RE: RIP Subaru Impreza
Discussion
Max_Torque said:
83.9% of Subaru owners have an online nickname/avatar that in someway includes model type letters or similar monikers............. ;-)
That would be unfortunate indeed, because 83.675% of people with an online nickname derived from a car model name are utterly incapable of discussing that model in a rational manner 
All this bad feeling, mud slinging and slagging because not enough people bought enough Imprezas to sustain the model in the UK. It's a bit narrow minded by some to lay the blame solely at brand snobbery.
The world has moved on and Subaru didn't appear to notice. There is a lot more choice and more competent cars out there than every. I'm not saying necessarily more competent than the Scooby but decent fast cars for reasonable money. Astra VXR, Megane 265, Focus ST, M135 etc etc. more rounded but fast, fun, day to day cars. They may not be as effective a road weapon as the Subaru but how many people really wanted what it could do served up the way it was??? Not enough otherwise this thread wouldn't be here.
Some have referred to WRC withdrawal as it's down fall. I don't think it's as simple as that.. Audi (not saying their on road prowess is in anyway comparable) have no trouble flogging Quattro branded cars even though they stopped rallying way back with the banning of Group B.
Subaru had no plan or direction for life after WRC... It's been mentioned they should go back to the WRC... what with? they don't have a car in the Polo, DS3, Fiesta class.
They were stuck in a rut with the Impreza, stuck to the formula and not moved it forward. It could not survive in the UK with just their hardcore market.
Blaming the public for buying Audis, BMW or whatever instead of Scoobys is rediculous. People buy what they want with their money, some may indeed buy the badge to impress but most simply see what's out there and buy what ticks the boxes.
As they say when it's all going wrong in the forces, change, adapt and overcome. Subaru have failed to do just that.
The world has moved on and Subaru didn't appear to notice. There is a lot more choice and more competent cars out there than every. I'm not saying necessarily more competent than the Scooby but decent fast cars for reasonable money. Astra VXR, Megane 265, Focus ST, M135 etc etc. more rounded but fast, fun, day to day cars. They may not be as effective a road weapon as the Subaru but how many people really wanted what it could do served up the way it was??? Not enough otherwise this thread wouldn't be here.
Some have referred to WRC withdrawal as it's down fall. I don't think it's as simple as that.. Audi (not saying their on road prowess is in anyway comparable) have no trouble flogging Quattro branded cars even though they stopped rallying way back with the banning of Group B.
Subaru had no plan or direction for life after WRC... It's been mentioned they should go back to the WRC... what with? they don't have a car in the Polo, DS3, Fiesta class.
They were stuck in a rut with the Impreza, stuck to the formula and not moved it forward. It could not survive in the UK with just their hardcore market.
Blaming the public for buying Audis, BMW or whatever instead of Scoobys is rediculous. People buy what they want with their money, some may indeed buy the badge to impress but most simply see what's out there and buy what ticks the boxes.
As they say when it's all going wrong in the forces, change, adapt and overcome. Subaru have failed to do just that.
ArnageWRC said:
It's hardly a surprise, the UK arm wanted to distance itself from the Motorsport image - the very thing that made their name in the UK.
To be fair, the EU forced their hand. The incoming corporate average CO2 fines make a business model with the WRX as your core volume product unsustainable. They had to shift to small cars or diesels to stay in business. They are basically being put back to where they were without the rally reps. If our elected and unelected leaders were not doing all they can to kill cars like the Impreza, it would not be dying.
It's ironic really - the original Impreza Turbo 4x4 was something of a secret, 99% of people didn't know what it was but it went like stink (seriously - compared to the other cars on offer for similar money at the time it was warp-powered!!)
Can't have sold many back then tho - I went into the dealers a few times and you were rubbing shoulders with farmers and rural mums with their Foresters and vanilla Impreza and Legacy Estates...
Of course it got popular and started to sprout "look at me, I'm 22 and immature" bodykits and spoilers and air intakes and they started to sell loads of them - not sure the car really got that much better, it may have been outright faster but there was a price for that, people not only knew what you were driving but you SHOUTED the performance at anyone who looked at you (which somewhat missed the point of the original IMO).
Then they tried a few crazy ideas like ugly headlights, pizza-holders on the bonnet, killing the estate, making it a hatchback (FFS!) - all of which were stupid, in hindsight.
It's opposition (the Evo) died from 'lack of any actual competitive rallying' to be done and the Impreza was left looking a bit odd - like a football fan in full regalia and silly hat who turns-up to the stadium 2 days late...
and now, apparently, not enough people buy them - here's idea Subaru, take the stock car and put the hardware in it but remove the 'I really have a tiny penis" extras and we'll come back - the original owners - the people who understood...
Can't have sold many back then tho - I went into the dealers a few times and you were rubbing shoulders with farmers and rural mums with their Foresters and vanilla Impreza and Legacy Estates...
Of course it got popular and started to sprout "look at me, I'm 22 and immature" bodykits and spoilers and air intakes and they started to sell loads of them - not sure the car really got that much better, it may have been outright faster but there was a price for that, people not only knew what you were driving but you SHOUTED the performance at anyone who looked at you (which somewhat missed the point of the original IMO).
Then they tried a few crazy ideas like ugly headlights, pizza-holders on the bonnet, killing the estate, making it a hatchback (FFS!) - all of which were stupid, in hindsight.
It's opposition (the Evo) died from 'lack of any actual competitive rallying' to be done and the Impreza was left looking a bit odd - like a football fan in full regalia and silly hat who turns-up to the stadium 2 days late...
and now, apparently, not enough people buy them - here's idea Subaru, take the stock car and put the hardware in it but remove the 'I really have a tiny penis" extras and we'll come back - the original owners - the people who understood...
Pr1964 said:
Rick1.8t said:
I could't have guessed you were from london with your attitude.
And your comments about driving the wrong vehicle for the job - is an X5 the correct tool for urban commuting? Is it not an off-road vehicle? - What a hilarious case of irony....
And here we see the downside of filling in your garage on PH it used as amo to taunt... And your comments about driving the wrong vehicle for the job - is an X5 the correct tool for urban commuting? Is it not an off-road vehicle? - What a hilarious case of irony....
The X5 diesel is for long journeys it's not a off road vehicle it's a fit it with winter tyres and go to the alps skiing with the family towing a trailer with all the gear in absolute comfort and modern safety and in the summer take the family to the south of France or Spain again in total comfort and modern safety.
Yep you could buy a people carrier but why if you've got the money when you can buy an X5 with 4wd which drives so much better and makes working your arse off all year give you a nice feeling of luxury. If I didn't need the extra seats I'd probably have an M5 estate but family needs at the moment leave little option other than an xc90 or q7 neither offer such a good drive.
Thing is there are lots of other options when it comes to Alternatives to an impreza and as has been said already all those choices and very few buyers chose an impreza .......due to many factors. Build quality image etc etc etc ...
The impreza was a technical master but a visual disaster.
The X5 is one of the most ugly cars out there, yet you slate the Impreza is ugly, pot calling kettle. The X5 is Ugly, slow and great for the person who has completely given up on driving. Also utterly useless in London the X5 is. As for image which you are also talking about, well most would agree the X5's image is a long way off respectable from watching and listening to peoples opinions of them. Personally I don't buy into badge snobbery or image, I rate each car on its own merits since I don't have to worry about keeping up with the Jones's.
You seem so entrenched in your opinion and snobbery you've missed its still a great drivers car and I think most would agree is far less ugly than an X5!
Anyway, back to the subject. I drive a classic RB5 which I adore, its a brilliant drivers car, I love the sound, the rawness and the outright performance. It's lightly modified and is running around 280bhp and has bags of character. Is it hopeless on petrol? Sure, are the dash plastics terrible? Undoubtedly and is it expensive to run? hell yes!
I don't mind it not being everyone's cup of tea, I didn't buy it for social approval (I'm not that insecure!), I bought it because I love its purpose, huge ability and the driving experience.
Can we not just appreciate them for what they are? A truly focused drivers car that is iconic for its history and success?
I grew up playing Colin McRae on the playstation, must have read every review of the P1 when I was still in school, but when I went to see the current STI was so disappointed by the rubbish interior/MPG, high road tax/insurance I ended up getting a BMW 335i. Though I'm sad to loss the chance of owning a new Impreza cannot say am surprised
I'm old enough to remember when Subaru sold a funky pick up with 4WD 
I became very popular with farmers and was soon followed by an estate car that every farmers wife wanted.
IMHO the rallying sent them off down a road that they became too focused dependant on.
It was a cash cow buy now it has run dry.
I still think there is a market for well priced 4WD saloons and estates (as shown by Audi) but not necessarily the full on rally versions.
I became very popular with farmers and was soon followed by an estate car that every farmers wife wanted.
IMHO the rallying sent them off down a road that they became too focused dependant on.
It was a cash cow buy now it has run dry.
I still think there is a market for well priced 4WD saloons and estates (as shown by Audi) but not necessarily the full on rally versions.
Ordinary_Chap said:
It's so sad to see posts like this on PH.
The X5 is one of the most ugly cars out there, yet you slate the Impreza is ugly, pot calling kettle. The X5 is Ugly, slow and great for the person who has completely given up on driving. Also utterly useless in London the X5 is. As for image which you are also talking about, well most would agree the X5's image is a long way off respectable from watching and listening to peoples opinions of them. Personally I don't buy into badge snobbery or image, I rate each car on its own merits since I don't have to worry about keeping up with the Jones's.
You seem so entrenched in your opinion and snobbery you've missed its still a great drivers car and I think most would agree is far less ugly than an X5!
Anyway, back to the subject. I drive a classic RB5 which I adore, its a brilliant drivers car, I love the sound, the rawness and the outright performance. It's lightly modified and is running around 280bhp and has bags of character. Is it hopeless on petrol? Sure, are the dash plastics terrible? Undoubtedly and is it expensive to run? hell yes!
I don't mind it not being everyone's cup of tea, I didn't buy it for social approval (I'm not that insecure!), I bought it because I love its purpose, huge ability and the driving experience.
Can we not just appreciate them for what they are? A truly focused drivers car that is iconic for its history and success?
The same way you can appreciate why other people buy what the buy an not just label them snobs. I get the whole Subaru Evo thing. A friend of mine had a couple of Imprezas pass through HER motoring life. Both great cars, rubbish interiors but I we know where the money went don't we. It was a car that I admired but no desire to own. Not for any snobbery reasons just a car I wouldn't want anymore than I'd want a Merc.The X5 is one of the most ugly cars out there, yet you slate the Impreza is ugly, pot calling kettle. The X5 is Ugly, slow and great for the person who has completely given up on driving. Also utterly useless in London the X5 is. As for image which you are also talking about, well most would agree the X5's image is a long way off respectable from watching and listening to peoples opinions of them. Personally I don't buy into badge snobbery or image, I rate each car on its own merits since I don't have to worry about keeping up with the Jones's.
You seem so entrenched in your opinion and snobbery you've missed its still a great drivers car and I think most would agree is far less ugly than an X5!
Anyway, back to the subject. I drive a classic RB5 which I adore, its a brilliant drivers car, I love the sound, the rawness and the outright performance. It's lightly modified and is running around 280bhp and has bags of character. Is it hopeless on petrol? Sure, are the dash plastics terrible? Undoubtedly and is it expensive to run? hell yes!
I don't mind it not being everyone's cup of tea, I didn't buy it for social approval (I'm not that insecure!), I bought it because I love its purpose, huge ability and the driving experience.
Can we not just appreciate them for what they are? A truly focused drivers car that is iconic for its history and success?
This thread was doing fine till a BMW owner chimed in with "Chav Tat".
I know you shouldn't tar all BMW owners with the same brush but this particular comment is used so often by them that's it's become really old and tired and i generally try and just ignore it. Anyway, hence how this thread has developed because Subaru owners won't just sit there and ignore comments like that.
For some reason it's really grated me on this occasion, and going by this thread many others too.
However, it does go some way to showing you that badge snobbery is still alive and kicking and going very strong on PH. BMW owners must think they are a cut above the rest. Feck knows why when you can make some interesting acronyms just from the initials?
Here's just a few....
Brutal Money Waster
Bumbling Mechanical Wretch
Barely Moving Wreck
Bimbos Motor Weapon
Bad Mannered w
kers
Bavarian Manure Wagon
No doubt BMW owners are rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of one less manufacturer model to kick their sorry sr5e5.
This isn't the end of the story BMW owners....Not by a long chalk!!
I know you shouldn't tar all BMW owners with the same brush but this particular comment is used so often by them that's it's become really old and tired and i generally try and just ignore it. Anyway, hence how this thread has developed because Subaru owners won't just sit there and ignore comments like that.
For some reason it's really grated me on this occasion, and going by this thread many others too.
However, it does go some way to showing you that badge snobbery is still alive and kicking and going very strong on PH. BMW owners must think they are a cut above the rest. Feck knows why when you can make some interesting acronyms just from the initials?
Here's just a few....
Brutal Money Waster
Bumbling Mechanical Wretch
Barely Moving Wreck
Bimbos Motor Weapon
Bad Mannered w
kers Bavarian Manure Wagon
No doubt BMW owners are rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of one less manufacturer model to kick their sorry sr5e5.
This isn't the end of the story BMW owners....Not by a long chalk!!
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 16th December 23:38
bungle said:
odyssey2200 said:
I'm old enough to remember when Subaru sold a funky pick up with 4WD
Carstins Subaru have had one in their showroom recently, looks great! (doubt it's for sale though).I used to think the 4wd Justy was good too.
gangzoom said:
I grew up playing Colin McRae on the playstation, must have read every review of the P1 when I was still in school, but when I went to see the current STI was so disappointed by the rubbish interior/MPG, high road tax/insurance I ended up getting a BMW 335i. Though I'm sad to loss the chance of owning a new Impreza cannot say am surprised
The above is interesting but everyone is different which is a good thing - I am on my second hatch sti - I looked at 335i's and still chose the impreza.Nothing wrong with 335's but personally just felt the sti is more 'fun' and still comfortable doing 30k a year.
I love it and still think they are fantastic cars and the fact a lot of people don't like the looks really doesn't matter to me.
Funny thing is, a lot of those who said they didn't like it then changed their mind when they either looked or went in mine......
Its a shame it has come to this but at least i will have to try something different next time............
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