Subaru AWD vs. The Industry *Video*

[SoDealer]

The DVD from the Ride and Drive has been made (1500 salespersons attended this event). This was meant for reinforcement sales training for those who attended and not meant for public consumption.

Google Video Link http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...42340359932162 Full Video
Youtube Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7dVFY5CxT0 Truncated to meet 10 minute maximum length
Download Link http://www.sendspace.com/file/jl4zdi (30 megs wmv format)



Some quick comments

The debate on the Volvo XC70 and the Outback is settled here. Haldex vs. Symmetrical... There can only be one.

Symmetrical vs. VW 4motion? There can still only be one.

Honda Real(wasteof)time and Nissan AWD debunked.

Another point worthy of mention... all traction control and stability control systems are not created equal either. VDC demonstrated it's superiority over many other systems (Honda, Toyota, Volvo, and others not shown in the video)

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[aaykay]

Originally Posted by SoDealer

Another point of worth of mention... all traction control and stability control systems are not created equal either. VDC demonstrated it's superiority over many other systems (Honda, Toyota, Volvo, and others not shown in the video)

That was a nice presentation but obviously biased to the Subarus.

I had always suspected that the CR-V real-time AWD was simply intended for extreme light-duty stuff...something that can be accomplished fairly easily in any front-wheel-drive vehicle.

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by aaykay

That was a nice presentation but obviously biased to the Subarus.

I had always suspected that the CR-V real-time AWD was simply intended for extreme light-duty stuff...something that can be accomplished fairly easily in any front-wheel-drive vehicle.

Most of the exercises were performed by the attending salespersons. They experienced first hand each by driving a competitive vehicle and Subaru back to back. This production is just a compilation of those things so that they can follow up on what they learned. It seems that AWD is more of a marketing and less engineering for some companies.

[crazyhorse]

Biased nothing... They took extra time just to show us where the Subaru's failed on the rollers. There's nothing biased about putting cars through the exact same test procedures to see how they perform.

[Dragon Wagon]

enough said subaru awd rules for research and development

[00Maddog]

two of my coworkers were there, i'm downloading to see if i can spot em...

[Kostamojen]

They should have shown the CR-V on the rollers... I heard it couldnt even get onto the rollers!

[only1agam]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

Biased nothing... They took extra time just to show us where the Subaru's failed on the rollers. There's nothing biased about putting cars through the exact same test procedures to see how they perform.

i was with crazy horse^.. they put all the cars on the same roller set up and the subarus truly did dominate

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

They should have shown the CR-V on the rollers... I heard it couldnt even get onto the rollers!

no it couldn't... the rear wheels wouldn't engage once the fronts slipped. The rear wheels couldn't get over the log. You can see what happened with the crv on the hill climb

[happasaiyan]

id be interested to see the sh-awd system compared with subarus.

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by happasaiyan

id be interested to see the sh-awd system compared with subarus.

I would too. After seeing where the vehicles faults lie in trying to find traction. I believe SHAWD would be redundant and overcomplicated.

[only1agam]

Originally Posted by SoDealer

no it couldn't... the rear wheels wouldn't engage once the fronts slipped. The rear wheels couldn't get over the log. You can see what happened with the crv on the hill climb

i was watching this the whole time... why wouldnt the back wheels get any power?

[NYCshopper]

Originally Posted by happasaiyan

id be interested to see the sh-awd system compared with subarus.

plus the ATTESA E-TS AWD found on the Infiniti's

[TheMatt]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

Biased nothing... They took extra time just to show us where the Subaru's failed on the rollers. There's nothing biased about putting cars through the exact same test procedures to see how they perform.

Just listen to the subjective language the narrator used...the words he used for Subaru's competitors were all negative...but yeah, anyway, go Subaru

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by TheMatt

Just listen to the subjective language the narrator used...the words he used for Subaru's competitors were all negative...but yeah, anyway, go Subaru

Thank you Captain Obvious The video is meant for salespeople. It's reinforcing what they learned. It's not meant for customers. 1500 salespeople from all over the country drove the vehicles themselves. They drew their own conclusions.

[dodiox]

are these test made by subaru?!
it seems PRETTY biased

[crazyhorse]

We sat there and watched the tests... they showed where Subaru failed too... how is that biased testing?? We can't help it that honda's AWD sucks...

[only1agam]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

We sat there and watched the tests... they showed where Subaru failed too... how is that biased testing?? We can't help it that honda's AWD sucks...

i agree with this statement completely.. that is true it did show where subarus awd failed too.. funny how big of a difference a limited slip and VDC can make

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by dodiox

are these test made by subaru?!
it seems PRETTY biased

How so? you put the same cars through the same turns, bumps, and obstacles. You have over 2000 people who sell everything from Chevy's to BMW's (as well people who don't even work in the auto industry) over a 2 month period perform the obstacles themselves. A video is made highlighting the findings. Nothing was complicated and everything was real world. Everyone was shown where Subaru's AWD's faults were as well. Subaru's AWD was simply shown to be superior to all of the other makes present.

[TheMatt]

I'm not saying the tests were biased, just the video. If the video is meant for Subaru salespeople, then it makes sense.

[crazyhorse]

Well the guy in charge of the video is head over all the training materials that us dealer types get so yea he's going to be a fan. The ride and drive event itself was very well set up. I wish I could build a course for my potential customers to do some of that stuff. They'd never look at honda twice again

[silver arrow]

I love both of my Subarus (though the old 03 LOB had better suspension dampening than the new 05) but the video is biased. I doubt the results would have been different if done independently, but it is a Subaru training video.

[John C]

I can't believe anyone could fall for this viral marketing crap.

Unrealistic, unverifiable tests designed to give the win to the Subarus, and give sales droids more 'facts' to fling at potential buyers. And now flung at NASIOC so we'll do your work for you too.

Look, we all know that Subaru has a full-time AWD system that will inherently cope with extreme conditions better than part-time systems. That video was like Mike Tyson vs. well, me. But, I mean, up a 45deg dirt slope? What? Why would Honda design a CR-V to do that when 99% of cars will never see more than a grassy field or dirt track?

Wanna show how hardcore the Tribeca is in extreme conditions? throw in some harder opposition than the vanity SUV's in the video. Throw in a Discovery or even a Q7.

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by John C

I can't believe anyone could fall for this viral marketing crap.

Unrealistic, unverifiable tests designed to give the win to the Subarus, and give sales droids more 'facts' to fling at potential buyers. And now flung at NASIOC so we'll do your work for you too.

regular people drove the cars. The dvd was made after the fact. the "sales droids" weren't given the video... they made the video... they were the ones driving the cars.

furthermore... I don't work for a dealership.

Originally Posted by John C

Look, we all know that Subaru has a full-time AWD system that will inherently cope with extreme conditions better than part-time systems. That video was like Mike Tyson vs. well, me. But, I mean, up a 45deg dirt slope? What? Why would Honda design a CR-V to do that when 99% of cars will never see more than a grassy field or dirt track?

There were varying obstacles. Some not even shown here. There was an offroad course not highlighted in the video. There was other track stuff not highlighted either. Most of the courses are road courses... wet and dry tracks. and about part time systems... what about VW's system... which is highlighted here in the Passat? If you're going to buy something...don't you want it to work as advertised?

Originally Posted by John C

Wanna show how hardcore the Tribeca is in extreme conditions? throw in some harder opposition than the vanity SUV's in the video. Throw in a Discovery or even a Q7.

The vehicles demonstrated are the vehicles actually cross shopped with the Subarus. The Nissan Murano is the highest cross shopped vehicle against the Tribeca (the Q7 is not).

It's great to be a skeptic....being ignorant is another story.

[ringe]

Funny how they left out the only system that trumps Subaru's...Audi's longitudinal systems with the torsen center diff.