Subaru Crew - Future Models II

cyberpirate · April 2002

On a different note...

Subaru cars have good content (across the line). However, their styling and color choices seems to be out of wack all the time. If they could only change the exteriors a little bit they could be attracting more customers.
Why doesn't subaru offer black color on L models (and in case of forester, not even on S models).
All other colors offered are pretty bland. Since these are low volume vehicles, I don't expect them to offer 15 color choices. However, they should come out with more exciting unique variations. wintergreen metallic is good example - it is unique to subarus (it only looks good on outback tho, not legacys). I have heard that green is liked by many customers.
Regarding styling, they do a good job on the front end and screw up the rear. They could have certainly done better job on rear end of legacy/outback sedans.
Are they trying to be conservative in styling and color choices?
Is it just me, or does others share the same thought?

kens · April 2002

juice & Bob,

Speaking of color, did you see any new color choices/schemes for the Subarus? Is the OB still two-tone? I personally think Subaru should offer a monotone OB a la Legacy Lancaster.

Ken

rsholland · April 2002

Cyber: Styling has long been a Subaru's sore spot. They've recently hired a former Alfa Romeo designer to be their chief designer, but we won't see the fruits of his labor for several years.

Ken: The '03 Legacy GT wagon was silver, as was a '03 Forester. However, on both models, it seemed to me to be a very metallic silver, almost like a "metalflake" type of silver.

One of the '03 Foresters was red. It's a slightly different red from before, with a bit more blue in it. It's closer to the red of the Japanese turbo, that was caught in Canada, but not quite that plum in color. In person I thought it to be very good looking.

The other '03 Outback models seemed to have existing colors.

Bob

lark6 · April 2002

I'm right with you. The addition of SportShift to the WRX and Legacy GT (maybe Forester Turbo?) fits in with my next purchase. Of course there are other factors yet unseen to consider: different job requiring less hauling of work stuff, wife getting new car before I do (she is due one as her Accord has 171K miles), human/animal additions to family, expanding waistline, etc.

A Legacy GT wagon with Sportshift and 200+hp will be hard to resist. Ditto a Forester Turbo with the same or similar drivetrain - even if I still am not crazy about the looks. Subaru needs a more stealthy performance model since the nostril on the WRX hood is the new version of "cop bait" and "arrest-me red" has become "arrest-me World Rally Blue."

Ed

jimmyp1 · April 2002

Half way to Austin at the dealer, that's funny. I have a friend who lives in Bellaire who says I live in East San Antonio (I live in Cinco Ranch = Fry Rd. and I-10 - actually more like FM 1093 and Fry Rd.). I was thinking about the car show myself. My normal companion (father-in-law) is living in Rio De Janeiro right now, so he's out. Don't know what my schedule is. Heck, I don't even know when the car show is happening! Anyway, good luck on the Subaru negotiations with the wife. A WRX wagon doesn't really seem like a wagon when it pins you in your seat

. It is smallish, though.

Jim

hypov · April 2002

Heated seats/mirrors/wipers = YES
Leather = YES
Don't like the wheels on it.

Just got back from the NY Auto Show with Mike and others from the I-Club. Boy am I tired. I think Mike is still making his way back to SI. He's got loads of pics, about 150 (I think) before the battery exhausted.

I hope the WRX puts the Sportshift into the MY'03.

Mark-
it was a shame you had to cut out before even setting foot in Javits Center, but family is much more important. Hope all is well.

-Dave

paisan · April 2002

Also manual Lumbar adjustments on the legacy GT and Forester. 200+ pics.

-mike

paisan · April 2002

The plate will lower down below the hitch point on the final version of the Baja apparently. Although I guess this means you would have to decide before you inserted the tounge that you wanted to run with the rear gate down. That is what the hand model said anyway.

-mike

hypov · April 2002

Looking at the mechanism, I think you could stop the plate from flipping/lowering itself in the way of the hitch point.

Ah, forgot about the lumbar.

Mike- what time did you get home?

-Dave

paisan · April 2002

Got home about 1:15am ish.

-mike

lucien2 · April 2002

I will be real bummed if this car shows up with no manual too. Bereft of a Miata or XT6, I will continue to auto-x in my daily driver, and I just don't think Sportshift is going to cut it there or at the track.

Plus, I really like the control offered by a clutch pedal.

paisan · April 2002

They are a great bargain basement auto-x car, for about $1K + $1.5K of repairs/upgrades you can have a pretty competative H-stock vehicle. I just ordered the tune-up parts for mine $94 including shipping for cap, rotor, plugs,wires, coil, pcv, upper rad hose. Only things left to do on it are steel brake lines, and fix the PS pump/lines.

-mike

sweet_subie · April 2002

For some reason, subaru is reluctant to change the legacy frame for years, wondered why !

If you ,look at the rear door window in New legacy, previous gen legacy since 95, the one before since 87 & even the model prior to legacy the DX's have same rear door window frame....

This retaining the frame but increasing the size of thec car from DX back in 80's to current legacy made it look less optimal ?

Frankly, I hate the rear door, lack of space for easy entry....even cars in small class like jetta, protege beat Legacy big time on this !

anyone knows why subaru is retainning the frame for decades ?

rsholland · April 2002

Leather is new to the GT wagon, which never offered a "Limited" version before. I don't recall seeing the word "Limited" on the wagon, which leads me to wonder if all Legacy GTs now have leather, and that there is no "Limited" model?

Bob

paisan · April 2002

Would be that the leather is optional and they drop the Limited model. Unless of course... They retain the limited sedan model and throw us a bone with an H6

for "Limited" line. Who knows?

-mike

ateixeira · April 2002

Sweet - so the Legacy GT wagon gets the AWP and Shiftronic, plus leather? Nice! I hope the 2.5GT also comes in a manual, because the wife wants heated leather, and you couldn't get that before in a GT wagon.

Good thinking paisan. Put leather in the GT, H6 in the Limited. Maybe the H6 Limited will come out mid-year? If so it would have to get Shiftronic, since the 4 banger has it and the H6 costs more. Sweet!

My Forester has the same lumbar support adjustment, but I guess it's new to the Legacy.

mike: hand model, LOL! They actually had a couple of dealers down there this time. They seemed more knowledgeable than the models at most display stands.

-juice

paisan · April 2002

They were all "self employed" people who do nothing but auto shows. The girl said she really didn't know much more about subarus than what they gave her in the info packet. Pretty sad if you ask me, although they all use em, not just subaru.

The rims on the 2.5GT look like alloy versions of my dad's '97 Legacy L hubcaps! Pretty cheesy if you ask me.

-mike

ateixeira · April 2002

They hire eye candy to attract the masses. Can't say I blame 'em. At least they were nice - one of them showed us how the Baja seats fold.

But there were two guys on the floor that were dealers, Al Horowitz and I forget the other name? Mark? Something like that. Maybe Bob remembers.

They were knowledgeable. I could tell they were dealers, because they talked about certain models of the Outback appealing to a different type of consumer (dead give away).

So, you guys didn't like the rims on the GT? Bob and I did like them, they're simpler than the current model, easier to clean, it seems.

-juice

paisan · April 2002

Some pics are up but not all:

More to come.

-mike

paisan · April 2002

I was suprised at how little Eye Candy there was at the show as far as models. Other years there were a lot more/hotter models, IMHO.

-mike

ateixeira · April 2002

Nice pics, way to go. I'm sorry we couldn't meet up, but in a way it worked out for the best because you guys knew what to look out for.

I really liked that Shiftronic. Back-and-forth shifting is more intuitive than side-to-side like Autostick.

The dash photo has a good shot of the lit key ring.

I was right about the name: 2.5GT. And it does not say Limited. That's a good sign as far as the possibility of the H6 goes.

-juice

rsholland · April 2002

subearu · April 2002

our OB has the lumbar there too.

nice pics btw. those wheels don't look too bad, although I actually liked the current GT wheels, even though they'd be a pain to clean.

-Brian

paisan · April 2002

More pics and a better thumbnail section will be up this evening. There are over 200 pics from the show!

-mike

kens · April 2002

Mike -- Great job on the pics! Keep 'em coming!

Ken

hondafriek · April 2002

Really liked the pics. I do like that new grill and front bumper.

Can,t wait to see it in the flesh.

Cheers Pat.

hondafriek · April 2002

I totally agree with Mikes description of the new GT rims, thats exactly what they look like to me.

Mind you I was not impressed with the current rims either although I like them a lot better than these new ones.

Of course you could always do what I did and go to the aftermarket and keep the origionals for winter.

BTW. there was a limited wagon with leather in Canada, for the model years 97-99.

Cheers Pat.

ateixeira · April 2002

Thanks for reminding us that the USA is not the only country in the world! ;-)

-juice

paisan · April 2002

I believe we had leather in the Legacy GT wagon pre 00 as well.

-mike

bat1161 · April 2002

Nice pics Mike! This is the next best thing to my actually having gone. I figured it was a late night.

Dave, I was sorry to miss the show, but family comes first as you say. I may try to get there this weekend, yet.

Mark

drewsters · April 2002

Did anyone notice if side airbags are now standard on the GT. I went to the show, but forgot to check.

drewsters

ateixeira · April 2002

The pics may reveal that.

-juice

rangerron7 · April 2002

rsholland · April 2002

I like the new ones better. They, IMO, look better in person. Plus they're easier to clean.

Bob

lucien2 · April 2002

I don't think the curent ones are hard at all. all the gaps are big enough for the sponge to fit through easily. It takes me no longer than the 15" alloys on the OB. I DO wish they were 16X7, though. I like the faux bbs look of them, but I also like how my '00 RS rims sorta fill out the wells a bit better. *shrug* still haven't figured out my wheel strategy.

hypov · April 2002

Don't recall seeing that they have 'em

-Dave

rsholland · April 2002

if anyone mentioned this before, but I believe the steering wheel on the GT is now a MOMO unit, minus the MOMO logo.

Bob

paisan · April 2002

http://isuzu-suvs.com/events/nyias02/index.htm

Finally uploaded.

From the backseat picture of the GT it did appear to have the little tab for the side air-bag on the front seats! You can barely see it in one of my shots.

-mike

lucien2 · April 2002

http://www.autospeed.com/A_1229/P_1/article.html

:')

subearu · April 2002

outbacker2k2 · April 2002

Now that is one sweet car! Why can't we get something this cool here? That car, with those headlights (not the goofy American ones) would be perfect!

rsholland · April 2002

I noticed the following:

 The new Legacy also has a new front bumper and fog lights. I compared his images with that in my '02 Legacy brochure. I like the new bumper much better.

 Unlike the new Forester, the new Legacy still continues with a rear hatch key.

 I noticed the silver Forester does NOT have a rear step pad on the rear bumper. So, like the mud flaps, this now appears to be an option.

Bob

odd1 · April 2002

The Houston Auto Show is April 13-21 at the new Reliant convention space. www.HoustonAutoShow.com. The exibit area map on the web site shows they understand Subaru's importance. The Subaru area is next to Porche, Acura, and BMW.

My present gig as stay at home dad really doesn't allow for advanced planning. I can't say when I'll get a chance to go.

ateixeira · April 2002

That's my B4, even the color! :-)

-juice

subearu · April 2002

I think I was the first one to 'pine' for that dark blue B4, at least publicly on this board. I even posted a link to the jp site for it.

So, when should I pick it up from port? ;-)

-Brian

lilbluewgn02 · April 2002

A blue one, please...and make it snappy!

ateixeira · April 2002

OK, so noone dispute that the silver one is mine?

-juice

lilbluewgn02 · April 2002

The silver one is all yours...but if you get yours before I get mine, I would like a ride in it...BTW, has anyone heard from Mike Smith lately?..haven't heard from him since we saw them in Florida (no, we didn't feed them to our pet gator Bucktooth!)

lucien2 · April 2002

has been really busy at work, and it mostly involves his inter- and intranet capability. He hasn't had either 1) time or 2) the connection or 3) both to spend any time here with the Crew for almost a month. No ETA on his virtual return. He passes on his best wishes to all and hopes to catch up at some point.

He does make a mean apple breakfast pastry though!! :-))

goldencouple1 · April 2002

I just saw my first Pontiac Vibe in the flesh (and in the wild). I didn't recognize it at first, so I had to turn around and cruise through the parking lot where it was located. A nice looking little car. It had modest black cladding and a small roof rack.

Subaru Crew - Future Models II

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