I just got back from the Detroit auto show, the NAIAS. A very long trip, but a very fun day. I have a few hundred pics now, all high res, but not of everything and not all great. Very hard to take good pics with the crowds and all. So if the is a brand that you want to see there concepts or a specific car you want a pic of, LMK. I can post it or send you the full res pic. Because it is a pain to resize all the pics, I will only post the B9 for now.

Now on to the B9. I don't like the front one bit, the rest of the styling looks ok, and the interior and rest is great. I wish I could get past the front, because it really is a great SUV. So here is the pics.

PS: Move this if you like, but I felt everyone would like to see it.

 

They needed a 7 passenger SUV just for the market.

I like everything about it except for the front end. But it's not as bad as when I first saw it.

It might actually be growing on me.

 

I still don't like the new front. I guess it is growing on me in a relative way as it only sickens me, whereas it used to make me want to sell my Suby. On the other hand the interior looks pretty good, and it looks like a 7pass wagon as opposed to true SUV, or a 7pass Murano. If I was 20yrs older and in severe need of a minivan or a 7pass SUV that would be looking pretty good.

 

subaru is attempting to reach a market that is already saturated. IMO, its a mistake. i think it will just be another Baja project- nice vision, but not enough demand+market for a 7 passenger SUV within the subie clientele. in order to make good sales they have to grab customers from the other markets(this opinion is based on my working for Subaru for the past year and a half)

if u ask me they really need to get on the ball and make a hydrid SUV.





aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna Kea-^-*

 

That is true, but where in a F4 with a big AWD tranny would you put that stuff? I bet they are leaning more towards Hydrogen.

 

The real problem with the B9 is that it is $6,000 too expensive. $37,000 for a Subaru won't fly (gdogg will back me on that!). Furthermore, that puts the B9 in direct competition with 7-passenger vehicles from Ford, BMW and Volvo.

The Volvo XC90 ($35k msrp) seats 7, comes with a 2.5 liter turbocharged engine, a very nice interior, an industry-leading anti-roll vehicle stability system (one being copied by every American manufacturer), a good stereo, a towing capacity of 4,000 lbs. Add AWD for an additional $1,790 and you come in cheaper than the B9 and get a better-looking (IMO) car with a nicer interior, the Volvo reputation for safety, bigger wheels, better ground clearance, and a lot more.

Add $4,000 to that (a difference of perhaps $15-$20 on your car payment) and you can jump up to electronic traction control, a 2.9-liter TWIN TURBO powerplant and a leather interior -- options not even available on the B9.

I applaud Subaru for trying new markets, and I actually don't mind the new Subaru "nose," but the B9 needs to be more in the Forrester XT price range in order to be competitive. Hell, a Honda Odyssey with the VTEC engine and all the bells and whistles is still cheaper, and would kick the B9s *** on the highway.

 

They throw twin turbos on that H6 and... poof.... instant Cayenne competitor.

While I'm dreaming... how about a twin turbo H6 in the impreza... and a million dollars... and a puppy.

 

I saw it in person at the kickoff meeting on Tuesday (my company supplies them parts) It's better in person, but it's still nothing I would drive. Now the SAAB version that will be on sale 12 months from now.......It's nice.

All that aside, I think it's just different. It's not a face most peole find attractive, but some will undoubtedly buy it for that reason. If you don't think of it as a "face" then it's not as bad. With that said, I don't think they'll sell the 3000/month that they are shooting for.

 

There is going to be a Saab version?? This whole Saab/Subaru thing that GM is doing is starting to get annoying. Subarus are cool because they're unique, leave it to some lame american car company to screw it up.

 

You have to remember that Subaru is trying to move up in the market. Within a few years they want to be competition for Audi.

 

I still don't know whether to love it or hate it. The nose doesn't bother me too much, but I'm not wild about it.

 

this is a mistake for subaru.

you all know that their gonna start using this design for their other models as well?

 

Think back about 2 years when the bug eye imprezas came out. Everyone was screaming "dodge neon".

People will get used to it. What's underneath is what counts. They keep coming out with the performance cars like they have, who cares what it looks like.

Personally I don't drive a Subaru because it looks cool. My TS wagon definately doesn't look the best, but its a fun car to drive.

 

Well, in retrospect, ppl like the bugeyes regardless of the lights. But if I remember correctly, the reason the bugeyes only lasted two years was because they were so disliked, styling wise. That was also why they made the uk 300. At least, thats what I thought the deal was. So that would seem like a mistake to me.