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Maybe dad should go on a diet (geez... and I should be talking!).
Perhaps this another Subaru approach to promoting a healthy lifestyle: If you can't fit in one, you need to slim down, or buy car for wide-bodies instead.
The CR-V is coming closer to putting the "U" in the "SUV". I love the tumbling rear seats and the flat-folding front seats; ground clearance is good too. But with no standard roofrack and 1500 lb. towing, it has yet to catch up to even the current Forester.
Please Subaru, let us have a peek at the new Forester, pretty please! I'll buy the turbo one, right away.
The CRV has certainly closed the gap. If fact, if I were in the market in November (and couldn't wait for the new Forester), this could very well be my pick.
As with all Honda upgrades, what they change is usually for the better—I just wish they would push the envelope a bit further.
According to the poster here from the I-Club, SOJ is going to announce some minor front end styling revisions to the new Impreza on Sept. 10. He apparently spoke to someone at SOJ, who's in the know. Here's the I-Club link:
Nice Forester GT review. Best of both worlds - pre-'01 styling with sunroof and that drivetrain. I like the grille better than the big toothy chrome one on the S - in fact, I may be having someone pick one up for me while in Oz. ;-)
smaller than I. Either way SOA is losing a sale if they don't make a bigger one. Remember, SOA is in business to make $, not to make people thin. If people want bigger cars, they should make em
Perhaps. SoA focuses on their niche -- AWD for the "active lifestyle". FHI is small. Why squander limited resources on a saturated space (large car market)?
I just know of a # of subie owners who would like to remain subie owners due to the superior AWD system, that will wind up leaving the fold because they find the cars to be uncomfortably small. I would think that a company would want to retain and gain people into their fold, not lose them. So mike according to your theory, why would they have an incentive to make a TT Legacy GT or any sporty car like that, the active lifestyle is into practical cars, not racy cars, maybe FHI should stick to their niche market which isn't sports cars? Be careful what you wish for...
paisan, the legacy upgrade in 2000 made the platform much, much larger inside and out.
I notice the foot room in the legacy too, but its just right for me. But the new Impreza surprizingly has MORE footroom than the legacy up front... Im hoping that will be adressed in the next Legacy upgrade.
But I definatly DO NOT want a bigger and especially not wider car >:|
Heck, one of the reasons my parents got the Legacy cause it was small enough to fit into the 3rd spot in the garage! (IE had to be >190 inch's and narrow as possible)
My cousin has a 2000 OB. Same problems for the same people there. I'm not saying to make the legacy bigger. They need a bigger platform car in addition to the ones they have now. And the car doesn't need to be any bigger, just the cabin room. I've also been at my dealer (usually hang there a few x a month) and have seen a # of people walk out because the car was "smaller than their accord or camary" before they leave my buddy who's the salesman asks why and they say "oh I really wanted the stability of the subaru AWD, and they have very good ratings, but my accord or camary feels much more roomy inside" if subaru is comfortable letting folks walk out of their showrooms like that, then I guess it's ok with me too.
I commented on this a year or so ago. I too think a larger platform (in addition to the Legacy) would make sense. I guess with their limited resources, this is somewhat low on their priority list—assuming the "corporate focus" is to be on performance cars.
Perhaps I should adjust my future predictions/suggestions (a few posts back), to make the Legacy on a larger platform, and to keep the Turisimo-Atura/Outback platform about the same size as it currently is?
heh. mike, I thought about that too. FHI already has performance cars in the JDM though you're right, it will take SoA resources to bring them to the NA market. I think certifying an existing product would be less expensive than developing a new, larger platform.
>accord or camary feels much more roomy inside [than a Legacy]
Interesting; I never compared the two. If true, you've got a point, mike. The MY00 Legacy cockpit is more wrap-around (console canted toward driver) than prior years. Per the websites, the Camry and Accord consoles are flat (don't angle toward driver). Maybe this accounts for the perception of a smaller cabin. I wonder what the EPA and CR volume specs are.
That's interesting to hear that Subaru may give the Impreza a facelift already. That's kind of early, IMO. People at i-club are likening it to the 98->99 RS makeover, but the one thing I think they're forgetting is that the RS was a US only vehicle. The current WRX is more of a 'global' vehicle.
If the face lift does occur, I suspect (as one poster mentioned), that it's due to the almost universally harsh criticism of the current Impreza's looks. I haven't heard anyone say they like the looks of the new Impreza better than the old one. Folks are getting used to it—or they've resigned themselves to it.
I've said this before: people buy it (WRX), in spite of its looks, not because of its looks.
While I'm also not crazy about the current Impreza's looks, I think it does have the benefit you mentioned -- you've gotta love the machine under the sheetmetal to buy it.
I wouldn't want the WRX to get too stylish and start attracting people who don't appreciate the engineering under the hood.
I wouldn't worry about that. If great looks attract buyers that's okay. After driving the vehicle, they'll soon discover that the beauty is much more than skin deep.
If the new one had the underpinnings and power of the new one, and the looks of the old RS, maybe with the rear end of the new one, it would be dynomite.
That IS the spy shot of the Impreza from about a year and a half ago... There are no confirmed changes for the impreza in the US market for next years model! Its just a rumor!
And I DO like the looks of the new impreza over the old. Mostly because of the rear, fender flairs, hood flare, and front end. I like the headlights better actually with the JDM lights, or even with the US lights painted like some folks have done.
As for the Legacy, its more compairible to the current A4 and the BMW 3 series for size and interior room than the Accord and Camry (which are almost a whole size up from the legacy inside and out), and the Legacies viewing/seating position is MUCH MUCH better than the Accord or Camry by a long shot!
Looks too Escape-ish to me. I liked the old styling better. We'll see how new 160 Hp engine will perform, but what about handling? Old CRV did not handle particularly well.
From the Candian reviews I've read, the new CR-V handles better. Check out the CR-V message board to see the links to all the articles on the new CR-V.
I agree that the looks aren't as great as I thought they would be. The grey cladding goes too high up on the front. It reminds me a lot of the transformation of the Volvo XC. It just looks a little too bulbulous.
The 160 HP engine is better suited to the task now. Peak torque comes a lot lower now compared to the anemic engine in the current CR-V. That'll benefit CR-V owners on the freeway -- the current model (in MT) makes a racket at highway speeds. While the 160HP engine is an improvement, it still falls short of the Forester. The current CR-V needs to pull a little over 22lbs/HP. The new one gets it down to a little over 20lbs/HP. Our Foresters have always been 19lbs/HP.
A facelift wouldn't surprise me. From the beginning, I heard that it was a slow seller in Japan. I goofed on the lights when it first came out but now they're growing on me (especially the STi lights).
The person that posted it should be fairly reliable IMO. IIRC, he was the one that got the STi headlights for Alex (Imprezer) and talks to folks in Japan regularly. We'll see.
If we haven't heard by now, I'm betting it will be introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show which is in late October. The Frankfurt Auto Show (date?) is also an outside chance, but I think it will be introduced in Japan first.
tell yer boys to get it in gear, will ya? Euro-Focus gets HID as part of facelift. F-O-C-U-S, as in cheap but fun world car that shouldn't be besting US spec Subarus! )
*meekly* uh... pic was supposed to be here, but the link ended up being javascript....
If only they'd offer an S60 T5 AWD! That would be great! OK, so still not as fast as the WRX, but at least we'd have some place to point all those folks who whine about "no sunroof or leather in the WRX".
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I for one am perfectly happy with the current size. What's with the American fascination with super-sizing everything? That's how we ended up with the ridiculously large Excursion. Will we all be driving 18-wheelers in another 10 years?
with the idea that there is plenty of room (all puns intended) to increase the rear legroom in the Forester w/the next design. I don't think anyone is advocating (at least I hope not!) an Excursion size Forester, just a little more room all around. If the increase is clever enough, perhaps a 3rd seat can be thrown in the equation.
If I wanted to transport four adults comfortably on a long trip I would have bought something larger than a Forester. If every SUV grows a little with each redesign then they will all eventually be Excursion size. That's just simple physics. Look at the Escape, it's marketed as a mini-SUV but is as large as the original Explorer. If the Forester ever gets big enough to handle a 3rd seat then Subaru can forget about this buyer. They can offer a Grand Forester for those who want a Japanese Suburban but please leave the original Forester's dimensions relatively intact.
You are saying the forester should be a 2-door then? I mean if you don't want to seat 4 adults they should just not bother with rear doors? What you are saying is that the next forester is gonna be an excursion is like saying "run the sky is falling"
Seeing as the upcoming (tomorrow and Sunday) Outback Rendevous is near my neck of the woods (I am from Toronto and the Rendevous is in Syracuse, only 400km away), I am planning on heading down and checking this event out. I have heard so many good things about it I have to take advantage!
If any of you happen to be there, please feel free to say "Hi". I am the big blonde guy with short blonde hair and goatee. I will probably be wearing my Subaru T-shirt.
I would glad to meet all you great Subaru enthusiasts!
Comments
http://hondanews.com/forms/honda/crv/index_images.html
Bob
Perhaps this another Subaru approach to promoting a healthy lifestyle: If you can't fit in one, you need to slim down, or buy car for wide-bodies instead.
Bob
..Mike
http://www.drive.com.au/exec/index.asp
Very nice. Wonder if we'll ever get one. ;-)
Ken
The CR-V is coming closer to putting the "U" in the "SUV". I love the tumbling rear seats and the flat-folding front seats; ground clearance is good too. But with no standard roofrack and 1500 lb. towing, it has yet to catch up to even the current Forester.
Please Subaru, let us have a peek at the new Forester, pretty please! I'll buy the turbo one, right away.
--Bart
As with all Honda upgrades, what they change is usually for the better—I just wish they would push the envelope a bit further.
Bob
That's close to 80 images.
I really like the way the rear seat works. I sure hope Subaru does something similar with their new Forester,
I see they also now have a factory moonroof, although it's smaller than the Forester's.
Bob
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=87205
Bob
Ed
-mike
..Mike
..Mike
-mike
I notice the foot room in the legacy too, but its just right for me. But the new Impreza surprizingly has MORE footroom than the legacy up front... Im hoping that will be adressed in the next Legacy upgrade.
But I definatly DO NOT want a bigger and especially not wider car >:|
Heck, one of the reasons my parents got the Legacy cause it was small enough to fit into the 3rd spot in the garage! (IE had to be >190 inch's and narrow as possible)
-mike
Perhaps I should adjust my future predictions/suggestions (a few posts back), to make the Legacy on a larger platform, and to keep the Turisimo-Atura/Outback platform about the same size as it currently is?
Bob
Bob
heh. mike, I thought about that too. FHI already has performance cars in the JDM though you're right, it will take SoA resources to bring them to the NA market. I think certifying an existing product would be less expensive than developing a new, larger platform.
Re: paisan Sep 2, 2001 10:22pm
>accord or camary feels much more roomy inside [than a Legacy]
Interesting; I never compared the two. If true, you've got a point, mike. The MY00 Legacy cockpit is more wrap-around (console canted toward driver) than prior years. Per the websites, the Camry and Accord consoles are flat (don't angle toward driver). Maybe this accounts for the perception of a smaller cabin. I wonder what the EPA and CR volume specs are.
..Mike
..Mike
http://www.swedespeed.com/news/06_01/06_14_01/index.shtml
filler text to avoid 115 char limit
http://www.swedespeed.com/features/road_tests/02_s60_awd_1d/index.shtml
Uses a Haldex AWD system.
..Mike
..Mike
That's interesting to hear that Subaru may give the Impreza a facelift already. That's kind of early, IMO. People at i-club are likening it to the 98->99 RS makeover, but the one thing I think they're forgetting is that the RS was a US only vehicle. The current WRX is more of a 'global' vehicle.
Ken
Bob
I've said this before: people buy it (WRX), in spite of its looks, not because of its looks.
Let's see what, if anything, happens Sept. 10.
Bob
While I'm also not crazy about the current Impreza's looks, I think it does have the benefit you mentioned -- you've gotta love the machine under the sheetmetal to buy it.
I wouldn't want the WRX to get too stylish and start attracting people who don't appreciate the engineering under the hood.
Ken
Bob
-mike
..Mike
I would imagine some minor changes, but would they really overhaul the headlamps?
Ken
And I DO like the looks of the new impreza over the old. Mostly because of the rear, fender flairs, hood flare, and front end. I like the headlights better actually with the JDM lights, or even with the US lights painted like some folks have done.
As for the Legacy, its more compairible to the current A4 and the BMW 3 series for size and interior room than the Accord and Camry (which are almost a whole size up from the legacy inside and out), and the Legacies viewing/seating position is MUCH MUCH better than the Accord or Camry by a long shot!
From the Candian reviews I've read, the new CR-V handles better. Check out the CR-V message board to see the links to all the articles on the new CR-V.
I agree that the looks aren't as great as I thought they would be. The grey cladding goes too high up on the front. It reminds me a lot of the transformation of the Volvo XC. It just looks a little too bulbulous.
The 160 HP engine is better suited to the task now. Peak torque comes a lot lower now compared to the anemic engine in the current CR-V. That'll benefit CR-V owners on the freeway -- the current model (in MT) makes a racket at highway speeds. While the 160HP engine is an improvement, it still falls short of the Forester. The current CR-V needs to pull a little over 22lbs/HP. The new one gets it down to a little over 20lbs/HP. Our Foresters have always been 19lbs/HP.
Ken
The person that posted it should be fairly reliable IMO. IIRC, he was the one that got the STi headlights for Alex (Imprezer) and talks to folks in Japan regularly. We'll see.
Dennis
Dennis
..Mike
..Mike
Bob
*meekly* uh... pic was supposed to be here, but the link ended up being javascript....
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
-Frank P.
-mike
Stephen
-mike
Dennis
If any of you happen to be there, please feel free to say "Hi". I am the big blonde guy with short blonde hair and goatee. I will probably be wearing my Subaru T-shirt.
I would glad to meet all you great Subaru enthusiasts!
Greg Edwards
District Sales Manager
Subaru Canada
Bob
Ed