We have temporarily turned off the ability to post while we deal with a massive spam attack. Thank you for your patience.

Subaru Crew - Future Models II

1163164166168169446

Comments

  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    In a NASA-X event I have the Forester autocrossed. :-)

    I signed up for this Saturday's (11/23) season finale but fear I will have to cancel due to home repair/maintenance and in-law duties. :-(

    Ed
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I sense a disturbance in the Force. Methinks that my midicloreans are crying out for a turbo Forester!

    -Frank P.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Midicloreans! To be able to recall and spell that term is a sign of a true Jedi nerd (BTW, I'm poking fun at myself since I also know what those are.


    Sorry, going off topic here, but anyone follow Triumph the Insult Comic Dog? This is a classic episode where Triumph goes and picks on some uber-fans lined up for the Episode II premiere:

    http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/tv/nerds.html


    Back on topic, the Turbo Legacy is oh so far away, the WRX wagon is on the small side and we still don't know how the suspension will be tuned on the US-bound Forester XT. Much confusion in the universe, there is.


    Ken

  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    (hoooo haaaaa)....Impressive...

    -Brian
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Tell me about it, Ed. We just recarpeted 4 areas, now I gotta replace all the furniture, install base molding in 2 rooms, paint another, etc. It never stops.

    Now I understand why retirees buy condos!

    I want the Forester to be like Yoda himself. Small, but intelligent and shockingly agile and powerful. :-)

    -juice
  • dudedude Member Posts: 123
    You'd also want it green with long mirrors, :-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yes, and a very low center of gravity.

    -juice
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    Juice, wisdom comes to different people at differing times. Remember this gem in 30 years. After toying with several options, I most likely will be going that route in the spring. Now if I could only find one with a Subie thrown in as a purchase incentive (a '98 Forester would do), ...
    ;-)

    Ross
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We'll always have a road trip car, but I could imagine getting one of those NEVs for scootin' around when I start geezin'. :-)

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    You can auto-x a Forester and if they let a lightning on the track I don't see why a Forester couldn't go on the track.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm always being pulled in both directions. One group of people wants to see me at autocross, another is lobbying for me to do a lift. Pretty funny.

    Maybe I should get coilovers that I could do both with. ;-)

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    That's the dual nature of our beast!

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    300hp, LSD on both axles, 6 speed manual, yum! $32k pounds, yuck!

    I'll take that 265hp Forester, though.

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    A Forester STi would be wonderful. Ironically I had a discussion with a friend who recently bought an '03 XS who thought it has more than enough power and that it would "get away from you quicker than you'd expect" or words along those lines.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They would definitely have to tighten up the suspension. There would be too much roll, dive, and squat for 265hp.

    Give it stiffer springs and fatter sways front and rear. Don't lower it too much, though.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Mmmmm. Legacy STi.

    Forester STi -- they did that with the previous generation Forester.

    Ken
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    did it have 265HP?

    Bob
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    If they're looking for someone to do a long term roadtest of a Forester STi I'll be happy to volunteer!

    -Frank P.
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I'll take the Legacy!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think it had 240hp last time. Steve Suzuki owned one of those.

    Well, went to Fitzgeralds for an oil change on the wife's Legacy (another freebie, gotta love it), and took a close look at the Baja.

    They said they were selling slowly. For a while they had them displayed up front, but now they're in the back of the lot. They are nicer than you expect, actually. The pass-through is about the size of most mid-size sedans'. The sales guys said it need more power first and foremost, people expect a six.

    I say put the H6 in the current model exactly as is, then offer a value H4 model sans leather and moonroof, and maybe with steelies. Street prices of $20k for the value model and $24k for the H6.

    I'll share more impressions in the Baja topic. Didn't drive it though, was short on time.

    An a good note, we lost a trim piece from the tailgate and the dealer is replacing it for free, no questions asked. Don't know where it went. Didn't even have to show our Subaru Gold card. :-)

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Dave, wanna cancel your order on the '03?


    http://www.drive.com.au



    Or maybe this just means another 2-3 years for N. America. :-)

    -Dennis

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Uh-oh, we'll lose Ed to the dark side if AVCS and Shiftronic make it here in a WRX. Don't go, Ed, look towards the light! Keep the Forester!

    LOL

    -juice
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    http://www.mag-x.com/scoop/legacy0110/index.html has some additional information:


    "The current Legacy Touring Wagon is equipped with the EJ type engine. However, the new model may be fitted with the EZ unit. This is the 3.0 liter boxer six engine already equipped on the Lancaster. Another choice will be a newly developed boxer four engine based on the boxer six unit. In this case, the new boxer four will be equipped on the next generation Forester first."


    -Brian

  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    bluesubie Nov 27, 2002 9:58am

    Nah... I'm driving my Mom nuts as it is.
    I'm sure the Shiftronic will make it into the '04 lineup if not with the AVCS.
    Anyhow, the '03 WRX wagon probably will be Mom's future ride. :D

    -Dave
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Looks like the Sti will debut as early as within 36 days, if not, no sooner after!
    I just got an e-mail from Mitsubishi announcing that the EVO will debut in the US of A in 36 days from today.
    No specs 'bout what it's coming in with though.

    -Dave
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Is rumored to be at the Detroit auto show in Jan.

    -Dennis
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    New Japanese GT-B S-edition & RSK S-edition

    http://www.subaru.co.jp/limited/leg_s-edition/index_h.html


    Aussie Imprezas

    http://www.subaru.com.au/explore/impreza/


    Check out the Impreza RV (2.0L, dual-range version of our Outback Sport)


    Bob

  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I thought I was at terms with my drooling, but again, after seeing a B4 and RSK, I'm doing it again.

    Dark blue please!

    -Brian
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    Ya thanks a lot Bob! The more I lust after a Legacy turbo the more I have a feeling I won't be able to afford it!
  • cptpltcptplt Member Posts: 1,075
    how come the 4EAT has more power than the 5MT?? not that I'm complaining!!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Etching is nothing new, some folks have done it for years. I say let the insurance companies worry about theft. If they steal Sandy, that's just the excuse I need to get a turbo with that huge moonroof. :-)

    Now how 'bout that 2.5l turbo Baja AND Forester next summer? Now we're talking. Choices, choices.

    A good friend has his wife car-shopping, and he likes Outbacks a lot since his dad has one (we all know it's contagious). She didn't like the H6, but she's looking at Foresters and Bajas.

    She's artsy, extroverted, and loves to garden. Hauls top soil and mulch in her Camry's trunk and makes a mess every time. Used to be an art teacher, still very creative. They use an iMac and their son's middle name is Daven.

    The only thing missing is a "K" in her name for her to be the exact demographic Subaru targets.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    the odds are that the US-spec STi gets a 2.5L engine? I'm guessing 60/40 in favor.

    Here's my thinking:

    • If the rumor by the SIA worker is true, the one about the Baja getting a turbo instead of the the H-6, more than likely (as he believes) it will be a 2.5 unit.

    • Also, if the Baja gets that 2.5 engine, I think the Forester will too.

    • If that's the case, I think it's likely that Subaru's "premier performance car," the STi, will get that engine too—despite the fact that it's not WRC-compliable.

    • Finally, it would give Subaru a decided edge in the STi vs. Evo battle.

    So... whaddya think?

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    among us who are drooling-challenged. ;)


    http://www.subaru.co.jp/topics/t-2002/leg_sedition_fair/


    Bob

  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Isn't the 2.5t supposed to be tuned to like 200hp? That would be significantly less than the STi should have.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, the 2.5l is supposed to be tuned conservatively, and the STi is anything but a conservative car. So I think it'll get about 265hp from a 2.0l turbo.

    STi and EVO will fight an ugly battle in a demographic where 0-60 is far more important than every day driveability and torque for towing.

    I'll take any one of those GT-Bs.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    We don't know. All the speculation about low-boost tuning is just that—speculation. There could easily be two versions, a low-boost Baja/Forester, and a high-boost STi version.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well, the guys at the dealer said 200hp or so, that is pretty mild tuning.

    I'll defer the high-boost being unlikely argument to that guy who talked about the cylinder wall thickness on the EJ series engines. ;-)

    -juice
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    ...the whole idea behind the WRX that it's supposed to have a certain size engine, among other things? I thought there was criteria that had to be met to be a WRC, specifically a 2.0 or smaller engine. So, a 2.5 would go against that. Not saying that they can't do that, but maybe 'why' would they, besides the obvious power benefits?

    Of course, I'm probably just all flustered after seeing even more GT-B's. *drool*

    -Brian
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    is it an EJ series engine? We don't know that either. It could be the first of the Phase III engines, which may or may not have a different block?

    We just don't know anything other than there's a 2.5 turbo sitting on the Subie shelf somewhere just waiting for a home...

    Is the Baja/Forester/STi the new home?

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    2.0 STi for those events. That doesn't mean there can't be a 2.5 version too.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Could be. I wonder how they'll amortize all those costs, though. It's amazing how many variations and models such a tiny nich manufacturer has.

    -juice
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I just thought the whole idea about the WRX was how it was similar to the car that brought Subaru success in the WRC. I just thought that it 'had' to have a 2.0 to maintain it's heritage and all.

    I'm not against a different motor in it. But, does this mean that a turbo Legacy is out of the picture? Hmmm...

    -Brian
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    at this point is:

    • There's a 2.5 turbo in the works, and

    • There's a Phase III engine in the works.

    That's it. Everything else has been pure speculation on our part, as well as others.

    I'm just saying it would make sense for Subaru to debut the 2.5 turbo on the new Phase III (whatever that means?) engine, rather than the old Phase II engine.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I understand your point. However, Subaru can still maintain that "marketing link" by offering 2.0 versions in other markets.

    I just think here in North America, where so many drivers believe in there's "no substitute for cubic inches," that it would make sense from a marketing standpoint.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Phase III must refer to the 3rd iteration of the EJ25. So my guess is the Phase III is the turbo 2.5.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Subaru was developing a new H-4 off the the H-6 platform.

    So what does that mean? Chain cam drive, and not belt cam drive? Same bore centers? Would that be the Phase III?

    I guess we will find out in a bit over a month, at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

    Bob
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    if a 2.5 goes in the STi, and just for the US at that. I doubt it will be high boost, since it is an EJ it just won't be able to take the kind of boost abuse the 2.0 can. I suspect this Phase III turbo is for the other models, as a way of goosing hp a bit without gutting low end torque. Every Subaru WRC starts out life as an WRX STi, so they HAVE to build one that is 2.0l. Doesn't make sense to but both engines in the same car, IMHO
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.