[Alfisti]

We can hammer them all we like but they are selling more vehicles than they can make, even pre-covid. They are on fire.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

We can hammer them all we like but they are selling more vehicles than they can make, even pre-covid. They are on fire.

That line of reasoning just doesn't mean much in a BMW forum. The #1 selling sedan is a Toyota Camry - It's a boring, soulless driving experience. But it's what appeals to the majority of consumers (the majority aren't BMW enthusiasts) - it's relatively cheap, relatively comfortable, and very reliable.

I think Subaru's main draw is cheap cars that offer AWD in a sea of FWD offerings. There's still a cult following behind the WRX as a performance car - but like a lot of other Japanese manufacturers, it hasn't really stayed up to par with the times - in this case performance.

[Gdiddy23]

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/42377/...-is-pretty-bad

Pretty pathetic

[Alfisti]

jesus is it 2003?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Gdiddy23

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/42377/...-is-pretty-bad

Pretty pathetic

Are they contracting Fisher-Price for their infotainment?

I used to love Japanese cars... but holy shit it's like they're in a competition to see who can keep from updating things the longest.

[Gdiddy23]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Are they contracting Fisher-Price for their infotainment?

I used to love Japanese cars... but holy shit it's like they're in a competition to see who can keep from updating things the longest.

I actually couldn't believe it myself.

Tbh most new cars styling doesn't do anything for me anymore. For example I think the new Honda Civic looks hideous as well.

I was also looking forward to the new audi RS3 but they even butchered that pretty well too. Guess that's the world we live in

[obert]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

9th gen civic

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Are they contracting Fisher-Price for their infotainment?

I used to love Japanese cars... but holy shit it's like they're in a competition to see who can keep from updating things the longest.

The Japanese have really fallen behind in interior tech. Most of the worst infotainment systems are in Japanese cars. My father in law has a RAV4 and if you told me that infotainment system hardware/software was developed in 2006 I would believe it. The Japanese have always been hardware centric and don't do well with software.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

That line of reasoning just doesn't mean much in a BMW forum. The #1 selling sedan is a Toyota Camry - It's a boring, soulless driving experience. But it's what appeals to the majority of consumers (the majority aren't BMW enthusiasts) - it's relatively cheap, relatively comfortable, and very reliable.

I think Subaru's main draw is cheap cars that offer AWD in a sea of FWD offerings. There's still a cult following behind the WRX as a performance car - but like a lot of other Japanese manufacturers, it hasn't really stayed up to par with the times - in this case performance.

It's almost like someone made a point about the minority not being what companies design a car for on the previous page. Weird.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

We can hammer them all we like but they are selling more vehicles than they can make, even pre-covid. They are on fire.

I wouldn't say they are on fire like they were most of last decade when they were breaking year over year records. There are on the back side of their peak as sales were starting to slide just before the pandemic. They are still very popular in certain states and I have no doubt that this new WRX will sell very well as while this car no longer represents what enthusiast want in a sporty sedan it does represent what a lot of today's CUV/SUV buyers want which is rugged outdoorsy looks. I will go on record and say I just don't like the black plastic cladding on a car as it looks cheap but will reserve judgement for when I see in person. My opinion really doesn't matter as I would always bypass WRX straight to STI if I was going this direction but there's a lot of Subaru people that will probably love this look and good for them I guess.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

It's almost like someone made a point about the minority not being what companies design a car for on the previous page. Weird.

you sound bitter.

I hadn't read a lot of messages in the 2nd half of the previous page. Just went back and read through. Aside the obvious people just enjoy bitching about everything in an online forum, specifically, the WRX I think in a lot of people's minds drums up memories of the STI from the golden age of JDM performance. So when it looks like no progress has been made - that triggers things.

[AlexFL]

What’s up with all that ugly plastic cladding?? Looks terrible on this car!

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

you sound bitter.

I hadn't read a lot of messages in the 2nd half of the previous page. Just went back and read through. Aside the obvious people just enjoy bitching about everything in an online forum, specifically, the WRX I think in a lot of people's minds drums up memories of the STI from the golden age of JDM performance. So when it looks like no progress has been made - that triggers things.

Bitter? Sweetheart I just get a kick out of trolling forums when I'm bored.

Modern forums have gone soft and "omg that hurts my feels" compared to back in the day or places like Corner Carvers.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Bitter? Sweetheart I just get a kick out of trolling forums when I'm bored.

Modern forums have gone soft and "omg that hurts my feels" compared to back in the day or places like Corner Carvers.

Not just forums.... The entire world is soft. It's why we can't have nice things. Someone somewhere is offended by it.

[RM7]

But OMG, it has "great visibility"...

[XutvJet]

i wouldn't buy one, but I do think if the fender plastic and portions of the front and rear bumper covers were painted, the car had a 1 inch drop, and wheels pushed out about 15mm, it would make a world of difference. Luckily Subaru could easily fix this styling mistake and maybe that's why they gave it a shot to test the waters. They're so freaking profitable that it was probably worth the risk with WRX.

I'll hold judgement on the power until we start to see the numbers. Sure, they only gave it 3 more hp but power under the curve could be substantial and that is what will make the biggest difference in acceleration.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

I'll hold judgement on the power until we start to see the numbers. Sure, they only gave it 3 more hp but power under the curve could be substantial and that is what will make the biggest difference in acceleration.

So many people are saying this, and yet Subaru's own numbers as well as some basic math don't support this.

The official torque curve numbers are exactly the same. 258 lb-ft from 2000-5200. Assuming the torque curve is wider, and 258 lb-ft goes further than that, a reasonable guess is 258 lb ft @ 5500 RPM is 270 HP, only 1 less than the advertised peak HP.

The engine has a 6100 RPM redline, so that only means that torque is falling after the torque peak, just like the previous FA20 engine. Except the FA20 revved to 6700 RPM, although the torque drop off was so significant it probably wasn't worthwhile. With the new engine having a 6100 RPM redline, same torque peak and curve, and nearly nonexistent horsepower bump, this engine is going to have essentially the exact same characteristics as the old engine with the exception of transient response improvements from the revised wastegate. It's a minor improvement at best.

The only other benefit I can see is to have the gear ratios optimized for a 6100 RPM redline, instead of 6700 like the previous generation. Spacing out the gears to take advantage of the mid range would be the only real benefit for acceleration, since you wouldn't have an extra 600 RPM of falling torque and wasted revs, along with suboptimal gearing to go along with it. My estimation is the WRX will have somewhat of a flat HP curve from 5500-6100. Which isn't bad from a technical point of view, but the advantage is in the gearing, if and only if they adjusted the ratios correctly. Gearing for a 6100 RPM redline is different than gearing for 6700 and short shifting at 6100.

[Humdizzle]

saw this posted on the 86 forum lol

[RM7]

Anyone remember the 2008 WRX?

Subaru rebadged the Impreza GT as a "WRX" here in the US and people were irate.

[stein_325i]

[heavyD^2]

0-60 in 5.7 seconds. Subaru is maybe the only automaker who's new models are slower than they were decades ago.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

0-60 in 5.7 seconds. Subaru is maybe the only automaker who's new models are slower than they were decades ago.

So true. The 2012 WRX I had prior to my M235 was routinely tested to do 4.9-5.1 0-60.

I fully expect Subaru to make an emergency switch to paint the plastic fender guards body color and redo the front and rear bumper covers for next year to have more paint and less unpainted plastic. They've realized they made a mistake and luckily it's fairly easy to address.

Power wise, it ain't progress at all. At worst, these cars are slower than the ones they replaced. At best, there's no change.