Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    but an option on EVERY Subie, not just top-dollar models.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Perhaps, but do you really think a Forester X buyer will fork out $2 grand for Nav?

    Think about it, that's more than 10% of the total cost of the vehicle!

    For a TS it's a lot more than 10%.

    Maybe these marketers aren't so crazy after all. :o)

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    but this 2k price is way too high. my line is around the garmin ique range.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    p.s. - Hey, Mike. I need a skid plate!

    Come by on saturday and we'll slap one on for yah. We have em in stock. Or one night this week Alex can do it after 8pm.

    -mike
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Thanks, Dennis!

    I thought so too - that "Meet the Members" was about us, the membership. It's maybe the Saabaru rant that needs to find a new home??

    Steve
  • drovemalldrovemall Member Posts: 29
    It's great that (we) Subaru owners care about the direction the company is headed. I disagree with PAISAN- Aftermarket leather has in my experience always been superior. I depends on the vendor the dealership uses of course. With my previous 02 Legacy, my dealer in Redwood City Ca has a vendor that puts in beautiful leather that FULLY covers the seats not just the surface unlike ALL OEM leather and it was thicker/softer. The total tab after negotiating was $950! And as for this "Luxury Option" stuff ..I'll repeat myself.... a MAJORITY of diehard repeat Subaru customers are minimalists and don't see "navigation packages" as a part of options they need or want as demographic research proves.- Head down to your Sub Dealer today and hop in an 05 Legacy GT Limited Sedan(if there are any left) OR a Legacy Outback 3.0 Sedan thats Loaded. There's your answer(s) for the FrankenSaab 9-2X. For $29K you will get a 250HP 250FT-LB of Torque rocket that handles like a Ferrari(GT Limited) and has the finest and most flawless fit and finish Subaru has ever produced-Now as good as or better than the German overpriced bank breakers. I drove it and it has it all. Subaru purists dont want a bunch of gadgets that they never use. They want functional well built accessories that they actually use not extra's that they get to brag about to shallow friends. Who uses Navigation systems anyway....Its a waste. Subaru drivers read maps
    and are "hands on" people in general not highbrow snobs that need a car that gives them class distinction which says " I spent more $$$ than you mr Jones". Subaru is a great company because they are smaller...start letting GM take over and it's certain disaster. Cant the CEO of Saab that graduated from Harvard get together a group of engineeer's to build a new product that is unique and can really be called a "New Car". Once again...the further GM stays away from Subaru...the better. American Cars built by GM tell the tale...high depreciation, poor build quality,undependable and Generally UGLY ...take Cadillac's attempt to compete in the AWD wagon market...man that thing is gastly. It has to sneak up on the pump to get gas. Once again GM ..get your money grubbing mits off our Subaru's and come up with something really "NEW" not a "RIPOFF"
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
  • drovemalldrovemall Member Posts: 29
    p0926--- My wife & I are planning a cross country road trip in our Sub this summer...any suggestions on must see's in Atlanta or great Locals places to get go old home cookin?
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    ...yeah...I was hoping the Saab vs. the world issue would move to the Cafe on its own. However, I guess it needs an escort.

    Please step this way...
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Unfortunately Atlanta isn't a real big tourist destination. Atlanta has lots of cultural events, a vibrant night life, tons of shopping opportunities and a wide selection of ethnic restaurants to sample but not a lot that fits the "must see" category. Stone Mountain or the CNN tour are two touristy things to do that spring to mind. As far as food goes, I'm sure there are a number of good establishments but southern cookin isn't high on my list of places to eat. However, I'll ask around.

    -Frank
  • drovemalldrovemall Member Posts: 29
    Meet the members is about "membership" and being a Subaru owner and meeting other "owners". The fact that OWNERS want to discuss the new FrankenSaab 9-X2 is certainly not outside the realm of a membership discussion. Its about "Getting to know other members" ....That would include their views on the company , their experiences and opinions. So if you want a forum which is just an introduction and thats it....sounds pretty BORING. Does installing skidplates fall into the catagory of meeting new members? I have no problem with it ...or anything else related to Subaru's. That fact that Subaru is getting genetically altered by GM and marketed as as a Saab is a very interesting discussion and gives much insight into getting to know other Sub owners and thier views and likes or dislikes.
  • drovemalldrovemall Member Posts: 29
    Thanks so much....may just be a one night stop...final destination NYC-Thanks Kevin
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    My two cents...

    First off, conversations flow pretty freely in most Subaru topics and routinely go off on various lengthy tangents. This system works extremely well because crew members do an excellent job of self-policing and it's a rare event indeed that requires a host to intervene.

    IRT this Meet the Members topic, it seems to have two central themes:

    a. General discussions about all things Subaru

    b. A place to keep fellow crew members up to date on the goings on in each other's lives (Pat being a good example).

    By those standards, both "Saabaru" and adopting babies are okay subjects. You could make an argument for "Saabaru" to be in either the Future Models, Suggestions for Subaru or the Cafe topics just as easily as you could for a Natl Geo documentary belonging in the Cafe but since they’re already here I see no compelling reason why either should move.

    The bottom line is that we're all friends here and there's no need to take offense. We can all get along even better by remembering the following:

    a. If a post doesn't interest you then just skip over it.

    b. If someone posts an observation or suggestion, assume that it was written with good intentions and take it that way.

    -Frank

    P.S. Feel free to respond with constructive criticism :-)
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    What kills me is every single darn piece I've read on the car trumpets the Saab's upscale looking center console as an example of some sort of hip Swedish "Ikea" makeover. And it is the same bloody console I see everyday in my Forester!

    Meh. As I said in a letter I fired off to C&D this morning, "If I were Subaru of America, I'd be furious to see Saab getting all these compliments for Subaru's work. Saab may have turned to the General to help woo buyers; it's a pity Subaru got stuck in the role of Cyrano de Bergerac."

    I'm ok with the idea of the 9-2x; I'm not ok with them getting all the praise for an interior that isn't theirs.
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    with the expecting father with a similar black F-XT! :-)

    The Saab 9-2x drive event should be fun (I'm going on Saturday), I'm going to have to figure out a way to pull up my F-XT next to one and show them the 'upgraded' interior they have ;-)

    -Brian
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Well put Frank. I think we all need a reminder from time-to-time on how to behave here. I know I do. :)

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Regarding the 9-2's interior upgrades: The '05 Impreza gets most of those upgrades too—and certainly the center stack is identical, which you commented on—makes it doubly insulting.

    Bob
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    "Does installing skidplates fall into the catagory of meeting new members?"

    Um, yeah because I'm a Subaru owner looking to get a part installed on a Subaru by a fellow Subaru Crew Member. :-D

    Mike - Does Alex do mobile installs at Baja Fresh? :-) I'll let you know when.

    -Dennis
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    It really doesn't bother me that the Saab issue is discussed here. I was simply sensing that it was perhaps causing some friction. And yes, civility is rarely a problem in the Crew....and this control freak hopes it stays that way. :-)
  • lucien2lucien2 Member Posts: 2,984
    I did mention that in the letter as well. An also the one I sent to AW. Especially AW- for them, I told them if they'd only bothered to set foot in a Forsester just once this past year they would have recognized that console, and that hopefully it won't be so long before they allow themselves the chance to see it again in 2005 WRX.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    final destination is NYC for your trip... are you from NY/NJ by chance? :-P

    relax a bit dude! you have some good input but we can get the message without the harsh hyperbole.

    ~Colin
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    I frequently think that the U.S. automotive press considers Subaru to be some kind of [non-permissible content removed] step-child to be kept hidden from sight and not discussed in public ;-) Except of course on those rare occasions when something controversial occurs like the CAFE debacle, then Subaru gets all kinds of editorial ink!

    -Frank
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    Thanks, Frank!

    Steve
  • ozman62ozman62 Member Posts: 229
    when preaching to the choir.... ;-)
    Owen
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Well put, Frank. Bob too.

    Sooooo many people use the improved interior as the primary benefit of the Saab 9-2x. Compared to the 2004 WRX, maybe, but the 2005 WRX gets the same upgrades!

    I've repeated that many, many times, and some people (in other threads) just don't get it.

    -juice
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    perhaps I'm missing the point of your 'discussion' but it seems more important to you to have the group agree with you than for you to have your opinion heard ....

    and frankly, I don't care whether it's discussed here or in the cafe ...
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I think almost everyone here would spend their $32K on a Legacy GT instead of the Saab 9-2X. So you're preaching to the choir drovemall. I think we get your point.

    Craig
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Check out the Saab 9-2x thread, I just listed several things it offers that the WRX doesn't. The list has 10 items, actually.

    -juice
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Well in spite of our fears she is holding her own, she had her first physical therapy today, and although she was exhausted we found time to do other must do things, like finding an apartment for a month since we now have to leave the Fisher house.

     Unfortunately she had terminated the lease on her house as she planned to move before this happened, so we were in a mess on all fronts, but day by day we get things worked out.

     Mark your e-mail is private so I will say thanks in this public forum, imagine our surprise to come back this afternoon to your beautiful get well flower arrangement, what an incredibly kind gesture, and Rita, myself, and Anne Marie thank you from the bottom of our hearts. what an incredible bunch this Edmunds crew truly is.

      Cheers Pat,Rita and Anne Marie.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    That he seems to know what ALL subaru owners want! Maybe he should get together with Joybell, they can both get 1984 Subaru Wagons with no AC and part-time 4wd! haaaaaaaaaaaa

    Seriously though, anyone who knows anything about consumers is that as they move up the economic scale they will want larger more luxurious vehicles. If the company can't provide a vehicle to suit their new needs then they will loose them as a customer. I am a case in point. I'm a subie owner (3 of them) and getting a newer higher paying job, want a bigger more luxurious car for my next one. Since subaru doesn't have one for me I may have to look outside the marquee for my next car.

    Its hard to gain customers, much easier to keep current ones.

    -mike

    PS: I have been using GPS for about 10 years and I am a hands on person, just check out my webpages.
    http://Isuzu-suvs.com
    http://AZPInstalls.com
    http://TeamIAC.com
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    the details on Pat's situation, I seemed to have missed the whole fiasco.

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I asked alex about the baja fresh, I'll let you know.

    -mike
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I do think it is very important for Subaru to maintain products which are pertinent to its core customers. Being reactionary and demanding that everything stays as it is simply dooms SOA to its 1% of market share at best, and more likely, that share would drop.
    While I am opposed to too much tarting up with questionable standard features, Subie needs to offer wider options. Find it funny that some people feel that if I don't want it, you can't even have it as special request or add-on.
    Think back to the earlier years of Honda or
    Toyota, when they offered a few specific trim levels each with their own standard features, and an option list that was basically AC, and auto transmission. They have moved on from there to a much broader option list and are having excellent market success.
    Heck I can remember when AC on the 4Runner was only available as an aftermarket dealer option for like $1900 Cdn. Yeah right!
    It really bothered me that I could get 17" wheels from the dealer, but that they were aftermarket only, and with tires the cost was over $2k. Then I would have had my original set sitting around with my money wasted on them. Most other manufacturers have the option of wheel upgrade from the facory for a few hundred.

    Nicholas
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Increase the production costs a lot. From an economic point of view, you have to realize that for every option they put in a car it means they need to have lots of spare parts and a very good feel on how many of those options they will sell. Big guessing game on how many of XYZ you are going to sell and the fewer overall sales you have the harder it is to get the mix correct. That is what brought about "packages" v. stand alone options in most cars sold today.

    -mike
  • hammerheadhammerhead Member Posts: 907
    Mike: Check your e-mail. An update will be there forthwith.

    pdh
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    thanks.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    One day at a time, Pat. Take it nice and easy.

    -juice
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
    i wanna know so i can by some futures
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    the DC area. :) Currently it's at 100 per lot of DC Weather Futures.

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Things will sort themselves out in due time. :)

    Bob
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I don't have a problem with packages or dealer sourced options for that matter. Both help contain costs and thats cool. Nav could readily be available as a dealer option which was optimized for the Subie vehicle. I'm not demanding the typical a la carte option list of NA vehicles. I just see obvious oversights. Sport package on the WRX with 17's, maybe Subie 4 pots, and/or stiffer springs would sell very well for example. So would leather.

    Nicholas
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Looking at the GT Limited now. Not bad, but @ $28K I'd still need to add about $2000-2500 in suspension/tires and another 1000-1500 in exhaust/UP/DP and another 1500-2000 in Injectors, Turbo/FP/ECU. So what's that total out to?

    28000
    2500
    1500
    2000
    total $34K

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    what are you trying to build there, a Legacy STi?
  • goneskiiangoneskiian Member Posts: 381
    Sounds like it to me! LOL!
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Well let's see....

    Brakes:
    Subaru 4-pots ~$400
    Racingbrake Rotors $400
    SS Lines $100
    Pads $120

    Suspension:
    H&R or Prodrive Springs $250
    Bilstien Struts $500-600
    or Konis $500
    Endlinks/Swaybars $300
    Strut Tower bars $300
    Steering Rack Bushings $30
    Faulken Azenis Tires $600

    Exhaust:
    UP/DP $700
    Catback $500-700

    Engine:
    Upgraded Injectors $400
    Upgraded Turbo $500-900
    Upgraded FP $100
    Upgraded ECU $500-900

    Misc:
    Karboy Shifter Bushings $50ish
    Hella HID Driving Lights $500-700
    Tint 20% $150
    CB $150

    Thats about it.

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    you don't need any of that for the street! buy a formula ford already. :)

    a wiseman once said it's better to keep the racing to race cars...

    ~c
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Ok my pasta eating friend, but what's your point?
    What other vehicle you gonna buy that you'll be happy driving bone stock for under 34k? Or am I missing something? Seems to me that not even the ephemeral Legacy Sti wagon that causes so many of us wet dreams wouldn't escape the mad Dr. Paisanstein's "improvements". ;-)
    If the rumours about an Legacy STi wagon in '06 are true, there's a good chance of divorce in this household, but that's a different thread.
  • drovemalldrovemall Member Posts: 29
    The Legacy GT limited Sedan is a perfectly beautiful car that I test drove thoroughly. It does has many more features than my 1977 Yamagi wagon that I logged 325K miles on. Its fast and handles very well. Built for the REAL WORLD. It gets old listening to all these new Subaru owners that want high-end upgrades like Nav systems and useless racing acoutrements...get the STI if you want to race and then have some dental work getting your teeth put back in, and if you want abject luxury get a Bentley . Subaru needs to stick to its core buyers credo...If it aint broke ...don't fix it. The Gt Limited Sedan and the LLbean 3.0 Wagon and Sedan are high end enough...want to join the geriatric club go get the BMW or the Benz and stay off the Subaru.They are great they way they are progressing....Learn to read a map and slow dowm . Core Buyers are eco-concious non-pretentious people that are generally down to earth...so go buy the other car..Sub dosent want snobs behind the wheels of thier cars giving them a bad image like BMW and the like.....the FrankenSaab 9-x2 is hopefully doomed and will eliminate the yuppie factor from the Subaru demographic.
  • jfljfl Member Posts: 1,398
    8,000 additional cars will carry a lot of overhead cost for a company like FHI. It's a drop in the bucket for Toyota and Honda but can really help the bottom line for Subaru.

    I'm glad they can leverage the volume and manufacturing capacity.

    Jim
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    drovemall, you seem to forget FHI and SOA are in the business of making money. They are not in the business of making cars or making eco-concious people happy. That's the fundamental issue that a lot of folks miss, automobile companies exist to provide the stockholders with increased dividends and increased stock value, and selling more cars at a higher profit is the way to do that.

    As for "get an STi" I don't buy into that, the STi is a very small car, legacy or larger is the size that I want. It's a shame that you are such a subaru enthusiest yet you love to put other people down, that's not very "subaru" like :(

    -mike
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