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Subaru Crew: Suggestions for Subaru
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Comments
~ 178"–183" length depending on application
~ 69" width
~ 102" wheelbase
Applications:
Impreza & Forester (also possible future Saab 9-1). Length and wheelbase up about 4" from current model. Width up about .5"–1" from current models.
That should have been 2.6."
Bob
I see this as the next logical marketing frontier, and I hope Subaru is the first to market with such a vehicle.
Bob
-juice
In any event, I would much rather see a good easy-to-use navigation system instead of OnStar. In fact, I'd like to see a navigation system offered across the board as an option, and standard in top-of-the-line models.
Bob
You want 7 adult seats, yet don't want it to be a boat? What gives? How do you guys expect a car with a rear diffy, and adult seating to be nimble and light? Heck you don't even get adult seating in the Yukon with 3 rows! You have to jump to the Suburban/Excursion and maybe the Expedition class of vehicles for that 3rd row to be "adult" sized.
-mike
DaveM
I think someone did... was it bat1161?
Should the navigation sys be made an available option, it should be availed at the heads up position instead of mounted along where the radio is.
-Dave
-mike
If you take the Honda Pilot, by many considered the "gold standard" of this breed, and add 4" to the wheelbase, you end up with a 110" wheelbase—the same as the B11S. Adding 4" to the Pilot would mean the 3rd-row seats would be livable for adults.
Bob
Built-in/intergrated with the 2 driver memory power seat, when power seat is available.
-Dave
Dave: you got me on that one! 20mpg would be impossible for city mileage. I may have to break my own rule. But I don't feel too bad, it was the Environment Dept here at work that laid me off! I should get a gas guzzler just to spite them. ;-)
Anyway, it might end up being the most fuel efficient 7 seater.
-juice
What I really want is to have all seats be adult-friendly. That's not the case now with the Pilot.
Bob
I agree with you on the Navigation system. I had previously mentioned having it offered at least as an option; if Subaru is trying to edge into the higher end market via the VDC, they should follow everyone else and offer the navigation in dash.
Dave/Mike: I'm not sure what the heads up system would look like, I've only seen the built in ones.
I also feel that both front seats should be powered, as I believe someone else already mentioned.
Mark
Navigation could be a dealer-installed item. Totally stand-alone.
-juice
most in-dash system are mounted where the radio is. I personally find that to be way too low. One has to take their eyes completely off the road to view the instructions on the screen. Not a good spot.
-Dave
-juice
I think I'm closer to Juice on this than Bob. I like the size of the MPV, which is available in Japan with AWD and the folding 3rd row, seats 6 adults in reasonable comfort and 7 in a pinch, or say, 4 adults and 3 sub-adults, or 4 passengers of whatever size and a ton of cargo.
The North American MPV without AWD weighs 3800#, has a 112" wheelbase and measures 187" long, so it's just one foot longer than the Forester. If you made it 1-2" wider and extended the front-rear adjustment of the middle row, it would seat 7 adults comfortably, but I don't know what it would weigh then. I think you'd still be well under the mid-4000# range that the full-size mini's are running now.
Handling is nice, it's no Miata, but it's tossable, to use Juice's term. Bump the power 10%from 200 to 225hp and you'd really have something, without going head to head with all of the behemoths that are already on the market.
-brianV
I'm saying 110" (Pilot + 4" = 110").
Bob
I guess I'm confuses with all this 7 passenger vehicle talk. Does Subaru want to make minivan or a 'non-minivan' like the Pilot/Pacifica/etc.?
-Brian
Bob
I just don't want to pilot (pardon the pun) a behemoth, so I'm concerned with overall length and curb weight. There are plenty of those already.
To me, a Pilot is just a tad bigger than I care for. The Explorer is too big. I think Subaru could do a Pilot, but with better space efficiency. VTM4 occupies a lot of space if you look under that vehicle.
Subie AWD is more compact, lighter, more efficient. Exploit that, if it's Pilot-sized but with more interior space, fine. If it's a little smaller with the same space, also fine.
And I will buy one, in either of those cases.
-juice
-mike
-mike
Bob
I was amazed at how tight I can turn the Trooper compared to the SVX and even the XT6.
-mike
Bob
SOA, you've tested the waters with the Forester, I say it's time to spread it around a bit more.
Bob
Bob: Yes, the MPV's wheelbase is longer than you're talking about, but much shorter than the next size up. The full size "mini's" (they're not mini anymore, are they?) have wheelbases in the 118-120" range.
I want more carrying capacity than an Outback, but I will not own a bus, period.
-brianV
you guys mean placing the Nav system similar to where Dave has his Gamin? So long as it is not too big a screen that works for me. As for watching the screen, the technology has advanced so far that I don't see why it can not be voice prompted (ala SP III). Heck, they make the voice activated system as an add on for the pocket pc!
Mark
-mike
I don't think that Subaru should do something as big/long as the larger mini-vans. I'm betting that it'll wind up Pilot-like, built on the larger b11 platform, and seats 6 adults (7 if there's kids).
Back to suggestions....5 speed AT. ;-)
-Brian
Of course, there's no guarantee it will make it across the big blue ocean.
DaveM
I say put Shiftronic on *all* automatics. Give 'em 5 ratios while you're at it. Even Kia uses 5 speeds, and the Outlander has tiptronic controls.
Do it soon because if they wait any longer it won't even be considered novel.
-juice
Voice prompt is a great feature, but it could only say so much...
i.e. the SP III will prompt you of coming Exit or next turn. However, it will not literally say "exit right on Exit 135" or "make a right on Victoria Rd". That, you'll need to rely on text display on the screen. I don't think any of the top dollar Nav Sys does that, yet.
-Dave
p/s there's a pic of a Nav Sys avail on the JDM Forester on their site. It's mounted at about where I would like it to be mounted.
Got you. I noticed that picture of the nav system on the Forester- something in that area would be fine, the key factor being not to obstruct forward vision.
Mark
-juice
Please SoA, bring back the Sedona Red.
-Dave
Otherwise, you make it hard on the resale value of people who own Sube's without any problems either. Bad news travels much faster than good news. Also the customer representative could be much much more courteous. If I was working those phone & I had been as rude to customers as they've been to me & other sube friends in the past, I'd have been jobless very quickly.
Your experience is very different from that of just about everyone here.
Most of us have enjoyed near flawless performance from our Subaru's, some of us over many years and different models. A few like myself have had a bad dealership experience or two in one way or another, but SOA rep's have always been courteous, prompt, knowledgable and eager to help. I myself have had a warranty repair or two performed, no questions asked.
I don't know if Patti is officially back to work yet. We have a member named Patti who works for SOA and gets involved in situations like yours, but she's been on medical leave.
Juice ? Can you offer any advice ?
-brianV
SOA product engineers should grab hold of one of these new F-150 bed extenders, and study it for future Baja usage.
My suggestion for today? Have more years like 2004! Just went to the NY show and love the following improvements:
* more ground clearance on Baja
* turbos on Forester and Baja
* nicer colors on Baja
* better looking Imprezas
* no more two-tone gold rims
* no more gold badges, they were tacky
* better content overall
Given I expected no news at all, there were many little pleasant surprises. We notice little stuff like that, keep it up!
-juice
Mike k
-juice
Bob
Funny thing is the previous Forester had them, bring them back! I use mine every time I use the roof rack.
-juice
In hindsight, I should not have purchased the optional (on the WRX) cross bars and gone aftermarket.
-Dennis
-juice