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Comments
My suggestion. Offer a better security, one that actually works, or don't offer it at all. Otherwise, that OEM security will creep up on SoA as a liability.
-Dave
-mike
My point is, the OEM security is like buying insurance that states it covers but doesn't. So what good is it?
-Dave
p/s: If Pebbles get stolen... Que Sera Sera
And Mike it has nothing to do with growing up, some people do get attached to a car for various reasons, but in my experience dealing with the aftermath of an accident or total loss is a royal PITA. unless your insurer offers depreciation protection and a lot do not! you are left to suck up thousands of dollars in depreciation.
In my own situation I really like the car I have now I have personalised it the way I want, but if I was to lose it through a theft especially I would be royally pissed for a lot of reasons not least of which is I could not afford to replace it with a new car. So I would have to settle for used, and any used car would have a hard time satisfying me like the one I have now.
And BTW Mike I respect your right to feel a car is just car and so what, I would ask you to respect the rights of others to whom a car is more than a mere appliance, and I think this description would fit a lot of the members of this crew.
Cheers Pat.
Bob
I'm a car nut (I own 3 and a 4th on the way) and I'm very attached to my cars, but the height that people complain and rant and rave about them getting stolen is unreal IMHO.
As for getting rated? That's how insurance works. It's really just another form of gambling, you are betting something happens to your car, the insurance company is betting that your car won't get stolen. Unfortunately the Insurance company is the house, so if they start to loose money they jack your ante up! But that is life, gotta pay to play folks.
-mike
The cup holders are marginally better than useless. The one in front of the console is soda can only size. The pop out one above the radio, a foolish place for a cupholder as it blocks access to the controls, is enough larger to hold the average household teacup but nothing bigger. Has no one at Subaru ever heard of a koozie for soda cans? Add rear cup holders for at least two people as well.
The dimmer for the dashboard lights should have it's brightest setting equal to when the lights aren't switched on. This would allow the clock etc. to be seen during sunlight hours even with the parking lights switched on to go with the daytime running lights.
There are few storage areas compared to most cars.
Follow the lead of Honda and forget the ashtray, make that another storage area.
Put at least the small roof console of the Forester in these vehicles as well so there's space dedicated to glasses.
Make the flip down above the rear view mirror large enough to completely shield the gap between the sun visors. As it is there are gaps large enough to cause serious sun issues which is what it's supposed to address.
Put pull out extensions in the sun visors so when they are swung in front of the door window they cover totally.
Put a second smaller visor behind the primary one so you can shade both front and side at the same time for driving in twisties.
Make the driver window both auto up and down.
Put defrosters in both door mirrors that work with the rear window defroster. There are lots of mornings when the dew is on them just like on the rear window.
Greater variation in the intermittent speed of the wipers.
There are probably other things that need minor tweeks but that's all I've come up with so far. I'll probably have another idea or three as times goes on.
I doubt there is over $100 cost to Subaru to implement every one of these suggestions and I'd gladly have paid another $150 for my car if it had all these features that should be there anyway.
FHI/SoA can make it a little more difficult by at least rerouting the alarm/horn wiring. They can also have the dealers set the alarms to be more sensitive.
After returning from a trip this past July, I unloaded and removed a Thule cargo box while the alarm was engaged. I didn't even realize it until I went to open the door.
-Dennis
I genenrally let my insurer lose sleep over car theft, though.
-juice
I noticed that the 2004 Nissan Maxima has this feature. I have considered buying it as a spare part from Nissan or one of the other cars that have it and trying to figure out how to install it on my existing cars.
Here in Canada that would be depreciation insurance some company's offer it some don't, some will charge an extra premium some will not give it at any price. If you do not have it you are out of luck all you will get is market value, and we all know that means, getting screwed with a capitol S!
Yep even your car has just hit the street from the showroom no depreciation insurance and it will be classed as a used car.
So as far I am concered I would rather not have any accident my fault or otherwise, or worse total loss due to accident or theft you are usually out of pocket you never ever win in an accident.
Cheers Pat.
The best part is it was not my own insurance that paid, it was the person who hit me. So no claim on top of it all.
To get back to the topic, though, it does look like Subaru could rethink the alarm design, since they're not doing what they are designed to do.
-juice
Replacement Insurance= (never saw for a car here) They'll replace your car with another new one at no charge.
Of the last 5 people I know who had their cars totalled, they all made out on the deal. They were not only not upside down on their loans, but they actually got about 1-2K ABOVE the retail value of the car.
-mike
The company I am with is an exception they give you depreciation insurance for two years.
After that it is whatever the market value is.
( And yes before somebody points it out this is the wrong forum for this discussion)
Cheers Pat.
Thanks for your cooperation!
-mike
Cheers Pat.
http://subaru.com.au/downloads/929304.pdf
Page 8 (Theft Prevention)
I'll post this in the Cafe to discuss further.
-Dennis
make Premium Package available for XT MT in the U.S., not only Canada!
-Brian
-juice
Cheers Pat.
Big engine, no crap. Cloth seats, no sunroof (OK if you must-- but please none), no gizmos. I can install my own killer stereo and navigation stuff if I want it.
-Colin
Cheers Pat.
The moonroof, well, that's just for me. I'll go aftermarket if needed, but nothing would be as sizable as the OEM one.
I was thrilled with the ride in the AT WRX, and the XT MT was even more thrilling. Hence the ability to settle lol, but I'm willing to wait a bit if needed.
-Brian
* 5-speed SportShift
* 17" wheels standard
So let the Legacy be the first US models to "debut" with these features, but quickly get them in the WRX and Forester. Please, pretty please...
Bob
* Imprezas get an additional power outlet in the center console, like what the new Foresters have.
Bob
Subaru needs to get that hybrid B9 Scrambler technology into an AWD Subie soon. After having driven the Prius, I'm really hoping the new 7-passenger crossover will be offered with a hybrid option. It's the wave of the future for mainstream, family-oriented vehicles. I'm now convinced of that.
Bob
We all know what happened last time subaru tried to go mainstream....
-mike
Bob
-mike
If the 7 seater carries a premium price, hybrid technology might be the one thing that convinces me to spend more than I had intended.
Particularly if it could double as a generator.
-juice
-mike
Torque can be phenomenal, how does 295 lb-ft at idle sound?
Me likey. But I want it in a wagon/SUV shape, or even a minivan. And AWD, of course.
-juice
-mike
Battery technology has improved, and the system is better integrated now (which you said was your top requirement). Sorting that out, plus cost, has been the obstacle up to now.
FWIW, Toyota made a profit on the last Prius, they recovered their full investment. Not bad for a tiny niche car. I doubt Baja has recovered its investment, for instance.
It's not free - it costs more, primarily. But no sales tax, tax deductions, and fuel efficiency can offset that.
Prime benefits? Torque and range.
-juice
And if it's gonna cost me more...
It's gotta cost the same or it won't do it for me personally.
-mike
Look at the sea of choices in big SUVs now, crossovers, 7 seat wagons, whatever.
The one thing they all have in common is poor fuel efficiency, basically. I almost passed out when I saw the Armada got 13/19 mpg. And that's pretty good!
The RX and Highlander will probalby be first to market, then either Ford (if they can get it working) or Subaru. If they can get mileage up into the 20s, it would appeal to me and to my wife, and to Bob, and to lots of families that gawk at the 13 number on the Armada's Monroney.
-juice
-mike
The fact that no sales tax is incurred and tax deductions take place are signs of federal government's intention to draw more customers to this market. Though the price is alittle more than we would like to expect, the fact that it consumes less and insurance companies wouldn't be so concerned about any vandalism to these vehicles, would reflect an 'energy efficient' investment ;-) So, you still come out on top!
Now, I agree.... get me a Subaru to offer this in their SUV or wagon and I'd seriously consider it!
Oh, by the way... yes... surprising enough, I'm starting to post in other threads than just the Legacy/Outback one. LOL!
My wife would want something a little smaller, and I'm not sure I could talk her into pumping smelly diesel fuel. She doesn't like pumping gas!
Just remember, Middle America, the suburban soccer mom, has a *lot* of buying power. Not too many people tow race-cars! You're in the minority.
Point being, even though it might not suit you, it might suit the bulk of buyers out there.
-juice
As for the long-term investments, we don't know the costs of repairs longterm on these units. How many miles do the batteries last? etc.
I'm not rich enough to invest in something like that which has no track record. I'll leave it to the rich folks to do that.
It's a great idea, I'd just like to see it come in on par with non-hybrid vehicles in the same class and it'll fly off the shelves. No reason they can't amortize the cost over the non-hybrids.
-mike
Um... yeah, maybe... Give Edmunds a chance to "Long Term Road Test" these cars, then we'll have an idea...
and since demand won't be high, parts would be scares aside from expensive, hence cultivating a grey market [unproven non-OEM parts] and stolen cars for genuine OEM parts... there goes the insurance ;-)
-Dave
OK, that last one is full-size, but barely. ;-)
Subaru's demographic average income is probably $80k/year or more, the buyers can afford it.
I do think they'd have a non-hybrid model to offer for sale as well. But let's say the hybrid costs $3 grand more.
Well, they're talking pricing where the VDC leaves off, so sales tax in MD alone cuts that difference in less than half (5% tax on a $33k car would be a whopping $1650!)
Then you add your tax credit.
Let's ignore the half price fuel cost, assuming that goes towards the battery replacement.
The torque is still there. Plus it's whisper quiet at idle, Lexus like. Those soccer moms will love instant pickup and quietness. Add a generator for those power outages, which costs about $2 grand by itself, and you'll find enough buyers. We're not talking Explorer volume, but maybe 50-80k sales per year.
-juice
-juice
Ed
I just don't understand the reasoning behind the higher pricing, no doubt they are getting $$$$ from the gov for them as manufacturers... Oh well, I say make em the same or slightly higher in price and you'll have em selling like hot cakes.
-mike
Judging from the damage to my car, the thieves stuck something through the window and hit the door unlock switch (after clipping the horn wires in the grille).
Seems like fairly simple and inexpensive changes to make on the WRX.
(Page 8)
"Door locks...
One of the most common access points for auto thieves is via the door lock linkages through the
window glass aperture.
To prevent entry via this means, the linkage from the inner door handle and locking knob is now via protected cables. This means that manipulation of the cable via this point will not unlock the ve hicle. The interior locking knob has also been recessed into the door trim and cover to inhibit attack from the outside via the window glass/door sealing rubber using a long wire implement/tool. ..."