Subaru Crew - Future Models II

grahampeters

This comes from the Melbourne Age comparing the new Liberty with other mid size cars

http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-
new/news/general/2003/10/31/FFX20EQ2FMD.html

Cheers

Graham

rsholland

ateixeira

Salivating at the thought of trying the H6/Sportshift combo, so far everyone is impressed with it.

-juice

subearu

Just when I thought I was swaying to the XT - Way to keep me riding the fence on the XT vs Legacy turbo Graham. ;-)

-Brian

rsholland

Over on the "other site," in the Baja forums, there are some pixs of the Baja turbo that will be on display at the upcoming Tampa show.

The car is medium gray, with silver cladding. Nothing new there, but what is new it has anthracite-colored alloy wheels. It looks pretty sharp! These wheels BTW, look like the LL Bean wheels, just painted anthracite. IINM, these are not the same wheels that the Baja turbo had at the NY show in April.

Bob

rsholland

Couple of things I noted that may of may not be known, the Baja turbo has anthracite 5-spoke wheels (Same design as the 2003) and this one had the OnStar system. This one was a 5-speed model with cloth interior, leather wheel & shift knob. The seats look quite supportive and comfortable, similar to the 2003 WRX seats but in a red/black tweed pattern with "Baja" embroidered in the top center. We'll see how the pics of the interior turned out when I get home with the glare on the windows. Other than the hood scoop there was no other external indication that this was a turbo, no badging or anything. This particular one was still in the standard two-tone, Charcoal Gray paint, lighter gray cladding.

Arrgh! It has OnStar! Man I hope the new '05 models don't have that standard!! If they must offer it, offer it as an option—PLEASE...

Bob

ateixeira

No biggie, I bet many owners just won't renew.

Can you remove that antennae easily?

One benefit I thought about later is that if the air bag goes off, they'll call 911 for you, even if you're unconscious. I'm not sure I'd pay a monthly subscription for that, but if it's free for a while...

-juice

rangner

hey what do you guys think of this subie concept over at subdriven.com? Is it really a sube? If so why wasn't it at tokyo? Maybe just somebody's idea...anyhow here's the link

http://www.subdriven.com/artman/publish/article_104.shtml

Eric

ateixeira

That came out earlier this year. I think maybe they were trying to prep people for the triangular style of the B11s, R2, and R1e.

But I think the 7 seater will change significantly from that concept. First, no way could a small, 220ps 4 speed automatic like that demand the prices they're talking now.

-juice

rangner

Ditto juice...but I don't see the resemblance to the B11S, R1e, R2

Eric

wrxsoon1

Wasn't this a concept from a couple years ago? I swear I've heard Bob talk about this being shown at the 2000 or 2001 Tokyo show. I think subdriven is just plain slow on the uptake. Then again they may just be trying to drum up some discussion about the new 7 seater coming next year.

-Ian

rsholland

this concept is a couple of years old. I have no idea as to why Subdriven.com is just now posting it.

Bob

ateixeira

It came out the same time as the HM-01.

Of course, that model never surfaced, because the R2 is a production model. So you'd expect the VX-01 won't make it, either.

As for the styling, check out that steering wheel, the headlights. Lots of triangles hinting at the future face of Subies.

-juice

rsholland

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4923- 833#post4923833

paisan

Subydriven.com???

I can't believe you guys support that site

I'm not a big fan of it, they are not subie guys, they are just a bunch of VW folks who are trying to make a buck by trying to appeal to subie loyalists.

-mike

rangner

don't support it, but given my intense thirst for all things Subaru, if it even mentions Subaru even occasionally, chances are I'll pop in fairly often.

Eric

ateixeira

I wouldn't consider them reliable, but to peek at hints of future products, sure. It's fun to speculate. Think about it - if we didn't this topic would be dead.

Bob: I'm not surprised, it's the new Pleo basically. Check out the one with the hood scoop.

-juice

rsholland

it's got a supercharger and a 7-speed(!) SportShift CVT I believe.

Bob

bluesubie

Bah, just a bunch of Dubber Johhny-come-lately's jumping on the bandwagon.

They have NICE pictures though. :-)

-Dennis

rsholland

What's with all this anti-Subdriven.com bias? Who cares where they came from, or if they copied some other sites, or if they're "Johny-come-latelys?" All I'm interested in is Subie info, and I could care less where it came from. If Subdriven.com can provide me that info, great!

Bob

rsholland

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?http/www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/ae_news_story.php?id=41436

hypov

Like PRAXIS Adaptive Suspension ?

-Dave

kens

Now that explains it. I was wondering why Subdriven looked so similar to VWVortex.com. The same WRX STi article should have given it away.

Ken

rsholland

Subaru's WRC race folks have been experimenting with this adaptive suspension thingy, and have had some good results. So now they're talking about offering it on the STi. See, racing does improve the breed.

Bob

rsholland

Subdriven.com is put together by the same company that does VWvortex, Sweedspeed (a Volvo site), Mwerks (a BMW site), and a soon to be released Mazda site, and few other car sites too. If you go to the Volvo site, in the left yellow column near the bottom, it lists all their sites.

http://www.swedespeed.com/

http://www.mwerks.com/

So, yes, it does have a slick look of a professionally designed web site. Still nothing to be put off by. Web designers can be car nuts too...

Bob

rsholland

http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/100643/page009.htm- l

ateixeira

Maybe they picked the GTI R32 over the WRX and the Subie faithful no longer like them? ;-)

One peek at the VeeDubs on the track tells me Subaru has it all over them. That Golf, Jetta, and even the Audi could not pass a newbie in Franken L.

That PRAXIS can go up/down 2". They actually had a development/test car at Summit Point, remember that one, Bob? paisan pointed it out to us.

Write a letter to Autoweek for their poll this week about Tokyo's best and worst.

-juice

rsholland

I haven't gotten my AutoWeek yet!

Bob

paisan

I just don't like the fact that they try to pawn themeselves off as subie knowledgeable/subie gurus/experiences subie folks. When in fact they are not at all knowledgeable about subies. Give me the grassroots folks from YEARS ago, not MONTHS ago...

-mike

paisan

Not worth the $3500 IMHO. Goes back to fix the nut behind the wheel before trying to fix suspension to the degree that the praxis system does.

Unless you are racing, the Praxis system is overkill.

-mike

PS: they mentioned they have over 10K miles tested on them... Not sure if that's enough in my book.

hypov

Have to admit that the PRAXIS was very very tempting when I still had a job ;-)

-Dave

rsholland

Legacy accessories from Swiss site:

http://www.subaru.ch/showroom/legacy/legacy-zubeh.htm

Bob

ateixeira

Bob told me privately that my mail man took over his route...LOL.

PRAXIS says it can lower itself an inch under sport mode, two for competition. Pretty neat, but basically those are mostly for track conditions, so unless you drive there, it's overkill, I agree.

You already can scratch the front bumper on some speed bumps. 2" lower and that front clip is toast!

-juice

rsholland

I never got that Tokyo show issue?!?! I did just get the latest issue today however.

Bob

jlemole

A Stossstangenschutz! Would solve those problems posted a while back about scratched rear bumpers.

And while I'm at it, I'm gonna order a Kuhlergrille. I think it will look cooler.

Jon

lark6

It's interesting that the Swiss site offers the aftermarket Technomagnesio Detroit wheels (among others) as dealer installed options across the product line, including Forester.

When I was pondering making the switch to a plus-one 17" setup, no one here in the US could provide me info on what would and wouldn't fit (ET 48, 17"x7"). I actually ended up in a series of e-mails with two gents from Prodrive UK before I could find a solution.

Sometimes progress is good...;-)

Ed

ateixeira

When that kid arrives, your wife will pressure you to go back to 16"s...

<flame suit on>

;-)

Bob - want my copy? You gonna be in the area any time soon?

-juice

lark6

Whaddaya mean "when"? They're going back on this weekend - well before that trip to the hospital!

I may have an interesting new car test drive this weekend. My wife received an invitation from a local Chevrolet dealer to enter a drawing for a 42" plasma TV. The catch: she has to test drive a new Corvette. Not a likely scenario for an eight-months-pregnant woman, but her husband could fill in nicely, I think.

Ed

ateixeira

You're lucky. My wife found out about a freebie from Chevy if you drove a Malibu. I begged and begged, noone wanted to come with me!

I'm doing that tomorrow. At least we get a $40 gift card to something or other, plus I get to drive an Accord and Camry back-to-back. It'll interesting to see if GM's new platform is up to snuff.

-juice

jlemole

Saw an Caddy XLR on the Garden State Parkway this morning. The driver decided to let 'er rip for about a half-mile and it took off like a shot! I noticed the exhaust pipes look very much like the Corvette's setup. Do they share a platform???

Jon

jlemole

I think I also saw a Scion A and Scion B on a car-hauler (at least I think that's what they were).

Jon

rsholland

My Tokyo-issue AutoWeek came in today's mail!

A week or so late!!

And after the the latest issue, which came yesterday!!!

Bob

ateixeira

That happened to me once, Bob. I'm tellin' you, my mail man transferred to your region!

Scion xA and xB, that's they silly names they use for it.

The XLR will share a platform with the C6 Corvette, i.e. the next one.

-juice

rsholland

http://www.apexjapan.com/

lucien2

sube555lgt

I am just wondering what everyone is expecting pricing to be on the new Legs, particularly GTs? I've heard some people say the new Leg line should base at *caugh*$30,000*caugh*, more like gag, and so many others say the Leg GT is probably going to be at like $30k itself.

I was looking at other markets, and they have generally gotten a 3-4% increase going into the new body style. By doing the numbers for a 3-5% increase, the Legacy GT sedan would probably bump to somewhere in the $25,850 to 26,350 range (if in the 3-5% increase) with the wagon following about $1000 additional. Is $25,995-26,495 for Legacy GT turbo sedan and 26,995-27,495 for wagon perfect in pricing for most of us with 250+hp and a 6MT? That leaves a 27,495-28,495 slot for a Legacy 3.0R-type model with 5EAT/leather and all the trimmings luxury-type model.

Is this reasonable to everyone? Patti listening? I'd be happy to pull $500 off for a leather delete option on leg GT's. After all I think most other countries only offer the leather as an option whereas, here in the U.S., it's basically dictated to us, we have it whether we want it or not. I'd be just as happy without it. Especially since I live up north.

lucien2

subearu

let's just get these things over here ASAP! ;-)

-Brian

jimmyp1

that your prices are still too high. Granted Subaru's street prices will be lower, but, I'm here to tell Subaru, price them any higher than the 25-27k (Loaded!!!) above and you're doomed. Accord and Camry V6 here I come, AWD or not, for resale, if nothing else. This is coming from a Subaru owner since 1983. I hope you're reading this SOA. The price discussions have really been ticking me off lately. This is NOT some super car that's coming. It will compete with the bread and butter of the Hondas and Toyotas NO MATTER HOW MUCH NICER THEY ARE. Geez, nicer switches = competing against BMW/Audi? Give me a break to quote John Stossel (sp?).

Jim

sube555lgt

Seems to be a lot of the guys on NASIOC think I'm crazy for thinking like this. I took a very analytical approach and they thought I was crazy for a 3-5% increase in pricing. Many thought a GT would start at about $30k which is far off from the product norms and then made wild claims with the SVX as a base. A couple told me I was crazy and didn't do my homework at all. You should see my notebook!!!

I think if they want to sell cars in todays market with their current but improving image, this is the range to shoot for. I'm glad to see others agree with me. Now lets remember to talk about this on thursday with Patti.