New Wagon concept, comment?

[ShrinerMonkey]

Subaru seems to be doing rather well lately, so maybe an enthusiast wagon in the states could be doable.

Subaru's sales are down as of late.

[SubieDriver]

^^^ Only due to the tsunami and flooding. If they have nothing on the lots, they can't sell very well.

[toddhuston]

It actually beautiful and Subaru does not bring it or something like it to the US I may never buy another Subie -

[Bbc84]

If they can bring it over as a wagon, not a outback to the US. With 300hp/300tq from a turboed motor and a 6 spd manual. They can have my deposit now.

[ShrinerMonkey]

If they can bring it over as a wagon, not a outback to the US. With 300hp/300tq from a turboed motor and a 6 spd manual. They can have my deposit now.

I agree, but there is practically zero market for such a vehicle so it will never happen.

[Bbc84]

I agree, but there is practically zero market for such a vehicle so it will never happen.

 

 

Maybe they will see the CTS-V Wagon as a competitor and bring it over lol

[SubOperator]

But I'll say it again so SOA / Subaru Canada can read it again: I won't buy another new Subaru unless it's a full-sized turbo wagon. The closest and only thing they offer now is a WRX hatch, and I don't want that. I'm not 20 years old anymore. Not by a long shot.

 

 

Well said. Same here.

[gcoonley]

Instead of making a new model, I dont understand why Subaru does not make a limited edition run. Make 500 of them (Or whatever number the market can take) and put in some of the mods we all like to do. They could probably do it every other year.

 

Same thing with standard legacy. They could have an STI model. I would love to have a Legacy with all the hardware the STI has.

[sl1200]

But I'll say it again so SOA / Subaru Canada can read it again: I won't buy another new Subaru unless it's a full-sized turbo wagon. The closest and only thing they offer now is a WRX hatch, and I don't want that. I'm not 20 years old anymore. Not by a long shot.

 

I'm in this boat as well (although 'full-size' to me means no bigger than the 05-07 Legacy Wagon).

[BAC5.2]

Instead of making a new model, I dont understand why Subaru does not make a limited edition run. Make 500 of them (Or whatever number the market can take) and put in some of the mods we all like to do. They could probably do it every other year.

 

Same thing with standard legacy. They could have an STI model. I would love to have a Legacy with all the hardware the STI has.

 

You are kidding, right?

 

Do you have any idea the costs associated with vehicle production?

 

What do they teach kids in school these days?

[ShrinerMonkey]

You are kidding, right?

 

Do you have any idea the costs associated with vehicle production?

 

What do they teach kids in school these days?

No kidding.

It costs about $1B to develop a new car model from concept to sales floor. Even high performance versions of cars already in a manufactures stable costs many millions to develop, test, and market.

[gcoonley]

No kidding.

It costs about $1B to develop a new car model from concept to sales floor. Even high performance versions of cars already in a manufactures stable costs many millions to develop, test, and market.

 

 

For the record, I am an engineer and I have worked in manufacturing for years. I fully understand the costs. No where did I say "make a new car" What I said was take existing parts where the R&D has already been paid for and then setup the factory for a 1 week or a 2 day production build. Dont build anything else that/those day(s) Take a Legacy wagon and put STI parts in in.

You may need to make a custom badge that says "1 of 500"

 

Marketing would have to come up with a total number to build.

 

It is not an uncommon practice.

 

2012 Boss 302 4,000 unit run, 750 are Lagunas

2007 Shelby Hertz mustang 500 unit run.

2008 Shelby GT500KR 1,000 unit run

2004 Nissian 350Z Gran Turismo 4 Limited Edition. 700 unit run.

2006 Mini John Cooper Works GP 2,000 unit run.

2012 Transformer edition Camaro 1,200 unit run

[ShrinerMonkey]

The cars that you listed act as halo cars for their brands. Do you really see a Legacy wagon with STI parts adding any cache to the Subaru brand to make it worth it? American's distaste for wagons alone makes that a tough sell. GM tried a similar thing with Cadillac and they are not making much if any profit on the billions that GM invested in the brand. Not to mention that most of the potential buyers for such a car can't or don't buy cars new, or would rather customize the car themselves. I see your point, but the analogy just doesn't work in this case.

[gcoonley]

No kidding.

It costs about $1B to develop a new car model from concept to sales floor. Even high performance versions of cars already in a manufactures stable costs many millions to develop, test, and market.

 

 

Then tweak the analogy. Use the exact same hardware as the GT sedan, but build a GT wagon (Maybe change out the craptastic 6 speed) But just build what the market could handle. Then skip a year and then do another build once the demand has built up again.

 

My point is you don't need a continuously running model.

[05LGTLtd]

^ I suggested this a few years ago. If there are only so many wagon buyers out there, just run them every few years. Actually the last year of generation might even give a little bump to sales. Also using the SPT logo on the wagon instead of STi gives it a special run without "confusing" us Americans so much.

 

500 wagons with factory standard SPT exhaust, STS, chassis braces, a slight brake/suspension upgrade and they could sell them every three to four years pretty easy I'd bet

[ShrinerMonkey]

All of which requires separate crash testing and environmental certifications. Subaru would not be able to make back the expense of a separate wagon model if they only sold a few hundred. There is a reason why Subaru, VW, BMW, Volvo, etc.. killed off their wagon models in the U.S... Americans don't buy them. Performance versions of wagons are even more sales kryptonite.

 

I want a vehicle like this just as much as you, it's just not possible to sell it profitably in the American car market.

[ehsnils]

And Scandinavia is quite the opposite - no wagon, no sale unless you market your ass off to push your brand.

 

When it comes to Legacies here there goes about 10 wagons on a sedan...

[05LGTLtd]

Crash test and EPA already done for the outback xt. Changing the ride height and suspension for legacy wagon trim is enough to retest the platform?

[SubOperator]

Crash test and EPA already done for the outback xt. Changing the ride height and suspension for legacy wagon trim is enough to retest the platform?

 

except that there's no OBXT in 5th gen.

[SubOperator]

All of which requires separate crash testing and environmental certifications. Subaru would not be able to make back the expense of a separate wagon model if they only sold a few hundred. There is a reason why Subaru, VW, BMW, Volvo, etc.. killed off their wagon models in the U.S... Americans don't buy them. Performance versions of wagons are even more sales kryptonite.

 

I want a vehicle like this just as much as you, it's just not possible to sell it profitably in the American car market.

 

I bet with larger size of 5th gen sales of Legacy Wagons would be much higher than they were for 4th gen - which was not properly advertised, was stripped of options, etc. Even then SOA sold like 11K Legacy Wagons in 2005 afaik (unclemat posted numbers in year/model thread). I don't think it's the sales figures, it's more like stigma that wagons have in US. I would understand Toyota dropping wagon sales with 11k out of 2-3 million Camrys they sell, but Subaru could use any sale they can get.

 

Anyway, if SOA does not offer a good turbo wagon with MT by the time my BP is retired, I'll be moving to whoever will have its equivalent. I don't want an Outback or Impreza. Nor do I want a sedan.

[05LGTLtd]

BMW, VW, and Volvo still have wagons in their line up 2012.

[Magic Marker]

I bet with larger size of 5th gen sales of Legacy Wagons would be much higher than they were for 4th gen - which was not properly advertised, was stripped of options, etc. Even then SOA sold like 11K Legacy Wagons in 2005 afaik (unclemat posted numbers in year/model thread). I don't think it's the sales figures, it's more like stigma that wagons have in US. I would understand Toyota dropping wagon sales with 11k out of 2-3 million Camrys they sell, but Subaru could use any sale they can get.

 

Anyway, if SOA does not offer a good turbo wagon with MT by the time my BP is retired, I'll be moving to whoever will have its equivalent. I don't want an Outback or Impreza. Nor do I want a sedan.

Agreed. If they don't come out with a Sport or Touring Legacy based wagon, this 5th gen is my last Subaru.

[05LGTLtd]

Ok, I see Volvo did cut the v50. Sad there really isn't a car out there that makes me want to replace my 2005 LGT wagon.

[Firepuma]

if volvo would hock the v60 over that'd be my next new car thought. God even if they put a stcik in the Acura rsx wagon I'd look at that.

[SubOperator]

BMW, VW, and Volvo still have wagons in their line up 2012.

 

Looking at Bimmers actually. Audi is nice but not my style, VW leaves me unamuzed,as does Volvo. At any rate I won't be buying automatic or CVT.

 

With incentives that come with my BMWCCA membership that apply to CPO cars I can find something that will be is same price range I paid for my BP GT Limited. Or just buy used.