**

say goodbye to the 09 Outbacks- they're going going..

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other sites
crash tests: summary by model, 
nhtsa.gov, hwysafety.org, iihs.org; 
Carfax, NADA, KellyBlue Book, Edmunds
subject to change, correction, updating.

Factory Parts www.AllSubaru.com
Aftermarket performance parts, upgrades
WorldOnePerformance.com
Independent Subaru Repair Smart Service, in Shoreline & Mukilteo, Wa

Site best viewed with small font.  Please read- this unofficial independent, unauthorized Subaru research website is designed to help you learn about Subarus. It's not authorized, approved, sponsored, or supported in any way by Subaru or any dealership.  Send all coments to me Joe Spitz  (internet sales at a Subaru dealer in the Seattle area), who is responsible for all content. Comments and links have been edited and summarized. All info subject to change, correction, frequent updating. 

Rebates, Interest Rates, Leases, Specials July 1- August 3, NW region. 4.9% on all 10s! 0% on all 09 Legacy, Impreza; Leg GT/3.0R gets $2500, Outback XT/3.0R $3000, Tribeca $3200  more
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Find a Subaru dealer, find your local dealer Alabama-Missouri; Montana-Wyoming; Canada; Mexico. Dealers send update info. 
Buy a Subaru in Seattle-  I have discounted prices on all new Subarus, and a selection of used.
2010 Forester  now at dealers, starting early early June.
2010 Outback  6/24  now at dealers.
2010 Legacy   6/24  now at dealers.. 

Nothing to do with Subaru but RIP Karl Malden ... Billy Mays, Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, Dr Jerri Nielson.

7/1 interest and lease rates now available on 2010s

7/1 June sales totals 18,620 up 3.4% from 18,007 last June and down only 1% YTD.  That's big news,  Subaru is still only the few car companies that were up for June 09 over zJune 08, and doing very well YTD. Most everyone else was down compared to June 08: Toyota -31% (-38% ytd), Honda -29% (-40% ytd), Nissan -23% (-33% ytd),  Ford -10%, BMW -20%, Mazda -42% to 13,729, Porsche -66% to 902 (-36% ytd. Hyundai is doing well with 64,788 for June 09, -17% from June 08 and only -9.4% for the year! 

June 09: Forester 6,090 ( the top seller at 36,158 for the year up a modest 45 over last June),  Outback 3,721 (-21% because the 09 clearance and  $2000 rebate started months ago was a success and the supply is now very low but 10s are now out), Impreza 5,041 (+24%), Legacy 2,984 (+28% and dealers still have a good supply, new July's new Legacy rebates have jumped), Tribeca 784. Total Tribeca sales for the year 3,437, down 49%.  Yes there will be a 2010 Tribeca 7 passenger.

6/29  cup holder arms race-   '... at one point ashtrays occupied the space that cup holders do today, a Lincoln from the late 1950s had five, with lighters ..
... I attended a model debut for the 2009 Subaru Forester in which some of the product development people boasted that they had created a new breed of cup holder specifically designed to accommodate 24-ounce bottles..
There used to be a cadre of car lovers who believed that power windows were a waste of money and that anything other than an AM/FM radio with two speakers was a distraction from the pure thrill of driving.... cars have become for many people things they don't just get in and out of. ...  They like to have entertainment options. They want a designer or an engineer to have thought about seat ergonomics. If more than one person in a family is driving, they want seats that can remember different driving positions. They want steering wheels that telescope and tilt. Passengers want to be able to customize their temperature zone, be it front or back seat. They want seats that are heated and cooled... Inside is the new outside. And to give thanks for this, we only need utter a single, simple phrase: cup holder'   read the article

6/27  SoA better off because of its niche status. "We shouldn't have the ups and downs like everyone else,"  (SoA chief) Doll said. "We kind of bat out singles." 
Subaru's niche is smallish, rugged crossover vehicles for outdoorsy people of comfortable means. Even its sedans come with standard all-wheel drive. About 21 percent of buyers pay cash. The company sold 187,699 cars in 2008, and it now holds a 1.9 percent market share, its record high...
As an import brand, Subaru was battered by a weak U.S. dollar in the '80s. Prices for its cars skyrocketed, and sales collapsed. On corporate performance charts, the period from 1987 to 1994 is labeled "Valley of Despair."
Subaru climbed out with the introduction of its hit Outback wagon, memorably promoted by Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan...
The company's strategy as it waits out the downturn is to lay down a groundwork of strong fundamentals, including extra-attentive customer service. "Customers have long memories," he said, "particularly when times are tight."   the article

6/26 advertising, is Subaru's Love Your Car ad campaign silly and effective or demeaning and effective, and if it's effective does it matter?   Subaru '...has an entire campaign devoted to the theme of "love" as the prevailing emotion evoked by its products. There's even an ad on YouTube.com called "Love Letters," in which real Subaru owners read personal letters about their attachments to their cars...
...what bugs me is our cultural fixation on feelings as the basis for every sort of decision, from which car we park in our garages to which candidate we elect to public office.
As a society, we're much less interested in what something does than in how it makes us feel. This is why a Subaru is all about "love" while a campaign for the Cadillac CTS featured Kate Walsh pondering the question, "When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?" Um ... yuck.
If Thomas Paine made the 18th century famous as the "Age of Reason," American marketers and media must certainly be responsible for our current "Age of Emotion." ..
I'd like to think Subaru buyers are more emotionally mature than their car company believes them to be. When they say, "I love my Subaru," I'd like to think it's shorthand for "it's reliable ... it's safe ... runs great ... gets good gas mileage."
By hijacking "love," Subaru has reduced its buyers to a trite and emotionally immature lot, and quite honestly, they haven't done much to uplift the idea of love, either. Ah, but in the "Age of Emotion," love is everything. Reason, not so much...' read more from MaryBeth Hicks at the Wa. Times

6/25 Cash for Clunkers - President Obama signs the Cash for Clunkers bill - officially it's the Car Allowance Rebate System (C.A.R.S.) .

6/24 The 2010 Outback and Legacy now on car lots. Cobtact your local dealer to set up a time to stop in. These are all new.

6/22 JD Power 90 day new car problem survey for 2009.   'J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today. Overall, the industry average for initial quality is 108 problems per 100 (new) vehicles (PP100) in 2009, down from 118 PP100 in 2008... Lower PP100 scores indicate a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.' read the press release, ratings
The Top 10: Lexus with 84 PP100 Problems (per 100 cars sold).  Porsche, Cadillac, Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Suzuki.
Subaru is #28 on the 2009 list with app 130 PP100cars sold. At the bottom is Hummer, Jeep,  Saab, Smart, Land Rover, and Mini.

6/21 Forester review  'In the car business, a well respected company named Automotive Lease Guide publishes estimates of the future, used-car value that today's new models will command. By its reckoning, Subaru cars rank second to the top in holding their worth as they age. That's because Subarus age very gracefully, so that shoppers looking for a good used car pay extra for them.
"We have fabulous brand loyalty that is the envy of most other manufacturers," said Aaron Singer of Singer Subaru (in New Hampshire), echoing a fact well known in the auto trade. One big reason for those conquests is the 2009 Subaru Forester. The company's top-selling model by a wide margin, the 2009 Forester came out 13 months ago. Redesigned and updated, the new Forester arrived just when many shoppers began looking to downsize from hulking sport-utilities and other extravagant models to more moderate vehicles that offered some thrift and practicality.
"It came out right when gas prices were climbing up to $4 per gallon," said Singer. "It was exactly what people were looking for at exactly the right time." 
The Forester is classified as a compact crossover, competing squarely against the popular Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. They're the two top sellers in the category. But the Forester boasts of some very impressive distinctions. Motor Trend magazine named it the 2009 Sport Utility of the Year. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine selected Forester as its Best New Crossover, while Parents magazine placed the model on its list of Best Family Cars for 2009..
Today, Singer no longer sees many buyers trading-in enormous SUVs for a Forester. By now a lot of drivers have already unloaded those once popular giants. Instead, people are exchanging second-tier, medium-sized sport-utilities like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee, said Singer. His dealership also sees a trend in Forester buyers trading-in mid-sized sedans, such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
"People are looking for all-wheel drive and adequate space, but good gas mileage," Singer summarized. 
Even better, said Singer, the company's momentum should accelerate more, as Subaru brings out fully redesigned and updated re-makes of its Legacy sedan and Outback wagon. The official unveiling of the new 2010 versions is scheduled for September, but Singer hints that you should start looking for them next month.
"They've done an incredible engineering job with these new models," he claimed. "They've made them bigger inside, almost the same size outside, with better gas mileage, more power, and more creature features. How have they done it? It appears to be genius to me." read   the article by jeffreyzygmont.com

6/20 Subarus and other top brands hold their value well. 'Automotive Lease Guide announced that Japanese carmakers led by Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Subaru were the top performers among mainstream brands in ALG's Spring 2009 Perceived Quality Study. Hyundai and Ford showed the strongest year-over-year improvement, while Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW ranked the highest among luxury brands and overall.  The top five mainstream brands were Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen, while Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche and Acura ranked highest among luxury brands...
The top performers also have industry-leading residual values, as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru have all recently won multiple ALG Residual Value Awards for individual models..'  the article

6/19 Cash For Clunkers bill passes. 
Will Subarus qualify? Yes Subarus will qualify. More information will be coming soon but it seems at least the 4 cylinder models will qualify for the required 22mpg minimum combined city-hghway EPA rating.
What's a Clunker? To qualify, it must be 1. driveable 2. insured and registered for the previous year 3. get a combined MPG of 18 or less
How much will I get? If the new car is at least 4mpg improvement in the combined EPA rating, you get $3,500. 10mpg+ improvement gets $4,500 voucher. 
How do I find the EPA ratings? Get the MPG on the new car you want to purchase and on your Clunker Vehicle MPG
When will it start 'That is unclear. The legislation takes affect as of July 1, 2009. However, it will take time for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to work out details of the program and set up a procedure for dealerships to get registered with the program. So, it may be a few weeks, or as long as a month, before buyers will be able to participate.'
more Subaru Clunker information here.

6/16 2010 Outback and Legacy are expected at dealers starting in July

6/11 Crash tests - Subaru and most other cars don't do very well on the combined bumper test by IIHS, testing 6 mph full-width and 3 mph corner impacts. Subaru bumpers are designed to meet the standard 5mph full-width impact, your common bump in a parking lot or heavy stop-and-go traffic.Corner bumps, on the other hand, leave softball sized dents on most cars these days because most bumpers offer little internal corner support. And that is probably IIHS's point in doing a 3mph bumper corner test...
From IIHS- '4 tests (front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph) produce the kinds and amounts of damage that commonly occur in low-speed collisions. Each vehicle is run into a steel barrier designed to mimic the design of a car bumper, with the barrier's plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating typical cars' energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers. These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better protection from damage in a range of real-world crashes.'
> Test results scores, from best to worse are 'G' good, 'A' acceptable, 'M' marginal, and 'P' poor.
> Results in the final 'overall weighted average damage' column of the midsize car category are: 2006-2009 Legacy $2080. This is better than the 06-07 Accord $2373, 06-09 Jetta $2499 and 06-08 Maxima $2562, all which rate 'P' for Poor. Doing  slightly better with a 'M' for Marginal rating are the 06-09 Galant $1042, the lowest amount, 07-09 Camry $1221, 07-09 Fusion $1325, 06-09 Volvo S40 $1442..  No car in this category rated either A or G (the best)...
> Results in the final 'overall weighted average damage' column in the small car category are: 08-09 Impreza $1435 for a 'M' Marginal rating. This is similar to the Mazda 3 $1183, nd Nissan Sentra $1234. The lowest damage amount and an 'A" rating was to the 08-09 Focus $691 and Scion Xb $892. Getting a bottom 'P' Poor rating was the 09 Corolla $1872, 06-09 Civic $2015, 06-09 Prius $2652, 06-09 Rabbit $2727...  for more on crash tests, child seats etc, click here- safety

6/10 2010 Foresters and brochures arriving at dealers . 'Premium Lite' - is that an easy to use name for the new  2010 base Premium without the All Weather Package? See the new Paprika color

6/9 Cash For Clunkers?  Not yet but there is progress. The House passed a bill and now it goes to the Senate which has a different version.  There will be economy standards for both the new car and clunker, and amounts paid will depend on the new car and clunker, and there would be registration requirements to prevent buying a clunker just to flip it. 
It seems Subarus would qualify for the new car based on their EPA economy ratings. If this all comes together, the soonest it could go into effect would be late summer/fall. 

6/7 New STI Exhaust-  SPT catback 3" exhaust, gain up to 10hp. Replaces center pipe and muffler. Fits 09/08 STIs. Available factory installed on 09s. 

6/6 More on Oscar winner Robert De Nero's Subaru Legacy advertisement
'As the boxer Jake La Motta, he roared the word “Why?” almost 40 times, his bare fists pounding cruel desolation on to the stone walls of Dade County Stockade.
Nearly 30 years and two Oscars later, Robert De Niro looks a little different in his latest performance. He jaunts out of his house, nods archly into the rearview mirror, and takes off in a Subaru Legacy. Speeding through unidentifiable Arcady, he passes a sheep. He nearly grins. The words “Love Your Life” fill the screen...
Fade to nausea.
The 30-second advert is a horror that can mean only one thing in these dark economic times: arguably the finest actor in Hollywood has become a star hawking a reasonably priced Japanese family car.
In honour of their hard-won thespian megastar, the manufacturers of Subaru, Fuji Heavy Industries, have not skimped on production values. Compared with Harrison Ford’s pub-based touting of Kirin lager and Nicholas Cage’s sedentary, crimson-suited pitch for pinball machines, De Niro’s spot is high art. The director of photography is Bob Richardson, a two-time Oscar-winner, and the background music is by the Scottish rock band Travis.
Fuji Heavy keep the numbers vague, but it is thought that the star of Goodfellas and Cape Fear was paid about $1.2 million (£750,000) for approximately ten seconds of on-screen appearance. 
De Niro’s decision to take the Tokyo shilling, say Japanese advertising industry analysts, is surprising on several levels — not least because De Niro has been in hot demand from Japan for many years but has previously resisted. Many other Hollywood stars before him have given in to the temptation of easy Japanese money: Brad Pitt, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster and Sir Sean Connery feature prominently on the list, but more than 100 other stars of music and screen have trodden the same embarrassing path...' the article

6/5 10 Foresters and brochures starting to arrive at dealers (slowly)

6/4 Subaru electric car goes on sale, 170 cars available in Japan.  'Japan always gets the latest tech developments before the rest of the world, a fact reaffirmed by Subaru's move to sell an electric car this July in, you guessed it, Japan. This battery electric vehicle, built on Subaru's Stella mini car, doesn't sound particularly impressive from its specifications, but Subaru is the first major automaker bringing an electric car to market this decade, preceding the likes of Mitsubishi and Nissan in their efforts. 
The Stella EV stores electricity in a lithium ion battery pack, powering a 47 kilowatt motor. Range is only about 56 miles, with a top speed of 62 mph. Subaru claims a recharge time of 15 minutes at a quick charging station, or 5 hours at a 200 volt AC outlet, which are typical numbers for current technology. 
Subaru plans on selling just 170 units of the electric Stella from late July until March 2010, the end of its financial year. Price is set at 4,725,000 yen, equal to about $49,000 at current exchange rates. Buyers will get a subsidy of about $14,300, according to Subaru's press release.' the article

6/3 May Sales total 17,505, down 5% compared to May 08 ( which was 18,436). Year to date sales are off  -2% at 74,686 for the firdt 5 months of 09 compared to 76,088 in 08. This is really very good compared to other companies.
May sales by model: Outback 3,400 -25%, Legacy 3,022 +53%, Tribeca 671 -45%,  Forester 6,171 -4%, Impreza 4,241 -1%. The 2009 Legacy is up strongly. Is this because of the attention and press for the new 2010 and people realize Subaru does make a good sedan, or is it because people are snapping up 09s becuase they don't want the 10? Forester sales are holding up. Rebates would help move the 09s as the 10s start arriving soon but no rebates were announced for the 09 Forester on June 2nd. 
Other sales totals to compare to Subaru for May: General Motors sold 190,881 cars in May 09 vs 268,892 May 08, a –29.0% drop. Subaru would be happy to sell 191,000 for the entire year, and that's what GM sold this past month. Subaru is a niche car, and not a big company. Toyota sales for the month were down 40% to 152,583 from 257,406 May 08; Honda dropped 41% to 98,344 from 167,997 in May 08; Ford sold 161,197 in May 09 vs 217,268  May 08 a minor –25.8% compared to Toyota and Honda; Chrysler went bankrupt but still sold 79,010 in May 09 vs 148,747 May 08 a –47% drop. The worst drop for the month was Suzuki, down -75% to 2,585 from 10,364 May 08 (ouch!). 

6/2 2010 Outback, Legacy model-color selection announced

5/30 many new 10 Outback images finally uploaded.

5/27 advertising- who can use England's singing sensation Susan Boyle.  'Which Marketers Might Want Susan Boyle Singing Their Praises? U.K. Creatives Weigh In on Potential Brand Partners for 'Britain's Got Talent' Sensation..
Despite a recent makeover, Susan Boyle is still recognizable as the singing sensation who surprised the judges at her audition with a stunning rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables," which attracted a YouTube audience of 60 million. Simon Cowell's close TV aide and former girlfriend, Sinitta, has suggested Ms. Boyle could become Britain's answer to Oprah... 
Mr. Young said she has potential appeal for brands that are judged by appearance rather than content. "When we first saw her, we thought she shouldn't be up there. Then we heard her singing, and we overcame our prejudices. There's an element of surprise and a hidden talent that would be right for brands with an ugly exterior....
#5 Subaru. "The cars get uglier every year," Mr. Young said, "but everyone who looks beyond appearances and actually drives a Subaru is a massive fan because the performance is so amazing. You can't help but hate it until you drive it -- and then you can't help but love it." the article

5/24 WRX review in 3 parts from Jalopnik   '... Wes Siler, our road test boffin, keeps saying the 2009 Subaru WRX mixes power and practicality, outdoing every other performance car on the market. He's also got a big mouth; let's see if he's right. In fact, Wes talks about it so much I've decided I have to hate the WRX...
.. Then you hit the 3k (rpm) mark and things take off. The WRX goes from a standstill to 60 MPH in approximately 5.4 seconds, which makes it only three-tenths of a second slower than both the Challenger R/T and Nissan 370Z. I'm convinced after driving it the Subaru goes from 0-to-20 MPH in 4.4 seconds and makes up the rest in the last second when the turbo kicks in. On dirt, squirming sideways under power, it feels even faster..
.. Looking over the hood of the WRX you see the massive hood scoop. It's not a distraction. It's more like the sight on an assault rifle - and all I want to do is keep pulling the trigger...
The 2009 WRX is both faster and more fun than either its mid-$20K price tag or its awkward looks justify. Now I just need to make it home before anyone from my church group sees me... ' read all of pt one
Part two '.. Yesterday (pt one), we discovered what happens when you take the 2009 Subaru WRX off the beaten path, but what happens when you drive it anywhere else?
The Subaru does not put its best face forward...
Turbo lag is often considered a negative, but in this case it gives you enough time to grab onto something before the car lunges forward. With a conservative 0-to-60 MPH time of 5.4 seconds, there's very little both cheaper and faster...
.. Considering the sporting credentials of the WRX you wouldn't expect it to be comfortable. You'd be wrong. It's downright cushy over typical roads and, when the road disappears, you're anything but jarred despite the low ride-height and thick front and rear stabilizer bars...
Thirty years from now we find it hard to imagine a WRX is going to be polished and parked alongside the pretty metal in some beachfront Concours. Instead, people competing in LeMons endurance racing will be scouring used car lots and the internet for this car...' pt two
'..Why you should buy the 2009 WRX: You've got the need for speed but also the need for a car you can live with, the need for a car you can afford to fill up..
Why you shouldn't buy this car: You've got the need for speed but also the need to drive a car that looks like it was built for an adult, the need for smooth roads, the need for big engines, the need for loud noises and the need for something impractical. pt three

5/23 Eastside Subaru reopens under new management in Kirkland, Wa

5/22 Subaru to buy closed GM or Chrysler dealers?   'Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd said on Friday that turmoil among U.S. dealers who face losing their contracts with Chrysler and General Motors Corp could present new opportunities for the maker of Subaru cars.  Shares of Fuji Heavy fell 3 percent after the Mainichi newspaper reported that the company was looking to take on some Chrysler and GM dealerships.
The global slowdown has forced Chrysler into bankruptcy and burned cash at GM, and they plan to shutter hundreds of dealerships.
More dealers may be open to switching to Subaru-brand cars as they fight to survive, Fuji Heavy spokesman Shinichi Murata said.
"It wouldn't be strange if the current business climate yielded more opportunities," he said.
Fuji Heavy, popular with flat-four all-wheel-drive technology enthusiasts, bucked a shrinking market in the past year and logged flat sales in the United States.
The company, which 16.5 percent held by Toyota Motor Corp, launched its revamped Legacy series earlier this week and has forecast its operating loss would expand six-fold to 35 billion yen ($371 million) this financial year...'  from Reuters

5/21 Subaru hybrid? All of a sudden there's a lot of talk and rumors about a Subaru hybrid coming in a few years based on Toyota's Prius technology.  The new CAFE and emission standards starting in 2012 will certainly shake up some boardrooms as intended, changing the way car companies think and the cars Americans are offered. Subaru of America has for years played peek-a-boo with hard news of diesels for the US market, dropping hints and tidbits along the way to maintain interest even though Subaru.
s loyal buyers always tend to be green and there's strong curiousity for any new model with improved green economy. Now comes rumors of a hybrid.
These new national EPA fuel standards may finally accomplish the goal - only 3 days after Obama's speech and poof- here is news (well, more rumors anyway) of a Subaru Hybrid developed with 16% partner Toyota's Prius technology. Still, there's no word on the diesel - perhaps we'll see it in 2010 in a 2011 model mated to a automatic CVT transmission since Americans don't buy a lot of manuals. The CVT will be in the new 2010 Legacy and Outback available this summer.  Here's the article on the Subaru hybrid from wired.com and WSJ.

 5/19  Before PZEV there was 'California spec' for cars that met that state's tough emission and fuel economy standards. Slowly those standards were adopted by other states including CT, NJ, NY, MA, ME, RI, VT, PA, OR, WA resulting in 2 emission standards, with Fed spec cars supplied to the rest of the country. Subaru's own Outback, Legacy and Foresters have been sold in the 2 versions with a slight price increase for PZEV for years.
The new national CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) and emission standard will lead to a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide and other emissions by 2016. Vehicles sold in 2016 will have to average 35.5 mpg, up from 25 mpg today. The new single national standard will simplify things for car makers, and are estimated to cost $1300 but that will be offset by better mileage. 

Here is the White House statement from 5/19/09  'President Obama today – for the first time in history – set in motion a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. The new standards, covering model years 2012-2016, and ultimately requiring an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 mpg in 2016, are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program with a fuel economy gain averaging more than 5 percent per year and a reduction of approximately 900 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions. This would surpass the CAFE law passed by Congress in 2007 required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg in 2020... (this)  represents an unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the world’s largest auto manufacturers, the United Auto Workers, leaders in the environmental community, the State of California, and other state governments..' the White House statement

5/18 Washington State sales tax exemption for most hybrid cars repealed, now ends August 1st.
'The sales tax exemption for cars with highway mileage of at least 40 miles per gallon took effect Jan. 1, but was repealed during this year's legislative session. The exemption ends Aug. 1. Hybrid vehicles will still be exempt from the separate 0.3 percent motor vehicle sales tax until Jan. 1, 2011. New cars that run on fuels such as natural gas, propane, hydrogen or electricity will continue to be exempt from all sales taxes through Dec. 31, 2010.' Seattle Times

5/18 Eastside Subaru of Kirkland, Washington is being sold to Bruce Titus Nissan of Olympia, said Mark Johnson, whose company is advising Rainier Automotive Group on the dealership sales.'  more

5/17 WRX vs. Evolution GSR, from Canada. 'Pocket rocket shootout.. There is no shortage of hot little sedans and hatchbacks out there these days, but there are only a few that can offer all-wheel drive alongside turbo power. Until recently, the Subaru Impreza WRX was one of the only major choices available, drawing many fans for its bulletproof drivetrain and overall balance between poise, power and price. Now, Mitsubishi has stepped forward with another option for Canadians – the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – and comparisons between the two are inevitable.
Subaru Impreza WRX265 (in the US WRX model) 
Subaru has been heavily involved with rally racing for years, and the WRX version of Subaru’s popular Impreza line acts as an intermediate step between the commute-friendly Impreza and the hard-core WRX STI – a 300-plus hp rocket that’s all about performance, both down a straight line and in the corners... 
Subaru’s new WRX265 puts (you guessed it) 265 hp to all four wheels from a 2.5-litre DOHC four cylinder boxer engine equipped with a high-pressure turbocharger and intercooler.
With a curb weight of 1,440 kg, the WRX has a very good power-to-weight ratio –meaning it will scoot along very well indeed once the turbo kicks in somewhere around 1,200 rpm. The Subaru’s larger engine (the Lancer Evolution runs a 2.0-litre powerplant) provides engine torque lower in the, and more evenly across, the rev range.
The Lancer Evolution has its own race-oriented history, having battled in the World Rally Championship for many years to a good deal of success. Unlike the WRX, which operates at a lower turbocharger boost rate than the STI, the Evolution GSR I drove runs virtually the same engine as the top-end MR trim – the only major difference being the GSR’s five-speed versus the MR’s impressive twin-clutch SST transmission. This means the Evolution GSR puts the same 291 hp and 300 lb.-ft. to the road surface as the MR. That’s a significant jump in pony power over the WRX265, but the Evo also weighs in 155 kg heavier, reducing its weight-to-power advantage somewhat.
But a horse for every five and a half kilos is still pretty impressive, especially once one has worked the engine up close to 2,000 rpm, where the real ‘Wahoo’ quotient is found. Keeping the Evo in this sweet spot is relatively easy, thanks to the aforementioned close-ratio gearbox that drops just shy of ‘notchy’. The transmission and clutch setup is less forgiving than the Subaru’s but you’ll likely find yourself relishing the challenge of making that perfect shift.
With experience on the track with this little go-kart last fall, I can tell you that that the Evolution is one lively ride when pushed hard...
The Lancer Evo’s interior is comfortable enough, but its cockpit and general layout is a little less unified than the WRX’s. The general quality of the materials seems to fit lower on the quality scale, too, although the car’s sport seats are outstanding for spirited driving. The view out the back window suffers a split personality thanks to the large spoiler attached to the trunk lid, and the view to each rear quarter is less than ideal. But who’s going to be looking out the back much? It’s not like there are many cars likely to catch you.
In a nutshell ... 
There’s no question the Lancer Evolution GSR is a blast to drive – and that its cold-weather performance is almost as stellar as its warm-weather fun factor. But the GSR currently lists with an MSRP of $41,498. There’s also a whole range of ground effect and appearance accessories listed that will allow you to spend literally thousands more to ‘personalize’ your ride even further. The Subaru WRX265 starts at $33,995 (plus delivery charges), a mere $3,000 more than the 224-hp ‘standard’ WRX.
When you throw in the better visibility, interior quality and ride quality, the Subaru can provide plenty of fun on a much more frugal budget...'  from autonet.ca

5/16 Forester goes off road and lives to tell about it  '...Subaru is many things to many different kinds of people, but they've always stayed true to the cause of all-wheel-drive in sensible automobiles. 
Subie sells every one of their cars with it, and they get a lot of credibility because of that fact, but we decided to put that tradition to the test and take it to the brand spankin' new Rocks And Valleys off-road park in Harrison, Michigan even before its grand opening on May 16th... For all intents and purposes its just another tall wagon with all-wheel-drive. Yes, that's true, but for a tall wagon this thing kicks some major trail... 
The Forester we had was a 2.5X, a mid-range model with a non-turbo four cylinder, but even on the steepest grades we were not for want of more power. In fact, we almost want to toss on some real off-road tires and see what it can really do, the thing was damn impressive. Out on the lumpy, bumpy trails the Forester soaked everything up and had us outpacing the bouncier Jeeps, lending us our first few points of credibility. Then we hit the technical stuff out in the forests, we had to fold in the mirrors at some points things were so tight, and again, the decent turning radius, torquey engine and well programmed all-wheel-drive kept us going.... 
Truthfully, we didn't expect the Subie to be as good as it was. We thought we'd be funny guys and go get the thing stuck and have it hang up on steep hills and then point and laugh at the wimpy soft-roader. We came out with a certain degree of respect, so did all the Jeep guys who were with us. We're thinking Subaru should offer "Mud Patina" as a delivery option... ' the article from Jalopnik

5/15 There are ~600 Subaru dealers in the US, how does that compare to other companies.  Chrysler had ~3200, closed 789 leaving ~2400, GM has ~6000 dealers and plans to close 1600 including 500 Saturn, Saab and Hummer dealers. 
Here's what the average of new cars each sold in 2008: Toyota/Scion has ~1200 dealers and each sold ~1,500 cars in 2008, Honda 1,1100 cars per dealer, Lexus 1,150 cars per dealer, Nissan 762, Ford Co. (overall) 286 per dealer, Ford dealer 477, GM 219 (overall), Chevy 459, Acura 538, Chrysler 181, Hummer 167 Land Rover 170 (autonews, WSJ) 
Subaru has ~600 dealers and in 2008 sold 187699 cars, averaging ~313 cars sold per dealer in 2008.

5/13 what manufacturers spend on rebates, incentives, special financing   '.. No matter what happens with the (proposed) cash for clunkers idea, automakers are working had to push new vehicles. The average incentive in the U.S. was $3,031 per vehicle sold in April, up $680, or 28.9 percent, from April 2008, according to Edmunds.com.  ..Cadillac spent the most on incentives in April, at $5,675 per vehicle sold, followed by Infiniti at $5,504. Scion spent the least, $160 per vehicle sold, followed by Subaru at $884.
Premium sport cars had the highest average incentive cost, at $6,540 per vehicle, followed by large sport utility vehicles at $4,797. Subcompact cars had the lowest, at $1,060.
Analysts suggest one reason deals are so good now is the glut of new vehicles on lots.  Manufacturers are cutting production dramatically during the summer. General Motors, for instance, is closing four plants that build trucks and SUVs from mid-May to mid-July, suggesting that once inventory is reduced, prices will go back up.  Even foreign brands, some of which are not used to relying on heavy incentives, are finding them necessary to boost sales.
Nissan and Infiniti spent $2,779 in incentives per vehicle sold in April, compared with $1,796 in April 2008. Hyundai and Kia spent $3,591 in April, compared with $2,156 in April 2008...'   the article

5/11 New engine factory   'Fuji Heavy Industries has begun building a plant for environment-friendly engines within the compound of its factory in the town of Oizumi in Gunma Prefecture for completion by the end of this year, company officials said Friday. The new plant will produce a new generation of horizontally opposed engines to power passenger cars that will be put on the market in 2010, they said. 
Fuji Heavy is curbing capital spending as it expects a group net loss in the current business year to March 31, 2010, for the second year in a row. But the company decided to build the new plant in order to help make its passenger cars more environmentally friendly, the officials said.'   read the article

5/4 2010 Forester prices and Option Packages announced. For all 2010 models, Subaru is now offering factory Option Packages, aka model ugrades. Some of the features standard on prevous years may now be part of a Option Package. For example, the All Weather Package is Option Package #02 on the 2010 Outback Premium but it was standard on the 2009 SE model (which the Premium replaces) so not all 10 Outback Premiums will have the All Weather Pkg.

5/1 April sales  total 15,649. Legacy 2,561 (+36%), Forester 5,955 (+12%), Outback 3,293 (-20%), Impreza 3,273 (-20%), Tribeca 567 (-59%). Overall down 7% from 16,711 in April 08. The Forester is up, and one of it's main competitor, the CRV is down 33% for April 09/08 and down 25% for the year. 
Subaru Canada total 2,050, the best month ever, the previous record month was July 08. Forester sold 806, Impreza 961 in April 09..
Chrylser goes bankrupt, and Ford had a strong month at 133,979 which puts it back into the #2 spot behind GM (with 172,150) and ahead of Toyota for the first time since March 08. Other sales numbers: Toyota 126,540, Honda 101,029 with the Ridgeline down 71.5% and Element down 65.6% for April 09/08, Nissan 47,190, Hyundai 33,952, Suzuki 2,543, Mitsubishi sold 3,919,  Land Rover 3,324, Jaguar 1,785, Porsche 1,853, Mercedes 14,565, Smart car 1,345, BMW 15,705, Mini 3,657, Kia 25,606, Lincoln 5,973.. 

4/30 Subaru sponsors Dining Out For Life. April 30, 2009.  More than 3,500 restaurants in over 55 cities donate a portion of the proceeds from one special night of dining to licensed AIDs service agencies in their city. Nearly $4 million dollars a year is raised.  It's for a good cause and restaurants like the business. So eat out April 30th, find your city and restaurants here.

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