Anyone know ANY news if Subaru is making WRX STI wagon?

 

Not at this time.

Look to the new Legacy for STi perfomance in a possible wagon form factor.

- Janq

 

I'm really surprised/disappointed Subaru isn't making an STI wagon. All of the folks here in the Bay Area that I know
that bought WRXs got wagons because they are such
great cars to drive up skiing with a bunch of gear. Subaru,
wake up!

 

And gear doesn't fit in a sedan?

Just pickup a Thule roof rack for your skis and if you need more storage space throw a spacebox on top too.

I've been driving a Legacy sedan for 12 years and never had a problem fitting anything in or on it including; a 10 chair teak deck set from Costco, two sea kayaks, 3 bicycles, 2 very large TV's from Costco (two trips)...oh and I moved my whole life from MD to MA once packing everything I owned into the car other than my college mattress which I left behind.

With the same AWD system as the WRX wagon you'll be right behind tour buds on the way to the mountain.

- Janq

 

Hey Janq,

What is your feel/prediction of the spec of the up and coming USDM Legacy turbo?

What I heard is it will be a 2.5L turbo with 250 HP running a 5-speed manual. Do you know anything more then what I am thinking? Do you know if anything like the STi S401 Legacy will make it here to the US? You know, with factory Brembos, performance wheel/tires, performance interior............. I basically want a Legacy wagon with everything from the WRX STi, what are the chance of that happening? My guess is very slim

The Legacy turbo is the only other car I am comparing to the WRX STi.

minimay7, sorry for the high jack. To answer your question, I don't think Subaru will make a WRX STi wagon. They used to have it for the Japanese market, but not anymore. My guess is even in Japan not many people want a WRX STi wagon.

 

JDM Nut,

My short answer is I just don't know....
And I don't think anyone does at this stage as its still early to place bets.

The buzz is all over the place on the new Legacy and there's a huge thread toward it at NASIOC. Here is a link for those lurkers/readers that don't know about it. I personally have long loved the Legacy and in fact hated the design of the Impreza when it first came out, but slowly came around to it after a decade.

Traditionally the higher end US Legacy models have been more float & bloat (including the Turbo & GT of yore) than sport crusiser. I'd be happily surprised to see us get a Legacy with real STi bits & pieces and real sporting capability much less in a wagon form factor. But rumors out there are saying it will happen at some level. Who knows...

Possibly Subie will monitor the success of the Volvo S70R & V70R (which I predict will not be a hit) and make its own interpretation based on how that goes. They'll have the time to do so as the Legacy redesign doesn't hit our shores untill the '05 model year.
I have an easier time seeing Subaru evolving itself higher up the food chain along the lines ofSAAB, Volvo and to some degree Honda and maintaining its traditional customer base while stealing new/used buyers from the likes of Lexus (ES & RX buyers) as well as BMW (base 3 and even 5 series buyers).

There will of course always be a 'halo' car along the lines of the XT6, SVX, WRX, and most recent WRX STi with the projected 'B11S' coming down the pike drawing in buyers eyes.
To that degree anything is possible and I would surely buy a Legacy wagon with a full STi race treatment in a hearbeat, but alas I'm not prepared to hold my breath just yet.

Now as for a lesser than STi Legacy coming to our shores with fat tires, aggressive styling kit, enhanced suspension, and well implemented brakes (OEM, Brembo or otherwise)...I can definitely see such a package coming to our shores soon.
Why? Because it wouldn't scare off traditional Subie buyers like the momma's and poppa's from Vermont & Maine where a Subaru is owned by seemingly every third family on any given block.
At the same time a less than race hot but sporting luxury Subaru would offer enough 'value' (a ratio of product offering to affordable & reasonable cost) for the majority of Subie buyers to justify, afford, and most importantly live with for the long term.

Keep in mind that most/regular automotive buyers are not enthusiatsts like many of the folks here and thus do not appreciate a near track ready vehicle (STi). Further they do not see value in such 'enhancements' as they are not entirely tangible to the average driver commuting to work of for Mrs. Janq taking lil 'Miss Janq to playgroup across our roads and highways.

Most buyers are concerned about how many cup holders, aux. power outlets, grab handles, exterior colors and shades of leather the car is available with and to a lesser degree fuel economy. As performance goes based on results buyers are most concerned about the above and the latest SRS airbag technology (wear a seatbelt people!), the car/trucks ability to 'perform' in snow and how easy the radio & AC systems are to operate. That my friend is performance for the masses.

If performance for the 'enthusiast' were paramount then we'd all be driving Range Rover's, Landcrusier/LX470, Touareg/Cayenne, Corvette, A4/A6/A8, 3 & 5 series, and WRX & STi's amongst other niche/marginal vehicles of this ilk. We'd all be comparing skid pad numbers, Cd values, tire size & type, brake fade & stopping distance figures over our Starbucks caffe mocha's and industry marketing folks would provide HP and torque at the wheels rather than crank power figures.

Now keep in mind as I could be totally wrong on this and Subaru might release a barage of impressive bleeding edge performance vehicles for US consumption, which frankly would be awesome! I too would love to see a WRX STi wagon hit out shores as I'd be first in line to cancel my sedan order in lieu of such an offering.
But again I just have a hard time seeing it happen.

As I always say though, time will tell the tale...

Regards,

- Janq

 

I myself am definitely not holding out for an STI wagon......I'll take the wrx wagon + 8 grand in mods anyday. Plus an STI wagon would ruin the whole sleeper effect and draw too much attention.

 

Janq,

Thank you for your indepth reply to my question, my opinion is the same on this subject.

I am pretty much decided to go with the current WRX STi sedan, since even if Subaru equip a Legacy with all the WRX STi's gear, the performance would be quite a bit lower then the WRX due to the added weight and size.

 

JDM Nut,

The real sleeper is the new Forester XT (2.5 turbo) with a manual tranny! The auto version is nice too as it comes with the VDC system which I really like.

A few inexpensive suspension mods, wheels, Stoptech's and engine upgrades, then poof...you've got the 'Bride of Frankenstein' with an up do by the BBC's Sarah & Trinie of "What Not to Wear" meets 'The General Lee' with "Monster Garage" tweaks by that skinny mumbling guy from "King of The Hill".

When time comes to return my leased Pilot I'll be looking at the Forester again. Too bad they waited so long to bring it here. I wish it had been available in March when I needed a replacement family hauler.

- Janq

 

Janq,

I don't know any details of the Forester XT other then the very basic spec (2.5L turbo, 210HP....blah blah blah). But from experience, it would take quite a bit of mods to make it into a truely fun car. Unlike the WRX STi, a few basic mod it would become a truely fun car to drive. I am watching this new wave of Japanese tuner sports car closely. Let's hope Subaru will bring over the Forester STi and the Legacy STi. I am not holding my breath though.

 

Don't get me wrong, the Forester will never be an STi but it is based on the Impreza chassis. A tweak here and a stur there would make for a fun & tossable daily driver for mom and a mate for dad's STi.

- Janq

 

I didn't know the Forester is based on the Impreza chassis, the Forester just seems so much bigger then the Impreza.

Thanks for the infos Janq

 

JDM Nut,

This past Sunday Warren Brown of the Washington Post wrote a review of the new 'Forester XT' (2.5 light turbo). You may find his info & points informative; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Jun27.html

So you know the Forester has always been an Impreza chassis with a tall 'box' design exterior body panels to evoke an SUV like appearance. Its marketing intent was to folks that want the 'sporty' look of an SUV, that don't like wagons (lots of folks hate wagons) but want the same flexibility, without the safety & weight penalty (fuel, braking & acceleration) of an SUV.

Regards,

- Janq

 

Hi Janq,

Thanks for the article.

What you said is what always bother me the most about the general American car buying public. Before I say anything, all you SUV lover, please excuse my following comment, it is straightly my personal opinion. I know the whole idea of personal preference/each to their own......blah blah blah...........

Station wagon is my absolute favorite type of vehicle. Why do the American general public love the SUV so much? And why do they hate wagon? Isn't a SUV just a lifted wagon with tall tires?

OK OK, let me understand here.

A SUV, which is a lifted station wagon with tall offroad tires, that have the worse handling of all passenger vehicle, making it very dangerous for emergency manuver. It have the same gas mileage as a super exotic car with huge power but it accelerate like a cheap econobox. Stopping distance is bad even with exotic car's size brakes. Is consider cool and trendy. How exactly a tall truck wagon be consider sporty and trendy?

A station wagon, better yet, a sport wagon like the WRX wagon or any of those European sport wagon (5-series wagon, Volvo R wagon, MB C/E-class wagon, Audi wagon........etc). That basically drive exactly the same as any sports sedan or sports car. Is consider uncool and out dated?

HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? God that make me so mad

The whole freaking world gets it except people in the US of A. Everyone in Japan, Europe loves wagon and that is what they drive.

The general American public are just weird