Subaru Crew Cafe

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Comments

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101662
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    And if they bring the Firepower to life, heads will turn and jaws will drop and Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda and everyone else will have more than designs to worry about.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    What Bob said. They sell fewer, so if you divide the total cost of development and production by the volume sold, manuals can indeed cost more.

     

    Usually they are bundled with a sports package, and they cost less or about the same as an automatic with the extra-cost sports pack.

     

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I predict that within 5 years you will be paying extra for manual transmissions since they sell so few of them. I wouldn't be suprised that they cost more to design/build already but the market isn't willing to pay more - yet.

     

    Acura already does the auto and manual at the same price in the TSX like the Corvette.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think on low-end cars, where more people tend to buy sticks, they may last a little longer.

     

    But I think 93% of cars sold in the US are automatics. Even if it costs less it might just be greater demand, so they can charge more.

     

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I'll go even further. I say in a few years the only manual trannys will be 6-speeds found only on really sporty models. I think even bare-bones econoboxs will come standard with autos at some point.

     

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It would be interesting to know the % of manuals vs. automatics on all cars that offer both, i.e. when there is a choice.

     

    Many, many cars come in auto-only, especially domestics. So that skews the numbers quite a bit.

     

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I think on low-end cars, where more people tend to buy sticks, they may last a little longer.

     

    That's probably true but then again how many of the people who buy low end cars (first timers, college kids, twenty somethings) today know how to drive stick? I bet even in that segment, autos represent over 90% of sales.

     

    edit - I'll agree with Bob: autos even in low enders and sticks/dsg's offered in sporty vehicles as an extra cost option.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If 93% are autos, 7% stick, and probably half of all cars aren't even availble with stick shifts, then for the cars that do offer it you'd have about 14% stick.

     

    -juice
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    link for the webcams at the Chicago Auto Show: subearu, "Subaru Crew - Events" #2358, 25 Jan 2005 11:55 am

     

    Also, Jeep is going to have a Camp Jeep at the show: http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/showfloor/exhibitor.asp?EXHIBITOR_- ID=15

     

    -Brian
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I enjoy going to this site, as it is a site devoted to those in the car design community. So the comments are from car design professionals, and are geared for car design professionals.

     

    http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2005/detroit/highlights/in- - dex.php#car1

     

    Their final thoughts on the Tribeca:

     

    This six seat SUV is a logical step for the brand as is its generally much progressed and more distinctive design.

     

    Bob
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I say in a few years the only manual trannys will be 6-speeds found only on really sporty models

     

    Perhaps but people have been predicting the demise of the stick for years now. I know that manual trannys are far more common in most overseas markets, anybody know what the ratio is?

     

    -Frank
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Perhaps but people have been predicting the demise of the stick for years now. I know that manual trannys are far more common in most overseas markets, anybody know what the ratio is?

     

    Yeah, but even that's changing. I hate to say it, but the future for manual trannys looks pretty bleak.

     

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It sounds like Jeep wants some of the Subaru market. So what else is new?

     

    http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050125/BUSINES- S05/50125014

     

    Bob
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Jeep wants some of 1%?

     

    ~c
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I know that manual trannys are far more common in most overseas markets, anybody know what the ratio is?

     

    Roughly the opposite of here IIRC but even places like the UK are seeing growth for automatics. IIRC, the UK is something like 30% of the market now.

     

    http://cars.msn.co.uk/carnews/manualorauto/Default.asp
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    Jeep wants some of 1%?

     

    good one
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Even in Brazil - automatics are common place now. In the 80s they were unheard of.

     

    The majority still gets stick shift, though, because fuel economy is the number 1, 2, and 3 priority.

     

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
  • damish003damish003 Member Posts: 303
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    when Edmunds archived topics before they reached about 2000 posts? Now MTM is almost at 24k! :-)

     

    -Frank
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    LOL yep, that Well Engaged software was really awful. :)

     

    ~c
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    10,000+ posts and they're all searchable now. ;-)

     

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    except for the ones that get baleeted! :-D

     

    ~Colin
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Take the new Lexus GS430 V8 and add in the Hybrid motor and viola - more performance.

     

    To bow in Chicago.

     

    Lexus is going for performance rather than economy.
  • beanboybeanboy Member Posts: 442
    10,000 bottles of beer! Take ten down, change your spark plugs on your Soobie, take ten more down... 9,980 bottles of beer on the wall...

     

    -B
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Straight line performance should be excellent, the question is how will the extra mass affect the sporty character the rest of the time?

     

    Braking and handling will be adversely affected.

     

    The idea is new so we'll see how it plays out. The Accord hybrid gets by because the regular sedan isn't all that sporty to begin with, so there wasn't much to lose.

     

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Good question but I don't think may Lexus drivers will be hitting the apexes!!
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I don't know what the exact numbers are, but the ratio of automatic to manual trannies sold in Japan has significantly increased over the last 10-15 years.

     

    I remember way back when practically everyone drove stick -- it was a no-brainer given that the driver's license road test required being able to drive stick and the scarcity of cars with large displacement engines.

     

    Then some time ago, the laws were relaxed allowing people to get an "auto-tranny only" license. Many people scoffed at it as being a cop-out. Now, almost everyone I know who owns a car in Japan drives an auto-tranny.

     

    Here's an interesting article I found for Western Europe:

     

    http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb177358.htm

     

    It claims 80% of all vehicles sold there were manual trannies.

     

    Ken
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Ken that is interesting. I bet 10 years ago the percentage was half that number, or even lower. And I bet in another 10 years that percentage will double, if not more.

     

    Bob
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Brian,

     

    I take it you enjoyed the scraped knuckles and sore back that comes with a plug change??

     

    Steve
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    GS is the sportier Lexus, so you may be wrong about that.

     

    At least I think handling does matter on that model.

     

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    OK I'll buy that but I refute that the addtional weight will make it a handling slug as per your earlier post. We don't even know how much weight the hybrid powerplant will add.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Yeah Ken when you are paying around 7 to 8 bucks for a gallon of gas a stick makes more sense than an auto. A high percentage of cars there are diesel as well.

     

      Cheers Pat.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    sort of like a mutant SEMA show for the JDM folks.

     

    http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101685

     

    I think some sort of nuclear dirty design bomb was set off in several design studios.

     

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Gezz... When will this ever end???

     

    http://www.detnews.com/2005/highschools/0501/31/A01-75038.htm

     

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Good question, let's see how much weight it adds. Those batteries aren't light.

     

    I think it matters less on an SUV like the Escape and even on an economy-minded car like the Prius.

     

    Perhaps the GS is already sort of heavy, so as a % of total body weight the batteries aren't that significant? We'll see.

     

    Anyone driven an Accord hybrid yet?

     

    Another thing is they some times put low-rolling-resistance tires on there, that just makes handling worse.

     

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Another thing is they some times put low-rolling-resistance tires on there, that just makes handling worse.

     

    Only if they are going for fuel economy.

     

    juice - temper your pessimism on hybrids and I'll temper mine on alfaesque grills. :)
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    fibber2, "Subaru Crew Cafe" #10013, 28 Jan 2005 10:24 pm

     

    with that many beers... don't think he'll notice ;-)

     

    -Dave
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Rob - DEAL! lol

     

    I guess I'll have to wait and see how the execution goes. I like the Prius.

     

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=8069

     

    The only error I saw was that they mentioned a 1100 pound payload. That's incorrect, or at least misleading. The payload is over 1500 pounds, of which 1100 can be in the bed.

     

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Body part 1

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020138- 200&mime=ASC

     

    Body part 2

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020137- 964&mime=ASC

     

    Chassis

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020137- 762&mime=ASC

     

    Powertrain part 1

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020137- 617&mime=ASC

     

    Powertrain part 2

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020137- 372&mime=ASC

     

    Interior part 1

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020137- 148&mime=ASC

     

    Interior part 2

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020136- 983&mime=ASC

     

    Accessories

    http://autodeadline.com/detail?source=Honda&mid=HON2005020136- 323&mime=ASC
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Interesting, it's not that long but it's wider than all the compact truck competition.

     

    The bed is tall and wide, like Bob you can lay 4' plywood flat if you leave the tail gate down.

     

    ATF cooler is standard. Though it probably needed that since that tranny has not held up well in other trucks with the 3.5l.

     

    Interior specs put it closer to full-size than mid-size competitors.

     

    My fave:

     

    VTM-4 system anticipates the need for all-wheel drive and engages the rear wheels before slippage begins

     

    That's what the CR-V cannot do, but every Subie can.

     

    Even so, it's not a full-time system, they go on to say:

     

    By 18 mph, the lock mode is fully disengaged. When vehicle speed drops below 18 mph, the lock mode automatically reengages

     

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Overview part 1

    http://hondanews.com/CatID2135?mid=2005020140012&mime=asc

     

    Overview part 2

    http://hondanews.com/CatID2135?mid=2005020139840&mime=asc

     

    Overview part 3

    http://hondanews.com/CatID2135?mid=2005020138837&mime=asc

     

    They describe the vehicle as designed to handle "medium off-roading," which is what 99% of their owners will engage in. Those 1% of hardcore off-roaders will look elsewhere.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Did you notice a locking hard bed cover is a dealer option? Plus there were some other unusual bed options available too.

     

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just now...

     

    Loading ramp is optional also! It's like they've been reading our "Suggestions" thread.

     

    I realize they have a lot more R&D funds but they sure did sweat the details better than Subaru did with the Baja, that's for sure. Took, what, 2-3 years for Subaru to offer a locking hard bed cover?

     

    I bet they have brochures ready for the launch, too.

     

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://wwwstu.tcu.edu/~mjredic/WRXLimo.jpg
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2005/02/01/019313.html

     

    Yeah, Legacy sedan sales are up, but everything else is down.

     

    Bob
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    but then again how do you show an increase when the previous number was zero?
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