5 Audiobooks Use Should Listen To On A Roadtrip

The Invention of Wings: A Novel 

 

Written by: Sue Monk Kidd

Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
Summary: From the celebrated author of The Secret Life of Bees comes a magnificent novel about two unforgettable American women. Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world. Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women.

Imperial Life in the Emerald City 

 
Written by: Rajiv Chandrasekaran 
Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
Summary: The Washington Post's former Baghdad bureau chief, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, takes us into the Green Zone, headquarters for the American occupation in Iraq. In this bubble separated from wartime realities, the task of reconstructing Iraq is in the hands of 20-somethings chosen for their Republican Party loyalty. They pursue irrelevant neoconservative solutions and pie-in-the-sky policies instead of rebuilding looted buildings and restoring electricity, angering the locals and fueling the insurgency.

Divergent, Book 1 

 

Written by: Veronica Roth

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

   

Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War 

 

Written by: Robert M. Gates

Length: 25 hrs and 42 mins
Summary: From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Robert M. Gates received a call from the White House, he thought he'd long left Washington politics behind: After working for six presidents in both the CIA and the National Security Council, he was happily serving as president of Texas A&M University. But when he was asked to help a nation mired in two wars and to aid the troops doing the fighting, he answered what he felt was the call of duty.

Sycamore Row

 

Written by: John Grisham  

Length: 20 hrs and 50 mins  
Summary: Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier. The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly?

SCSU Climbs to No. 2 in National Polls

St. Cloud State, picking up a sweep, saw significant movement in the polls as the Huskies vaulted up to No. 2 in the country in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll, which were both released Monday. That puts them right behind rival, Minnesota.

Come join St. Cloud Subaru in supporting the Huskies tonight and tomorrow as they take on Colorado College! Stay tuned on our Facebook and Twitter for upcoming ticket giveaways!

We're Giving Away Huskies Tickets! (Hockey, Football, and Basketball)

SCSU is at home this weekend, and we're giving away tickets!

We've got two sets of hockey tickets (two tickets and one parking pass each) for tonight's game!

We've got two sets of football tickets (four tickets and one parking pass each) for tomorrow afternoon's game!

And we've got one set of basketball tickets (four tickets and one parking pass each) for tomorrow evening's game!

These tickets are on a first come, first serve basis, so call us right now at (888) 676-4935 and let us know which game you want to go to!

Didn't call in time? Don't worry, we'll have more ticket giveaways throughout the seasons, and you can still get your tickets here and come out tonight and tomorrow night to support the Huskies. You'll have a great time watching the games!

Don't forget to stick around during the second intermission of the hockey game for another really fun Safest Cars on Ice!

Stay tuned on our Facebook and Twitter for more ticket giveaways!

Subaru Forester Scores Second Motor Trend Sport/Utility Of The Year Win

Motor Trend announced today that the Subaru Forester won Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year for 2014.
Subaru is the only manufacturer to win this title three times, the most wins in the Sport/Utility category. In the past six years of competition, Subaru has had three winners – the 2014 Forester, 2010 Outback, and the 2009 Forester. The 2013 XV Crosstrek also ranked as a finalist in 2012.
MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief Ed Loh, said, “The 2014 Subaru Forester beat a highly competitive field of SUVs because it best met our award’s six key criteria. Smart design, thoughtful engineering, and a compelling performance on road and off were the keys to the Forester’s win. Our editors were particularly impressed by the powerful yet efficient turbocharged engines, the intelligent and sporty CVT transmission, and the excellent visibility and interior package found within the Forester. Practical, affordable, efficient and fun-to-drive - Forester truly ticked every box”.
In addition to the Subaru Forester, the 2014 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year competition included twelve other all-new or significantly updated SUVs:

Acura MDX
Audi Q5
BMW X1
Buick Encore
Dodge Durango
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Mini Paceman S ALL4
Mitsubishi Outlander
Toyota RAV4

“We are honored to receive the MOTOR TREND Sport/Utility of the Year award for the third time,“ said Thomas J. Doll, president, and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Our product, engineering, sales and marketing teams all work hard to provide the best products and experiences we can for our owners. Receiving this distinction from MOTOR TREND truly adds credence to our mission.”

MOTOR TREND's Sport/Utility of the Year is not a comparison test, and is only open to all-new or substantially upgraded vehicles that have gone on sale in the 12 months from November 1 of the previous year.

To judge contenders for the award, MOTOR TREND's editorial staff conducted an exhaustive three-phase testing process. Phase one includes a full tech check and weigh-in, then full track testing to establish baseline data for acceleration, braking, and handling. Phase two involves three days of road loops offering a range of road surfaces and traffic conditions to evaluate ride and handling, engine and transmission smoothness and responsiveness, wind and road noise, and ergonomics. A dirt-track section tests traction, stability, and braking control systems. In the third phase the judges debate and deliberate. The judging criteria include the following categories:

Design Advancement - well-executed exterior and interior styling; innovative vehicle packaging; good selection and use of materials.

Engineering Excellence - total vehicle concept and execution; clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues; cost-effective tech that benefits the consumer.

Performance of Intended Function - how well the vehicle does the job its planners, designers, and engineers intended it to do.

Efficiency - low fuel consumption and carbon footprint, relative to the vehicle's competitive set.

Safety - a vehicle's ability to help the driver avoid a crash, as well as the secondary safety measures that protect its occupants from harm during a crash.

Value - competitive price and equipment levels, measured against those of vehicles in the same market segment.
Priced from $21,995, the Forester is offered with a new 250-horsepower 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged BOXER engine or a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder BOXER engine. A Lineartronic® CVT (continuously variable transmission) is standard in the 2.0XT models and available for the 2.5-liter models, which features a standard 6-speed manual transmission. The Forester jumps to the head of its segment in all-wheel drive fuel economy, with the 2.5i model achieving EPA estimates of 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/ 27 mpg combined (with CVT).

The 2014 Forester has received a Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester is the first vehicle to ace every aspect of the challenging small overlap front crash test conducted by the IIHS. The Forester is the only one of 13 small SUVs to earn an overall rating of good in the test.

The recognition from MOTOR TREND validates the sales success of the 2014 Forester, which is up 46% year-to-date over 2012. Forester’s strong sales performance mirrors the growth of the Subaru brand overall, which is on track to achieve its fifth-consecutive year of sales increases and top 400,000 vehicle sales in the US market in 2013.

Come test drive the Forester at St. Cloud Subaru, and be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter for further news and updates.

Metrodome Moments Part 2

Here are some more of your favorite Metrodome Moments:

I was at a Vikings game at the dome on a bitterly cold day in 1998. The guy behind me spilled a whole beer on me during an amazing catch/run by Randy Moss. The person coming to pick us up was caught in traffic and after the game, my wet clothes froze solid and I had to "break" them to get into the car! It was such a good season, I didn't even care!!! -Jennifer B

I've attended plenty of events at the Metrodome (Gophers football, basketball and baseball, Vikings football, high school football, baseball and soccer, monster trucks) but nothing can top being in the building for Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. I got a pair of free tickets out of sheer luck and will never forget it. - Brian M

Being with my sister at the games. She has been a season ticket holder for 46 seasons and has only missed 5 home games(including preseason games)!! My family is passionate about the Vikings! - Beth P

Me and my sons were at the vikings game vs tampa bay and Jared Allen got hit and the bridge of his nose was bleeding. Everyone was booing at the Bucs and the very next play Jared Allen got a sack and the crowd went WILD. It was the best moment at the metronome for me. -Don G

After being "just friends" for a year, my husband and I spent our first date at the Metrodome. Ever since, the trips to the Metrodome have marked important events in our lives together, including celebrating our wedding with friends in a press box! -Rae B

Head on over to the St. Cloud Subaru website to read more. While you're there, leave your own favorite Metrodome Moment and enter to win a pair of tickets to the Vikings' last regular season game in the Metrodome!

Stay tuned on our Facebook and Twitter for more news and updates.

St. Cloud Subaru Supports the SCSU Huskies with Safest Cars on Ice Promotion

It's time for another season of hockey with the SCSU Huskies! That means it's also time for St. Cloud Subaru's "Safest Cars on Ice" event during the second intermission of every home game!

 
If you're not familiar with the event, we pull one of our cars onto the ice and have two teams race each other. One team member sits on the sled, and the other pushes the sled to the car and then back, causing all kinds of slipping and falling and hilarity, the opposite of what you'd get with an All-Wheel Drive Subaru, the safest car on ice. The winning team gets a prize, and the audience gets a great show.

This year we also added a St Cloud Subaru customer appreciation and St Cloud Subaru VIP parking for our customers that are Huskies fans, so stay tuned on our Facebook and Twitter for details about that.

Come out this weekend and support the Huskies at their Home Opener Weekend. You'll have a great time watching the game, and don't forget to stick around during the second intermission for another really fun show!

Subaru Reveals 2014 Forester with World's First Innovative Wing Seat

Subaru recently revealed an innovative, new driver assist system for handicapped drivers on the all-new 2014 Forester.

One of the world’s most progressive automakers, has just revealed a world’s-first for handicapped drivers. Subaru revealed a 2014 Forester with the first-ever innovative “Wing Seat” for handicap drivers.

Subaru Japan has only released an image and a little information on the new driver assist system, but we know it will be used for drivers with disabilities who need assistance getting into the seat and behind the wheel. The new Forester will be the first car with such a feature.

They will officially unveil the Driver Assistance System from Sept 18-20 at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibit.

Check out our lineup at the St. Cloud Subaru website, and be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more news and specials.

Subaru Celebrates 4 Millionth Vehicle Built in Indiana

Subaru's Lafayette, Indiana factory has produced its 4 millionth Subaru. The deep indigo blue 2014 Outback is pictured below, beside the first ever Subaru to leave the facility, a first-generation Legacy.

The plant, which was originally a joint venture between Isuzu and Subaru, has produced nine different models for four different manufacturers over the years. The Indiana factory is getting ready to add a tenth as Impreza production arrives.

Check out the St. Cloud Subaru website for our lineup of new and used cars, and make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to stay up to date with news and promotions.

Subaru's Performance WRX/STI

Subaru will launch redesigned performance versions of its WRX/STI next year. The photo above is a WRX sedan concept that Subaru unveiled in March.

The Impreza-derived redesign is expected to finally debut in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show and go on sale in early 2014. The engine will likely be a high-performance version of the 2.5 liter four-cylinder that will produce at least 265 horsepower.

Stay up to date on Subaru's new and redesigned lineup on our Facebook and Twitter.

USA Today calls 2014 Subaru Forester Top-Notch

Here at St. Cloud Subaru, we’re already big fans of the 2014 Forester, and the rest of the world is starting to catch up. USA Today just gave it an excellent test drive review, calling the Forester top-notch, and praising its roomy backseats, the 250-horsepower turbo engine and many of its other great features.

Closing out the review, they called the Forester practical, pleasant and fun. But, don’t take USA Today’s word for it, come in to St. Cloud Subaru and test drive one for yourself! Experience the many great things that make the 2014 Forester such an acclaimed entry to the Subaru line.

The Subaru A Lot To Love Event

There's a lot to love this August at St Cloud Subaru! During Subaru's A Lot to Love Event you can get special financing offers and leasing incentives on our lineup of award-winning and reliable Subaru vehicles.

These amazing offers will only be available through September 3, so hurry in today to get a new Subaru that the whole family can enjoy. 

Visit our website to check out our inventory and incentives, and while you're there, be sure to schedule a test-drive or talk to one of our online sales reps!

Subaru Driver David Higgins Maintains Championship Lead with Second Overall Finish at New England Forest Rally

The Subaru Rally Team brought their "A" game to the New England Forest Rally this week, finishing second overall. The New England Forest Rally was round five of the 2013 Rally America National Championship. The course features 120 miles of technical gravel forest roads along the Maine-New Hampshire border. The event is known for its challenging combination of smooth high-speed roads and rough rocky roads, which can test the limits of a vehicle's durability and strength.

David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew spent the majority of the rally within sixteen seconds of Ken Block before dropping time on the longest and roughest stage of the event mid-way through the final day. Higgins and Drew then began charging back, beating or tying Block on each of the final five stages and lowering the deficit from 43 seconds down to just 6.5 seconds. However, the duo ran out of stage miles, settling for second overall and remaining atop the championship standings.

The next event will be held on August 23-24, 2013, right in our backyard at the Muscatell Ojibwe Forests Rally.

Share the Road!

According to statistics, bicycling has become the second most popular outdoor activity in America. We've all noticed the trend; Cyclists are everywhere, which is we all need to work together to share the road safely everyday.

Whether you're on four wheels or two, always follow these tips to keep the road safe for everyone!

Bicyclists:

• The number one thing to remember when riding a bike is that, in most states (including Minnesota), bicycles are considered vehicles. This means that cyclists must obey the same laws as all other vehicles.
• Always obey road signs and traffic signals. It may be tempting to cruise through the intersection when no one is around, but you never know when someone may speed up around a curve or hill. 
• Never ride against traffic. Always ride on the road in the same direction as traffic. 
• Always ride in the street or in designated bike lanes, never on the sidewalk.
• If possible, avoid riding your bike at night. However, if you do need to bike at night, be sure to wear bright clothing and use lights and reflective material.
• Communicate your intentions to other drivers using hand signals.
• Always stay alert and remember that motorists and pedestrians may not see you.

 Motorists:

• Stay alert while driving. With the increasing number of bicycles on the road, avoiding distractions is the most important way to stay safe. 
• Yield to bicycles and always give bicyclists 3 feet when passing. 
• Be aware of passing cyclists. Always check your rear view mirrors and your blind spots when entering traffic. 
• Never honk at cyclists. Even though you may be frustrated or not like sharing the road, honking at them could cause them to be startled, which may lead them to swerve into traffic or off the road. 
• When parking on the street, always check your mirrors before opening your car door. 

The number of bikes on the road is growing, not shrinking, in popularity. Remember these simple tips to keep yourself and cyclists safe.