Tokyo (JCNN) - Fuji Heavy Industries (TSE: 7270), the maker of Subaru automobiles, has announced that it will exhibit the Subaru Legacy Station Wagon 3.0R spec. B and Subaru Forester 2.5XT, which will be introduced to the European markets this fall, at the Mondial de Automobile 2004 (Paris Motor Show).
it seems to me that it's not just Subaru as a 'conservative' company or people in general who don't like change ...
look at us ... the 'general' Subie demographic is probably a bit more conservative than most ... and look at the 'furor' that was generated in the community just with the change of the Outback being labeled a 'truck' ...
c'mon guys .. the Subie customer base LIKES the Subie the way it is with a few 'tweaks' ... lol
<running away before the men get upset with the 'upstart' woman>
I'm a price-sensitive shopper (read: CHEAP) so I sorta like the slow-but-continuous upgrades to the Forester, for instance.
The 2005 has not had any dramatic changes since my 1998, but continuous improvement makes the new package a lot better, and the price hasn't really gone up.
I like that combo.
But I also realize that's not exactly going to help Subaru grow much.
http://www.subaru.ca/ Go to "About Subaru," then to "Future." Checkout the teaser photo. Doesn't look like any concept Subie I've seen so far... Could this be the all-new???
I've always wondered at what point, if any, class B / micro cars (JDM vs. Euro terminology) will be viable in the US. I doubt if very many rural travellers would ever purchase one, no matter the price, but I could definitely see them for dense urban commuting.
And how many people want to drive something that small while sharing the road with the aforementioned Hummer H2s and Escalades? Can you say speed bump? ;-)
because they built the H6 first to satisfy American consumer demand for a six cylinder. turns out, they really didn't build a very good six cylinder for the Outback's 3600-3700lb+ weight.
later the EJ series finally added boost to the biggest displacement available, 2.0L instead of the earlier 2.0 and 2.2 variants. the result is awesome. the H6 can't compare-- but instead of scrapping it completely I'd do two versions and make it truly useful.
one with a small turbocharger spooling at well under 2000 rpm but revving to only 6k rpm or so, and another with a much larger turbocharger breathing heavy past 7k rpm and making copious amounts of horsepower.
heh, this is a suggestions for subaru post. oh well!
I'm trying to imagine what it would take. You'd have to have some serious incentives.
There are car sharing services that operate out of Metro (subway) stops, so some would argue why have a car at all? They even get the best parking spots reserved for them.
Sky rocketing gas prices would further the cause.
They wanted to close Beach Drive to the public, my idea was limit that road to hybrids only. Maybe alternative fuels and minicars below a certain GVWR could be excluded also. Less traffic is a big incentive.
Give them HOV access, not that there are many HOV lanes in town...
Let them pay a smaller parking fee, perhaps half as much, for a smaller spot, too. Park two in one spot that used to be for parallel parking one big car.
Besides that, maybe some tax breaks?
You'd still have to overcome the fear of drivers coming face-to-face with a Suburban.
Does anyone know the spec b in japan/europe comes in only manual or does it also come with an automatic? And how long does the specB goes from 0-60mph?
the Legacy gt limited manual get 5.5sec? and auto gets about 5.9sec?. right, anyone?
The Euro/Aussie Legacy 3.0R Spec.B comes only with the 6-speed manual. The "B" in Spec.B stands for Bilstein, as in Bilstein shocks.The Euro/Aussie Legacy 3.0R comes only with the 5EAT, and without the Spec.B's trick suspension.
even though it's less performance potential than the turbocharged 2.5L, I'd be pretty interested in that hotted-up Legacy H6 with the six speed manual.
In absolute numbers the turbo would probably still come out ahead, but the H6 won't be lacking in any way, and it would likely offer better throttle response.
whaaaat? who's paying $1000 to change a timing belt on a subaru?!
even still maintenance due at 105k miles isn't a primary concern of mine when I buy a new vehicle... particularly since I've never put more than 50k on any one vehicle before selling it whether I bought it new or used.
I'd say the majority of original owners will never make it that far. I'm not even sure if Ken or Kate did, and they both exceeded 100k miles (just barely).
juice: I did my T-belt at 60K miles only because I had to change out a faulty water pump under warranty. I just paid for the belt, the labor was part of the water pump swap.
Colin: That's it? 50K? Any reason behind that number?
That's it? 50K? Any reason behind that number? I change cars almost as often as I change women? Nah, they last a lot less than 2 years. The women that is. Between 2 cars and a motorcycle, I just don't put *that many* miles on any one vehicle and going back to 1997 I've never owned a car more than 3 years.
Digging through the archives after 2 weeks away. Will try to get a shot of the set-up for you. Remember, this is in a Suburban, but it works for us, and the bonus is that we take the "DVD system" out of the truck and into our Airstream. We just did a camping trip which ended in 5 days of rain. We still drag the kids outside whatever the weather, but the playground and swimming time which we use to burn off energy was seriously curtailed. Helps to be able to bribe the kids with a movie if cabin fever gets a little bad. Nicholas
also has a link to their '05 NZ Imprezas. It's mentioned that they are considering offering the Outback Sport/RV in NZ, but as of now, no decision has been made.
If so, I believe that would make 4 markets for that model:
I don't know that I'd use New Zealand & Australia as metrics of whether North America gets a vehicle or not. They had the WRX & STi for many years before we did and other models as well.
Comments
-juice
Bob
it seems to me that it's not just Subaru as a 'conservative' company or people in general who don't like change ...
look at us ... the 'general' Subie demographic is probably a bit more conservative than most ... and look at the 'furor' that was generated in the community just with the change of the Outback being labeled a 'truck' ...
c'mon guys .. the Subie customer base LIKES the Subie the way it is with a few 'tweaks' ... lol
<running away before the men get upset with the 'upstart' woman>
The 2005 has not had any dramatic changes since my 1998, but continuous improvement makes the new package a lot better, and the price hasn't really gone up.
I like that combo.
But I also realize that's not exactly going to help Subaru grow much.
-juice
http://www.subaru.ca/
Go to "About Subaru," then to "Future." Checkout the teaser photo. Doesn't look like any concept Subie I've seen so far... Could this be the all-new???
Bob
The front overhang looks way, way too short to be the Tribeca.
-juice
The front overhang looks way, way too short to be the Tribeca.
I very much doubt it's a generic non-Subie image. It may not be the Tribeca, but it could be another yet to be announced Subie, however.
Bob
~c
Nah, we already have the Hummer H2 and Escalade to fill those needs. :-)
DaveM
~c
Yup, it makes sense for Boston and other inner city commuting but will the American big is better culture ever accept "acceptable"?
DaveM
-Frank
that bigger is better crap has to stop or else we'll all be in tanks!
~c
-Brian
later the EJ series finally added boost to the biggest displacement available, 2.0L instead of the earlier 2.0 and 2.2 variants. the result is awesome. the H6 can't compare-- but instead of scrapping it completely I'd do two versions and make it truly useful.
one with a small turbocharger spooling at well under 2000 rpm but revving to only 6k rpm or so, and another with a much larger turbocharger breathing heavy past 7k rpm and making copious amounts of horsepower.
heh, this is a suggestions for subaru post. oh well!
~c
For Subaru it would kill any hopes for an upscale image, even if it were Aveo-sized. This market is just brutal on small cars.
Colin: we *are* in tanks. All my wife's friends are in SUVs and most are mid- or full-size.
I would seriously consider something like the Smart Roadster, though I doubt it'll ever be sold here.
-juice
There are car sharing services that operate out of Metro (subway) stops, so some would argue why have a car at all? They even get the best parking spots reserved for them.
Sky rocketing gas prices would further the cause.
They wanted to close Beach Drive to the public, my idea was limit that road to hybrids only. Maybe alternative fuels and minicars below a certain GVWR could be excluded also. Less traffic is a big incentive.
Give them HOV access, not that there are many HOV lanes in town...
Let them pay a smaller parking fee, perhaps half as much, for a smaller spot, too. Park two in one spot that used to be for parallel parking one big car.
Besides that, maybe some tax breaks?
You'd still have to overcome the fear of drivers coming face-to-face with a Suburban.
-juice
The 3.0R Spec-B will be officially launched in Europe. Also Europe will finally get the Forester 2.5XT!
Bob
-juice
-Dennis
-juice
Bob
-juice
http://www.subaru.co.jp/movie/
Bob
the Legacy gt limited manual get 5.5sec? and auto gets about 5.9sec?. right, anyone?
Bob
~c
-juice
-juice
even still maintenance due at 105k miles isn't a primary concern of mine when I buy a new vehicle... particularly since I've never put more than 50k on any one vehicle before selling it whether I bought it new or used.
~c
-juice
Colin: That's it? 50K? Any reason behind that number?
Ken
-juice
http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/article_display.jsp?vnu_content- _id=1000612637
with hints of the crossover naming...
Bob
I change cars almost as often as I change women?
~Colin
They just quoted me $700 for the t-belt and waterpump on my trooper at the dealer.
I like the idea of the H6, bet there is some tuning that can be done to enhance the performance too.
-mike
~c
Nicholas
http://www.subaru.co.jp/forester/x20_tough_package/
http://www.subaru.co.nz/Roam/About_Subaru/News/index.php?article=- 691&PHPSESSID=4bc2d7112d879e94fb4e6af2c7f513e3
Bob
If so, I believe that would make 4 markets for that model:
US & CA: Outback Sport
AU & NZ: Impreza RV
Bob
But, one can hope.
~c