by "DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
Published 06/15/2017 at 00:01
by "DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
Published 06/15/2017 at 00:01
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STARS: 1
Although TBH there’s probably a few good reasons why it’s not a good idea and they’re the reasons they haven’t done it yet. But that’s not gonna stop me from making a post about it!
Why doesn’t Subaru offer RWD models? (BR-Z excluded.) As far as I know (which isn’t a lot, but more than nothing.) Subaru’s drivetrain has a longitudinal engine and transmission. So why not just pull out the two front axles and diff and stick two plugs in the side of the transmission?
There’d be a couple of benefits. For one it would help gas mileage, not just for the RWD models, but it would boost their overall corporate average whatever (conspiracy theory: Subaru only helped with the BR-Z to improve their CAFE score!)
Plus having a 2WD RWD could help sales in areas that don’t get snow. Like Texas for example. There’s practically no point in an AWD car, it’s just a mileage penalty and ups the MSRP. Plus even if they didn’t sell a hot model, you know tuning companies would get a hold of it and make parts for it. Think about it. A RWD Subaru Forester with WRX and RWD! IT’S GENIUS!
I’d imagine it’d probably even help sales with non-enthusiasts, because of the gas mileage thing, and the fact 33% of drivers probably don’t even know what the drive wheels are on their own car! So they won’t know that FWD is slightly better than RWD in bad weather, or even care. They’ll just see a sticker price $4k lower and with better MPG.
To find the answers I’m looking for, I think I need to follow...The Trail of Blown Headgaskets DUN-DUN-DUUUUN!!!
"CB" (jrcb)
06/15/2017 at 00:06, STARS: 2
Brand image.
Costs relating to having to certify another drivetrain variant of all of their vehicles.
Brand image.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
06/15/2017 at 00:13, STARS: 2
You call it an “Eco” model that’s better for the environment and run ads showing it saving polar bears and puppies!
True, but they could just start it out on one variant and see how it goes.
"notsomethingstructural" (notsomethingstructural)
06/15/2017 at 00:21, STARS: 0
subaru sells more foresters in 2 weeks than than the 86 and the BRZ sell in a year (combined)
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
06/15/2017 at 00:23, STARS: 0
But the number they sale doesn’t affect the corporate average does it? Everything in the lineup is weighted equally, I think.
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
06/15/2017 at 00:31, STARS: 1
I’ve seen a few conversions. You have to use something like this, otherwise you will destroy the transmission.
http://eng.kaps-transmissions.com/products-rwd-conversion.html
"His Stigness" (HisStigness)
06/15/2017 at 00:34, STARS: 0
Your comment about AWD being useless in places like Texas made me laugh so hard. People know nothing, and think they need AWD, whether it snows or now. AWD is becoming standard everywhere because it’s an easy way to make more on each car.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
06/15/2017 at 00:37, STARS: 0
Subaru’s brand is built on AWD. It’s not really a Subaru of it isn’t AWD.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
06/15/2017 at 00:40, STARS: 0
Marketing to a point of difference. Mainly because a 2WD Subaru would be just another car (see BRZ sales compared to 86 sales as an example). Without AWD their offerings are just another suite of beige sedans, hatchbacks and wagons.
AWD is an easily graspable and marketable mechanical feature to those who are mechanically non-inclined. ‘Boxer engine’ on the other hand is not.
Arguably they would do better in MPG and whathaveyou to drop the Boxer for a more ‘modern’ conventional engine format despite the packaging advantages it gives Subaru.
"notsomethingstructural" (notsomethingstructural)
06/15/2017 at 00:55, STARS: 0
Suburau wants to design cars that sell AND meet CAFE. I was at a Suburau dealership on business today and they had one BRZ on the whole lot. That’s not why people buy a Subaru. You’re talking about what like a 2 MPG difference between AWD/FWD by the time you factor in what’s in the lineup already you’re looking at 1 MPG for a regional product that no one wants? Can’t see it happening
" V8 Rustler" (handschaltgetriebe6)
06/15/2017 at 01:00, STARS: 2
Subaru’s drivetrain has a longitudinal engine and transmission.
Because it is a transaxle type, similar to Audis. Subarus are FWD or AWD, not RWD (except brz).
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
06/15/2017 at 10:12, STARS: 1
Subaru selling RWD cars would be like BMW selling FWD ones.
Oh, wait...
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
06/15/2017 at 11:39, STARS: 0
This. Subaru used to sell AWD and FWD variants of the same car in the past. As of 1996, every Subaru (except the BRZ) has been AWD.
If Subaru was going to go back to offering 2WD versions as you suggest, I think they’d go FWD, not RWD. They’d save the extra weight and complexity of everything from the driveshaft back with no changes to the front. Plus FWD is much more stable and easy to drive for the masses, who are Subaru’s main market these days. RWD has made a comeback lately, but only because of traction and stability control to keep its more negative qualities in check.
Now, from an enthusiast’s standpoint, I totally agree with you. A fully RWD WRX would be loads of fun. But given that the WRX is known for its AWD more than anything, I don’t see that happening.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/15/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 1
It’d probably be cheaper to make them FWD.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
06/15/2017 at 14:01, STARS: 0
True, but I was thinking they could get some kind of niche market with RWD.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/15/2017 at 14:19, STARS: 1
Cheap fuckers is a market.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
06/15/2017 at 14:34, STARS: 0
But cheap fuckers don’t buy new anyway!
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/15/2017 at 14:40, STARS: 2
The number of new Nissan Versas rolling around begs to differ.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
06/15/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 0
This is true, also Mirages. I see quite a lot of them around San Antonio oddly.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/15/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 0
When only the cheapest thing with 4 wheels and a warranty will do.
"With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username" (with-a-g)
06/15/2017 at 16:36, STARS: 1
I have a better idea: Baja STi.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/15/2017 at 18:03, STARS: 0
That’s what I thought, even their 2wd cars are FWD.
"NJAnon" (NJAnon)
06/15/2017 at 19:26, STARS: 0
You’d have to come up with more information to give to Subaru DC3 to convince them to do that. I mean Im sure Subaru seems to be more open to things than other carmakers if the business case is worth it.
Although even if they did decide to do it, it would several years upon years before we saw anything.
"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
06/15/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
...wut
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/15/2017 at 21:16, STARS: 0
“Older”
"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
06/15/2017 at 21:35, STARS: 0
Oh, you mean the pre-97 cars