ZEBRAS AND TIGERS AND SOOBIES, OH MY!
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Wed, Mar 9, 2011
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
By John-Fredrik Wright
Going north-east on El Toro Road from the 405 it changes names to Santiago Canyon Road, which in turn does a Y-split with Live Oak Canyon Road. In that Y, there is a well-known biker bar called Cooks Corner (cookscorners.com). When I was younger, I remember going there for all-you-can-eat spaghetti on Wednesdays. This event is still on every Wednesday, and if it still draws an as impressive crowd of bikes from around So Cal as it did when I was younger, it is worth a trip.
A little further up Santiago Canyon Road, you’ll drive by Rancho Las Lomas. Unless you pulled in to the ranch you would never know that there are white tigers, zebras, and a collection of birds on display there, among other things. Subaru, being the car manufacturer with the outdoorsy “mmpph!” of course knew of the existence of tigers in Southern California. And naturally, this is where media got to get up-close and personal with the 2011 Subaru line-up.
Present at the gathering were all of the Subies one could think of. Inside was a map to follow, rally-style, and a key in the ignition. For the full rally feeling, two people were needed; one driving and one reading the map. The Impreza WRX and STI, along with the sporty Legacy GT, had a twisty route to follow; along Live Oak Canyon Road, which turns into Trabuco Canyon Road, up on the 241 and back to Rancho Las Lomas. The drive on Live Oak Canyon and Trabuco Canyon are always fun with the very twisty sections and a couple of straights as well. Enjoying this drive in a AWD Subaru was, of course, great fun!
For the more subdued offerings from Subaru; the stock Impreza and Legacy, the Outback, Forester, and Tribeca the route emphasized city and highway driving. On that route I was made aware of the fact that Irvine has a lake! (Irvine Lake is located just east of where the 261, 241, and 133 meet.) The Tribeca, I was informed, has not been changed from 2010, but the other cars have all received some dabbling.
From the couple of minutes drive time I got in some of what Subaru has to offer, I must say that I am looking forward to doing complete reviews of them. So far this model year you can find our write-up on the 2011 WRX. Subaru has yet to disappoint!
For more information about Subaru products, go to www.subaru.com
