08 WRX came in today

[subyluvr2212]

I'm super pissed.

Those of you with Subarus, you should already be angry that they're going to framed windows. Frameless windows have been a Subaru trademark for over 30 years. Then you should be angry that the exhaust exits on the right side of the hatch. Left-side exhaust has also been a Subaru trademark for quite a while. But what I saw today sent me over the edge:

THE PARKING LIGHT SWITCH IS GONE!

Another Subaru trademark... you cannot leave your lights on. They're wired directly through the ignition switch so that when you turn your engine off, the headlights turn off immediately, regardless of the position of the headlight switch. Thus, they had a parking light switch on the top of the steering column so that you could turn your parking lights on with the keys out (merely a legality issue, you have to be able to turn your parking lights on when the car is parked, by law). But now, the switch is gone, and the headlights do not turn off when you turn the engine off.

Subaru no longer cares about keeping its loyal customers. They just want sales figures now.

I'm getting my 08 Forester XT Sports before they screw it up too, and then that's it. Subaru is dead to me. They lost a loyal customer. Permanently.

/rant

 

[inferno]

THATS a wrx? it's so... bland. so normal. it just looks like any other generic five door hatch. wow. the wrx is dead anyway.

 

[Turbo Lag]

I wonder whether the Evo will turn to designing like that

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Truly a disgrace to the WRX name. It looks like a Camry more than a sports car, even worse as a hatchback

Subaru really screwed the pooch on this one. I have a good feeling the EVO will be taking up some slack this year. At leasts its looks actually go with its performance; aggresive and powerful. These new WRX's just exude the very essence of "Meh."

 

[Casio]

Personally I couldn't give a rats about frameless windows, or something so tiny like a Parking Light Switch. I'm not even sure that'd worry most Subaru owners. Really, the only problem is it doesn't look like a WRX should. I actually don't mind the design, and I'm sure everyone will get used to it once the initial outcry is over.

Those of you with Subarus, you should already be angry that they're going to framed windows. Frameless windows have been a Subaru trademark for over 30 years.

I think it was coming, the B9 has frame windows as far as I remember. That and it's harder to find roof racks to fit frameless windows, which while isn't an issue for the WRX buyer, may be a selling factor for the lower models.

 

[barryl85]

Obviously we have all seen this design before but it looks like a Kia.

Oh well looks like nearly all japanese cars are going this way. Makes me sad

 

[Azuremen]

The SVX had framed windows

I won't pass judgment till I see one in person. Every revision of the WRX has grown on me, so this likely will as well. That and I love hatches.

And Subaru hasn't ditched the loyal base. They still offer a sporty model, unlike Toyota (of which the fans hate horrible now). So Subie still has some interest in their enthusiasts, unlike the Toyota guys, where only the die hards are left with the older cars.

Personally, being able to the leave the lights on is kinda nice, I think. Drove me nuts trying to use the lights at night to do something, without leaving everything else in the car on.

Griping on its looks, I can get. But those other matters are minor details. That, and frameless window seals SUCK when they go, as water runs right down the inside of the window. Trust me, my MR2 has frameless windows, and its annoying as crap. Plus at high speed, the windows get sucked away from the car and make the most godawful noise.

 

[YSSMAN]

They did a good job building a Corolla there, must be the Toyota influence showing through already. Sure, it still performs pretty well, but it just lost all of it's "pizazz," and I've officially lost interest. I liked how the other one was only screwed together marginally well, went like stink, and could easily match some seriously high-strung sports cars.

...Ah, the times, they are a changin'...

Clearly this time not for the better. I'm putting all my money in the Mitsubishi and VW pot on this round.

 

[1X83Z]

I hate when you guys judge a car based on its looks and I am a big Impreza defender but even I say this thing is a joke. We'll get used to it like we get used to everything but I'd prefer designs we didn't have to get used to (new Lancer). Subaru fails again.

 

[ExigeEvan]

It's not looking good.....

 

[m7ammed]

maybe they are waiting for this to come out ?

http://www.worldcarfans.com/2070809.001/subaru-impreza-and-wrc-concept

 

[///M-Spec]

So the primary reason you've been a Subaru fan all these years were because of the frameless windows, left side exhaust and ... a parking light switch?

No offense, but I don't get it. I can see if you're pissed because they've made the WRX ugly-boring instead of ugly-adorable. But I'm seriously missing the point of getting upset over what seems like some pretty meaningless details. I mean, it's not like they made it a FWD pushrod 12 valve NA V6 with a twist axle in the back or something. But to each, his own. I suppose.


M

 

[Duke]

I'm super pissed.

Wow, it doesn't take much for you, does it?

Those of you with Subarus, you should already be angry that they're going to framed windows. Frameless windows have been a Subaru trademark for over 30 years.

Actually, you should be happy that they're going to framed windows. Frameless windows have been a pain in the ass for over 30 years. They're noisier, harder to keep in adjustment, easier to break and break into, and require a lot more maintenance over the life of a car, especially if you keep it for more than 3 years. No car that is not a convertible or targa should have frameless windows.

Then you should be angry that the exhaust exits on the right side of the hatch. Left-side exhaust has also been a Subaru trademark for quite a while.

Really, who cares? I want my exhaust routed whichever way makes the most engineering sense for lightest weight, free-est flow, and best note. Not to be arbitrarily set to one side or the other of the car.

But what I saw today sent me over the edge:

THE PARKING LIGHT SWITCH IS GONE!

Like I said, it doesn't take much for you, does it? Any modern car worth its salt should turn the headlights off for you 2 minutes after you get out of it, anyway.

Subaru no longer cares about keeping its loyal customers. They just want sales figures now.

If Subaru's "loyal customers" are this easy to alienate, I'd say they made a wise business decision, then.

Subaru is dead to me. They lost a loyal customer. Permanently.

Scratch that - I'd say they made an extremely wise business decision.

I don't like the car - it's dull and mis-proportioned. But I simply cannot fathom going so ballistic over such tiny, arbitrary details. If this is "loyalty", I hate to see what's going to happen to your wife if she wears the wrong dress to your company holiday party.

 

[Jim Prower]

Yeah, it's pretty bland. Subaru went from their edgy airplane nose to the other extreme. Happy medium, Subaru, Happy medium.

It makes one wonder how conservative the STi will look in comparison. his parking light switch alibi seems to be a little shaky, though, And I have a feeling Sarcasm is laced...no, tangled like a spiderweb....throughout his post. I get the sneaking suspicion that he really likes the little car.

I'd have to drive a manual four-door before I make any decision. In anger, at that.

 

[Kent]

I think a lot of the comments in the thread reveal more about the person commenting than the car.
All the of the complaints regarding those minor details are rediculus (IMO).
The looks of the car are something I don't mind hearing a complaint or two about but to act as if WRX's have ever looked as good as they did nearly 10 years ago is foolish (IMO)... The 22b was the best looking Impreza ever and since that 6th generation I've only seen the car get uglier (although I really loved the 8th gen).

Basically, I agree with M-spec...
They didn't really change much about the core of the car and with that in mind it should still be a great car. 👍
I'm just suprised to see so many react so strongly to the appearance of the car (yet so many have spent years working on an image of being a "driver" who only cares about the feel of a car).

It's good to see some true colors come out in this thread.

 

[Race Idiot]

Oh noes Subaru wants to extend its market by toning down it's cars so that they can sell more to non enthusiasts subaru more like $ubaru am I rite folks.

 

[inferno]

Dont get me wrong. i'm sure it will perform. But subaru has taken what was an aggressive looking little pocket rocket and turned it into a sleeper of sorts. I liked the aggresiveness of the old models. That was a major selling point for them. I suppose we may see the return of gaping hood scoops and wide mouth grills with the STi but the attitude of the WRX has really changed. And i feel it's for the worse.

 

[Kent]

Oh noes Subaru wants to extend its market by toning down it's cars so that they can sell more to non enthusiasts subaru more like $ubaru am I rite folks.

I'd say that's wrong.
It's not like all the outbacks, regular imprezas, legacys, and forestors are bought by enthusiast.
Truth is, only the impreza wrx and sti are true enthusiast cars, the rest are just normal cars with Subaru build and philosophy. Sure that makes them sporty to some extent and fun to drive but it surely doesn't make Subaru a company focused primarily on enthusiast.

 

[Azuremen]

I'd say that's wrong.
It's not like all the outbacks, regular imprezas, legacys, and forestors are bought by enthusiast.
Truth is, only the impreza wrx and sti are true enthusiast cars, the rest are just normal cars with Subaru build and philosophy. Sure that makes them sporty to some extent and fun to drive but it surely doesn't make Subaru a company focused primarily on enthusiast.

Bingo. Has anyone here driver a base model Forester? My Corolla is boat loads more exciting and interesting. Subaru is like most any other manufacturer in that they have their normal vanilla cars, and then their sports models. This is just like when BMW got Bangled.

You'll get over it basically when you realize the cars are still Subaru's

 

[///M-Spec]

Truth is, only the impreza wrx and sti are true enthusiast cars, the rest are just normal cars with Subaru build and philosophy. Sure that makes them sporty to some extent and fun to drive but it surely doesn't make Subaru a company focused primarily on enthusiast.

OMG Kent you are so wrong! Nothing, and I mean nothing says "I'm a hardcore enthusiast" more than frameless windows, a parking light switch and an exhaust system that is mounted on the left side of the car (which we all know is the faster side).


M

 

[inferno]

OMG Kent you are so wrong! Nothing, and I mean nothing says "I'm a hardcore enthusiast" more than frameless windows, a parking light switch and an exhaust system that is mounted on the left side of the car (which we all know is the faster side).


M

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, I think if we were to consider the fact that Subaru is only doing this to become more "mainstream," I think the changes become a bit more understandable. But the likely problem is that Subaru owners have never been "mainstream," and taking away their little darling here is probably the worst thing they could do. Sure, Mitsubishi managed to make the "basic" Lancer kinda ugly, but it nevertheless is a strong performer at a good value, and dare I say, actually fun and rewarding to drive.

Subaru has dropped the ball, and then proceeded to kick it over the neighbor's fence while trying to pick it up. Its going to be a long, long time before they can ever recover, that is, if they ever try to.

 

[Danoff]

I guess I'm alone in thinking that this still basically looks like a Subaru, and that it might even be a slight improvement over what I always thought was a butt-ugly car.

Granted, this one is boring - not enough sharp edges. But the old one was so ugly that boring has to be better.

^^ That's purely an aesthetic opinion. If they didn't change the internals much the car will still rock where it counts.

 

[Duke]

No, this one is ugly and boring. The outgoing Impreza was only kind of ugly, but it had some presence to it that overcame the ugliness.

Kind of like how they managed to make the revised Tribeca very much more boring without managing to make it any less ugly.

 

[Danoff]

I guess, as the owner of a very boring car, I care more about ugly than boring.

 

[///M-Spec]

^^ That's purely an aesthetic opinion. If they didn't change the internals much the car will still rock where it counts.

Get with it, Dan. This is the Auto News forum.... here, cars are judged by how they look, usually in prototype guise, covered with black tape and plastic. And on what side the exhaust is plumbed through.

Here are a couple of other rules you should know:

-No new versions of a previously great car can be great. They always suck. That's because new is different and different is bad.
-New versions of previously crappy cars that are less crappy are always 'world beaters'. Especially if they're American.


M

 

[Azuremen]

Get with it, Dan
-No new versions of a previously great car can be great. They always suck. That's because new is different and different is bad.
-New versions of previously crappy cars that are less crappy are always 'world beaters'. Especially if they're American.


M

I think you just summed up YSSMAN's entire mentality there, just missing the "and despite VW's having long term quality issues, they are the absolute best car for everyone."

Regardless, it is the truth it seems here.

I am just amazed at how many people are saying Subaru is done because they changed the body style. Last I checked, the body style didn't determine if the car is fast.

Many cars people think are ass ugly do well. The Subaru wagons, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, all the new Nissans excluding the Altima coupe.

Clearly, no one here except M-Spec, Dan, Kent, and myself are true car guys, because we actually are looking at the car, not the sheet metal.

 

[///M-Spec]

^ Well, it was just some tongue-in-cheek humor. Was directed at no one in particular...

Duke is a real car guy too. You can't be willing to drive 2 hours, then eat a crappy lunch and stand in the sun for 6 hours with me just to get 3 minutes of seat time and not be real car guy.


M

 

[ExigeEvan]

You do realise that the only people that pose more than Impreza/Evo owners are owners of £60k plus cars, right?

Image is a huggge thing with a car like this.

 

[Venari]

Last I checked, the body style didn't determine if the car is fast.

This is true. Most petrolheads agree that the Z3-M Coupe is a fantastic vehicle.

From a personal point of view, I wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near a car which looks like Donald Duck's head, but I respect the capabilities of the car, and those that enjoy being behind the wheel.

I'll get me coat.