Car purchase: was it a good deal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TurboLevin2NV
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The Outback wagon saved Subaru. The only reason there even was an Impreza Outback, or an Outback sedan, is because Subaru decided to see how many mutations they could make work. Obviously nothing's been as popular as the original, but it just goes to show exactly how popular the original was.

The Forester was a crucial vehicle at a crucial time. Subaru couldn't have kept their AWD mantra without breaking into the SUV market at some point, but the Forester was perfect in that it kept Subaru's clean, unimposing image with a small SUV that a lot of reviewers considered a wagon.

The WRX actually came out in 2002 and has done quite a bit for Subaru's performance image, as will the new Legacy. I don't actually think Subaru ever thought the WRX would sell here. In fact, their original sales estimates were doubled in the first model year. For some unbelievably odd reason, Subaru - and Mitsubishi - never gave our market enough credit. Likely because they got burned with the SVX and 3000GT (and saw how Toyota, Mazda, and Nissan got burned as well) in the mid-90s.
 
Argh, I was confusing the WRX with the Impreza's facelift year. Y'know, you can still order Impreza Outbacks. I think they're pretty unique and cool. Imaging an Impreza WRX Outback sedan. Talk about trail tamer :sly:

Anyway, so, that thing was just a rocketlaunch success, huh? Well, like I said, Gran Turismo had a lot to do with it believe it or not. You have these kids, playing GT, watching Initial D, being in the know, 17-20 year-olds, wanting a lot of power in a practical package, and the WRX fit the bill...

Actually, I think the main reason the WRX is such a success is because it's a sedan. The coupe market is still pretty dark, (example) death of the 2.5RS sedan.
 
Yeah - Impreza Outbacks do exist (as do non-turbo 2.5RS sedan and wagon models) but Subaru focuses on the WRX for several reasons. First, because it was more popular that Subaru ever thought, and second, and most importantly, because everyone recognizes that, AWD aside, the Impreza is an awful competitor for "established" small sedans and wagons like the Toyota Corolla or Matrix. Subaru only keeps the Impreza around here because they need something to position the WRX and STi above; the base models are imported in low quantities and sell poorly. Hell, the price of a "base" Impreza RS sedan, $18000, is the same as a fully-loaded Corolla, and you just have to turn one manufacturer further in an alphabetical listing to find similar deals at Suzuki; hell, they even make their small sedan and wagon with AWD - but it's optional, and it's cheap, which can't be said for the Impreza.

Actually, I think the main reason the WRX is such a success is because it's a sedan. The coupe market is still pretty dark, (example) death of the 2.5RS sedan.
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Fair - we don't tend to like coupes, unless they're dynamically unappealing. But I think it's a success because performance is back on a large scale. People are loving cars again.
 
Here's the sweet thing about a 2.5RS though, that tuner shop I talked about (remember that red fd... thread) the guy knows some 'WRX Boys', and they met at a Stewart's recently. Oh, man, only a few of them were '03s or newer, but most of them were 2.5RS' either turbo'd lightly, or, in a few cases, fully converted to JDM WRX-STi mechanically. Gorgeous, man. A '98 2.5RS that looked like a 22B and had the new STi engine underhood. Man, the Impreza rocks.

Back on the coupe subject, I mean c'mon, the SVX and GTO were coupes. And they were also heavy. The WRX and Evo are considerably lighter.
 
Victor Vance
Back on the coupe subject, I mean c'mon, the SVX and GTO were coupes. And they were also heavy. The WRX and Evo are considerably lighter.
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I think the reason we didn't buy coupes in the early 1990s was originally blamed on the economy. And the corporations are snake-bit about it, so they don't want to return unless it's a guaranteed sale. Which explains the huge delays in shipping the turbocharged Lancer and Imprezas over here.
 
Well, with all the kids grabbing them quicker than they can sell, I don't think Subaru and Mitsubishi have to worry so much ;)

Unfortunately, my dream 1st new car Evo RS isn't doing so well...
 
Ick! Who would want that!? $27700 and no ABS, air-con, power mirrors, power windows, power locks, keyless entry, or radio/CD. It could do 0-60 in four seconds - cars today simply have to have that sort of stuff. Plus, why would I pay $27700 new for an RS when I could get a 2003 Evo with all that for slightly less? Mitsubishi got greedy sending the RS here.
 
No, the Previa doesn't have a tachometer. :D

Worst vans produced.....not if you live with one of them for an eternity. That thing has had NO mechanical problems whatsoever, never gone to the mechanic because something was wrong, nothing but routine maintenance.

It can hold a lot (Christmas tree buying), still has pretty good gas mileage, and the seats are comfy as hell.

I'll restore it, put a 2JZ in the back and remove all the seats, give it a manual, and PRESTO instant DORIFTO MINIVANO!!! :D :D :D :lol:

anyway....we were GOING to get the supercharged all trac but at the time we were hard up for money, we still were paying for our AE85 Trueno. Yes, :D, we had one of those. Too bad we traded it in. I was so mad when I realized it's potential.
 

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