Production up in Japan
On track 500k sales in the US
Subaru news letter for September
"In Japan, its home market, Subaru launched the WRX S4 last month. Based on the WRX STI model launched in Europe earlier this year, the Japan-only S4 version uses the latest direct injection 2.0 litre turbo engine, tuned to produce 300hp and is combined with Subaru's Lineartronic 7-speed gearbox.
Subaru Japan also announced the latest production and export figures for the company, with some very positive results. Global vehicle production was up 17% on last year while total number of exports also increased by 15%. Closer to home the UK is one of the best performing markets in Europe this year with sales up 27% on this time last year.
Across the pond, Subaru US continues its automotive sales march towards world domination! With an all time single month sales record set in August of 50,000 cars, Subaru US is on track to sell half a million cars in 2014, fuelled by demand for both the Forester and new Outback models."
I assume the UK newsletter is painting a bright picture - sales in the UK I would assume are bumping along on the bottom even if they are 27% up - low base sell an extra 200 cars and bingo you have a big %age. Now if we had prices in the USA in the UK they would compete with their competitors rather than be also rans. £19K for an entry level Impreza is a lot.
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The reviews in the US show the Forester is a far better SUV than the RAV4/other competitors. It has a 2.5 petrol NA engine...
In the UK the fastest Forester is a 2.0XT turbo with CVT.. Can't see many keen drivers buying one.
I drove a 2012 Forester diesel three months ago. Very free revving engine and nice to drive. But expensive vs the 2wd CASHCOWs and other 2WD car trip SUVs..
And the gearchange 1st to 2nd when cold was horrible.. syncro baulked and very notchy (OK when warm). NOT what you want in winter...
UK operation is a milking for profits jobbie by the importer.. (who are not owned by Subaru so take their cut).
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My sister and her husband in New Zealand, both doctors, have a petrol Forester. It's a bit thirsty but that smooth flat four is a gem, and has some poke too. I was sure it was a six until I looked.
She uses a diesel Punto. It's all right but a bit sluggish. It really doesn't need its overdrive sixth gear.
Specifications of both are probably different from European ones.
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I go to Orlando quite a bit and I always notice how many Subaru's there are around - and in that part of the US they're not buying them for their 4x4 capability!
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I've had a soft spot for Subaru for years. I finally got one earlier this year (an old shape Forester). They're thoughtfully designed and easy to work on. They look robust underneath, plenty of shielding from rocks etc. too. Was an '06 and didn't have as much rust underneath as a Nissan XTrail of the same age.
Last year i almost went for a BRZ, still kind of regret not doing it!
Looks like they've lost the plot with the new fast Impreza though, it's this years money but competing with last years performance specs.
Last edited by: Skoda on Wed 24 Sep 14 at 16:53
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I have never driven a Subura they look and sound strong cars.Might have a go in one when I have the change.
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>> Looks like they've lost the plot with the new fast Impreza though, it's this years money but competing with last years performance specs.
'Last year's performance specs' are only going to bother a racing driver Skoda. Subarus are expensive because they are unusually solid and well engineered. Being safe with good, predictable handling they have more road-usable performance than most rapid cars.
Nice no-bling tweaked invisible Impreza is high up my wish list. I like the blue and gold barryboy versions with the boombox exhausts, but you wouldn't want to be seen in one would you?
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Is that why they all have darkened windows?
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Sorry, don't share this fawning over Subarus. When they do go wrong (and despite what people tell you, they do go wrong) they do so in an eye wateringly expensive manner. They don't have class leading ride, they are invariably noisy, they are prodigiously thirsty for fuel, ugly, and they are over priced.
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I lost interest when I discovered the MINIMUM maintenance cost was c £350...every 10k miles...
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>When they do go wrong..
Colleague has a diesel Forester Outback, I think it's a 60 reg.
£1800 bill this week for a service, MOT, replacement of a clunking centre diff and headlamp washer motor.
Last edited by: Kevin on Thu 25 Sep 14 at 18:56
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>> >When they do go wrong..
>>
>> Colleague has a diesel Forester Outback, I think it's a 60 reg.
>>
>> £1800 bill this week for a service, MOT, replacement of a clunking centre diff and
>> headlamp washer motor.
>>
In the US the 5yr powertrain warranty would have covered a big chunk of that.
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Of course you're right AC but it's the way the market works. The brz is a good example. Great car, slightly underpowered, slaughtered as a result.
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Enjoyed this little snippet of fuds roadracing.
Particularly the surprise appearance of a plastic bodied muscle car just to embarrass them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynwsoD30A2A
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I bought my fist Subaru last week and have done about 1000 miles in it as we popped over to Canberra for a long weekend.
I have an Outback 2014 2.5i CVT, I considered the Diesel (briefly) but since most of its use is short urban trips I decided to stick with the (more popular in Aus) petrol. I couldn't justify the 3.0L 6 Cylinder which is I would admit quite thirsty.
Impressions:
The 2.5i (170PS) is powerful enough but lacks torque, however the CVT is a revelation and keeps the thing moving briskly, quietly and smoothly. I don't think that this engine is available in the UK but it's reasonably economical for Australia. It has averaged about 37mpg in my custody, much lower around town (probably 25mpg) and touching 40mpg on the freeway haul across Victoria. Not bad at all when 95RON (it will run on 91RON) is about 78p a litre.
The ride can be a bit harsh and there's a fair bit of road noise although I suspect that's the Yokohama M&S tyres. Handling is good for a car with such good ground clearance (the reason I bought it) but it isn't a sports car - the steering is light but lacks feel.
Interior space is excellent and the (leather) seats are very comfortable. The SatNav is ok as is the reverse park camera - neither of which I'd ordinarily specify.
It lacks the niceties of a VAG car such as a stereo you can switch on without the ignition, windows which open or close when you hold the key fob button (and continue to be operable provided the driver hasn't opened their door even after the ignition is off). However I've found this on other Japanese makes such as Honda too, they lack 'surprise and delight'. In mitigation it hasn't got a DSG gearbox - the factor which stopped me getting a Passat Alltrack or a Tiguan.
Re-reading this it appears less than enthusiastic and yet I am enthusiastic, the car serves my purposes in Australia so much better than the VW Golf I had before and I should say why.
You need good ground clearance in Australia, camber changes in and out of driveways, carparks and even roads will cause the front spoiler on a VW Golf to scrape (well the rubber bib anyhow). Many rural roads and driveways are un-mettled, the best are 'graded' (and smooth), the worst are loose gravel and quite rough. The Outback handles these with ease. SUVs (albeit some softer than a saloon car) are ubiquitous and the traditional 'sedan' from Holden and Ford is dying as family transport.
Servicing is every 8000 miles or 6 months, common in Australia due to the harsher climate or dealer avarice I'm not sure. I know of no cars with condition based servicing in Australia - it's disabled on VAG cars certainly.
So I suspect that Subaru's success is in other markets, the UK's roads are (relatively) well surfaced and fuel is (eyewateringly) expensive. I can see why a petrol Subaru doesn't make much sense there - but in other markets it's a great car. It comes with a 5 year warranty too.
Last edited by: idle_chatterer on Thu 25 Sep 14 at 07:19
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2003 12,000 Subarus registered for the first time
2013 2,400 Subarus registered for the first time.
2014 - 1,400 so far...........
As I said in the original post sales are bumping along on the bottom.
Surely Subaru in Japan must know that there is something really wrong to have seen sales fall 80% in 10 years, number of outlets has crashed and those franchises that are still around are, more often than not, shared with 1 or more other franchises.
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>> Surely Subaru in Japan must know that there is something really wrong to have seen
>> sales fall 80% in 10 years, number of outlets has crashed and those franchises that
>> are still around are, more often than not, shared with 1 or more other franchises.
>>
No, I suspect they are merely targeting other markets with requirements which better match their strengths and perhaps better profitability ?
They sold 40,000 cars in Australia in 2013 and were 9th best selling manufacturer (beating Honda) in a country with 1/3rd the population of the UK and around 1.1M total car sales.
The UK market's requirements are not universal, distances are small, taxation and fuel costs based on CO2 emissions and a high number of company cars skew the UK market. I'm not arguing that UK taxation laws are (or aren't) good for the environment - merely that they produce a different car market.
I don't think that Subaru really care too much about the UK market and why would they ?
Last edited by: idle_chatterer on Thu 25 Sep 14 at 11:08
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In some ways this is similar to Honda in the UK. They don't sell as many as they used to, but what they do sell make profits, which at the end of the day is what a company is supposed to do. Chasing market share is all very well, but if you lose money doing it there is no point.
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As far as 4wd cars are concerned, in Sweden the Outback/Legacy outsells Kuga, Yeti, CRV, X3, X1, Q3, X5, Juke, X-Trail, and a whole host of other popular models. In fact, they sell 10 times as many Outbacks as LR Discoverys, and more than a 100 times Nissan Pathfinders.
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Hate to say it given my moniker but I don't envisage ever buying another Subaru. I have owned three of the marque, the last an R reg GLS estate, bought from a friend, whose company ran it as a ' parts' carrier between Bradford & Peterborough several days a week, then by his wife at weekends. It was 3 years old with almost 100k miles on the clock. Still immaculate inside & out, full history and cost me £3000. I ran it faultlessly for 4 years, and still have a soft spot for them. However, I now think they look bloated & ugly. Especially the newer Outbacks. Poor mpg, poor cabin & materials, limited second hand market and big depreciation. Ok if you buy at 4 or so years old and plan to keep several years.
Would far rather have a 3 series Touring with all season tyres.
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>> Poor mpg, poor cabin & materials, limited second hand market and big depreciation.
>> Ok if you buy at 4 or so years old and plan to keep several
>> years.
>> Would far rather have a 3 series Touring with all season tyres.
>>
And that's the point... in the UK I had a 330D Touring, it was a brilliant car, economical, fast and very refined and it handled superbly. It suited UK roads but would be a liability anywhere further than 20 miles from a city in Australia and even in most cities where there are all these steep curbs to cross.
Over here (and in the US) the Subaru actually has better than average residuals because they're sought after in preference to CRVs, RAV4s and the frillier LRs due to their reliability and capabilities on unmettled roads.
Horses for courses, unless Subaru adopt 2WD 'faux' 4x4 SUV style-over-substance cars to suit a market (understandably) obsessed with fuel economy then they'll not suit the UK market. I read somewhere that a 2WD version of the next LR Discovery will be produced which (I think) illustrates my point as well as (say) a diesel convertible....
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>> I don't think that Subaru really care too much about the UK market and why
>> would they ?
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They developed the boxer diesel specifically for Europe? But don't sell that many and fail to sell it with an auto-box option? Mad!
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>>fail to sell it with an auto-box option?
Outback has had it for a year or so, but over 30 grand isn't going to make it a fat seller.
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Just back from driving my friends4yo Outback to the AT& T store to get a new SIM. $5 for 250 minutes call time to UK landlines as a cheap 'add on' to $25 for 250 anytime minutes, any cell network, within the USA from my unlocked Windows phone.
I digress. A nice comforting ride in the auto Outback, but no soft touch plastics. Feels dated, but more than acceptable for 'free wheels'!
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>> >>fail to sell it with an auto-box option?
>>
>> Outback has had it for a year or so, but over 30 grand isn't going
>> to make it a fat seller.
>>
It's a CVT and it drives very nicely, overcomes the lack of step-off torque which so many diesel engines seem to have these days. Not overly economical (giving 45mpg) by UK standards but a good engine/gearbox combination, not sure why it's not offered in the Forester though. The car lists at about GBP24K in Australia.
Incidentally, neither the CRV, RAV4, X-Trail or Qashqai / Dualis have hitherto been offered with Diesel engines in Australia although they are beginning to appear on some or all of them. People preferring 2.4/2.5L NA Petrol motors and fretting about the reliability of turbocharged, catalised, DPFed and dual-mass flywheeled diesels. Another observation is that people plan to do 15K-20K miles a year and keep their cars for 5 or more years, I wonder if this is a factor in the preference for simpler petrol engines (alongside cheaper fuel) ?
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>> is a factor in the preference for simpler petrol engines (alongside cheaper fuel) ?
In the average aussie mind, the only place for a diesel engine is at the front of a road train hauling 10 thousand stinking sheep.
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>>It's a CVT and it drives very nicely
I like the smoothness of the CVT (it's a given since it has no distinct gears!) on the Kizashi - it takes a while to get used to using the throttle to best effect: foot flat = 6krpm, part throttle can hold it at peak torque for more unruffled progress. Combined with 35mph/1000rpm in 'top gear' it can nudge 40mpg on a long run.
4wd is nice in the wet, but the extra 100kg it adds to the already fairly heavy car is probably superfluous (I think kerb weight is 1650kg or so).
I only really use the flappy paddles for engine braking, as I expect the computer can use the 'box better than me when overtaking.
Subaru's Lineartronic generally gets a grudging "s'ok for a CVT" from the journos which makes me think it's probably a very nice 'box. It can handle 260 lbft torque at least and has no obvious reliability issues.
Assuming Subaru haven't pulled from the UK, I'm suspicous my next motor will be a Foz XT.
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You see a few Kizashis around here (Victoria), I guess they target the same market as Subaru with the Liberty (Legacy) - having 4wd and all that ?
I have to agree with Lygnos on the CVT, I wasn't too sure when I test drove the Outback but was impressed, it is certainly unobtrusive and I-too only use the flappy paddles for engine braking on occasion. My memories of CVT were from my Mum's Escort MK4 Auto circa 1991 where the Ford/Fiat CVT was, erm.... quite noticeable and a bit odd.
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I've never driven a CVT that I could live with, the last being a truly dreadful Mercedes B-class diesel. Maybe I should try a Subaru, just in case they have turned water into wine?
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>> I've never driven a CVT that I could live with,
Not the same class of car but I've driven Honda Jazz CVT a couple of times and didn't find anything wrong with it. Made it feel even more like a little roller-skate.
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Subaru - Record year for world sales - madf
