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Old 04-14-2004, 11:47 AM   #1
SilverBoosted
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Default Baja gone after MY06?????

Autoweek has a article on the Baja going bye-bye in 06..
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=02276205
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Old 04-14-2004, 01:24 PM   #2
SouthShoreBaja
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Yep and official articles like this are to gauge backlash from what has already been decided by FHI i'm sure. But i doubt anything short of doubling sales will keep it in production. This of course won't happen so bye bye new Bajas.

I have plenty of time, but i'm debating whether i'm going to keep mine in a few years.
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Old 04-14-2004, 05:15 PM   #3
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Speaking for myself, I have been eyeing the Baja for a while... I saw it as a good vehicle early in its evolution on its way to becoming something great. With some work FHI could have made it into a "swiss army knife" of vehicles...

Obviously more like the prototype would have been ideal and probably gotten a more positive reaction.

For me, the news of the possibility of them discontinuing it makes me less likely to purchase one.
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Old 04-14-2004, 09:52 PM   #4
kx200
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One thing that would help sales is to at least advertise it. Also if it has the same motor as the STI why not tune it the same. How much would that add to the cost? I could see that the 6 speed or they’re new 5 speed auto could add some cost. My ideal Baja would be a twin turbo with a 5-speed auto that was lowered 2 or 3 inches and some big arrss brakes to slow it down.
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Old 04-15-2004, 11:30 AM   #5
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Someone on another thread made a good point:

If the Baja remains relatively unchanged for 2006, it stands little chance of having improved sales when sitting on a showroom floor next to the new Legacy and Outback.

I agree with that point completely...

For the Baja to have a chance, at minimum it needs to follow the redesign of the Legacy and Outback.

Ideally some of the concerns like the small passthrough would be addressed (although that is probably a large issue to tackle).

In my opinion, if they added things to define it as unique in utility as well as design and broaden its appeal... something like a niche or two in the back somewhere in which various utilitarian modules might be inserted... an air pump, or a water pump, or a power converter, or a small winch. Subaru could provide a few as options and then let 3rd parties make more if it takes off.

Well chosen "modules" could make the Baja much more attractive to some people.

Just my thoughts.

If it goes, I'll be sad to see it go.
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Old 04-15-2004, 11:47 AM   #6
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I'm with KX200 on one point at least.

Why the heck don't they advertise it. For weeks I've been seeing ads for Subaru's "All Weel Sales Event" featuring the Outback, Forrester, Legacy, and Impreza. Where the hell is the Baja (pardon my french). I mean, I may have been lied to, and very disillusioned, but I'm pretty sure my baja is an All Wheel Drive Subaru.

I've not seen magazine ads, TV ads, Billboards or anything about the Baja. It's as if Subaru wants to kill it off without even giving it a chance. I think the last time I even remember seeing an ad for it was before the first ones were even released and even then it wasn't what I'd call a whirlwind ad campaign. One commercial and one ad in Maxim was all I ever saw.

Any thoughts from anyone, any Subaru ad execs reading this? Anyone have Takao Saito's email?
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Old 04-15-2004, 12:27 PM   #7
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I did voice my thoughts and feelings directly to SOA via the contact us portion of their website (http://www.subaru.com/contact/contact/middle.jsp) in hopes that there is some ear out there.

Also, posting here on these boards may be helpful. We know that they read at least some of these boards...

I don't recall how my attention got drawn to the Baja... I am pretty sure it wasn't via an ad campaign though... proably simply as a result of my interest in subaru. The ad budget given to the Baja must have truly been next to nothing. You are right... can't generate interest if no one knows about it.

They dropped the ball on a number of things when it came to the Baja.
From showing a great concept vehicle and delivering a castrated version of it to not advertising it and expecting it to sell. There are definately some lessons to be learned from all this....
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Old 04-15-2004, 12:55 PM   #8
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I agree, they seem to have set out from the baja's comcept to end of life to be short by not advertising it at all. I have only seen one comercial on tv once and that was on HGTV when I was channel surfing. I have never seen a company not advertise their brand new cars, even if they think that it is a nich market. They want to advertise the hell out of them to get people to know about it.

With my baja, 90% of the comments I get is "I whish I new about that when I bought my car". meaning that they probally would have at least seriously looked at the baja when thye bought and maby bought a baja.

It does seem that the SOA advertising department is really not in love with the baja and is trying to kill it by not advertising it at all. I would bet they are justifing it by saying it would cost too mutch money to make a comercial for it when it is sutch a nich market.

enough with my rambeling.

Lets all use that conatct option on the subaru site and voice our opinion on the lack of advertising.

Ben


edit:
Here is my response from SOA:

Thank you for visiting the Subaru Web site and for your interest in Subaru products. We are not aware of the future plans for the Baja models. The Baja model is part of the Subaru collection for the 2005 model year, and plans for the 2006 models year have not been announced.

We do appreciate that you took the time to give us your comments. We will forward them to our Product Planning Department for their future consideration. In the past, input from our owners has been helpful in initiating changes to our newer models. We hope to continually improve our products and appreciate your recommendations.

Thanks again for your interest, time and suggestion!

Best Wishes,

Natalie Cox
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer Dealer Services
E-Contact Group-----------------------------------------------------------

Last edited by BajaNut; 04-15-2004 at 03:04 PM.
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Old 04-16-2004, 07:56 PM   #9
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doesn't surprise me... i live in a small provence... the dealership where i work is a nissan/subaru dealership and my dad is bringing in mercedes and volvo.. it is the ONLY subaru and only nissan dealer in the provence since the BAJA was released there have been two of them on the lot.. one was driven as a demo by the owner of the dealership then sold to an american man who has a cottage here.. the other sat on the lot then driven as a demo by the other salesman and recently put back on the lot. so there has been one sold and it is parked in a garage for 9-10 months of the year
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Old 04-22-2004, 09:44 PM   #10
JerZBajaT
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If they DO decide to kill off the Baja it will be a pity. It is the most versatile driving machine I have ever owned! Never needed a full bed Pick-up in suburban NJ - but the Baja lets me trek Garden Supplies from Home Depot and even a new Dishwasher home with ease. And it's a BLAST to drive to work - certainly makes a lot of the Garden State Raceway (Parkway) folks sit up and take notice! And I've taken it semi-off road to do some scouting for spring fishing - it's been very sure footed and comfortable.

But if SOA does kill off the Baja, that's OK - I think it will only serve to make the Baja (ESPECIALLY the Turbo) a more valuable commodity...
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Old 04-23-2004, 11:53 AM   #11
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when I took mine in for its 7500 mile oilchange and checkup, the guy at the counter said "don't sell that, it's going to be rare some day."

I felt honored and depressed at such a bold fact.

Thanks to NASIOC, though, I already knew what he was talking about
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Old 04-23-2004, 08:11 PM   #12
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even though i don't actually own a baja i've used it for absolutly everything... in my city's anual parade i hauled two big guy's an 3 big boxes full of T-shirts, it was used as a refigerator later that day, it's gone to the golf course, hauled a 30lb turkey, a few bags of ice... a very versitile ca-truck
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Old 04-24-2004, 02:17 PM   #13
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it doesn't need to be treated like a crossover car, i think. Its function and identity are getting lost next to the forester and the legacy-outback line.

. . .wonder what it would look like taller. . .
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Old 04-24-2004, 06:04 PM   #14
Peloquin
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irregardless of how Subaru treats it, they still need to advertise it. There are other Niche and crossover vehicles out there that are doing much better and I think to myself "what's so special about them."

Then I realize that I've actually seen advertisements for them.

How about that new Scion shoebox on wheels. I've seen two in town. TWO. Thats twice as many as I've seen Bajas in town and then I realized, I see three to four commercials for the Scion a day. Which is more per day than I've ever seen for the Baja ever.

I fully believe that Subaru, or at least Subaru marketing, is trying to kill this car.
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Old 04-25-2004, 12:31 AM   #15
gstien
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I agree on the advertising point (made earlier). I always see tv ads for Outback, WRX, and Forester, but never for the Baja. Okay I will give my location away here...I live in Memphis TN. There is one other Baja here, and it's the same color. LOL
I am still hunting this dude down. I saw it at the dealership and everyone I work with claims they saw me in other parts of town (that I didn't go to at the time mentioned). I get more looks with this car because it IS rare. I don't know why Subaru won't push this car. Oh well, I love my Baja and don't plan to sell it for at least 5 years (the same time as my payments) LOL.
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Old 05-03-2004, 08:54 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally posted by gstien
I agree on the advertising point (made earlier). I always see tv ads for Outback, WRX, and Forester, but never for the Baja. Okay I will give my location away here...I live in Memphis TN. There is one other Baja here, and it's the same color. LOL
I am still hunting this dude down. I saw it at the dealership and everyone I work with claims they saw me in other parts of town (that I didn't go to at the time mentioned). I get more looks with this car because it IS rare. I don't know why Subaru won't push this car. Oh well, I love my Baja and don't plan to sell it for at least 5 years (the same time as my payments) LOL.
hehe you only have two baja's in one city... we've only got two in the whole provence... one's in storage for the winter, the other is sitting on the lot with 9000KM's on it.. ut ours are different colors... one red one black....(just a re-cap of how few subarus sell here this is whats on the lot now... 1- forester 1- legacy wagon(20,000KM's) 1- baja(9000KM's) 1-impreza RS 1-impreza wagon 1- wrx 2- outbacks all of these are 2004's except the legacy and baja they are 2003's
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Old 05-09-2004, 07:36 PM   #17
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Here's a really wierd thing:

Subaru of America does not distribute Subie vehicles in Hawaii, yet, on a recent visit (last Sept., shortly after taking delivery of my Baja in Tampa), I saw no less than 5 Bajas on the streets of Honolulu, and stopped by the Honolulu Subaru dealer (who, incidentally, is backed by an Australian dealership group, kinda like Autoway is here), where they had TEN Bajas on the lot. He stated that they sell them very well, and many go to the surrounding islands, like Maui and Kauai. He also had two Baja Turbos on the lot, in the flesh, before SOA even mentioned a release date!
Another interesting note: I saw more Impreza model on a two-week stay on Oahu then I've seen at all in a city with three Subaru dealerships. I saw "Impreza XS" wagons and sedans, along with "Impreza RX" (the latest body style too, not the older models) as well, and yes, I did double-check what I saw.
Now, the really wierd note: As I began looking, I noticed (or rather, didn't notice) the quantity of WRX's and STi's.......virtually none. I saw a couple last-generation Impreza RS's, and that was about it. The Subaru concentration of cars was more like what I was used to living in Colorado (which was very thick with them).

By the way, my rental car: Subaru Impreza wagon, labled as a "XS" model.

Whattya think that says about Subaru? And all of this, on an island where all-wheel-drive is truly unneccesary.
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Old 05-10-2004, 10:22 AM   #18
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Sorry this is an off-topic, but I sware I saw a Nissan Sentra SE-X in Honolulu a few years back. How do you tell others what car you drive? "I drive Sentra S.E.X." It was a grandma driving, so I can't see her making a joke out of her car. I was like, what the ??? Hawaii is a weird place...
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Old 05-10-2004, 07:52 PM   #19
Mike Franke
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After many trips to Hawaii, I have come to agree with you. Some very strange models exist there, I'm sure in part due to the distance from three major markets: Australia, Japan, and the U.S.

A note: as a former Sentra SE-R (the original, not that pregnant rollerskate they tried later), I have also seen cars badged as Sentra SE-X. I think it was a dealer-installed trim package, as they always seemed to have the tiny little exhaust pipe used for the 1.6l engine.

I saw the first Isuzu Vehicross models in Honolulu, about six months before they were released in the U.S. I guess the Hawaiians didn't think it was as dog-ass ugly as I did.
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Old 05-11-2004, 09:27 PM   #20
gstien
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What drew me to the Baja was it's versatility. I saw it on caranddriver.com, as I check it on a regular basis, and went to the dealer to check it out. This was summer of last year?? My wife and I saw that awful yellow one (no offense to whoever owns that one), and we thought it was a great looking car, that offered more than the TSX we were looking at. Essentially I needed something I could put mulch in, and other needed items for fixing up the house. My Sentra just wasn't doing the job. I had no idea that I would have 1 of 2 in my town (of close to 1 million people). If I had a dollar for each Outback wagon I see here, I would be a rich man. It's like the Baja was doomed before it even hit the streets. Why?
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Old 05-12-2004, 10:18 AM   #21
braveit1
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I've only see two other ones in my town of 1 million+. The dealer says they sell alot of them but I never see them. Every where I go I always get stoped and asked questions.
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Old 05-12-2004, 09:44 PM   #22
Mike Franke
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While there aren't hundreds, in the Tampa area, I tend to see at least one a week, and have seen every color so far. Just saw a maroon (red??) one last night, while out to dinner, and I see the same yellow one almost every day on the commute.

You're right, though. I get asked about it all of the time. I swear this thing draws more stares than a Ferrari full of blondes.
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Old 05-12-2004, 10:04 PM   #23
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I have been seeing the same thing. We get head turns all of the time and I see a bunch of 03's every once and a while. I have seen all the colors as well, but the Yellow one is the lowner car from my local subie dealer.
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Old 10-09-2004, 11:30 PM   #24
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My local Subaru dealer told me today that she learned at the recent "grassroots meeting" (whatever that is) that Subaru now plans to produce the Baja at least through 2009.
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Old 10-10-2004, 09:11 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdchachi
My local Subaru dealer told me today that she learned at the recent "grassroots meeting" (whatever that is) that Subaru now plans to produce the Baja at least through 2009.
Can you elaborate on that? Surely you don't mean it will continue on the existing platform? Will it be moved to the current Outback platform, or perhaps the larger Tribeca platform? Or even maybe on a platform that combines elements from both the new Outback and the Tribeca?

In any event, if true, that's great news!

Bob
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