Ouch!

"Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen" (distraxi) 10/09/2020 at 03:35 • Filed to: scooby dooby don’t

1

20

Subaru’s 69 UK dealers between them sold a total of 34 cars in August.

That’s.... not exactly a sustainable business model.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

SmugAardvark > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 03:45

5

Wow, 34 cars. You’d think they were selling Jaguar XF Sportbrakes in the US ...

Oof, t oo soon?

pip bip - choose Corrour > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 03:48

1

that will be more than the total number of Holden cars soon.

Svend > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 04:48

2

Subarus aren’t all that wanted here.

The old Legacys and Foresters are still going strong, only the older Imprezas are desired, etc...

the newer Imprezas and BRZs don’t appeal to that many, the Legacys, Outbacks and Foresters don’t appeal to the younger demographic, the Levorg is Auto only and most here that buy estates want manuals.

You’ll see the odd new XV, but again, many go for the VAG marques, Ford, Volvo, etc... when it comes to small SUVs.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Svend 10/09/2020 at 05:29

2

Nor here. Which is amazing considering that in the heyday of the Legacy and the Rex t hey were in danger of becoming a major brand. They’ve done a spectacularly good job of messing it up over the last decade or so. 

Svend > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 06:05

1

They didn’t do a bad job, they did an okay job, but they built (like Mercedes of the 90s) the Legacy and Forester too well so they keep going and people aren’t replacing them with new ones.

But they also rested on their laurels and didn’t move with the times to appeal to the youth of existing customers or to new clientele.

Nothing appealing for the U.K. market.

duurtlang > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 06:24

1

34? That’s relatively even less than in the Netherlands, where they sold 21 cars in August.

I don’t really understand Subaru. They don’t have the product to compete in Europe . Never have. The sales numbers over the years (decades) are proof of this. How can this even make them any money?

If I’m not mistaken they only sell in significant numbers in European markets that are very mountainous. Like Switzerland.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Svend 10/09/2020 at 08:04

1

I find the current crop of Subaru models to be not all that nice to look at and bloated :(

I know it had love it or hate it looks, but I still miss my old Bugeye Impreza estate!

Of all the Subie models worldwide, I’d want a Levorg with a stick, but A.....no stick, and B.....they don’t sell them in Canada anyway.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 08:43

0

Thats just shockingly bad. Like, HOW? I don’t really like the current crop of Subarus except the BRZ and that's pretty old. The Impreza is decent value for your money but it's old and devoid of any interest inside and out. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 10/09/2020 at 08:44

1

I wish we got the Levorg but it really isn’t very competitive. The Outback is a good car though . Is it too big and thirsty for the UK?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 09:36

0

Headgasket or what?

nermal > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/09/2020 at 10:53

0

So weird to see that. Subaru d ealers in the right parts of the US will sell 34 new cars in a week.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/09/2020 at 14:39

0

Not really, though it is quite high in emissions and about 33(UK)mpg, but it’s just that it’ s about £33 ,000+ , looks dated and boring and auto only .

It’s not big enough for how thirsty it is and un-economical it it and expensive it is.

It’s not even good looking.

I blinked a few times getting this picture from Autotrader U.K. and each blink felt like I’d slept a whole day. 

Svend > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/09/2020 at 14:46

1

The Bugeyes were hated at the time here and much of Europe.

But ye’, not all that good to look at and bloated.

auto only 

petrol auto only

petrol auto only

auto only

auto only

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 10/09/2020 at 14:49

0

The new gen isn’t terrible looking in blue. But yeah they aren’t exactly the most exciting vehicles but they’re not really supposed to be. They’re supposed to be capable, safe, and alternative, something they kind of messed up. Like Volvo but for people with less money or people who pretend to have less money and also like the outdoors on paper but not in practice.

That’s what I meant. They’re big but not big enough to excuse the fuel economy.

Take rate on the fa r su perior manual was pretty high for a US car on the previous gen because their autos aren’t great so I was surprised when they doubled down on their meh transmissions.

The only real sales winner is the For ester here because it kinda looks okay with the orange trim (more unique in the US market than over there) and it is outdoorsy and safe. 

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/09/2020 at 14:59

1

But there’s so many other cars here in the U .K. and Europe that look better, cheaper, more efficient, better economy, etc...

It just doesn’t factor in when someone says, I’m looking for a solid reliable v ehicle that’s cheap to tax, fuel and insure.

G et a Skoda Octavia Scout for £5,500 less. Bigger interior, better fuel economy, cheaper tax, fuel, etc...

And this version of the Octavia, is ugly.

but the new one isn’t,

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 10/09/2020 at 15:25

0

Oooh yes that is one fine looking Outback competitor/dominator.

Why is Subaru even still there? Mitsubishi manages to sell more Mirages in a week he re than that and no one would be caught dead in a Mirage.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/09/2020 at 15:37

0

Not sure, but ye’, it’s like Mitsubishi, but if it wasn’t for the L200 (Triton) and the Shogun Sport, they wouldn’t be far away from Subaru.

L200

Shogun Sport.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 10/09/2020 at 16:07

1

They don't sell any of those in the US. Beats me why they aren't selling a decontented L200 pickup in the US for fleet use. The US doesn't have many affordable small pickups. Basically the frontier and the nearly nonexistent base Ranger. 

Jb boin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/09/2020 at 16:17

1

Subarus are extremely rare in France, i only seem to see recent ones... in dirt rallies videos but not IRL.

But they a re more popular in Switzerland.

As a comparison, last year Land Rover sold about 3 times more cars in Europe than Subaru.

And i don’t see why being sold only with an automatic gearbox would be a real problem in 2020 but being a CVT is a real problem :)

And it seems that the Impreza is only sold with a... 1.6 NA engine of 114hp with the CVT (177 CO2 g/km) starting around 30. 000€ which in France... costs an additional   3 552 € of “ éco-taxe” (based on the CO2 g/km) and a small NA engine is not something anybody want in a car of this size.

As a comparison, a similar sized Peuget 308 with a 110hp turbo engine and a manual gearbox that depending on the options can be around 130 CO2 g/km and have no éco-taxe ) starts around 25. 000€ so like 8500€ less and have a sensibly more dense dealers networks and parts availability .

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jb boin 10/09/2020 at 16:30

0

Yeah I see no reason to get the AWD and take the fuel economy hit and price increase there. Frankly I don’t see the appeal of modern Subarus in non snowy areas . Some of the older ones were cool and/or good but the modern ones seem a little overpriced and old.

When you have that little power, the CVT really limits how you can use it. Seems like they should at least offer a more conventional transmission on their low end stuff.