Impreza sales slump
26 January 2012, 11:39 AM
#32
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I honestly don't think it's any kind of deal. If anybody wants a Subaru, there's plenty of top ones to choose from.
I'm talking about the 22B, P1, Type R, the 2002 STi Bugeye, (the best bargain going for tuners!) plus the likes of the Spec C, RB320 etc..
Even the Hatch is brilliant when sorted, and very practical with it.
Going back decades ago, everybody moaned about the MG's of the day, and the fact that BL were slowly killing them. Well, the facts now are that the MG scene is thriving, and all of the best ones are there to be had, and holding value with it.
You want a great Scooby? go build one!
I'm talking about the 22B, P1, Type R, the 2002 STi Bugeye, (the best bargain going for tuners!) plus the likes of the Spec C, RB320 etc..
Even the Hatch is brilliant when sorted, and very practical with it.
Going back decades ago, everybody moaned about the MG's of the day, and the fact that BL were slowly killing them. Well, the facts now are that the MG scene is thriving, and all of the best ones are there to be had, and holding value with it.
You want a great Scooby? go build one!
26 January 2012, 01:44 PM
#33
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So do the 2011 impreza sales include the "WRX STI" or not?
How is it the hatch killed it yet the sales are now worse with saloon avail? Price is the biggest killer.
MY08 STI was what £27k OTR? MY11 STI is £33k a 22% price increase!
How is it the hatch killed it yet the sales are now worse with saloon avail? Price is the biggest killer.
MY08 STI was what £27k OTR? MY11 STI is £33k a 22% price increase!
26 January 2012, 02:21 PM
#36
Price is a contributing factor too, Back when the hatch was launched they were £24,995 and due to the current climate and exchange rates they have climbed to new levels, if they had remained the same level I'd have another in the drive by now no messing. Plus the old's are looking at the new xv themselves.
Exactly, I was mug enough to buy one
26 January 2012, 04:06 PM
#39
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Like I said in another thread, maybe they [Subaru] don't need the UK market anymore. After all they have the US and OZ markets where their cars will be classed as economy models, compared to the huge gas guzzlers that are the norm in those countries. The cost of fuel is whats really killed it for them in the UK. And the hatch of course, which was a marketing disaster.
26 January 2012, 06:55 PM
#42
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When it was first launched i though WTF. I hated the look of it except the front which i thought looked good. But now i like the look of the hatch.
Was it before its time or did it just grow on me?
I think some of the problem with the hatch in the uk was the amount of other hot hatch makes on the market at the same time. It was only ever going to get a small slice of the market unlike the sedan sti's and evos that filled a niche in the market.
Was it before its time or did it just grow on me?
I think some of the problem with the hatch in the uk was the amount of other hot hatch makes on the market at the same time. It was only ever going to get a small slice of the market unlike the sedan sti's and evos that filled a niche in the market.
26 January 2012, 07:04 PM
#43
Not quite sure myself, I think the main issue was that everyone associated the sti with a saloon with a big wing Like previous & not that of a hatchback. I wasnt sure at first so travelled to Iain Litchfields to have a go in his JDM version before the Uk release & well that was it I had to have one so ordered one from my dealer and pretty much liked it ever since.
26 January 2012, 07:09 PM
#44
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The WRC is probably responsible for most of us on here having an interest in the brand, Subaru need to get back in it!
26 January 2012, 10:47 PM
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Please don't get me wrong, I think the idea of the hatch was superb. And if I actually drove one, I may well change my mind. It was the aesthetics that put most people off, myself included. But it does look very small, and I don't know the weight of the hatch, but it must be bloody quick? I think most petrol heads want a car that looks the part, and that was what let the hatch down I feel. Like a few others have said, the WRC cars used to look fantastic, and the one you could buy from the dealers looked very similar, and drove fantastic. A genuine rally car for the masses.
Have the issues with the 2.5 engine been sorted now?
Have the issues with the 2.5 engine been sorted now?
26 January 2012, 11:09 PM
#48
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There is clearly a market for a performance Impreza, but since the hatch come out so did many other fast hatches, Focus ST, Astra VXR, mk5 Golf GTI etc etc, the orginal classic Impreza didnt really have this competition with things like the Mondeo ST200, Vectra GSI etc.
27 January 2012, 10:40 AM
#49
Indeed
OK, I'm maybe biased, but out of all the Impreza's I've owned, the hatch is by far the better car
Only thing that annoys me a little is the body roll, but that could be easily sorted.
Its far nicer inside, OK I've the higher spec 330S model, but still......
I think most people that see the hatch in the flesh do actually like it.
There will always be haters of it, I'm just glad I don't have their outlook on life
OK, I'm maybe biased, but out of all the Impreza's I've owned, the hatch is by far the better car
Only thing that annoys me a little is the body roll, but that could be easily sorted.
Its far nicer inside, OK I've the higher spec 330S model, but still......
I think most people that see the hatch in the flesh do actually like it.
There will always be haters of it, I'm just glad I don't have their outlook on life
27 January 2012, 07:04 PM
#53
Indeed
OK, I'm maybe biased, but out of all the Impreza's I've owned, the hatch is by far the better car
Only thing that annoys me a little is the body roll, but that could be easily sorted.
Its far nicer inside, OK I've the higher spec 330S model, but still......
I think most people that see the hatch in the flesh do actually like it.
There will always be haters of it, I'm just glad I don't have their outlook on life
OK, I'm maybe biased, but out of all the Impreza's I've owned, the hatch is by far the better car
Only thing that annoys me a little is the body roll, but that could be easily sorted.
Its far nicer inside, OK I've the higher spec 330S model, but still......
I think most people that see the hatch in the flesh do actually like it.
There will always be haters of it, I'm just glad I don't have their outlook on life
Personally for me I really do Like my hatch, Partly thats why I still have it as I dont know what I want to replace it with yet & without doubt would recomend one to anyone in the market.
If Only I could get my Hands on a set of the sti recaros for mine from subaru I've tried everywere
27 January 2012, 07:49 PM
#54
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Probably lost count of people who have actually come over to mine at a show and said "You know I hated these when they first came out, But actually I really do like that".
Personally for me I really do Like my hatch, Partly thats why I still have it as I dont know what I want to replace it with yet & without doubt would recomend one to anyone in the market.
If Only I could get my Hands on a set of the sti recaros for mine from subaru I've tried everywere
Personally for me I really do Like my hatch, Partly thats why I still have it as I dont know what I want to replace it with yet & without doubt would recomend one to anyone in the market.
If Only I could get my Hands on a set of the sti recaros for mine from subaru I've tried everywere
27 January 2012, 08:30 PM
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I must defend the Impreza hatch. OK, it's not the prettiest but looks are not everything to the more discerning driver. I've owned nothing else but Imprezas since 1997 and each new model has been better than the one before. I bought a new WRX-S hatch in 2009 for £19.1k and loved it, identical torque figure to the standard 296 BHP Sti and noticably quicker than any hot hatch such as Focus ST, Astra VXR, Golf GTi, Civic Type R and as quick to around 100 as a Focus RS. Where else could you buy such performance and practicality in a brand new car for the money but it would appear that looks and 'badge image' must count for more to the car buying public nowadays as I've never seen another WRX-S on the road during these past three years. Same with my Sti 330 Hatch, rare as rocking horse ****, but the upside is everybody takes notice coz they wonder what the heck has just passed them.
Last edited by paulbu; 27 January 2012 at 08:42 PM.
27 January 2012, 10:43 PM
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There is nothing good about it and all these people trying to convince themselves it looks the part are just deluded. Go and look at cars like Alfas or the new Jaguar coupe to see what style is and then look back at the Impreza with a mass of bulges and drooping lines and laugh at the day the cleaners must have got into the deisgn office at Subaru and come up with the hatch for a laugh.
Seems the woeful sales would back me up too and don't quote recession at me, sales of the Impreza are way down on any other manufacturer. The car is a pup and the sooner it is killed off the better or better still the sooner Subaru get out of the UK the better. They had their day and it was great, but now they have blown it so best to bow out gracefully and go and chase the American market where they will buy anything.
28 January 2012, 08:31 AM
#57
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No I hate the hatch because, leaving aside the fact that out of the box it is at best average and at worst going to blow up, it is a complete disaster from an aesthetic design perspective.
There is nothing good about it and all these people trying to convince themselves it looks the part are just deluded. Go and look at cars like Alfas or the new Jaguar coupe to see what style is and then look back at the Impreza with a mass of bulges and drooping lines and laugh at the day the cleaners must have got into the deisgn office at Subaru and come up with the hatch for a laugh.
Seems the woeful sales would back me up too and don't quote recession at me, sales of the Impreza are way down on any other manufacturer. The car is a pup and the sooner it is killed off the better or better still the sooner Subaru get out of the UK the better. They had their day and it was great, but now they have blown it so best to bow out gracefully and go and chase the American market where they will buy anything.
There is nothing good about it and all these people trying to convince themselves it looks the part are just deluded. Go and look at cars like Alfas or the new Jaguar coupe to see what style is and then look back at the Impreza with a mass of bulges and drooping lines and laugh at the day the cleaners must have got into the deisgn office at Subaru and come up with the hatch for a laugh.
Seems the woeful sales would back me up too and don't quote recession at me, sales of the Impreza are way down on any other manufacturer. The car is a pup and the sooner it is killed off the better or better still the sooner Subaru get out of the UK the better. They had their day and it was great, but now they have blown it so best to bow out gracefully and go and chase the American market where they will buy anything.
28 January 2012, 11:34 AM
#58
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If Subaru marketed the wrx sedan in the uk as they do in other countries,and priced it around 22k to 23k I think they would sell plenty,especially if they spent a few yen making the engine more fuel efficient.(i think toyota have done so to the subaru boxer engine in the new rear drive coupe) and of course slapped on a rear wing.As for WRC just go to Mr Loeb with blank cheque and hey presto WRC champions again(the man is unbeatable)
28 January 2012, 11:51 AM
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You are entitled to your opinion but your outrageous suggestion that anybody who likes the hatch is deluded and that it would be best for Subaru to get out of the UK altogether, thereby preventing other enthusiasts from enjoying their new models, including the new saloon, smacks of somebody who has never driven a new Subaru and who also is never likely to be able to afford to buy one. Green eyed monsters by the dozen methinks.
The old he doesn't like it because he can't afford it routine is tired. I don't like it for the reasons listed above. I assume you can actally grasp the fact that someone doesn't like something for reasons other than jealosuy.
And fyi I have driven several, they did nothing for me... oh, and I have bought 4 brand new Imprezas over the years
Last edited by f1_fan; 28 January 2012 at 11:53 AM.
