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Comments
Position it to compete with the Juke and Outlander Sport. I bet it would own the segment. 2.0l and 2.0l turbo engine options, to cover the high and low ends of the small crossover segment.
Forester has gotten too big for some, so this would sell well, I bet.
Sigh. I think the aesthetic design is a step back from the smooth, flowing lines of the previous generation, and is a bit of a slap in the face compared to the gorgeous concept that preceded it.
I may still buy one; it all depends on my mood and the market in a couple more years. Currently, though, I am not "feeling it."
John
I really like the Forester-esque roof rails on the 5-door model. I want a car that can be worked when needed, and a functional rail is integral to that.
I'll take another look at it once more information is out.
That thought crossed my mind - it's the blocky rear end w/ smallish window that does it.
I will hold off on final judgement until I see it in person, but, for now, I'm not impressed.
The short story is it's a great upgrade, and looks super in person. I'll have more tomorrow. I'm absolutely bushed, as I just got in, and it's after midnight as I'm posting. Having a flat tire on the way home on my WRX did not help matters...
Bob
I mean, seriously now, how often will that thing actually get used, relative to the amount of time that it will be driven around increasing wind resistance (and noise), while adding inertia and raising the center of gravity. :surprise:
Give me lower cost and no stylin' rack. IMHO
• Tires on the Limited sedan and Sport 5-door that I saw Tuesday night are Yokahama Avid S34, sized at 205/50x17. I think (?) the 5-door at the show was a premium model, and if so has 205/55x16 tires.
• The (expensive) hood struts on the current model have been replaced by a (cheaper) prop rod. I have no problem with this, as the hood can be opened to 2 positions: the convention position, or a fully opened, more vertical 90 degree opening if you really need to get in there to work.
• Intermittent wiper speeds have been reduced from 8 choices to 3 choices. I expected a reduction of speed choices, as that also occured with the Legacy/Outback models; although those models got 4 speed choices. Will 3 speeds be enough? Don't know; seems marginal to me.
• The top part of the dash has a very nice soft black texture surface. It reminded me a lot of the last GTI I sat in. Very nice, and soooo much better than the current car. Also the top edge of the interior door sills also get a little soft padding, but they're not nearly as soft as the dash covering.
• Sun visors are also (once again) nicely padded. The current visors are rock hard.
• Model choices for 4-door are base, Premium and Limited. The 5-door also adds the Sport Premium and Sport Limited.
• Limited models add leather, a chrome grille insert, chrome door handles, and a chrome bar above the rear license plate.
• The current optional front center armrest that slides forward, is now standard on the models I saw; not sure about base models, as none were on display? Inside the armrest are USB and AUX connectors, as well as a power outlet.
• I think (?) the manual tranny models will get a gear indicator like that found on the Legacy/Outback manuals.
• There is a fuel economy gauge, like that found on the Legacy and Outback. Apparently having that silly gauge gives the car some brownie points with the EPA. May help increase the EPA rating a tad, or so I was told.
• The trunk of the sedan is now completely flat (the current model's floor raises slightly towards the front). This was accomplished by using a slightly smaller gas tank, which takes up less under-the-floor space. At first glance this sounds like a bad idea, but with the newly increased gas mileage, the cruising range should be about the same. Also, less fuel being carried, means less weight, as well as less costly fill-ups.
• The NAVI gets an SD card for map upgrades. Supposedly this will be a cheaper way to get map upgrades, although no prices were announced. Also, with the XM radio option, you will get real-time traffic reports. It sounds like the NAVI unit was throughly overhauled and upgraded from the current unit.
• The NAVI screen was reduced in size (not happy about that) from 7 inches to 6.1 inches. No more removable Tom-Tom unit that I'm aware of.
• The cruise audio and control switches on the steering wheel appear to be the same as those found on the new Legacy and Outback—which is good.
• NAVI is available on all models except the base trim level. I think (?) that may be true of the moonroof as well.
• Impreza Sport appears to have WRX-like aero kit, at the body's lower edge. As you can see, it also gets the roof rails standard.
• CVT is standard on Limited models.
Bob
Regarding the dual-position hood prop rod.. that's a throwback to the GC8 Impreza, mine had that.
The instantaneous MPG gauges are kind of gimmicky, but I do think that if you have it some people will attempt to use it to drive more efficiently. I don't think amateurs can easily learn to hypermile, but just watching the gauge probably does make some people drive more conservatively and thus saving real gas.
IMHO, the instant MPG guages are fun but don't tell the real story. My Passat has both the instant and the trip MPG guages. I thing the latter would help people to maximize their fuel mileage.
One more thing: Limited 5-doors now get a fold-down rear center armrest with 2 cup holders. That had been available before on US-spec 4-doors, but not 5-doors (yet Japanese-spec 5-doors have had this feature).
Bob
This probably reduces weight by 2 or 3 pounds, essential for Fuel economy. It also reduces production cost and removes parts known to eventually fail with excess owner costs.
And perhaps it is a vote of confidence on the new engine which hopefully won't need the hood opened too often.
Thanks for the details on changes, Bob. It sounds like most of them are for the better.
As for the roof rack, I support the option of with or without. As an avid do-it-yourselfer, I'll take "with" please.
I try to limit the frequency of using roof racks due to the fuel economy issues, but, when I do use them, I use them!
On my previous brand new 2005 3.0R VDC the rear hatch dropped and hit me in the face! Even after replacement, the pressurized struts were marginal.
One of the few things I loved about my 2007 Outback was the aluminum hood and hatch. The hatch was so light that the struts were extremely effective, even in the coldest of weather.
Bob
Bob
Is it the Outback Sport model that gets the rails, and the regular 5 door model that does not?
John
An Impreza XV Concept is now on display at the Shanghai Auto Show. It's rumored that we may see a production version here as a replacement to the outdoorsy Outback Sport.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/subaru-xv-concept-united-states-new-york-2011- /
Bob
Pop the hood and it lifts itself! Classy!
Never had a problem with mine, even in the cold. They'll be missed!
I like the XV better than the regular 5 door, so I do hope that comes. The fender flares and raised stance complete the overall look, so it's more homogeneous.
Don't ask me what that means, LOL.
I remember even seeing the last Civic come out, the concept looked better because it had subtle flares, and the body seemed to be formed to make room for those.
It's just looks more complete.
I'll take an Outback Sport with the XV's wonderful glass roof, please! My next Miata replacement may have to be more practical, plus it may replace both the van and my roadster. I don't think I can afford 2 cars once the kids start college.
How's that for a "mean" dad? :P
Same with the expensive projector beam headlights; they're gone too. Yeah, they look cool, but are they any better in putting out light than conventional halogens? I doubt it. Getting rid of them might have helped keep the costs down, now that they're using a more expensive timing chain.
Bob
Sounds like I am in good company. Thanks for the reassurance, Nicholas!
I vowed, about eight years ago, to mount accessory driving lights on any vehicle I owned from there on out. So far, I have held up that promise, at least on the used vehicles I have purchased. I found the Forester just doesn't need them, so thus far have resisted the impulse to add lighting. It has better factory lighting than my Escort's lights with a set of Lightforce 170's!
Anyway, getting back to the point, I imagine the lighting on the new Impreza will be excellent sans projector beams.
Of course I like xenon HIDs even better, but that's a different conversation.
Projector beams I dunno - good optics are key to good lighting. My 98 Forester had great optics, but out 2002 Legacy was awful. Same 55 watt output, but the light was just scattered all over the place. Our 09 Forester falls between the two, but good overall.
Also, I've seen tests of headlights and a halogen with good optics can often beat a HID headlight that lacks that. In an objective test, you could see an ostacle in the road in a Mazda Protoge well before you'd see it in an Audi TT, for example.
Bob
At 36 mpg with Subaru's AWD, it is a fantastic value.
Bob
John
John
http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/motor-news/subaru-wrx-future-uncertain-2011042- - 9-1e05l.html
Bob
Some acceleration tests have the base WRX quicker than the STI. That should never have been the case.
You and I know what extras you're getting, but surely STI sales have suffered as a result.