dariogatso

call the following number and ask for the sales director, he is the man incharge of importing all the cars that go to u.k dealers.

0121 522 2000 ... maybe he can explain...feel free to post results of call.....insurance is too high...petrol is a rip off...roads are terrible..now this...two wheels better than four ...when will the rip off end.

chiark

Just a small point for fairness...

It wouldn't be legal for IM to sell more than 50 a year in the UK, and even then each car would have to go through the ESVA which could be "fun".

Having them certified for sale in the EU marketplace takes money.

Why the original decision was made that the EU model would not get the DCCD is the real question, and I've a feeling that it won't be International Motors that had the casting vote in that particular decision.

Sometimes I imagine that people think IM sit down in a board room somewhere in a pool of cigar smoke thinking, "how can we really **** them off now?"

Seeing as they're a very successful business, I don't think this is really the truth...

dariogatso

i get what you are saying....but its surely worth asking the question...why werent we considered for this version...who made the choice...what, if anything can be done...as for costs, make no mistake, i get the financial question...but surely to god they can see that it would sell hand over fist..its good to talk its good to ask,,,,

clarence

I remember the sales director of Mitsubishi in Hong Kong saying that they basically have a list of equipment for each model, & they decide on what to & what not to have on each batch of cars they order,from the list. Of course, what can be included must conform to local regs.
I guess it's more or less the same with IM, hence the different colours available in the different Euro mkts.
With Britian being the largest market for Subaru in Europe, they could have asked for (or lobbied) twin-scroll or DCCD from the factory. I guess they didn't cos it may mean less profit per car (as they need to keep the price competitive), & also the grey importers are less of a threat now. Prodrive's PPP means the EJ20 is fundamentally able to achieve 300bhp & comply with all regs at the same time.

chiark

Selling hand over fist? I'm honestly not sure.

bear in mind that the core of subaru's market probably isn't WRXs, and it most certainly isn't STIs.

We're a bunch of enthusiasts that, on the whole, love the impreza and want the very best price/performance/etc but to IM I'd guess that we are not hugely important because percentage that we contribute to their base line is small compared to their core models...

I think there's figures somewhere to show how many Turbos are sold compared to other imprezas and other subarus. It's a surprisingly small figure, IIRC.

dariogatso

hand over first for the type of car it is...obviously in comparison to a ford focus 1.6....we buy next to nothing...but for the sector of the market...im subaru would get top spot and by a decent margin...the wrx and sti are the show cars if you wish..like the escort cosworth..the evo..they get seen..people go look...they see the other models and so on..but i go back my point..what is the problem with asking why ?

chiark

None whatsoever mate, but I think you might as well ask the cleaner for all the good it'll do

Still, I'll concede that it wouldn't hurt to try. Let us know how you get on.

mark.coleman

Why dont you ring him and ask, it will save me a call then

Johnny C

IM doesn't have the clout to get what it wants.

Sales figures like these below gave SOA (Subaru of America) the clout with FHI to decide what models get imported in what spec.
This (along with the EVO) is the reson why the US gets the US-only 2.5.

Subaru of America, Inc. Records Third Best Year in History;
2002 Sales Total 180,020

Subaru Legacy 85,359
Subaru Outback 60,974
Subaru Impreza 38,226 (Impreza WRX 18,376)
Subaru Forester 53,922
Baja 2513

clarence

I think IM can get what they wanted if they try hard enough, cos stuff like DCCD are already developed, & the more it is fitted, the less cost to FHI due to economies of scale.
Another point is SoA is related to FHI, whereas IM is an independant company.

Chins

But why give us everything now when it will give people an excuse to upgrade to a MY04/STI 9 ?

Seems like good marketing to be - even though it might not be on purpose.

Jonathan

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Because people like me will buy an Evo, or an M3, or a TVR, or a Boxster, or any one of a number of cars instead of another Subaru?

I test drove a new STI last year, and didn't even prefer it to my MY00 - let alone want to spend a lot of money to upgrade. The PPP might have made the difference, and a 2.5 litre engine with 300 lb.ft of torque certainly would have.

I might try an STI Type RA spec C some time this year - that sounds like a potentially worthy upgrade from my current car. I won't even consider a Euro-spec motor, though.

A.

dariogatso

well i gave the man a call...funny, he wasn't in..then adviced i had to go threw his secretary...mm she wasn't ther either...maybe i called a ghost ship by mistake...girl i did talk to was sales related...once i explained that ther was revised version of the current car due..kinda hoped she would have known this...she simply stated that ther were no plans..distant or other to release this car for the euro market..got the impression i wasnt the first call on this matter though...shall spend my comapanys money again and try and get threw to someone who knows the facts...dont get me wrong on this..everyone has a car that they grow up wanting and saying " i will have one of those one day" i always wanted a uk turbo in dark blue de-badged...i got it..not many people can say that..lets just say my love affair with subaru is in need of counciling...suabru..i love you ,but i just dont like you..and yes..i am slightly mental...