Shifty just started a separate discussion on this, and I wasn't aware of what you mentioned here - that the Forester being sold in January 2008 was still the old model? I couldn't remember when it came out. So is it pretty safe to say that the Forester is pretty much entirely responsible for Subaru sales being up 8% for the month?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Mini sales were up more with the addition of the Clubman (and the intro of the revised Cooper) than Subaru's were with the debut of the new Forester and '09 WRX!
Two brands that had the exactly right product at the exactly right time for the market. ;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
All this talk of Subaru dropping out of the WRC makes me pipe in here, though a little late to be timely to the conversation. The WRC's new Super 2000 class rules specify transverse-mounted engines only. More than Subaru leaving the WRC, the WRC left Subaru. There's no way a small manufacturer is going to redesign their entire engine design philosophy simply to compete in WRC.
That's the problem with all series like the WRC, too many odd rules. One might come to the conclusion that some are designed specifically to exclude a single manufacturer.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
"Despite bucking the downward U.S. sales spiral, Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries reported Tuesday it had widened its loss forecast, largely due to writing off components supplied to bankrupt aircraft-maker Eclipse Aviation Corp., of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fuji supplied the wings for the Eclipse aircraft.
Fuji said its net loss may total $233 million for the year ending March 31 and it won't pay a year-end dividend for the first time in 14 years."
is going to sink Subaru just when it pulls off the neatest hat trick in the book - being the only automaker with increasing sales in the deepest recession since the 30s!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I could be wrong (really, I mean it), but I think later this year, once the comparable sales numbers include the months from last year when the new Forester was available, you'll see that Subaru sales have tanked similarly to other Japanese manufacturers... (is that a run-on sentence, or what?).
Subaru sells a half dozen different models, not just the Forester, and the fact remains that for CY 2008 they were the only ones to be up for the year.
If Subaru is the only profitable unit of FHI, maybe it would be better for Sube to be bought by Toyota, they already own 19.9% is it? As much as I don't like to think of Subaru being owned by another automaker, the fact is FHI is dragging Subaru down.
Of course, would FHI sell? Probably not.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I know this is a response to an old post, but I came across it and figured I would resond...Sioux City, IA now has a Subaru dealer. www.jensen.subaru.com
Comments
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Yeah, January 2008 they were still selling the last generation Forester. Even in March supply was very limited.
So April onwards will be key, same model vs. same model.
Rolls Royce
Mini
Subaru
Of those the only one that sells more than 2 models is Subaru...
Period, undisputable FACTS...
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor
Period, undisputable FACTS... "
And that means what?
Mini is basically a subsidiary of BMW anyway.
Mini is a separate brand, just as is Lexus, Dodge, etc. Yeah, it may be owned by BMW, but it's a brand unto itself.
Bob
Two brands that had the exactly right product at the exactly right time for the market. ;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulations/Pages/FIARallyChampionships.aspx
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Fuji said its net loss may total $233 million for the year ending March 31 and it won't pay a year-end dividend for the first time in 14 years."
Subaru and Mitsubishi Among Japanese Makers Seeking Government Loans (AutoObserver)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Waiting patiently to be proven wrong...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
If Subaru is the only profitable unit of FHI, maybe it would be better for Sube to be bought by Toyota, they already own 19.9% is it? As much as I don't like to think of Subaru being owned by another automaker, the fact is FHI is dragging Subaru down.
Of course, would FHI sell? Probably not.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)