Credit where credit is due, Subaru is the best marketer in the car universe. While Ford may have more fans, and Ferrari may have the wildest ratio of cars built to people wearing its logos, it’s hard to argue that Subaru hasn’t built the most thorough emotional universe around its brand. Now there’s a new design that Subaru is giving to its dealerships, and it’s kinda brilliant. Fleece, it’s what makes a Subaru owner a Subaru owner.
I’m going to try to keep today’s Morning Dump news roundup a little more upbeat. It’s Friday, and I could use a little positive energy going into the weekend.
What else? Inventories are recovering a bit, and hybrid inventory is surging as automakers start stocking up on the tech (if they can). Tesla is coming out against the EPA’s move to disavow the GHG Endangerment Finding, stating that it’ll harm their business.
Uhhh dogs. Let’s do dogs. Isuzu has a new line of accessories for dogs.
Behold, The Subaru Connection Hub
Nothing yet, including my own experience, has persuaded me to abandon my belief that Subarus are mostly economy cars+. The WRX is an economy car+ rally speed, which is excellent. The Crosstrek is an economy car+ grit. The Forester is an economy car+ marketing.
And I bought the marketing! Within a year of buying my new Subaru Forester, I was an REI Co-Op member and had a tent. I literally had never tent camped in my entire life, and then all of a sudden I’m standing outside in the cold morning in a Patagonia pullover, proudly making camp oatmeal on my little green Coleman propane stove and nodding knowingly at the other dads over their little stoves.
Even the names of the cars imply outdoorseyness. Outback, Forester, Tribeca… ok, maybe not that last one, but they got rid of it quickly, and now that model is the Ascent. You’re ascending with a Subaru.
My local Subaru dealer was also a Volvo dealer, and so I usually went over to the Volvo side to work while my vehicle was being serviced (which happened a lot). The Subaru side wasn’t anything special and in need of an update, whereas the Volvo dealer’s waiting room had that whole Swedish minimalism thing going on.
Now an update is coming, and Subaru is leaning hard into it. Here’s how Subaru describes it:
The new concept reimagines the automotive retail experience, transforming dealerships into immersive, hospitality-driven spaces that strengthen customer relationships and community connections while embodying the Subaru Love Promise®, the company’s commitment to be More Than a Car Company® by showing love and respect in every interaction.
The Connection Hub shifts traditional dealership perceptions, positioning Subaru retailers as vibrant community destinations. Customers will experience bold product displays, interactive personalization tools, and welcoming social spaces designed to make every visit – from purchase to service – memorable and meaningful.
What’s that going to look like? A park-like pavilion, a “consetllation lounge” with a “dynamic digital media wall spotlighting Love Promise initiatives.” There will also be “outdoor green spaces.”
That sounds great, and it’s been like 18 years since Subaru has done such an initiative, so it’s long overdue. It’s here I feel like I need to point out that Love isn’t what makes a Subaru a Subaru. No brand will love you, and no brand is your friend (except HEB and The Autopian, obviously).
I said this is like a little REI, but it also reminds me of the LL Bean Flagship store in Maine, which is a bigger version of this experience. It just gets you in the mood to, like, kayak or whatever.
Why is this happening? Subaru is particularly at risk from tariffs, and it’s about to launch more EVs into a space that’s going to be a lot more difficult without incentives. It’s raising prices on just about everything, so image is going to be even more important going forward as it has to justify those prices.
How do dealers feel about this?
Automotive News has the answer:
Jeff Williams, former chair of the retailer council who owns a Subaru store in Lansing, Mich., said the redesigned look fits the brand and its values but is an additional expense when dealers are seeing their margins tighten.
“I don’t think it’s the best timing, considering the current economic state of the auto business and interest rates,” Williams told Automotive News. “But it is a consumer-centric and lifestyle-designed facility that matches our customers’ values.”
Subaru did not release cost estimates for retailers to update their stores.
C’mon, Jeff, it’ll be fun to have a little café.
Year Of The Hybrid Continues
We’re now into year two of Year of the Hybrid (Decade of the EREV, just you wait). While new vehicle inventory increased about 1.1% month-over-month according to S&P Global Mobility, it depends quite a bit on what kind of vehicles you’re looking at.
Importers are getting hit, with declines at Volvo, Audi, and Mazda (with the exception of the US-built CX-50). Automakers wisely stopped producing a bunch of EVs a few months ago, and now EV inventory has fallen from a high of 188,000 vehicles in June to just 169,000 in August.
Buy hybrids? There are a lot of hybrids.
The hybrid segment is showing promising growth, with its share of total new vehicle inventory increasing to 11%, a rise of 3.8 percentage points year-over-year (YoY). Total hybrid inventory has surged by 47% YoY, totaling 292,000 units.
Toyota remains the dominant player, accounting for 34% of all hybrid inventory, and has seen a 26% increase YoY. Notable increases within Toyota’s lineup include the RAV4 Hybrid (+28%) and the Highlander Hybrid (+117%), while the Camry Hybrid has decreased by 37% YoY.
Kia has also made significant strides, with a 173% increase in hybrid inventory YoY, particularly with the Sportage Hybrid (+313%) and the Carnival Hybrid. The Carnival Hybrid is a new 2025 offering.
Bring. It. On.
PHEV share has dropped, which has a lot to do with the Wrangler PHEV’s decline. A PHEV could be a great idea, and they’re popular in Europe, but America mostly has the wrong kind.
Tesla Admits It Needs Those Carbon Credits
I talked a lot about the EPA GHG endangerment finding a couple of days ago, so you can read that if you haven’t to get up to speed. The short version is that the EPA, at the direction of the Trump Administration, wants to kill the legal basis for the government to restrict greenhouse gases. This feels like both a reflection of a White House that doesn’t believe in global warming and a handout to automakers hurt by tariffs.
Personally, I think this is bad. It’s fine to give automakers relief, and it’s reasonable to admit that the goals were going to be difficult to reach, but this is a crappy way to do it.
Tesla, unsurprisingly, agrees with me, and does an extremely thorough job in its filing of ripping apart the EPA’s justification for removing the finding. Why does Tesla care? Maybe it’s because Tesla gets money from automakers that can’t reach these goals, and it doesn’t want to lose this key source of income that helped build the company:
Given the exceedance of the underlying standards that comes from the sale of a battery electric EV, Tesla has expected to continue to generate compliance credits that it can market to other companies –companies that, based on their own business strategies, opt to purchase compliance credits rather than comply with the performance standard. Such credit revenue has facilitated Tesla’s expansion and continued investmentin innovation. Tesla would be adversely affected by the proposed change in these standards that would curtail the value and continued marketability of such long-established credits
The company has made billions of dollars from these credits, and it still makes up a large portion of its profits. If more governments follow suit, Tesla stands to lose a lot of money.
Here, Enjoy This Very Good Boy
I’m seriously bummed that we don’t get Isuzu passenger trucks anymore. How cool would it be to be able to buy a turbodiesel D-Max? Also, in the UK, you can get a D-Max with a bunch of accessories from premium outdoor dog gear brand Ruffwear.
The model in these photos, by the way, is “brand ambassador” Siobhan Sellar.
Marketing Manager at Ruffwear UK, Sarah Burns, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Ruffwear gear to Isuzu D-Max owners. These accessories make every adventure safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for dogs and their humans, whether you’re heading to a local park or venturing to the Scottish Highlands.”
Group Resources Director at Isuzu UK, Darren James, said: “The D-Max has always been about tackling adventures with confidence. Now, with Ruffwear accessories, dog owners can make every journey even more enjoyable for their four-legged friends, from secure travel to post-walk clean-ups.”
Maybe this company should team up with Subaru in the United States.
Delightful!
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
Hey, look at that, Edmonton’s own Purity Ring is back with a new album (it’s been a minute), inspired by games like Final Fantasy X, which is quite obvious when you watch the video for “many lives + part ii” embedded above. Enjoy it, nerds.
I tried to imply to my friends this morning that Purity Ring is the “thinking man’s Grimes,” but I was corrected. Perhaps they are the thinking man’s CHVRCHES.
The Big Question
Did you ever have an animal that loved to be in the car? Did you ever have a pet that hated being in one? Tell your pet/car stories!
Top photo: Subaru
I need dealerships to have better shuttle service. I don’t want to camp out at the dealership, I want to be chauffeured somewhere else and brought back when my car is done.
Uber. Or, pay up front (and at every service visit) for a luxury brand that offers that for “free”
Our cat is a surprising little road warrior. He is good for 8-10 hours or so in the car, we know his signs when he needs to stop and use the litter pan. He will nap in his carrier, or sit on a lap watching the cars go by. I got stares a few years ago as he sat in the front seat watching the big trucks in NC. He has been to FL once from PA, and the Carolinas a number of times. We look for pet friendly hotel/condo. He accompanied us to Richmond over Memorial Day. He generally only gets restless when it’s litter pan time, which I keep bagged and ready.
He has his own little luggage with food, toys, scratcher, litter mat.
Imagine pulling off the highway and setting a litter pan on the seat so the cat can do his business. Then get a bit of water and a treat until home or the hotel.
Every dog I’ve had loved the car. When I was in HS, my mom’s Boston was so intent on car rides that he jumped through the (open) window of my car as I was driving out of the driveway because he wanted to go, too.
We had one cat that liked being in the car, but my sister has trained at least two others to be pretty good car cats, too. Mostly, though, cats I have owned have had little to no interest in the car and/or associated it with going to the vet.
My leopard gecko seemed to be pretty okay in the car (in her tank). She really likes to see and hear me, so it must have just been like I was in a somewhat shaky room with her.
When I was in college (Virginia Tech), I caught a ride home with my roommate, who was also tasked with transporting his sister’s beautiful white and fluffy Himalayan cat with us to Richmond.
My roommate drove a second-hand mid-1980’s Honda Accord, white with blue interior. The three-hour drive to Richmond was uneventful. The cat was super chill and spent most of the ride sitting on the rear deckboard looking out the back window.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ANYONE TRANSPORTING A WHITE HIMALAYAN CAT IN AN OLD HONDA ACCORD WITH BLUE INTERIOR:
The material on the deckboard will degrade and break free. It will dye your cat blue. The cat turned half blue.
Oops. Heh.
Our cat is chill AF in the car. He likes watching the big trucks go by. Once tried napping on top of the front dash.
Go Hokies!
As a former Richmond resident and now living spitting distance from Christiansburg and Duncan Imports, OH GOD do I know that drive. Multiple U-Hauls. Over Afton Mt. in crap weather. SO MANY OVERSIZE LOADS. Or is that just PTSD from 1-81 going south? Regardless, that drive is mind-numbing.
No himalayan cats but I did transport one very elderly black cat and he bitched the entire way.
As for now we have two rescue chihuahuas, deer heads apparently. The ones that don’t look bugeyed. One of them couldn’t give a shit about the car. He sleeps. The other? She is frantic the entire time. Treats? Pets? OMG CAN’T. Window to window. Wife order CBD treats to chill her out, we’ll see if they work.
I miss the weird Subaru.
2 college friends had X/T’s
Subaru’s been poaching The Bishop’s AMC dealership designs! I hope he’s compensated with at least a couple free head gaskets and a flat-brim hat!
Bring on the EREVs! I’ve been championing such, especially with a small diesel generator…mmmm.
Tesla sure is good at sucking up other people’s money in obfuscated ways. Enough to float a questionable car company anyways.
Ruffwear is good stuff, and about all I have for my dog, but is this just a way to buy dog accessories with your auto loan? Astro will be gone before that 84-month loan is paid off.
Thank you for acknowledging the marketing mastery for Subaru, which, to me, makes cars that feel every bit econo, but have tricked people into thinking they’re something special. Just like you said. My mom paid MSRP for a Forester in 2017 because she really believed it’s the safest vehicle you can buy. Later, she got into a side swipe accident and believes the car saved her life because Subaru puts beams in the doors! Yeah, every car has those, it’s literally required.
My daughter is going to get her license next year and wants a Crosstrek because it “looks like an adventurous girl.” Really, it’s a lifted Impreza with fender flares, and the Impreza has never been anything but a mid-level compact. I know this because I fell for the hype and bought a WRX in 2005. It was super fun because it was super fast, but that fun lasted about a year, and then I realized that it really was just an Impreza with a turbo. And the Impreza feels every bit an econocar.
When I watch videos recommending the Crosstrek as a great subcompact SUV, the reasons why are always so esoteric. Usually something like “it just works.” I take that as “we like it because it has a cool look and outdoors rep and it functions…well enough.” CVTs suck. Giant touchscreens suck. Terrible NVH and super slow acceleration suck but that’s okay because fender flares.
Mazda engineers must be mystified when they compare the refinement and interior or a CX-30 to a Crosstrek.
Plus, Subaru’s old AWD differentiator is gone, because everyone offers AWD these days. I know, I know, just like my mom thinking only Subarus have door beams, there are millions that think Subaru AWD is some giant leap forward compared to most AWD systems. It isn’t. But the marketing works and my own family falls for it.
This is a thing that gets me about Subaru owners. The number of people I’ve heard talk about a Subaru saving their life when it was an accident they would have easily survived in a Corolla…marketing works.
And the number of Subaru owners who have been in more accidents in Subarus than seem appropriate for their years on the road seems a little suspicious. I almost think people get complacent driving Subarus because they feel so safe. No actual data to back that up, so take it with a grain of salt.
Her reasoning might be false, but the realities of many Subarus being at the top of IIHS’ safety tests are objective evidence to indicate they’re safer than a great many vehicles on the road.
I genuinely trust IIHS’ ratings more than NHTSA – the insurance industry is out to pinch every penny so has every incentive in people not being severely maimed & injured in a collision.
I think the point I’m trying to make is that people think that buying the car that performs the best in those tests has saved their lives when they would have been safe in any vehicle built since 2005 (or even earlier).
The difference between a best tested and something a couple slots down is negligible in almost any real-world accident.
I don’t mind someone buying the one that performed the best in the tests, I just don’t like the hyperbolic assertions that it saved their life in a crash that wouldn’t have been fatal in any modern car.
I’m also not a fan of the safety testing prioritizing crash survivability at the expense of visibility, but that’s a whole other discussion, since that’s not just Subaru, but vehicles in general.
I see your point. Correlation does not always equal causation.
The Volvo ‘fandom’ can be like this too. Sure, Volvos have consistently been some of the safest vehicles on the road, but buying stickers and mugs emblazoned with “VOLVO SAVED MY LIFE” is maybe a bit cultish?
“Stop taking Tylenol.”
I think your last point is contrary to the example at hand, the Forester has one of the largest greenhouses on the road. It would be appreciated if other brands could have windows.
However, it’s difficult to state with any level of certainty that an alternate vehicle would have resulted in the same (or better) outcome. What can be said, however, that particular car protected its occupants (be it a Subaru, Toyota, or any other car).
We all have irrational reasons why we like brand X over Y. This is, arguably, a decent reason to be loyal to a brand than other reasons.
A Crosstrek would probably be a great first car!
In Subaru’s defense, they do generally keep every model at IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, so they are generally about as safe as you could expect for their class. That said, it never ceases to amaze me how many people get in a minor fender bender that would have been very much survivable in a ’96 corolla and swear up and down that they must buy this one brand of car forever, because *My brand* is clearly the only safe brand of car. It’s just dumb, but as we well know, car buying is almost never rational.
Look, I’m a dyed in the wool Subaru hater after our 2010 Forester had its engine out TWICE.
Proper full-time AWD in a compact car/crossover chassis is still a well-differentiated and highly desirable combination if you live in hilly, rural snow country. Say your home is located along a steep road that doesn’t always get plowed. Don’t want to get trapped for a week after a snowstorm? Your options are basically a 4×4 truck, body-on frame SUV, or a Subaru.
Ive seen Subarus climb snowy 35% grades with snow tires, rip it out of ditches, and drive along snowmobile routes that would leave your average slip-n-grip AWD crossover stranded. Obviously not everyone who buys a Subaru needs that sort of full-commitment, seat-of-the-pants capability in a car, but those who do (and those who pretend they do) are willing to overlook the middling quality, questionable styling and segment-lagging interiors.
Multi-motor EVs will eventually compete in this market, but for now there really isn’t another option to get that sort of all-wheel traction in a compact, affordable car that gets decent fuel economy.
The whole “it’s just an extra bit of lift on a crossover” in regards to the Crosstrek really underestimates how immensely useful that lift is when you have something like the shitty forest service roads up here in the PNW. I can take the Polestar or my partner’s tiny Kia up on most roads, but being able to just throw the car into potholes or having a little bit of extra approach angle is actually huge at times.
Plus, being a cheap-ish econoboc actually works in their favor – folks with Crosstreks are some of the most willing people I’ve known to actually use their car “offroad”. Sometimes painfully so (driving through brush on the side of the road, scraping branches, and saying “tools not jewels” the whole time while moving 6 inches to the left would have avoided scratches entirely lol). Nobody I know with a Mazda or a Corolla would do that.
Ok 4WD is a plus sometimes but it’s all about the damn tires
Yeah tires still matter more than anything else.
Great take. I agree on all accounts
I don’t think I’ve ever met a dog that doesn’t love going for a ride, but does anybody have a cat + car story where the cat doesn’t sound like it’s being murdered the whole way?
I had a cat growing up that actually liked riding in the car. He would jump in the window when I got in, I’d take him for rides when I was running errands, it was awesome. My current cat is more of the “why are you torturing me” variety when it comes to car rides.
See my above: our Ragdoll enjoys car rides.
Former cat, loved car. Current cat, hates car.
Mom’s Tortie HATED the car and carrier, our Ragdoll is fully onboard with it.
At first I read this like you were describing yourself as a former cat. (Maybe on Zoom calls.)
I figured the poster was Maureen Ponderosa. But I think she’s dead.
Funny thing to tie the beginning to the end: Subaru loves to push its dog accessories. I don’t know if it’s actually part of the promo kit or just something my local dealer does, but they have a stuffed dog in the showroom to demonstrate the Subaru-branded dog harness.
My dog is weird, she likes me to take her with me, so she’s 100% excited and begs for me to take her with me if I’m leaving, always jumped right in from the moment I got her.
but the actual drive itself she had a lot of anxiety from that took quite a while for us to work through and become much more relaxed now. the drooling was insane for the first year, lol
she was a rescue and apparently moved around a lot every couple weeks until I got her. so her early life the car ride meant that she’d leave the people and place she just got used to being around.
Our dog when I was growing up loved car rides. Her name was Molly and she was a 14lb Poodle, Shih Tzu, Terrier mix, and her favorite car rides were lower speed ones to pick us up from school or the trip to Grandma’s house.
One time my dad and I were cleaning out the minivan and one of the sliding doors was open, she noticed and jumped right up and sat down on a seat. She flat out refused to leave, we then just drove around the block and then she was content enough to get out of the van. She was a very, very, very good puppers.
2 for 2 for my dogs being awesome carpets.
It’s for people that think they own an off-roader. Which they obviously know nothing about because they bought a subaru thinking it’s an off-roader. It would appear the dealerships have “jumped the shark”. I agree with another commenter that they would probably get more of their target market through the door if they sold vapes in the showroom.
I once had a dog that loved to ride in the car. That was because she only came along when I was going someplace where she could explore.
Of course Tesla is screwed as credits were always a big part of their business plan and they probably wouldn’t exist today w/o them. Other than when they were able to crank the prices to the moon during the pandemic car frenzy, the credit value was what made them profitable.
There is an old saying, only slightly bastardized, “Every time a Tesla sells, a Hemi gets its wings”
The Subaru thing seems like window dressing to me. It’s product that matters, and as a shadetree mechanic I believe Subaru’s product is not the greatest even for regular road use. I would never take one into Jeep country.
And as someone who has done real outdoor stuff- like, Boundary Waters and other wilderness areas- this seems like a poser move. It’s an “impression” of outdoorsiness.
But hey, at least you’ll fit in at the parking lots for REI and Starbuck’s.
But this is what Subaru America has always pushed. I liked the “economy car+” language, especially knowing that + has always been an aesthetic.
As someone who has passed stuck Jeeps on mountain trails in my Crosstrek, hi.
Also, Boundary Waters rock.
OK that had to be a vast difference in driver capability.
From my experience living in the mountains, side effect of Jeeps is a vastly inflated perception of one’s driving skills. And the assumption that off road tires are great for snow.
Do they have annexes for vape enthusiasts and… fans of Ammonite?
The Subaru thing is just the natural place the brand was always going. It’s already pushing itself into lifestyle brand territory. Dealerships near me are already big on that image, encouraging people to bring their dogs to the dealership and saying things about welcoming buyers to the Subaru family.
You win in sales by offering the (perceived) best in a combination of quality, experience, image, and price. Subaru has brand image locked in, and the quality/price combination is about to make for a worse value, so they absolutely want to provide the best experience. And it’s a lot cheaper to do some renovation to make the space feel more comfortable than it is to hire a bunch more mechanics to make the service experience the quickest. And it’s hard to smooth out the sales process when the prices are going up.
I don’t think Subaru needs to do this, though. Subaru fans are pretty committed to the brand, so I think they can weather the price increases without any real changes. Just try to phase them in and let people adjust. They’ll probably keep buying. Plus, most of the competition is also raising prices.
Putting on a bunch of Techs on flat rate means they all log 20 to 25 hours of pay per week. That sends the best of them out the door very quickly.
Yeah, that too. These store renovations are definitely the most cost-effective way to deliver an improved experience and retain customers (though, again, I’m not entirely sure Subaru needs to worry about that).
Of all notable Flagship Stores located in the territorial limits of Maine to use as an example, you selected Land’s End? Now, I’m not saying we’re going to give you the permeant boot from Vacationland or anything. But, if you’ve ever been here. Feel like you skipped over a fairly universal Maine experience. Like putting on a warm sweater. Of course I’m talking about the G.H Bass flagship store down by the mall.
Also, side bar: The Land’s End store at the end of the point on Bailey’s, is not affiliated with Land’s End the clothing brand. Which is based in Wisconsin and sells its wares via stolen Maine valor.
Sorry, LL Bean!
I’m going to hear from every Mainer today, aren’t I? You are correct, I meant the LL Bean store, not the Land’s End store.
Bub, outside of millions of acres of pristine nature, maybe the best air quality on Earth, an incredibly high quality of life prompting life outside of work, the lowest crime rate in the nation, and the Double A affiliate of the Soxs. The Leon Leonwood Bean store in Freeport is all we got. And we’re going to defend that historic district turned outlet mall and overly large L.L Bean store to our deaths.
When my neighbor finishes walking over here, you’re going to really get it. Dude is wicked fired up. Use to work at The Boot, can’t be having slander from a Flatlander.
Yeah, LL Bean used to be quite something. I always had LLB boots when I was a kid. Their catalog had several pages devoted to different styles of ax, and more for camp stoves and tents. Didn’t they turn into a boutique clothing store?
The catalog would have you think so but if you do actually go to the flagship store you will find all of that stuff–axes, guns, fishing gear, boats, boots, etc.–along with home goods and apparel.
Did you just confuse Land’s End with the LL Bean store?
As a current Mainer, this will not stand!
I challenge you to the traditional Lobster Duel without the rubber bands
Haha, yes, yes I did. Bring on the Lobsters.
In regards to Tesla: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Musk reaps what he sowed
My thoughts in reading their statement were, “what innovation are you referring to?”
I don’t mean they’ve never innovated. Certainly bringing the Model S to market and showing truly viable mass market electric vehicles was an incredible innovation at the time. Ditto for the charging network. But how much has changed since those earlier days? I guess perhaps there has been some battery innovation along the way
They took all that money and mostly just gave it to Musk. Maybe they’re referring to steering wheels that are the wrong shape? Removing everything from the interior?
I think the way the govt is going about this is wrong and without the proper processes but that protest from Tesla rings more self-protectionist than anything, even if they make some points in their take-down.
Agreed. A corporate welfare scam and that douchebag has the temerity to talk about govt waste, when his whole business model is based on govt largesse. Ef him and his comapanies
Funniest Subaru dealership experience I’ve had has to be in San Antonio. Delearship was shared with Lincoln. So where you would expect displays of Yakima racks and mudguards, you instead had mahogany veneers on everything, greeting cards, and Yankee Candles for sale.
It was the most stereotypically Lincoln clientele setting ever, plus a bunch of people like me in Chacos and Mountain Hardwear shirts hanging out, trying not to be annoyed that the TV was locked on the Weather Channel.
Better Weather Channel than Fox News.
Yeah, though ironically one of the co-founders of the Weather Channel, John Coleman, was a virulent climate change denialist. Good grief. Worth noting that he had a bachelor’s degree in journalism with no science education or research whatsoever in his background…
Why not make REIs into Subaru dealerships?
*insert galaxy brain meme*
Love that whoever created that outdoor render for Subaru used the 86 instead of the BRZ.
Lol, I missed that!
even funnier when a lot of people in the US would instead recognize it as a Scion FR-S
Cool!
Now make engines that aren’t made of glass and paper.
It hasn’t really been that way for 2 engine design cycles. Plenty of issues with Subaru, but it’s past time to retire this one.
The valvetrains are still too sketch. Too much like H/K.
Well the FA boxer in my Impreza didn’t last past 50k…sooooooo
I’m not an overall hater on Subaru, I think they are very capable, practical, comfortable (most) vehicles that drive well.
I just think they can do better, engine wise. Their CVTs aren’t as bad as people think compared to traditional automatic lifespans.
The FA in by good friends WRX didn’t even make it to 40k, and Subaru refused any good-faith warranty repair because even though he did 3k oil changes and reported them to CarFax, Subaru said “DIY doesn’t count, and since you’re slightly past the actual warranty period, get fkd” Some real love from Subaru there.
It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
They have made some good engines, they just don’t make those currently.
i.e. EAs, closed deck EJ, all of their six cylinders…those were very good.
I think they’re fairly reliable these days, they’re just so gutless and boring!