Slow death for Subaru dealers??
Discussion
telecat said:
Given the rather odd stance taken by Sabaru with which cars they import and their transmissions are they going to be saleable? I just do not see a market for a CVT petrol 4WD car in the UK.
It's been a slow death in the UK ever since they decided to try and move upmarket and compete with the likes of Audi/BMW and in doing so, neglect their core market of cheap, reliable countryside/farm/utilitarian vehicles. I am a loyal Subaruist, and have sold and continue to sell as many as I can get my hands on, petrols where possible... I have no idea who they think their buyers were, but they have lost many of them. They are supposed to be a bit quirky, driven by people who used to drive Saabs and Volvos.... I reckon if Subaru were the maker of the Dacia Duster, they would have done really well. They seem to keep missing the reason they were so popular. I have to say I'm no massive fan of anything after 2008 ish, Subaru wise. Anylike I have for them is linked to the brand rather than what they make, which is odd, as I am soo not a brand person.....
I think it might be a UK thing. Subaru has just had a great 2017 here in Oz, on the back of the new Impreza and XV. Lots of CVT petrols over here, much to my dismay.
Otherwise, its all looking a bit droopy here too. Yes, we get the Levorg GT but that's also only CVT, same as the Forester XT. There's no more sporty Liberty/Legacy, and whilst I would still like a WRX, I need a wagon/something bigger for the family. A 3.6 Outback just ain't fun.
I would love Subaru to start with the Outback body, lower it and retune the suspension to previous Liberty/Legacy spec, and then install the new 2.0T from the Levorg (FA20), with a bit extra - 300bhp would be fine. And make it available with a 6-sp manual. I would happily go down to my local dealer tomorrow and buy one.
Otherwise, its all looking a bit droopy here too. Yes, we get the Levorg GT but that's also only CVT, same as the Forester XT. There's no more sporty Liberty/Legacy, and whilst I would still like a WRX, I need a wagon/something bigger for the family. A 3.6 Outback just ain't fun.
I would love Subaru to start with the Outback body, lower it and retune the suspension to previous Liberty/Legacy spec, and then install the new 2.0T from the Levorg (FA20), with a bit extra - 300bhp would be fine. And make it available with a 6-sp manual. I would happily go down to my local dealer tomorrow and buy one.
i happened to wander into a Subaru dealership not two days ago to ask what their plans were for a building they recently vacated..
All I can say is WTF have they done with their designs? They could so easily be a CRV/SKoda thing/ Nissan.
Main chappie in his early 60's was quite honest with me how he found it disappointing the way the brand had gone.
Sad though, I did love their cars from the 90's and 2000's.
All I can say is WTF have they done with their designs? They could so easily be a CRV/SKoda thing/ Nissan.
Main chappie in his early 60's was quite honest with me how he found it disappointing the way the brand had gone.
Sad though, I did love their cars from the 90's and 2000's.
Having had a chat at the local dealers, Subaru UK is targeting it's roots now, as the motor sport boom years are long gone.
This is the rural set.
All there advertising is geared to the Forester and XV at the moment, plus attending the big country shows.
I was enquiring to whether they had any plans to bring the Levorg 2.0GT, but apparently Subaru JPN sad no.
Import is the only route, when the time comes.
Subaru are really suffering from the whole emissions saga.
So don't expect any big power engines in the near future, the Forester will be quickest of the bunch.
This is the rural set.
All there advertising is geared to the Forester and XV at the moment, plus attending the big country shows.
I was enquiring to whether they had any plans to bring the Levorg 2.0GT, but apparently Subaru JPN sad no.
Import is the only route, when the time comes.
Subaru are really suffering from the whole emissions saga.
So don't expect any big power engines in the near future, the Forester will be quickest of the bunch.
Bansheemax said:
Having had a chat at the local dealers, Subaru UK is targeting it's roots now, as the motor sport boom years are long gone.
This is the rural set.
All there advertising is geared to the Forester and XV at the moment, plus attending the big country shows.
I was enquiring to whether they had any plans to bring the Levorg 2.0GT, but apparently Subaru JPN sad no.
Import is the only route, when the time comes.
Subaru are really suffering from the whole emissions saga.
So don't expect any big power engines in the near future, the Forester will be quickest of the bunch.
And the XT ends this year. Nothing of any note left, performance-wise.This is the rural set.
All there advertising is geared to the Forester and XV at the moment, plus attending the big country shows.
I was enquiring to whether they had any plans to bring the Levorg 2.0GT, but apparently Subaru JPN sad no.
Import is the only route, when the time comes.
Subaru are really suffering from the whole emissions saga.
So don't expect any big power engines in the near future, the Forester will be quickest of the bunch.
Surely without Prodrives input they would have all but died out? Like Daihatsu and their exit from being main stream dealers - made some decent cars once upon a time but a lack of forward thinking will be their demise. One of those cases where their motorsport heritage was the crowd puller, everyone wanted to be a works Subaru driver!
3.6 H6 engine coming to an end world-wide now. The replacement is a 2.4 four pot with a twin-scroll turbo giving similar output.
https://www.torquenews.com/1084/look-subaru-axe-ou...
https://www.torquenews.com/1084/look-subaru-axe-ou...
the market changing from people buying outright to PCP or leasing probably hurt them a lot too.
just having a quick look and for leasing/ PCP a 1.6 Levorg you would be looking at about £450 a month where you can get the equivalent and probably much nicer Audi A4 / BMW 3 series estates for about £220 a month.
Much as I'm a Subaru fan, had 5 over the years, still have one. I couldn't make myself pay £200 a month more for an inferior product. Which is why my daily is an Octavia VRS at the moment and not Levorg / Forester.
just having a quick look and for leasing/ PCP a 1.6 Levorg you would be looking at about £450 a month where you can get the equivalent and probably much nicer Audi A4 / BMW 3 series estates for about £220 a month.
Much as I'm a Subaru fan, had 5 over the years, still have one. I couldn't make myself pay £200 a month more for an inferior product. Which is why my daily is an Octavia VRS at the moment and not Levorg / Forester.
Another problem is that many traditional Subaru owners are like me, they keep their cars for ages. I bought my last Forester about 9 years ago and have just passed it on to a friend. I've bought a new Forester XT as they're the last of the line and expect to keep it for 10 years or so.
PomBstard said:
I think it might be a UK thing. Subaru has just had a great 2017 here in Oz, on the back of the new Impreza and XV. Lots of CVT petrols over here, much to my dismay.
Just got back from a trip to Oz and I have to say you guys have Subarus everywhere compared to the UK. BRZ's and GT86's are all over the place, a few WRX's and STI's to be seen too and alot of standard Impreza, Legacy, Forester, etc models.Compare that to here where if people want an SUV they go for Nissan, Porsche, Ranger Rover, etc or if people want an Estate they go for BMW, Audi, Merc, etc and if people want a fun car... well... the vast majority of people don't want a fun car here, the streets are swamped in a sea of grey german cars (another nice thing about Oz, all your cars are so colourful!)
So it's very much a UK thing, Subaru is massive in the US and Oz still
JB! said:
or turbo BRZ...
That's not a Subaru UK issue, there's no such thing as a Turbo BRZ worldwide.They are having a bumper year again here in switzerland. The banning of VW diesels for a time has played into their hands in areas like Central Switzerland where their market share has gotten even bigger. They are ubiquitous out here. Every town has a subaru dealer and they are known as the farmers porsche. Its strange on the one hand how the swiss have taken them to their hearts, but on the other hand they are ideally suited to the conditions. The offering of only CVT hasnt harmed the brand in the slightest it seems, I actually think alot more people buy them now as they are easier to manage in traffic with this type of gearbox. Its unfortunate for the UK but same time if your market primarily is the US, Japan and Australia, then you have to focus on these areas.
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