Moving to PA

[Wumpus]

Hello I'm new to the world of the Flat Four Monsters. (So new I dont even own a Subaru yet).


I've got my eye on a few Bug-Eye Wagons in the tri-state area.

I'm coming off of a couple failed attempts at owning a Volkswagen. Two Mk4 VR6 GTIs. Awesome cars but they were so unreliable.

I'll be moving to State College PA for school. Any other Subaru owners in that area?

Any places to work on cars? I can't work on my cars in the parking lot of the apartment complex I live in.

[erksplee]

I have a friend that goes to PSU and has an '08 WRX. He's not on this forum though. I'll be going out there next fall. I've never actually been out there, but I would bet you'll run into a few Subaru owners.

[Heide264]

I go there. Fall semester will be my last - just got my season tickets =).

I don't own a sooby, so can't help out too much.

As far as they go up there, there are about half a dozen I see on a semi-regular basis. 3 of them being kinda loud and annoying and 3 pretty well done. I haven't kept my eye out for them much to be honest. I know one of the nicer ones parks by an old house just south west of campus and has a garage right next to it. Knowing the town the college situation there is probably old furniture in the garage.

I am sure if you call around places would let you use their garage. Not going for ME/IE by chance? Can always use the schools stuff... sure it is real nice too, haha. I'm EE so no luck on that for me.

[erksplee]

Wait if I'm going for mechanical engineering I can use the school's tools?

[Heide264]

I dunno honestly. Something to look into though. Might be one of those things once you get to your ME specific classes you can use their garage at least. I really don't know. I can shoot around some messages to my ME friends for you though.

[Wumpus]

I am actually trying to major in Mech E.

[Heide264]

No word back on the school garages. I wouldn't keep your fingers crossed for them, especially fresh/soph year. Your best best for that is to join a club or such. Clubs like the electric car competition and the mini F1 type thing might open up some possibilities on that end. Otherwise you are stuck finding a performance shop around there, which may be surprisingly easy.

ME is a good major. It's nice and broad. Only tip I have is not to set your heart on a discipline. Almost everybody I know minus a few switched between disciplines. Leave a lot of room for flexibility. Also, it's worth a semester or two delay to do what you want in life. Don't pressure yourself into doing something you don't want to do after a semester of classes. I switched from ChemE over to EE after sophomore year - put me one semester behind but my life is 100% better now that I'm not working with flow rates and reaction optimization. My $.02 on the matter.

EDIT: Also keep in mind ME is enrollment controlled. Have to be on your toes from day 1 to keep your GPA above 3.0 (or 3.5, I can't remember). Otherwise you aren't guaranteed entrance to the major and have a good possibility of being screwed.

I wouldn't plan on an overly huge amount of work to your car while you are up there. Are you planning on staying up there through the summer as well? I don't work during the school year much at all - I don't have time anymore. I would just wait and do it over the summer while you are back home. Spend the fall/spring passing classes and drinking =)

[Wumpus]

Yeah I'll be staying there through the summer too.

[Heide264]

Well, I am sure if you call around up there you'll find some place. It is a pretty odd little town.

Feel free to PM me or anything if you have any questions about it.