Subaru Crew - Future Models II

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Comments

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    over at nabisco, including Forester Bean.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    ALREADY? Man, who had early access?

    But it ain't a turbo!

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Over at Nabisco, there is one person who claims he got to attend one of the Subaru Drive events at Vegas. He mentioned that Nav will be available later in the MY05 year.

    Ken
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    gets the Subie self-leveling rear suspension! It sounds like a LL Bean exclusive—and a North American first.

    http://www.media.subaru.com./

    Bob
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    From the pics at nabisco, it looks like the Forester L.L. Bean will be using the '00 to '04 Base Outback wheels.

    DaveM
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    there is other info pertaining to other '05 Foresters on the SOA media site too.

    XS models get new wheels. New steering wheels for all. Black-lettered tire replace white-lettered tires (YES!). Other details too...

    Bob
  • pon1pon1 Member Posts: 196
    not mentioned, but hope/assume it's there.

    This is essentailly an early press release for the O5 Forester line. There are a few other changes (the 3 spokes wheel, power driver seat, body color cladding on the XS, few other things). Nothing too radical for the XT so far, but then it's already perfect:)
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Self-leveling suspension -- nice! It's about time!

    That feature should be standard on all wagon models.

    Ken
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    is now monotone, like the XT. Doesn't sound like there's an XS Premium Package anymore. I guess the 2-tone LL Bean is now that model.

    Bob
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    wonder about how they'll package the moonroof - option on MT and AT's now?

    -Brian
  • bblachabblacha Member Posts: 160
    No mention of the enhanced gearbox from the Impreza. And what's with the electronic-nanny throttle making its way into everything (except notably the WRX)? Hmmm.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Ooh! Power driver seat. Oh shoot, I guess that's not an upgrade option for me because of the after-market leather :-(

    Black-lettered tire replace white-lettered tires... Huh? The 04s already have the black letters or at least the XT does.

    -Frank P.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Only the '04 XT has black-lettered tires.

    Bob
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    While self leveling rear suspension will be a wonderful addition to the Forester, it certainly isn't an industry first. Range Rover had a hydraulic version when it was brought to the US in 1987. The current Discovery offers an air adjustable self leveling rear suspension as an option and has since 1999. I'm sure these weren't firsts either.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Nice to hear from you, you've been quite except to promote your employer...

    No offense but Subaru had a self leveling suspension back in the late 70s/early 80s. So the '87 is no ground breaking either...

    I think they meant a first on the Forester and first in the states on a cute-ute.

    -mike
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    I certainly wasn't trying to imply that Land Rover was first on that either. I have a very high regard for Subaru products which is why I follow this particular group. It's nice to see a company that goes it's own way and can maintain it's identity when it has a larger company in a position to influence it. I also try to not be a walking commercial for my company, but am very proud to be associated with the organization.
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Looks like the temp sensor is still near the ignition.

    http://autoshow.edmunds.com/news/autoshow/articles/101518/page016- .html?tid=edmunds.e.autoshow..leftnav.17.*

    -Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So they've already had events, does that mean Bob and I were B-listed? LOL

    Nav - cool, people have asked for that (not me, but others).

    Self-leveling shocks, but not on the turbos? That doesn't make sense to me. Is the LL Bean the tow-specialty vehicle or something?

    Thanks Dave, our encyclopedia. I personally don't like the X/XS rims, so that's good. Edit: Bob points out even those are different now.

    RWL are gone, Bob asked for that a while ago.

    No more two-tone XS! Interesting.

    Ease up, mike, we all have our bad days. tincup (and Pat) are regulars, not trolls, so let's cut them a little slack.

    Having said that, save that energy for when the trolls do arrive. ;-)

    -juice
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    I didn't take Mike's comments negatively, I can see where I can come across as biased (because I am).
  • atlgaxtatlgaxt Member Posts: 501
    If it came with the 5 speed non turbo or came with a turbo I might be kicking myself for not waiting, but as it is only NA and auto, its no big deal.

    As you can tell, these pictures are definitely from the New York auto show. The car presumably has been on the floor for only a day or so and already someone has stolen the transmission shifter handle. A couple of more days, the interior will be completely stripped, the engine gone and it will be sitting up on blocks with no wheels!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Cool. Do you still drive the Forester? Or do you get a company car?

    FWIW, Subaru usually removes the shift knobs before people get to them.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Chuck, this is a feature, as others have pointed out, that has been available (standard!) for years on Outbacks and Foresters in other markets. It's a "first" for North America, however.

    I wonder if our new Outback has this feature, although nothing has been mentioned to that affect? It seems odd that the Forester would get that feature before the all-new Outback IMO. I bet the new crossover comes with it, now that the Forester LL Bean has broken the ice.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It is unique in that the feature is built-in to the shocks themselves. No air bladders to replace in 8 years when the rubber starts to crack, like on the old Subaru air suspensions.

    Of course you might eventually have to replace the shocks themselves, but still that's gotta be a *lot* easier and a little cheaper.

    It seems simple enough and they have it on the shelf, so I would not be surprised if at least some Outbacks get that.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Actually, most car manufacturers remove the shift knobs from their vehicles before putting them on the show floor. It's common practice to thwart thieves.

    I would imagine that if the upcoming OB did have the self-leveling suspension, it would have been advertised. The Bean Forester probably will be the test vehicle and then we'll see it permeate through the Subaru line-up in years to come. Typically, the LL Bean models got something extra (ie. H6). I guess Subaru needed something to throw in for the Forester LL Bean.

    Ken
  • atlgaxtatlgaxt Member Posts: 501
    If the self leveling is just in the shocks, how hard would it be to retrofit?

    BTW - I know easily removable items are typically taken off cars in auto shows - It was just a lame attempt by an Atlanta boy to poke some fun at NYC. :-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's an old Brazilian joke. How do you know you're in Rio? Your watch was stolen. ;-)

    I like the self-leveling shocks, but not the two-tone, and it's not on a turbo. Guess I'm picky but they never quite get the configurations right for me.

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    "Guess I'm picky but they never quite get the configurations right for me."
    W3rd!

    -Dennis
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Sorry, I was a little slow today in getting the humor...and I'm from NY too! :-)

    Ken
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The Air bladders were the shocks actually.

    My guess is that a retrofit won't be hard, however, the struts will likely cost in excess of $300 each from the dealers as they will be the only place to get it from, just like the $300 air-bag-struts in the XT6, Wagons, Audis, etc.

    -mike
  • sweet_subiesweet_subie Member Posts: 1,394
    Will it be based on Trail blazer like Saab 7-x ?

    When will it be shown ?
  • atlgaxtatlgaxt Member Posts: 501
    It will definitely not be based on the Trail Blazer. Most recent speculation is that it will be a stretched Legacy platform. There was a link to one ugly rendering (IMAO) posted a while back, but as far as I know nothing official from Subaru in terms of pictures or renderings has come out, and very little hard info about when it will hit autoshows or showrooms is available. The fact that it has not been shown yet makes it seem unlikely that it will come out in calendar year 2004, but I saw one posting speculating it will be out before the end of this year.

    Am I missing anything?
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    It will be a stretched legacy platform. It's WAY WAY too narrow to support such a vehicle. It would need to be on the B11S chassis or even an SVX chassis to be wide enough for such a vehicle.

    Let's hope it's not a rendevous clone however...

    -mike
  • atlgaxtatlgaxt Member Posts: 501
    Rendevous? That's one I have not thought of. Let's hope it is not an Aztec with the new nose grafted on. That would be uglier than that rendering that came out a couple of weeks ago. Please please please make it a Subaru through and through. If that is the case I don't mind if the technology flows from Subaru to Saab and the other GM divisions.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yuck, I'll resign as Crew Chief if we get a clone with VersaCrap.

    That's not my name, BTW, that's what owners call that AWD system.

    It won't be though, it's a new platform that might spawn a full size sedan for Subaru later on.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    The Forester LL Bean and the new Legacy and Outbacks were the only '05s there. Imprezas and Foresters on the floor were '04 models. That was a disappointment, as I thought all the '05 would be on display. :(

    The was a blue/gray VDC, a moss green LL Bean and a champaign XT. The VDC and Bean were 2-tone. There was a sliver GT 5-speed sedan and a Legacy 2.5i Limited wagon, also in silver. All the colors look good especially the blue/gray on the VDC.

    The Forester Bean has a new weather-resistant fabric on the floor and rear seat back of the cargo area. It looks like a black knapsack-like material with skid runners.

    I noticed all the new Outbacks and Legacys now have a 9-position front intermittent wiper. It used to have only 3 positions. There is also an intermittent and fixed rear wiper speed too.

    Nothing new on the crossover, prices or Nav. Nav is rumored to show up later this year, however.

    Bob
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    Thanks for the report Bob.

    DaveM
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    is also on Subdriven.com now. Last time I checked they have the wrong interior shot.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    a definition of "premium" as to how it pertains to future Subies by SOA's big cheese, from the latest issue of DRIVE magazine:

    By ‘premium brand,’ I do not mean ‘luxury car.’ I mean we will have the number one vehicle in value and performance in every segment in which we compete.

    Takao Saito, Chairman, President
    and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc.
     
    That's petty much what I thought: "Best in class," and not necessarily just "luxury."

    Bob
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    That's disappointing to hear. Given that an '05 XT was on display at the Philly Flower Show - which isn't even a car show - you'd think the same car could be shipped up to NYC.

    Ed
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I really thought that there would have been '05 Foresters there, and not just the LL Bean model.

    Bob
  • trueawdtrueawd Member Posts: 64
    I talked to my sales manager friend who speaks to a Fuji Trainee here in the US. She asked him what platform the 7 Pass was on. He actually thought at first that it was a stretched Legacy. he then called her back like 3 days later and stated after he talked to some friends in Japan, that it's a completely new platform. Which in my opinion is awesome! They are renovating the Isuzu side of the plant in Indiana to produce it. New platform that can be adjusted too. Like Honda, Toyota, Nissan....IE Camry/Avalon/Sienna or Odyssey/MDX/Pilot etc.... That means one day the 7-pass plat could be something different. She also showed him the pix that was floating around and he said it looks nothing like that ugly brown thing. As a matter of fact I think someone already mentioned it was a cut up picture. He said he would never ever get his hands on a pix, but he has seen a pix of it and said it looked sleek and awesome! Cross between a X5 / Murano / Cayanene...alot of sweet cues. Size most likely of an MDX. Can't wait!! First though on to the Outback XT!!!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Actually, that's an old quote, as was just pointed out to me over at nasioc. It's from the Fall 2003 issue of DRIVE. Since it's still on the site, I just assumed it was a new quote.

    http://www.drivesubaru.com/Fall03_DriversSeat.htm

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    "we are going to be the best in the classes we compete" Um, wouldn't any car manufacturer strive to be the best in the classes they compete? Anything less would be kinda low-balling it!

    -mike
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Bob-
      Were you able to sit in all the 05's at the NY show? I'm curious of the difference between the OB XT and the Legacy GT, too bad the GT is a sedan.

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Now I don't feel so bad, doesn't seem like I missed much.

    The interior material of the Bean sounds *very* desirable. Carpets always wear too easily, that could be a big benefit to someone with kids putting extra wear and tear inside.

    That plus the self-leveling shocks, yummy. But two-tone only, and no turbo? :-(

    I think Mr. Saito made that statement specifically to appease you, Bob. LOL

    mike: hee hee

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Headline for Subaru says prices will go up by 4%, that's about $800 for entry level up to $1200 for the high end models.

    Question is, does that factor in the extra content? For instance, the turbocharger on the GT model, since the current GT has no turbo?

    Let's say that goes up by $1000, that would make the turbo a bargain, IMO. The engine plus the side curtain air bags are new, but you do trade off the standard leather and moonroof on the current base GT.

    Guess we'll find out soon enough.

    -juice
  • bbthomasbbthomas Member Posts: 24
    Even though I had planned to purchase a Forester as my next vehicle, I decided to wait to see what 2005 would bring. Glad I did... the LL Bean edition is just what I was looking for (although with a few options I wouldn't have chosen).

    Just a quick of observation. In looking at the specs. The gearing for the AT has changed and with it mileage is now rated at 22/28 and towing at 2400lbs.

    And a one question... Does the new 8-way power drivers seat have a memory feature?

    Thanks
    Brian
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I don't know, but I doubt it. I don't think any Subies do yet.

    So how'd they beef up the AT for 2400 lbs towing? It already had an oil cooler the MT didn't. Did it get another cooler, maybe for the tranny itself?

    -juice
  • bblachabblacha Member Posts: 160
    2.5i $20,900 plus dest
    2.5gt sedan $25,900 plus dest
    2.5gt wagon $26,900 plus dest
    VDC wagon $33,400 plus dest

    I was guessing 27.5K for GT wagon. So I'm happy :-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Base model is a bargain, considering it probably had the most content added.

    GT wagon is priced about where it should be, IMO. That must put the GT Limited at $29k or so list.

    -juice
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