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What Does Subaru Know That Others Don't?

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Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    center mounted gauges would have been a death knell

    The new Yaris did away with those.

    Sales up 160.2% last month.

    Safe to say you're right.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    More and more we're seeing e-Diffs. I was happy to see they went mechanical and even made it standard.

    FWIW it's common for Subaru. Not sure on Toy/Lex to be honest. The IS-F has one, dunno about the rest. Probably e-Diff.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    I really don't like the e-diff. At least, I don't think I do (is this part of the VDC?). If I don't end up getting an Impreza to replace my Escort, I'll use some of my Subaru Bucks to get a LSD from an '08 Forester or Outback to replace the open diff in my Forester. It simply makes for more enjoyment. :)
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yep, usually brake-based, applying selective pressure to either side of the axle to transfer power.

    I'm happy my Miata has a real Torsen, and stability control is nowhere in sight.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I just keep mine off permanently---I even bought a wiring kit that does that as the default upon starting the car. I can turn TC on again though if necessary. I also have POSI.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    Interesting. I'd love to have that option! The Forester always defaults to VDC on. Of course, I don't remember that until the first time I want to slide through a curve on the road at 60 and the damn car about kills me by trying to correct for a skid that I'm already correcting. Talk about a kill-joy. :cry:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I realize it's mandated now, but the Forester didn't need it. Just stay on the throttle and power shifts to the front axle, pulling you out of the skid. Fairly easy and controllable tail wagging in snow.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    I completely agree. I love the 50/50 power split on the manual Forester. It makes the car highly controllable... but a rear LSD would make it even better.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, give it a little more forward momentum before the rears break out. The S models had a viscous rear LSD. Optimized for snow, obviously, not track days.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    I either give it a little more momentum as I go into the turn, or I abruptly shift the weight of the vehicle toward the outside of the turn. Either method usually results in the rear starting to slide, but the latter certainly provides the more consistent result (but is not nearly as subtle). The momentum method sometimes just results in understeer if I give it too much momentum too early.

    Snow is what I need. I don't think the Forester would make much of a track car unless I planned to do a massive overhaul and make it an STi! Although.... :shades:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The 09+ are taller and have more body roll.

    Wrong type of vehicle for the track. Maybe Rally Cross.

    Hon, can I borrow the keys?
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    link title

    image
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Everyone else is having big recalls; time for Subaru to join the club.

    Subaru Recalls Nearly 634,000 Cars and SUVs (NY Times)

    Kind of funny that it's "puddle" lights getting wet that's the problem.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    edited January 2013
    Well, if nothing else (good) came of all that hullabaloo surrounding the "unintended acceleration" on Toyota vehicles, at least vehicle issues, regardless of how minor (in terms of failure chance), are treated in a far more transparent fashion now.

    It'll give me a second excuse to take my Forester in for its annual exam next summer. So far, every time I've taken it in to have a concern addressed, I have asked them to apply a recall at the same time. :D
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wife's car is probably affected.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited January 2013
    Passed 91k on the '97 Outback over the holidays and got a nice salty coat on it.

    image

    image
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Wow Steve, only 91K? My wifes 2008 Outback will be there probably next year. Heck, my little 2007 Impreza passed that mark earlier this year!

    BOT, Subie sales are up a huge 26% this year, or almost 70 thousand units. They've got some serious momentum going it seems, and with a new Forester coming next year as well as the XV Crosstrek hitting the dealers, things are looking really good for 2013... :shades:
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I know - really should sell it and let someone else enjoy it. Take the money and get some snow tires on the van. Don't really need two cars and we just drive the Subaru when the weather looks like it could get bad.

    Everyone keeps saying that mine has the awful head gasket problem but so far so good.

    I put $1,000 into good tires and new brakes all round in the last year. That's about it for maintenance since I did the timing belt for $715 back in 2010 and a set of tires back in '06; just oil changes and stuff. Subies do tend to run good.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    Mind-blowing, Steve! That salt looks horrendous. 91K, sheesh.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The only thing I can figure is that Morton must own the highway department.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    with all their sales success recently, they can figure out how to send more BRZs to the United States....it's one of two contenders for my next purchase, probably a year or two out.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    edited March 2013
    A quick glance at this months numbers and it looks like Subaru is inching closer and closer to matching Volkswagon brand for brand! They were only about 3 thousand units off the mark this month and only 5 thousand for the year :surprise:

    Not saying they are going to knock VW down a notch tomorrow but for a company that sells about 3/4 of the lineup that VW sells, and one without a Full size ute like the Toureg, a minivan or a full size car like the CC as well as being 100% AWD and marketed to the snow belt, those month over increases are pretty amazing. :shades:

    Also, brand for brand, Subaru outsold Chrysler (the brand) this month... by 3000 units! :D

    link title
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    I've got to say, that IS pretty amazing. I knew Subaru's numbers were really good now, but I didn't know they were that good.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Up 11% over a good month last year.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I see they yanked the Forester a year earlier to put in the new model. Lots of competition in that market segment.
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    No, the Forester is on a 5 year cycle; current model debuted in 2009, so 2014 is the start of new 5 year cycle. And the model often debuts earlier in the calendar than year to year carryover models.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Right, but 6 years is the standard cycle. 2014 shouldn't have been a re-do.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    1998 debut lasted 5 years.

    2003 model went 6.

    2009 gen 3 went back to 5.

    You're both right, it is a matter of interpretation.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I was thinking about *design* changes, not so much model years. I wasn't clear on that. So 6 years for a major re-make is sort of an industry standard these days.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, I think when sales tanked a lot of cycles were stretched. Now sales are picking up and they're hurrying products to market.

    The WRX is ancient, still based on the old Impreza.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    Subaru said they were going to four-year model cycles back in 2010 after their cars started selling like hotcakes, but they haven't stuck with that schedule either. Except for the Impreza, of course, but then that was certainly a good move on their part given the lackluster sales record of the last generation (which was that, #4 or #5?).
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Subaru has done a great marketing job but they really need to work on design.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    Yeah, like maybe taking some of their concepts and turning them into sale models! The new impreza was such a let down after the Impreza concept that preceded it. :sick:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Indeed, that concept was stunning.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    what sales would do if they ever brought over the diesel they keep promising but not delivering! ;-)

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Viziv concept is a diesel:

    http://www.edmunds.com/auto-shows/geneva/2013/subaru-viziv-concept-debuts-at-201- 3-geneva-auto-show.html
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Well that's not just a diesel, it's a diesel hybrid, so I have exactly ZERO faith that it will appear in any production Subaru in North America in the next decade. But I do wish Subaru would stop teasing us with hints of diesel and just bring it over. The way people use their Subarus, diesel is the logical choice (better mileage for highway trips and better low-end torque in the dirt), even though I know Subaru's new part owners the Toyota people are pushing their hybrid powertrain on them.

    Maybe if they bring over a diesel to up their fuel economy, they won't descend any further into CVT hell than they already are.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Not so sure about that. It takes a tremendous investment to get a new engine to conform to U.S. (and California) standards, and the diesel passenger car market is very small here in the States. And with diesel prices now punching through $4.50 a gallon here in California, I'm not seeing a pot of gold at the end of the diesel engine rainbow.

    This could change of course.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It would make sense to hedge their bets and do something different than Toyota, but they've already announced an XV hybrid. A mild one, at that.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I think the hybrid market is growing a lot faster than the diesel market in the USA.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Teasing us?

    This car was shown at Geneva, a European car show. The audience is Europe, not the USA. Diesels are hugely popular over there.

    Bob
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Exactly. :-(

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    There's a small recall for this, apparently if you drop the key some cars can start on their own.

    Affects Legacy, Outback, and XV.
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Subaru STi Concept

    image
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    Well, that just sucks. A gorgeous concept, to be sure, which means that the production version will be a major visual let down. :P
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    I have faith that it won't stray far from the concept... Sure the wheels will be toned down and the bulges may shrink a bit but I'm hoping Subie learned a lesson when they watered down the current Impreza.

    A good sign is the BRZ, came out pretty close to the concept.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    edited March 2013
    I wouldn't mind the wheels being toned down, but I don't see where the body panels need even one iota of tweaking. Slap a VIN on that sucker and call 'er done! ;)

    Reminder: The BRZ was a Toyota-led production, and they're pretty good and telegraphing concept to actual.

    Of course, the real question is... What will the hatch look like?!
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    edited March 2013
    Saw it in person today. Hawtness indeed!

    http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2013/03/subaru-wrx-concept-photo-gallery.html-

    Bob
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Looks great! I agree, wheels need to go, and yellow calipers, too. That is so yesterday.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 16,789
    Well, all I can say is that if I were to choose between that and a BRZ, factoring in cost, I would go for the STi without hesitation.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
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