davidpa

You have a right to your opinon as any one else in here, as do I.

KiwiGTI

Burberry never needed to change. Something like 95% of their sales is in North America, Europe, Japan, SE Asia and the Middle East.

As for their check pattern, it was always the low end of their products that carried it.

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

As a brand Subaru are in good shape. Their cars are selling well and the partnership with Saab is going to be profitable for them too

davidpa

I know about the sales and you are right about them. Similair to subaru as someone quoted better outside than the UK.

But Burberry did change stategy. They discontinued selling baseball caps. etc, and the pattern which they are known for was still in the clothing ranges but toned down.

Ie Subaru have toned down with the Spec D. Thats all im saying. Do you think its because of the image of big spoliers etc.

KiwiGTI

davidpa, you never got my analogy. To most people, if you work on a public holiday you are working class, a chav, you need the money so desperately that you would be-little yourself and throw away all pride and perform labourious activities while the middle and upper classes (non-chavs) enjoy a nice day off.

You are viewed by vast sections of society as equivalent to an Impreza Classic. Is that fair?

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Very possibly. Although it could be more for peace of mind for people who worry that the car draws too much attention from car thieves etc

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

I think it probably is. There are people who want the dynamics of the Subaru without the bespoilered and bewinged parts. This model might fill the niche they are looking for.

davidpa

Oh I see. But im talking about the image of the car. Not an individual ie me.

Me a chav? You cant make that assumption as you dont know me do you? and i cant make that assumption about you either. But thats not the point, we are talking about the image of the car.

KiwiGTI

Surely the dynamics have been altered by the removal of the roof vane and the rear spoiler?

davidpa

Very true, I agree with your point. But do you think they have placed it in the market to deflect the imagine away from big spoilers etc?

KiwiGTI

There, you've got it. People can't make that assumption about Imprezas either. (That's the point of analogies)

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Ah but for better or worse?

KiwiGTI

I imagine a spoiler of that size must have an effect on downforce at reasonable speeds.

davidpa

Yes, but in my eyes now, i had the car when hardly anyone had them. They are everywhere now. I think its got an imagine problem as Blurberry had and I think the Spec D model is a reaction to it, and its Saab relationship. Thats all im saying.

But I see what you are saying about the assumptions about Imprezas also, but in the eyes of everyone else, the vast majority of people its tarnised. And subaru have addressed it with the discreet model and Saab.

KiwiGTI

I think the Spec D is a slur on the STI name to be honest. Have you looked at one? Cheap leather (which you could get done yourself), a £250 Pioneer Stereo, that stupid tacky SatNav which ruins the whole dash and that you need a subscription for, and a WRX spoiler and silver wheels.

I think that for most people, they don't know or care about Subarus.

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Is that downforce critical though? Given the loss of performance caused by the drag and increased fuel consumption i think it may be a step in the right direction.

davidpa

Nope, I havent seen inside. So I cant comment.

I think that for most people, they don't know or care about Subarus.[/quote]

Well for me anyhow, and from my point of view. They did not do any favours when they lowered the price of the car, and then offered PPP for free. My timing wasnt brilliant on that one ! But thats my fault I suppose.

KiwiGTI

Well for me anyhow, and from my point of view. They did not do any favours when they lowered the price of the car, and then offered PPP for free. My timing wasnt brilliant on that one ! But thats my fault I suppose.[/quote]

There is no doubt that IM and Subaru UK are a bunch of cowboys not wholly dedicated to the cause. Many members looking for new cars have experienced absolutely no movement on an already overpriced car from official dealers, they have tried to avoid international warranties and their dealers are largely useless and patronising.

I also thought the Saab/Subaru thing had been canned.

davidpa

I do not know about the SAAB issue. Others will give you more information on that than I can, as I simply do not know.

When i talk to the dealership IM tell them nothing!


There is no doubt that IM and Subaru UK are a bunch of cowboys not wholly dedicated to the cause. Many members looking for new cars have experienced absolutely no movement on an already overpriced car from official dealers, they have tried to avoid international warranties and their dealers are largely useless and patronising.

I also thought the Saab/Subaru thing had been canned.[/quote]

RB5_245

I have never heard a single person outside of scoobynet, with the exeption of the odd minor slating onother forums, call the impreza a chav car.

This myth has been entirely worked up by a group of idiots on here. How difficult is it really for you to see that everyone is not glaring at you and muttering under their breath.

Are a large number of forum users perhaps suffering from mild paranoid schizophrenia?

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Have never heard anyone outside scoobynet call my car a 'chav' car. And mine is a '93 WRX, which is apparently the worst for it!!!

davidpa

Seperate thread called are all impreza drivers paranoid.

ForesterBoy

My original post was made when I did not have much time to elaborate on my views. It was just a quick and to the point post, answering to the title of this thread. It was not an insult to anyone. You cannot really accuse people of making insults when inviting them to reply honestly, as they see it, to the title of a thread such as this one.

And there can be no excuse for anyone making up a load of complete BS and 'my dicks bigger than yours' type stuff in a reply aimed towards me. In all honesty, what is the mentality of someone who just dreams up a post telling me I do not like it because I am not 'allowed' an Impreza(?), I drive a tractor(?) etc. etc.

Subaru Impreza Turbo models have got a huge image problem, in this country at least, which will get worse before it gets better.

When I first drove an Impreza Turbo, several years ago, it all seemed so different to how it has now become. The respect from everyone was unbelievable. And forums like this had a very different atmosphere, without any doubt at all. Sadly, people who have only bought these cars reatively recently will never experience this with them - then again the majority of current buyers, especially at the cheaper end of the market, will probably not care too much.

All in all, the Impreza Turbo has become a victim of its own success.

davidpa

.......

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Very true.

ex-webby

Thats because they are in fear you might pull your hood over your head and club them with your sovreign encrusted knuckles!

finalzero

All forums end up like this eventually... there are exceptions, those that are so tightly moderated that you don't have much freedom to say anything different.

That’s the inherent problem with any type of forum; people will often post whatever is on their mind, in total disregard of anyone else as they only have one view of the forum, i.e. their interpretation of it.

You give people an open forum and quite often posts will spawn threads that go off into a tangent or spawn whole debates that are usually meaningless. This in turn brings out the trolls who just browse through posts looking for poor victims to flame and thus spawn off a whole other debate.

I see scoobynet as a split personality site. Right now its portraying this cleaner, more controlled and formal image that is the new layout on the front page, articles etc however its got this dark, uncontrollable side that is made up of the forum and to be honest, if scoobynet is trying to move into a more corporate like image (which it should do as its a natural progression) then it really needs to shed the forum otherwise it will always be dogged by the views that float on here.

That doesn't mean getting rid of the forum, just I think the scoobynet site should become just that, a proper online publication that people subscribe to if needed (i.e. to foot the costs). And then have the forum as a place where people can air their views etc.

That way the forum can carry on under its own machinations and the site can exist as an online publication that focuses on reviews, previews, articles, how to’s and other scooby related info.

Forums are forums, they will never change and unless scoobynet is heavily moderated I doubt you will see any different. However to moderate a forum as large as this is very difficult work - part of the forums success is its open ended nature.

I think some more administrative work should take place on the forum, move posts about, create some proper how to sections using well written posts etc - right now its a nightmare to find something out and someone mentioned the search facility, I am afraid its very mediocre for the task. Does not offer much control over the searching and the results often include posts that have no relation as the search picked any or all words.

Hence someone looks in the DIY or tech section is overwhelmed by all the noobish posts that have drowned out the genuine posts. Proceeds to search but finds he/she has to spend a further 10 minutes trawling through pages of search results so they will go and post in the one place that is used the most, i.e. the general section regardless of the fact they may be duplicating someone else’s posts... who also went through this process and decided to post because they couldn't find what they were after... rinse and repeat.

The community aspect of scoobynet is great and is thriving. That’s the beauty of forums and community sites, it bring people together however it also introduces its own share of gremlins as people have found.

I think you could do the following to improve the overall experience:

1. Segregate the main site and turn it into a proper online publication, with content that feeds off the forum posts however is presented as a separate entity (much like pistonheads or other more commercial sites).

2. Do some house keeping on the forum. Move nonsensical posts off into their own forum and take valid, informative posts and use them as the basis for some static sections i.e. articles, how-to's etc that people can always access.

3. Create a FAQ page, taking the various questions that keep popping up and create answers in the form of referral links that take people to the above static pages, the front end web site or to posts that appear on the forum e.g. "how to de-tango your lights".


Ultimately it’s the nature of the net. Because this is the one place where we don't feel like we are policed by society, we often let our guards down and act carefree, much to the detriment of others.

Adios,

Fz

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Censure will dilute the essence of what makes this place tick.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

They is just scared of me and me maccy d's crew innit!!!

Strange reading that post from almost a year ago.
In some people's eyes the image of the Impreza is still getting worse, but i am still yet to meet anyone who thinks my car is a chav car.

As i said in another post recently i enjoy my car, and will keep it untill i either get bored of it (unlikely) or can't afford to keep it on the road.
I don't really care what other people think of it, and i certainly wouldn't let the opinion of 'keyboard warriors' make me change my mind

Moley

iTrader: (9)

And on the subject of has Scoobynet gone to the dogs.... no i don't think it has.

Unfortunately any web forum is going to attract some people with too much time on their hands, people who want to start rows in the comfort of knowing they'll never have to meet the other person, or people who want to try to make themselves look clever.
Fortunately this is only a very small percentage. 95% of the people on this site are genuine enthusiasts who have respect for other members.

Top marks to Webby and the other mods for getting rid of timewasters like Vapid/Torpid etc. There will always be members here who just want to case trouble (enless they're away in Germany ), but fortunately these kind of people are the small minority.

The genuine Subaru fans will keep this site going long after the trolls have moved on