Subaru's Future - Boom or bust?
20 April 2010, 05:43 PM
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Subaru's Future - Boom or bust?
Subaru.... Is it about to hit the rocks?
What do you guys think?
Is subaru in major difficulty, or what.
It seems that most dealers Ive been to seem to be leaning more towards other marques such as fiat, and seem to sell/stock more of them than subaru cars.
Add to that the pulling out of the WRC....
Also, the dramatic change from saloon to hatchback in the UK market - was this a desperate last ditch bid to gain sales from people who wouldnt consider saloons....
WRX's seem to be hard to get hold of new and seem to be only in limited numbers too.
On top of all this, the future of any car above a 1 litre looks in doubt after the crazy taxes this country imposes upon us, not to mention the ever spiralling out of control fuel duty....
I hope Subaru isnt in difficulty.... Would be a sad day to see them go down the pan.
What do you guys think?
Is subaru in major difficulty, or what.
It seems that most dealers Ive been to seem to be leaning more towards other marques such as fiat, and seem to sell/stock more of them than subaru cars.
Add to that the pulling out of the WRC....
Also, the dramatic change from saloon to hatchback in the UK market - was this a desperate last ditch bid to gain sales from people who wouldnt consider saloons....
WRX's seem to be hard to get hold of new and seem to be only in limited numbers too.
On top of all this, the future of any car above a 1 litre looks in doubt after the crazy taxes this country imposes upon us, not to mention the ever spiralling out of control fuel duty....
I hope Subaru isnt in difficulty.... Would be a sad day to see them go down the pan.
20 April 2010, 07:04 PM
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I sincerely hope to the high-heavens that what you say doesn't materialize.
Mitsubishi's Ralliart devision has apparantly thrown in the towel recently as well, although the Evo models will survive. Not good.
Mitsubishi's Ralliart devision has apparantly thrown in the towel recently as well, although the Evo models will survive. Not good.
20 April 2010, 07:19 PM
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be nice if britain could make a car (a god one again)that is british owned like years gone by,i know we make some small quantity of nich sports but be good to have a vw,audi,bmw type company again.
20 April 2010, 07:23 PM
#6
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The Scooby will be a specialist marque, suported by specialists.
It will be expensive to run - very expensive ... and will have no value secondhand as the number of enthusiasts dwindle.
Taxes, petrol, insurance will kill it off ..... the hayday was through the 90's and into the noughties. But, Subaru abandoned it's solid bedrock supporters by trying to appeal to the general Focus ST/Civic TypeR buyers .... they didn't want a Scooby - they still don't!
They need to appeal to the chav in all of us, to the rally driver dreamers .... then they will sell once more.
It will be expensive to run - very expensive ... and will have no value secondhand as the number of enthusiasts dwindle.
Taxes, petrol, insurance will kill it off ..... the hayday was through the 90's and into the noughties. But, Subaru abandoned it's solid bedrock supporters by trying to appeal to the general Focus ST/Civic TypeR buyers .... they didn't want a Scooby - they still don't!
They need to appeal to the chav in all of us, to the rally driver dreamers .... then they will sell once more.
20 April 2010, 07:29 PM
#7
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The Scooby will be a specialist marque, suported by specialists.
It will be expensive to run - very expensive ... and will have no value secondhand as the number of enthusiasts dwindle.
Taxes, petrol, insurance will kill it off ..... the hayday was through the 90's and into the noughties. But, Subaru abandoned it's solid bedrock supporters by trying to appeal to the general Focus ST/Civic TypeR buyers .... they didn't want a Scooby - they still don't!
They need to appeal to the chav in all of us, to the rally driver dreamers .... then they will sell once more.
It will be expensive to run - very expensive ... and will have no value secondhand as the number of enthusiasts dwindle.
Taxes, petrol, insurance will kill it off ..... the hayday was through the 90's and into the noughties. But, Subaru abandoned it's solid bedrock supporters by trying to appeal to the general Focus ST/Civic TypeR buyers .... they didn't want a Scooby - they still don't!
They need to appeal to the chav in all of us, to the rally driver dreamers .... then they will sell once more.
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20 April 2010, 07:47 PM
#9
i love my sti part of the appeal is the how few there are around! who wants a focus st like the other 300 chavs in the town! surely subaru have never sold cars in great numbers in this country anyway, before the impreza it was only farmers who brought subarus anyway
20 April 2010, 07:49 PM
#10
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I've wanted to buy a Subaru Impreza since I first got a scoot in one probably 10/11years ago. My back room used to be filled with subaru models etc, the background of my PC used to be a Subaru WRC car too, everyone always picked up subaru bits n bobs for me, heck i even drink my tea from a Subaru WRC cup! I am now able to buy and insure an Impreza and I no longer want one.
Thats exactly were Subaru is right now.
Thats exactly were Subaru is right now.
20 April 2010, 07:59 PM
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20 April 2010, 08:09 PM
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i agree with an above post even in its heyday, you never used to see that many subarus on the road. And today even with the imprezas popularity its still not an ovally common car you see on the road every day ,not when you compare it to ford vauxhall, bmw, audi etc
20 April 2010, 08:18 PM
#13
Partial Cease of Business Activities along with Ralliart Inc's
Business Scale Down
Ralliart Inc (President Masao Taguchi) has announced as follows.
Dear all of our customers ,
First of all, we much appreciate for your usual patronage to our company.
Our company have done the various activities relating motorsport with the support of many people since the establishment in April,1984 so far. However, because of the sudden change of economy situation since the year before last, the business circumstance surrounding our company radically became worse and so, this time we have reached the conclusion that we Ralliart Inc., would scale down our business activities as of the end of March 2010.
Along with the scale down of our business activities this time, we would cease the following business and operation which we have done so far. We would like to express our sincere apology to all of customers though we would make you much inconveniences.
Meanwhile, we wish you a continuous support to Ralliart family and entrants driving Mitsubishi cars who play an active part all over the world.
Items which would cease our business and operation along with our business scale down;
Support to motorsport customers(Support to the participation, Technical Support, and Awarding of Mitsubishi/Ralliart Driver of the Year)
New Planning, Development and Merchandize of Ralliart products (Except FIA VO parts) :*1
Information of new products and dispatching motorsport information(at web):*2
*1 FIA VO parts development and those application work shall be done by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation as it is.
*2 FIA Group-N information shall be open at the web site of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
Date of the cease: 1st April, 2010
Business Scale Down
Ralliart Inc (President Masao Taguchi) has announced as follows.
Dear all of our customers ,
First of all, we much appreciate for your usual patronage to our company.
Our company have done the various activities relating motorsport with the support of many people since the establishment in April,1984 so far. However, because of the sudden change of economy situation since the year before last, the business circumstance surrounding our company radically became worse and so, this time we have reached the conclusion that we Ralliart Inc., would scale down our business activities as of the end of March 2010.
Along with the scale down of our business activities this time, we would cease the following business and operation which we have done so far. We would like to express our sincere apology to all of customers though we would make you much inconveniences.
Meanwhile, we wish you a continuous support to Ralliart family and entrants driving Mitsubishi cars who play an active part all over the world.
Items which would cease our business and operation along with our business scale down;
Support to motorsport customers(Support to the participation, Technical Support, and Awarding of Mitsubishi/Ralliart Driver of the Year)
New Planning, Development and Merchandize of Ralliart products (Except FIA VO parts) :*1
Information of new products and dispatching motorsport information(at web):*2
*1 FIA VO parts development and those application work shall be done by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation as it is.
*2 FIA Group-N information shall be open at the web site of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
Date of the cease: 1st April, 2010
20 April 2010, 09:47 PM
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20 April 2010, 09:48 PM
#15
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You dont see many now to be honest i reg do leeds london trip and if i see 3 or 4 im lucky
20 April 2010, 09:59 PM
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The problem subaru have is that there are so many other cars out there now with almost the same performace. Just look at all the hatchbacks these days , they will all give a standard impreza a run for its money and probably cost less to run.
20 April 2010, 10:15 PM
#18
The VXR Vauxhall models are great in a straight line but handle appallingly, whilst the Focus RS models whilst brilliant and very funky looking suffer from horrendous torque steer from what I've heard. Same for the Renaultsport Clios.
Outside of that you've got the Maza MPS, Nissan 350Z, errrr, what else.
Toyota don't really compete performance-wise nowadays, so unless you're going S4 or M3, I'd suggest you would still struggle to match the average Scooby, especially in terms of value for money and bang for yer buck.
Or are there other models I'm just being too old school to think of?
20 April 2010, 10:22 PM
#19
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i heard this and did a thread about 2 months ago a customer of mine has had some parts on back order 6 months now and the dealer told him subaru had gone or in the process of going what has ruined it is the hatch what a big mistake you think they would of learnt from the bug eye which lasted all of 18 months and ralliart havent gone mitsubishi have decided to cut costs and bring ralliart in house i was down mitzy today and every thing looks fine there
21 April 2010, 12:15 AM
#20
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I have started to notice you see a lot more Imprezas on the roads at weekends, I hardly see any during the week now, must be the fuel prices.
I dont think Subaru will ever sell as many cars as they did in the mid 90's to mid 00's, it was a magical time with McRae, Burns, 3 WRC constructors titles in a row, nice limited editions (McRae, Catalunya, Terzo, 22B RB5, P1) the Prodrive link, waiting lists at dealers, top of reliability surveys.
Lets hope they dont lose too many dealers since they have changed to a more mainstream direction
I dont think Subaru will ever sell as many cars as they did in the mid 90's to mid 00's, it was a magical time with McRae, Burns, 3 WRC constructors titles in a row, nice limited editions (McRae, Catalunya, Terzo, 22B RB5, P1) the Prodrive link, waiting lists at dealers, top of reliability surveys.
Lets hope they dont lose too many dealers since they have changed to a more mainstream direction
21 April 2010, 10:43 AM
#21
They'll not go bust
They won't sell as many cars now as they did during the hay day 90's to mid 00's as stated above
But I disagree with the hatch haters.
We've seen it all before too.
The classic shape went and then came the new age - everyone appeared to "hate" it
Then they changed the front a tiny wee bit, then a bit more
All of a sudden - people liked it
Now the hatch is the new kid on the block receiving the same treatment.
And the hatch is a fantastic car
My opinion of course.
They won't sell as many cars now as they did during the hay day 90's to mid 00's as stated above
But I disagree with the hatch haters.
We've seen it all before too.
The classic shape went and then came the new age - everyone appeared to "hate" it
Then they changed the front a tiny wee bit, then a bit more
All of a sudden - people liked it
Now the hatch is the new kid on the block receiving the same treatment.
And the hatch is a fantastic car
My opinion of course.
21 April 2010, 10:46 AM
#22
Subaru sales globally are quite "normal" in the current situation. The Subaru of America sales figures are no way as bad as the UK and they are deperate for the diesel, don't forget that Subaru have factories in the US so sell in the local currency.
Unlike Toyota,BMW Mini, Honda etc, Subaru have no manufaturing base in the UK. Even Suzuki Swifts are made in Hungary. The Euro rates at the moment also make Porsches and high end stuff cheaper here than on the European mainland. Reverse of the situation years ago with personal imports. The Koreans are still paying workers peanuts so Kia etc are still comparatively cheap.
The yen is destroying the price of Subaru's in the UK. But and it's a big but pound for pound it's still a good car for the money. The new showroom tax of £950 on big CO2 cars is busting VW, Audi, Ford and Vauxhall on their "hot saloon" models. This will also affect some of the smaller "mid-size" hotties too.
Suabru in the UK is a niche market, special and different and always will be. Thank god!
Unlike Toyota,BMW Mini, Honda etc, Subaru have no manufaturing base in the UK. Even Suzuki Swifts are made in Hungary. The Euro rates at the moment also make Porsches and high end stuff cheaper here than on the European mainland. Reverse of the situation years ago with personal imports. The Koreans are still paying workers peanuts so Kia etc are still comparatively cheap.
The yen is destroying the price of Subaru's in the UK. But and it's a big but pound for pound it's still a good car for the money. The new showroom tax of £950 on big CO2 cars is busting VW, Audi, Ford and Vauxhall on their "hot saloon" models. This will also affect some of the smaller "mid-size" hotties too.
Suabru in the UK is a niche market, special and different and always will be. Thank god!
21 April 2010, 11:04 AM
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Subaru UK car sales July 2009:
217 vehicles compared with 187 July 2008
but
Year to date -46%
1807 vehicles compared with 3356 in 2008.
(Not quite 47, but still pretty rubbish)
217 vehicles compared with 187 July 2008
but
Year to date -46%
1807 vehicles compared with 3356 in 2008.
(Not quite 47, but still pretty rubbish)
Last edited by scooby L; 21 April 2010 at 11:09 AM.
21 April 2010, 04:56 PM
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Quick calculation shows that to do, say, 15000 miles a year @ £1.25 / litre in a car doing 22 mpg costs a shade under £4000, just in petrol. Is it any wonder sales of new Imprezas have dropped off?
Personally I've taken to riding a motorbike instead, it's more fun than the car and does 50mpg.
21 April 2010, 07:33 PM
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Before buying my legacy i rarely see another subaru, mostly because i was more looking at Golfs and Audis and occasional impreza due to the impressive exhaust sound.
But since owning my car, I seem to notice a lot more subaru's - not just Imprezas.
But its true that they are mostly old cars - but i do noticed a few new 58-10 plates. But these are usually the legacy or forester - and mostly the diesel version. I thought the subaru marque was making some inroad with their new impressive boxer diesel that does some impressive MPGs? Or is just an initial burst and now have dwindled in interest....
But since owning my car, I seem to notice a lot more subaru's - not just Imprezas.
But its true that they are mostly old cars - but i do noticed a few new 58-10 plates. But these are usually the legacy or forester - and mostly the diesel version. I thought the subaru marque was making some inroad with their new impressive boxer diesel that does some impressive MPGs? Or is just an initial burst and now have dwindled in interest....
21 April 2010, 09:31 PM
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They'll not go bust
They won't sell as many cars now as they did during the hay day 90's to mid 00's as stated above
But I disagree with the hatch haters.
We've seen it all before too.
The classic shape went and then came the new age - everyone appeared to "hate" it
Then they changed the front a tiny wee bit, then a bit more
All of a sudden - people liked it
Now the hatch is the new kid on the block receiving the same treatment.
And the hatch is a fantastic car
My opinion of course.
They won't sell as many cars now as they did during the hay day 90's to mid 00's as stated above
But I disagree with the hatch haters.
We've seen it all before too.
The classic shape went and then came the new age - everyone appeared to "hate" it
Then they changed the front a tiny wee bit, then a bit more
All of a sudden - people liked it
Now the hatch is the new kid on the block receiving the same treatment.
And the hatch is a fantastic car
My opinion of course.
22 April 2010, 12:22 AM
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Subaru sales globally are quite "normal" in the current situation. The Subaru of America sales figures are no way as bad as the UK and they are deperate for the diesel, don't forget that Subaru have factories in the US so sell in the local currency.
Unlike Toyota,BMW Mini, Honda etc, Subaru have no manufaturing base in the UK. Even Suzuki Swifts are made in Hungary. The Euro rates at the moment also make Porsches and high end stuff cheaper here than on the European mainland. Reverse of the situation years ago with personal imports. The Koreans are still paying workers peanuts so Kia etc are still comparatively cheap.
The yen is destroying the price of Subaru's in the UK. But and it's a big but pound for pound it's still a good car for the money. The new showroom tax of £950 on big CO2 cars is busting VW, Audi, Ford and Vauxhall on their "hot saloon" models. This will also affect some of the smaller "mid-size" hotties too.
Suabru in the UK is a niche market, special and different and always will be. Thank god!
Unlike Toyota,BMW Mini, Honda etc, Subaru have no manufaturing base in the UK. Even Suzuki Swifts are made in Hungary. The Euro rates at the moment also make Porsches and high end stuff cheaper here than on the European mainland. Reverse of the situation years ago with personal imports. The Koreans are still paying workers peanuts so Kia etc are still comparatively cheap.
The yen is destroying the price of Subaru's in the UK. But and it's a big but pound for pound it's still a good car for the money. The new showroom tax of £950 on big CO2 cars is busting VW, Audi, Ford and Vauxhall on their "hot saloon" models. This will also affect some of the smaller "mid-size" hotties too.
Suabru in the UK is a niche market, special and different and always will be. Thank god!
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