Would you miss Subaru?

Continuing my “would you care” series …

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Does Subaru provide such a unique product and customer experience that we would be saddened if it didn’t exist? Does Subaru treat its employees so astonishingly well that those workers would not be able to find another employer to treat them as well? Does Subaru forge such unfailing emotional connections with its customers that they would fail to find another car company that could forge just as strong an emotional bond?

What say you?

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Comments

[Gary]

Nice postings. And yes, I would miss them a hell of alot.
Time for me to step up to bat for my favorite car company. Yes, subaru has made some quirky cars in the past with offbeat styling(Brat, xt) and some really cool (svx & wrx), but they have come a long way over their decades. From the rust buckets on well salted Vermont highways, to slick tricked out REX's. Subaru has managed to play two sides of the coin. Practical, reliable, all weather vehicles that will get you through anything good ole' mother nature can throw at you to the super fast, glued to the road, tire screamin performance the REX is known for. Have you seen the world rally's that subaru has won victories in? Not so popular here in the states, but definatley in Europe. This is a true testament to the durability, reliability, and sound quality of Subaru vehicles.
Brand loyality is one of Subaru's strong points. Yes, there are the College professors, teachers, nurses, and doctors who all love their subaru's, but there is also a new batch of my younger generation who appreciate subaru performance. If people keep comming back, obviously they're doing something right! If you like a restaurant, or deparmtent store, you go back. If you find a handy man who does good work, you hire him again, and you tell your friends. Same goes for car companies. My family are die hard subaru fans. I have owned nothing but subaru's since the day I left the registry with my ticket to ride. I would never own anything else. Why? Because nothing else compares to the feeling of security that I have in my subaru. I am on my 5th subaru. I live in Massachusetts. Snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, hail, sun, sweltering heat. We get it all, and in 5 minutes it could change. My subaru is ready for all of it. My 96 subaru impreza once got me through snow that my neighbor's Ford F150 4X4 got stuck in. He just laughed to himself as I waved and plowwed on through the snow to head to where I was going. I have never worried about being out in bad weather or going out in bad weather. That's not to say that AWD will save your life, but it sure does give you the added advantage. You have 4 wheels, why shouldn't all of them be working in your favor?
Subaru is a great car company. What other company has made the commitment to safety, both active and passive like subaru has? The AWD can help prevent an accident, while the car itself is designed to keep you safe in the event that there is an inevitable crash. Safety cage, airbags, engines that drop under the car instead of intruding into the passenger compartment, same for the brake pedal and the steering wheel. I mean come on, the proof is in the pudding. The IIHS has rated each subaru vehicle it's highest standards for crashworthyness. I feel safe knowing that I am surrounded by all these things that will protect the one thing most important in that car...my life.
I have driven other vehicles. I actually tried to venture from Subaru with my last car purchase, but nothing felt or drove like my subaru. The Camry and Accord were too vanilla. Altima was nice, but lacked the feel of my subaru. Audi, why pay thousands more for what I can get here without breaking the bank, and with a better reliability rating. Something like 90% of the vehicles sold in the last 10 years are still on the road. I read something the other day that mentioned how Subaru has solidified it's place among Honda and Toyota as a reliable, well built vehicle.
I Have never regreted owning a car that starts every time I get into it, gets me through anything mother nature throws out, and is fun to drive. Yes, hit a windy road and see how much fun the AWD can be carving the curves.
Peace

[Amanda Mott]

I would miss subaru because I do own one and I love working on them. It is a very reliable car and is second next to honda as most reliable. Rated better then toyota. If you were to take a subaru against other awd vehicles the subaru will do better in all test. I have seen it myself and I drive a subaru and when winter hits I never had problems in the snow. there is the dumb people who think it is a 4x4 truck and stick it in heavy ungraveled snow and get stuck. Also there is people who think since they have awd it is alright to speed and do stupid things like it was 80 degrees out and dry. you still need to be cautious in the snow and rain that is. you can't assume that since you have awd that it will plow thru the snow with ease. if subaru went out of business that means no more wrc for me atleast. There wouldn't be anymore symmetrical awd, if you were to do research and looked at the difference you would see how balanced subaru is and how it handles better. I wouldn't be able to continue my automotive career without subaru, the reason why I am going to automotive school besides the fact I went to take after my grandfather. We all would need subaru. Also, subaru is coming out with a hybrid vehicle and some other new vehicles. Also that subaru might not be the best when it comes to gas (just under 30mpg) atleast it isn't a v8, v10, v12, w16, spending 200 plus on gas a week causing the fuel prices to go up. This is what I think. I really do not want subaru to go out of business that would hurt our economy and who knows maybe another war. More people need to see this website so that you can get more views. Thank you.

[Amanda Mott]

Well put Gary you really nailed it. I couldn't have said it better. As a subaru owner I really know what you are saying. I had a friend who towed cars in colorado and one hit was a girl driving in her 06 subaru wrx sti and was hit by a semi going 75 and totaled the sti but she walked out with no scratches on her body. Subaru is a very safe vehicle.

[AWDfreak]

If you wanted to buy a car that was safe, I'm sure Subaru would be your second choice (right beside Volvo). All new Subaru's have a 5-star crash test rating, and all of them have a roll-cage-like frame that protects the occupants of the vehicle.

And who wouldn't want the extra security of AWD and a low center of gravity???

[Sheila]

Yes, I would miss it. Back in '04 when I was deciding what car I would purchase, it was a toss up between, Volvo, Saab and Subaru. Safety was and still is my number one priority. Between the 2, Subaru was the cheapest which offered the safety, handling and AWD I was looking for, although it doesn't have as great an mpg as my previous Honda.

And...I'm very thankful that I made the right choice because back in October of this yr, I was involved in a car accident where an idiot ran a red light and broadsided me at 45mph in a 25mph zone. Needless to say, I and my passenger walked away without even as a single scratch. My car was totaled which I was very sad about so 2 wks ago, I went and bought another one...a '08 model.

[Rob]

Subaru's are safe and reliable cars and I would definitely miss it. It really irks me when I see posts stating they are *ugly looking* cars. Who the hell cares? I doubt people who have safety in mind really care what the vehicle looks like as long as it protected them from potentially fatal crashes. I own an Outback wagon and love it and I can't tell you how many times I've heard people getting into severe crashes with their Subie and walking away from it either unscathed or with very minor injuries. To me, that's what matters...not what people have to say about you because you drive a stylish looking car that won't protect you in a severe crash.

[Bill]

I'd be very sad if Subaru disappeared. I'm on my third Subaru -'01 Outback VDC. I drove each of my two prior cars almost 200k miles before trading them in. I love their safety and handling. I owned Saabs before my first Subaru, but finally tired of their poor dependability and outrageous repair bills. I was flabbergasted after my first couple of weeks of ownership. Here was what I'd been looking for... a car as safe and fun to drive as a Saab, and dependable to boot! A lot less expensive as well.

[Linda hellman]

We have had 8 subarus when our kids and my husband and me . now they are all gone but we still go we still have Subaru but you got rid of the style we really wanted

[Jon]

Even though I come from a Honda family and own a BMW, I would miss Subaru. They offer a very definite product (as opposed to most companies these days) and have been sticking to their formula for years. They've been a forerunner in supporting outdoor activities and for whatever reason, I always saw them as an enviromentally responsible company. Also, I'm a fan of rally racing where Subaru has been one of the main powers within the last decade. WRXs, particularly in STi spec, are very hot here in So Cal where we tend to become emotionaly attached to our cars.

[Jessica]

I'd definitely miss it if Subaru went out of business. I own a '02 Forester and love it dearly. It got me out of a dire situation when accidently driving through some forest service roads in WA a few years ago. I still can't think of any other cars or big trucks could handle those narrow winding rocky roads along the cliff with trees overgrowing everywhere like my Forester did (with very low gas tank too). Ever since I've been one loyal Subaru owner. Now I like it even more after moving to upstate NY, where we have to deal with rain and snow frequently in winter. We'll defnitely get another Subaru, probably have to wait for a while, because the current one is still going so strong and reliable... :)

[ivan]

304,000 miles on my Subaru and stll going!

[juice man]

Yes, I would miss Subaru.

In so many ways we're forced towards conventional design. So many cookie cutter cars. Not just in terms of styling, either.

Tranverse in-line 4, FWD. Transverse V6, FWD. About 90% of cars fit in to one of those two effective yet boring setups.

Porsche offers boxer engines, but you need a 2nd mortgage to afford them.

What has more character than a boxer engine growling down the road, grappling for traction with its AWD? Subaru proves it's OK to be different.

Did you see the Impreza at the X Games that did a complete rollover and still completed the race?

Here's a company that offers something unique. Sure, Toyota could buy out the rest of Subaru and sell Camry and Corolla clones instead of Outback and WRXs, but ask yourself, would that make the world a better place? Heck no!

The SIA plant in Indiana serves as a role model for the industry. They have zero waste and even grow vegetation on their roof!

Look at the IIHS' Top 10 Picks for safety and you'll find all 4 Subaru models there. More than Volvo, BMW, and Mercedes, and the average Joe can actually afford a Subaru:

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx

If Subaru disappeared it would nothing short of a tragedy, in terms of variety, green auto production, and affordable safety.

[Mark]

Looks like this was a failed survey. Subaru is a loved brand... and those that don't love it don't know that much about it.

Why in the world did you pick subaru? Of course people would miss it. The heritage and character of the cars is up there with BMW and Aston Martin, or more mainstream cars like Volvo. Its not some weak brand... this isn't Kia or Daewoo here... or GEO. What a ridiculous question.

Its good to see that most people agree with me.

[sean s]

Yes i would miss Subaru as it is the next auto purchase i will make. I recently moved to a mountain town in southern california. I drave a Chevy Avalanche (great truck, love it) and my wife drives a BMW (again no complaints), but when I'm stuck in a snow bank and a soccer mom driving her 20 year old, all wheel drive, Subaru shoots by me... I have to think "Hummm...Subaru?"

[Mellie]

I don't know about the newer models - I owned a 73 Leone hatchback model Subaru just after high school and it got 40 mpg back then - IN TOWN! I have always loved at least the older model Subarus! Sometimes I wish I had one again! Subaru will continue to be a needed vehicle as long as they remain unique to themselves and do not conform to the rest of the automakers...

[Les]

First point - The World Rally Championship consists the following manufacturers: Subaru, Ford, Citreon, Suzuki & a few others to name a few. WRC is the most followed motor sport around the world.

Second point is that Subaru is to rally driving what Ferrari is to racing. Both have their place in the motor world & both come with a price tag. One is affordable & the other only if you have personal fortune.

Within the motor world every manufacturer carrys an image. Subaru = Rally, Volvo = safety, Rolls Royce = comfort. The point is each manufacturer carries an image which we the consumner relate to - the brand.

Doubtless there are many that have had a poor experience with Subaru's, however I would argue that there are many Ford/BMW/Audi/Volvo/Saab/Nissan/Toyota owners who have equal horror stories.

If you peal away the horror stories and accept that these experiences can be applied to other manufacturers & start to look at the product the dynamic changes.

I personally drive a Subaru. I have looked at changing. I have brought other manfucturers and test driven many more but Subaru has something that the others don't. I wouldn't argue performance, handling, reliability or even AWD as all of these examples can be found else where.

I would however argue that 95% of all Subaru's ever sold are still on the road today!

I would also argue that there is a certain sense of community between Subaru drivers, perhaps this sense of community exists with other brand owners?

There is an emotional connection between car & owner, enthaussist are familar with this sensation. Subaru owners generally sense this emotional connection.

As a brand Subaru probably wouldn't be missed. Although the Subaru Impreza is more than a brand it is an icon & that is something that goes away deeper.

[Dave]

I would miss Subaru! And I'm a mechanic of over twenty five years and it would be impossible to state all the great differances between all makes but in short my favorites are the following Honda/Toyota and then Subaru (I personaly own a 99 2.5 RS Impreza and a 07 Tundra) I was very angry reading some of these messages and just had to write. First off Subaru has been for a long time a pushing for "green freindly" you must understand though that the company is very small and doesn't have the ability to do big changes and take on huge redesigns NOTE: Hybrids thats why they have to "hook up" with another company when they want to pursue these quests. First off as an Impreza owner I have to face the facts here! I bought the bottom of the Line Subaru built for the just outta college car "beater" kid! Thats the facts plain and simple it was 17,100 dollars what do you think your buyin for that price with AWD to boot GET REAL!! Subaru backed up the headgasket isues both times well outta warranty why you ask? Because the tech once he took one look under the hood he saw a car untouched! No aftermarket garbage under the hood no cold air induction tubes all original OEM parts used for my tune-ups and even my oil filters I use OEM parts! The car is so good to me I just dropped 1200 into it this past week! Yep new Hankook tires an alignment new headlights fuel injection/throttle body service you name it I did it this week. Car hasn't costed me nothing in 9 years so it needed a little attention. Looks and runs like new kids give me offers everytime I put gas in it and its pushin 100k on it!Ya I know being a mechanic I do all the work to it myself but by design it is easy to work on and is well designed. are there flaws? Ofcourse! the roller bearings in the rear wheels was for lack of a better term (not to bright)thats why originals won't last and replacements are cone style now.Take the headlights I just replaced...they were real glass!It took all these years all these winters and finaly one got broken this year as my wife drove to work. Thats right the simple little Impreza with real glass headlights and only the refractors are plastic! These are things that unless your a tech you don't understand or apreciate. Doing a head gasket is like patheticaly easy!! The motor can be out in under an hour! I know because without cruise control I can have one out (with a/c) in 50mins! Like any car company they have there little issues but there around small as they are because of what they are to there customers and the things that are small but apreciated!And they back there cars! I worked for Chrysler and Ford and watched many customers "fume out" and we lost them...I was there many times when customers told us how there sons Corolla gave them less hassles than there Lincoln Town car! You could always tell a Toyota customer coming through the door happy talkative etc..The Mercury owner let you know they were sick of all the recalls and felt they saw us more than family members in a year! I hated the inevitable talk I'd have with customers as they would lash out at me on how much they had dumped into the car already and were DONE nomore they had had it!They sometimes make it "audibly " clear they were done with American cars as the CEO's were more interested in greed than need to build quality cars.Don't beleive me? Subaru / Honda / Toyota are even now selling cars....and the "Big" three are what? Closing plants giving cars away with gas / warantys free this in that........pathetic! I love my Subaru!! Bye the way this is my 5th one but the Impreza is the first one I bought as new owner. All have gone over 215,000 miles, two I sold and they were already over 205,000 are still out there!!

[Sue Bahroo]

It's ridiculous how much I would miss it. I've never had a problem with my Subaru, it's lasted me forever and is showing no signs of slowing down.

[funky john]

It would not bother me if toyota honda chevy dodge ford and all of there brands would shut down but if subaru would shut down then their would be a serius problem we would be losing the most reliable vehicle. and they also have the most powerfull four cylender engine and the most unique all wheel drive transmission on the market i have owned one for a few years now and i still have no trouble with it and it has 212000 km now thats inpresive compared to all the vehicles have owned and seen
and i have not seen a better off road racing car.

[Billy Seroyer]

I would miss Subaru very much if they went away I have owned 3 of them all fantastic cars. and I have never owned anything else, and I probably wont for a long time. it's not just there cars but the community that comes along with owning there cars. Subaru I love you <3

[www.subaruteamlehre.com]

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSWfkqHtt0A

[Auto1]

Here in Australia, Subaru have had staggering sales growth in the last 15 years. They decided to go All-Wheel-Drive throughout the range and have traded well on that as a brand strength. They are well-designed and reliable. Service intervals are a bit ridiculous on the boxer engines at every 5000 km (3125 miles), but I've had a Forester and an Outback and both were great cars.

[Jorge]

Ofcourse id miss subaru. I cant go a day withought hearing a boxer pass me by. My dream car and the love of my life. Mitsubishi will defenetly be happy.

[Eric]

Absolutely.

I recently went car shopping, and simply put, subaru's were the only cars out there without an equivalent in another brand. Think about it - small, mid, large; cheap, middle, luxury; coupe, sedan, SUV - pick any combination of those words, and everybody has a car to compete. But Subaru is the only one to offer cars that do what they do.

For instance, I live in Montana. If you want to spend time in the mountains (if you don't, you're an idiot to live in MT), you're going to have to go down roads that you just can't take typical cars down. It seems you need SUV's and trucks. But on the way are miles and miles of lovely paved highways, the kind of stuff that begs for a fun car. Further, "miles and miles" - in a state this big, you just can't afford the mileage of an SUV. So SUV's are out.

Then, there's the winter. two wheel drive cars are out. Then there's the lack of cell phone coverage - unreliable cars are out.

Then there is my life as a post college twentysomething. Expensive is out (including new subarus). So is something I can't use to move my life from one place to another - all sedans are out.

Lets review I tried small SUVs, the CRV an RAV4, and they handled like boats, sounded like Semi's, and drank too much while emptying my wallet upfront before the date, anyway. I tried hatchbacks, like the Honda Fit and Toyota Matrix (which even has 4wd!), and cheap and economical as they may have been (except the 4wd matrix, of course), rides were harsh on city potholes, let alone... well, it actually wouldn't have mattered, as they would have bottomed out immediately. Useless.

So let's conclude: Subaru's would be sorely missed. If there was more competition, perhaps not - but then again, if there was more competition they wouldn't be stuck with crappy 4 speed transmissions, and would have better economy and speed, and wouldn't make the same careless mistakes they often do now - so I'd love mine even more.

[John Furgurson]

Seems to be a consensus here... Subaru really would be missed, especially during storms like we've seen this week.

They aren't the fastest, most reliable or best value, but damn, it's a beloved brand. For more about the brand and their advertising: http://bit.ly/av04Wi

[Carl]

I love the look of the new Subaru Liberty and Outback here in Australia.

I'd also miss the business we get from Subaru, so yes, I'd definitely miss them!

[A K]

Subaru did not build a plant in a wild life refuge in Indiana. The plant in Indiana was designated a backyard wildlife habitiat by the WWF.

http://green.autoblog.com/2007/07/03/subaru-sells-100-000-pzevs-and-sends-nothing-to-the-dump-for-thr/

[Brock]

My Subaru is excessively boring. The Subaru we drove in Japan was just as boring. I don't understand why they have become so trendy.

[Brad]

Well, we have here a bit of a niche product with very high customer loyalty. If the brand disappeared, its customers would scatter to other AWD products across various brands. Instead of "Get a Subaru", the thought would be "Get an AWD version of the _________ (Matrix? Audi A4? Volvo S40?) Feature loyalty would replace brand loyalty.