SUBARU NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM 2009 

Subaru News, Magazine Reviews, Links from calendar year 2009. Includes Tribeca, Outback, Legacy, Forester, Impreza, WRX, STI,  Hybrid, Diesel, Concept Cars..

Sales tax deduction- save your P.O. for Washington State, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Tennessee.
Keep your car PO and other receipts. See your tax people for legal advice.

General Subaru and Fuji news, comments and links in 2009
Model specific news, reports, reviews, articles etc are below. Comments and links have been edited.
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12/27/09 Where are they (car companies)  now, the year in review from the NYT.  'Despite the bankruptcies, bailouts and plunging sales that quaked the auto industry this year, perhaps nothing sums up the misery better than this: The United States is no longer the world’s top car market...
The casual consumer, who may not realize that General Motors killed off Pontiac this year, or that Jaguar and Land Rover now belong to Tata Motors of India, may need a scorecard and a spreadsheet to keep track of the players left in the game.
To that end, here is a rundown on the status of some brands and companies caught up in the shuffles, shakeups and desperate dances of the last couple of years, as automakers tried to keep a lap ahead of the Grim Reaper..
..Subaru What recession? Buoyed by good timing and well-received new models - including the Legacy, Outback and Forester - Subaru recorded the biggest percentage sales gains in the industry, nearly 14 percent...' read about all the companies
12/25 Merry Christmas
12/22 More reasons Subaru is doing well
'It may be the worst of times for new-vehicle sales, but in a nondescript office building on a busy highway in suburban Philadelphia, executives at Subaru of America have pulled off a miracle. While the rest of the industry cratered, the little Japanese brand has racked up big U.S. sales gains.
So how did Subaru beat the odds for two years running? Credit a decision four years ago by U.S. bosses to dump a strategy, dictated by executives in Japan, to go upmarket.
Since 2006, Subaru has cut prices, shed its quirky styling and refocused the marketing strategy on the safety and practical virtues of its five vehicles. And it has let dealers weigh in on important product decisions.
Those and other moves helped make Subaru the best-performing brand in 2009 -- up 14 percent in a market down 24 percent. The brand has jumped from the 19th-largest U.S. seller in 2008 to the 11th, ahead of Volkswagen and within striking distance of Jeep.
Four years ago, Subaru officials decided to stop trying to compete with European premium brands such as Volvo and Audi -- a plan in the works when Subaru launched its previous-generation Legacy sedan and Outback wagon in 2004. Early in the decade, parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. even contemplated launching a luxury car.
Since then Subaru has been repositioned as a value brand, outdoorsy and pragmatic. It also abandoned its goal of hitting 250,000 sales by 2010. The target now is 236,000 by 2012.
..Ikuo Mori, CEO of Fuji Heavy Industries, admitted in a recent interview that the company was simply exporting vehicles that had been developed for Japanese. "But now we design a vehicle to suit global markets," he says. For example, both the new Legacy and Outback have more legroom than their predecessors.
.. In a depressed market, Subaru has added 10 dealers this year for a total of 610. Most of the new dealers are in the Sun Belt, where the brand wants to increase sales. Subaru's biggest markets are Denver, Seattle and the Northeast, places where winter warrants all-wheel drive.
.."The only negative perception is the styling," says Wise.
..Subaru's new development strategy also meant shedding eccentric design cues and going more mainstream, although not without talking with U.S. dealers. A dealer board committee of four members, formed several years ago, travels to Japan three or four times a year to evaluate new products.
..Mahoney, the brand's marketing boss, joined Subaru in 1984, left in 1999 to become vice president of marketing for Porsche Cars North America and returned to Subaru in May 2006. When he came back, the marketing approach was overhauled.
Subaru once trotted out the likes of Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. These days, celebrity spokesmen are out.
The current campaign is called "Love. It's what makes a Subaru a Subaru." TV spots show vehicles getting muddy and plowing through snow. Mahoney says the company is "tapping into the emotions of car buying and letting consumers discover the rational reasons such as safety and residual-value awards."
All five of Subaru's vehicles have a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for front-impact, rollover and side-impact crash tests. Those accolades are being used heavily in advertising.
And Subaru's residuals are soaring. The brand won Automotive Lease Guide's "best mainstream brand" award for the 2010 model year. Thirty-six-month residuals have improved to more than 50 percent for each model in the lineup, according to ALG... ' the article

12/21 Winter Solstice- shortest day of the year and start of winter

12/21 Why is Subaru doing so well?  'Subaru, the car brand of choice for quirky, all-wheel-drive loving Northeasterners and trendy turbo freaks, is on something of a tear.  Considering Subaru's record breaking sales at a time when others are struggling to unload cars, the number four Japanese brand in America is doing downright great.
Most of the credit goes to recent upgrades made to three of Subaru's five model lines. Those upgrades reflect a renewed focus on America. Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan, has mandated a tight focus on the needs of its single most important market, the United States...
Subaru's Kabuki dance: But while they're changing their products to better suit the mainstream market, Subaru executives know they can't turn their backs on the customers who got them here, the ones who expect Subaru to be different. The result is a balancing act. The products can go more mainstream, but shouldn't give up its left-of-center identity.
Besides winning its second Motor Trend SUV of the Year in a row and five Insurance Institute Top Safety Picks -- it won a corporate responsibility award from GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, an award that recognized Subaru's role as the first automaker in America to run ad campaigns specifically targeting gays. (Tagline: "It's not a choice, it's the way we're built.") Plus, Subaru's fall sales promotion involved, not rebates to customers or an offer to take the car back if you change your mind, but a donation to charity with each car purchased.
...Subarus are growing. The Legacy mid-sized sedan and the Outback, the technically a SUV station wagon, are both a little larger than the versions they replace. "The new Outback has 8 more cubic feet of passenger space in the rear seat, which was always a bit of a customer complaint," said Doll. Up-sizing may seem an odd strategy in a market where all the buzz is around small cars. But Subaru is listening to the reality, not the buzz, said Jake Fisher, senior automotive engineer for Consumer Reports, which has given high marks to the recent Subaru models.
"Everyone is saying 'smaller, smaller, smaller," he said, "But no one's buying smaller, smaller, smaller."
Next up for a makeover will be the Tribeca .. As for those upcoming surprises, Toyota Motor Co. now owns 16.5% of Subaru and two carmakers are working jointly on some new products. A sports car, which might be Subaru's first two-wheel-drive car since the 1990s, is expected in 2011. Subaru is also working on a new hybrid car using Toyota technology, which would Subaru's first hybrid.
The brand stretching won't go too far, though, Doll promises. "We're still the smart boy in the class," he said'  the article from cnn

12/15 New Sales record- As of December 15 Subaru has sold more than 200,703 cars thus breaking the record set in 2006, and there are still 16 more days left in the year.
12/11 new photo slideshow - Subaru Dogs and their cars

12/9  Subaru sponsors GSA Woman in Science award. The GSA (Geological Society of America) recognized outstanding contributions from women and minorities. Winner Jamie Barnes, assistant professor at University of Texas at Austin, was recognized with the 2009 Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award 2009, given in with Subaru of America, for Ph.D. research with an impact on the geosciences. “It is truly a great honor to receive the Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award...” said Barnes. “I would like to thank GSA for this award and Subaru for their sponsorship. I am exceptionally grateful to be a member of a community so supportive of its young members and am humbled to accept this honor.”  The GSA website
12/7  New Subaru dealer in Tallahassee, Florida ProctorSubaru.com
12/5  Travis Pastrana to jump 200 feet New Years Eve  At the "Red Bull: New Year No Limits" event Dec 31st in Santa Monica, Pastrana will celebrate the New Year by launching his WRX off a ramp on the Pine Street Pier to a barge anchored in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor, more than 200 feet over the Pacific, aiming to establish a new world distance record, live on ESPN.
Asked what his New Year's resolutions will be, Pastrana answered 'Land the car. Land the car. Land the car. I guess you can't really make a resolution to land the car..'  "I live for this kind of excitement," said Pastrana.  Watch it 12/31, ESPN, 11pmET, 8pmPT.
1/1/2010 update he does it!

12/4 Leasing and strong residual values, Also explains why used Subarus are expensive... Subaru is #1, winner of the 'Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award'. Last year Subaru was #2 behind Honda. Outback and Forester are segment leaders.  ALG (Automotive Lease Guide) and the industry benchmark for lease residual values and depreciation data, today announced its 11th annual Residual Value Awards, honoring the vehicles in each segment that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period.
For the eighth year, ALG has also included awards for the brands with the highest overall predicted resale values among all mainstream and all luxury vehicles.  The awards are derived after careful study of segment competition, historical vehicle performance and industry trends.
Subaru of America has won the Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award for the first time, jumping over perennially strong Honda.  Subaru also received individual segment awards for the Forester in the Compact Utility Vehicle category and the Outback in the Midsize Utility Vehicle category.
“Subaru combines distinct product attributes, such as standard all-wheel drive and the wide use of turbo charged boxer engines, with a rugged but practical brand positioning to generate fierce loyalty among its buyers,” said James Clark, General Manager of ALG.  “Subaru also has been restrained with incentives over the past year, and its three core models have all been recently redesigned, helping it to move from second place to first this year.” the article
11/30  Travis Pastrana at the opening of Subaru Superstore in Chandler Arizona, Saturday, 12/5/09

11/27 Subaru Warranties -  3yr/36,000 mile new car warranty, it also includes wear items like brake pads, clutch lining, wiper blades, remote batteries, 24 hour roadside assistance;  5yr/60,000 mile powertrain warranty, 5yr unlimited rust perforation
11/18 Subaru Skunk t-shirts available -   pictures here.  check out the Skunk detergent video and don't forget to stop by your dealer for a sample while supplies last..  (check out my skunk story)

11/13 Snow in the forecast  Ski slopes here in the Seattle area are opening and mountain passes have snow warnings. Old man winter is coming. Here are some winter driving tips. Remember don't use tire chains, they can damage brake lines, suspension etc.

11/10 Coming into Vacouver, Wa  'The Port of Vancouver is poised to sign a new lease agreement with Subaru of America that will guarantee revenue and jobs for the next 10 years. The port previously has negotiated five-year agreements, starting in 1992. Details of the new agreement are still "under discussion," according to Subaru, one of the port's largest tenants. But if the deal comes through, it represents the continuation of a long-standing relationship with the automaker worth millions of dollars in port revenue.
Hundreds of workers will also benefit from the additional job security, from the longshoremen who unload the cars to employees of Auto Warehousing Inc., who process the vehicles for Subaru dockside.
Long-term contracts like this give us a sense of security and stability, which is so important in these economic times," said Brad Clark, president of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 4. "And it shows once again that the port is doing it's job protecting the community and keeping jobs here."
One incoming shipment of Subarus puts between 25 and 75 longshoreman to work for the day, depending on the number of cars onboard, said Clark.
A 10-year lease would be a longer term commitment than Subaru has previously signed.
Subaru began building its U.S. business through the port in 1992 with an initial five-year lease of $16,810 per month and the option for a pair of five-year renewals. At that time, the company estimated it would import 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles per year to the port.
The company has since ramped up its volume through the port with a new automobile processing facility at Terminal 4 and further lease expansions. More than 58,000 Subarus were received at the port in 2008.' the full article
11/5 Guaranteed Trade-in Program- Subaru will buy your trade. Starting 11/3 GTP is now an ongoing program on Subarus for 6 years from warranty start date. What's yours worth? Check here or if you're in the Seattle or NW area, contact me with VIN and miles.
10/31 Daylight saving time ends-  Just a reminder that  Sunday morning 11/1 daylight saving time ends, so roll back clocks 1 hour.
10/15  What Subaru means to Lafayette. 'Across Indiana, automotive communities face shrinking jobs — from Elkhart’s collapsed RV industry to layoffs at Chrysler’s casting and transmission plant in Kokomo. Not in Lafayette. The county it’s in has one of the lower unemployment rates in the state, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. And Subaru is a major reason why...
Experts say it’s because cars that offer lots of utility sell well during an economic downturn. Perhaps more importantly, the automaker has kept its focus. “Being small during these bad economic times helped us,” said Jeff Bennett, a 19-year Subaru of Indiana Automotive veteran on the vehicle launch team. So does having such a fresh lineup. Subaru’s sales are buoyed in part by three models — the Legacy, Outback and Forester — which were redesigned for 2009 or 2010...
“You can freshen your lineup and not do the right thing,” AutoPacific analyst Jim Hossack said. Subaru is “doing some of the right things. Now, what do we mean by that? These guys are true to themselves. They stay with all-wheel drive. They stay appealing to ecologically sensitive, outdoorsy kinds of people. They know their customer. They don’t appeal to everyone, either in a product sense or in a marketing sense. They know who they are. They’ve stuck to their knitting,” Hossack said. “They did not do a pickup; they did not do a minivan.”
..In Lafayette, the community seems grateful. Bennett called Subaru “one of the cornerstones of Lafayette,” and temporary line worker Brad Wellman said the community has been supportive of the automaker’s success.
..“People are actually taking a genuine interest in it,” Wellman said. “It’s pretty much the only factory in town that’s doing any sort of good right now.”
..“The worst thing that could happen to them is they have the aspirations of becoming a big car company,” Hossack said. “They could increase their sales if they just introduced a low-cost, low-priced, non-all-wheel-drive version. Don’t do it. Then you just become just like the Hondas and Toyotas and Nissans of the world. Be a niche player.”   read the cars.com article and watch the video
10/14 New Subaru dealer opens in Chandler, Arizona
10/2 Subaru Skunk laundry soap Check out the Skunk detergent video and don't forget to stop by your dealer for a sample while supplies last..  check out the Skunk Tshirts and my skunk story
10/1 3,000,000th car built at SIA - I wonder how many are Subarus, not Isuzus and Toyotas?
'Subaru of Indiana Automotive reached a milestone in production on Tuesday (9/29/09) Confetti filled the air and cheers came from employees at the auto plant when the 3 millionth vehicle rolled off the assembly line: a 2010 Subaru Outback.
Senior Vice President of SIA Tom Easterday said it's a goal the company didn't expect to reach so soon. "It was unexpected to have the three millionth vehicle built this month. We had projected, based on our production volumed from the beginning of the year, that it would be sometime in mid October. But, with the overtime that we have been working, plus Saturdays, we had to move that date up for the three millionth vehicle," said Easterday. The SUV will remain at SIA.' the article
Is volume a verb? It sort of works as one anyway ...
9/28 Subarus at your local Washington State REI - 10/2 REI Tacoma, 10/3-4 REI Redmond, 10/9-10-11 REI Spokane
Check out new 2010 Subarus, outdoor wear and gear and other cool stuff from folks like KEEN, Yakima, Cascade Design, REI...
9/26 Manual transmissions, only 11.5%?  From columnist Warren Brown  '...as for manuals: Currently, manual gearboxes account for 11.5 percent of new vehicles sold in this country. With the continued emergence of manumatics--transmissions that can be used automatically or manually--their number is likely to dwindle. But wishful thinking makes me believe that traditional manuals will maintain some sort of long-term presence in the marketplace...' read the article
9/11 20 years ago in Lafayette, Indiana. SIA, Subaru's factory in Indiana, started Sept 11, 1989 with annual production of 60,000 Subaru Legacys and 60,000 Isuzu pickups and Rodeos. In early 2003, Fuji took over Isuzu's part and discontinued production of Isuzu vehicles on July 23, 2004, and began to build the Camry on February 28, 2007.
9/4 Steps Against Domestic Violence is a walk around Greenlake in Seattle on October 4th. It's a good cause, in memory of Marisa Peach. More information.

9/3  Most stolen cars in 2008 from the National Insurance Crime Bureau and thankfully no Subaru is included. While Subaru doesn't produce enough cars to make the list, for the past few years all Subarus have had many of the suggested best anti-theft measures, including immobilizer keys and an alarm with ignition disabling, horn alert and flashing red dash light. The list of top stolen cars nationally in 2008 are not surprisingly also some of the top sellers since they're easier to sell as parts. #1. 1994  Accord,  2. 1995 Civic, 3. 1989 Camry, 4.1997 Ford F-150,  5 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup,  6. 2000 Dodge Caravan, 7. 1996  Cherokee/Grand Cherokee,  8. 1994 Integra,  9. 1999 Taurus, 10. 2002 Ford Explorer. NICB website

9/2  Towing standards '... For decades automakers have promoted the towing capacity of their vehicles, particularly pickup trucks, as a selling point. What many consumers did not know was that the industry had no standard to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons and to prevent companies from making unrealistic claims... That will soon change. SAE International, the group formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers, has established a voluntary standard that specifies how automakers should measure towing capacity.
...The new standard, called J2807, specifies not just how quickly a vehicle must be able to accelerate — including uphill grades — but also how it stops and how it handles. With increases in horsepower and torque it is possible for a vehicle to tow a trailer that outweighs it, creating potential challenges to drivers, Mr. Krouse said.
“Being able to handle the trailer is an even more critical part of the equation,” he said. Consumers can quickly tell how a vehicle accelerates, but poor handling “sneaks up on you,” he said. “You can be in trouble in a hurry.”
So one requirement is that the vehicle’s suspension must be able to resist a trailer’s fishtailing...'  read the article from NYT

8/30 Pennisula Subaru grows a garden  '.. It’s not a sight you see every day. But there it is, a well-tended garden brimming with corn, beets, yellow squash and cukes right out back behind Peninsula Subaru and Suzuki in Gorst, Wa
No, all these leafy vegetables aren’t here to help out the ailing auto industry. These vitamin-brimming carrots, peas and zucchini are headed to South Kitsap Helpline, to help feed the really poor... Called “Peninsula’s Love Garden,” the new garden is a delight to customers and staffers who wander out from the showroom to find themselves in an oasis amid the constant stream of rumbling trucks, fumes, and down-home businesses that is Gorst.' the article

8/29 Sleeping out in Denver for a free Outback '.. Sniagrab — bargains spelled backwards —enters its 55th year (in Denver) next weekend and expects a record turnout due to the down-sloped economy. Hailed as the world’s largest ski and snowboard sale, hundreds of people are expected to camp out outside of Sports Authority, 1000 Broadway Ave. to be in the front of the line for the super sale when it kicks off a week from Saturday at 8 a.m.  Camping out prior to Sniagrab has become an event unto itself. Food vendors, onlookers and promotional tents will join the campers, and as an added incentive, Sports Authority will give away more than $100,000 in prizes — including a new 2009 Subaru Outback — to some of the eager shoppers...' The free Subaru contest is at selected Colorado Sniagrab locations only. the article
8/27 Clunker review: 690,114 deals were submitted worth $2.877 billion, which just under the $3b allocated.
Top 5 sellers: 1. Toyota Corolla,  2. Honda Civic, 3. Toyota Camry,  4. Ford Focus 5. Hyundai Elantra.
Top 5 companies: Toyota 19.4%, General Motors 17.6%, Ford 14.4%, Honda 13.0%, Nissan 8.7%. Subaru is #9
Top 5 Trades:  1. Ford Explorer 4x4, 2. Ford F150 2WD,  3. Jeep Grand Cherokee,  4. Ford Explorer 2WD,  5. Dodge Caravan
Top 5 states. #1 Ca $326,822,000,  2. Tx $183,776,500, 3. NY $156,292,000,  3. FL $146,565,000, 4. IL $143,613,000,  5. Pa $138,651,500,  and the lowest was Guam $675,000 many more Clunker details
8/20 Cash for Clunkers officially ends Monday 8/24, all paperwork must be submitted by Monday 8pm
8/19 Oh-oh.. Cash for Clunkers winding down very quickly, . The rules say the government doesn't have to pay dealers who submit claims for reimbursement after the program runs out of money.
'The government will announce a plan as soon as tomorrow Thursday 8/20 for winding down its popular but problem-plagued "cash for clunkers" program.
The announcement by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood came as a New York dealership group said that hundreds of its members had stopped doing clunker transactions because of delays in getting reimbursed by the federal government.
8/15 Where is Grace Slick? Subaru (and not VW microbusses) may bring the faithful back to Woodstock but I just want to know if Grace Slick will be there  '.. Most of the 15,000 who have bought tickets for the "Heroes of Woodstock" concert will arrive in their hybrids and Subaru wagons rather than in psychedelically painted VW buses.
Drugs are not allowed, but some promoting the anniversary confide there may be those who "have their own little experience" at the hillside monument erected on the original site. Any free love will likely happen at new nearby hotels like the local Marriott, which are already booked for the entire weekend.
Returning Woodstock characters like Wavy Gravy, now 73, admit they are fast approaching official geezerhood..." the article.
Note for those who forgot or never knew, Grace Slick is lead singer for Jefferson Airplane...
8/14 Fly Your Subaru - get an Aerocopter AK1-3 helicopter powered by a Subaru EJ25 (2.5L) engine from Rotor FX
8/11 Subaru inventory is very low
8/8 GTP is back.Guaranteed Trade-in Program for all 2004-2008 models, runs from July 27-Sept 30. Is your car in normal good shape? Trade it in by 9/30 for a new Subaru and get $500 bonus for accessories (it's mailed so not usable at time of purchase).
What's your car worth? Check here or if you're in the Seattle or NW area, contact me. All you need is the VIN and current miles.
8/7  Subaru recession proof? '.. Subaru, the auto brand of Fuji Heavy Industries, is having an up year despite the Recession and terrible auto selling season. Sales in the first seven months of the year were up 4.3%. Compare that with Toyota (down 34%), Honda (down 31%) and Nissan (down 32%.)Subaru has launched a new Legacy/Outback to a very good reception. And has seen extremely strong sales of its Forester, the redesign of which launched last year. The Forester is one of the best evolutionary redesigns of an existing model I have seen from any carmaker in the last few years. Sales of that car are up 32%. Sales of Impreza, Subaru’s entry level vehicle, are up just 1.5%; a level which should be better, but the smallest and least expensive Subaru does not have much of a fuel economy story to tell because of its all-wheel-drive system. That hurts it when consumers are researching on the Net...
I don’t think I’m out on a limb to suggest that the B9 Tribeca SUV has been a bust. Sales of the Tribeca are down 44%, with only a shade over 4,000 units sold this year. And there are rumors that it won’t get a redesign. As the new Outback has gotten a bit larger, management has been hinting that the brand may be just fine with the Outback as the largest Subaru.The company is on track to do around 175,000-180,000 vehicles this year. That is off Subaru’s all-time high, but remarkable considering the market is 40% off its peak and one of the company’s four vehicles isn’t selling at all..' the article
8/6 Clunker funded but Subaru inventory very low. The Senate passed the $2B funding bill and dealars are once again accepting deals. Subaru inventory is extremely low and there's a lot of pent-up demand, so if there's a car you want, don't heistate.
8/5  Top Clunker Replacements.  No Subaru car is in the top 10, but the company as a whole is #10 with 2.2%
The Top Cars- #1 Toyota Corolla, 2 Ford Focus FWD, 3 Honda Civic, 4 Toyota Prius, 5 Toyota Camry, 6 Hyundai Elantra, 7. Ford Escape FWD, 8 Dodge Caliber, 9 Honda Fit, 10 Chevrolet Cobalt
The Top Companies-  #1. General Motors 18.7%,  2. Toyota 17.9%, 3. Ford 16.%,  4 Honda 11.6%, 5. Chrysler 10.6%, 6 Nissan 7%, 7 Hyundai  6.6%, 8 Kia 3.8%, 9 Mazda 2.3%, #10 Subaru 2.2% 11.Volkswagen 1.9%, 12. Suzuki .4%, 13. Mini 0.3%, 14 Mitsubishi .3%, 15 Smart .2%, 15 Volvo .1%, 17 all other .1%.  from msnbc.com
8/4 Cash For Clunkers 8/4 Senate vote expected Thursday or Friday (before the recess) though some of the loud opponents like John McCain (R) have said they will vote against it
7/31 Fuji loses money - 'Fuji Heavy Industries, the Japanese maker of Subaru vehicles, yesterday posted a net loss of 19.3 billion yen (US$203 million) for the first quarter and forecast zero growth in U.S. sales this year.
Fuji Heavy, part owned by Toyota Motor Corp., stayed in the red during the June-April period after posting its first annual loss in 15 years in the last fiscal year. In the same period of 2008 it made a profit of 1.4 billion yen.
The company, known for its compact Forester SUV and Impreza car, said its earnings suffered from a lack of new models, a stronger yen and weaker demand in major markets including emerging economies such as Russia' the article
7/24 Cash for Clunkers is now up and going. Find a Clunker dealer
7/15 New web host- plus been working on the 2010 Legacy page and adding pictures,  and a getting a new web host for the site all set up. If emails don't get through please call...
7/10 Chinese Subaru in the future?  'Fuji Heavy Industried, manufacturer of Subarus, is considering production in China in order to boost its sales in the country. The OEM plans to shift production to local plants through a tie-up with a Chinese vehicle manufacturer.
"There is no doubt that China is growing into the world's largest market, overtaking the US, and we believe that implementing local production is an important step for us to enhance our competitiveness there. We are now detailing plans for local production of 50,000 vehicles annually," the Mainichi Shimbun quotes company president Ikuo Mori as saying in an interview.
Mori said the company is seeking joint production with Toyota or a Chinese OEM. The move to locally produce is aimed at combating rising transportation costs, and the government's preferential tax treatment for local manufacturing, the OEM says. FHI currently exports all Subaru vehicles for the local market from Japan and the US.
According to Mori, FHI intends to increase the number of its dealerships in the country from 85 at the end of 2008 up to 100 by the end of 2009. The company also plans to improve sales by enhancing after-sales services.'  the article
7/7 State Car road trip game..  anyone can play. Who gets Subaru? The state car of  DC (a black Town Car), Michigan (any domestic SUV), Texas (F350 dually 4x2), Wyoming (F350 dually 4x4), Utah  (minivan), Florida (Miata or any Buick), LA a world unto its own (Prius or anything more than $125k), Nevada (anything cheap without payments since the slots get it all), NYC (yellow cab),  Ohio (anything with rust), Arizona (anything from the Ohio) .. but the real question is is where does Subaru fit, who gets the Subarus? In the NE, New Hampshire could claim the Forester but wait.. so can SF. The WRX is a hot car in S. Ca. but they already got the Prius and anything really extravagent, so how about Atlanta gets the WRX? According to car writier Jeffrey Zurschmeide, Oregon gets the Outback.
Now hold on a minute here Mr. Zurschmeide, not so quick... there's many who think Washington State should get it, after all you can't locate your Outback at the mall without checking bumper stickers and for proof  there are 14 Subaru dealers in the greater Puget Sound area alone- that should count for something. But Wait Oh Wait, what about Vermont, home of the snow and brave and Howard Dean? Shouldn't they get rights to the Outback?  I mean really, Howard Dean?
So, not so fast on claiming the Outback for Oregon, it may be a split decision though in a pinch you can have the Outback Sport.

But here's what Jeffrey Zurschmeide thoughtfully wrote, and he does include a review of Subaru and the 10 Outback, and is worth reading ' This month, auto examiners across America will be choosing 50 cars that best represent the 50 United States of America. It’s a fun little exercise, designed to get us all thinking about the automotive culture where we live. It took about 2 nanoseconds to come up with the quintessential car for Oregon. Of course, no one could take the diversity of our great state and come up with just one car that perfectly expresses every Oregonian and the State itself – but in the end, the choice was easy: The quintessential Oregon car is a Subaru Outback....' his article.  What do you think
6/29  cup holder arms race-   '... at one point ashtrays occupied the space that cup holders do today, a Lincoln from the late 1950s had five, with lighters ..
... I attended a model debut for the 2009 Subaru Forester in which some of the product development people boasted that they had created a new breed of cup holder specifically designed to accommodate 24-ounce bottles..
There used to be a cadre of car lovers who believed that power windows were a waste of money and that anything other than an AM/FM radio with two speakers was a distraction from the pure thrill of driving.... cars have become for many people things they don't just get in and out of. ...  They like to have entertainment options. They want a designer or an engineer to have thought about seat ergonomics. If more than one person in a family is driving, they want seats that can remember different driving positions. They want steering wheels that telescope and tilt. Passengers want to be able to customize their temperature zone, be it front or back seat. They want seats that are heated and cooled... Inside is the new outside. And to give thanks for this, we only need utter a single, simple phrase: cup holder'   read the article
6/25 Cash for Clunkers - President Obama signs the Cash for Clunkers bill - officially it's the Car Allowance Rebate System (C.A.R.S.) .
6/22 JD Power 90 day new car problem survey for 2009.   'J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today. Overall, the industry average for initial quality is 108 problems per 100 (new) vehicles (PP100) in 2009, down from 118 PP100 in 2008... Lower PP100 scores indicate a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.' read the press release, ratings
The Top 10: Lexus with 84 PP100 Problems (per 100 cars sold).  Porsche, Cadillac, Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Suzuki.
Subaru is #28 on the 2009 list with app 130 PP100cars sold. At the bottom is Hummer, Jeep,  Saab, Smart, Land Rover, and Mini.
6/20 Subarus and other top brands hold their value well. 'Automotive Lease Guide announced that Japanese carmakers led by Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Subaru were the top performers among mainstream brands in ALG's Spring 2009 Perceived Quality Study. Hyundai and Ford showed the strongest year-over-year improvement, while Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW ranked the highest among luxury brands and overall.  The top five mainstream brands were Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen, while Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche and Acura ranked highest among luxury brands...
The top performers also have industry-leading residual values, as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru have all recently won multiple ALG Residual Value Awards for individual models..'  the article
6/19 Cash For Clunkers bill passes.
Will Subarus qualify? Yes Subarus will qualify. More information will be coming soon but it seems at least the 4 cylinder models will qualify for the required 22mpg minimum combined city-hghway EPA rating.
What's a Clunker? To qualify, it must be 1. driveable 2. insured and registered for the previous year 3. get a combined MPG of 18 or less
How much will I get? If the new car is at least 4mpg improvement in the combined EPA rating, you get $3,500. 10mpg+ improvement gets $4,500 voucher.
How do I find the EPA ratings? Get the MPG on the new car you want to purchase and on your Clunker Vehicle MPG
When will it start 'That is unclear. The legislation takes affect as of July 1, 2009. However, it will take time for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to work out details of the program and set up a procedure for dealerships to get registered with the program. So, it may be a few weeks, or as long as a month, before buyers will be able to participate.'
more Subaru Clunker information here.
6/9 Cash For Clunkers?  Not yet but there is progress. The House passed a bill and now it goes to the Senate which has a different version.  There will be economy standards for both the new car and clunker, and amounts paid will depend on the new car and clunker, and there would be registration requirements to prevent buying a clunker just to flip it.
It seems Subarus would qualify for the new car based on their EPA economy ratings. If this all comes together, the soonest it could go into effect would be late summer/fall.
5/23 Eastside Subaru reopens under new management as Bruce Titus's Eastsaide Subaru in Kirkland, Wa

5/22 Subaru to buy closed GM or Chrysler dealers?   'Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd said on Friday that turmoil among U.S. dealers who face losing their contracts with Chrysler and General Motors Corp could present new opportunities for the maker of Subaru cars.  Shares of Fuji Heavy fell 3 percent after the Mainichi newspaper reported that the company was looking to take on some Chrysler and GM dealerships.
The global slowdown has forced Chrysler into bankruptcy and burned cash at GM, and they plan to shutter hundreds of dealerships.
More dealers may be open to switching to Subaru-brand cars as they fight to survive, Fuji Heavy spokesman Shinichi Murata said.
"It wouldn't be strange if the current business climate yielded more opportunities," he said.
Fuji Heavy, popular with flat-four all-wheel-drive technology enthusiasts, bucked a shrinking market in the past year and logged flat sales in the United States.
The company, which 16.5 percent held by Toyota Motor Corp, launched its revamped Legacy series earlier this week and has forecast its operating loss would expand six-fold to 35 billion yen ($371 million) this financial year...'  from Reuters

5/18 Washington State sales tax exemption for most hybrid cars repealed, now ends August 1st.
'The sales tax exemption for cars with highway mileage of at least 40 miles per gallon took effect Jan. 1, but was repealed during this year's legislative session. The exemption ends Aug. 1. Hybrid vehicles will still be exempt from the separate 0.3 percent motor vehicle sales tax until Jan. 1, 2011. New cars that run on fuels such as natural gas, propane, hydrogen or electricity will continue to be exempt from all sales taxes through Dec. 31, 2010.' Seattle Times

5/18 Eastside Subaru of Kirkland, Washington is being sold to Bruce Titus Nissan of Olympia, said Mark Johnson, whose company is advising Rainier Automotive Group on the dealership sales.'  more
5/15 There are ~600 Subaru dealers in the US, how does that compare to other companies.  Chrysler had ~3200, closed 789 leaving ~2400, GM has ~6000 dealers and plans to close 1600 including 500 Saturn, Saab and Hummer dealers.
Here's what the average of new cars each sold in 2008: Toyota/Scion has ~1200 dealers and each sold ~1,500 cars in 2008, Honda 1,1100 cars per dealer, Lexus 1,150 cars per dealer, Nissan 762, Ford Co. (overall) 286 per dealer, Ford dealer 477, GM 219 (overall), Chevy 459, Acura 538, Chrysler 181, Hummer 167 Land Rover 170 (autonews, WSJ)
Subaru has ~600 dealers and in 2008 sold 187699 cars, averaging ~313 cars sold per dealer in 2008.
5/13 what manufacturers spend on rebates, incentives, special financing   '.. No matter what happens with the (proposed) cash for clunkers idea, automakers are working had to push new vehicles. The average incentive in the U.S. was $3,031 per vehicle sold in April, up $680, or 28.9 percent, from April 2008, according to Edmunds.com.  ..Cadillac spent the most on incentives in April, at $5,675 per vehicle sold, followed by Infiniti at $5,504. Scion spent the least, $160 per vehicle sold, followed by Subaru at $884.
Premium sport cars had the highest average incentive cost, at $6,540 per vehicle, followed by large sport utility vehicles at $4,797. Subcompact cars had the lowest, at $1,060.
Analysts suggest one reason deals are so good now is the glut of new vehicles on lots.  Manufacturers are cutting production dramatically during the summer. General Motors, for instance, is closing four plants that build trucks and SUVs from mid-May to mid-July, suggesting that once inventory is reduced, prices will go back up.  Even foreign brands, some of which are not used to relying on heavy incentives, are finding them necessary to boost sales.
Nissan and Infiniti spent $2,779 in incentives per vehicle sold in April, compared with $1,796 in April 2008. Hyundai and Kia spent $3,591 in April, compared with $2,156 in April 2008...'   the article
5/11 New engine factory   'Fuji Heavy Industries has begun building a plant for environment-friendly engines within the compound of its factory in the town of Oizumi in Gunma Prefecture for completion by the end of this year, company officials said Friday. The new plant will produce a new generation of horizontally opposed engines to power passenger cars that will be put on the market in 2010, they said.
Fuji Heavy is curbing capital spending as it expects a group net loss in the current business year to March 31, 2010, for the second year in a row. But the company decided to build the new plant in order to help make its passenger cars more environmentally friendly, the officials said.'   read the article
4/28 current rebates and lease programs scheduled to end Thursday 4/30 now extended through Monday 5/4
4/27 09 model availabilty - Subaru still shipping 09 Outback, Forester, Legacy through May. 09 Imprezas should be available through the summer.
4/27 GM had a minority stake in Subaru until selling in 2006 to Toyota. Now GM set to close or sell Saturn, Hummer, Saab, and now Pontiac, lay off 21,000 people, shut 2,641 dealers (from 6,246 to 3,605) by year end ... leaving Buick, GMC, Cadillac, and Chevy.
I always liked Oldsmobile myself but that shows my age.
4/21 Earth Day is April 22 since 1970. That's 39 years.
What can you do? Try to avoid short trips since a cold engine pollutes more than a warm one. Improve fuel economy by accellerating gently, especially when the engine is cold. Good maintenance- a clean air filter and spark plugs, and correctly inflated tires all help the car run more effciently and saves gas.
Make Art- if you're in Indiana, SIA (Subaru of Indiana Automotive) wants art made out of recycled stuff for an exhibit May 1-15 for the 5th anniversary of their zero landfill status. Pieces should be submitted by 5:00pm April 30. Art info here
What is Subaru doing for the environment? Making clean burning cars in a clean factory in a wildlife habitat.
1. PZEV Outback, Legacy and Forester. The EPA says a PZEV is the cleanest running gas car (not hybrid) on today's market based on emissions testing for carbon-containing compounds, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, and other tailpipe outflow.
So, what is PZEV? This is a brief summary...
a. A charcoal cannister catches unburned gas left in the engine when it's turned off so it doesn't just evaporate.
b. Fuel injectors that close tighter when they're not in use.
c. A finer mesh in the catalytic converter, as well as optimized placement of its precious metal.
d. The engine's brain is set to run hot at start up to help the catalytic converter heat up so it starts working faster.
2. Zero-Landfill Nothing goes to the landfill. Since May, 2004 when SIA  (Subaru of Indiana Automotive, in Indiana where they build Outback, Legacy, Tribeca and Camry- yes, the Toyota Camry) became the first car assembly plant to be Zero-Landfill, nothing from the manufacturing process is sent to the landfill. This May 2 is the 5th Anniversary of achieving Zero Landfill status.
3. Wildlife and animals-  In 2003 SIA becomes the first car assembly plant to be designated as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. 800 acres serve as a home for deer, rabbits, geese, beavers, coyote, snapping turtles, frogs, hawks, herons, eagles.
In 2009- Subaru sponsors ASPCA's April Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month. After donating ~$1m this past January to the ASPCA in the  Share the Love Event (ran nlate 2008), Subaru will now support three 'Go Orange for Animals' festivals as part of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. The festivals include mobile adoptions and pet care advice in 3 cities-  New York Union Square Park 4/7/09,  Austin Zilker Park 4/18/09, and LA Venice Beach, 4/25/09.
The sponsorship also provides brightly decorated Subarus. Additional events this April include ASPCA Mission: Orange, a campaign to improve animal welfare and education by partnering with regional animal welfare and community organizations in  Austin, Charleston, New York, Philadelphia, Spokane, Tampa  More on ASPCAApril.org.
4/16 'Subaru Defies Gravity. How the Japanese carmaker is managing to hold on to sales... Who says you have to be big or global or green to survive?
But how is Subaru doing it? It has no hybrid or electric car. Its fuel efficiency is nothing special, and Subarus are definitely not the darlings of Hollywood stars. The company sells only 600,000 vehicles a year worldwide, making it maybe the 20th largest automaker...
Its major markets are Japan and then the U.S., with 187,699 sales here last year, outselling only Mitsubishi, Suzuki , and Porsche. But those 2008 sales were a notch above the year before, and first-quarter 2009 sales are a notch above, too. Subaru is proof that you don't have to be huge to hold your own...
All Subarus sold in the U.S. are all-wheel-drive, but as for looks, they're plain -even dull- family type wagons and sedans. The exceptions are the WRX and STI models. They look plain, too - all the better not to provoke the police - but these models are for the "fast and furious" crowd who like 'em hot.
So why the success? Well, Subarus have good quality; they are always recommended by Consumer Reports. They were early into the all-wheel-drive market. Also, the Subaru engine, called a "boxer" design, is unusual--imagine a V engine turned on its side.
But there's more to the company's success, especially now. "We're fortunate. Our customer is a financially secure customer," says Executive Vice President Tom Doll. But, then, Subarus aren't expensive. They run between $20,000 to $30,000 for the most part, maybe closer to $40,000 for a just few models. Personally, I think there are people who want all-wheel-drive, but don't like the size, the gas-guzzler label, the macho looks of the other SUVs and crossovers. The Subaru crowd is terribly loyal, too, and you hardly ever hear a bad word about them...
I must admit I have a soft spot for Subaru. I once was in an accident with a Subaru wagon. Entirely my fault, a one-car accident. The Subaru was totaled, but my only injury was a tiny scratch on the palm of one hand. I figure I owe my life to Subaru.
While Japanese cars are particularly popular in California, Subaru's big regional markets are the Northeast, New England and the Pacific Northwest.
Why? Traction. The all-wheel drive is good for snow-covered roads, especially hilly snow-covered roads. That's where Subaru made its mark. Even the American headquarters is in New Jersey, not the West Coast with the other Japanese automakers.
Subaru's sales hang around that 180,000 mark, but if they don't go down, they don't go up much, either...
Subaru is the car-making arm of Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan. At one time, Nissan owned a 20% share; then General Motors owned it but nothing came of that, either. Now Toyota owns one-sixth of Fuji. The Subaru plant in Indiana is shared with Toyota, which stepped in after Subaru's first partner, Isuzu, gave up and quit the U.S. market.
Alas, Subaru's design efforts to break out into new sales territory have been, well, strange. There was a sports car, the SVX--seriously weird looking. There was the Baja, a wagon with a pickup back-end. And last, the Tribeca, the top-of the-line model, named after a Manhattan neighborhood, with an odd-looking front end and interior. It's been redone to look almost "normal" now, and is still on the market. Now Subaru has just shown bigger versions of its Legacy sedan and new Outback wagon, just as everyone else seems to be interested in talking about smaller vehicles.
There's no guarantee Subaru's sales will stay ahead in the maelstrom. And despite strong sales, profits are waning because of the strength of the Japanese yen and other spending. Still, Subaru seem better-off than many of its peers. Even the U.S. inventories are low, a 58-day supply of Subarus at dealers as of April 1, according to Automotive News, compared with 65 days for Toyota, 92 days for Honda and 122 days for GM.

All I can think is that virtue--building a good, unpretentious car with a reasonable price tag and high quality--is still rewarded in the auto world. And that can't be bad.' the article

4/11 Nitrogen in tires? Some car and tire dealers are offering Nitrogen as an alternative to inflating tires with normal outside air. Nitrogen maintains tire pressure better than normal air which leaks out over time, and is less sensitive to cold outside temperatures. As a result, it minimizes the Tire Pressure Monitoring light coming on, can improve economy, increase tire life, and might be safer because properly inflated tires are less likely to blow-out when driven at high speeds for a long distance, or on hot roads. The downside to Nitrogen is that you might have to pay for it (but air is free).
4/1  Wa. State Sales Tax increase-  RTA (Regional Transit Authority) sales tax increases from .005% to .009% in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. More info
3/29 Last days for new 2008 model special finance rates- end March 31
3/22 Subaru gives a car to Ronald McDonald House ... a new 2009 Outback 2.5i SE to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of Southern New Jersey in Camden...  It will be used to transport RMH families of children being treated for critical illnesses or traumatic injuries. The vehicle will also be used by RMH staff to support day-to-day operations.
This continues a long relationship between Subaru Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey. In 1998, Subaru donated a vehicle to RMH as part of Subaru's 30th Anniversary initiative "30 Cars for 30 Causes."
"This new vehicle is a blessing and we can't thank Subaru enough for its incredible generosity" said Ann Thomas, exec. director.
RMH also received a grant from Subaru to enhance computer equipment and capabilities available to the families that stay there -- primarily so that siblings can keep up with school work. In addition, for the past two years, a group of Subaru employees have volunteered at RMH as part of Subaru's annual Martin Luther King Day of Service activities..
3/20 Eastside Subaru in Kirklandcloses...  part of Rainier Automotive Group.. 'Its Web site makes no mention of any problems... the inventory at Eastside Subaru in Kirkland has also vanished. The problem is apparently crumbling financing in this free-fall economy, and the dealerships squabbling with the auto companies about how things should be done. Since Subaru and most other auto manufacturer own all the cars that are for sale at dealerships, they can yank them off a dealer's lot when they want to. If new financing gets worked out, the cars come back.'
3/18 More top executive changes at SoA- this makes for all new management team. (see more management changes, news dated 3/12)
Thomas Doll has been promoted to chief operating officer (COO). Doll, 53, has served as executive VP and CFO for the past 15 years, he  started with SoA in 1982, and has worked in Treasury, business, strategic planning, budgeting, accounting and financial reporting.
Tim Colbeck,45, is promoted from VP, sales to senior VP, sales and also assumes responsibility for vehicle logistical planning. Additionally, Tim Mahoney, 52, senior vice president and CMO assumes responsibility for Customer Relations and Loyalty.

3/13 2009 Subaru North American Freeskiing Championship -  the second to last stop on the 2009 Freeskiing World Tour, the Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships is back in South Lake Tahoe's Sierra Nevadas after a 1 year break. The third stop of the 2009 Freeskiing World Tour (FWT) is once again at Kirkwood Mountain Resort for the 12th Annual Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships (NAFC). Freeskiing’s elite from around the world will compete in the Sierra snows March 18-22 for the NAFC title and $20,000 purse. Freeskiing World Tour
3/12 New top people at SoA and SIA
Subaru of America chairman, president and CEO since 2007, Tomohiko Ikeda will return to parent company Fuji to become corporate Senior VP . He will be replaced by Yoshio Hasanuma on April 16, 2009 who has been with Fuji for more than 30 years. Before his current role as senior VP of Subaru Global Marketing, Hasanuma was corporate VP Subaru of Japan sales and marketing, among other jobs.
At SIA (Subaru of Indiana Automotive), SoA's factory in Layette, President/CEO Masahiro Kasai will return to Japan to become chief general manager of FHI’s Subaru manufacturing division and chief general manager of the company’s Gunma plant where the Impreza and Forester is built. Kasai will be succeeded at SIA by Motokiyo Nomura, who currently serves as chief general manager of Subaru’s cost planning and management division and general manager of the Subaru purchasing division. (more management changes, see news dated 3/18)
3/7 Subaru dealer closes - Eastside Subaru in Kirkland, Wa has stopped selling new Subarus. Their service dept remains open as of this writing. This could be temporary and they might reopen. Nationally Subaru is doing well, has a hit with the redesigned Forester, a new Legacy and Outback is due later this summer, and financing is easy to qualify for and sales are up for the year. Individual businesses can always experience difficulties.
2/27 new Payment Calculator
2/27 Consumer Reports Annual Car Issue  '... The best vehicles are built by Honda, Subaru, and Toyota.. They make well-rounded cars that excel across the board, getting very good scores in our road tests and high marks in reliability from subscribers in our Annual Auto Survey...  A Japanese nameplate doesn't guarantee that a car is reliable or scores well in our testing...  Among domestic automakers, Ford continues to improve in reliability, and some of its cars now rival the best from Japan...'
Top Picks - Best overall vehicle Lexus LS 460; Family sedan Honda Accord; Upscale sedan Infiniti G37; Small SUV Toyota RAV4; Midsize SUV Toyota Highlander; Minivan Toyota Sienna; Small car Hyundai Elantra SE; Full-size pickup Chevrolet Avalanche; Green car Toyota Prius.'
Top Car Brands are 1. Honda, 2. Subaru, 3. Toyota, 4. Mazda, and 5th place is a 4 way tie with Mercedes, Nissan, VW, and BMW.
Buy the April issue, or online Consumer Reports
2/26 PZEV, Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle, 90% cleaner exhaust '... Subaru is a bit of an anomaly in the automotive industry. For one thing, Fuji Heavy Industries also manufactures aircraft, wind turbines, weed whackers, industrial engines among other things. Snowmobile and ATV giant Polaris uses Fuji engines, and Boeing is supplied by Fuji with 777 and 787 jumbo jet wing and fuselage bits and pieces...
As for Subaru products, no one else - other than Porsche - uses a horizontally opposed (boxer) engine and, with the exception of Audi, Subaru is the only company that fits all-wheel drive to each of its models.
Subaru also has a habit of quietly utilizing engineering that is both unconventional and useful...
How about Subaru's “hill-holder”, now called 'incline assist' in the manual transmission Forester and Impreza? This is an excellent for drivers who have trouble getting under way while stopped on a hill. True, the hill-holder idea was patented by Studebaker way back in the 1930s...
The latest engineering goody by Subaru is its Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle system. Found in Legacy and Outbacks (also Forester), PZEV reduces tailpipe emissions through the use of a super efficient charcoal air filtration system, redesigned fuel injectors, a reprogrammed Electronic Control Model, and a beefed-up catalytic converter. Slightly advanced ignition also promptly heats up the catalytic converter, further reducing the amount of unburned gases escaping through the system during cold starts.
You could probably argue all this is as much fine-tuning as it is new technology. But either way, the results, says Subaru, give PZEV models almost a 90% cleaner exhaust than most new gasoline-fuelled vehicles and are just a whisker away from a zero-emissions rating.
And this is without sacrificing performance or fuel economy... ' the article

2/15 Flops Are Forever -  Automotive Flops of the Last 25 Years - Are these future, low production collectibles?
Bad cars come and go, but flops are forever, from Car and Driver.
On Subaru's SVX  '... Ah, the Italians. When in doubt..  design something beautiful. If you can’t be bothered to come up with anything beautiful, it continues, then at least design something desperately weird and pawn it off on someone else... The SVX was intended to be the car on which the “new” Subaru would be built, a revolutionary achievement that banished all thoughts of the marque’s often quirky past.. Unfortunately tech wizardry wasn’t enough to overcome awkward styling and a high (almost $25,000 in 1992) price, and sales never took off. The SVX was a good car dragged down into floptastic floppiness by the hubris of its maker. ..'
Read more on interesting cars that ended up failing - the Chevy SSR, GMC Envoy, Lincoln Blackwood, Jaguar X, Chrysler’s TC Maserati, Sterling, Chrysler Crossfire... the article

2/8 Email issues. Many dealers use Cobalt's 'Lead Manager' CRM program for customer email. Microsoft's Hotmail, Live and MSN.com are bouncing emails back to dealers. The emails are not getting to the recipients. If you are a customer using @Hotmail.com, Live.com or MSN.com and expecting an email from a dealer, you might want to contact the dealer by phone.

2/5 Subaru in China. Subaru sold 19,000 acrs in China in 2008, which is +105%, and hopes for sales of 25,000 in 2009 which would be +31%. The goal is to sell 35,000 in 2010. Growth is mostly the Forester, which is more than 80% of the total, the balance from Legacy, then Impreza, and Tribeca.

1/30 Best of the Best Used Cars, an overview from Consumer Reports. Features cars with several or more years of better than average reliability, mostly from Japan, that are generally worth buying. Includes the Subaru Forester, Outback, Impreza, Legacy, Baja, along with models from Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Acura, Lexus, Mazda etc and a few Lincolns, BMW, Buick, Porsche, Volvo and Pontiac. read the article

1/26 PZEV emissions and the return of science over politics - President Obama starts the process to overturn the Bush December 2007 EPA decision preventing states from having regulations stricter than Federal. There are 17 states using the cleaner burning PZEV (aka California spec) standards. The states are California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massacusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.  Subaru has been shipping PZEV cars to states requiring them.
Says the President .. " The federal government must work with, not against, states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.. the days of Washington dragging its heels are over. My administration will not deny facts; we will be guided by them."

1/25 Fewer new cars on lots as dealers watch inventory. With a huge 504 current Subaru model, color and emission combinations in the 2009 line, dealers are watching inventory carefully to reduce flooring (financing) expenses. Consumers may not find as many new cars available on lots. Dealers can locate or factory order cars if necessary though additional charges may apply.
How many color and model combinations does one car company need? Counting model, color and emission possibilities, there are 504 total: Outback 117, Legacy 103, Forester 81 (99 if you include early Premiums with no All Weather Pkg), Impreza sedan 60, Impreza wagon 91, Tribeca 62.
For perspective, the total sales in 2008 was 187,699 ÷ 504 models = 372.42 cars per possible combination.
December 2008 sales total was 17,287 ÷  504, or 34.30 cars per possible combination.

The top seller in December 2008 was the Forester with 6,499 which means 80.24 cars per possible Forester combination, the lowest was the Tribeca at 705 ÷ 62 combinations is 11.37 per possible model/color combination.  Thus no dealer can possibly stock more than a small selection, and note that this count doesn't even include the many possible extra options combinations!

What are your thoughts, how many models or colors are needed? Comment here

1/23 How many dealers?  Ford has 3,700 dealers after 300 went out of business in 2008, Chrysler lost 287 leaving app 3,300 dealers, and GM has about 6,375 dealers after 400 closed their doors in 08. Subaru has app 600 dealers in the US, and 93 in Canada.

1/20 President Barack Obama!
President Obama doesn't drive a Subaru. He leased a 2005 Chrysler 300C Hemi in 2004 and traded it for a Ford Escape Hybrid in 2007. The Hemi was bought by Tim O'Boyle who has been trying to sell it on eBay with a $1,000,000 'buy it now' price but due to a series of auction stops-and-starts, it's still for sale. Yes, you can buy it. Check out obamas300c.com.

1/16 Subaru parent Fuji profits drop, will cut board bonuses, executive pay 10% ..  'Fuji's Subaru brand was one of just two brands that posted U.S. sales gains last year (the other was Mini Cooper), and is now the latest Japanese carmaker warning of full-year losses. Fuji CEO Ikuo Mori said today he now expects a 9 billion yen ($89.1 million) operating loss for the fiscal year ending March 31. The revision erases an earlier forecast for operating profit of $227.7 million.
Mori now aims to slash capital expenditures more than 20%, cut executive pay 10% and eliminate board member bonuses. He also scrapped a plan to build a factory in Japan and may boost overseas production to ease the pain of a skyrocketing yen.
The Subaru parent is chopping its outlook just weeks after Toyota said it would post its first operating loss since 1938. Nissan is dialing down production again amid Japanese media reports that it will post a full-year operating loss.
Subaru is getting hit hard by tumbling sales worldwide and a yen that has soared 18% higher against the dollar since August. The high yen makes overseas earnings worth less when sent home. About 62% of all Subarus sold in the US are imported...' the article

1/13 You think Subaru owners are slow drivers? Well, ok maybe most are, but not all.... The car that gets the most speeding tickets with 463% over average is the Hummer H2/3 which isn't surprising because once they get that bulk moving who wants to even think about slowing down. But 5 of the top 10 cars stopped for speeding are Scions, Solara and the Matrix, all Toyotas and mostly 4 cylinders.
In life's slow lane, GM has a traffic jam behind it with 8 of the 10 cars least likely to be pulled over.
And where is our Subaru, best known for utilitarian rigs most often seen sloshing through rain or snow or on back country roads?
The Outback is #8 on the list of cars most likely to see those flashing lights in the rear view mirror. That's the Outback, it's not even the WRX.
Here is the list: Hummer 463%, Scion tc 460%, Scion XB 403%, Mercedes Benz CLK63 AMG 397%, Toyota Solara 306%
Mercedes Benz CLS63 AMG 276%, Scion XA 275%, Subaru Outback 266%, Audi A4 264%, Toyota Matrix 264%
Jaguar XJ 11%, Chevrolet Suburban, 16%, Chevrolet Tahoe 21%, Chevrolet C/K-3500/2500 28%, Buick Park Avenue 32%
Mazda 6 sedan 34%, Buick Rainier 37%, Oldsmobile Silhouette 37%, Buick Lucerne sedan 40%, GMC Sierra C1500 40%
Violations per 100,000 miles driven, expressed as percent of average. The article
**
January 1, 2009 Subaru's 2008 year in review
a few high and low points according to me, all subject to hindsight and revision
- good- 09 Forester- everything about it-
- good- Subaru is one of only a few companies with steady sales volume for the year. Thanks to the redesigned Forester for being the right car at the right time.
- good- 09 WRX comes out swinging with more power, suspension and body upgrades. But summer tires? Even SoA was confused and put out incorrect window stickers at first.
- and bad- 08 STI sells well but with 0% and $5000 dealer bonus cash (through 1/2/09 only). Will SoA upgrade the STI in the near future? Hope so...
- bad- no word on a diesel or anything else that might get 30++ mpg.
- and good- gas prices go back down (and people quickly forget)
- good- Subaru WRX does well at the X Games in LA
- and bad- Fuji pulls out of the WRC but SoA will still help sponsor US drivers
- good- 09 Forester is Motor Trend SUV of the year
- good- advertising, Subaru goes back to it's roots with a Love Your Subaru ad campaign. Now where's Paul Hogan- his stories were reasons to love your Subaru.
- good- Crash tests results. The Tribeca, Legacy, Forester, and Impreza all get Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS.org).
- bad- just plain silly for changing the name of the basic Outback model 3 years in a row (2007 Outback Basic > 2008 Outback > 2009 Outback 2.5i).
- good - only a few recalls and fixes over the last 12 months.
- bad- a car company nibbles at Fuji, buying another piece of the company
- and good- the company is Toyota- couldn't ask for a better partner. Subaru and Toyota are even working on a 2 door together, maybe in 2012?
- overall- 2008 was a decent year for a well run company that makes quality, sometimes even interesting cars, and also offers funny little things like optional footwell and puddle lights etc.  Cars with a human touch.
- and finally .. a tip of the hat for the hard working folks at Fuji who lost jobs..
comments or add your own?

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Subaru Tribeca news and reviews edited for length, content

2009 11/25 2010  Tribeca review  '..The Japanese automaker’s only full-size crossover with seating for seven. The Subaru Tribeca was introduced for 2006 with some rather unsightly, er, controversial, styling. Rehashed in 2008, the aesthetics were much improved, and the previously underpowered flat-six engine grew from 3.0 liters to 3.6, now producing 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Still with a hefty thirst for fuel, the Tribeca now at least has enough motivation to pass safely on two-lane roads. Major updates for 2010 include standard third-row seating, heated front seats, and an auxiliary A/C unit for the second and third rows. A new Touring trim now sits as the top-dog model over the Limited.  With the 3.6-liter, the Tribeca does a decent job of getting out of its own way. We experienced a good deal of body roll and understeer when tackling highway entrance ramps and conducting lane-change maneuvers. The suspension is very soft—making a lot of shuddering noises over our rough Michigan roads—and is slow to react, which makes the Tribeca drive much larger than it actually is. The softness does, however, provide adequate comfort for those aboard. If you desire a seven-passenger crossover equipped with all-wheel drive, the Tribeca will fill the bill, but be aware that the third row is only suitable for small children... ' the article 11/20 new rear view back-up camera 2010 Tribeca has a new optional rear view mirror with built in back-up camera. It works very well, and is standard on the Touring model and optional on the Premium (sunroof package). Details, photos on the 2010 Tribeca page 11/7 2010 Tribecas arriving at dealers. 10/19 2010 Tribeca brochures arriving, the cars expected to start arriving late October 9/29 2010 Tribeca information released. No date or ETA on when the 2010 Tribecas will be available. 4/23 Tribeca review from Canada '.. Yes, it has three rows of seats that can be fully loaded up with bodies on a short term basis, but passengers should be shorter..  The driving position is typically European, meaning that when you adjust for comfortable leg position, you find yourself sitting at arms length from the wheel... The seats themselves are bodily contoured, supportively firm and comfortably upholstered, except for the person in the centre of the middle row who basically has to sit on a padded armrest... Flip rear seats forward to create a flat load floor to the back of the front seats .. .. It all adds up to a utility vehicle that does a lot of things, but Tribeca doesn’t do all those things well. It does the things for which Subarus are renowned very well – the smooth drivetrain and all-year footing – but like most compact utility vehicles, it gets by in areas of space utilization and economy..' the article 4/18 Tribeca  2009 is the final year for the 5 passenger model. All 2010 Tribecas will be 7 passengers. 3/16 Bluetooth  Factory Bluetooth is available only on Impreza and Forester with Navigation, not on Outback, Tribeca or Legacy. top

Subaru Outback news and reviews edited for length, content

2009 1/3/10 Inventory is down on many models, especially Outback and Legacy, at least here in the NW 12.25 Outback review- Most Versitile Car 2009, Long before the term “crossover” became synonymous with rugged, car-based utility wagons, Subaru had the Outback. To many, that original 1995 Outback was the first real crossover, blending the best attributes of an SUV with the nimble handling of a traditional car and the capability of Subaru’s rally-bred all-wheel-drive expertise. This latest model only widens that capability envelope. Riding on beefy tires, and with a suspension tall enough to produce a Hummer-humbling 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Outback is not a corner carver. Instead, the Outback is a sweet-natured wagon with poised road manners that scrambles effortlessly along dirt roads and up some pretty difficult trails. With the wheelbase stretched over the previous version’s, rear-seat comfort is substantially improved. Fold that seat down, and the Outback can swallow 71.3 cubic feet of camping gear, gardening supplies or pinewood planks. Subaru owners are determined to wring every last ounce of value from their purchases—there’s plenty of value and versatility in this new Outback. ' from popular mechanics 12/26 Outback review   'Even in the face of a bleak economy and dreadful auto sales, Subaru managed to have a breakout year in 2009... The new for 2009 Forester was crowned the 2008 Motor Trend SUV of the year, and this year Subaru accomplished a surprise repeat taking the award for the second straight year with the 2010 Outback. However, the new Outback isn't the capable, milquetoast lifted station wagon we've come to know and respect over the years. It's now bigger. Quite a bit bigger, performing a similar wagon-to-crossover transformation that the Forester pulled off a year earlier. Granted, the Outback is only two inches taller and wider, and a mere three inches longer between the wheels, but the result is a wagon that looks much larger than the model it replaces... In 3.6R Limited trim, the story starts with a great powertrain and gets better from there. Subaru's 3.6-liter boxer six-cylinder pumps out a worthy 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. This admittedly doesn't sound all that spectacular when 269-hp Toyota RAV4s and 290-hp Buick Enclaves roam the landscape. But the boxer six feels beefier than the sum of its numbers primarily because power delivery is so fluid and consistent.. But while the 3.6-liter boxer is good, it's the symmetrical all-wheel drive that wins the day. We put the Outback through its paces on dry pavement, through a torrential downpour and some muddy terrain and were always well within the limits of adhesion. In fact, the Outback's seemingly never-ending traction begged us to drive harder and faster as the week wore on... And thanks to the Outback's reasonable weight and excellent AWD, this Subaru feels closer to a sports sedan than a 63-inch tall wagon. Aggressive cornering is a snap, with minimal body roll and the aformentioned constant supply of traction. ..although Subaru has picked up its game in many areas, the Japanese automaker still struggles with the quality of its interior materials, and the Outback is no different. While the seats are stitched up in a relatively high quality leather, dash materials are hard plastic and the center stack feels a bit bargain basement... Subaru makes some interesting looking vehicles. Or homely, depending on your perspective. That said, we thought our Outback, while far from the beauty queen, looked good in blue, with its subdued 17-inch alloys providing just enough visual spark..  Subaru has managed to combine a superb engine, capable AWD, impressive handling, capacious interior and improved looks into a functional, family-friendly package. What's more, it's created a psuedo-CUV that encourages you to enjoy the journey." the article  12/17 Outback 3.6R review  '..The bottom line: Since its inception in the mid-1990s, the Subaru Outback has been the perfect answer for many people who want a sport-utility vehicle without the size, egregious fuel consumption and often difficult ingress-egress. The larger size of the new Outback will do more to please than offend those buyers. But here's hoping that Subaru does not stray too far from its usual common-sense approach to reality. Ride and acceleration get excellent marks here. But the 3.6R Limited's handling proved a bit dicey in sharp curves, where slow speeds were needed to keep its rear end in line. Head-turning quotient: Subaru creates controversy even when it's aiming for the mainstream, as it's doing with the elongated and oddly muscular exterior of the new Outback. Subaru missed, again..  For buyers seeking slightly better fuel economy, there is a 2.5-liter, flat four-cylinder engine ("flat" and "horizontally opposed" are used interchangeably to denote a side-by-side cylinder layout) with a maximum 170 horsepower and 170 foot-pounds of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard with that engine. A continuously variable automatic is optional. For drivers wanting more power with only a modest reduction in fuel economy, the tested 3.6-liter, flat six-cylinder engine with 256hp is the way to go. It is mated to a five-speed transmission that can be shifted automatically or manually.' the article 12/4 Leasing and strong residual values, Also explains why used Subarus are expensive... Subaru is #1, winner of the 'Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award'. Last year Subaru was #2 behind Honda. Outback and Forester are segment leaders.  ALG (Automotive Lease Guide) and the industry benchmark for lease residual values and depreciation data, today announced its 11th annual Residual Value Awards, honoring the vehicles in each segment that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period.  For the eighth year, ALG has also included awards for the brands with the highest overall predicted resale values among all mainstream and all luxury vehicles.  The awards are derived after careful study of segment competition, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Subaru of America has won the Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award for the first time, jumping over perennially strong Honda.  Subaru also received individual segment awards for the Forester in the Compact Utility Vehicle category and the Outback in the Midsize Utility Vehicle category.  “Subaru combines distinct product attributes, such as standard all-wheel drive and the wide use of turbo charged boxer engines, with a rugged but practical brand positioning to generate fierce loyalty among its buyers,” said James Clark, General Manager of ALG.  “Subaru also has been restrained with incentives over the past year, and its three core models have all been recently redesigned, helping it to move from second place to first this year.” the article 11/12 Outback review  '..still a proudly eccentric and weirdly wonderful mashup of station wagon, SUV and Australian off-road pretense. It hasn't lost its Subie soul–that ruggedness, friendliness and versatility that make it so popular among Vermont tree-tappers, tenured sociology professors and freelance herbalists–and has gained both more ability and even some elegance... In the '80s, Aussie comedian Paul Hogan ruled the media universe. His "shrimp on the barbie" Australian tourism ads made Hogan a household name, his 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee was a massive hit, and he helped make Foster's Lager a worldwide brand by proclaiming it "Australian for beer, mate." But as Hogan's fame has faded, it turns out his single greatest legacy (and, literally, a Legacy) will be the Subaru Outback. In 1995 he was the pitchman for the company when the Outback trim option was introduced on the midsize, all-wheel-drive Legacy wagon. He made the vehicle famous, even if his Aussie persona was more schtick than substance. Subaru has just introduced the fourth-generation Outback and, though Hogan hasn't been spieling for the company since 2002, it does him proud... Look for the name "Legacy" anywhere on the new Outback and you won't find it. But that lack of badging is as much effort as Subaru puts toward obscuring the Outback's heritage. The Outback is a Legacy wagon with a slightly raised ride height, taller tires, a new grille and slightly more muscled bodywork. And, no surprise, it's assembled on the same Lafayette, Ind., production line as the Legacy sedan... As in all Subarus, the company's "Symmetrical" all-wheel drive is standard–although there are actually three different systems, depending on which transmission is used.. With the wheelbase stretched to 107.9 inches (2.8 inches longer than before), width up about 2 inches and overall height up a bit more than 2 inches, the new Outback is a noticeably larger vehicle than before. But Subaru cut the front and rear overhangs, so overall length has actually shrunk an inch... From the front, the Outback's nose is sort of generic and anonymous looking. But in profile this is one handsome station wagon, with tough-looking wheel arches and a roofline that sweeps naturally back. The roof rack, a tool many Outback owners will use on a regular basis, integrates perfectly with the rest of the trim. The new Outback looks upscale, and it's beautifully assembled with precise panel fit and doors that shut with an authoritative thud. Inside, the cockpit is a logical layout with door and dash surfaces perfectly finished and an understated design. Subaru is good at making fake wood look like real wood.  ..Subaru owners may be odd in some ways, but they're nothing if not practical about their vehicles and determined to wring every last ounce of value from their purchases. And there's plenty of value in the new Outback–as long as you stay near the bottom of the price ladder. The base Outback starts at a keen $22,995, but climb up to the Premium or Limited trim levels and the prices rise up beyond $30,000 (for a 3.6R Limited). Still, we think Hogan would be right at home behind the wheel of the new Outback, mate. the article 11/9 Why it's hard to find the specific Outback or Legacy you want-  Idle minds note that there are 216 possible Outback combinations.  Wow!  The breakdown:  27 Outback model and Option Package combinations with 8 colors available each is 216 total combinations (27 x 8) and that doesn't even include PZEV vs standard emissions or any available extras and upgrades you might want like media hub, illumination kit, hitch, security upgrade, protection package etc. Idle minds further note that there are 208 possible Legacy combinations! The breakdown:  26 Legacy model and Option Package combinations with 8 colors each = 208 combinations not including PZEV emissions or any of the other options.  That's 424 Outback and Legacy combinations and why there will never be a full selection on any lot. 10/29 Outback review from Driving NorthWest. 'Americans began their love affair with SUVs back in the early 90s. Alas, a new romance often means someone’s being jilted. In this case it was Subaru. Sure they had plenty of all-wheel drive vehicles but in the way of sedans and station wagons. Buyers, as they say in the relationship scene, were just not that into them. With no platform or budget to create a true sport ute, Subaru installed some man cladding and a rugged name on their Legacy wagon. Thus Outback was born. Some say it rescued the company. Subaru wowed the practical crowd, crowing that it created the “world’s first sport utility wagon”. Since AMC is no longer in the business of making the Eagle, who’s going to complain? Huh? ..The big difference between the Outback and the Legacy sedan besides, duh, the wagon back end is ground clearance. When first introduced by Aussie celeb Paul Hogan, Outback was pretty much a Legacy wagon dressed up in hiker’s garb. As time went on it gained more chassis clearance culminating in the 2010 version that rides nearly three inches higher than its sedan sister. Legacy has 3 engine choices, Outback gets 2. Sorry, no turbo engine for you Woodsy Owl. Symmetrical all-wheel drive is standard on every Subie, and it’s been my experience that Outbacks can tackle pretty tough terrain. True off-roaders will opt for a Land Rover or Jeep but realistically, most drivers will never tax the Subaru’s capability. Typically, owners just want a reliable companion that will get them to a trail head at the end of a forest service road or to work and back on snowy days. Both my doctor and dentist own these rigs for that very reason. Traction is excellent on slick rainy Northwest pavement. Stop on a steep Seattle grade and the hill holder feature keeps Outback from rolling back until the accelerator is pressed. Make a commitment to Outback and you still have to choose between two distinct personalities. For the frugal there’s a 170 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with a choice of 6-speed manual or a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission. My tester with the 3.6 liter 256 horse H6 engine is much more outgoing. Unlike the outgoing 3.0-liter unit it now drinks regular gas. The sole transmission hooked up to the 6-cylinder is a 5-speed with manual shift control on the console and steering wheel paddles. I highly prefer the H6 but as you might guess fuel economy is certainly less than the 4 (18/25 vs. 22/29 for a CVT equipped 4). If you’re going for the automatic in the smaller engine, pay attention to the dynamics of the CVT. Some people don’t care for the gliding nature of their operation. Other could care less. Also know that different drivetrains get different versions of Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel drive.... Subaru has done a great job in the safety department over the years. The 2010 Outback looks to be no exception. Electronic stability and traction control plus great anti-lock brakes help keep you out of accidents. In NHTSA government testing Outback scores 5 stars in driver and passenger frontal testing. Rear passenger and rollover tests have yet to be done at this writing... Other than rabid Prius owners, Subaru drivers seem to love their cars more than any other brand. Very popular in the Northwest, they come in fourth after Toyota, Honda and Ford. Our weather seems to attract both Subarus and Canadian Geese. And why not? Reasonable people looking for a reasonable vehicle will find its capability, size, price and gas mileage appealing. Roomier and more refined than ever, the 2010 Outback has the ability to forge a long term relationship." read the article 10/22  Outback PZEV an hybrid alternate..  'A somewhat idiosyncratic automaker, Subaru is best known for its all-wheel-drive vehicles that have found favour with loyal niche groups. But, as it doesn't do hybrids or diesels - for the North American prime-time market, at least - it might appear as though Subaru's products aren't reaching out to the environmentally conscious or fuel thrifty. PZEV could change at least one of those things, as the word continues to get out. Here's the lowdown: PZEV, which Subaru introduced early last year to several of its models, stands for Partial Zero Emission Vehicle. This designation is awarded to vehicles that meet strict emissions standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). PZEV vehicles comply with the CARB Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle tailpipe standard and eliminate fuel system evaporative emissions. Compared with an average new, gasoline-powered vehicle, Subaru's PZEV products have 90% cleaner exhaust emissions, says the automaker. In fact, Subaru claims PZEV vehicles achieve such a complete fuel burn that, in very smoggy urban areas, the exhaust out of the tailpipe can actually be cleaner than the air outside. An added bonus is that achieving PZEV doesn't require overly complicated engine technology, and PZEVs run on regular unleaded gas. Noodling around town and on the highway, the wagon-bodied Outback continues to fulfill its mission as a sophisticated and comfortable family vehicle for the suburban crowd. It feels bigger than its progenitor as it is both taller and wider, although it is actually slightly shorter in overall length. It's also appreciably roomier inside - Subaru's engineers have pumped up the volume by almost 8%. The wheelbase has been increased by 70 millimetres, which contributes to a 100-mm increase in rear-seat legroom, a boon for taller, leggier types. I had no trouble slipping into the back after setting the front seat for my 6-foot-2 frame - and headroom is more than sufficient... There's much to like about the new Outback, regardless of the PZEV engine. It's well priced, well equipped and ideally suited as a four-season vehicle. PZEV might lack the sex appeal of hybrid technology, but it doesn't require any learning curve - and it works. Being eco-friendlier has never been easier. And it's Mom approved...'  read the full article (Canada) 10/17 Outback review 'Subaru's 2010 Outback is further refined, and the tested PZEV model delivers emission levels near that of a hybrid. PZEV stands for Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, and Subaru has created a special version of its sturdy 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine to emit very little emissions.. The car still performs wonderfully, so there still may be hope for the internal combustion engine in cars. Gas mileage is rated 22 mpg city and 29 highway and I got 23.6 mpg while the trip computer estimated it at 25.2 mpg. Not bad for an all-wheel drive wagon that many thought looked more like a small SUV. ..few will feel as quiet and comfortable as the Outback, which rides on a 107.9-inch wheelbase and handles our bumpy Wisconsin roads and streets like a luxury sedan. The MacPherson struts up front with internal rebound springs and a stabilizer bar, plus double wishbone suspension and stabilizer in back create a smooth, pleasant ride. Outback also is solidly built with framed doors that close with a solid, luxury car feel and sound. This and other sound deadening makes the interior extremely quiet. With the four cylinder, I was concerned this car would be underpowered, but the PZEV had good pickup and strong torque. Part of the credit here has to go to the continuously variable transmission that Subaru introduced for 2010. This is by far the best I've seen in a car or crossover yet. There is supposed to be no hesitation in a CVT as there are no set gears, but a continuously variable system to get the car up to speed. And it does it seamlessly, smoothly and quietly. Plus it helps the car power away from stoplights with ease. The engine itself is fairly quiet and never seems to strain. Getting onto the highway is fine as the car will hit 70 mph on an entry ramp... Getting into and out of the Outback is easy with a good step-in height. I liked the interior too, as did several riders. Thick, soft black leather on the seats and doors, plus realistic-looking wood trim on the doors and dash gave the car an upscale, yet simple look. That was aided by a brushed metal trim on the center stack , console and steering wheel hub...' the article by Mark Savage 10/16  Outback is Motor Trend SUV of the year. So good there must be 'magic at work'. Congratulations to Subaru. That's strong praise from critical reviewers and the 2nd year in a row Motor Trend has recognized Subaru. Last year it was the Forester.  "It's right there (in the photo): a spacious, tough, thoroughly modern, exceedingly capable sport/utility vehicle.  You're forgiven if all you can see is a svelte station wagon. There's magic at work here. For the first time since any of us can recall, an automaker has claimed the Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title two years in a row.  Last fall, deftly balancing efficiency and size, the all-new 2009 Subaru Forester went home with the Golden Calipers trophy. For 2010, fighting off several tough adversaries - and undoubtedly some unspoken but very real bias among our judges against repeat winners - Subaru's new, fourth generation Outback scored a decisive 10-1 victory in the final voting. Some vehicles arrive at our annual "Of the Year" competitions (car, sport/utility, truck) staking early claims to a win via bulging engine muscle, beguiling gizmos, fashion-runway sheetmetal. The Outback isn't one of those. In fact, it slipped nearly unnoticed through our early walkarounds; the pre-drives chatter seemed to focus elsewhere - the ZDX's spaceship lines, the Q5's comparison test winning moves, the Lincoln's mighty yet efficient EcoBoost V-6. But then, one by one, our test drivers took the Outback into the field. And the buzz began to shift. Once again, it seemed, Subaru was successfully reshaping the very definition of "sport/utility vehicle" -- melding the multi-mission prowess of true SUVs with the driving refinement, fuel-frugality, and easy access of wagons and sedans. Once again, our judges began taking extra notes. ..Which brings up some of that Subie magic. For instance, when not needed the roof-rack crossbars fold away into the side rails, vastly reducing wind noise -- pure genius. And while most wagons and SUVs offer a roll-up tonneau cover for sheltering gear in back, in the Outback the tonneau hides away completely under the load floor  ..More magic: With a newfound 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the 2010 Outback actually betters the SUV Grand Cherokee -- yet the Subaru also offers a lower and more carlike step-in height. ..While thirsty V-8s have long been the darlings of the traditional-SUV market, the Outback, weighing just 3655 pounds, manages adroitly with four- and six-cylinder offerings..  (the 3.6L 6 cylinder) delivers 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. "Loves to rev and feels smooth and refined all the way to redline," writes editor Kiino. The six mates to a standard five-speed automatic that now includes paddle shifters with "blipping logic" to match revs when downshifting... With the exceptional ground clearance, the solid AWD systems afford a level of all-weather and off-road competence that's unusually high for a machine with such a carlike character. "Dynamically, it's one of the best SUVs out here," writes Lassa. Agrees technical editor Kim Reynolds: "Feels like it could trundle around the off-road loop all month without complaint, yet very pleasant on-road, too. Lovely steering feel upon turn-in. Good ride." Says senior editor Ed Loh: "Exceedingly comfortable for day-to-day driving. Lots of smooth travel in the suspension." .. So, yes, the Outback shines with bona-fide SUV prowess and versatility. Yet it does so without typical SUV penalties... ..Editor Ed Loh offers a neat summary: "I'm particularly impressed by how Subaru's engineers got the big and the little things right. From the ground up, they've baked in features like high ground clearance, low curb weight, and a fuel-sipping CVT -- plus details like the hideaway roof rack and tonneau cover. Subaru did its homework." .."Balance," in other words. That's the key to the Subaru Outback's victory. And maybe a little magic, too.' read it on Motor Trend 10/9 Outback review- Consumer Reports November issue reviews the 2010 Outback, also Prius, VW Routan, Chevy Equinox and Nissan Cube.  Plus car tires and batteries, and 389 Top Products, from cell phones to GPS units, electronics and appliances, gadgets and more. Sounds like a good holiday gift guide.  At bookstores and newstands and online.  9/30 Outback detergent. Subaru promotes their Outback detergent ad campaign with a postcard offering free soap, and a funny video. Stop by your local dealer for a sample while supplies last.... (skunk story) 9/24 Outback detergent! back-roading in your new Outback? Have 'Outback fun' - get dirty because the Outback with get you there and back and then clean up with new Outback Detergent. This cute new ad campaign is designed to bring smiles and attention to the line - the logo is a smiling skunk. Your local dealer might have small bottles of the detergent or stain removal sticks to hand out. advertising 9/21 Outback review  'Say "good-bye" to the Legacy Outback wagon; say "hello" to the all-new Outback. While Subaru will continue to sell the Legacy Outback in Japan and elsewhere, the U.S. market will see only this new, bigger Outback crossover. But fear not: You won't miss the wagon. The new Outback is seriously good. Riding on a new platform, the 2010 Outback is 2.8 inches longer in wheelbase and two inches broader in the shoulders than the outgoing wagon, but its front and rear overhangs have been clipped two inches each for improved approach and departure angles -- increasing this Subie's off-road cred. And while the overall package is shorter than its predecessor, interior room is up seven percent (thanks in part to a raised roof) -- and rear-seat legroom climbs by a conspicuous four inches. Cargo capacity is boosted as well: with 34.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 71.3 with the rears folded down, the Subaru is larger than many of its more "SUV-like" competitors -- such as the Chevrolet Equinox... Near-genius design touches add real sparkle to Subaru's latest effort.. When not needed, the crossbars fold back easily into the side rails. Voila! No more wind whistle... While it looks like a tall wagon, the Outback in many ways qualifies as a bona-fide SUV. For instance, ground clearance is now 8.7 inches, more than, say, the Jeep Grand Cherokee... You could drive the Outback just about anywhere but the most formidable four-wheeling trails. While thirsty V-8s have long been the darlings of the traditional-SUV market, the Outback, weighing just 3655 pounds, manages adroitly with four- and six-cylinder offerings... If the Outback possesses many of the talents of true SUVs, it performs without typical SUV penalties. Ride is fluid, carlike. Steering is easy, smooth, and accurate. The step-in height says "car" not "truck." The structure is tight and shimmy-free...  This new Outback is one compelling machine, equipped to satisfy the needs of nearly any outdoor warrior yet thoroughly refined for city and touring duty. It belongs on any family-car shopping list.' from motortrend 9/19 Outback...  and the Baby Seat Test '... after a week and a few hundred supple miles behind the wheel of a 2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R, I think I’m going to need a new definition. This fourth-generation Outback is better in most every meaningful way than its predecessor (except, arguably, the way it looks), but it’s missing something: the noise. From the driver's seat, the new Outback is quiet — startlingly so, even as the tach needle swings toward the redline. Try as I may, I can't get the 3.6-liter flat six (enlarged from 3.0 liters) to rattle and vibrate like Subaru's H-engines of yore. It remains sweetly composed at all times, and delightfully flexible from idle to its 6000-rpm power peak. Some criticism, eh? Truth told, the fourth-generation Outback is difficult to dislike. For one thing, it’s bigger than its predecessor and most of its rivals; its roof is a mere four-tenths of an inch lower than a Honda CR-V’s, but the Outback is more than ten inches longer overall than the Honda— with a good number of those extra inches residing behind the front seatbacks. I posed to the Outback the daunting child-seat question I ask of most test cars: How far does the front passenger seat have to slide forward to accommodate a rear-facing baby seat behind it? The answer here, to my surprise: It doesn’t....' the article 9/13 iPod interface upgrade part available so latest model iPod, Touch Nano will recharge. See your local parts dealer 9/9 Sky Blue Metallic, new light blue color available on Outback and Legacy, now arriving on lots. 8/27 Top Safety Picks - 2010 Legacy and Outback are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. "To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Legacy and Outback." IIHS8/27 Top Safety Picks - 2010 Legacy and Outback are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. "To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Legacy and Outback." IIHS 8/10 Why a CVT transmission?   'As the struggle to meet increasingly stringent fuel-economy and exhaust-emission regulations continues, engineers are turning to transmissions for help. The theory is simple: Keep the engine operating at its most efficient point... Automatic transmissions have grown in popularity with five- and even six-speeds becoming more common. But the disadvantages are still there: power loss, complexity and cost. Another method of shifting gears is resurfacing after more than a century in relative oblivion: the continuously variable transmission (CVT). First invented by German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz in 1886, the CVT was based on a rubber V-belt riding between two angled cones. Not much has changed in the intervening 118 years, but CVTs are once again becoming popular as they allow an engine to operate more efficiently by varying gear ratios instead of engine speed. ..The CVT is a very simple device, consisting of pulleys and a belt. The attendant shafts and related controls are already in place in the vehicle. No gears, plates, valves, converters or fluids; rather a pair of cone-shaped pulleys, facing each other, on a shaft connected by a belt to a second pair of similarly-shaped pulleys on another shaft...' the article 8/1 Outback review, some bad some good  ' .. is this what Outback buyers really want? Last time we checked, their wish list included adult-friendly rear seating, an iPod jack and Bluetooth connectivity. Leave the rest alone, right? ...Subaru has provided what the American populace has been demanding, and that is larger passenger accommodations in the rear. While front-seat legroom shrinks an inch, rear-seat legroom increases by a whopping 4 inches, shoulder room by 2.4 inches and headroom by 2 inches. Seats-up luggage capacity increases by about a cubic foot, and seats-flat maximum cargo capacity grows by a sizable 6.3 cubic feet. Guess what? It's an SUV, folks! ...  Subaru's better-than-most execution of its Lineartronic CVT is as good as that of Nissan, which, until now, seems to be the only company to figure out the proper calibration of infinitely variable transmission ratios and throttle response. For a CVT, Subaru's is one of the best there is. ...The 2010 Subaru Outback is an excellent vehicle. Now it goes toe-to-toe with the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Venza instead of the Audi A4 Avant or Volkswagen Passat 4Motion. But if you were hoping this new Outback was going to remain a tidy AWD wagon made smarter for you and roomier for guests, you'll be disappointed with Subaru's newest SUV...'   read the full article 6/24 The 2010 Outback and Legacy now on car lots. Cobtact your local dealer to set up a time to stop in. These are all new. 6/16 2010 Outback and Legacy are expected at dealers starting in July 6/2 2010 Outback, Legacy model-color selection announced 5/30 many new 10 Outback images finally uploaded. 4/29 2010 Outback and Legacy prices and model packages announced. Some prices went up, other prices went down. The Outback 2.5i increased $700 but the Limited went down $300! The new larger engine 3.6L Outback now starts $1100 less than the 3.0L version in 09.  The 10 Legacy 2.5i dropped $800, and the 10 and 09 Legacy 2.5i Limited are the same price. The new 6 speed GT Limited goes up $1100 and the Legacy 3.6L Limited drops $1570. For all 2010 models, Subaru is now offering factory Option Packages, aka model ugrades. Some of the features standard on prevous years may now be part of a Option Package. For example, the All Weather Package is Option Package #02 on the 2010 Outback Premium but it was standard on the 2009 SE model (which the Premium replaces) so not all 10 Outback Premiums will have the All Weather Pkg. 4/9 2010 Outback and Legacy shown at NY Auto Show.  It was supposed to only be the Legacy but Subaru released Outback details and photos early!  As is the Legacy, the 10 Outback is wider, taller, with more seat legroom, framed windows, updated 2.5L 4 cylinder engine with 6 speed manual or CVT automatic, 3.6L engine from the Tribeca with 5 speed automatic. Outback turbo is gone and the Legacy GT turbo is manual only. Early info and SoA photos Outbackand Legacy 4/7 New Outback and Legacy options- end of model year 'Value option packages'  available with 50% off dealer invoice cost. Good deals on some nice upgrades. Available on cars arriving in May. 3/19 Accessory price changes, Outback and Legacy  Security upgrade installed price drops, and iPod installed price increases 3/16 Bluetooth  Factory Bluetooth is available only on Impreza and Forester with Navigation, not on Outback, Tribeca or Legacy. 3/13 Interest rate drop effective 3/17-31 only, new lower rates for all new 09 Legacy, and Outback 2.5i, 2.5i SE (9DA/B, 9DC/D) 3/9 Outback review  '...The end of the sport-utility era is upon us. It's now time to explore outside of the box and delve into the world of wagons. The most common perception of Subaru is that its cars are owned by individuals who knit their own sweaters, live within 50 miles of the Canadian border and require all-wheel drive. Well, two out of three are incorrect.  If there was a brewing winter storm outside and I had to get to the emergency room fast, I would want to take a Subaru. Simply put, these cars chew up powder as quickly as a snow blower.  The Outback is essentially a Legacy on stilts. It is actually classified as the world's first sport utility wagon. Along with the extra ground clearance, the Legacy-on-stilts is equipped with an upgraded heavy-duty suspension. Although off-roading is certainly possible, I'm confident few owners will be fording rivers... Bang for the buck is where the Outback shines. Taking a look at the competitors, the Audi A4 Avant and the BMW 328 wagon, both equipped with all-wheel drive and navigation systems, exceed $40,000. And they are less powerful. Although a major fault of many Japanese vehicles is component quality, especially on the interiors, Subaru has exceeded the mark...  ... The Outback has a high-quality feel, while fit and finish are top notch. There are no squeaks or rattles, and the interior has a handsome design. And I can attest to Subarus being able to take a wallop -- a friend put over 60,000 hard miles on the clock after one year of ownership and the interior held up considerably well... Clearly, the firm is doing something right.. I have noticed an increasing number of Subarus in the New York area. Perhaps they have migrated from closer to the Canadian border. ' from thesteeet  top

Subaru Legacy news and reviews edited for length, content

2009 Legacy 1/3/10 Inventory is down on many models, especially Outback and Legacy, at least here in the NW 12/6 Legacy Review - good bad good  'A number of makers advertise 32mpg or so on the highway  - General Motors is big on that - but it's hard to imagine actually getting it.. The slow lane's hitting 80 mph and almost nobody's in the slow lane. Getting 32mpg in that setting is exceptional. In fact, almost everything about the thoroughly remade 2010 Subaru Legacy sedan is impressive. It's as if Subaru went through a list of consumer gripes over the years and tried to address them all – much as Subie did in the remake of the 2010 Outback utility wagon. Outback and Legacy are mechanically similar, though the Legacy is a little wider and has a slightly longer wheelbase than the wagon. Powertrains are identical, interiors alike, and both were launched last summer.  They appeal to very different buyers, though. To appreciate a Subaru, to understand it's not just another car on a shopping list with Accord, Camry and Fusion, you have to delight in Subaru's commitment to all-wheel drive (standard on all models and tailored to each engine-transmission combo). You also should be aware of the respect from third-party evaluators. All Subies, for instance, get the "top safety pick" designation, the highest rating, from crash-meisters at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And Consumer Reports magazine said in November: "With its redesign, the Legacy goes from a decent but small family sedan to one in the top of its class." For 2010 the Legacy is: Better-looking. More mainstream, less quirky. More powerful, mostly. Bigger, inside where it counts... The outside mirrors don't fold.  There's a wasted gauge on the dashboard intended to measure instant MPG. The guage should be used for engine temperature, oil pressure or battery voltage. What were they smoking? The CVT on the four-cylinder is annoying. The six-cylinder still uses a conventional five-speed auto, reason enough to pick the six. Brisk cornering showed off too much body lean... None of these is a fatal flaw, especially stacked against the fine overall behavior. In fact, the new Legacy is a handsome, comfortable, peppy, highly friendly and very desirable midsize sedan. The only drawback: Subie's selling everything it builds, so discounts are small... Overall: Close to a bull's-eye...' read the article by JR Healey 12/4 Leasing and strong residual values, Also explains why used Subarus are expensive... Subaru is #1, winner of the 'Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award'. Last year Subaru was #2 behind Honda. Outback and Forester are segment leaders.  ALG (Automotive Lease Guide) and the industry benchmark for lease residual values and depreciation data, today announced its 11th annual Residual Value Awards, honoring the vehicles in each segment that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period.  For the eighth year, ALG has also included awards for the brands with the highest overall predicted resale values among all mainstream and all luxury vehicles.  The awards are derived after careful study of segment competition, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Subaru of America has won the Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award for the first time, jumping over perennially strong Honda.  Subaru also received individual segment awards for the Forester in the Compact Utility Vehicle category and the Outback in the Midsize Utility Vehicle category.  “Subaru combines distinct product attributes, such as standard all-wheel drive and the wide use of turbo charged boxer engines, with a rugged but practical brand positioning to generate fierce loyalty among its buyers,” said James Clark, General Manager of ALG.  “Subaru also has been restrained with incentives over the past year, and its three core models have all been recently redesigned, helping it to move from second place to first this year.” the article 11/30  Legacy brochure error.  2010 Legacy brochures may incorrectly have the GT tire as 215/45 R18 and the wheel as 18x7. The correct tire size is 225/45 R18 and wheel is 18x7.5" 11/15 Legacy 2.5i CVT review- there’s a lot to like here. 'It’s hard to believe, but long experience has taught us that there are whole battalions of people for whom haste is a nonissue. Discerning, car-savvy people. With a keen eye for fit, finish, and materials. An industrial designer’s appreciation of ergonomics. A finely tuned sense of ride quality. But 0-to-60 mph? Hey, what’s your hurry? If you see yourself reflected in this mirror, and you’re a candidate for a mid-size family ride, this new Legacy 2.5i should be on your list. It’s quiet, it’s roomy, it looks good (in a mid-size generic way), it’s nicely finished within, and as always, all wheel drive is part of the deal. Haste is not.  We drove a 2.5i allied with Subaru’s new Lineartronic CVT automatic - it adds $1000 - and hit 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. That’s faster than it feels, and there are other four-cylinder automatic sedans that won’t keep up: The Chrysler Sebring comes to mind. But it’s still pretty deliberate. The Legacy likely would be quicker with the standard six-speed manual, but the CVT promises a big advantage in fuel economy—23 mpg city and 31 highway, according to the EPA, versus 19 and 27 for the manual. This is a big deal, as the CVT Legacy is now class-competitive with the mid-size front-drivers that, Subaru says, had previously occluded the Legacy’s appeal. We averaged 25 mpg over a week, which entailed a lot of stand-on-it driving. ..there’s a lot to like here - more than in the previous Legacy, literally and figuratively. As noted in our September preview, the fifth generation of Subaru’s mainstream sedan is bigger in every dimension. It still ranks at the small end of the mid-size-sedan parade - about the size of a Volkswagen Passat - but its increased dimensionality pays off in rear-seat space that goes from tight to comfortably habitable by three adults. Outside, the latest Legacy looks familiar. There’s just enough change to impart a sense of newness, tempered by the cautious styling common in this conservative class. It gets better inside, where even this entry-end car is furnished with high-quality materials, from headliner to dashboard to door panels to the cloth seat upholstery. We were bemused by the extensive use of silvery plastic trim—instead of bogus burl there is bogus aluminum—but in general this interior is classy. ..Like most mid-size, mid-price sedans, progressive understeer is the defining dynamic trait, the trade-off for ride quality worthy of a Buick. Grip, with a set of M+S Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02s (P205/60R-16), is just so-so at 0.81 g, and braking—186 feet from 70 mph—is lamentable, though this can be said for almost any car in this class, a strange trait for family sedans. ..But remember, all wheel drive is baked in; most of the other cars don’t even offer AWD. With that in mind, along with its other persuasive virtues, the new Legacy begins to look like a pretty attractive deal. Provided you’re not in a big hurry.' from caranddriver 11/10  Bumper damage crash test- 2010 Legacy 'leapfrogs the competition' and is the first car with all 4 damage estimates under $1,000, from IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).  One of only 5 cars to ever get this IIHS rating. 'The Legacy's bumpers are a big improvement over those on its 2007-09 predecessor. The new Legacy earns an acceptable rating in a recent series of tests to assess and compare how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders. In contrast, the previous Legacy is rated poor. Fifteen of 17 midsize cars evaluated by the Institute are rated marginal or poor for bumper protection. The Legacy's performance shows what automakers can do when they pay attention to damage prevention in the low-speed crashes that happen every day," says Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan. The Legacy is only the fifth car the Institute has tested to earn an acceptable rating for its bumpers. The others are the Ford Focus, Mazda 6, Scion xB, and Smart Fortwo. No car has yet earned a good rating. The Legacy is the first car the Institute has tested to limit damage to the bumper system in all 4 tests, and it's the first car with all 4 damage estimates under $1,000. The Institute rates bumpers good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in 4 tests — front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph. Each vehicle is run into a steel barrier that mimics the design of a car bumper, with the barrier's plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating typical cars' energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers. These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better damage resistance in real-world crashes. The biggest improvement for the Legacy was in the front full-width test. The ‘07 model sustained more than $4,000 damage (based on ‘09 parts and labor costs) when the bumper underrode the barrier. In contrast, the 2010 model sustained less than $900 in the same test. "Subaru made some simple changes to the Legacy's front bumper," Nolan explains, "and they paid off in significantly lower repair costs." Compared with the new model, the 2007 Legacy sustained nearly 5 times as much damage in this one 6 mph impact. The main difference is that the 2010 Legacy's front reinforcement bar is a little taller, more than 6 inches wider, and more than 1½ inches higher off the ground. This kept the Legacy's bumper engaged with the barrier during the test, preventing it from sliding under the barrier. Plus the bumper bar extends to the corners to help protect headlights and fenders. "The Legacy leapfrogs the competition for bumper protection," Nolan says. "These common sense bumper changes will help keep repair costs down in low-speed crashes."  from IIHS 11/9 Why it's hard to find the specific Outback or Legacy you want-  Idle minds note that there are 216 possible Outback combinations.  Wow!  The breakdown:  27 Outback model and Option Package combinations with 8 colors available each is 216 total combinations (27 x 8) and that doesn't even include PZEV vs standard emissions or any available extras and upgrades you might want like media hub, illumination kit, hitch, security upgrade, protection package etc. Idle minds further note that there are 208 possible Legacy combinations! The breakdown:  26 Legacy model and Option Package combinations with 8 colors each = 208 combinations not including PZEV emissions or any of the other options.  That's 424 Outback and Legacy combinations and why there will never be a full selection on any lot. 11/4 Legacy review- Consumer Reports December issue has their take on the new Legacy 4 and 6 cylinder models, also Camry, and Fusion AWD. They have generally good things to say about each car. Also a sort of a pre-holiday gift guide to electronics- TVs, phones, coffee makers, cameras, AA batteries etc. Buy at stores (discounted at Costco, Sams Club) and online 10/20 Legacy GT review '..It growls, almost as if it's chewing up the road ahead. And then when you shift gears, it gives a kind of a cough, the way a turbocharged engine does. When you hear this engine, you can almost see the blue rally cars coming toward you through the trees... So these are the sounds that Subaru's turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer-4 makes, a soundtrack so familiar to anyone who has spent time around an Impreza WRX. The only thing you ask yourself is what this engine is doing in this grown-up American-style sedan, the 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT? ..Probably for as long as any of us can remember, Subaru has been trying to show the world that it's more than a fringe player from Subaru City, a place in Japan that is near, well, it's actually not near anyplace. And now with the 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, the little company has an opportunity to get on equal footing with Honda, Mazda and Toyota. When the planning began for the current crop of sedans some five years or so ago, most of the Japanese-label sedans were preparing to abandon their international-size platforms and adopt dimensions scaled for Americans. And so in the same way that the Honda Accord and Mazda 6 have been scaled up for the corn-fed inhabitants of this country, so, too, the Subaru Legacy's wheelbase has been stretched 3.2 inches to 108.3 inches. The 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT is very much the grown-up car that Subaru has been seeking, more in tune with the way Americans drive (and the way Americans eat, which is what makes us so big). But when you stack it up against the competition, it's also very much in the same place as before. It's as big as the other guys, has the right kind of features and comes in the right kind of trim levels, and yet it's still a half step behind in refinement, style and driving enjoyment. What makes the Legacy 2.5GT interesting is the same thing that has always made a Subaru special — quirkiness. It's got a funny engine that is very vocal, all-wheel drive that's effective when the weather is terrible or when the roads are fun, and an overall personality that's pleasantly off the beam. The turbo 2.5GT is also quicker than the underpowered Legacy 2.5i and more fun than the expensive Legacy 3.6R...It's a kind of quirky combination of qualities, but Subaru people love that quirkiness and (perhaps most of all) love explaining that quirkiness to others...'  read the full article 10/13 Legacy review   'First Drive: 2010 Subaru Legacy.. Quieter, quicker, roomier and more dramatically styled, the 2010 Legacy is still a Subie at its core... now possessing the dimensional presence to compete with Camrys and Accords. ..Driving the new Legacy is considerably more serene as noise levels have dropped, due in part to new framed side windows that break with tradition, but enough of the endearing, quasi-agricultural engine sound gets through to please loyalists ..Debate the aesthetics all you want, but it's certain the new Legacy is quieter, quicker, more sophisticated, far roomier and in some cases, more fuel-efficient, with the CVT-equipped 2.5i achieving an EPA mpg rating of 23/31 city/highway. It's also something of a bargain, as the base 6-speed car starts at just $19,995... ' from roadandtrack 10/10 Legacy GT review from Canada  'While it may seem that BMW, Audi and Mercedes dominate the sport sedan market, there is a vast variety of fine-driving products from other European automakers, not to mention the domestics and the Asians. Yet, one brand that doesn't naturally spring to mind for this segment is Subaru, although the Japanese automaker best known for its rallying successes at the top echelon of motorsport has quietly been plying the waters for awhile with the GT, a performance version of its mainstream Legacy sedan. The results have been favourable but not overwhelming - the performance was there, but the car lacked the same pedigree, not to mention finesse, as others brought to bear. That could change with the 2010 Legacy GT model. Subaru still continues its cautious course of action, basing this performance variant on its mid-sized family sedan. Only this time, the Legacy itself is a far more substantial platform on which to hang the WRX-derived mechanicals. Getting to the heart of the matter, the '10 Legacy is a larger car than its predecessor - longer, wider and higher - with an attendant increase in cabin size. So, for its Canadian $38,395 price, one is getting a sport sedan only slightly smaller than a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class for less money than a comparably equipped, one-size-down 3 Series or C-Class... ... Subarus seem to appeal to the inherently pragmatic and/or individualistic. As such, I doubt the GT is going to catapult itself to the top of the list of mid-priced sport sedans to consider. That said, there is more than enough performance to satisfy those who place a premium on spirited motoring in a package that is a far more effective family four-door than its predecessor, complete with an all-wheel drivetrain that is a boon for our sometimes snowy country. For those who are not slavishly devoted to the name brands, the Legacy GT is a legit contender.' the article (Canadian) 9/27 Legacy sedan review   '..Subaru's Legacy mid-size sedan grew for 2010, but its price tag didn't. In fact, the newly styled and enlarged five-passenger Legacy has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $20,660 and ranks as the lowest-priced mid-size, all-wheel drive-sedan on the U.S. market. The 2010 Legacy also is noteworthy for its fuel mileage rating of 23 miles per gallon in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway when equipped with continuously variable transmission... Many buyers might overlook Subaru when looking for a family sedan because they don't live in wintry climates and figure they don't need all-wheel drive, which is standard on all Subarus... Consider that a 2010 Toyota Camry with power going only to the front wheels, not all four wheels, has a retail starting rice of $20,145, or just $515 less than a base Legacy. The two cars have nearly the same horsepower from their four-cylinder engines — 170 horses in the Legacy and 169 in the Camry... And the exterior styling, while attractive, reminds me of a Camry. No one took a second look at the new car as I drove it, and in shopping center parking lots this new Subaru blended in easily with the Camrys..' the article 9/13 iPod interface upgrade part available so latest model iPod, Touch Nano will recharge. See your local parts dealer 9/9 Sky Blue Metallic, new light blue color available on Outback and Legacy, now arriving on lots. 8/27 Top Safety Picks - 2010 Legacy and Outback are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. "To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Legacy and Outback." IIHS 8/10 Why a CVT transmission?   'As the struggle to meet increasingly stringent fuel-economy and exhaust-emission regulations continues, engineers are turning to transmissions for help. The theory is simple: Keep the engine operating at its most efficient point... Automatic transmissions have grown in popularity with five- and even six-speeds becoming more common. But the disadvantages are still there: power loss, complexity and cost. Another method of shifting gears is resurfacing after more than a century in relative oblivion: the continuously variable transmission (CVT). First invented by German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz in 1886, the CVT was based on a rubber V-belt riding between two angled cones. Not much has changed in the intervening 118 years, but CVTs are once again becoming popular as they allow an engine to operate more efficiently by varying gear ratios instead of engine speed. ..The CVT is a very simple device, consisting of pulleys and a belt. The attendant shafts and related controls are already in place in the vehicle. No gears, plates, valves, converters or fluids; rather a pair of cone-shaped pulleys, facing each other, on a shaft connected by a belt to a second pair of similarly-shaped pulleys on another shaft...' the article 7/18 2010 Legacy brochure corrections-  If you have an early 2010 Legacy brochure some of the GT's interior details may be wrong. Woodgrain trim is standard on GT Limited and silver trim isn't available on the GT Limited, and harvest gold and sky blue colors are not available on the GTs. 6/24 The 2010 Outback and Legacy now on car lots. Cobtact your local dealer to set up a time to stop in. These are all new. 6/16 2010 Outback and Legacy are expected at dealers starting in July 6/2 2010 Outback, Legacy model-color selection announced 4/29 2010 Outback and Legacy prices and model packages announced. Some prices went up, other prices went down. The Outback 2.5i increased $700 but the Limited went down $300! The new larger engine 3.6L Outback now starts $1100 less than the 3.0L version in 09.  The 10 Legacy 2.5i dropped $800, and the 10 and 09 Legacy 2.5i Limited are the same price. The new 6 speed GT Limited goes up $1100 and the Legacy 3.6L Limited drops $1570. For all 2010 models, Subaru is now offering factory Option Packages, aka model ugrades. Some of the features standard on prevous years may now be part of a Option Package. For example, the All Weather Package is Option Package #02 on the 2010 Outback Premium but it was standard on the 2009 SE model (which the Premium replaces) so not all 10 Outback Premiums will have the All Weather Pkg. 4/9 2010 Outback and Legacy shown at NY Auto Show.  It was supposed to only be the Legacy but Subaru released Outback details and photos early!  As is the Legacy, the 10 Outback is wider, taller, with more seat legroom, framed windows, updated 2.5L 4 cylinder engine with 6 speed manual or CVT automatic, 3.6L engine from the Tribeca with 5 speed automatic. Outback turbo is gone and the Legacy GT turbo is manual only. Early info and SoA photos Outbackand Legacy 4/7 New Outback and Legacy options- end of model year 'Value option packages'  available with 50% off dealer invoice cost. Good deals on some nice upgrades. Available on cars arriving in May. 3/31 It's official 2010 Legacy information released. Redesigned 2010 midsize sedan is all new- larger with more interior and rear seat legroom, framed windows, 2.5L 4 cylinder with new 6 speed manual or Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic transmission. The 3.6L 6 cylinder from the Tribeca replaces the 3.0L, and the GT has a larger turbo with more power and torque and est 0-60 time under 6 seconds.  3/28 2009 Legacy GT turbo vs. an old hemi Barracuda?  '... 1982 and I'm folded in the back seat of my friend Tracy's Plymouth Barracuda.. The 'Cuda's exhaust is reverberating up and down the canyon like distance cannon fire as it leaves the flimsy glass pack duel mufflers that do little to silence the monster Hemi engine's roar.. Fast forward some 27 years and I'm older, heavier, and I can't help but recall my friend Tracy who passed away so many years ago as I'm once again flying up I-70, but this time in a ruby red Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT. Tracy's 'Cuda had massive Craiger wheels with an aftermarket Hurst shifter, and air suspension he could raise and lower by going to the local gas station and filling up the car with free air... The Legacy has an automatic with paddle shifters, 17-inch alloy wheels with tire pressure monitors, all wheel drive, and the Subaru SI- Drive which lets the driver change the dynamic handling and performance characteristics of the car. The 'Cuda could take about anything on the road in a straight line, but Lord help you if you had to go around a curve at anything resembling a brisk walk. The Legacy is fast, and perhaps even furious, in both a straight line and especially when the road turns twisty. Both cars give their owners an effortless sense of speed, but the 'Cuda kicks you in the groin to let you know that it is the bad boy in town while the Legacy is way too sublte and way too refined for such childlike behavior. It just goes about its business with a cool and understated ease.. Unlike the 'Cuda, the Subaru only gets better as the weather turns nasty. However also unlike the 'Cuda, I'm not sure I'll remember the Legacy 20 plus years from now. The styling of the car goes from exciting at the front to bland and mundane at the rear. The 'Cuda's was an in your face bad ass beast that took no prisoners... Is the Legacy 2.5 GT Limited the spiritual successor to the mighty 'Cuda? Of course not. But does it offer many of the same thrills with none of the drawbacks? You bet---and best of all it even has a functional hood scoop that I'm sure would have made my friend Tracy smile...'  the  article 3/20 Legacy PZEV review  'My first question when I picked up this Subaru was "What the heck is PZEV?" ..  its special equipment such as a charcoal canister so no fuel vapours can escape from the engine when shut off. The catalytic exhaust uses a finer mesh to lower exhaust emissions by up to 90 per cent of what a regular new car puts out. In Canada, you are more likely to hear the term Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle, or SULEV, for the same thing.... I find that I always enjoy driving a Subaru. And as a World Rally Championship-winning company that was one of the first two automakers (Audi was the other) to even offer all-wheel-drive cars for sale, it should come as no surprise when I tell you that this car is fun to drive. Plus, it's reasonably miserly on fuel, too...  had enough traction so that acceleration, cornering and stopping were no big deal. In one situation, I was able to totally miss someone else with no-season tires who totally misjudged stopping distances. Another plus for the Legacy is ride quality. The ice is melting and making some roads a bit on the rough side due to the emerging potholes and the way the ice is melting. Legacy takes these bumps in its stride. All but the most severe are heard when the tires hit them, but they aren't felt to any degree inside. Getting around town, in and out of parking lots or just doing day-to-day driving in the Legacy is relaxing.."  the article 3/19 Accessory price changes, Outback and Legacy  Security upgrade installed price drops, and iPod installed price increases 3/16 Bluetooth  Factory Bluetooth is available only on Impreza and Forester with Navigation, not on Outback, Tribeca or Legacy. 3/13 Interest rate drop effective 3/17-31 only, new lower rates for all new 09 Legacy, and Outback 2.5i, 2.5i SE (9DA/B, 9DC/D) 2/6/09 Discontinued accessory on Legacy. Rocker panel chrome trim is no longer available on the Legacy. It's still standard on the white and black specB and 3.0R Limited models, and may be available as a part from your dealer, based on supply. Parts #s: White #E2610AG0000WH, black # E2610AG000VH. 1/11/09 Legacy 2010 concept car. The coming redesigned 2010 Legacy available later this year will probably take some styling cues from the concept car displayed at the Detroit auto show but don't expect it to be as stylized. The concept car has the 3.6L in it, hopefully it will make it to the production version. More info at the NY Auto Show in April.

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Subaru Forester news and reviews edited for length, content

2009 12/18 Forester review   'Wait a minute, this is a Subaru? It's really hard to believe. Model by model, year by year, the weirdness is being banished from this brand as its cars slip silently into the mainstream. Look at it and the first thing that strikes you is that nothing in particular strikes you. There's no weirdness, no oddball, goofy, overdone styling. Oh sure, the grille's texture and the radical corners up front are a residual bit of uniqueness. But overall, it looks so, so — gasp — normal. Viewed from the rear it looks positively European. Who would have believed it? Not that normality totally reigns; there's still the special DNA that makes a Subaru a Subaru. The Forester, like all current Subaru vehicles, has standard all-wheel drive. If the front wheels slip, all of the car's power shifts to the rear wheels. That's handy when the iceman cometh... Handling was about what you'd expect given its mission as a suburban schlepper. The vehicle did an adequate job of soaking up bumps, but cornering brings out significant body lean. Grip was good in drenching downpours; the brake pedal didn't always inspire confidence due to its light feel...That said, this car is reliable if utterly devoid of the personality or fun associated with the smaller Subaru WRX.  If the WRX is the wild child, the Forester is the mild child. But for those who don't crave excitement, there's plenty to please here. The test vehicle had its share of creature comforts: leather trim, side curtain airbags, power driver's seat, heated front seats.. There's also a navigation system activated through a large touch screen mounted on the dashboard. There were only a couple down notes. The cabin's ambience seemed dull, yet durable, thanks to an abundance of hard plastic. The seat heater switches for both seats are buried on the right side of the driver's seat... But those faults aren't enough to cloud the Forester's essential goodness as the ultimate cul-de-sac servant. No, it's not glamorous enough to get you a top spot when you valet park the car, but it will shine when it really matters: every single day.' the article 11/11 Forester XT review - 'Subaru gave the Forester a full redesign for 2009, and after six months in our fleet, this spunky crossover has earned everyone’s respect'.  'Our Subaru has been in high demand by PM staffers recently, thanks to its spunky dynamics and generous cargo capacity. Since our last report we’ve hauled a dresser from Pennsylvania to New York, thrown bicycles in the back to escape for a day of riding and packed it tight with camping supplies for numerous weekend trips. Unfortunately, the last 5000 miles haven’t taught us to love the Subaru’s display and navigation system. On a 450-mile haul to North Carolina, the rays peeking through the sunroof rendered the screen completely useless. And a couple of questionable nav-system routings taught us to keep our road atlas within reach. But our enchantment with the Forester will linger long after it leaves the fleet. Far too often we’ve caught ourselves pushing the XT’s powerful turbo motor hard on the open road. Loaded with five people and their gear, the engine showed no sign of strain. And as if reminding us it’s bred from the same stock as the WRX, the Forester had no trouble outmaneuvering taxis and behemoth buses on crowded streets. We hope to cross paths with the Forester again soon... For a long time, the Forester was easy to overlook in the Subaru lineup. It wasn’t cute and sporty like the WRX, but neither did it exude that “my other house is a ski chalet in Vermont” vibe like the Outback. It was just a tall, boxy station wagon—one that effectively disguised a pretty impressive drivetrain under the skin. Subaru gave the Forester a full redesign for 2009, and after six months in our fleet, this spunky crossover has earned everyone’s respect... The appreciation starts with the turbocharged, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine (the same one Subaru uses in the high-performance WRX). So the Forester is more fun to drive than a crossover has any right to be. But, yes, Mom, it’s practical too. We’ve hauled lots of kids and supplies without ever running out of room. And the AWD system proved its mettle on some steep, muddy roads in Maine. You can see this vehicle’s split personality in our mileage numbers: from a low of 12 mpg (someone was working that turbo) to a high of 35 (proving PM editors can hypermile too) We’ve used the Forester mostly for urban commuting and grocery-getting, but it did make one major road trip, racking up more than 2000 miles in four days to visit family back in Michigan. The Subie is a comfortable ride on a long haul, until the wind picks up a little and you realize how sensitive it can be in crosswinds. We used the auxiliary input jacks in the center console to provide entertainment. And it’s a good thing we had them, considering there isn’t much in the way of decent radio programming burning along I-80 in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Too bad those RCA input jacks are so hard to access. Seriously, the Subie proved to be a stout and reliable road tripper. We used it to haul a fair amount of stuff back and forth too. So we were pleased that the rear seats folded so easily, opening up the rear cargo area for transporting chairs, building materials and a fair amount of photo equipment for a few Saturday Mechanic photo shoots. And whether we were bumbling around in town or eating up miles on the freeway, the fuel economy was enviable..' Popular Mechanics full article 9/13 iPod interface upgrade part available so latest model iPod, Touch Nano will recharge. See your local parts dealer 8/22 Forester review.  A car for the Amish?  '... From a distance, I didn't understand any of the raving over this vehicle that has been having a gang buster year in sales. The squatty SUV profile is utilitarian at best and downright homely at worst. Maybe people see it as that loveable runt of the litter, the one the breeder was going to put down before the Subaru Rescue Club saved it. While the ride was a little noisy, it was very comfortable and smooth... It's reliable, tough, practical and affordable. There's even a little cache in the Subaru name -- it's different. Everyone wants to be different.. But it lacks attitude. It lacks fun. It lacks personality that a car or truck should have. If a vehicle reflects its owner, the Subaru Forester says, "I eat microwaved meals often." Perhaps the biggest surprise is that so many other Subarus have attitude and spunk. They are in your face with personality and performance. My 2.5X model felt sturdy in an Amish sort of no-frills well-built kind of way. Really, it was nicely loaded and nicely priced and completely uninspiring.. I don't hate the Forester, far from it, but I do know I'm not "in love" with it either..' the article 6/21 Forester review  'In the car business, a well respected company named Automotive Lease Guide publishes estimates of the future, used-car value that today's new models will command. By its reckoning, Subaru cars rank second to the top in holding their worth as they age. That's because Subarus age very gracefully, so that shoppers looking for a good used car pay extra for them. "We have fabulous brand loyalty that is the envy of most other manufacturers," said Aaron Singer of Singer Subaru (in New Hampshire), echoing a fact well known in the auto trade. One big reason for those conquests is the 2009 Subaru Forester. The company's top-selling model by a wide margin, the 2009 Forester came out 13 months ago. Redesigned and updated, the new Forester arrived just when many shoppers began looking to downsize from hulking sport-utilities and other extravagant models to more moderate vehicles that offered some thrift and practicality. "It came out right when gas prices were climbing up to $4 per gallon," said Singer. "It was exactly what people were looking for at exactly the right time."  The Forester is classified as a compact crossover, competing squarely against the popular Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. They're the two top sellers in the category. But the Forester boasts of some very impressive distinctions. Motor Trend magazine named it the 2009 Sport Utility of the Year. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine selected Forester as its Best New Crossover, while Parents magazine placed the model on its list of Best Family Cars for 2009.. Today, Singer no longer sees many buyers trading-in enormous SUVs for a Forester. By now a lot of drivers have already unloaded those once popular giants. Instead, people are exchanging second-tier, medium-sized sport-utilities like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee, said Singer. His dealership also sees a trend in Forester buyers trading-in mid-sized sedans, such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. "People are looking for all-wheel drive and adequate space, but good gas mileage," Singer summarized.  Even better, said Singer, the company's momentum should accelerate more, as Subaru brings out fully redesigned and updated re-makes of its Legacy sedan and Outback wagon. The official unveiling of the new 2010 versions is scheduled for September, but Singer hints that you should start looking for them next month. "They've done an incredible engineering job with these new models," he claimed. "They've made them bigger inside, almost the same size outside, with better gas mileage, more power, and more creature features. How have they done it? It appears to be genius to me." read   the article by jeffreyzygmont.com 6/10 2010 Foresters and brochures arriving at dealers . 'Premium Lite' - is that an easy to use name for the new  2010 base Premium without the All Weather Package? See the new Paprikacolor 6/5 10 Foresters and brochures starting to arrive at dealers (slowly) 5/16 Forester goes off road and lives to tell about it  '...Subaru is many things to many different kinds of people, but they've always stayed true to the cause of all-wheel-drive in sensible automobiles.  Subie sells every one of their cars with it, and they get a lot of credibility because of that fact, but we decided to put that tradition to the test and take it to the brand spankin' new Rocks And Valleys off-road park in Harrison, Michigan even before its grand opening on May 16th... For all intents and purposes its just another tall wagon with all-wheel-drive. Yes, that's true, but for a tall wagon this thing kicks some major trail...  The Forester we had was a 2.5X, a mid-range model with a non-turbo four cylinder, but even on the steepest grades we were not for want of more power. In fact, we almost want to toss on some real off-road tires and see what it can really do, the thing was damn impressive. Out on the lumpy, bumpy trails the Forester soaked everything up and had us outpacing the bouncier Jeeps, lending us our first few points of credibility. Then we hit the technical stuff out in the forests, we had to fold in the mirrors at some points things were so tight, and again, the decent turning radius, torquey engine and well programmed all-wheel-drive kept us going....  Truthfully, we didn't expect the Subie to be as good as it was. We thought we'd be funny guys and go get the thing stuck and have it hang up on steep hills and then point and laugh at the wimpy soft-roader. We came out with a certain degree of respect, so did all the Jeep guys who were with us. We're thinking Subaru should offer "Mud Patina" as a delivery option... ' the article from Jalopnik 5/4 2010 Forester prices and Option Packages announced. For all 2010 models, Subaru is now offering factory Option Packages, aka model ugrades. Some of the features standard on prevous years may now be part of a Option Package. For example, the All Weather Package is Option Package #02 on the 2010 Outback Premium but it was standard on the 2009 SE model (which the Premium replaces) so not all 10 Outback Premiums will have the All Weather Pkg. 4/24 Performance - Forester XTI concept, WRX and STI with SPT mods... 'Subaru invited us out to the track to sample some of its Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) components, fitted to the company's Forester XTI show car, as well as the Impreza WRX and STI models. While we applaud any manufacturer that engineers a line of factory-approved aftermarket parts, we hand out additional kudos to the few who welcome us to a local racing circuit to put them to the fire. What add-ons did Subaru bring to Willow Springs, and how did they perform on the track? Come with us to find out... Subaru brought four cars to the Streets of Willow Springs race track.. two Impreza WRX models (one stock and one modified), and two Impreza WRX STI models (one stock and one modified)...  also brought out its one-of-a-kind Forester XTI concept for its track debut. That's right, the SEMA show car custom-fitted with full STI running gear...' Forester XTI - 'As a one-off concept, we were understandably apprehensive about tossing this particular Forester into the corners at speed. To our amazement, however, it handled the circuit like a true champ..  Now, we want to see it in the showroom.' WRX- 'The stock five-speed transmission feels great until you try the short throw set-up... While the short throw shifter and new exhaust was welcomed, we think the chassis-bracing modifications were a bit out of order – our money would focus on calming the struts, sways, and springs first, along with a new set of brake pads...' STI - '..The stock STI was immediately a noticeable improvement over both WRX models... This STI was fitted with the short-throw shifter and stainless exhaust. Both are must-have items.. Under the skin, the modified STI was equipped with chassis braces and new springs, lowering the ride height and firming things up.  On the race circuit, this STI was clearly top dog. It was incredibly stable in the corners... Again, the tires and brake pads were the weak links, but those are both easy aftermarket fixes.' read the article 4/22 10 Best crossovers from Forbes includes Forester, Rav, CRV, Edge, Lexus RX, Jeep, Buick Enclave. Forester is #10.  '..These vehicles combine car-like handling and SUV-worthy cargo space...  they might be smart to spend on a crossover. These autos--built on a car platform with SUV-like traits--offer drivers car-like handling and high gas mileage but don't sacrifice space...' the article 4/6 End of the Forester model year. Forester special orders finished - no more special orders on Foresters will accepted for 2009 models, and Outback and Legacy special order availability expected to end soon. 3/30 Forester XT review  '...Living in the Pacific Northwest, it seems like every other house has a Subaru Outback or Forester parked outside. Subaru vehicles and my family go way back. ..  I eagerly anticipated my week in the 2009 Subaru Forster XT. The new-for-2009 Forester has a much more modern shape than the angular vehicle it replaces, and has grown up by gaining more space, becoming more of a crossover than just a tall wagon...  Last summer Autosavant’s Chris Haak had the opportunity to review a 2009 Subaru Forester X Premium equipped with a 170 HP 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. He found power to be merely adequate, with a too-soft suspension and handling that wallows. The Forester XT adds a turbocharger to that 2.5 liter four, for a rating of 224 HP and 226 lb-ft torque, and gains a functional hood scoop and dual exhaust. While the extra 54 HP do help to move the Forester off the line more quickly, the engine seems to be better suited to performance off the line than performance when the car is already traveling 50 or 60 MPH. Climbing into the driver’s seat (which was upholstered with a sturdy-looking yet comfortable cloth), I was impressed with the view out. I found that visibility out of the Forester was probably the best of any vehicle I’ve reviewed for Autosavant.  Each of the pillars was relatively thin, and all of the windows were large...  A heavy snow started falling shortly after the Forester was dropped off, and during my commute there was snow accumulating rapidly on the interstate and side streets. As expected, the Subaru handled the snow with aplomb.. While the bulk of this review makes it sound like I found a lot of faults with the Forester XT, it really is a thoughtfully-designed, well assembled SUV. To its credit, the Forster drives and handles very much like a car, with none of the jostling, easily-upset traditional-SUV-suspension I experienced in the Kia Sorrento or the Jeep Compass. The Forester’s interior is spacious, ergonomically configured, and is well-assembled from nice-looking materials. Its turbocharged, horizontally-opposed four cylinder engine puts it a step ahead of its four-cylinder competition in terms of performance. I enjoyed driving the Forester XT for a week, and would recommend it without hesitation. While there are a lot of vehicles in this class, the Forester XT is comfortable, fun, spacious, and easy to drive; the same cannot be said about much of its competition...' from autosavant 3/21  Forester review  'Revamped Forester gives big boost to Subaru...  Subaru redesigned the Forester for 2009, giving it a new interior and more boldly styled exterior and a new chassis and suspension. The 2.5-liter engine and the 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmissions are largely carryovers, but Subaru modified the engine to provide a broader torque curve for better performance... The Forester rides on a wheelbase almost 4 inches longer than the previous model, which translates into noticeably more interior room and better ride quality... With the 2009 model, Subaru made side curtain airbags, rollover sensors and a stability control system standard on all Forester models.  Motor Trend magazine was impressed enough with the Forester to select it as its 2009 Sport Utility of the Year. The magazine's editors noted their selection of the Forester "is not a reaction to prices at the pump, but a renewed appreciation for the value of the dollar and a thoughtfully designed, well-executed vehicle."  .. A more important selection is occurring for Subaru: The Forester is popular with buyers, resulting in a 101 percent sales increase for February... The Forester had a couple of annoying rattles when driving over stud-chewed freeway sections. Most liked features: Starting at about $20,900, including destination and with all-wheel drive, the Subaru offers excellent value for the dollar." the article 3/14 Free Forester for top animal groomer. Animal Planet TV kicks off the 2nd season of its reality competition series Groomer Has It. 12 dog groomers compete in a test of desire, creativity and affinity for animals as they shave, shear and shampoo their way through challenges that will crown only one "Groomer of the Year." It begins Saturday, April 11.  The grand-prize winner will receive a prizes including a new Subaru Forester (!), plus $50,000 cash, a mobil grooming studio etc and the title 'Groomer of the Year', and worth $145,000! 3/14 Forester and Impreza Kiplinger's Personal Finance chooses two 2009 Subarus in the magazine's 2009 Car Buyer's Guide. The new 09 Forester 2.5X has been designated "Best New Crossover" in the Small Crossover category and the 09 Impreza 2.5i has been named "Best in Class" in the "Wagons and Minivans" category. "Best in Class" and "Best New" winners are chosen on a basis of performance, value, safety, power, fuel efficiency, exterior design, interior room and cargo space...  the buyer's guide cited the Impreza's standard All-Wheel Drive and safety features, as well as strong resale value and "impressive" cargo room. The Forester was lauded for its affordability and All-Wheel Drive, as well as size and ground clearance increases over its popular predecessor. Alluding to the new model's go-anywhere nature, the guide pointed out that "it performs even better on snowy roads and muddy driveways."... Kiplinger 3/8 Forester vs Rav4 - Behind the Scenes of Consumer Reports Top Picks 2009 (April issue)  ".. One of the highlights of Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Issue is the Top Picks list. These are the cars we think are the best choices in a particular category. We don’t cover every vehicle group, but we do feature a broad spectrum of the vehicles that most people buy. Although the criteria for selecting a Top Pick is fairly simple on the surface – the car ranks at or near the top of the Ratings, average or better reliability, easily available electronic stability control (ESC) – there are some nuances.  One interesting choice involves our 2009 Pick for Small SUV. When we tested the redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester, it did very well. The turbocharged 2.5XT even outscored the RAV4 V6 and the basic Forester 2.5X outscored the four-cylinder RAV4 at the time. We also tested a group of several manual transmission vehicles including a Forester with a stick; it’s one of the very few small SUVs that offers one. It also scored well. (See the Forester and RAV4 model overview pages, with reviews and ratings, available to online subscribers.) So, why isn’t the Forester our Top Pick for small SUVs? Two reasons: The RAV4 got a new 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine for 2009. When we retested the RAV4 for the upcoming May issue, we found that it was improved. It just barely outscored the equivalent four-cylinder, automatic-transmission Forester. While the turbocharged and manual-transmission Foresters each outscore the RAV4, those versions sell in comparatively low numbers. The vast majority of Foresters and RAV4s sold are basic, non-turbo, four-cylinder, automatic-transmission versions.  It boiled down to this: we wanted the Top Pick to apply to the biggest number of buyers out there. In the end, the 2009 RAV4 four-cylinder narrowly out pointed the Subaru equivalent, becoming our Top Pick."  Buy Consumer Reports April issue or available online 3/5 Forester Reverse Assist Sensor price new lower (yes lower) installed price on the reverse assist sensors (back-up beepers). 3/1 Forester in the Witness Protection Program?  '.. Only a conscious attempt to keep things hush-hush and avoid any unwarranted attention can explain this roomy crossover wagon's utter anonymity in a class of nifty vehicles where style rules. Meet the 2009 Subaru Forester, official vehicle of the Witness Protection Program. Subaru has to be low-profiling it for a reason. How else to explain the fact that every time I tried to find the roomy and comfortable Forester in a parking lot, I overlooked it at least once, mistaking it for a Mitsubishi.  Try to form a mental image of a Mitsubishi crossover. Go ahead, try. I've got time. The Forester - standard all-wheel drive, spacious and practical interior notwithstanding - is such automotive wallpaper that I repeatedly mistook it for a vehicle of which I have no mental image. That's blandness raised to an art form... Despite its chameleon tendency to disappear into the background, the new Forester has a number of virtues, including good fuel economy and standard all-wheel drive and all the headroom of the Montana skies... At 179.5 inches long, the Forester is 3.5 inches shorter than a Rogue and 12.9 inches shorter than a Journey, but its 107.6 cubic feet of passenger room is considerably greater than either of those larger vehicles offer. The Forester's passenger space dwarfs the Vibe and Matrix. In addition to its exceptional headroom, the Forester provides plenty of legroom for front and rear passengers. Front shoulder room is excellent, but the backseat's three-person capacity should be limited to petite passengers or short trips. The interior of the Forester I tested featured cloth upholstery and a variety of nice-looking trim materials. The big, clear gauges are exceptionally attractive, lit in two shades of blue that are bright without becoming distracting at night. I had a hard time getting the manually adjustable driver's seat set to a position that was comfortable on long drives, however. The Forester is a roomy, fuel-efficient and practical vehicle. It lacks the quirky, look-at-me-charm of earlier Subarus, but its anonymity will appeal to some drivers...' the article 2/24 Turbo Boost Guage.  New accessory. Fits all 08/08 Impreza turbos, and 09 Forester turbo. Displays engine vacuum as inHG and PSI. The dial is red lit when the car is on. Available port installed, or as a part. 2/11 2009 Forester wins MotorWeek's Best Small Utility award. Forester is a 'multi-purpose vehicle that's in tune with the times'. The Forester was selected for the MotorWeek 2009 Driver’s Choice Award for Best Small Utility. MotorWeek, a TV show by Maryland Public TV, chose vehicles based on performance, technology, practicality and value. The Forester is a 'multi-purpose vehicle that's in tune with the times.'' Winners in other categories are the Mazda6, Honda Fit and Pilot, Cadillac CTS, Nissan GTR, Audi A5, Jetta TDI.. more here 1/30 Best of the Best Used Cars, an overview from Consumer Reports. Features cars with several or more years of better than average reliability, mostly from Japan, that are generally worth buying. Includes the Subaru Forester, Outback, Impreza, Legacy, Baja, along with models from Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Acura, Lexus, Mazda etc and a few Lincolns, BMW, Buick, Porsche, Volvo and Pontiac. read the article top

Subaru Impreza news and reviews edited for length, content

2009 1/1/10 He does it!   Travis Pastrana jumps 200 feet  at the "Red Bull: New Year No Limits" event Dec 31st in Santa Monica  12/23  BMW M3 or an STI?  I'd take the STI too ...  'TMZ reports Jon Gosselin, the famous father of eight, tried to trade in his 2005 BMW M3 for a 2008 Subaru STI at a local dealership in Lancaster, PA, but unfortunately failed.  The strapped-for-cash falling celebrity left the lot without even making a deal after finding out his BMW wasn't worth as much as he initially thought'. the article 12/12 2002/03 WRX RECALL In cold weather, certain 02/03 WRXs may have fuel line seep. Only app 5724 cars are affected by this in 16 cold weather states - Ak, Co, Io, Id, Me, Mi, Mn, Mt, Ne, ND, SD NH, NY, Vt, Wi, Wy.  There will be a warranty extension for this particular issue for the remaining 34 states 12/19 STI review from roadandtrack '..Subaru's reworked 2008 WRX STI was rumored to be a kinder, gentler car that lacked the raw appeal of the original. We needed to find out if this was true, so we ordered a long-termer from Subaru. With few options to deliberate over, we specified a dark gray metallic exterior. It was befitting of the STI's still menacing but matured character (and price), and a change of pace from the blatantly bright blue you'd see tearing through a rally Special Stage. We wasted no time hazing our newly acquired hot hatch, bringing it along as a "support" vehicle to a track day where we would be running a spec Fun Cup race car in an endurance event (March 2009). Having no other vehicle in which to run reconnaissance laps, the STI soon became a "track orientation vehicle," quickly revealing it was twice as fast and 10 times more comfortable than the car we would be belted into for the next three hours—touché.  Aside from a bit of premature edge wear on our stock front brake pads and the unpleasant slow-speed grinding noise that came with it—which might have been the result of an insufficient cool-down session—the STI managed all this in its street clothes, proving it's quite the Swiss tool right out of the box. Next up, we sent it off on a three-month round trip to the Midwest with our Detroit crew where they encountered our first real issue. During the first long leg, the air conditioner compressor clutch gave up the ghost, leaving one of our guys looking for a part that was not yet stocked by most dealers; it was eventually replaced a few weeks later. Then, during a short stop off in an allegedly nice area of Chicago our sparkling "STI" badge was stolen right off the car's hatch. Granted, it's just a piece of pink plastic, but it's amazing how much we missed it. Furthermore, it cost $38 for a factory replacement. One thing we won't miss is the often-inaccurate (and difficult to operate) navigation system that renders an otherwise very attractive high-res touchscreen useless. We would've also gladly traded the audio/video inputs in the center armrest for a more useful iPod jack. On the return trip to California, road noise in the STI became nearly unbearable due to some extreme cupping of our factory-fitted Dunlop SP Sport 600s at just over 24,000 miles. Although our original tires were close to expiration, we found the cupping was due to our toe settings falling outside of alignment specs. All cupping aside, we like the balance of grip (both dry and wet) and wear the Dunlops provide and believe they're an excellent match for the STI. And just for the record, a new set of STI-spec Dunlops cost roughly $450 less than a set of Evo-spec Yokohama Advans, and took us about 4000 miles farther before we replaced them. We were never able to nail down the exact source of a slight whistling sound we would sometimes hear under hard acceleration. It was thought to have been caused by another faulty air conditioning compressor clutch (diagnosed and replaced by a dealer), but soon returned intermittently. It was never really a huge issue, but one we would've liked to have resolved. Lastly, we'd also like to remind STI owners to check their oil frequently. If you're on the gas like us (and if you're driving an STI, you darn well should be!), you'll likely go through a quart at least every 4000 miles.' the article 12/5  Travis Pastrana to jump 200 feet New Years Eve  At the "Red Bull: New Year No Limits" event Dec 31st in Santa Monica, Pastrana will celebrate the New Year by launching his WRX off a ramp on the Pine Street Pier to a barge anchored in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor, more than 200 feet over the Pacific, aiming to establish a new world distance record, live on ESPN. Asked what his New Year's resolutions will be, Pastrana answered 'Land the car. Land the car. Land the car. I guess you can't really make a resolution to land the car..'  "I live for this kind of excitement," said Pastrana.  Watch it 12/31, ESPN, 11pmET, 8pmPT.  1/1/2010 update he does it! 12/3 STI Special Edition (SE) prices announced. It's a good deal.  MSRP for the slightly decontented handling/suspension model STI SE will be $33,690 ($32,995 +$695 destination). This is $2000 less than the current STI's MSRP of $35,690 and a deal if you want performance and handling and are ok with halogen low beams, a single disc CD player, manual air conditioning, and no turn signals in the outside mirrors. Available early spring, quantity will be limited. Colors will be a initial run of 125 Aspen White ones, then WR Blue, Dark Gray and Obsidian Black will be available. More info 11/28 The Parking Gods smile on the Impreza 2.5i in Chicago   '.. A great day, great breakfast, no wait at Lula Cafe in Logan Square and a parking space up front.  At noon. On a Saturday. That never happens.  I would chalk it up to good parking karma, but I only have that when I'm with my friend Deb.  So, perhaps it was the car. The Subaru Impreza I was driving last week was of the basic variety, and I loved it. It didn't have leather seats. It didn't have a fancy radio. It didn't have a navigation system. And that was A-OK by me. This is such a great little city car, it didn't need any of those things. Besides, I have a cell phone with navigation, so if I truly do get lost on the grid (And, yes, it does happen. Don't laugh.), I can pop out google maps and get back on track. This car has a base price of around $18K, and the test car (a 2.5i premium) topped out at $22K, which I thought was really decent for an all-wheel drive vehicle that had heated cloth seats. Yes, heated cloth seats. I love it! The interior of the test car was very light, so if you have kids or pets, this might not be the wisest choice. But with the Newport Blue Pearl exterior paint, Ivory Tricot is the only interior option. If you want the darker interior, you'll have to look at red, dark grey or silver paint colors. On the positive side, Subaru does what many fancy automakers can't manage: the headliner actually matches the color of the seats. I liked the clean simplicity of the interior, and I especially liked the velvet feel of the seating surfaces. And did I mention heated cloth seats? My favorite feature on this car? The taillights. I'm a sucker for a good butt, and this car has one. From the rounded tush to the clear plastic covering the individual bulbs, the back of the Impreza is a thing of beauty. And as far as a city car is concerned, the Impreza has the goods: cargo cover over the rear hatch area, tight turning radius, all wheel drive, good looks, nice price and compact size.'   the article 11/24  New WRX, STI models -  Subaru will introduce a new 2010 Impreza WRX STI Special Edition (model code ALU) with upgraded suspension and  improved handling, and a WRX Limited (model code AJP, ALP) at the LA Auto Show,  December 4-13. The STI Special Edition will be available in an initial limited run of 125 units. It will have upgraded, stiffer performance suspension, Aspen White paint and charcoal color 18 x 8.5" 14 spoke alloys from the JDM WRX STI spec C. The WRX STI SE will become a regular production model later in 2010, available in standard colors. It will have halogen headlights instead of  HID, a single-disc CD player with  4speakers instead of the 6 CD changer with 10 speakers, manual air conditioning instead climate control, and body color side mirrors.  The 2010 Impreza WRX Limited adds leather interior and Sirius satellite radio to the WRX Premium model. Prices to be announced. 11/24 new Impreza SPT carbon fiber trunk trim for 2008-2010 sedans.  Carbon trim piece replaces the chrome trim above the license on 08-10 sedan trunks. Available as a part, or installed. 11/22 WRX to the rescue, a dash to the hospital   '.. I was driving about as fast I could along the narrow, twisty secondary road. I had a feeling the ferry might not run after midnight and, considering the circumstances, it was imperative we make the boat that would take us across the river so we could get to the city as quickly as possible. I eased off, slipping through patches of ground fog, but on the high ground under the yellow cast of a full moon, I hammered the throttle and let the turbocharged engine do its magic with the agile little Subaru Impreza WRX station wagon. Every now and then, I would catch the faint silhouette of my 15-year-old daughter strapped into the passenger's seat. "Is it getting worse?" I asked, trying to conceal my concern. "No, but if it closes up before we get to the hospital what will we do?" She sounded scared, on the verge of crying. A few hours earlier, Natalie had complained of a constriction in her windpipe that seemed to be cutting off her ability to breathe. It was a feeling she had never experienced and, considering we were at a friend's cottage an hour away from any medical help, I decided to take her to the hospital. I had heard too many horrific stories about allergic reactions and even though Natalie didn't have a history of allergies, I had no idea what she might have encountered during the previous two days of swimming, tubing and romping around the lush vegetation along the river. I was thankful to be behind the wheel of an exceptionally safe and well-handling car. Maneuvering through the labyrinth of back roads, I thought about the experience two days earlier when I had an opportunity to ride as a passenger with John Paynter, who with his brother Clarke, are rally champions. With the exception of suspension modifications, a roll cage and a free-flowing exhaust system, their car was essentially the same as the WRX I had today .. Earlier in the week, I had taken my travel agent, Catherine Tuck, on a spin in the WRX. At one point, while waxing on about the car's features, I forced the throttle down in second gear on a highway entrance ramp. "With 227 turbocharged horsepower, it really hauls. Except for that slight turbo whine there is no engine noise, even under full throttle."  But not as quiet as Natalie and I were during the short ferry ride across the shimmering, moonlit river. She was obviously upset and I didn't want her to know how worried I was. Then, it was a straight shot down a virtually empty four-laner to the city. At the hospital, we were fast-tracked through the paperwork and taken directly to a treatment room, bypassing the horde of waiting room late nighters. A doctor was with us shortly, poking and prodding at Natalie while presenting a barrage of questions about allergies and her activities over the previous 24 hours.  He looked serious..."Too Much Fun. She has irritated her vocal chords from screaming too much. Get a good night's sleep and don't talk a lot for the next couple of days." The doctor obviously enjoyed giving the prognosis. It was a quiet drive back to the cottage. And every once and a while, when the moonlight found its way into the cockpit, I could make out a little grin on Natalie's face. What a night. What a ride.'  the article by Garry Sowerby  11/3 WRX/STI rebates on remaining 09s plus 0% oac. $1000 on 5 dr, $1500 on 4dr, through 11/30 9/23 WRX insurance rates  In a report on insurance losses for 2005-2007 models released by the Highway Loss Data Institute earlier this month, the Subaru WRX ranks No. 1 on the Top Ten list of models with the highest losses for all types of coverage. The HLDI ranks vehicles using an index in which 100 is average. The WRX scored a 189. That's close to my typical one-round golf score, and as in golf, higher is bad.  Auto insurance costs aren't the first thing most shoppers think about when they evaluate a new car to buy. But it's an important cost to consider—even if you decide, as I did, that you are willing to pay extra in order to drive a car you like...' the article 9/17 Impreza, WRX and STI brochures now available.  9/13 iPod interface upgrade part available so latest model iPod, Touch Nano will recharge. See your local parts dealer 9/6 WRX and EVO Boy Racer Cars Grow Up (The turbocharger giveth power, the turbocharger taketh away fuel). '... Which brings me to the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, two icons of the tuner-car world. Both are turbocharged and both have all-wheel drive, with 4-cylinder engines and four doors. Both are capable of performance that belies their economy-car roots. In keeping with the broader import speed-demon trend, both are faster but more conservatively styled than their predecessors. The last generation of the WRX sedan flaunted flared-out fenders and a hood scoop that recalled the Sydney Opera House. The Impreza’s 2008 redesign slimmed down the hood scoop, tucked in the fenders and restricted the top-of-the-line STI variant to the hatchback body style. While the WRX’s styling edged toward anonymity, its power remained unchanged. This state of affairs — a step backward aesthetically with no increase in performance — didn’t go over well. Subaru, to its credit, got back on the job right away and significantly revised the WRX for 2009... The latest Evo is more comprehensively redesigned than the Subaru. A new motor with an aluminum engine block replaces the old iron-block 4-cylinder; the all-wheel-drive system gains an “active yaw control” rear differential; and a dual-clutch sequential-manual transmission is available... ..My problem with the old Evo MR was that I loved driving it, but I was sort of embarrassed to be seen in it. There comes an age when you’re too old to drive a car featuring “vortex generators” resembling a row of sharks’ teeth above the rear window. And that age is 17. The new Evo looks cleaner — still aggressive, but less gimmicky. Of course, the Evo’s optional accessories list includes a front air dam, side skirts and even a “rear spoiler extension.” So you can make it gimmicky if you like... ..The WRX now offers most of the STI’s thrills for two-thirds of the money, and the 5-speed Evo GSR is quicker than the more expensive MR. With its noncomputerized transmission, the GSR will be easier to modify, an important consideration for the legions of Evo owners who bump up their horsepower...' the article 9/1 WRX review in October's Consumer Reports, available at stores (check Sams Club, Costco for discount), and online. Always useful, the issue also has reviews of small TVs, vacuums, energy saving light bulbs, mattresses, current American muscle cars etc..  8/21 2010 Imprezas arriving at dealers. details 8/16 STI- Car and Driver's long term STI test - they like the car, sort of..   'The first few months with the STI were smooth sailing. Positive comments filled the logbook pages, praising the revised interior, “hyper-flared styling,” loads of grip, great performance, and excellent short-throw shifter. Sadly, the transmission that shifter stirred would be our first source of irritation. Around the 11,000-mile mark, second gear began repeatedly popping out of its engagement, and into service the STI went. At first, the issue couldn’t be replicated by our dealer, but we eventually pinpointed it as occurring under light acceleration or throttle-lift around 10–20 mph. Subaru’s service rep made the call to install a completely new transmission at just 16,745 miles, and the dealer also put in a new clutch, pressure plate, and throw-out bearing, all under warranty. We never had another problem with the transmission, which was good, but we couldn’t say the same about the heart of the drivetrain... ..As you might imagine, our initial love for the STI faded with every trip to the dealer. But when the car was functioning properly, it was an extremely capable and fun-to-drive machine. The all-wheel-drive system proved fantastic during the winter months and the suspension provides a much more civilized ride than that of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution...' the article 7/28 2010 Impreza prices and models announced. No major changes- from the base 2.5i to the STI, things are prtetty much the same. The Premium gets a SE (Special Edition) Package. The STI remains the same. Prices are similar. 6/7 New STI Exhaust-  SPT catback 3" exhaust, gain up to 10hp. Replaces center pipe and muffler. Fits 09/08 STIs. Available factory installed on 09s.  5/24 WRX review in 3 parts from Jalopnik   '... Wes Siler, our road test boffin, keeps saying the 2009 Subaru WRX mixes power and practicality, outdoing every other performance car on the market. He's also got a big mouth; let's see if he's right. In fact, Wes talks about it so much I've decided I have to hate the WRX... .. Then you hit the 3k (rpm) mark and things take off. The WRX goes from a standstill to 60 MPH in approximately 5.4 seconds, which makes it only three-tenths of a second slower than both the Challenger R/T and Nissan 370Z. I'm convinced after driving it the Subaru goes from 0-to-20 MPH in 4.4 seconds and makes up the rest in the last second when the turbo kicks in. On dirt, squirming sideways under power, it feels even faster.. .. Looking over the hood of the WRX you see the massive hood scoop. It's not a distraction. It's more like the sight on an assault rifle - and all I want to do is keep pulling the trigger... The 2009 WRX is both faster and more fun than either its mid-$20K price tag or its awkward looks justify. Now I just need to make it home before anyone from my church group sees me... ' read all of pt one Part two '.. Yesterday (pt one), we discovered what happens when you take the 2009 Subaru WRX off the beaten path, but what happens when you drive it anywhere else? The Subaru does not put its best face forward... Turbo lag is often considered a negative, but in this case it gives you enough time to grab onto something before the car lunges forward. With a conservative 0-to-60 MPH time of 5.4 seconds, there's very little both cheaper and faster... .. Considering the sporting credentials of the WRX you wouldn't expect it to be comfortable. You'd be wrong. It's downright cushy over typical roads and, when the road disappears, you're anything but jarred despite the low ride-height and thick front and rear stabilizer bars... Thirty years from now we find it hard to imagine a WRX is going to be polished and parked alongside the pretty metal in some beachfront Concours. Instead, people competing in LeMons endurance racing will be scouring used car lots and the internet for this car...' pt two '..Why you should buy the 2009 WRX: You've got the need for speed but also the need for a car you can live with, the need for a car you can afford to fill up.. Why you shouldn't buy this car: You've got the need for speed but also the need to drive a car that looks like it was built for an adult, the need for smooth roads, the need for big engines, the need for loud noises and the need for something impractical. pt three 5/17 WRX vs. Evolution GSR, from Canada. 'Pocket rocket shootout.. There is no shortage of hot little sedans and hatchbacks out there these days, but there are only a few that can offer all-wheel drive alongside turbo power. Until recently, the Subaru Impreza WRX was one of the only major choices available, drawing many fans for its bulletproof drivetrain and overall balance between poise, power and price. Now, Mitsubishi has stepped forward with another option for Canadians – the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – and comparisons between the two are inevitable. Subaru Impreza WRX265 (in the US WRX model)  Subaru has been heavily involved with rally racing for years, and the WRX version of Subaru’s popular Impreza line acts as an intermediate step between the commute-friendly Impreza and the hard-core WRX STI – a 300-plus hp rocket that’s all about performance, both down a straight line and in the corners...  Subaru’s new WRX265 puts (you guessed it) 265 hp to all four wheels from a 2.5-litre DOHC four cylinder boxer engine equipped with a high-pressure turbocharger and intercooler. With a curb weight of 1,440 kg, the WRX has a very good power-to-weight ratio –meaning it will scoot along very well indeed once the turbo kicks in somewhere around 1,200 rpm. The Subaru’s larger engine (the Lancer Evolution runs a 2.0-litre powerplant) provides engine torque lower in the, and more evenly across, the rev range. The Lancer Evolution has its own race-oriented history, having battled in the World Rally Championship for many years to a good deal of success. Unlike the WRX, which operates at a lower turbocharger boost rate than the STI, the Evolution GSR I drove runs virtually the same engine as the top-end MR trim – the only major difference being the GSR’s five-speed versus the MR’s impressive twin-clutch SST transmission. This means the Evolution GSR puts the same 291 hp and 300 lb.-ft. to the road surface as the MR. That’s a significant jump in pony power over the WRX265, but the Evo also weighs in 155 kg heavier, reducing its weight-to-power advantage somewhat. But a horse for every five and a half kilos is still pretty impressive, especially once one has worked the engine up close to 2,000 rpm, where the real ‘Wahoo’ quotient is found. Keeping the Evo in this sweet spot is relatively easy, thanks to the aforementioned close-ratio gearbox that drops just shy of ‘notchy’. The transmission and clutch setup is less forgiving than the Subaru’s but you’ll likely find yourself relishing the challenge of making that perfect shift. With experience on the track with this little go-kart last fall, I can tell you that that the Evolution is one lively ride when pushed hard... The Lancer Evo’s interior is comfortable enough, but its cockpit and general layout is a little less unified than the WRX’s. The general quality of the materials seems to fit lower on the quality scale, too, although the car’s sport seats are outstanding for spirited driving. The view out the back window suffers a split personality thanks to the large spoiler attached to the trunk lid, and the view to each rear quarter is less than ideal. But who’s going to be looking out the back much? It’s not like there are many cars likely to catch you. In a nutshell ...  There’s no question the Lancer Evolution GSR is a blast to drive – and that its cold-weather performance is almost as stellar as its warm-weather fun factor. But the GSR currently lists with an MSRP of $41,498. There’s also a whole range of ground effect and appearance accessories listed that will allow you to spend literally thousands more to ‘personalize’ your ride even further. The Subaru WRX265 starts at $33,995 (plus delivery charges), a mere $3,000 more than the 224-hp ‘standard’ WRX. When you throw in the better visibility, interior quality and ride quality, the Subaru can provide plenty of fun on a much more frugal budget...'  from autonet.ca 4/24 Performance - Forester XTI concept, WRX and STI with SPT mods... 'Subaru invited us out to the track to sample some of its Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) components, fitted to the company's Forester XTI show car, as well as the Impreza WRX and STI models. While we applaud any manufacturer that engineers a line of factory-approved aftermarket parts, we hand out additional kudos to the few who welcome us to a local racing circuit to put them to the fire. What add-ons did Subaru bring to Willow Springs, and how did they perform on the track? Come with us to find out... Subaru brought four cars to the Streets of Willow Springs race track.. two Impreza WRX models (one stock and one modified), and two Impreza WRX STI models (one stock and one modified)...  also brought out its one-of-a-kind Forester XTI concept for its track debut. That's right, the SEMA show car custom-fitted with full STI running gear...' Forester XTI - 'As a one-off concept, we were understandably apprehensive about tossing this particular Forester into the corners at speed. To our amazement, however, it handled the circuit like a true champ..  Now, we want to see it in the showroom.' WRX- 'The stock five-speed transmission feels great until you try the short throw set-up... While the short throw shifter and new exhaust was welcomed, we think the chassis-bracing modifications were a bit out of order – our money would focus on calming the struts, sways, and springs first, along with a new set of brake pads...' STI - '..The stock STI was immediately a noticeable improvement over both WRX models... This STI was fitted with the short-throw shifter and stainless exhaust. Both are must-have items.. Under the skin, the modified STI was equipped with chassis braces and new springs, lowering the ride height and firming things up.  On the race circuit, this STI was clearly top dog. It was incredibly stable in the corners... Again, the tires and brake pads were the weak links, but those are both easy aftermarket fixes.' read the article 4/17 2002-2007 WRX is one of 12 Hot Rides-  Suggested pre-owned cars, a variety of styles and price ranges. Includes Focus SVT, Infinity G35, BMW M coupe, Mini, Lexus LS 430, Honda Prelude, Miata, Boxster, Chrysler 300C, Corvette, and the 02-07 WRX.  About the WRX - "For those searching for a used WRX, the good news is that the cars are very reliable. That said, make sure that any car you consider hasn't been beated within an inch of its life, as the WRX tends to bring out the animal in most drivers...  Find a good car, and you'll end up with an excellent handling sedan or wagon with tremendous traction and a ton of character for not a lot of cash."  Check out Automoble magazine May 2009 issue and online 4/13 WOW!  Rally Drivers Pastrana, Mirra and Block autographing together in Seattle, April 16, Thursday 5-6:30pm only WRX American Rally Champs Travis Pastrana and Ken Block plus X Games star Dave Mirra make a rare public appearance together in Seattle this Thursday, April 16 before their competition at the Olympus Rally in Aberdeen, WA. They'll be at the new Carter Subaru in Ballard, 5201 Leary Ave. NW, Seattle, from 5:00-6:30pm to meet fans and enthusiasts. Friday 4/17 update - app 200 people came to the event. Pastrana, Mirra and Block were there for a few hours signing and mingling.  4/4 Impreza GT review  'While the past few months have been brutally tough on new-vehicle sales, Subaru is one of the few manufacturers holding its own — for the first two months of the year, sales were actually up 4percent over the same period in 2008. Well, up to a point. Our test car, the new-for-2009 Impreza 2.5 GT, is sort of an Impreza for grown-ups who still want some of the performance of the slightly gaudy Impreza WRX, but in a more conservative package. The Impreza 2.5 GT does indeed have the base WRX's plucky turbocharged 224-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder, but it also comes with a sticker price I am unable to explain: $28,143, including shipping and a $453 "XM satellite radio kit," which still required a subscription. Yes, the car has all-wheel-drive, and plenty of safety features, including antilock disc brakes, stability control and side and side-curtain airbags, plus fog lights and a power sunroof and heated front seats... But this is still a pretty small car — rear-seat leg room is marginal for two adults, and three adults will be hoping for a very short trip — and the interior trim, all vinyl and hard plastic, looks and feels economy-car. And for more than $28,000, an automatic transmission should have more than four speeds, shouldn't it? ...In fact, even with the four-speed automatic, the 2.5 GT accelerates nicely, but I'd be tempted to drop down to the non-turbocharged, 170-horsepower version of this engine and save some money — the base Impreza starts at around $18,000. For 2.5 GT money, I'd slide over to the Subaru Legacy, which is larger and roomier, but still gets the same fuel mileage. Handling is reasonably nimble, steering is precise, and the ride is supple. For its size, the Impreza drives bigger, and that is a compliment. Aside from the optimistic pricing and downmarket interior trim, the Impreza 2.5 GT gets the job done in a pleasant, efficient manner...' the full article 3/26 Subaru reinvents itself, boxer engines, and the Impreza GT-  '... Subaru has finessed the consumer preference pendulum better than any vehicle manufacturer. Every time it appeared as if the Japanese company was out of sync with the arc, clever manipulation with minimal resources put it back in swing with what its customers wanted. When truck-based sport utility vehicles appeared poised to devour a substantial chunk of the market, Subaru jacked up its Legacy station wagons and sedans and called them Outback SUVs for people who didn't want heavy trucks. When the bloom faded from those machines, Subaru simply used alternative language. The Outbacks became crossover utility vehicles, which of course they had been all along... Throughout, the company continued to champion horizontally-opposed engines and decided to equip all of its vehicles with all-wheel drive...  American motorists have been surrounded by boxer engines for more than half a century. For more than two decades until 1975, millions of Volkswagens, Karmann-Ghias and VW microbuses were powered by boxer engines. The Porsche 911, Boxster and Cayman, along with earlier models, also use horizontally-opposed engines... Early on, Subaru developed a reputation for rugged dependability and foul weather capability. To this day, you can see 1970s-era Subaru wagons chugging around Colorado and other wintry mountain states. Over the years, the company stuck to its formula of producing sedans and wagons, compact and mid-size, along with the occasional spinoff like the boxy Forester and larger Tribeca crossovers. That careful, conservative approach has paid dividends. In the disastrous auto sales year of 2008, Subaru was one of only two manufacturers to register sales increases. Granted, it was only three-tenths of one percent, but other vehicle manufacturers would have been ecstatic with such a showing.  Where other manufacturers can't seem to give wagons away, and often drop existing models, Subaru has a steady parade of customers... But the Subaru that has moved up in recent years is the compact Impreza, which started life as a humble sedan and wagon, but for 2009 comes in 25 different variations. They range from an $18,160 economy four-door all the way to a high-performance, rally-oriented WRX STI with a sticker price of $39,460. Somewhere near the middle of the lineup is the tested Impreza GT, a performance model with a 224-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine. It is available in either a wagon or four-door notchback sedan. It is obviously oriented toward Subaristas who like performance but with more comfort and ease of operation. Unlike the performance WRX and WRX STI models, which come only with manual gearboxes, the GT comes only with a four-speed automatic transmission, albeit with a manual-shift mode. The tested GT sedan is a bigger car than the previous-generation Impreza. Though still a compact as measured by government standards, it makes maximum use of interior space and its exterior dimensions make it look like a mid-size. Standing next to a Toyota Camry, for example, it looks only slightly smaller. The interior space is particularly noticeable in the back seat, where the outboard passengers enjoy plenty of knee and head room. As with most compact and mid-size cars, however, the center-rear position is a cramped perch, not fit for human habitation. Up front, the tested GT had comfortable and supportive cloth-covered seats with a myriad of manual adjustments. Combined with the standard tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, it offered a decent driving position for almost any sized driver. One lapse in the design: the sun visors do not slide on their support rods and so do a poor job of blocking sunlight from the side. The instrument panel has a swooping design that looks contemporary, but most of the surfaces, whether smooth or pebbled, are hard plastic. With its 224-horsepower engine, the Impreza GT has more than adequate punch around town and on the highway.' the article 3/15 09 WRX races modded by Phoenix Performance will be at the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX for its professional sports car racing debut on March 20 at Sebring International Raceway, in the opening round of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship. Driver Andrew Aquilante raced his way to the Touring 1 class National Championship in SCCA’s 2007 National Championship Runoffs, a drive which earned the then-19-year old the coveted SCCA President’s Cup. He began racing professionally in 2008. “We decided Subaru’s 265 horsepower, 2.5-liter turbocharged, dual overhead cam ‘boxer’ engine and the car’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system, would be a good core package to enter into the World Challenge Touring Car series under the new rules,” said Joe Aquilante, whose company, Phoenix Performance, built the Subaru.. Practice is Wednesday, March 18. Qualifying is Thursday, the race is Friday, March 20, televised by Speed TV at a later date. more 3/14 Forester and Impreza Kiplinger's Personal Finance chooses two 2009 Subarus in the magazine's 2009 Car Buyer's Guide. The new 09 Forester 2.5X has been designated "Best New Crossover" in the Small Crossover category and the 09 Impreza 2.5i has been named "Best in Class" in the "Wagons and Minivans" category. "Best in Class" and "Best New" winners are chosen on a basis of performance, value, safety, power, fuel efficiency, exterior design, interior room and cargo space...  the buyer's guide cited the Impreza's standard All-Wheel Drive and safety features, as well as strong resale value and "impressive" cargo room. The Forester was lauded for its affordability and All-Wheel Drive, as well as size and ground clearance increases over its popular predecessor. Alluding to the new model's go-anywhere nature, the guide pointed out that "it performs even better on snowy roads and muddy driveways."... Kiplinger 3/6 STI vs Evo on ice  '.. Which car is better, faster on snow and ice? And can we fling homologated rally cars sideways with impunity? With summer tires..  the Evo X and STI slide around in comic slow motion, like props in a Buster Keaton movie (look it up, youngsters). The extra wear on the Evo's Bridgestones show up in the numbers: 0-40 mph in 30.1 seconds versus 16.1 seconds for the STI. Neither can reach 60 mph before running out of test surface. The Evo brakes 40-0 mph in 428 feet, the STI takes 391. The Mitsu's summer-tire figure eight takes 76.5 seconds at 0.10g average, and the Subie needs 71.4 seconds at 0.21 g. That's no misprint With new winter tires '..sub-10-second 0-60-mph times for each. The cars are even up to 30 mph, then the STI pulls ahead and beats the Evo by 0.3 second to 60, but then the Evo regains a 0.3-second lead by 80 mph. Braking from 60 mph takes 292 feet in the Evo, 274 in the STI-more than two and a half times typical dry-pavement distance,  1st place STI - With better balance and lighter weight, the STI beats the Evo on snow in every measure except the figure eight. 2nd place EVO X - The Ice Drift King! Evo is more fun on ice than its rival, and its heavily bolstered Recaros really hold you in place.  Tires -  performance is always tire limited, and those limits really drop in the snow, which is why you need winter tires. Their rubber chemistry allows them to remain pliable and grippy at temperatures that harden summer and all-season tires. Their tread pattern is designed to shed packed snow and includes loads of tiny jagged cut lines, or "sipes," that provide extra gripping edges and help wick water away from the contact patch (snow and ice melt briefly under pressure, even at sub-freezing temperatures). Our ContiWinterContact TS810 S tires (one of two brands TireRack offers in the Evo/STI tire size) will be replaced with a new ExtremeWinterContact model next season, featuring a better compound and a new tread pattern. A handling block on the outer shoulder improves dry grip while the center section's more sharply angled grooves shed snow better and provide more gripping edges. Expect to pay $200-$225 each plus $120 each for wheels if you want bolt-on-off convenience. Go easy in the dry, and they should last at least four winters...' frommotortrend 2/23 STI Cat-Back Exhaust System- the 2008 and 2009 STI's Cat Back exhaust has been moved back to May / June 2009. 2/20 For Sale By Owner - Impreza World Rally Car #1   'A piece of motorsport history is up for grabs via Prodrive's new carsales site. Subaru's first-ever Impreza World Rally Car (WRC) is on sale for an asking price of £85,000 ($121,813). That might seem like a lot for a stripped-out, heavily used track/rally stage-only Subaru Impreza, but with the McRae/Grist names on the window and the actual racing heritage of this car, it's likely a fair price.  The chassis number indicates just how special the car is: PRO-WRC-97-001. In addition to being raced by Colin McRae, Pierro Liatti and Kenneth Erikkson also piloted the car through gravel, tarmac and mud. The car was sold to a Prodrive customer in 1998, but has since been restored to original condition by Ireland's McKinstry Motorsport, complete with 1997 Rally Finland livery.  A range of other cars including seven former works Impreza WRC cars and 17 Prodrive Impreza Group N cars are also on sale on the site, ranging in price from £50,000 ($72,050) for a 2005 Prodrive Impreza Group N to nearly £350,000 ($504,000) for an early 2008 specification Impreza WRC.  Subaru's exit from World Rally racing may even drive up the value of these cars, since they may not be made again, and certainly won't be in the near term.' the article 2/9 Autographs- Rally driver Travis Pastrana signs autographs at the Chicago auto show Feb 14-15  ..Subaru will have a custom yellow STI designed for factory rally driver Travis Pastrana at the Chicago Auto Show, February 13-22. Subaru worked with Pastrana to build a special #199 STI to honor his 3rd consecutive Rally America National Championship.  Features include SPT front strut tower and lower chassis braces, STI short shifter, Goodrich 18" tires on custom black Work Evolution wheels, custom yellow paint and graphics, carbon fiber hood and rear wing, Sport Mesh Grille, front chin spoiler and the exhaust finishers. Upholstery is custom blue Alcantara with Pastrana’s traditional yellow piping and “199 Pastrana”  yellow logos, yellow stitching on the steering wheel, shifter, and parking brake boot.  Inside is carbon fiber patterned trim and rally map light. The audio system is an Eclipse AVN6620 Navigation/DVD stereo with Kicker amps and speakers, and an Xbox 360 under the front passenger seat with custom yellow controllers. Pastrana began driving for the Subaru-backed Vermont SportsCar rally team in 2004. He won 9 X Games Gold Medals, two for X Games Rally competition.  In August 2006 Pastrana won the gold medal in the first rally car competition at the X Games and was signed to lead the new Subaru Rally Team USA in 2006. Pastrana secured his third consecutive Rally America National Championship driver's title with a win at the 2008 Rally Colorado round of the championship.  2/2 Impreza's optional Carrier Base Kit, fixed position roof rack, is a dealer part only beginning with cars arriving at dealers late February 09. The 2009 Impreza Roof Carrier Base Kit can no longer be factory ordered, it is only available from dealer parts departments, except on the Outback Sport where it's standard. Carrier Base Kit is part # E3610FG500, list price $229.95 2/1 WRX review  '.. Getting it right in the car business is no easy thing. Cars are emotional..  Making the right car for the right customer at the right price -- the price at which that customer will buy and feel good about buying -- is, thus, something of a magic trick.  In the case of its 2009 Impreza WRX sedan with navigation, Subaru is to be congratulated for pulling one off.  The Impreza, on sale since the early 1990s, has always been an ugly duckling. But its appearance was a quirk that sold, especially when Subaru hopped it up with WRX performance in its later years Early WRXs lacked aids and creature comforts such as navigation and premium sound systems.  But they were wonderfully fast and nimble -- probably the best performance cars you could get for the money...  Still, Subaru thought it could do more to improve the Impreza WRX's appeal. So, last year, the company brought out a softer version, more mainstream in external design and, unfortunately, more mainstream in performance... But changing the car from a hot, hard runner into something more akin to the performance of a Toyota Corolla economy trotter turned off both driving enthusiasts and image wimps.  But it looks like Subaru got it exactly right for 2009. External appearance is quirky with attitude -- ugly for people who regard mainstream family sedan styling as the epitome of automotive design, but edgy enough to attract those who value funk. The front end looks like a triple-lipped bug with an air-intake slit below the front bumper, another above the bumper and a functional air scoop atop the hood.. Viewed from the front in conjunction with the triple-lipped face, the look is delightfully menacing, sort of like the WRX is smiling in preparation for consuming something lower in the food chain. But all of that would have been for naught had Subaru not reinstalled the WRX's performance DNA, its original hot-rod genome. Equipped with a flat four-cylinder, 2.5-liter, turbocharged, 265-horsepower engine and a suspension to handle it all, this baby can run!  The 310-mile run here from my house in Northern Virginia was a total joy, even with the complication of intermittent snow and ice on mountain roads. The all-wheel-drive system in the Impreza WRX handled the mess with ease. Straightaway runs on dry roads were nothing short of exhilarating. A WRX with decent looks, a comfortable interior and genuine WRX performance, available at a base price below $25,000 -- yeah, Subaru has a winner here..' from Warren Brown 1/27/09 New Impreza accessories  Chrome Sport Grill - dark gray frame around black mesh with horizontal chrome bar for all 09/08 Imprezas available. STI Coil Springs for 09/08 STIs stiffen ride and lower height by 10mm 1/15/2009  Impreza 2.5GT review  '.. this isn’t a simple case of badge replacement. In response to increased WRX buyers from new demographics (namely, more women), Subaru has created the 2.5GT as a more sophisticated version of the Impreza. Available in both four- and five-door versions, the 2.5GT comes exclusively with a four-speed automatic transmission and amenities such as the Impreza Premium and All-weather packages come standard.. 2.5GT’s composed, comfortable ride. Judging by the distinct lack of engine sound you’d think it underpowered, but acceleration is brisk thanks to the punch afforded by the available midrange torque.. Familiar to any Subaru fan, the Impreza 2.5GT inherits its 2.5-liter turbocharged and intercooled horizontal four-cylinder engine from the outgoing Impreza WRX, which produces 224 horsepower and 226 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic with manual gear selection is the only transmission available.. 2.5GT comes standard with the 2.5i model’s Premium package, a host of driver-friendly features such as a 10-speaker six-disc in-dash CD changer with auxiliary audio input, fog lights, steering wheel cruise and audio controls and power moonroof are included on the base 2.5GT. The included All-weather package adds dual-mode heated front seats, automatic climate control, a windshield wiper de-icer and heated exterior mirrors for cold winter mornings...' the article 1/10/2009 WRX review, how fast is ugly?  '.. the exterior’s a big mess. Still. Viewed from the side, it’s a Corolla with big wheels. From the front, it’s the ugliest WRX yet, even if it now sports the STI’s grill. That’s truly a remarkable achievement. However, I’m reserving the bulk of my venom for the ghastly rear. Our particular tester is the sedan (as opposed to the much better wagon) and all I see a Toyota Echo with twin pipes. Blech! The interior is no better. In fact, it’s a big step back compared to the 2005 - 2007 flying-vagina model. Sure, the gauges do an expensive-car sweep when you turn the key. And instead of illegible-in-sunlight orange, everything on the WRX’s dash now glows red. But everything’s made from cheaper stuff, which in my STI review I perspicaciously referred to as “crap.”.. I particularly dislike that the doors are no longer (partially) covered in fabric. Instead, your left elbow rests against the type of crummy plastic you’ll find lining a 737. Awful to the touch. The seats have less bolstering (but do have heaters) and the steering wheel doesn’t adjust up far enough to even consider driving tricks like left foot braking. Heel and toe’s more difficult, too. Caution! You’re about to enter the all spin zone! When the WRX’ tachometer crests 4,000 rpm, something miraculous occurs. Oh. My. Lord. It’s fast. Freakishly, worryingly, shockingly fast. Ten years ago I would have sworn it was running nitrous. How fast?.. The 2009 WRX hits 60 mph from zero in 4.7 seconds. And here’s the kicker: it costs about $25k. Let’s put that in perspective. In 2002, just six years ago, a Ferrari Maranello 575M (the one with the much-admired HVAC controls) stickered for around $225k. The Fezza hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. You want new cars? A Porsche 997 costs $75k0 and hits 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. A Cayman S? $60k/5.1 seconds. BMW 335i? $42k/5.2 seconds (though some claim 4.8– which is still slower). M3 sedan? $53k/4.7 seconds. The new Mustang GT and new 370Z are both well over 300 hp machines that cost $5k more and can “only” hit 60 mph in 5-flat... ..the Subaru is really, seriously ugly. But here’s the thing: once that big turbo fully spools and starts puking power into the transmission, you realize how little all the other stuff else matters. My advice? Get the wagon, and start looking for rich guys to humiliate...' article   top

Baja news and reviews edited for length, content

Subaru halted production of the Baja sport-utility truck in mid-April 2006 7/21 2005-2006 Baja recall Subaru is recalling 15,633 2005-2006 Bajas for possible cracks in the fuel hose connection on the outlet pressure side of the fuel pump.Recall #WVJ-20.  Dealers will replace the fuel pump bracket. The recall is expected to begin during September 2009. Owners may contact Subaru at 800-782-2782 or the NHTSA safety hotline at 888-327-4236. from safercar.gov

SVX, Loyale, 360, Brat etc and all other models news and reviews

10/12 SVX reborn? Is the gullwing hybrid to be shown at the Tokyo a hint at a new SVX? 'Fans of fast Subarus rejoice – a new luxury performance sports car is ‘winging’ in. Auto Express (UK) has learned the Japanese firm has plans for a new coupé, based on the gullwing-doored Hybrid Tourer concept (left) which debuts at the Tokyo Motor Show next week.  Sitting at the top of the company’s range, it’s a spiritual successor to the much-loved SVX which arrived 1991 and rivalled cars such as the BMW M3.   Likely to use the same platform as the Hybrid Tourer, power will come from a 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine although an electric hybrid drivetrain, like the concept’s, is possible.. The SVX replacement is in addition to the upcoming £20,000 coupé, a sister car to the FT-86 which Subaru has jointly developed with Toyota. Set to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, it will use the same body as the FT-86 – not a new design, as has been speculated – with some Subaru styling cues to differentiate it...' from autoexpress.co.uk 9/16 the Brat revisited  '... In 1977, Subaru was the fifth largest automotive importer supplying vehicles to North America, trailing the likes of Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda. With the gas crisis still fresh in people’s minds, there was a surge of desire amongst the buying public for small, fuel-efficient pickups that could serve as dual-purpose vehicles. Subaru introduced the BRAT at the perfect time. BRAT stands for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter. The vehicle resembled a small pickup, but was actually more of a crossover vehicle, similar in design to the larger Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero. Its name comes from its on-the-fly all-wheel drive system that could be activated with the push of a button. The BRAT was first sold in North America as a 1978 model and was produced until 1987. Unlike the El Camino and Ranchero, the first generation Brat came with rear-facing seats located in the cargo bay. This unique feature enabled Subaru to designate the BRAT as a passenger vehicle, as opposed to a pickup, thus saving thousands of dollars in importation fees. All BRATs came standard with the all-wheel drive system. From 1978 through to 1980, BRATs came standard with Subaru’s 1.6-litre four engine available with either a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission. There were also two trim levels available – the DL and the GL. The primary difference between the two models was the number of round front headlamps: the DL model had two while the GL model’s grille housed four.  In 1981, the displacement of the engine was increased to 1.8 litres, producing 73 horsepower. Transmission choices again were a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic. As with the 1978 through to 1980 models, the push of a button engaged the all-wheel drive system. In 1982 the round headlights were replaced with rectangular ones giving the BRAT a more updated look and the GL version was also outfitted with a dual-range transfer case (DL models still used a single-range version).  For the 1983 and 1984 model years, one could also order a BRAT with an optional 1.8-litre turbo engine producing an impressive, but perhaps not “nail-biting,” 93 horsepower. In terms of dimensions, the BRAT sat on a relatively short wheelbase of just 245.6 centimetres (96.7 inches) and was 442.4 centimetres (174.2 inches) in length. In comparison to pickups offered by other North American manufacturers it was small; however, next to other Japanese offerings, it was comparable in size. Potential buyers of the BRAT also had a numerous range of colour choices, from Extra Black and Lake Blue to Lucent Grey and Moon Silver – 11 choices in all to suit every taste. As manufacturers started to focus on such things as safety, the two plastic jump seats in the rear of the BRAT were no longer available for the 1986 and 1987 model years. However, one other unique feature that was maintained throughout its brief production history was the placement of the spare tire, which was housed in the engine compartment. Perhaps the most well-known celebrity to own a BRAT was former United States President Ronald Reagan, who owned a red 1978 model, apparently for working on his 688-acre ranch in Santa Barbara, California. The BRAT was sold along with the ranch in 1998 and later received a full restoration by Subaru of America, after which it was returned to the ranch for historical purposes. Say what you will, the BRAT did offer North Americans a vehicle that stood out amongst the crowd, and it was the first cross-over vehicle, of sorts, that led the way for other automotive manufacturers to introduce such vehicles into the market. It was a go-anywhere, do-anything, fuel efficient “fun” 4×4 – part car, part truck. North Americans would have to wait another 16 years before Subaru would offer up a similar vehicle - the 2003 Subaru Baja (of which only 30,000 were sold), which was strangely similar to the BRAT of the late 70s early 80s. It was another attempt by Subaru to offer up a vehicle choice that would capture the hearts of a younger, more hip buying public. Regardless of whether you are an automotive enthusiast, one cannot deny the uniqueness and simplicity that the BRAT had to offer. Today, these vehicles are few and far between and you either like them or you don’t. You have to admire Subaru’s ingenuity, willingness and gumption (otherwise known as balls) to bring a vehicle like the BRAT into the marketplace. A total of 92,445 Subaru BRATs moved out of dealer showrooms and into owners’ driveways between 1978 and 1987 – no easy accomplishment and certainly worthy of an honourable mention...'  the article 8/26 SVX revisited '.. At the dawn of the ‘90s, Subaru had a reputation (at least on this continent) of building rugged, no-nonsense transportation that offered the added security of all-wheel-drive. Granted, there was the sporty XT coupe, and a handful of turbocharged models, but no obvious black sheep of which to speak. But company management sought to change all that with the introduction of one gobsmacking new model: The XT’s replacement, the SVX. The task of styling the new coupe fell to Italian maestro Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign. The shape he and his team came up with – first shown in concept form at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show – was smooth and futuristic…but what really got people talking was the side glass. The aircraft-inspired design (Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries has a history in the airplane biz.) featured glass panes and black paint that went from right to the edge of the roof to about a quarter of the way down the sides of the greenhouse; the roll-down door windows occupied the space below, while the rear lower panes rolled down part way. This concept actually improved aerodynamics and improved visibility by allowing designers to lower the vehicle’s “beltline” without compromising structural integrity. Needless to say, the arrangement prompted plenty of double takes from onlookers, and continues to do so. But the SVX didn’t just melt the mind with its looks; it was pretty unusual underneath as well. A new 3.3L DOHC flat-six resided under the hood, sending 230hp and 224 lb./ft of torque to all four wheels (A cheaper front-drive model was available in 1994 and ’95.) via an electronically-controlled 4-speed automatic; Subaru didn’t have a manual in its parts bin that could handle the engine’s torque, so a stick was never offered in any market. Inside, Subaru made its intentions of the SVX being a premium GT car clearly known, with available features like leather trim and a high-zoot audio system with CD player. Unfortunately, the SVX’s grand intentions were also made clear by its price: The last batch of fully-optioned ones stickered for over $36,000, yet Subaru still lost $3,000 on each car. Naturally, the overwhelming majority of buyers scoffed at the notion of paying that kind of money for a car from a company that also sold a three-cylinder subcompact. In the end, a mere 14,257 made it to the U.S. during six model years..."  the article 7/11 ever see  a custom Subaru 360 van like this? A totally custom one-off  job.. check it out 4/14 SVX event in Reading, Pa. Have an SVX? Meet with fellow SVXers and see some other Subarus on display. The 10th annual Reading SVX Meet is this Thursday 4/16 through Saturday 4/18. Details here 2/15 Flops Are Forever -  Automotive Flops of the Last 25 Years - Are these future, low production collectibles? Bad cars come and go, but flops are forever, from Car and Driver. On Subaru's SVX  '... Ah, the Italians. When in doubt..  design something beautiful. If you can’t be bothered to come up with anything beautiful, it continues, then at least design something desperately weird and pawn it off on someone else... The SVX was intended to be the car on which the “new” Subaru would be built, a revolutionary achievement that banished all thoughts of the marque’s often quirky past.. Unfortunately tech wizardry wasn’t enough to overcome awkward styling and a high (almost $25,000 in 1992) price, and sales never took off. The SVX was a good car dragged down into floptastic floppiness by the hubris of its maker. ..'  Read more on interesting cars that ended up failing - the Chevy SSR, GMC Envoy, Lincoln Blackwood, Jaguar X, Chrysler’s TC Maserati, Sterling, Chrysler Crossfire... the article

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2009 Diesel, Hybrids, Concept car news Fuel economy issues Safety crash tests, safety ratings, recalls Subaru and Toyota  Advertising news Sales news

top DIESEL, HYBRID, ALTERNATE FUEL and CONCEPT CAR news in 2009 edited for length, content 12/24 Mini Subaru in the future? Maybe not but how about a hybrid in maybe 2012 ? 'What do Toyota, Nissan and Honda all have in common? (Besides the fact that they are all Japanese automakers, that is?) They all re-entered the subcompact market in 2006 after abandoning it years ago. What's more, Mazda is planning to bring its subcompact Mazda2 to U.S. shores next year, Suzuki has signaled its intent to enter the B-segment with its popular Swift hatchback, and the domestics are in the game with the Chevrolet Aveo and forthcoming Ford Fiesta. So, where does that leave Subaru? After all, the company has roots in small cars, starting with its first automobile, the downright minuscule 360, all the way up to the off-the-wall, four-wheel drive, three-cylinder Justy and its unconventional CVT. Subaru spokesman Michael McHale tells Wards Auto, "The thing with the B-sector is you have to ask how you make money at the lower levels. You look at the pricing on the B segment – it's a tough segment to make money." Indeed it is – with base models of some competitors starting just under $10,000, profits are in very short supply. For an automaker as small as Subaru, taking a risk on what is likely to be an unprofitable model generally isn't a smart idea. In other words, don't hold your breath for another subcompact Subaru any time soon.' the article  Lots of rumors re hybrids, electrics, diesel.. 12/8 Diesel, oh where is my Subaru diesel?   GreenCarReports.com's  3 reasons we don't have many diesels here.. "It may be the one question we hear most often.. 'Why can't I buy one of those great little fuel-efficient diesels, like they have in Europe?' We talk to a lot of carmakers, and we can tell you what they think.  In their view, there are three main factors working against putting smaller diesel engines into passenger cars and crossovers. First, U.S. emissions standards are tougher than European ones. All but the smallest diesels have to be fitted with even more expensive after-treatment equipment than Europe requires. And that gear has to be added to an engine that's already 10 to 15% more costly to build than a gasoline engine of the same power. Second, Europe taxes diesel at lower rates.. in the U.S diesel fuel is the same price or more expensive than gasoline.  So there's no obvious cost advantage. Third and finally, diesel isn't available at every fuel station..only roughly half of U.S. stations have diesel at all.." the article ------- In the end it's about money (isn't it always?).  Diesel engines cost a lot more to make, the consumer pays a lot more to buy them, and there's no savings at the pump. This goes a long way to offset any fuel economy savings. And with partner Toyota's (Prius) technology available, Subaru promoting hybrid. Where or where is my hybrid? 10/21 Hybrid in 2012, but not in the US? 'Subaru will add its first hybrid vehicle in 2012 as part of a push to improve the fuel economy average of its fleet and meet more stringent emissions regulations. The gasoline-electric drivetrain will be offered as a version of an existing model line, said Ikuo Mori, president of Fuji. Speaking today on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show, Mori did not say when the hybrid will be coming to the United States. But he said the car will help Subaru meet tougher U.S. fuel economy rules that begin in the 2016 model year. The Subaru brand boss declined to say which model would be offering the hybrid powertrain but suggested it will be in a smaller vehicle. He said the hybrid system will showcase typical Subaru driving characteristics but stopped short of confirming it will be all-wheel drive. At this year's Tokyo show, Subaru is showing an awd hybrid touring car that has two motors, one for each axle. That car loosely resembles the Outback wagon. Subaru has been developing its own hybrid drivetrain based on technology from Toyota Motor Corp., which owns 16.5 percent of Fuji Heavy.'   the article 10/3 Hydrid concept at Tokyo Motor Show Oct 21, 2009. A gullwing all wheel drive 'Hybrid Tourer' with the new CVT, 2 electric motors and a direct injection turbo 2L boxer engine will be on display. The electric motors have lithium-ion batteries and regenerative braking, the rear motor is for when the engine is not needed. "EyeSight", a Subaru stereo camera technology accident avoidance concept, uses camera to assist in avoiding collisions.  A press conference is scheduled on Wed, 10/21.  more on this Subaru concept 8/23 Nissan to sell electric cars is Seattle  '..Seattle will be one of the first cities where Nissan sells a new electric car, and the city will help make the vehicles viable here, officials from the city and auto maker said Tuesday. The new plug-in vehicle will be able to exceed highway speed limits, go 100 miles on a charge and recharge in four to eight hours using a 220-volt line, similar to those for clothes dryers. It will seat five, be similar in size to Nissan's Versa and Sentra and be affordable to a typical family...  In an agreement between Nissan and the city of Seattle, the automaker says it intends to sell the cars in the Seattle area and work with government and other organizations and companies on a plan to promote the cars and creation of a network of charging facilities...' the article 6/4 Subaru electric car goes on sale, 170 cars available in Japan.  'Japan always gets the latest tech developments before the rest of the world, a fact reaffirmed by Subaru's move to sell an electric car this July in, you guessed it, Japan. This battery electric vehicle, built on Subaru's Stella mini car, doesn't sound particularly impressive from its specifications, but Subaru is the first major automaker bringing an electric car to market this decade, preceding the likes of Mitsubishi and Nissan in their efforts.  The Stella EV stores electricity in a lithium ion battery pack, powering a 47 kilowatt motor. Range is only about 56 miles, with a top speed of 62 mph. Subaru claims a recharge time of 15 minutes at a quick charging station, or 5 hours at a 200 volt AC outlet, which are typical numbers for current technology. Subaru plans on selling just 170 units of the electric Stella from late July until March 2010, the end of its financial year. Price is set at 4,725,000 yen, equal to about $49,000 at current exchange rates. Buyers will get a subsidy of about $14,300, according to Subaru's press release.' the article 5/21 Subaru hybrid? All of a sudden there's a lot of talk and rumors about a Subaru hybrid coming in a few years based on Toyota's Prius technology.  The new CAFE and emission standards starting in 2012 will certainly shake up some boardrooms as intended, changing the way car companies think and the cars Americans are offered. Subaru of America has for years played peek-a-boo with hard news of diesels for the US market, dropping hints and tidbits along the way to maintain interest even though Subaru. s loyal buyers always tend to be green and there's strong curiousity for any new model with improved green economy. Now comes rumors of a hybrid. These new national EPA fuel standards may finally accomplish the goal - only 3 days after Obama's speech and poof- here is news (well, more rumors anyway) of a Subaru Hybrid developed with 16% partner Toyota's Prius technology. Still, there's no word on the diesel - perhaps we'll see it in 2010 in a 2011 model mated to a automatic CVT transmission since Americans don't buy a lot of manuals. The CVT will be in the new 2010 Legacy and Outback available this summer.  Here's the article on the Subaru hybrid from wired.com and WSJ.  5/19  Before PZEV there was 'California spec' for cars that met that state's tough emission and fuel economy standards. Slowly those standards were adopted by other states including CT, NJ, NY, MA, ME, RI, VT, PA, OR, WA resulting in 2 emission standards, with Fed spec cars supplied to the rest of the country. Subaru's own Outback, Legacy and Foresters have been sold in the 2 versions with a slight price increase for PZEV for years. The new national CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) and emission standard will lead to a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide and other emissions by 2016. Vehicles sold in 2016 will have to average 35.5 mpg, up from 25 mpg today. The new single national standard will simplify things for car makers, and are estimated to cost $1300 but that will be offset by better mileage.  Here is the White House statement from 5/19/09  'President Obama today – for the first time in history – set in motion a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. The new standards, covering model years 2012-2016, and ultimately requiring an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 mpg in 2016, are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program with a fuel economy gain averaging more than 5 percent per year and a reduction of approximately 900 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions. This would surpass the CAFE law passed by Congress in 2007 required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg in 2020... (this)  represents an unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the world’s largest auto manufacturers, the United Auto Workers, leaders in the environmental community, the State of California, and other state governments..' the White House statement 4/19 Stella electric car. After some years of talk and development, it looks like the Stella electric plug-in car will finally go into prototype test production this summer when 15 cars are made for testing in Japan. More on Subaru Concept cars 1/17 Diesel news, here by mid 2010? The economy and exchange rates are key factors determining how and where the diesel is available. Recently (noted here on Dec 23, 08) Fuji decided not to sell the diesel Impreza in the UK due to poor exhange rates, though both the Forester and Legacy diesels are already available there. So when will a diesel be available here in the US?  '..Fuji president Ikuo Mori says the US is the most important market worldwide .. “We are preparing to launch the engine when the market is ready,” says Mori, “We have no comment on when that would be. The European market is ready now; I’m not sure when the US market will be.”  However, Mori says that regardless of the market condition, the engine will be introduced to the U.S. by midyear in 2010.' ( from dieselforecast) That could easily change of course, there are many factors... 1/11 Legacy 2010 concept car. The coming redesigned 2010 Legacy available later this year will probably take some styling cues from the concept car displayed at the Detroit auto show but don't expect it to be as stylized. The concept car has the 3.6L in it, hopefully it will make it to the production version. top FUEL  Economy in 2009: ratings, issues, news, EPA and CAFE' news etc edited for length, content 9/17 new fuel economy standards by my2016. Things will be changing. Car companies will be required to have their entire fleet of cars and light trucks meet a new national 35.5mpg by my2016. This means new technologies, new engines, transmissions, weight savings measures.  Subaru has already started with the new fuel efficient CVT transmission in the 10 Outback and Legacy which hopefully will show up in other models soon. The Diesel already available almost everyplace else is long overdue here.  Subaru has an electric minicar in Japan, and there is the rumor from last May 2009 that Subaru is working on a a hybrid with Prius technology. The proposed national program would require my2016 vehicles to meet an estimated combined average emission level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile and the 35.5mpg. Smaller companies with a limited number of models may find it hard to meet the standards initially so a temporary standard would apply to manufacturers that sold less than 400,000 my2009s in the US (this would include Subaru for example) and allow them to use an average based on 25,000 vehicles per year (and no more than 100,000 total vehicles during this four year period). This limited vehicle fleet would be subject to a slightly less stringent greenhouse gas standard... the EPA release 5/19 The new national CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) and emission standard will lead to a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide and other emissions by 2016. Vehicles sold in 2016 will have to average 35.5 mpg, up from 25 mpg today. The new single national standard will simplify things for car makers, and are estimated to cost $1300 but that will be offset by better mileage.  Here is the White House statement from 5/19/09  'President Obama today – for the first time in history – set in motion a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. The new standards, covering model years 2012-2016, and ultimately requiring an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 mpg in 2016, are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program with a fuel economy gain averaging more than 5 percent per year and a reduction of approximately 900 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions. This would surpass the CAFE law passed by Congress in 2007 required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg in 2020... (this)  represents an unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the world’s largest auto manufacturers, the United Auto Workers, leaders in the environmental community, the State of California, and other state governments..' the White House statement 3/27 New fuel economy requirements from US Transportation Dept. Cars and light trucks combined will have to meet a U.S. fuel economy average of 27.3 mpg for 2011 models, a 2 mpg increase from the previous year’s level, the Transportation Department said.  Subaru Outback, Forester and Tribeca are classified as light trucks, Impreza and Legacy as cars. Cars must average 30.2 mpg, up from 27.5 currently, light trucks will average 24.1, up from 23.5 mpg for 2010 models.  The December 2007 law called for vehicles to meet a 35 mpg standard by 2020 models, a 40 percent increase from the average in 2008.    top SAFETY CRASH TESTS  safety news, including recalls etc edited for length, content 11/19/09 Crash tests- Subaru is one of the best including new IIHS roll-over roof crush strength test- Legacy, Outback, Forester and Imprezas (exc WRX)  '..the only manufacturer with a winner in all 4 vehicle classes in which it competes'  'Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS.org) Top Safety Pick award for 2010. For the first time, good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover is required to win. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control, which research shows significantly reduces crash risk Subaru is the only manufacturer with a winner in all 4 vehicle classes in which it competes. This automaker earns 5 awards for 2010. Ford and subsidiary Volvo have 6 winners, and Volkswagen/Audi has 5. Chrysler earns 4 awards, continuing a recent trend of improving the crashworthiness of its vehicles. Two new small cars, the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul, join the Top Safety Pick list for 2010. "With the addition of our new roof strength evaluation, our crash test results now cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "Consumers can use this list to zero in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety." Surprising - 'Not a single model from the world's biggest automaker by sales is represented among this year's winners. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion subsidiaries had a strong showing in 2009 with 11 winners but were shut out for 2010" the IIHS press release 11/10  Bumper damage crash test- 2010 Legacy 'leapfrogs the competition' and is the first car with all 4 damage estimates under $1,000, from IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).  One of only 5 cars to ever get this IIHS rating. 'The Legacy's bumpers are a big improvement over those on its 2007-09 predecessor. The new Legacy earns an acceptable rating in a recent series of tests to assess and compare how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders. In contrast, the previous Legacy is rated poor. Fifteen of 17 midsize cars evaluated by the Institute are rated marginal or poor for bumper protection. The Legacy's performance shows what automakers can do when they pay attention to damage prevention in the low-speed crashes that happen every day," says Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan. The Legacy is only the fifth car the Institute has tested to earn an acceptable rating for its bumpers. The others are the Ford Focus, Mazda 6, Scion xB, and Smart Fortwo. No car has yet earned a good rating. The Legacy is the first car the Institute has tested to limit damage to the bumper system in all 4 tests, and it's the first car with all 4 damage estimates under $1,000. The Institute rates bumpers good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in 4 tests — front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph. Each vehicle is run into a steel barrier that mimics the design of a car bumper, with the barrier's plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating typical cars' energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers. These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better damage resistance in real-world crashes. The biggest improvement for the Legacy was in the front full-width test. The ‘07 model sustained more than $4,000 damage (based on ‘09 parts and labor costs) when the bumper underrode the barrier. In contrast, the 2010 model sustained less than $900 in the same test. "Subaru made some simple changes to the Legacy's front bumper," Nolan explains, "and they paid off in significantly lower repair costs." Compared with the new model, the 2007 Legacy sustained nearly 5 times as much damage in this one 6 mph impact. The main difference is that the 2010 Legacy's front reinforcement bar is a little taller, more than 6 inches wider, and more than 1½ inches higher off the ground. This kept the Legacy's bumper engaged with the barrier during the test, preventing it from sliding under the barrier. Plus the bumper bar extends to the corners to help protect headlights and fenders. "The Legacy leapfrogs the competition for bumper protection," Nolan says. "These common sense bumper changes will help keep repair costs down in low-speed crashes."  from IIHS 8/27 Top Safety Picks - 2010 Legacy and Outback are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. "To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Legacy and Outback." IIHS 6/11 Crash tests - Subaru and most other cars don't do very well on the combined bumper test by IIHS, testing 6 mph full-width and 3 mph corner impacts. Subaru bumpers are designed to meet the standard 5mph full-width impact, your common bump in a parking lot or heavy stop-and-go traffic.Corner bumps, on the other hand, leave softball sized dents on most cars these days because most bumpers offer little internal corner support. And that is probably IIHS's point in doing a 3mph bumper corner test... From IIHS- '4 tests (front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph) produce the kinds and amounts of damage that commonly occur in low-speed collisions. Each vehicle is run into a steel barrier designed to mimic the design of a car bumper, with the barrier's plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating typical cars' energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers. These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better protection from damage in a range of real-world crashes.' > Test results scores, from best to worse are 'G' good, 'A' acceptable, 'M' marginal, and 'P' poor. > Results in the final 'overall weighted average damage' column of the midsize car category are: 2006-2009 Legacy $2080. This is better than the 06-07 Accord $2373, 06-09 Jetta $2499 and 06-08 Maxima $2562, all which rate 'P' for Poor. Doing  slightly better with a 'M' for Marginal rating are the 06-09 Galant $1042, the lowest amount, 07-09 Camry $1221, 07-09 Fusion $1325, 06-09 Volvo S40 $1442..  No car in this category rated either A or G (the best)... > Results in the final 'overall weighted average damage' column in the small car category are: 08-09 Impreza $1435 for a 'M' Marginal rating. This is similar to the Mazda 3 $1183, nd Nissan Sentra $1234. The lowest damage amount and an 'A" rating was to the 08-09 Focus $691 and Scion Xb $892. Getting a bottom 'P' Poor rating was the 09 Corolla $1872, 06-09 Civic $2015, 06-09 Prius $2652, 06-09 Rabbit $2727...  for more on crash tests, child seats etc, click here- safety 4/11 Nitrogen in tires?Some car and tire dealers are offering Nitrogen as an alternative to inflating tires with normal outside air. Nitrogen maintains tire pressure better than normal air which leaks out over time, and is less sensitive to cold outside temperatures. As a result, it minimizes the Tire Pressure Monitoring light coming on, can improve economy, increase tire life, and might be safer because properly inflated tires are less likely to blow-out when driven at high speeds for a long distance, or on hot roads. The downside to Nitrogen is that you might have to pay for it (but air is free). 3/24 crash test, new roll-over roof crush strength rating from IIHS. The Forester, VW Tiguan, Honda Element, and Jeep Patriot get the top 'Good' rating.  .. 'The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is launching a new roof strength rating system to help consumers pick vehicles that will help protect them in rollover crashes. Twelve small SUVs are the first to be put to the test. Only 4 earn the top rating of good. The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest rated roof, and the Kia Sportage has the weakest among the 2008-09 models evaluated.  This new rating system is based on Institute research showing that occupants in rollover crashes benefit from stronger roofs. Vehicles rated good must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards require. The Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element, and Jeep Patriot earn good ratings. The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander are rated acceptable. Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are marginal, and the Kia's is poor.  "We anticipate that our roof strength test will drive improved rollover crash protection the same way our frontal offset and side impact consumer test programs have led to better protection in these kinds of crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund... ...How roofs are evaluated: In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.   ... Cars have been built to meet the same roof crush standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 216, since 1973. The rule was extended in 1994 to include all passenger vehicles up to a gross weight rating of 6,000 pounds. Many SUVs and pickups are heavier, so they're exempt. In 2005, the government proposed an upgrade to cover these larger vehicles and require the roofs on all passenger vehicles to have a strength-to-weight ratio of 2.5. Many vehicles already meet this ratio and would earn only a marginal rating in the Institute's new roof strength test. A final rule is still pending...' more from IIHS.org top Subaru and Toyota news in 2009 edited for length, content 10/8 Subaru and Toyota in the news. They are working together on a number of projects and the potential isd there for some great cars. Toyota owns 16.6% of Fuji and builds Camrys at the Subaru Indiana America plant (previously known as Subaru Isuzu America) in Layfayette. For a few year now they have been co-developing an on again/off again 2 door sports car that is on again.  While Subaru is typically tight lipped about future cars, Toyota will be showing a concept version at the same Tokyo Motor Show Subaru will have new Hybrid Gullwing Tourer concept. Code named the FT-86, the 2 door sports car is designed by Toyota using a 2.0L (or 2.5L) Subaru engine and other components,  will be a 4 seater, rear-wheel drive, and about the size of a Nissan 350Z, and is expected in 2012. How closely Subaru's version - if there is one, and it isn't a sure thing  - matches Toyotas is unknown, though it is certainly hoped that it would be an all wheel drive. Subaru trying to sell a rear wheel drive car against a Toyota version  would be like trying to sell a truck with a 46" wide bed (oh wait..). Right after the Obama administration announced new fuel economy standards last spring, Subaru quickly mentioned a hybrid, and now the Gullwing Tourer hybrid concept will be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. The amount of Toyota Prius technology is unknown.  It also seems Toyota and Fuji are working on electric vehicles. Subaru has a small number of  Stella EVs with corporations and governments. Insiders say that Fuji's and Toyota's EV development teams will be integrated, with the lithium-ion batteries from Panasonic EV Energy, a Toyota-Panasonic company.  Articles- sports car, electric vehicle 1/21 Toyota is #1 - outsells GM worldwide ending GM’s 77 year run as the world’s largest automaker.  2008 figures: Toyota 8.97 million, GM 8.35 million, Subaru worldwide (Fuji Heavy Industries) 532,482. top Subaru ADVERTISING and SPONSORSHIP  news in 2009 edited for length, content 11/6 Advertising with a difference! Subaru of Canada goes for effect and message as an Outback driver beats up on a Snuggie ad.  "The spot opens with the now-familiar Snuggie ad that took late-night airwaves by storm a year ago and led to record sales for the fleece blanket with sleeves: a shot of a woman, cozying up on her couch, whose hands are "trapped inside" a regular blanket, is then seen happily cocooned in a royal blue version of the Snuggie robe. Suddenly, a giant crowbar appears to rip the infomercial off of the TV screen. A flattened image of people in Snuggie robes crashes at the side of a mountain lake onto a beach where we see a silver Subaru Outback. A man in jeans and a henley shirt looks satisfied with the destruction he has wrought. Wordless, he turns away from the front of the screen and returns to the car, crowbar in hand, as a tag line graces the screen: "Maybe you should get out more." ...people who are watching lot of TV, [we thought] let's literally interrupt it -- let's be disruptive." For Subaru, which describes its target Outback consumer as a person with an "active lifestyle" aged 35 to 55, the Snuggie subversion is a sign the automaker is willing to take chances -- particularly noteworthy in a sea of supposedly humorous creative automotive-industry executions that are generally broad and forgettable. While the message is tailored to the medium in most advertising campaigns, it's also rare that TV advertising participates in a metafictional exercise that appears to chide couch potatoes, or -- quel horreur! -- another brand. ..Last year, DDB drew attention for an ad featuring a group of boisterous German car engineers test driving a Subaru Impreza as they circled a driving track, singing along to the 1980s Falco hit Rock Me Amadeus. (The tag line was "Subaru, the Japanese car the Germans wish they'd made.") Along with scoring high consumer and industry ratings for its vehicles, Subaru appears to be getting results with the playful creative. Subaru Canada's sales were up 8.5% in the first nine months of the year, says Desrosiers Automotive Consultants, bucking almost all the other brands in the industry -- only Hyundai and Audi have shown more overall growth in the light-vehicle category this year. The "savvy" Outback target consumer would likely appreciate the humour of the Snuggie mash-up, Mr. Simon said. But what's more surprising, so did the folks at Allstar Products Group LLC, who have sold more than six million Snuggies worldwide since it debuted the blanket and its memorable infomercial a year ago. "It's a smart move on [Snuggie's] part," said Scott Reid, creative director at Philter Communications Inc..."  read the article Montreal Gazette 10/28 Advertising to the gay community. 'GLAAD Honors Gay-Friendly Brands at Inaugural Media Awards in Advertising. Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation hosted its inaugural Media Awards in Advertising..  The awards show is the work of GLAAD's Advertising Media Program, launched in May to carry on the watchdog duties of the now-defunct Commercial Closet Association. In his opening remarks, GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios explained the media program's mission to "give advertisers the resources and incentives to include the [gay] community in its advertising."... ..Perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening came when Subaru CMO Tim Mahoney accepted his company's Corporate Responsibility Award. Subaru was the first national automaker to extend benefits to same-sex domestic partners. And for more than 15 years, it's been a respected example of brand building by a marketer that chose to tap a growing consumer niche despite obvious corporate hurdles and cultural taboos. "I remember thinking, I could get fired for this," Mr. Mahoney said of his decision to present gay-specific research findings to Subaru's execs back in the early '90s. The most common soundbite from focus groups at the time was, "All my friends who have Subarus are lesbians." Subaru's embrace of the gay community in the '90s coincided with its decision to equip its vehicles with all-wheel drive. The brand's definitive slogan from the decade -- "It's not a choice. It's the way we're built" -- clearly spoke to more than transmission. Mr. Mahoney also credited the brand's success in a recession -- Subaru sales are up 10% in 2009, he said -- to its share of LGBT buyers. Lisa Sherman, general manager of Logo, presented Subaru with its award. Her advice for marketers debating whether to build gay-targeted advertising into their budgets was the evening's most memorable: "Not only is it good business, but it's the right thing to do." the article 10/4 Advertising Subaru is promoting both the Legacy sedan and the idea of one's personal legacy through a 6 month ad campaign with Logo. 'The effort focuses on prominent gay and lesbian entertainers and leaders and what "legacy" means to them.  Videos feature film director Angela Robinson, "Top Chef" contestant Jamie Lauren, comedienne Sandra Valls, model and actress Jenny Shimizu, actor Cheyenne Jackson, writer/producer/actor/director Patrik-Ian Polk and actor Bryan Batt. The videos will be featured on LogoOnline.com and several other Logo Web sites, like AfterEllen.com, AfterElton.com and Downelink.com. AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com will launch a series of posts tracing the legacy of lesbians and gays in pop culture, and Downelink.com will launch a contest urging its members to submit a video expressing what each of their legacies will be...' the article  10/2 Subaru Skunk laundry soap Check out the Skunk detergent video and don't forget to stop by your dealer for a sample while supplies last..  check out the Skunk Tshirts and my skunk story 9/30 Outback detergent. Subaru promotes their Outback detergent ad campaign with a postcard offering free soap, and a funny video. Stop by your local dealer for a sample while supplies last.... (skunk story) 9/26 Patrick Dempsey ER hunk and Subaru get together in Madrid Spain. Check images of him in a black leather Subaru jacket.  9/25 Subaru Go Love Event, Lynnwood, Wa REI Sunday 9/27. The Subaru Go Love Team will be at the Alderwood Mall REI in Lynnwood, Wa, with cars, tips on outdoor adventure travel, including family camping, hikes and bike rides from 11 until late afternoon. more on this event. find Subaru events at your local REI 9/22 Drive Out Hunger success - during Subarus 2nd annual corporate-wide food drive more than 35,000 pounds of food was donated to regional food banks across the nation. Established in 2008 "Drive Out Hunger" is driven entirely by food and cash donations from Subaru employees, with donations going to local food banks in each of Subaru's sales regions throughout the United States and near the company's headquarters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. 9/18 Share the Love Event v. 2 This past January at the end of the Share The Love Event v.1, Subaru donated $1,000,000 each to ASPCA, Meals On Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, National Wildlife Federation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and again there will be a Share the Love Event for 2009. From November 21, 2009 - January 4, 2010 Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru sold or leased to the customer's choice of  ASPCA, Meals On Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, National Wildlife Federation, or Boys & Girls Clubs of America. v. 1 was successful and lets hope v. 2 is as well. 9/12 Subaru supports IMBA Trail Care  '..The last sunny Saturday in August brought the IMBA Trail Care Crew to West Yellowstone. Beginning in 1988 the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has been encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, and innovative trail management solutions. The award- winning Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program includes two full-time, professional teams of trail experts who travel North America year-round, leading IMBA Trailbuilding Schools, meeting with government officials, land managers, and other groups to improve mountain biking opportunities. These crews have led more than 1000 trail projects since the program debuted in 1997. The crews teach "sustainable" trailbuilding which means building trails that last a long time and require minimal maintenance. This helps reduce trail damage, protects the environment, and enhances visitor enjoyment...' the article 9/11 20 years ago in Lafayette, Indiana. SIA, Subaru's factory in Indiana, started Sept 11, 1989 with annual production of 60,000 Subaru Legacys and 60,000 Isuzu pickups and Rodeos. In early 2003, Fuji took over Isuzu's part and discontinued production of Isuzu vehicles on July 23, 2004, and began to build the Camry on February 28, 2007. 9/7 Advertising '...Subaru has had record U.S. sales three months in a row, far outstripping the rest of the U.S. market overall... Could it be love? That is, Subaru’s current marketing campaign, from Minneapolis-based Carmichael Lynch, with the tagline, “Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.” I’ve said a couple of times now that I personally find the “Love” line smarmy and over-the-top, not to use a barnyard epithet. At the same time, I admit that the ads are memorable. I also agree that Subaru owners -– and I’m one – really do seem to like their cars. For instance, many Subaru owners use their cars for outdoorsy activities that make Subaru’s all-wheel drive relevant to them, and therefore worth the money. Subaru is smart enough to encourage and exploit that. It’s also relevant to point out that Subaru apparently is spending more money on advertising, so whether or not you like the tagline, magazine readers, TV viewers and radio listeners are hearing and seeing the brand a lot more, which raises its “share of mind.” On the more practical side, Subaru is also offering a long list of discounts, lease deals and low-interest financing on its web site. Presumably those are also playing a role, even though Subaru executives insist that by industry standards, their discounts are not all that high. Subaru also got a boost from “Cash for Clunkers.” As I’ve also noted before, Subaru also deserves credit for finding a niche and sticking to it, namely all-wheel-drive passenger cars. In terms of hardware, the combination of all-wheel drive and a distinctive “boxer” engine, in which the pistons move side-to-side, instead of up-and-down, is really what makes a Subaru, a Subaru. Subaru labored mightily for decades to get that message across, with only mixed success. What’s new is that they seem to have figured out that what was relevant to consumers was how the hardware made them feel, rather than the hardware itself. If it’s not love, it’s the next-best thing...'  the article 9/5 Why Subarus sell? 'Subaru buyers are a practical bunch. They tend to do a lot of research before they buy and are more impressed with value and utility than by fancy styling or expensive gizmos. Today's tough economy is perfect, then, for Subaru of America, which is picking up market share at a time when most carmakers are hemorrhaging sales. Subaru's sales rose 51% in August, its third consecutive monthly record. For the year, Subaru sales are up 11%. The only other carmaker running ahead of last year's sales is Kia Motors, with a 3% gain year to date. Increasing share in a declining market, especially one as competitive as North America, is an accomplishment. The government's Cash for Clunkers incentive program certainly helped in August, but that was true for most automakers. Even before the rebate program was launched in late July, however, Subaru was on a tear. (See "Subaru Defies Gravity.") It's got a certifiable hit on its hands, the redesigned Forester SUV, which set a new sales record in August with 11,870 units sold, up 76% from a year ago. Though well off the pace of the comparable Honda CR-V (30,284 units sold) and the Toyota Rav4 (18,312 units sold), sales of the Forester are up sharply after Subaru made it roomier and improved the ride quality for 2009. The company is having trouble keeping them in stock. Now it's doing the same with its Legacy sedan and Outback sport wagon. The Legacy, which shoppers complained in the past was too cramped, is now a true mid-sized sedan, with four more inches of legroom for rear passengers and 29% more trunk space. The Outback grows by similar margins. What sets them and all Subarus apart from competitors is that they offer full-time all-wheel-drive. "We were always held back because we were a compact in a mid-sized market," explained Dominick Infante, a Subaru spokesman. Now that size isn't an issue any longer, "the main burden we bear is that we're [seen as] a snow car." Subaru needs to convince consumers that all-wheel-drive improves performance and handling in any weather, he said...'  the article 7/7 advertising   '... Next week, Subaru's Impreza WRX gets a co-starring role on Syfy's "Eureka," which returns for its fourth season July 10. The vehicle will be featured in several episodes as the high-tech replacement for Tabitha, an old jalopy of one of the main characters. Subaru will also have a custom microsite at syfy.com/Subaru.  The new deal follows the success of last year's upfront meetings, which yielded about a dozen key partnerships, including integrations and customized vignettes for Animal Planet's "Groomer Has It," History's "Expedition," National Geographic's "Dog Whisperer" and Sundance's "Eco-Trip with David DeRothschild." And later this year, the Impreza WRX STI will be integrated into AMC's all-star remake of 1960s spy drama "The Prisoner," featuring Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel...' the article 7/6 What does a Subaru say?  'Dennis Slice and fellow researchers at Austria's Vienna University, where he's a guest professor, are exploring the widely held belief that cars project personalities because they look like human faces when viewed head-on...  (of the new VW Beetle) the narrow body, wide-eyed circular headlights, tall windshield and curve of the bug's hood match the facial features of a smiling woman or child...   A Mitsubishi Eclipse, Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger each practically ooze testosterone. Their low, wide stances, long hoods, gaping grilles and relatively narrow headlights give each of these sporty models a look that's consistent with the facial features of an adult male, Slice said. Each projects a mature, dominant, aggressive and powerful personality...'   the article Does this say I'm happy or I'm the Joker what do you think 6/27  SoA better off because of its niche status. "We shouldn't have the ups and downs like everyone else,"  (SoA chief) Doll said. "We kind of bat out singles."  Subaru's niche is smallish, rugged crossover vehicles for outdoorsy people of comfortable means. Even its sedans come with standard all-wheel drive. About 21 percent of buyers pay cash. The company sold 187,699 cars in 2008, and it now holds a 1.9 percent market share, its record high... As an import brand, Subaru was battered by a weak U.S. dollar in the '80s. Prices for its cars skyrocketed, and sales collapsed. On corporate performance charts, the period from 1987 to 1994 is labeled "Valley of Despair." Subaru climbed out with the introduction of its hit Outback wagon, memorably promoted by Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan... The company's strategy as it waits out the downturn is to lay down a groundwork of strong fundamentals, including extra-attentive customer service. "Customers have long memories," he said, "particularly when times are tight."   the article 6/26 advertising, is Subaru's Love Your Car ad campaign silly and effective or demeaning and effective, and if it's effective does it matter?   Subaru '...has an entire campaign devoted to the theme of "love" as the prevailing emotion evoked by its products. There's even an ad on YouTube.com called "Love Letters," in which real Subaru owners read personal letters about their attachments to their cars... ...what bugs me is our cultural fixation on feelings as the basis for every sort of decision, from which car we park in our garages to which candidate we elect to public office. As a society, we're much less interested in what something does than in how it makes us feel. This is why a Subaru is all about "love" while a campaign for the Cadillac CTS featured Kate Walsh pondering the question, "When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?" Um ... yuck. If Thomas Paine made the 18th century famous as the "Age of Reason," American marketers and media must certainly be responsible for our current "Age of Emotion." .. I'd like to think Subaru buyers are more emotionally mature than their car company believes them to be. When they say, "I love my Subaru," I'd like to think it's shorthand for "it's reliable ... it's safe ... runs great ... gets good gas mileage." By hijacking "love," Subaru has reduced its buyers to a trite and emotionally immature lot, and quite honestly, they haven't done much to uplift the idea of love, either. Ah, but in the "Age of Emotion," love is everything. Reason, not so much...' read more from MaryBeth Hicks at the Wa. Times 6/6 More on Oscar winner Robert De Nero's Subaru Legacy advertisement 'As the boxer Jake La Motta, he roared the word “Why?” almost 40 times, his bare fists pounding cruel desolation on to the stone walls of Dade County Stockade. Nearly 30 years and two Oscars later, Robert De Niro looks a little different in his latest performance. He jaunts out of his house, nods archly into the rearview mirror, and takes off in a Subaru Legacy. Speeding through unidentifiable Arcady, he passes a sheep. He nearly grins. The words “Love Your Life” fill the screen... Fade to nausea. The 30-second advert is a horror that can mean only one thing in these dark economic times: arguably the finest actor in Hollywood has become a star hawking a reasonably priced Japanese family car. In honour of their hard-won thespian megastar, the manufacturers of Subaru, Fuji Heavy Industries, have not skimped on production values. Compared with Harrison Ford’s pub-based touting of Kirin lager and Nicholas Cage’s sedentary, crimson-suited pitch for pinball machines, De Niro’s spot is high art. The director of photography is Bob Richardson, a two-time Oscar-winner, and the background music is by the Scottish rock band Travis. Fuji Heavy keep the numbers vague, but it is thought that the star of Goodfellas and Cape Fear was paid about $1.2 million (£750,000) for approximately ten seconds of on-screen appearance.  De Niro’s decision to take the Tokyo shilling, say Japanese advertising industry analysts, is surprising on several levels — not least because De Niro has been in hot demand from Japan for many years but has previously resisted. Many other Hollywood stars before him have given in to the temptation of easy Japanese money: Brad Pitt, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster and Sir Sean Connery feature prominently on the list, but more than 100 other stars of music and screen have trodden the same embarrassing path...' the article 5/27 advertising- who can use England's singing sensation Susan Boyle.  'Which Marketers Might Want Susan Boyle Singing Their Praises? U.K. Creatives Weigh In on Potential Brand Partners for 'Britain's Got Talent' Sensation.. Despite a recent makeover, Susan Boyle is still recognizable as the singing sensation who surprised the judges at her audition with a stunning rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables," which attracted a YouTube audience of 60 million. Simon Cowell's close TV aide and former girlfriend, Sinitta, has suggested Ms. Boyle could become Britain's answer to Oprah...  Mr. Young said she has potential appeal for brands that are judged by appearance rather than content. "When we first saw her, we thought she shouldn't be up there. Then we heard her singing, and we overcame our prejudices. There's an element of surprise and a hidden talent that would be right for brands with an ugly exterior.... #5 Subaru. "The cars get uglier every year," Mr. Young said, "but everyone who looks beyond appearances and actually drives a Subaru is a massive fan because the performance is so amazing. You can't help but hate it until you drive it -- and then you can't help but love it." the article 4/30 Subaru sponsors Dining Out For Life. April 30, 2009.  More than 3,500 restaurants in over 55 cities donate a portion of the proceeds from one special night of dining to licensed AIDs service agencies in their city. Nearly $4 million dollars a year is raised.  It's for a good cause and restaurants like the business. So eat out April 30th, find your city and restaurants here. 4/26 Subaru is a sponsor for the 2009 Get Out More Tour. The tour will stop at 50+ outdoor specialty retailers to deliver the best tips from the editors of Backpacker and provide real-life outdoor experiences. At each Tour stop, the Get Out More road team hosts an interactive 60 minute seminar...' find a location near you 4/15 advertising- Robert De Niro does Subaru!  The New York Oscar winning actor known for strong roles like Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver ('you talkin' to me?'), Vito Corleone in Godfather II, Deer Hunter, Raging Bull  etc is in a Subaru commercial.  Unfortunately it's only for Japan. Hmmm, let me think.. Subaru and DeNiro.. what a combination. Here's an imaginary, ficticious scene from a non-existent Subaru ad I just thought up .. picture tough guy DeNiro in an Outback racing up a rutted, dusty dirt road. He skids to a stop by a small house and dashs inside ... to feed a hungry little puppy! Ok ok, it's silly, never mind. The real commercial has DeNiro exiting a white car, signing a post card and dropping it in a general store's mailbox. The store is Schooley's Mountain General Store in Morris County, New Jersey. I guess we'll never see the commercial here. the article 4/10 advertising, Subaru sponsors Sundance TV channel Eco Trip. Subaru is the sponsor for Sundance Channel's new TV series, Eco Trip: The Real Cost of Living. Premiering on April 21 in celebration of Earth Day, the 8 part show is on the environmental impact of everyday products.  The host will drive a 2009 Forester. There is also a Eco Scavenger Sweepstakes to send 1 winner to the Sundance Resort in Utah. Airs Tuesdays 9pm, check the schedule, more info at Sundancechannel.com/ecotrip. 4/3 Subaru sponsors Dining Out For Life. April 30, 2009.  More than 3,500 restaurants in over 55 cities donate a portion of the proceeds from one special night of dining to licensed AIDs service agencies in their city. Nearly $4 million dollars a year is raised.  It's for a good cause and restaurants like the business. So eat out April 30th, find your city and restaurants here. 3/25 Subaru sponsor ASPCA's April Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month. After donating ~$1m in January to the ASPCA in the  Share the Love Event (late 2008), Subaru will now support three 'Go Orange for Animals' festivals as part of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. The festivals include mobile adoptions and pet care advice in 3 cities-  New York Union Square Park 4/7/09,  Austin Zilker Park 4/18/09, and LA Venice Beach, 4/25/09. The sponsorship also provides brightly decorated Subarus. Additional events this April include ASPCA Mission: Orange, a campaign to improve animal welfare and education by partnering with regional animal welfare and community organizations in  Austin, Charleston, New York, Philadelphia, Spokane, Tampa  More on ASPCAApril.org. 3/17 Subaru is a sponsor of Backpacker magazines 9th Get Out More Tour. Backpacker's Get Out More Road Team will visit specialty outdoor retailers and festivals over a 7-month period to promote the active outdoor lifestyle and teach practical outdoor skills, offering workshops and presentations of trail tips, plus hands-on experiential outdoor excursions to educate consumers about the skills and equipment they need to get out more.  Dates, locations here 3/13 2009 Subaru North American Freeskiing Championship -  the second to last stop on the 2009 Freeskiing World Tour, the Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships is back in South Lake Tahoe's Sierra Nevadas after a 1 year break. The third stop of the 2009 Freeskiing World Tour (FWT) is once again at Kirkwood Mountain Resort for the 12th Annual Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships (NAFC). Freeskiing’s elite from around the world will compete in the Sierra snows March 18-22 for the NAFC title and $20,000 purse. Freeskiing World Tour 2/12 $5 million goes to charity as Subaru buyers Share The Love. At the opening of the Chicago Auto Show, Subaru presented  $5,000,000 raised during the “Share the Love” to the charity. Customers who bought a car Nov 24- Jan 2 chose a charity to receive a $250 donation. The charities were the ASPCA, Meals On Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, National Wildlife Federation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. They received $1,000,000 each 2/12 2009 AAAS and Subaru Science Book Awards  American Association for the Advancement of Science / Subaru Science Books & Film Prizes help promote science literacy by drawing attention to the importance of good science writing and illustration. 10 authors, one illustrator, and a total of seven books honored.  AAAS and Subaru of America co-sponsor the prizes in four categories: Children's Science Picture Books, Middle Grades Science Books, Hands-on Science/Activity Books, and Young Adult Science Books.  Winners get $1,500 and a plaque at a ceremony Friday, February 13, at the Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago.  THE WINNERS: Children's Science Picture Book- Sisters & Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World by Steve Jenkins , Illus Robin Page; Middle Grades Science Book - How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientist and Kids Explore Global Warming by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch Dawn; Hands-on Science/Activity Book - True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin; Young Adult Science Books- Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys But Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life by Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang 1/14  Subaru buyers swim against the tide  'Subaru's customers are, the company admits, a little oddball. How else do you explain the fact that Subaru of America was the only car company to increase unit sales last year? Subaru buyers tend to be overeducated; they buy less car than they can afford and hang on to it forever. "They pay cash, and then you never see them again," says Tim Mahoney, Subaru of America's chief marketing officer. At least not for an average 7.3 years, when they return like migrating carbirds to buy another one. Recession or not. You know, of course, that Detroit is on its knees. But Stuttgart, Tokyo and Seoul aren't faring particularly well either. Toyota's U.S. sales were off 16% last year. Yet Subaru was positive to the tune of 491 cars. The company sold 187,699 vehicles last year, led by value-driven models like the Forester SUV and Outback wagon and the muscled-up Impreza WRX, a small sedan. That's an increase of just 0.3% over 2007. But in a disastrous year for the industry, it boosted Subaru's market share to 1.92%, from 1.2%. In the auto industry, that's a huge increase — and a higher market share than Cadillac, for instance...' the article from Time 1/3 Subaru = Automotive Marketer Of The Year. 'Dreadful..  this is the first year in maybe forever that has been, for marketers, dreadful. Especially auto marketers. Yet a few bucked the trend. Subaru was one. That is quite an accomplishment for a mid-market brand with a limited vehicle portfolio and marketing clout.  Considering its budget, which is less than some automakers spend on a single vehicle launch, it's surprising that Subaru was able to stay afloat at all--and do it without offering huge discounts.  Actually, the Cherry Hill, N.J. company has always been something of an anomaly in the U.S. car business: standard features like all-wheel-drive and an airplane-style boxer engine make for great rally racers, but tend to focus sales in the snow states.  But the brand, perhaps better known as the wagon of choice for the progressive set, is also in the unusual position of being a non-luxury brand that appeals to those who can afford a Mercedes or BMW.  And this year, the company has also increased sales. Granted, 1% for the year through November (+0.3% for all of 2008) would not be striking in, say, 2002--but this year it is. The company did not see the kind of massive losses that others experienced.  With automotive industry sales down 35% in November, Subaru's minus-8% performance looks damned good--something like a positive 27%. The company also exited November with 1.9% share of the U.S. market--almost an all-time record, according to Kevin Mayer, director of marketing: "So we are nipping at VW and Mazda."  And the most recent launch--the 2009 Forester, won Motor Trend's "SUV of the Year"--saw a 64% increase in sales..' Subaru SALES in 2009 top, edited for length, content 1/5/10 Sales-  2010 Ends with a bang. Subaru US sales +15% for the year with a record breaking 216,652 and 2.1% of the US market. The next best year was 2006 with 200,703, and 09 beat it by 15,949 cars (+8%). 2009 year totals: Outback 55,356 +25%, Legacy 30,974 +37%, Forester 77,781 +28%, Impreza 46,611 -11%, Tribeca 5,930 -46%, December 09 total- 23,074  +33% over 17,287 Dec 08. Legacy catches on and Outback is on fire, both up almost 100% over 12/08. Totals: Legacy 3620 +98%, Outback  8376 +105%, Forester 7223 +11%, Tribeca 208 -70%, Impreza 3647 -13% Subaru Canada finishes a strong 2009 with a new record total of 23,034 cars for the year. 12/15 New Sales record- As of December 15 Subaru has sold more than 200,703 cars thus breaking the record set in 2006, and there are still 16 more days left in the year. 12/1  November sales - another good month. Total 16,988, +24% from 13,706 last November, and up 14% to 193,578 for the year. Outback 6,506, Forester 4,948, Impreza 2,555, Legacy 2,802, Tribeca 177. Outback  +142% from 2,687in 11/08;  Tribeca -72% from 622 11/08;  Legacy +83% from 1,528 from 11/08 11/3 October 09 sales are +40% over October 08. 18,169 in October 09 vs 12,917 in 2008. Outback 6,451; Forester 5,169; Impreza 3,049; Legacy 3,254; Tribeca 246. YTD through October: 2009 176,590; 2008 156,706.  10/1 September sales total 14,593, down 3% from Sept 08,  and of course sharply down from the Clunker fueled explosive record set last month of 28,683.  Fort September- Outback 4,268, Forester 4,839, Legacy 2,762, Impreza 2,366, Tribeca 358. Tribeca is low because the 10s haven't shipped yet and 09s are almost all gone, and mostly because it's a slow seller anyway with low numbers. 2010 Tribeca specs and prices were just announced 9/29, it will be a 7 seater only.  Maybe if  Tribeca sales don't pick up we'll see a TriBaja pickup in the future.  9/1 August Sales- best month ever with 28,683 cars sold, up 52% over August 08. 28,683 is the largest month in Subaru's history and that says a lot about how good these cars are. Compare it to 18,983 for August 2008 and that was a good month too. Outback 5875 +53%, Forester 11,870  +76% (wow!), Legacy 3569 +49%, Impreza 6590 +30%, Tribeca 797 -8%.  Huge increases on everything except Tribeca. This is certainly due in part to Clunkers-  Subaru was well positioned with the right cars for the right people. Dealers could have used more of the 10 Outback and Legacy, and perhaps the Forester sold so well because it was a good easy alternative for the Clunker buyer who couldn't find an Outback given the short supply.  The trick will be to maintain the increase over 08s sales in the coming months whoich would make for a great year!. 8/3 July sales total 21,839 up 34%. Cash for Clunkers sells cars for everyone, and 'end of model year' rebates and low rates helps. Subaru is up 34% over July 08s total of 16,271 for a strong 4% YTD gain (July 09- July 08). July 09 totals - Outback 4972,  Forester 7574, Impreza 6247, Legacy 2340,  Tribeca 707. The Legacy (+34%) and Impreza (+41%)  were clearly helped by big rebates and 0% financing. The 10 Outback CUV has been successful though folks who preferred the 09 station wagon version quickly picked off remaining inventory (Outback +33%) with the help of some nice 'end of model year' rebates of course. The 10 Forester Premium's new power driver seat has folks liking the car even more but all models are strongly popular.  Tribeca? -10% from 788 July 08 and -44% YTD,  Yes there will be a 2010 Tribeca 7 passenger but why and I still suggest a TriBaja pick-up version to replace the late Baja. 7/1 June sales totals18,620 up 3.4% from 18,007 last June and down only 1% YTD.  That's big news,  Subaru is still only the few car companies that were up for June 09 over zJune 08, and doing very well YTD. Most everyone else was down compared to June 08: Toyota -31% (-38% ytd), Honda -29% (-40% ytd), Nissan -23% (-33% ytd),  Ford -10%, BMW -20%, Mazda -42% to 13,729, Porsche -66% to 902 (-36% ytd. Hyundai is doing well with 64,788 for June 09, -17% from June 08 and only -9.4% for the year! June 09: Forester 6,090 ( the top seller at 36,158 for the year up a modest 45 over last June),  Outback 3,721 (-21% because the 09 clearance and  $2000 rebate started months ago was a success and the supply is now very low but 10s are now out), Impreza 5,041 (+24%), Legacy 2,984 (+28% and dealers still have a good supply, new July's new Legacy rebates have jumped), Tribeca 784. Total Tribeca sales for the year 3,437, down 49%.  Yes there will be a 2010 Tribeca 7 passenger. 6/3 May Sales total 17,505, down 5% compared to May 08 ( which was 18,436). Year to date sales are off  -2% at 74,686 for the firdt 5 months of 09 compared to 76,088 in 08. This is really very good compared to other companies. May sales by model: Outback 3,400 -25%, Legacy 3,022 +53%, Tribeca 671 -45%,  Forester 6,171 -4%, Impreza 4,241 -1%. The 2009 Legacy is up strongly. Is this because of the attention and press for the new 2010 and people realize Subaru does make a good sedan, or is it because people are snapping up 09s becuase they don't want the 10? Forester sales are holding up. Rebates would help move the 09s as the 10s start arriving soon but no rebates were announced for the 09 Forester on June 2nd.  Other sales totals to compare to Subaru for May: General Motors sold 190,881 cars in May 09 vs 268,892 May 08, a –29.0% drop. Subaru would be happy to sell 191,000 for the entire year, and that's what GM sold this past month. Subaru is a niche car, and not a big company. Toyota sales for the month were down 40% to 152,583 from 257,406 May 08; Honda dropped 41% to 98,344 from 167,997 in May 08; Ford sold 161,197 in May 09 vs 217,268  May 08 a minor –25.8% compared to Toyota and Honda; Chrysler went bankrupt but still sold 79,010 in May 09 vs 148,747 May 08 a –47% drop. The worst drop for the month was Suzuki, down -75% to 2,585 from 10,364 May 08 (ouch!).  5/1 April sales  total 15,649. Legacy 2,561 (+36%), Forester 5,955 (+12%), Outback 3,293 (-20%), Impreza 3,273 (-20%), Tribeca 567 (-59%). Overall down 7% from 16,711 in April 08. The Forester is up, and one of it's main competitor, the CRV is down 33% for April 09/08 and down 25% for the year.  Subaru Canada total 2,050, the best month ever, the previous record month was July 08. Forester sold 806, Impreza 961 in April 09.. Chrylser goes bankrupt, and Ford had a strong month at 133,979 which puts it back into the #2 spot behind GM (with 172,150) and ahead of Toyota for the first time since March 08. Other sales numbers: Toyota 126,540, Honda 101,029 with the Ridgeline down 71.5% and Element down 65.6% for April 09/08, Nissan 47,190, Hyundai 33,952, Suzuki 2,543, Mitsubishi sold 3,919,  Land Rover 3,324, Jaguar 1,785, Porsche 1,853, Mercedes 14,565, Smart car 1,345, BMW 15,705, Mini 3,657, Kia 25,606, Lincoln 5,973..  4/1 March sales down 3% over March 2008, a small drop compared to other car companies, and the first negative month in some time but SoA is till 2% ahead for the year so far. Total March 09 sales were 16,249 vs 16,685 March 08. The Forester saved the month. Legacy and Outback, with new models to be released in coming months, were down. Forester +47% to 6,802, Legacy 1,554 (-30%), Outback 3,609 (-18%), Impreza 3,725 (down 16%), Tribeca 559 (-46%). While SoA was down 3% for March 09 vs March 08, for comparison Toyota was down 36.8%, GM 35%, Hummer 75% (GM is trying to sell Hummer), Honda down 33%, VW 17%.  3/3 February 2009 sales  total 13,089 cars, which is 182 more cars than the 12,907 sold Feb 08. Forester is still the reason Subaru is doing well, selling 5,978 in Feb 09,  +101% over Feb 08. Impreza -19% to 2,940 for the month. The soon to be redesigned Outback -37% to 2,389 and Legacy -9% to 1,341. Tribeca -58% to 441 (sigh). Canada sales- February 09 totals +8.1% over last February 2/3/09 January 2009 sales up 8%.  12,194 total for January 09 compared to 11,289 for Jan 1008.  Forester up a whopping 115% to 5162 from 2402 in Jan 2008; Outback 2,515 -27% from 3,435; Legacy 1165 -20% from 1451; Impreza 2937 -5% from 3091; Tribeca 415 -54%  from 910 in Jan 2008. The Northwest region (Wa, Or, Id, Mt, North Ca) sold 811 2009 Foresters, compared to 426 in Jan. 2008 - +90% increase and a January record.  South Central US region (Virginia to Florida to Texas) sold 541 in January. Hyundai was also up for the month 14%, but most other car companies were down for January 2009 compared to January 2008:  Nissan -30%, Honda -28%, GM -49%, Toyota -32%, Ford -40%, Chrysler -55%... 2008 total sales up for the year! In a bad year for everyone, SoA's total 2008 sales were actually +0.3% to 187,699 from 187,208 in 07. Not a big increase, only 491 cars, but it shows that quality talks. That's 1.43% of the US market, the most in 26 years. Total sales for the year by model line: Outback 44,262, Legacy 22,614, Tribeca 10,975, Forester 60,748, Impreza 49,098, Baja 2. The northwest region (Wa, Or, Id, Mt, Nothern Ca) dealers retailed 26,000 units or 320 sales per outlet in 2008.  And for reference, here's what other folks did: Mini Cooper sales are also up, a whopping 28.6% to 54,077.  But that's pretty much it for up. Toyota 2,217,662 -15.7% (with 241,405 hybrids for the year); Audi 87760 -6.1%; Honda 1,428,765 -8.2%;  Mercedes 225,128 -11.2% (add in their 24,622 Smart cars and they're only -1.5%); Ford 1,908,806 -20.4%; Acura 144,504 -20%... So Subaru has reason to stand tall, in a bad year, they did well! Worldwide sales totals 2008: Canada 19,892; Europe (Germany, Switzerland, U.K., Benelux, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Sweden) 38,640; Russia 22,006; Au 38,492, China 19,010, Japan 206,743 (top) News related to importing into Canada.  Model reviews from Canada are still in the model sections.

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