2012 Impreza thread

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by HipToBeSquare

I agree, and it is hilarious.


I call for better feature sets, and more colors, more options for better versatility of configuration...

and I get lambasted because the features supposedly "cost too much" for poor little frail Subaru to try to pull off, regardless of touting Subaru's internal sales stat record setting out of the other side of their mouths.

Most recently I was refuted, this very day, for suggesting it is a downgrade that the production version of the 2012 Impreza doesn't have Projector headlights, nor LED tail lights... ooh, "they are too expensive..."

...never mind that the current base Impreza 5-door has...



...Wait for it....



Yes, you guess it, LED tail lights, and projector headlights, YES, that would be the <$18K base 2.5i Impreza 5-door that comes with that equipment.

Have you taken a look at exchange rates lately? What about the cost of metals (aluminum, copper, ect.)? Have you taken a look at what consumer demand has done to the LED market in general? Have you taken a look at what other automakers have done with small cars (Hello VW with torsion beam rear suspension, no soft touch surfaces and no more projector headlights.)? It's obvious you speak without knowing anything at all about procurement, raw material pricing, and trend analysis for materials. Several mainstream cars HAD LED tails that have lost them.

Please show me the market analysis you've obviously completed of the percentage of Subaru's current and future conquest customer wishes and what they are willing to pay for them.

You have no idea what savings Subaru used on certain features were added in other areas to improve the vehicle and keep competitive pricing.

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[sir_wagon]

I have seen other car brands doing staggered car line updates. Examples include convertible versions of Mini and Volkswagen Golf being carried over for several months after the hardtop versions were updated. Saturn also kept making their 1st generation coupes for an extra year.

Making new STI/WRX versions requires additional engineering design and testing costs over what they have already done for base Impreza version. If the current versions of the turbo Impreza models are still selling well I can understand the business case of keep making them.

[HB_Dad]

Originally Posted by Lboogie

Based on the ToyoBaru coupe no less *runs&hides*

Would be really stupid of Subaru if they did that with their halo performance car unless it is rally ready (AWD). Luckily, I doubt highly that the coupe being the new WRX is really the case!

Now... back to the awesomeness known as the 2012 Impreza. Can't wait to see the production 5-door model tomorrow!!

[Snowphun]

Originally Posted by remowgn

Christ, you sure do like to whine! If you're not complaining about what subaru *might* be doing, you're complaining about what people here *might* be saying.

Have you considered the fact that everyone here does not have the same opinion, and that you might hear different things from different people? Or that any of the reported rumors are NOT correct? It's all just speculation at this point, with attempts to determine a reasonable explanation for those speculated points. Get over it already!

Worth reposting. HTBS, you really have you finger on the pulse of consumer demands and the auto industry.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by going4speed

I agree completely. It does not make any sense to have two separate body lines going at the same time. Unless they build the STI/WRX in Japan and build the Impreza in the US. Eventually they will have to make them the same model.

I have to wonder if that is what they are telling dealers so the current sales of the the 'new' STI/WRX would not be hurt.

My dealer told me that it would not change for two more years.

The WRX/STI are already built in Japan. All turbo powertrains are imported from Japan in any case; perhaps the turbo Legacy is built here with the powertrain imported but otherwise all other turbo models come over from overseas.

[Kunk]

I wonder if the WRX/STI is ever going to get paddle-shifters like the new Impreza (Guessing it has it, judging from the video of Today Show)

[brettjr25]

Originally Posted by Euclid

Perhaps if it is an actual flappy paddle gear box, but flappy paddles on an automatic = gimmick.

I actually would like to have paddles on the automatic. Maybe it would just be gimmicky but it would be a fun gimmick for me to have. Plus I'm one of those people who actually use 3, 2 and 1 on a automatic.

Originally Posted by GodWhomIsMike

Yeah, I am kinda wondering if I should do a short lease for 2 years of a WRX/STI, or just got for 3 years. Since 1998, all my cars have been first model year redesigns. I'm not too keen on buying a last model year vehicle.

If I go with it I'm going to finance it and make it my 10 year car. My 07 was suppose to be it but I got it used and more legroom and better mpg would be nice. So hopefully I get it and have it paid for in 2years.

I hope this car has a remote starter and a cd player with an Aux and USB input..PLEASE USB input. Not exactly deal breakers but want to have.

[rexster]

Originally Posted by only1agam

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/261848...60232#42660232

For those who missed the video, they mention the new Imp is lighter and faster than the old car despite the smaller motor. Probably not by much, but any amount is good...

[rsholland]

Spent about an hour and a half crawling all over the new sedan and 5-door. I can't say much as there is an embargo in effect until the official announcement tomorrow.

What I can say is that most if not all of my complaints about the current model seem to have been addressed. It's like they went over virtually every aspect of the car and massaged it to near perfection. Nothing radical, but just a very polished effort on Subaru's part. And yes, the car does look very good in person. Best looking Impreza to date.

Wiil be checking it out again at the show tomorrow. May not be able to check back in until tomorrow night, as it depends on what time I get home.

Bob

[HB_Dad]

SOA Blog, does this vehicle have Subaru's famous "ring-shaped frame"? I'm trying to figure out where the weight loss came from...

[AWDPilot]

Originally Posted by Kunk

I wonder if the WRX/STI is ever going to get paddle-shifters like the new Impreza (Guessing it has it, judging from the video of Today Show)

The CVT in the outback has the paddle shifters as well, assuming it's probably the same CVT unit it adds very little to the experience, however, because the nature of the CVT which never fully disengages it's nice to be able to kick down a few ratios in the winter in adverse conditions without going for the brake.

[AWDPilot]

Originally Posted by HB_Dad

SOA Blog, does this vehicle have Subaru's famous "ring-shaped frame"? I'm trying to figure out where the weight loss came from...

Shorter, smaller motor, and I'm going to guess use of lighter materials in some places.

All comes down to how much weight they shaved.

[Catsmeow]

Originally Posted by rsholland

Just got back from the special Impreza preview:

Spent about an hour and a half crawling all over the new sedan and 5-door. I can't say much as there is an embargo in effect until the official announcement tomorrow.

What I can say is that most if not all of my complaints about the current model seem to have been addressed. It's like they went over virtually every aspect of the car and massaged it to near perfection. Nothing radical, but just a very polished effort on Subaru's part. And yes, the car does look very good in person. Best looking Impreza to date.

Wiil be checking it out again at the show tomorrow. May not be able to check back in until tomorrow night, as it depends on what time I get home.

Bob

Robert ... many thanks for your prompt update and preview.
Am very much looking forward to your full report at ~oh let's say~ 1:05:00 PM EDT tomorrow!

[rsholland]

Originally Posted by Catsmeow

Robert ... many thanks for your prompt update and preview.
Am very much looking forward to your full report at ~oh let's say~ 1:05:00 PM EDT tomorrow!

I suspect at 1:05 PM tomorrow that you'll know most of the important stuff. What I can add is maybe some of details that often don't get reported, but that won't happen until I get back.

Bob

[Snow Drift]

Originally Posted by rsholland

I suspect at 1:05 PM tomorrow that you'll know most of the important stuff. What I can add is maybe some of details that often don't get reported, but that won't happen until I get back.

Bob

Did you win the SOA facebook first 5 e-mails contest or were you invited by SOA Blog again like last year? I gotta get on his list as I freaking work in Manhattan lol.

[rsholland]

Originally Posted by Snow Drift

Did you win the SOA facebook first 5 e-mails contest or were you invited by SOA Blog again like last year? I gotta get on his list as I freaking work in Manhattan lol.

I got an invite. I did however meet 2 of those guys from Facebook. I also spent a lot of time with SOA's Director of Product Management. No, he didn't spill any beans on future models, but he was keenly interested in what I had to say about the cars.

Bob

[TMSmith]

Aww man, I'm gonna be sitting at my computer right at 1:05!

[HB_Dad]

Originally Posted by rsholland

I got an invite. I did however meet 2 of those guys from Facebook. I also spent a lot of time with SOA's Director of Product Management. No, he didn't spill any beans on future models, but he was keenly interested in what I had to say about the cars.

Bob

I hope you put it some good words about a next-generation Tribeca!

[GodWhomIsMike]

Originally Posted by rsholland

I got an invite. I did however meet 2 of those guys from Facebook. I also spent a lot of time with SOA's Director of Product Management. No, he didn't spill any beans on future models, but he was keenly interested in what I had to say about the cars.

Bob

Lucky bastard!!!!

[rsholland]

Originally Posted by HB_Dad

I hope you put it some good words about a next-generation Tribeca!

Didn't really get into discussing other models too much. The focus was all on this new Impreza.

Actually, we didn't get much info tonight on the car, other than to examine it. There was no mention of specs at all, and very little on trim levels (well, I do know the trim levels) and content. All that will come tomorrow.

Bob

[bob655]

Looks like they finally got rid of the excessive silver-spray-painted plastic in the interior (now it's just non-excessive silver-spray-paint).

I still wish there were less of it though. I never understood the appeal of spray-painting plastic; it just looks cheap, no matter how it's done.

[banyan]

Originally Posted by rsholland

Didn't really get into discussing other models too much. The focus was all on this new Impreza.

Actually, we didn't get much info tonight on the car, other than to examine it. There was no mention of specs at all, and very little on trim levels (well, I do know the trim levels) and content. All that will come tomorrow.

Bob

What is your impression about interior materials? same as the current one, better, or really cheap?

[gatoys]

Hopefully they improve the paint as my 2010 WRX has by FAR the WORST paint job I have ever seen! Full of orange peel over the entire car! Having a professional paint job on my WRX is on my list of things to do.

[Dragicon]

Originally Posted by rsholland

I got an invite. I did however meet 2 of those guys from Facebook. I also spent a lot of time with SOA's Director of Product Management. No, he didn't spill any beans on future models, but he was keenly interested in what I had to say about the cars.

Bob

As I do not frequent these boards as much, were you able to ask about the Impreza not having a WRX/STI version that I have been reading in the past few pages on this thread? I havent been able to figure out where everybody is getting this from all of a sudden. Are they indeed carrying over the 2011 model for the next 2 years?

I really like this new impreza... it is incredible. I cannot imagine what the WRX/STI version would be... easily the best looking one to date if it is based on this impreza version.

[Kostamojen]

I doubt 2 years. Probably more like 6 months to a year.