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Comments
John
-Brian
• Cladding originated as a "protective" feature that has now also become a "styling" feature. It's the styling that people are reacting to, not the protective qualities.
Front wheel well cladding:
• Wheel well cladding, from a "styling standpoint," gives further visual emphasis to the wheels and tires—be that good or bad.
• the "larger" the wheel well cladding—the "smaller" the wheels and tires look.
• Conversely, the "smaller" the wheel well cladding, the "larger" the wheels and tires look.
• IMO, the wheelwell cladding on the Baja is too large (too visually prominent) for the current wheels and tires. The wheel well cladding dominates the wheels and tires, and makes them look rather wimpy. I think, in order to use the current wheel well cladding, the wheels should be 17" or 18" wearing tires of around 245/60. Then the "wheel well cladding/ wheel and tire ratio" will be in much better visual balance. I'm not saying that the car would "function" better, just that it would "look" better.
Rear wheel well and rear cladding:
• Unlike others here, I like Subaru's idea of wrapping the rear cladding around the back of the vehicle. That's the good news. The bad news is they didn't do a very good job of it.
• my comments about the front cladding/tire ratio holds true here too.
• Other than that, my other major complaint is that the tail lights do not integrate well into this cladding design that Subaru chose. The shape of the tail lights look haphazard at best. It really looks like one person designed the car, and another person designed the tail lights—and that they never spoke to one another during the design process. The cladding and tail lights really look mismatched.
Bob
Bob
Patti
Good Luck and let us know how you do!
Patti
In silver you don't notice where the cladding ends, and it looks cleaner, more like the Forester. I actually like silver, so that's what I would pick. But I'd want an H6/manual combo.
$26k, OK. $30k, no way. There is a huge psychological barrier at $30k. You hit near luxury terriroty, with a 4 banger? No way.
-juice
Bob
But people buy pickups for hauling, and will it meet their heavier duty needs? The small SUVs just offer roomy accomodations, and do little towing/hauling.
-juice
Bob
Think we'll see a wide cross section of people buying the Baja, but in not huge numbers. Ya never know. I'm looking forward to seeing it at the NYC Auto Show. If we were to move to the country, I'll probably buy a full-size Toyota or Chevy if we needed a pickup.
John
Bob
Bob
Bob
-mike
mike@iace.com
Hammacher Schlemmer?
Lowe's
Handy-Andy Baja
-Brian
For what I do, I don't need a water proof cargo area, but my wife would. Thing is, she's next in line for a trade-in. Maybe if there was an optional removable cap?
A Home Depot tie-in would be very smart. Or maybe a more niche-oriented gardening company, maybe Toro or Scotts, something along those lines.
The Burpee Baja! LOL
-juice
It still needs a 3.0 engine option...
Bob
-juice
Bob
-juice
Stephen
Maybe next generation if this one succeeds.
- John
Let's hope that by then, Subaru will have had enough time to address all the current model shortcomings (looks, function & power).
Bob
-mike
Ed
Bob
If you want a preview of a Baja Shorty, look at the Chevy Borrego. 250hp 2.0l turbo based on the WRX. By the way, I really liked it when I saw it up close. Now THAT is an active lifestyle vehicle.
Intersting note about the short life cycle for this model, Bob. It has to sell reasonably well to continue to exist, though.
-juice
Bob
I hope they build the next gen even if this one doesn't sell that well. I really think an H6 with a true switchback and maybe a longer wheelbase would sell strongly, even if this one doesn't. I'll throw in beefier towing and payload while I'm at it.
-juice
-mike
*This negative comment brought to you by the disgruntled Isuzu owners of the world!
That leaves a rather huge gap for the next Baja. I think they could make lots of improvements without it overlapping with the GM/Isuzu crew cab. Subaru could go sport/luxury while I'm sure GM's will be a major workhorse.
-juice
-mike
Then again, how many foresaw all the car-based SUVs cutting so much into the truck-based SUV market?
Bob
But I'm sure Isuzu will make is heavy duty enough that it won't overlap much with the Baja.
-juice
Bob
TWRX