roadrunner

I was wondering (as you do) what the future of the impreza holds. With the new model being butt ugly I just can't see it taking off the same as the old model did. Yes I know there are poeple out there that like or even love the new shape but I'm most probaly safe to say that the vast majority of us don't like the front.
With all these people hoping for the so called UK300 edition to be something special but were actually disappointed what future is there for the impreza.
When I drive a car, I want people to look on the street and say "there goes a car that I want" not "god that's butt ugly" or "well, it could grow on me over time". With Subaru investing millions of yen into the car, this butt ugly car will be unfortauntely around for awhile (8yrs??) and if they don't change the front, I for one won't be buying another subaru to replace my current MY99. I'll have to look else where.

Oh, before any responds (if anyone does!!!) I'm not here to annoy the people who have the new shape, If your happy with your car then who cares (aka me) what anyone else thinks...I'm just expressing how I feel about the current situation with the impreza.

2wdcossie

i saw one the other day and i certainly didnt think "there goes a car that I want" or even "well, it could grow on me over time", just "think i'll but an older one rather than that".

rapiddescent

I've got the new shape - sure it's a bit of an ugly duckling. Now it has loosened up the performance difference is negliable (for my non-super-human driving skills).

the best bit, is the wee oif's don't think, "I want to nick that!". I also don't get pulled over by the police all the time either!

I guess I like the q factor. like a corolla/neon on heat.

rapiddescent

robin lowry

You just have to remember what VW did to the golf GTi. The first ones were great, styled in an aggressive manner, good drivers cars that people wanted to drive just for the hell of it. Now it's got heavier, slower, more discreet, and more appeal to a wider audience. Still a good car but not a great car.

sound familiar?

MickeyG

roadrunner,

I have been through the same thought process. Mine got written off 2 months ago, and I was considering both a MY01 and a P1.

Instead I have gone for a Focus (company car) and an Elise (Something for the weekend, Sir?)

The reasons for this:

1. Petrol prices - Scoob is a damned expensive car to sit on the M25 doing 5MPH in.

2. Plummeting prices (Get my flame proof jacket on) especially the P1.

3. I either need 4 seats and a boot or 2 seats - Me and the wife can enjoy the elise when there are just the 2 of us, and when we need more space we have the Focus.

Overall I loved the scoob, but it was expensive (especially putting >2200 miles/ month on it) I could just feel the depreciation kicking in. I also would get narked at having sent time perfecting the WW shine, only to have to drive it around in the naf UK weather.

My compromise is the Focus for sitting on the M25 in and taking stuff to the tip, and the Elise for those nice sunny days (avoiding excess cleaning etc..) I have worked through the figures and I can do the 2 cars for the same cost as a Scoob.

Please do not flame me too badly - I still do love scoobs.

MickeyG

MickeyG

Also - I could not come to terms with the MY01 looks. Pete Croneys, looks better, but.....

MickeyG

elondan

I think it would take sometime but it will be a hit,
you can see how even "evo" are starting to like it (the long term test car),
whats more with 245hp it regain its status as best bang for the buck!

roadrunner

robin, True, but the new golf has style compared to others out there....Hmmm.

All I say is that Subrau relies on new sales. If the car looks like a disturbed frog on stilts it won't appeal to many people no matter if the new car drives better than the old model....thus sales with plummet...etc.etc

One thing, how many poeple have bought the new STI 7 compared to how many people bought an STI 6 in between the between jan00 to may00.

roadrunner

elondan would you buy one?? (truthful answer please)
Subrau UK knows there is problem that’s why they have released the UK300 (though it hasn't helped much) to induce the hard core market.

BT52b

Do you really think the old one had people drooling over the looks until it became a cult icon?

I saw a couple of Suzuki Balenos this morning. Now that car has EXACTLY the same grill as the old car, VERY easy to mistake them at a glance, but I don't see people saying "Ooh look at that, I want one!!"

[This message has been edited by BT52b (edited 22 May 2001).]

Dave P

Ok lets face it, the old model wasn't exactly a beauty was it....... take away the rear spoiler and the bonnet vents and it looks like.... ummmm an escort....or similar...

Most of us (or at least me), bought the car for what it did and it's rally breeding....

I remember a mate buying one right at the beginning of time, looking at and thinking ummmm a bit dull, getting inside and thinking Fiesta Popular Plus, driving up theroad and thinking oh my god I want one bad....

So if Richard can win some rally's even the championship, watch the space then.

Dave

Tiggs

dave p, very true- seems some people are very resistant to change.

good job they dont work in the motor industry or we wouldnt have got very far.

"use an engine instead of a horse? but that would look so unattractive."

tiggs

BryanC

But have you seen what Mr. Croney has done to the MY01 ?

Lower it a smidgen, put a dirty great big spoiler on it, and most importantly of all, replace those gnarly head lights with the twin Morettes, and it actually looks quite tasty....

DT

I've got a Silver MY01 and love it - of course!!

I much prefer the front now to the back. Though the back's what most people see these days

ozzy

Dave P,

I agree to some extent that the old model is the prettiest car in the world, but any car that shares a common shell is always going to look plain if you take away the pretty bits. But for a plain car, with some bonnet vents, wing, big wheels and side skirts it doesn't half turn heads.

It's the only car I've ever owned that manages to still turn heads after 2 years of ownership and from people who don't appear to know cars. I guess the styling just shouts speed when you see it coming down thr road.

It's a pretty small village where I live and most people are now aware of Subarus (especially after I've been blasting about). Everyone who knows me has commented on how ugly the new one looks and that's from people who until the saw mine didn't know what a Subaru was.

It could be that they just want middle-age men or women to buy the new car rather than generating interest from "boy racer" types (in their eyes mind).

The Scooby community maybe small, but I think the majority of us would have given Subaru some free and honest consumer opinion on their designs for the new model if only they'd asked. God knows who they asked or maybe they were just too scared to say it looked cr@p to the big-wigs at FHI.

Given that the EVO 7 is no great improvement on it's predecessor means at least FHI aren't the only ones how got it a bit wrong.

I was sooo looking forward to the new Impreza having spent years drooling over them. It was my dream to own one (couldn't expect to ever afford a F355 or F360) and when I first heard the rumours of a new model it was like being a kid all over at Xmas.

Boy was I so disappointed. Seems like a shameful waste and a missed opertunity.

At least we can always rely on consitency in life

Stefan

EvilBevel

My 2 cents (without having read the whole thread, just the question)...

I am one of the heaviest haters of the new model you can imagine. That said, I can not sustain that for example Pete Croney's car looks bad, because it just doesn't. It looks pretty cool, actually.

Throw in a few wins from Burns, and we have a completely different picture.

Subarus are ugly cars. Old model less ugly ? NO ! Just more aggresive looking. You can learn to really love ugly, you can not learn to love "plain"...

The only thing that scares me is that relatively small outfits like Scoobysport seem to have more "touch" with the motoring community than Subaru or Prodrive does.

Let me quickly add "In my opinion". I don't want to slag Subaru nor Prodrive, I just feel they have lost the "edge" a bit.

Hope this somehow somewhere makes sense.

Theo

PS: mind you: don't take my word for gospel though (not that there was any chance for that LOL ), I still admire the shape & image of the Escort Cossie or the old M3 E30. Maybe I'm just getting old

elondan

Yes I would buy one, and make it look like this!

ozzy

who's the bloke next to the car? he looks impressed with that cheaky smile

I'd buy the new one, but we shouldn't all be expected to pay for Subaru's mistakes.

If they'd have got it right first, none of us would have to fork out the extra cash for lights, spoiler and lowered suspension.

What make is the spolier on Pete's car anyway? Looks more like the old Prodrive one than other copies.

Stefan

SecretAgentMan

*lol*

Even the dude himself seems to be a bit worried by the sheer fugliness of the MY01 by the look of that pic.



/J

(that's Pete in front of the car...isn´t it?)

[This message has been edited by SecretAgentMan (edited 22 May 2001).]

Brendan Hughes

Sorry, I think a lot of you are missing the point.

The old scoob never sold on looks. It was laughed at when released, "here come Subaru, with a weirdo Jap stodge-saloon pretending they have an Audi Quattro" [now THERE's a car with looks]. I never ever looked at a Subaru until I knew what they were capable of. Styling has never been Subaru's strong point. XT anyone?

That goes for the inside as well as out. The interior of the old one was apparently designed by taking a lot of adhesive icons for stereo, buttons, compartments etc and throwing them at a dashboard blank. Where they landed, so it was built. I tell you, that was not designed for ease of human use.

The fact is, it was the car of the 90s, as elected by Car mag. Why? Because it was the best driving experience ever, at an unbeatable price. If I wanted people to look at me, I'd buy a Chevrolet Corvette. There you have the opposite (all money spent on styling and not much on suspension, for Europe anyway).

Hands up who bought an Evo VI for the looks? (No not you Stevie Wonder).

What will sell it is whether it is still an awesome driving experience and Porsche-humbler. Now on this, there is plenty of room for debate. But I don't see that looks enter into it.

You pays your money, and you takes your choice.

WREXY

I never noticed the early old shaped scoobs. The later ones yes as with facelifts and nicer body kits they caught my attention. The new shape is nice except for the lights and the upside down grill (as opposed to my99 my00) and the curvy guards. I'm sure Subaru is aware of the dislike and will probably make the my02 more attractive. I own a my00 and like its looks better than the my01, but if I didn't have one I'd still buy the my01 cause of what it can do. Good bang for your bucks.

WREXY.

JackClark

MY01 is great from where I sit.

The amount of people on here that complain about the looks make me laugh, I can see you now looking in every available shop window at your reflection all concerned about your image.

The interior and handling are greatly improved, I can make it faster if I need to and don't give a monkey if it's pretty or not.