Oh great so if I go to home depot and load up my truck with 25-30 bags of concrete mix, and then try to drive home at say 10mph, it won't let me go into gear? Luckily there will likely be a relay or fuse I could pull in that situation, or someone will find an override like the DRLs. I don't understand why if people see the back of their truck is sagging down that there might be a problem with the amount of load they are putting in it. They should inspect their vehicle whenever they are loading it up with stuff and therefore would see that it's sitting rather low in the back that it has been overloaded. Personal responsibility is not stressed enough in this country and this would just feed right into that.
I wonder if it just sounded a warning for the driver, to let you know. I guess it could even register the fact in ODBII memory, but that's too Big Brother for me.
of alerting the driver that don't have to be too intrusive. Big trucks have gauges and warning systems out the wazoo; their drivers don't seem to find it a problem.
Also need them for federal laws I'd suspect and cost around 100k to buy Like I said we can't even get oil pressure oil temp amps and volts guages which would be very useful, let alone a guage that could potentially get them sued.
It seems most of the Japanese car makers are developing new and cleaner diesels for the European market. Conspicuously absent from the list is Subaru. I really think if Subaru intends to put much of a sales dent in Europe, they will need to offer a diesel at some point.
anything other than a "boxer-type" engine will fit under the skin without extensive chassis and/or front suspension modifications. If Isuzu can build a boxer diesel, then fine.
Impreza and Legacy diesels, not Justy or Pleos. Of the "really small" Subarus, only the Justy is sold in Europe, and not in all countries IIRC. I think Pleos and Sambars are pretty much home-market vehicles. They may(?) be also sold in other Asian countries, but I don't know.
Legacy is too low-volume in Europe to justify the development costs. Unless it can inherit the powertrain used in the Impreza (could be easy).
But the volume is in Pleo sized cars. Remember the HM-01?
Build a diesel for that. That's what would sell in Europe, heck Brazil too.
Slightly off topic, did you read that article in last week's AN about Lutz wanting future Grand Ams and Malibus to compete in the $30k price range? Has Lutz gone NUTS? Those are $16-18k cars, not even $20k plus. No way, no how will people pay $30 grand for a Grand Am, even if it does reach Camry levels of refinement. They would still have to carry a $5k price edge.
Just picked up my wife from the airport. She was in Japan for a two week trip.
One of the goodies she brought back for me was a special issue of "Car Top" -- a Japanese car magazine -- dedicated to the 2003 Forester. Lots of cool photos, pics and diagrams in there.
I'll look through it later and maybe take some digital pix of ones that are interesting.
If they build one diesel boxer, that would work for both the Legacy and Impreza. Diesels are such an important part of the European (and world) car landscape. In just the UK alone, almost 36% of the cars sold are diesels. I find it hard to understand why Subaru has ignored them. They have publicly stated that they want to make a much larger impact in Europe. Diesels are an obvious solution to that.
See if you can get wheelbase and ground clearance measurements. They've been either vague or contradictory so far.
Subaru has a premium, performance image in the land of Prodrive. Diesels are mainstream. Yes, they could use them to expand, but they'd be leaving their niche and maybe watering down their image.
I really don't think it'll be a boxer, or even a Subaru engine. In fact I just read an interview in AN with a GM honcho, and he says that GM's new V6s will make their way into the Subaru products.
We've seen the Traviq, now I hear about GM V6s, and Isuzu has diesels on the shelf. You really think Subaru is going to develop their own boxer?
Largest shareholder does not make you the controlling interest by a long shot.It sure helps but if even two other shareholders with combined interests larger than the largest shareholder have a similar mind set, the other guy is history. Ask Honda, they had a far larger share of Rover and the UK govt didn't even ask them to bid when they sold to BMW! Though we all know why that was.
Had a chance to thumb through the Forester magazine this evening. Pretty cool stuff in there showing off the various features and accessories. There's even a write up on how Subaru ended up with the final design complete with sketches of the intermediate concepts. I'll try and scan some pics if anyone's interested.
The ground clearance is 200mm and wheelbase 2525mm.
Graham's link in Meet the Members also says 200mm clearance. That's 7.9", which is more than before, not the same. I've also heard 190mm from at least one source, and that's what the old model had. To me the 7.9" makes sense because it matches the H6 models. The Forester should have the most clearance of any Subie.
20mm wider inside, that's almost an inch. 25mm more rear leg room, we finally got a measurement on that. That's about an inch.
Still not roomy, but probably adequate, especially for kids.
• Now that all new '03 Foresters will have 16" wheels, do you think the Impreza TS and Legacy L will also get 16" wheels too? It simplifies productions in that there are are fewer tire choices to inventory and deal with.
• Do you think '03 Legacys, Outbacks and Imprezas will do away with the truck keyhole, like they did with the new '03 Forester?
• There has been much talk here about the need for a larger Subaru sedan. What if Subaru added a long-wheelbase Legacy sedan to the existing sedan mix? In Germany, both BMW and Mercedes have had long and short wheelbase versions of their large sedans for years. Could (should?) Subaru consider offering such a car. If they added another 4" to the wheelbase—and gave all that extra space to the rear seat passengers, just like the Germans, do you think it could be marketed here? Keep the existing sedan, but add a long-wheelbase version; it would certainly be cheaper than creating an all-new larger model.
I was reading through my Forester magazine last night and picked up two interesting tidbits:
- The JDM 2.0 Turbo engine for the Forester was retuned for this new model. Subaru traded off 20 ps of peak power (240->220ps) to increase low/mid-end torque. Peak torque remains the same at 31.5kg-m. The net effect allows the Forester to accelerate faster. SOJ saw 0-100kmh acceleration improve from 7.2sec to 7.0sec.
Unfortunately, no. I've been searching on Google and Yahoo Japan, but nothing comes up. The magazine name is "Car Top" and the publisher "Kotsu Times Sha". If there is a Japanese bookstore in your area (ie. Kinokuniya) you might be able to find it there.
Interesting thought, Bob. The thing is with 16" wheels you get 55 series tires on both the Impreza and the Legacy. Are those too sporting for the TS and the L models? Maybe.
But I'd like to see 4 wheel disc brakes standard across the board, and maybe those 16" wheels and tires, too. Subaru is all about traction, so it makes sense.
Will key holes disappear? I guess yes on the Legacy, since it's getting updated. The Impreza may get it next year, if and when it's face lifted.
A long wheelbase Legacy sounds good, but it may need to be a little wider, too. Still, it would be a top contender for my wife, who feels the current Legacy is a bit small (same size as her 626, but she wants more space).
Forester gets 30mm more rear leg room? I read 25mm somewhere else. We can't decide on ground clearance either (190mm or 200mm). Sounds good, though, especially if the front seat has more travel. Total leg room should be significantly better.
Bring on the 220 horses! Though that may make the 2.5l turbo a goner.
Interesting draft proposals. I like the one they chose the best, to be honest. The others are:
1. Closest to the actual, but a few styling cues were added. 2. Baja cladding on rear too much. 3. RAV4 look-a-like 4. Santa Fe look-a-like, and the ugliest proposal. 5. Mountaineer headlights
The photos of the cargo area show strut towers that look pretty much like mine. I don't see how they are less intrusive.
Juice, if you make it wider, then it really becomes a different car. My suggestion is to try and get as roomy a Legacy sedan as possible, without drastic changes. The Audi/BMW/MB formula, of adding a stretched wheelbase version and giving all that extra room to rear passengers, seems to be the most cost-effective way of doing that.
I like the idea of a stretched wheelbase, but the width is a problem, you can't fit 3 adults across the back seat of a legacy, not for more than 5 minutes.
Even more interesting is the comment that Subaru regards turbos as much as they do AWD and boxer engines as being part of their brand identity. That suggests to me that more turbos are in store, perhaps even more than we're already expecting...
when the next Legacy debuts it will be wider? The interesting thing about legroom, especially rear legroom, is that is often how "perceptions" of roomieness are formed. The car could be narrow, but if it has gobs of rear legroom, people tend to think of it being roomy. Rarely do customers test with seating three-abreast.
Bob: I know exactly what you mean, but the cars they stretch are already wide-bodies. The Legacy is not.
If not 3 across in the back seat, then maybe a 3rd row seat? Even for kiddos? Nah, not likely. The SUW will address that.
It's an interesting thought, Bob. It would need the H6, though, and the question is, could Subaru charge any more for a Legacy? I dunno, people gawk at any prices in the 30s.
Comments
--Bart
-juice
-Brian
I noticed something interesting - the interior on the Freelander uses a dash material similar to the Lexus IS300. That matte black, padded stuff.
I don't particularly like it, but I knew I had seen it before when I sat in the Freelander.
-juice
-mike
I wonder if it just sounded a warning for the driver, to let you know. I guess it could even register the fact in ODBII memory, but that's too Big Brother for me.
-juice
Bob
-mike
Bob
http://www.veh-tech.net/
-juice
Bob
-juice
Bob
But the volume is in Pleo sized cars. Remember the HM-01?
Build a diesel for that. That's what would sell in Europe, heck Brazil too.
Slightly off topic, did you read that article in last week's AN about Lutz wanting future Grand Ams and Malibus to compete in the $30k price range? Has Lutz gone NUTS? Those are $16-18k cars, not even $20k plus. No way, no how will people pay $30 grand for a Grand Am, even if it does reach Camry levels of refinement. They would still have to carry a $5k price edge.
-juice
One of the goodies she brought back for me was a special issue of "Car Top" -- a Japanese car magazine -- dedicated to the 2003 Forester. Lots of cool photos, pics and diagrams in there.
I'll look through it later and maybe take some digital pix of ones that are interesting.
Ken
Bob
-Dennis
No, I didn't see that article.
Bob
Subaru has a premium, performance image in the land of Prodrive. Diesels are mainstream. Yes, they could use them to expand, but they'd be leaving their niche and maybe watering down their image.
I really don't think it'll be a boxer, or even a Subaru engine. In fact I just read an interview in AN with a GM honcho, and he says that GM's new V6s will make their way into the Subaru products.
We've seen the Traviq, now I hear about GM V6s, and Isuzu has diesels on the shelf. You really think Subaru is going to develop their own boxer?
Not me.
-juice
-james
Bob
GM has a 20% stake. I think it happened about a year or two ago.
-juice
Bob
http://www.gminsidenews.com/torotrak3.htm
-mike
The ground clearance is 200mm and wheelbase 2525mm.
Ken
20mm wider inside, that's almost an inch. 25mm more rear leg room, we finally got a measurement on that. That's about an inch.
Still not roomy, but probably adequate, especially for kids.
-juice
Check out the new Maybach "Bark-o-Lounger!" It's perfect for the dentist on the run...
Enter as a "Guest," then follow the links to the "Maybach Press Kit," then to "Photos."
Bob
http://media.daimlerchrysler.com/gms_frame
Nissan's SUV looks like a copy of the Vehicross. Don't people avoid 2 doors?
-juice
BTW, it is a twin turbo 5.5L V12; just what your wife needs...
Bob
For me, it's gotta cost under $30 grand and get 20mpg city.
-juice
-mike
• Do you think '03 Legacys, Outbacks and Imprezas will do away with the truck keyhole, like they did with the new '03 Forester?
• There has been much talk here about the need for a larger Subaru sedan. What if Subaru added a long-wheelbase Legacy sedan to the existing sedan mix? In Germany, both BMW and Mercedes have had long and short wheelbase versions of their large sedans for years. Could (should?) Subaru consider offering such a car. If they added another 4" to the wheelbase—and gave all that extra space to the rear seat passengers, just like the Germans, do you think it could be marketed here? Keep the existing sedan, but add a long-wheelbase version; it would certainly be cheaper than creating an all-new larger model.
Bob
Jim J.
- The JDM 2.0 Turbo engine for the Forester was retuned for this new model. Subaru traded off 20 ps of peak power (240->220ps) to increase low/mid-end torque. Peak torque remains the same at 31.5kg-m. The net effect allows the Forester to accelerate faster. SOJ saw 0-100kmh acceleration improve from 7.2sec to 7.0sec.
- The rear seats get 30mm of extra legroom :-)
Ken
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/kentaros98/lst?.dir=/Forester&.view=l
I didn't have a scanner handy so I had to use my digital camera. My apologies if the quality isn't very good.
Enjoy,
Ken
Bob
Unfortunately, no. I've been searching on Google and Yahoo Japan, but nothing comes up. The magazine name is "Car Top" and the publisher "Kotsu Times Sha". If there is a Japanese bookstore in your area (ie. Kinokuniya) you might be able to find it there.
Ken
But I'd like to see 4 wheel disc brakes standard across the board, and maybe those 16" wheels and tires, too. Subaru is all about traction, so it makes sense.
Will key holes disappear? I guess yes on the Legacy, since it's getting updated. The Impreza may get it next year, if and when it's face lifted.
A long wheelbase Legacy sounds good, but it may need to be a little wider, too. Still, it would be a top contender for my wife, who feels the current Legacy is a bit small (same size as her 626, but she wants more space).
Forester gets 30mm more rear leg room? I read 25mm somewhere else. We can't decide on ground clearance either (190mm or 200mm). Sounds good, though, especially if the front seat has more travel. Total leg room should be significantly better.
Bring on the 220 horses! Though that may make the 2.5l turbo a goner.
Interesting draft proposals. I like the one they chose the best, to be honest. The others are:
1. Closest to the actual, but a few styling cues were added.
2. Baja cladding on rear too much.
3. RAV4 look-a-like
4. Santa Fe look-a-like, and the ugliest proposal.
5. Mountaineer headlights
The photos of the cargo area show strut towers that look pretty much like mine. I don't see how they are less intrusive.
Nice catch, Ken.
-juice
Bob
-mike
Bob
http://www.veh-tech.net/
Bob
-mike
If not 3 across in the back seat, then maybe a 3rd row seat? Even for kiddos? Nah, not likely. The SUW will address that.
It's an interesting thought, Bob. It would need the H6, though, and the question is, could Subaru charge any more for a Legacy? I dunno, people gawk at any prices in the 30s.
-juice
-mike