Q&A's with SOA Blog Here

[SubaruFan]

Originally Posted by Snow Drift

SubaruFan, question:


So is it really fair to let one state, or region, change the laws for the entire country. Or what about Speed Limits? In Montana there are regions with no speed limit b/c the population is so small, but what if the NY 65 mph limit was enforced across the country?

Given that NY, LA and the Bay area along with cities like Chicago - Austin etc all struggle with car related polution issues on a daily basis - yes I do think its fair.

Being part of the largest economic factor gives you the largest say in the products your state consumes. Thats just the way it goes money talks and thats the bottom line.

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[Snow Drift]

I agree, but maybe it would be better if just those areas policed their own stricter standard instead of altering the entire countries.

Should Santa give everyone coal because of a few bad kids? No, the bad kids pay for their problems and the good kids get presents.

[SOA Blog]

Originally Posted by SubaruFan

Given that NY, LA and the Bay area along with cities like Chicago - Austin etc all struggle with car related polution issues on a daily basis - yes I do think its fair.

Being part of the largest economic factor gives you the largest say in the products your state consumes. Thats just the way it goes money talks and thats the bottom line.

Well let's just put that first part right... more CO2 is emitted from industry and home heating than personal transport.. by some margin. LA complains about car but keeps its home air conditioning on a cool setting...

The bottom line for us is that the US is a federal nation with federal government being the best body to set laws and standards for the greatest benefit.

[SubaruFan]

Originally Posted by SOA Blog

Well let's just put that first part right... more CO2 is emitted from industry and home heating than personal transport.. by some margin. LA complains about car but keeps its home air conditioning on a cool setting...

The bottom line for us is that the US is a federal nation with federal government being the best body to set laws and standards for the greatest benefit.

Yes very true - on a scale of polution - it runs Industry - power/electricity generation - air/train heavy truck, shipping then auto.

All of which are being looked at not just by CA. The auto factor is the one that impacts every person directly and the easiest for everyday joe to understand. The power plant issue - industry and heavy transport is all something being address but not in a public manner given every day joe could care less that heavy shipping now requires ships to switch to cleaner burning fuel x number of miles off the coast of CA before entering port.

There are programs in CA like businesses going to LEED certified buildings reducing their airconditioning needs 20-40%. The GOV not CA has developed a fast track progam for certification of new nuk plants to reduce our dependance on dirty coal powered plants.

This is happening across the board just that the auto industry is something every single person in the US has a voice on given just about everyone owns and drives a car.

[keepclam]

It needs to be noted in these conversations that 13 states use California's standards. We are not talking about just "a state", but over 1/4 of the nation. Some of these states are Subaru strongholds, as well. Where would Subaru be without Washington and Oregon, both CA-standards states?

Subaru already has electric vehicles. The time is ripe to bring them to US urban centers to bring those CAFE numbers in-line with much more effect than diesels could. Wouldn't need to sell very many for that fleet average to go WAY up. Electric Stella or G4e should be here now, not in 5 or 10 years after the other players snatch up the currently unmet demand.

[Sub!eDr!ver]

Originally Posted by SubaruFan

Umm? Have you ever considered that CA is one of the largest states and most influential regarding the economic factor? CA alone "By its self" is in the top Ten economic power houses on the planet. Which means if you sell cars in CA it makes up a very - very large portion of your income as a company. So from the CA emission standards point of view CA has a huge impact on auto products.

Kind of curious what state you live in Sub!eDr!ver?

I'm not defending some of CA's standards being imposed but from a numbers perspective CA is a huge player in the global economy so saying that CA is a small nich group of people different from the rest of the US would be quite incorrect based on the numbers.

I currently live in Georgia (approx 10 million people), but have also lived in Florida (18 million) and Michigan (10 million). I know their populations are not as big as California's, but have big enough populations to be a factor in the US economy. I wouldn't want any of them to dictate policy for the whole country.

Atlanta has its own smog problems with over 4 million in the metro area, but I'm sure glad that Atlanta's emissions testing isn't required in the rest of the state. It's not needed. Just like California's laws are often not needed in other states.

I think it's presumptious for the CA government to enforce standards that are different than the rest of the country, rather than coming up with unique solutions that don't force automakers to come up with a unique product just for CA.

It's nothing against CA residents, just the lawmakers.

[keepclam]

IMHO, Federal standards should be a minimum. If the residents of any state vote to have cleaner air and, as a result, fewer and different vehicle offerings, that should be their prerogative. It's also capitalism at work... consumer demand setting the bar for product development and sales success. If that's what voting consumers in those states want to buy, then companies that provide such vehicles should prosper in those states while companies that can't offer what those consumers want should be less successful. As it should be.

All IMHO, of course.

[SubaruFan]

Originally Posted by Sub!eDr!ver

I currently live in Georgia (approx 10 million people), but have also lived in Florida (18 million) and Michigan (10 million). I know their populations are not as big as California's, but have big enough populations to be a factor in the US economy. I wouldn't want any of them to dictate policy for the whole country.

Atlanta has its own smog problems with over 4 million in the metro area, but I'm sure glad that Atlanta's emissions testing isn't required in the rest of the state. It's not needed. Just like California's laws are often not needed in other states.

I think it's presumptious for the CA government to enforce standards that are different than the rest of the country, rather than coming up with unique solutions that don't force automakers to come up with a unique product just for CA.

It's nothing against CA residents, just the lawmakers.

People that live in Reno NV are directly affected by the air polution from CA cities. Especially in the summer months. Wind blows west from the coast so if SF has a clean air day it doesn't mean we contributed less air polution just means the wind blew it to Sac and then over the hill to Nevada.

Majority rules - money rules - mid Indiana rural Georgia etc has little economic say regarding product development. If a farmer in Indiana can buy a pick up that gets 30% better milege and runs cleaner than his previous truck because the majority of the population asked for better milege and cleaner technology and had the money to enforce and encourage the new technology then whats the harm? The farmer in Indiana doesn't have the resources to do that but he no doubt would enjoy a truck thats cheaper to operate than his old truck.

As for the increase in cost for the new tech - when its new it costs money - when its been in the market for a while the development cost and production costs have been sorted out and stream lined and it becomes a non issue. The same complaints, criticisim auto company complaints etc were herd when we switched from leaded gas to unleaded - from non seat belted cars to seat belted cars - from non airbaged cars to cars with airbags.

Obama asking the Feds to review why they can't give states more control over auto emissions - is actually opening the door for more rural states to have more control over their emissions standards. Though as an auto maker or maker of any product you simply build the product for the strictest standard and call it good no sense in building multiple versions of the same vehicle the cost savings tend to be vapor savings once you factor in the parts supply costs for the different bits for the same car.

[keepclam]

Originally Posted by SOA Blog

The bottom line for us is that the US is a federal nation with federal government being the best body to set laws and standards for the greatest benefit.

Why even bother with state, county and municipal governments, then? One multi-layered set of regulations applied to the entire country would be the most efficient. No matter where you moved, the rules would be exactly the same as where you left. Same development standards, same traffic laws, same taxes, same voting regulations. And it would be even more efficient if the rest of the world tagged along. One world, one government, all to make it easier for big businesses to make a profit.

I'm way too much on my soapbox here and taking this to extremes, but we're divided up into states for a reason. Yes, we've got a federal government for national security, but we're also a republic. We're the United States, not a United State.

[GodWhomIsMike]

Originally Posted by keepclam

Why even bother with state, county and municipal governments, then? One multi-layered set of regulations applied to the entire country would be the most efficient.

You should know by now that this country does not run in a well-managed and efficient way. Basically, a bunch of rich old fossils, who bought their way into office, debate on issues that even richer people pay them to bicker about. The result is a whole bunch of mishmash that makes zero sense, is difficult to manage and enforce, inefficient, and quite expensive.

Lets get back to asking Subaru about Subaru questions.

[GodWhomIsMike]

SOA Blog, should we expect any surprises at the NYIAS?

[SOA Blog]

Originally Posted by GodWhomIsMike

You should know by now that this country does not run in a well-managed and efficient way. Basically, a bunch of rich old fossils, who bought their way into office, debate on issues that even richer people pay them to bicker about. The result is a whole bunch of mishmash that makes zero sense, is difficult to manage and enforce, inefficient, and quite expensive.

Lets get back to asking Subaru about Subaru questions.

actually, I don't mind talking about this. It's an issue we have a corporate view on.

[SOA Blog]

Originally Posted by GodWhomIsMike

SOA Blog, should we expect any surprises at the NYIAS?

Why, is it your birthday?

[keepclam]

Originally Posted by SOA Blog

actually, I don't mind talking about this. It's an issue we have a corporate view on.

I don't think you're going to increase your sales in CA by suggesting they lose the clean-air standards they voted for there and in those 12 other states so that it's easier to sell more vehicles. I understand it's more difficult for a manufacturer, but that's how niches develop. Subaru has thrived on niches that are too small for other manufacturers. If Subaru's too big to exploit that niche, then an even smaller, more focused manufacturer should succeed there. How did Subaru start in the UK & Australia? Selling pretty much to farmers and ranchers. That's a pretty small niche that Subaru occupied and grew from.

On a related note, Subaru has done an outstanding job with PZEV offerings. Way to go, people! Class-leading technology for minimal cost. And I'm pleased to see it being advertised as well. That's a very impressive effort all around.

[scouty]

Originally Posted by keepclam

I don't think you're going to increase your sales in CA by suggesting they lose the clean-air standards they voted for there and in those 12 other states so that it's easier to sell more vehicles. I understand it's more difficult for a manufacturer, but that's how niches develop. Subaru has thrived on niches that are too small for other manufacturers. If Subaru's too big to exploit that niche, then an even smaller, more focused manufacturer should succeed there. How did Subaru start in the UK & Australia? Selling pretty much to farmers and ranchers. That's a pretty small niche that Subaru occupied and grew from.

On a related note, Subaru has done an outstanding job with PZEV offerings. Way to go, people! Class-leading technology for minimal cost. And I'm pleased to see it being advertised as well. That's a very impressive effort all around.

it's not the standard that's being argues... but the mechanism for setting teh standard - it needs to be one national standard

[keepclam]

If the voters in the remaining states want to adopt the CA standard, there's nothing stopping them.

[Garwin]

Don't feel like reading all 26 pages of this thread but have you guys discussed with SOA Blog about the blown motors in '09 WRX's? This is worrying me.

Thanks.

[ST Eye]

SOA Blog, when can we expect the SPT exhaust for the GR STI? What about the boost gauge? TIA.

[Shawn S]

I second the request (again) for info on the 08/09 WRX Boost gauge.

[Sports Wagon]

Originally Posted by Shawn S

I second the request (again) for info on the 08/09 WRX Boost gauge.

It's out now.

[Shawn S]

Originally Posted by Sports Wagon

It's out now.

It is ???
You got a part number for it ???

[Snow Drift]

Originally Posted by Shawn S

It is ???
You got a part number for it ???

Originally Posted by method

Just came in, I pre-ordered it months ago.

there ya go

[GodWhomIsMike]

Does the boost gauge only come in red?

[Snow Drift]

Originally Posted by GodWhomIsMike

Does the boost gauge only come in red?

Just red, its not for the Forester, sorry.

https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/p...oducts_id=1491

[Shawn S]

Originally Posted by Snow Drift

there ya go

Thanks for the info & pics.

Do you have a part number from the box?
I'm going to be at my Subaru dealer tomorrow.
And how much was it?