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Comments
Of course you can post here!
Haven't heard anything about a sunroof. This has been discussed a lot around the web. The more performance types prefer that it doesn't come with a sunroof because that would lessen the structual integrity. Also, less chance of leaks and squeaks.
Dennis
Bit-
Can't ya get one used?
"Do you know the muffin man....?"
-Colin
Just saw Moulin Rouge last night. A bit eccentric if not a visually stunning film. Lots of songs from the 80s.
Ken
Greg
Patti, please send pre-broadcast tape to Edmunds members for screening. ;-)
Thomas Doll, EVP & CFO, stated the WRX and WRC have the same AWD system (and other similarities). *cough* ;-)
At one point the announcer called the VDC a VCD (not to be confused with OCD).
Good show though. For anyone who hasn't seen it, it's basically an infomercial on Speedvision that several manufactures have.
Thomas Doll also said that 18 months from March 01, the ST-X AND the new Forester would debut. I know a little while ago in the Future Forum, we were trying to guess when each one would debut.
Dennis
How was last weeks chat?
Patti
Dennis
I too was surprised/confused by the release info on the next Forester. It sounds like it will be released to the US market in September of '02, not March of '02.
Bob
Bob
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=3671&sid=270&n=158
Stephen
Serge
Your letter was pretty mild compared to some of the others that were published, LOL!
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Dennis
-Frank P.
Ken
Stephen
I guess what I'm really asking is, does Edmunds have a major or minor impact on future SOA product decisions?
Lastly, do your other resources generally follow suit with what's said here at Edmunds? Or, are we considered more of a group of "enthusisists," and less representative of more "mainstream" Subaru customers?
Bob
Ed
Bob
http://townhall.edmunds.com/cgi-bin/townhall.uk
The question is: Why have a UK forum too, if they're the same posts as found here?
Bob
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
However, Edmunds is the only internet site where "we" participate. Therefore, it is the only place where I gather data for direct reporting to product planning and other departments. Because Subaru is very interested in the commentary we gather here, it does carry some weight in future product decisions. I am providing them with direct quotes vs. numbers which helps us demonstrate a truer customer feeling from everyone here.
I do not edit or pick and choose commentary to forward on.
Our partnership with Edmunds is really important to us, so everyones feedback is read with a high level of interest.
Hope this helps.
Patti
How did SoA gather input on the ST-X? Didn't they use the public for that?
Dennis
-mike
There are some issues related to "idea" sharing and "ownership" of ideas. They have used some focus groups, but mostly it is folks here at SOA.
A forum for Edmunds folks has been suggested, but so far, there are still issues that have to be resolved.
Meanwhile, I'll just keep copying your thoughts and sending them on up!
Patti
I'm sure though SOAs law dept can arrange for a disclaimer form that we can all sign. I know there are focus groups but IIRC they are run by outside agencies who then report their findings back to SOA.
I'd sign a "I'm not gonna sue you for putting my good idea in your cars" waiver. Afterall, if I had the resources and knowledge to build it myself, I would do it myself!
-mike
Patti: Hosting a focus group in Cherry Hill (followed by [ahem] an autocross at Garden State Park) would be great for those of us in the area, but then you'd miss out on the input of people in your other traditionally strong areas, like New England, the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest. I imagine you (meaning SoA) also want to expand your market share in areas where you haven't been so strong, like the Sunbelt and other flatlands. The ride & drive in Arizona is one example; another place you should probably schedule events is in the Great Smokies in North Carolina or Tennessee. I've seen tons of Subarus of all vintages and models hauling hikers, bikers and paddlers to the Ocoee and Nantahala rivers and the head of the Appalachian Trail.
Another good idea might be to import examples of Subaru vehicles for other markets (no, I don't mean just those juicy WRX variants) for display and maybe test driving to determine if North American focus groups would like to have some of those features - which would come from the corporate parts bin - available for their vehicles.
Anyway, I ramble. See what happens when you don't post for a while?
Ed
We have lots of Subies out here too. In fact, I'm told the largest volume dealer in the nation is right here -- Carlsen in Redwood City. Combine that with Marin, Diablo, Santa Cruz, Oakland, South SF and Stevens Creek dealerships and I'm sure we're snapping up quite a few Subaurs in the US.
Ken
TIA
Mark
We flew - my days of overnight Banzai runs (DC to Tampa in 14 hours stopping only for gas) are over.
What did I miss? Nice life saving Legacy story. Stephen's now famous letter, which apparently had enough of an affect on the Editors that they picked the WRX among the college grad's choice for cars.
Ed: if they import "juicy WRX variants" that means they belong to me right? ;-)
-juice
I could keep it on topic by saying we'd drive there???
Cheers!
Paul
We rented a Montana for the week we were there, and I thought I'd share some impressions. First the good.
It's great to have that kind of passenger space. We karted around 7 people all over the place, never wishing for more room. Dual A/C cranks more cold air than necessary, and the power door was handy when you had a sleeping toddler in your arms. The engine was peppy off the line, at least initially. One gas tank lasted us all week.
But quality is just not there. This ain't no Subaru. Rattles and shakes galore, in a minivan with just 18k miles. The air bag idiot light kept coming on (they said ignore it), and left us less than confident about its already poor safety ratings. The auto door was possessed and would open and close itself on occasion, once slightly injuring my wife. The interior lights worked only intermittently. The ride was smooth until you hit sharp bumps, then a thump would shake the entire chassis down to the bone - inexcusable with tall 215/70 tires. Handling was deliberate, but OK given the size of this boat (felt like it to me, anyway). The van ran out of steam once out of 1st gear, and shifts were very slow.
Overall, it's kind of funny, but it made a strong argument for owning a minivan, just not THIS minivan.
Then again, my dad's Ford just had its tranny go, and needs $2000 of work. So no more Fords for us. C'mon Subaru, think you can get that 2005 SUW to us by, say 2003?
-juice
Reading your Montana critique made me think of 2 items: I wish Subaru made a minivan, and it redeemed our choice 6 years ago to get a Villager. A little small, but solid, good ride & power. As my clan grows up, we're gonna need a Suburban, but not quite yet!
Go do laundry!
Cheers!
Paul
Bob
http://www.carreview.com/reviews/suv/index_byrating.shtml
-mike
Nice to be back with Sandy. We took two cars to the airport to pickup my brother (wife, 2 kids) and once again I realized why I love wagons. Our 626 could not fit two big suitcases. Sandy carried four.
I'll try to pop in on occasion, but with guests it won't be as often. Plus I'm at modem speeds instead of T1.
-juice
Bob
-juice
I saw an Aztec in person for the first time the other day and the pictures in the ads don't do them justice. It's the homeliest car I've ever seen!! I can't think of anything to compare it to. Gremlins pop to mind, but they were almost cute compared to this.
I just got back from a trip to San Antonio and for the first time in a long time I was happy to be back in my regular car and out of the rental. I had a Grand Am, which was pleasant enough, just not as smooth as the Legacy.
look forward to chatting tomorrow! :-}
Kevin
Cargo Carrier - This months Consumers Report has articles on Cargo Carriers and Child Seats. Worth a look. Not many seats out there with ISOFIX / LATCH capability for my new OB.
-Greg
Anyway, we missed you.
Hey - side note - I actually really missed you folks. I hated not having my PC for a few days, but when I got it home, it didn't work. Good ole' SOA came through and loaned me a keyboard so I could get back on.
Comments on focus groups - duly noted and I'm tryin'!
Patti
I guess what I had in mind was for SoA to bring over some Japanese, European and Australia/New Zealand spec Legacies/Liberties, Foresters and Imprezas for our perusal - not just the high performance WRXes and Blitzens. A lot of us clamor for dual-range trannies but there's a whole lot more to offer. UK spec Foresters have a lot of neat stuff: self-leveling suspensions, inboard arm rests (which would negate the need for the center armrest option and open up another cupholder for those who care), headlight washers, headlight beam level adjusters. The Prodrive WR Sport option for the S Turbo has had my mind racing for the last 7 months since I saw it - I'd love to have a Prodrive or STi exhaust for my car rather than those loud Stromungs with their coffee can tips.
I know that there was an Impreza 22B brought to the US for testing and driving by the motoring press - saw clips of it on Maryland Public Television's Motorweek - so maybe it could be done with some of the more pedestrian models.
Ed
Speaking of Old Town, they had a "Cruise In" with classic cars, which was totally cool. All 1972 or earlier cars, basically, hundreds of them.
My personal favorite was a 1928 (yes, twenty-eight) Ford Woody 2 door wagon, customized all the way with a big V8 and wood even on the roof! It even had a surf board on the roof rack, and suicide-style doors! Sweet!
Saw a gorgeous Lark too, BTW. Even one of those 50s folding hard tops (forget which model right now) on one car. Plenty of the more common classics from the 50s-70s. Great, and lucky timing for me.
No Subies at all. In fact, saw only a handful the entire time. Guess AWD doesn't have the appeal in Florida - yet. Wait 'til the Rex catches on with the import hot rodders down there.
Tati did meet Mickey, and her eyes just lit up. Gotta tell you, it was just great. Made the $50 park fee seem less outrageous.
-juice
Pleased to hear tati liked the park. Question is, did she get more fun than Mum and Dad?
I reckon some of the best fun I've ever had was taking my wife (no kids then) to Disneyland in LA. Somebody gave us a copy of the guidebook that tells you how to minimize the waiting time for the various rides. A fabulous day out and the kids are quite envious when they look through old photo albums with us.
Cheers
Graham