Subaru Crew - Future Models II

ateixeira

The phrase I like is what ramon uses: "pimped up". That should only offend, well, pimps. ;-)

I put on this exhaust tip but had to remove it after the chassis could not handle the extra 675hp it provided:



I don't think they can price a Blitzen above $30k and expect it to sell well. There will be added pressure from the Altima, with 240hp at a mid $20s price, even though it is FWD.

So, give us a B4 to the tune of 240hp or so at a similar price. AWD will be the edge that makes the B4 sell, and a turbo can be tuned to make more power fairly easily.

-juice

kens

Doode,

Is that a Folgers Type R exhaust!? I heard French Roast is good for about 25 extra ponies.

You clown.

;-)

Ken

kostamojen2

Shouldnt there be a mellon coming out of it too?

ateixeira

Man, I saw this ENORMOUS spoiler on a pickup truck at the beach, it was just foul. You had to see this thing - bigger than in F1.

There were a few slammed cars there, mostly for show. Celicas seemed to be most common for some reason.

-juice

rsholland

This was posted over on the CRV board. It was scanned from Automotive News. The front appears to have a partial mask on it. Most interesting (to me), is that it appears to be towing a rather large "Haulmark" trailer.

varmit "Honda CR-V" Aug 13, 2001 6:49pm

Bob

ateixeira

Typical Honda. Evolution of the current model.

Note the roof copies the Forester in that the rails run the full length and act as rain gutters. Looks goofy without cross bars, though.

-juice

rsholland

Thought you might be interested...

Last night, about a mile from my house, someone in a Trooper served to avoid a deer, and flipped the vehicle. It landed upright, and nobody was hurt.

Bob

p0926

Careful Bob or Mike will accuse you of being in cahoots with CR!

-Frank P.

paisan

Just curious what year?
How did it roll?
Any other details?



-mike

ateixeira

Probably pre-widened, I bet. They look similar so it's hard to distinguish.

Honestly, the guy should probably have just hit the deer!

-juice

paisan

It's easy to tell. 92-97 boxy, 98-01, same boxy, but has cury nose-cone on it. I think they only lowered the body by 1/4"-1/2" from 97 to the 98 year, other than that they are the same. from '92-'02 other than the nose-cone, engine, and interior.

-mike

ateixeira

I thought the track was widened, too?

After seeing your pix of those four wheel drifts, it seems like there is a big difference from the old models.

-juice

rsholland

what year. It was the current generation Trooper. I got there just after the police arrived.

Deer are a real problem out my way. I've had several close calls. The daughter of one of our friends, has hit two just this past year! Everybody I know in our area has deer stories to tell.

Bob

ateixeira

I wonder if those whistlers work, the ones that are supposed to scare away animals.

-juice

locke2c

Bob,

Go hunting. Encourage all your friends to get their deer, that's the only way to reduce the number being hit by cars.

I agree with juice though, definitely hit them. Get on the brakes hard, no doubt, but don't swerve.

back to Subaru: uh, we have the LL Bean Outback and other brands have 'signature' trims too (Mitsu Lancer OZ Edition comes to mind). What would be a good signature trim for the WRX? Rally replica? Something else?

-Colin

ateixeira

They should partner with a well known tuner, IMO. Cobb perhaps? WRX CSV (Cobb Special Vehicles).

The STi name doesn't add any value here (those that know it already bought a Subie), so they use SPT instead. But SPT isn't really a division, just a label for the few JDM parts they do sell here.

Subaru is probably too small to have their own M-style division, though.

-juice

rsholland

which hopfully we'll be getting, is the "signature" model for the WRX.

Bob

rsholland

is to Subaru, what "M" is to BMW, and "AMG" is to Mercedes—in-house performance speciality groups.

Bob

originalbitman

I'm from Wisconsin where there are almost as many deer as mosquitos. Everybody has the whistlers but I read an article recently (can't remember where) that claimed they have no effect wahtsoever.

bit - 2001 GT Wagon

rsholland

Nice photos! The car looks great in white. BTW, white is no longer available on Legacys for the '02 MY.

I've noticed that some of our county police cars now have those deer whistles on their front bumpers.

Bob

ateixeira

Yeah, but M means Motorsport. AMG has been known for years.

But Subaru Technica international? It's not even spelled right. A little "i" used to mean fuel injected, remember?

Among we enthusiasts, OK, but try selling that to mainstream US buyers.

-juice (playing a little Devil's Advocate)

originalbitman

rsholland

are all aimed at the enthusiasts, within their respective brands. To the average customer, they mean little or nothing.

Bob

ateixeira

But not all people will BUY them, the idea is to attract customers to the show room to see the world's finest cars.

Then 9 out of 10 will buy a plain WRX, or even an Outback Sport.

The STi name won't bring in those other 9, well, maybe 2 or 3 of them.

-juice

rsholland

only because STi is not as well known as AMG, or M—mainly because it's not on sale here yet. I think once STi models become available to North America, the word will get out quickly, and the demand will follow quickly.

Bob

ateixeira

OK, but then by that argument the name doesn't really matter.

My point is, the label STi does not add that much in terms of marketing power. No more than any other acronym.

-juice

armac13

there are quite a few RSs running around with STi stickers and the pink STi badges. They are usually "pimped out" in other ways (rarely have the Folger's mod however).

Ross

ateixeira

Yes, but those are already the Subaru faithful.

Think of it this way, could you sell an STi T-shirt to a person that did not own a Subaru? I doubt it.

Would a AMG T-shirt be easier to sell? Definitely. I'm sure someone does.

Even a (non-Subaru owner) rally fan would prefer Prodrive over STi. Help Prodrive go international and use that name instead.

-juice

lark6

My $0.02 on STi, Prodrive et al:

STi parts are already available to the rest of the world; lots of people buy and install them on Subarus that aren't "STi" models to begin with. Using an STi part on a non-STi car (e.g. a short shift kit or foglight cover) doesn't imply pimpage per se. Foglight covers do serve a functional purpose. I know where the argument goes with the badging, but if you've got performance modifications to back it up maybe tasteful badging can be justified.

Anyway, I find it amusing that pink is the color Subaru chose to designate its high-performance models and parts, given some of the associations people make with that color. It tells me that Subaru has a sense of humor about itself. The pink oval six-star badge adorning the front of the cars reminds me of the nose of some small animal - maybe a rabbit (another animal associated with FHI iconography). And I have to admit that it looks nice on a black car - sort of that 1950's bowling shirt combo.

Prodrive doesn't deal exclusively with Subaru but their mutual reputations have been enhanced through the WRC program. Prodrive has developed performance and appearance packages for the Impreza and Forester (the latter of which I crave) which would no doubt sell if offered through Subaru dealers here in North America.

As far as choosing which to promote here? Well, Subaru already promotes SPT which is an (extremely) abbreviated version of STi; that promotion includes merchandise available through L.L. Bean. Subaru could choose to promote Prodrive, but STi is already a wholly owned subsidiary of FHI whereas Prodrive is not. In addition, the Subaru/Prodrive relationship could always dissolve if, for example, the current Impreza doesn't start winning on the WRC circuit.

In short: I like the idea of both but promoting STi probably makes more sense fo FHI.

Sorry again for the ramble - coherent thought is not my strong suit today.

Ed

miksmi

appearance packages for the Impreza and Forester (the latter of which I crave)

You want to pimp your Forester. j/k

..Mike

evilizard

In a burb of Austin (Lakeway) they have a massive deer problem. Deer whistles seem to have little effect and those ultrasonic deer repellers are worse than useless. They just let the deer know where the best grub is to be found.

paisan

I'd love to whack one, then I'd get a nice big steel bumper/bull bar on the front of my Trooper and be done with it. A guy in a montero took out a 7" thick tree with his ARB bumper in Uwharrie.

As for a tuner... My personal favorite is Rallispec, right in Cherry Hill, NJ home of SOA.

-mike

drew_

Check out this topic:
drew_ "How to keep from hitting deer?" May 7, 2001 1:28am


Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards

lark6

Note that I wrote "performance and appearance packages"! The Prodrive WR Sport Forester came with 17" Speedline Superturismo alloys shod with Pirelli P Zeros, STi springs and Bilstein shocks (dampers to the British), an upgraded intercooler and reprogrammed ECU, STi short shifter, and stainless steel catback exhaust. The grille and rear wing (which extends into the area between the roof rails and, hence, potentially interferes with cargo capacity) I could take or leave. The rest of the package is downright tasty.

I have to admit that I get on these wheel and tire upgrade kicks. I keep thinking that I want to get 17" wheels with summer rubber and put snow tires (Michelin Arctic Alpins) on the stock 16" wheels, or go the cheaper route and get good summer rubber for the 16"s (tough in the 215/60R16 size) then buy a set of 15" Forester L steelies and put snow tires on them. In the alternative I think about getting a better all-season tire for the 16"s (Dunlop SP Sport 5000 and Yokohama AVS db are the leading candidates in my mind) and take my chances that we won't get more than a foot of snow at any given time. Lastly I figure just stick with the Geolandars when the time comes. When I figure these options come in at $800-1700 I quickly come up with many better things to do with my money.

Ed

miksmi

Note that I wrote "performance and appearance packages"!

Note that I deliberately quoted you out of context.

Seriously, that Prodrive WR Sport Forester sounds nice. quickly come up with many better things to do with my money.

Hehe, I hear you.

Drew, thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

..Mike

ateixeira

Ed: so the pink color would go with the Forester ad campaigns (remember Martina?). I find that amusing, too.

I'd accet a pimped out Forester if the engine was worked over, too. But I'd still prefer a subtle appearance package. Imagine a Forester Reconassaince model, 2.5l light pressure turbo, low range, skid plates, showroom ready for SCCA RallyCross.

And it's not a poseur, because the WRC team uses Foresters to pre-run the toughest rallies.

paisan: 7"? But you know how guys exagerate, it was probably 3". ;-)

I also like Rallispec, but two guys working out of a garage?

Ed: actually, tires are probably the single most important upgrade you could do. Honesty, it's the best way the spend money, at least for your vehicle.

-juice

paisan

I was there (witnessed the accident) and it was in fact 7" diameter

Rallispec isn't just 2 guys working out of a garage. They are actually Engineers...

-mike

ateixeira

Sorry, 2 ENGINEERS working out of a garage! ;-)

-juice

paisan

FrankMc

brochures etc. in yet. I noticed that the website still has the '01 Legacy stuff available (I guess the real question is when is the official launch date for the '02's)

Frank

rsholland

I got mine almost a month ago.

Bob

lark6

juice: We are of a like mind on the Forester Recce model. SoA has begun running a new Forester ad campaign featuring Martina as well as a female pro snowboarder and female pro mountain biker (a/o/t the LPGA's Juli Inkster and the other woman whose name slips my mind) in the last week. It has aired on HGTV, ESPN (maybe ESPN2?) and our local ABC affiliate.

The Prodrive Forester is pretty subtle. I haven't seen any pix of it on the web so I may have to scan one in from a brochure.

Rallispec is three guys (at least 2 of whom are engineers) working from a garage with an attached office in Cherry Hill. I visited them in the spring to get an idea of feasibility and cost of fabricating a stainless catback exhaust for the Forester. They have since done one for an '01 S+ for a guy out in California. He posts on the i-club frquently and has posted pix of the setup. Very high quality job and another tempting mod if it weren't (wasn't?) so loud. One of the engineers fired up his RS to give me a live sound clip and the burble and backfire was a bit much for me - I don't think it'd sit well with the constabulary in my conservative bedroom community. I'd definitely have to get it with a resonator.

Ed

PS: Just a reminder - I go to Jeep 101 tomorrow and will report here first.

ateixeira

Be sure to try the Liberty. Have fun.

-juice

rsholland

Ed- Going by yourself?

Bob

paisan

Those Forester commercials have these really butch-like female athletes. I'm not sure that's a good way to attract business. I can't remember the last time I saw a BMW commercial with butchy female athletes in it!

-mike

ateixeira

Most Forester owners are female, it's a different demographic. They also sponsor the LPGA. Active women, I guess.

If you notice in the Dundee ads, Hogan drives the Outbacks, his "nephew" drives the Outback Sport, and a female friend drives the Forester. Also, in the car wash ad, a female loathes over what seems to be a hot guy, but it turns out she's looking at the Forester, not the stud.

-juice

qbrozen

Well, I don't know if this has been discussed here before or not, but, here goes. When I mentioned to my friends that I had bought a Subaru, a couple of gay friends of mine who live in San Fran quickly pointed out that Subaru is tightly tied to the gay community. After going back and forth several times, I gathered several points from them. One being that the Subaru emblem is the same color scheme as the gay liberation flag (or some such flag - I forget right now, but they sent me a pic). They also pointed out a certain openly gay tennis star, whom we've mentioned here, being a spokesperson for the company. This connection, of course, is also supposed to be the reason for the pink emblems.

Now, I'm not saying that this is intentional on the part of Subaru, and, frankly, I don't care, I'll buy the cars regardless. But, it does explain a few things.

Oh, and what about that BMW commercial where Anna Korna whatever her name is delivered a roadster to these 2 guys? (that was a BMW commercial, wasn't it? my mind ain't what it used to be) I find her kind of "butchy" (although attractive).

barresa62

Did anyone see the postcard advertisements for Subaru that said: "It's Not A Choice, It's The Way We Are Built". This is referring to the AWD of course but a vaguely veiled comment on sexuality if you talk to the gay community. It actually makes a lot of business sense (regardless or not if het-males are attracted to butch-looking females). The gay community has a lot of disposeable income to spend on automobiles, traditionally not having to spend any dinero on kids, etc. I, for one, applaud Subaru for it's support of not only the gay community but the many other organizations throughout the country. Just my .02 :-)

Stephen

ateixeira

The pink is coincidental. It originated in Japan with STi, I believe.

I'm sure any affiliation to a gay rights group is unofficial.

Anna Kournikova? Are you kidding? She's gorgeous!

-juice

qbrozen

I said she was attractive.

But I wouldn't call her "feminine", that's all I'm saying. Maybe I'm being unfair, but I don't call any woman who can kick my butt feminine. My wife can take me out, so i don't consider it an unattractive quality.