is my complaint and a problem. Also, some of us
prefer a manual transmission so I really don't need or want to be
constantly flicking the lights while I'm trying to maneuver curvy back
roads.

kaboomie

 

kaboom wrote:
> On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 23:17:54 GMT, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>kaboom wrote:
>
>
>>>I'm now visiting family in CT and the other night I drove some unlit,
>>>tiny curvy roads and was *really* displeased with the lights. Every
>>>corner was a surprise, fast and unexpected is right! I wasn't even
>>>going fast (Gran was in the car) either but it felt really weird.
>>>I had the dealership look at it a few days later but they said that
>>>the headlights were correct. I shouldn't have to have my high beams on
>>>at all. They used to be a rare occasion but I have to use them all the
>>>time for night driving with this car. I don't think that's right.
>>
>>Your high beams should be used ALL of the time at night, except when
>>another car is oncoming or you are driving in fog, snow, etc. That is
>>what high beams are for.
>
>
> **And all those etceteras add up to: My high beams are rarely used.
> There's usually always traffic, oncoming or I'm following or I'm
> already in a well-lit neighborhood or area. I don't like running
> through people's neighborhoods with my high beams on. Do I use my high
> beams in sparsely-populated areas, low traffic, and/or underlit areas?
> Yes, of course, I do. I'm saying that my previous vehicles had
> excellent lighting, that I did not need my high beams to see up ahead.
> With the Impreza, I feel that I absolutely *must* use them or else I
> can't see and that is my complaint and a problem. Also, some of us
> prefer a manual transmission so I really don't need or want to be
> constantly flicking the lights while I'm trying to maneuver curvy back
> roads.

I use high beams in urban areas as well if there is no traffic nearby.
I also drive standard shift and haven't found dimming the lights to be a
major hassle and I live in an area with many curvy and hilly back roads.
And many deer. Using high beams as much as possible is the best
prevention against a deer encounter.

Matt

 

kaboom wrote:
> On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 23:17:54 GMT, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>kaboom wrote:
>
>
>>>I'm now visiting family in CT and the other night I drove some unlit,
>>>tiny curvy roads and was *really* displeased with the lights. Every
>>>corner was a surprise, fast and unexpected is right! I wasn't even
>>>going fast (Gran was in the car) either but it felt really weird.
>>>I had the dealership look at it a few days later but they said that
>>>the headlights were correct. I shouldn't have to have my high beams on
>>>at all. They used to be a rare occasion but I have to use them all the
>>>time for night driving with this car. I don't think that's right.
>>
>>Your high beams should be used ALL of the time at night, except when
>>another car is oncoming or you are driving in fog, snow, etc. That is
>>what high beams are for.
>
>
> **And all those etceteras add up to: My high beams are rarely used.
> There's usually always traffic, oncoming or I'm following or I'm
> already in a well-lit neighborhood or area. I don't like running
> through people's neighborhoods with my high beams on. Do I use my high
> beams in sparsely-populated areas, low traffic, and/or underlit areas?
> Yes, of course, I do. I'm saying that my previous vehicles had
> excellent lighting, that I did not need my high beams to see up ahead.
> With the Impreza, I feel that I absolutely *must* use them or else I
> can't see and that is my complaint and a problem. Also, some of us
> prefer a manual transmission so I really don't need or want to be
> constantly flicking the lights while I'm trying to maneuver curvy back
> roads.

I use high beams in urban areas as well if there is no traffic nearby.
I also drive standard shift and haven't found dimming the lights to be a
major hassle and I live in an area with many curvy and hilly back roads.
And many deer. Using high beams as much as possible is the best
prevention against a deer encounter.

Matt

 

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:54:08 GMT, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net>
wrote:

>kaboom wrote:

>> **And all those etceteras add up to: My high beams are rarely used.
>> There's usually always traffic, oncoming or I'm following or I'm
>> already in a well-lit neighborhood or area. I don't like running
>> through people's neighborhoods with my high beams on. Do I use my high
>> beams in sparsely-populated areas, low traffic, and/or underlit areas?
>> Yes, of course, I do. I'm saying that my previous vehicles had
>> excellent lighting, that I did not need my high beams to see up ahead.
>> With the Impreza, I feel that I absolutely *must* use them or else I
>> can't see and that is my complaint and a problem. Also, some of us
>> prefer a manual transmission so I really don't need or want to be
>> constantly flicking the lights while I'm trying to maneuver curvy back
>> roads.
>
>I use high beams in urban areas as well if there is no traffic nearby.
>I also drive standard shift and haven't found dimming the lights to be a
>major hassle and I live in an area with many curvy and hilly back roads.
> And many deer. Using high beams as much as possible is the best
>prevention against a deer encounter.

**Oh man, do I know that! I always check for that tell-tale eye
illumination far down the road. I live in southeastern MI and, boy, do
they have a deer problem. Just ask Ted Nugent I use my high beams
around home, not a lot of houses and sparse traffic at night. The
roads are wide and reasonably straight so you can see those beady-eyed
buggers in the distance.

However, since I'm in CT, at the moment, and probably will be moving
back here, this particular 'feature' of the Impreza is now a problem.
Dimming the lights in and of itself is not a hassle, I do it when I'm
able to and it's needed. Being forced to do it in order to see because
the regular headlights were not doing their job in the particular set
of circumstances that I was in, was indeed a big hassle. There was a
lot of oncoming traffic and I was completely thrown by the
ineffectiveness of the headlights. I truly believe that something's
wrong, even though, perhaps that's what the headlights on Imprezas are
like. It's my first Subaru. But, I did my part, I did take it in to
the dealership like I said previously, so I guess I'll have to live
with it or start chatting the boys up in Subaru forums

kaboomie

 

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:54:08 GMT, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net>
wrote:

>kaboom wrote:

>> **And all those etceteras add up to: My high beams are rarely used.
>> There's usually always traffic, oncoming or I'm following or I'm
>> already in a well-lit neighborhood or area. I don't like running
>> through people's neighborhoods with my high beams on. Do I use my high
>> beams in sparsely-populated areas, low traffic, and/or underlit areas?
>> Yes, of course, I do. I'm saying that my previous vehicles had
>> excellent lighting, that I did not need my high beams to see up ahead.
>> With the Impreza, I feel that I absolutely *must* use them or else I
>> can't see and that is my complaint and a problem. Also, some of us
>> prefer a manual transmission so I really don't need or want to be
>> constantly flicking the lights while I'm trying to maneuver curvy back
>> roads.
>
>I use high beams in urban areas as well if there is no traffic nearby.
>I also drive standard shift and haven't found dimming the lights to be a
>major hassle and I live in an area with many curvy and hilly back roads.
> And many deer. Using high beams as much as possible is the best
>prevention against a deer encounter.

**Oh man, do I know that! I always check for that tell-tale eye
illumination far down the road. I live in southeastern MI and, boy, do
they have a deer problem. Just ask Ted Nugent I use my high beams
around home, not a lot of houses and sparse traffic at night. The
roads are wide and reasonably straight so you can see those beady-eyed
buggers in the distance.

However, since I'm in CT, at the moment, and probably will be moving
back here, this particular 'feature' of the Impreza is now a problem.
Dimming the lights in and of itself is not a hassle, I do it when I'm
able to and it's needed. Being forced to do it in order to see because
the regular headlights were not doing their job in the particular set
of circumstances that I was in, was indeed a big hassle. There was a
lot of oncoming traffic and I was completely thrown by the
ineffectiveness of the headlights. I truly believe that something's
wrong, even though, perhaps that's what the headlights on Imprezas are
like. It's my first Subaru. But, I did my part, I did take it in to
the dealership like I said previously, so I guess I'll have to live
with it or start chatting the boys up in Subaru forums

kaboomie

 

"Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
news:2965c$45126ffa$471fbb6d$26357@ALLTEL.NET...
>
> "Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
> news:7HmQg.3862$6S3.2785@newssvr25.news.prodigy.ne t...
>
>>
>> If the road is very dark and not well traveled, it is not a big deal to
>> leave the high beams on. I found myself flipping them off and on far too
>> often on at least one road as a car would approach. Turns are very dark
>> also, but I'll admit I've been spoiled by the turning lights on my
> LeSabre.
>>
>> My guess is that the projector bulb concentrates the light better, at
>> the
>> expense of peripheral vision. This is my first car with them.
>
> I had not heard of anyone complaining of this Ed. My wife's Sonata is an
> '04, so it's not the same as your '06, but its lights rank among the best
> I've ever had on a car. I can only wish that my Grand Am could throw
> light
> like her Sonata does.
>
Actually, that was - and still is a major gripe of mine. I believe you even
suggested a way to fix it... http://tinyurl.com/lnczd

 

"Mike Marlow" <mmarlow@alltel.net> wrote in message
news:2965c$45126ffa$471fbb6d$26357@ALLTEL.NET...
>
> "Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net> wrote in message
> news:7HmQg.3862$6S3.2785@newssvr25.news.prodigy.ne t...
>
>>
>> If the road is very dark and not well traveled, it is not a big deal to
>> leave the high beams on. I found myself flipping them off and on far too
>> often on at least one road as a car would approach. Turns are very dark
>> also, but I'll admit I've been spoiled by the turning lights on my
> LeSabre.
>>
>> My guess is that the projector bulb concentrates the light better, at
>> the
>> expense of peripheral vision. This is my first car with them.
>
> I had not heard of anyone complaining of this Ed. My wife's Sonata is an
> '04, so it's not the same as your '06, but its lights rank among the best
> I've ever had on a car. I can only wish that my Grand Am could throw
> light
> like her Sonata does.
>
Actually, that was - and still is a major gripe of mine. I believe you even
suggested a way to fix it... http://tinyurl.com/lnczd

 

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> There's no reason you can't flip on your high beams when going down a
>> dark hill if you need more illumination.
>
> Yeah, flip, flip, flip, depending on condition it is a real PITA and on
> some roads, the "dark spot" comes up fast and unexpected. It will take some
> getting used to; sometimes progress isn't.

Hmmm. I daresay that if flipping the high beam switch is such a chore,
driving must be real agony for you. ;-)

Seriously, it's just a matter of adapting to the car, just as you do
with switch locations, heater & A/C controls, radio buttons, etc. It's
really no big deal. If you quit resisting, it won't take long at all.

 

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> "Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> There's no reason you can't flip on your high beams when going down a
>> dark hill if you need more illumination.
>
> Yeah, flip, flip, flip, depending on condition it is a real PITA and on
> some roads, the "dark spot" comes up fast and unexpected. It will take some
> getting used to; sometimes progress isn't.

Hmmm. I daresay that if flipping the high beam switch is such a chore,
driving must be real agony for you. ;-)

Seriously, it's just a matter of adapting to the car, just as you do
with switch locations, heater & A/C controls, radio buttons, etc. It's
really no big deal. If you quit resisting, it won't take long at all.

 

Matt Whiting wrote:

>> I'm now visiting family in CT and the other night I drove some unlit,
>> tiny curvy roads and was *really* displeased with the lights. Every
>> corner was a surprise, fast and unexpected is right! I wasn't even
>> going fast (Gran was in the car) either but it felt really weird.

On twisty roads, the fog lights can help considerably, as they
illuminate the edges of the road and their beam is much wider than the
low beams. However, they don't increase distance visibility and I
strongly recommend that you not use them unless they're really needed,
as I find fog lights on approaching vehicles to be very annoying.

 

Matt Whiting wrote:

>> I'm now visiting family in CT and the other night I drove some unlit,
>> tiny curvy roads and was *really* displeased with the lights. Every
>> corner was a surprise, fast and unexpected is right! I wasn't even
>> going fast (Gran was in the car) either but it felt really weird.

On twisty roads, the fog lights can help considerably, as they
illuminate the edges of the road and their beam is much wider than the
low beams. However, they don't increase distance visibility and I
strongly recommend that you not use them unless they're really needed,
as I find fog lights on approaching vehicles to be very annoying.

 

"Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> Yeah, flip, flip, flip, depending on condition it is a real PITA and on
>> some roads, the "dark spot" comes up fast and unexpected. It will take
>> some getting used to; sometimes progress isn't.
>
> Hmmm. I daresay that if flipping the high beam switch is such a chore,
> driving must be real agony for you. ;-)
>
> Seriously, it's just a matter of adapting to the car, just as you do with
> switch locations, heater & A/C controls, radio buttons, etc. It's really
> no big deal. If you quit resisting, it won't take long at all.

Yes, it is un-necessary agony. Best headlights I ever had was my '97
LeSabre. In the four years that I had it, I'll bet the high beams were not
used more than 50 times. With the projector lights, I'd probably flipped
them 50 times on one trip down River Road.

I did drive about 40 miles last night on highway (light traffic) and city
with no need to use the high beams. It is just some of the smaller roads,
especially with turns and hills.

 

"Brian Nystrom" <brian.nystrom@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> Yeah, flip, flip, flip, depending on condition it is a real PITA and on
>> some roads, the "dark spot" comes up fast and unexpected. It will take
>> some getting used to; sometimes progress isn't.
>
> Hmmm. I daresay that if flipping the high beam switch is such a chore,
> driving must be real agony for you. ;-)
>
> Seriously, it's just a matter of adapting to the car, just as you do with
> switch locations, heater & A/C controls, radio buttons, etc. It's really
> no big deal. If you quit resisting, it won't take long at all.

Yes, it is un-necessary agony. Best headlights I ever had was my '97
LeSabre. In the four years that I had it, I'll bet the high beams were not
used more than 50 times. With the projector lights, I'd probably flipped
them 50 times on one trip down River Road.

I did drive about 40 miles last night on highway (light traffic) and city
with no need to use the high beams. It is just some of the smaller roads,
especially with turns and hills.

 

Brian Nystrom wrote:

> Matt Whiting wrote:
>
>>> I'm now visiting family in CT and the other night I drove some unlit,
>>> tiny curvy roads and was *really* displeased with the lights. Every
>>> corner was a surprise, fast and unexpected is right! I wasn't even
>>> going fast (Gran was in the car) either but it felt really weird.
>
>
> On twisty roads, the fog lights can help considerably, as they
> illuminate the edges of the road and their beam is much wider than the
> low beams. However, they don't increase distance visibility and I
> strongly recommend that you not use them unless they're really needed,
> as I find fog lights on approaching vehicles to be very annoying.

Brian,

I didn't write a single word of the above that you attributed to me.

Matt

 

Brian Nystrom wrote:

> Matt Whiting wrote:
>
>>> I'm now visiting family in CT and the other night I drove some unlit,
>>> tiny curvy roads and was *really* displeased with the lights. Every
>>> corner was a surprise, fast and unexpected is right! I wasn't even
>>> going fast (Gran was in the car) either but it felt really weird.
>
>
> On twisty roads, the fog lights can help considerably, as they
> illuminate the edges of the road and their beam is much wider than the
> low beams. However, they don't increase distance visibility and I
> strongly recommend that you not use them unless they're really needed,
> as I find fog lights on approaching vehicles to be very annoying.

Brian,

I didn't write a single word of the above that you attributed to me.

Matt