Subaru (15 Posts)
More often than not, when people find out what I get to do for a living, they ask for my advice on their future car purchase. I don't always have the best answer for them on the spot, but it's always a fun discussion. I was celebrating with some friends last week, and the question came up. This request was much more interesting than most, simply because my friend has some specific needs and a fun option to accompany the car choice.
In general, stock stereo systems have gotten better across the board, even in entry-level vehicles. And sometimes it doesn't have anything to do with offering a premium audio brand. That's why these days it's somewhat surprising to hear a factory audio system that sounds really bad, like in the 2010 Impreza Outback Sport I recently tested.
And the Circle Surround Auto processing doesn't help much either.
As self-appointed overlord of style, I'm here to weigh in on the interior styling of the latest test car to grace my driveway -- the 2010 Subaru Tribeca Touring. On the whole, I think it's an interesting execution for an otherwise mundane SUV.
With most of the Subaru news swirling around the upcoming New York Auto Show focused on the wide-body WRX models, Subaru recently reminded us that the STI lineup received some attention back at December's Los Angeles Auto Show with the introduction of the STI Special Edition. Similar in concept to the WRX TR of a few years back, the STI Special Edition is a slightly decontented version of the full-zoot STI. As we found out at a recent track-day outing, the Special Edition is now the least expensive and sharpest handling STI. (But not for long -- see UPDATE, below.)
First shown in L.A. back in December, the STI Special Edition ("S.E." for this discussion only) goes on sale any day now, with the first 125 cars arriving with exclusive Aspen White paint. After the first 125 are spoken for, the S.E. becomes part of the regular lineup, available in standard STI colors. Based on the Japanese domestic market (JDM) STI Spec-C model, the S.E. gains and loses some hardware, and stickers $2,000 less ($32,995) than the regular STI.
Subaru recently invited us to Utah's upscale snow-sport burg of Park City to sample its Impreza, WRX and STI all-wheel-drive (AWD) offerings in a rather unique setting. As opposed to a driving loop on the rather spectacular roads that lace the Wasatch Range in and around Park City (many of which are closed during winter due to heavy snowfall), Subaru created its own venue.
On a bit of flat scrubland not far from where Interstate 80 meets Old Hwy 40, Subaru carved its own little racetrack out of the snow. The idea was to compress the snowpack down and water it, to create a flowing circuit of ice. As is often the case with such wicked cool ideas, Mother Nature had her own plans. In the end, thanks to some wide swings of unseasonable temperatures, the impromptu track proved both enlightening and wildly entertaining.
Last week I happily kicked 2009 to the curb, along with the many automotive divisions and models that won't be around for 2010. But with the New Year comes new hope for a future awash in worthy and exciting cars (also political intelligence and personal responsibility/accountability...but I'm not holding my breathe on those).
In the spirit of looking forward let's examinie the North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) finalists, cars I'll be voting on today before the winner is announced next Monday. On the car side we have the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf. On the truck side we're talking about the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback.
Subaru has really cranked up the fun meter on its 2009 WRX
. They added 41 horsepower and 18 lb-ft of torque, bumping those totals to 265 and 244, respectively.
They also upgraded the suspension with various tweaks, improved the tires, and made the formerly optional Aero package standard. Hmm, I wonder if the new Lancer Ralliart had anything to do with these upgrades (duh).
But here's the problem: As with the Evo's price creeep, the STI starts at $35,000, which is well beyond "pocket rocket" pricing (and even more than the $33,000 EVO GSR). Yet this freshly upgraded WRX starts at a still-bargain $25,000. And you can get the WRX in sedan form (not an option with the STI).
Now that I've driven the 2009 WRX, I'm seriously concerned about STI viability.
Last Friday
I posted automotive sales results, both for the month of October and for 2007 year-to-date. In those results it was clear that although 2007 was a challenging year some manufacturers were suffering more than others. Specifically, the domestics were all down for the year, along with Subaru and Volvo.
Many of you postulated on why those brands were down on sales, with fleet activity being a primary cause for the domestics' downturn. But what about Subaru? What is hurting their sales? Several comments talked about the againg product, the attempt to move upmarket and the loss of unique branding related to all-wheel drive (basically, everyone offers all-wheel drive today, so that's not really a selling point in 2007).
I'm going to do more of these "Manufacturer Makeovers" but let's start with Subaru because they are down for the year and there are plenty of opinions regarding why. The proposition: You wake up tomorrow head of Subaru (or at least head of Subaru's U.S. product line). What would you do to turn sales around? Here are my thoughts:
Just took a gander at Automotive News' future product plan for Japanese carmakers. Not too surprisingly, the coming years hold hybrids and crossovers from the Land of the Rising Sun (actually, many of them will come from right here in North America). Each automaker has a few interesting items in the pipeline.
Acura: No official confirmation of a V8 in Acura's future, which I continue to view as the division's greatest failing. The next RL is due in 2011, so they better make up their mind. But we do know a V10 engine will power the NSX replacement. I like that they have a full-tilt exotic in the works, but one vehicle does not a division make (as was proven with the last
NSX).
Honda: Honda will continue to push hybrids, with a smaller-than-Civic model. No more Accord hybrids, but the Odyssey will be Honda's first V6 diesel-powered vehicle in the U.S. in 2010 (also the year CR-V goes diesel with a 4 cyl.). I'm personally looking forward to the Remix, the spiritual successor to the CRX. And between the Pilot and CR-V? Yup, another crossover is coming.
I spent the weekend with my second Mazdaspeed 3 in as many weeks, but this one had something extra going on. Actually it had several extra things going on because it's a rolling version of the Mazdaspeed accessory catalog, complete with chrome intake pipes, loud exhaust pipes, alloy wheels and gnarly body panels.
Do I like the "all-new" Subaru WRX better than Mazda's superb Mazdaspeed 3? I can't tell. And don't mean that in an Airplane movie, "You can tell us, Karl, we're your readers" sort of way. I mean I drove the Mazdaspeed 3 about a week ago, and I just drove the new WRX, and that's simply too much time between drives. Both cars are too good overall, and the only way to confirm which is "better" is to drive them back-to-back and/or do instrumented testing. Fortunately, I have allies who did both...
Our latest test of the Subaru Tribeca just went live, and it looks (literally) like they addressed it's biggest failing -- styling. I was quite disappointed in the first Tribeca, though styling was the least of my worries. For me, the crossover was simply an overstressed, under-refined tall station wagon that flew in the face of everything Subaru typically represented. The engine buzzed at speeds over 50 mph, and overall power delivery was about as satisfying as a diet Snickers bar...
We just posted this image of the next Infiniti G35 coupe
, which will debut at the New York auto show in April. You always have to take these "manufacturer sketches" with a five-pound bag of salt, but this thing looks su-weet! My first impression was "$30,000 Aston Martin" though on closer inspection I see some Hyundai Tiburon in the hood/headlights (a car that itself had plenty of Ferrari 456). Regardless, it looks good, and considering how aggressive the new Altima Coupe
looks I guess Infiniti had no choice but to up their game with the next G coupe's design...
I first drove the Subaru B9 Tribeca in July of 2005, and I wasn't particularly impressed by it. The engine felt over worked, the wind noise at highway speeds was excessive, and the interior design was a bit overstyled (at the cost of ergonmic effectiveness). I just drove another one yesterday...and my initial reactions have weathered the past 17 months remarkably well. At first I thought maybe I'd been too harsh on the Tribeca, as the audio system was quite capable of keeping me entertained during the slog out of West L.A...
It's been too long since I drove a Subaru Legacy, but last night I took home an attractive, Diamond Gray Mettallic version in 2.5 GT spec.B trim
. At $35,000 this is not an inexpesive vehicle, but for the most part it holds up against that price well. The bulk of the interior uses nicely textured, soft-touch materials (the center console and center stack are hard plastic, but attractive hard plastic). The gauge cluster is clear and bright, with soothing, electroluminescent lighting at night. The seats are both comfortable and supportive, with the dark blue inserts giving the cabin a sporty demeanor without looking silly. The car's overall design, both inside and out, is also well executed.
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