Lack of Media Coverage of 05 Legacy

[crash]

Has anyone else noticed the complete lack of coverage of the North American Debut of the Legacy/Outback???


There was very little coverage of it at the NAIA (the only coverage I saw was from places like MSN that cover each and every news conference) and *absolutely* no mention of it on any of the car news-magazines that air shows on SPEED (MotorWeek, AutoWeek, Autoline Detroit, etc.)

And I have yet to see anything about the Legacy/Outback in any of the media coverage of the NY Auto show.

Is the media just not impressed?

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[rsholland]

Yeah, I've noticed that too, and don't understand it one bit.

Bob

[secorsubaru]

Been wondering too!Seems very strange!

[Gecko2k2]

Because Subarus aren't volume sellers like Hondas and Toyotas. You don't see them covering Suzuki or Hyundai either.

[elgorey]

The new tiburon got tons of attention when it was introduced.

with all the ad revenue that subaru pumps into speed and other channels, I would have thought that the programs would have at least given the car a mention and once-over......

[NicoGamine]

Originally posted by Gecko2k2
Because Subarus aren't volume sellers like Hondas and Toyotas. You don't see them covering Suzuki or Hyundai either.

AGree with Gecko2k2, Subaru is not a high profile brand and the Legacy is not Subaru's highest profile car right now (I'd argue the Impreza/STi is...). Another thing is that there seems to have been an embargo on reporting on it for testers and such (see thread for note about that) so that might have contributed to the lack of coverage... but it is supposed to be over, though...

Nicolas

[gtguy]

I suspect some of it is that Subaru accomplished the neat trick of introducing a completely redesigned car, that looks astonishingly like its predecessor.

There isn't a lot of visual pizazz, though the Legacy is a great-looking car. There will be plenty of coverage once people start testing 'em, rest assured.

Kevin

[Alan]

Car & Driver had a series of photo shots and short articles about the Legacy and it's appearance at the LA show. And they ran a pretty nice article last year on it.

Subaru Legacy Article

And I'm betting on a full test of the production car as soon as it's available - probably next month's magazine.

[Ken S]

Well, to be fair, C&D had been mentioning snippets of the 05 Legacy in the issues leading to the NAIAS launch.

However, since NAIAS, it's been very, very quiet. Subaru did an okay job with their own promotion, but it appears it wasn't enough to get the journalists excited.

I'm dying to read the first road test on the GT!

Ken

[SUBE555]

Just wait til people start driving them.

Too bad the new GT wasn't involved in the latest IIHS side crash test WITH SUV's! http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2004/pr041804.htm

[_mo_]

My problem is not with the media. I agree with folks that once the media starts driving them we probably won't hear enough about the new GT's.

I'm concerned with Subaru's marketing. I have seen NOTHING about the new legacy or outback in the form of ads of any sort! We're only a month away from seeing these in lots, they need to get the message out!

Just a quick example: Along with C&D I also subscribe to Backpacker magazine. Every month there is an add for the Outback, which is very wise, the outdoor crowd loves that car. This month there was a nice two page spread about the new Mazda 6 wagon in the very front of the magazine. According to my mazda dealer the 6 wagon will be hitting lots around the same time as the new legacy and outback. So I flip through the magazine looking for the Subaru add, and it's the same 1 page Outback add they've been running since they started the "driven by what's inside" campaign

I hope Subaru has some mad marketing planned for this car. It is their bread and butter, it's time to get the message out!

just my $.02

mo

[foresTurbo]

Originally posted by SUBE555
Just wait til people start driving them.

Too bad the new GT wasn't involved in the latest IIHS side crash test WITH SUV's! http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2004/pr041804.htm

It will be tested soon, though. I suspect that with the standard side SRS systems it will at least equal the performance of the Camry and Accord.

[kenzo]

Unlike the STi, which is a superb performance car, the Legacy is not perceived as superb at anything, just really good at several things.

Perhaps that makes it less newsworthy.

(If it turns out to be superb or better, I'll be happily wrong.)

[SUBE555]

Mo, they're still trying to clear lots of the ho-hum '04 and '03 models still sitting around.

[Calamity Jesus]

I've seen several ads on TV from local Subaru dealerships trying to push the legacies they currently have on the lot. I've seen a few '04s driving around town with window stickers on.. they're pushing them hard right now.

[secorsubaru]

you guys are right in that we are trying to push the 04's out but we are not the ones that control weather car mags make much of a splash on the new model.any talk in these mags is normally good for business for us,the more positive press any of your models gets the better it is.we can't wait to get the new car right now cause it will sell a ton of the old cars.in our neck of the woods between rebates and dealer cash we have $3000 back from subaru on the base 04 outback and of course that will not apply to the new car,thats quite a price spread.........

[jpinkert]

While I'd like to read a review, I also like the fact that nobody knows about it. When they arrive in showrooms, I don't think I'll be waiting in a long line to drive one. Same goes for the wait lists -- sign me up for a 2.5GT Ltd wagon...or maybe the Outback version of the same.

Its ok for the rest of the public to know how good it is once its already in my driveway

[kenzo]

Originally posted by jpinkert
While I'd like to read a review, I also like the fact that nobody knows about it. ...
Its ok for the rest of the public to know how good it is once its already in my driveway

Agreed, except reviewers with the proper equipment and access to test tracks can tell me things about the car's capabilities that I'm unlikely to be able to assess on a test drive.

[Ken S]

Originally posted by SUBE555
Mo, they're still trying to clear lots of the ho-hum '04 and '03 models still sitting around.

Yup. Subaru's clearly trying to push their 04 inventory. I see lots of TV ads for the current model.

I'm sure they'll make their best effort ad campaign once the 05s begin showing up.

Ken

[William WRX]

I saw a short report on ESPN's coverage of the Chicago Auto Show. It only showed the new Outback. It lasted about 1 minute.

William

[reks]

If you're in the market for a 2.5 NA car, the 04's are a great deal. If you're looking to buy a GT it's really al completely different proposition.

[vvk]

Lack of media coverage is usual fare for Subaru. It's always been the underdog.

[loudsubbie]

It will probably be tested in the car mags next month.

Whenever subaru lets them have one to test is when theyll report on them.

[Kalins1]

This opinion of this marketing directors is that from consumer research to advertising, Subaru's marketing team does a horrible job. Hopefully, the implementation of "brand managers" will create a positive change in SOA.

The international SOA counterparts do a much better job of marketing Subaru products. SOA couldn't even get the Web site done correctly and in this day and age, that could kill the deal.

Mazda on the other hand had their Mazda 6 sport wagon info up QUICKLY and their site is quality. Too bad they can't spend as much time on the cars as they do their marketing, but ...

I guess for SOA it is a give and take situation. We either get quality products or quality marketing.

[Mike Wevrick]

Originally posted by reks
If you're in the market for a 2.5 NA car, the 04's are a great deal. If you're looking to buy a GT it's really al completely different proposition.

From what I have read so far the GT is going to be a fantastic bargain for its capabilities (just like the WRX)