Here's one that ought to be popular here...

I am a new convert to the Subaru performance camp (since summer '03), and appreciate that I am getting great performance with the bonus of great gas milage, and am helping this planet in the "Big Picture" by driving a four cylinder instead of a V8. The performance upgrades are out there, and of exceptional quality overall, allowing me to get quite close to, or even surpass the performance of a stock or modified V8. Mucho props to Scoobymods.

I have "big plans" for my '99 L wagon, and am glad of it in part because of the fact that it is a Subaru and Subaru has had - until now- a reputation as building a good "car" and being an environmentally responsible company.

Subaru's announcement that it will raise the ride height of the OBS and sedan to classify it as a light truck, thus enabling it to get around the fuel economy and air-pollution standars (almost any newspaper, but originally printed in the New York Times 1/3/04 - search nytimes.com) leaves a bad taste for me. This puts the Impreza in the same class as SUVs and pickup trucks, and allows Subaru to take advantage of the "porours" US laws regarding air pollution standars for the auto industry. Sure it is there for the taking, but my impression is that Subaru has been creative enough in the past to give us a great car that can go almost anywhere, yet does not dump on our planet like a Hummer. Looks like they went for the money instead.

Should I stop the mods and sell the Impreza, then buy a '67 Mustang, swap-in that old Shelby suspension system and drop my now-resting 400hp 351 Windsor in between the towers, and nail it? Maybe a Jerico five speed to go with it too - at least I wouldn't have to worry about the synchros blowing up constantly. I'd get the same milage as an SUV but at least I'd still be driving a "car".

 

whats wrong with a business trying to save you, the consumer, money as well as themselves? by getting around some emissions and by classifying some of their cars as light trucks, its only beneficial for everyone. you musnt be so narrowminded when a business does something different, look from a different angle to truly see if it is unethical/unwise to you and then make your assumptions.

also, by using "pourous" as you call it laws regarding pollution for trucks, we, the performance minded enthusiasts, can do more things to our cars, that hardly pollute in the first place, with or without cats, without all the constraints that we have now. a bigger turbo or an exhaust are all but illegal in some places in the country, but it doesnt stop anyone from putting that stuff on since enforcement is lax, but this would just make it all easier for us. and insurance would be cheaper too, but i mean that is your opinion, this is mine, and its up to everyone to make up their own minds.
just my .02 cents


also, mustangs with a 351 are badass man

 

Ahh, I am guessing you are young and idealistic, which is not a bad thing at all. However, please realize that companies are in the business of making money. If a company does not take advantage of all the laws, it loses a competitive advantage, market share and profitability. Money makes the world go round...it's a fact of life.
Think globally, act locally...right? Do what you can, and accept that you cannot change everything. Life is about balance. I am in a small minority here, but I still have all my cats because I would feel guilty removing them, although I have been trying to convince myself for a little over a year the the up pipe "pre-cat" does almost nothing to abate emissions.

As for the Mustang - build it up if you can! It sounds like a super cool ride. Keep the L stock for the Gold Country winters and as an economical, more environmentally friendly means of daily transportation.

 

As cool as Subaru is, they're still a company and they still need to get paid. I really don't care if one of their cars is classified as an SUV. As stated, it keeps their avg mileage and emissions ratings up, wihch is good for all of us.

 

Nice to get the community's angles on it. Just what I was looking forward to when I posted. I finally changed that "thumbs-down" to a "?". Seems more appropriate.

Cheers,
chrx

 

You are modding your car (most likely making it not conform to smog laws) and you are critizing Subaru for producing a legal vehicle in a catagory with less stringent smog requirements.

hmm! Seems to undermine your point a bit.

In any case your 99L will still be classed a passenger car so I think selling on this basis alone might be a bit of an over-reaction.

Joking aside it is an interesting development. Clearly the light truck classification is a loophole that is being exploited across the board far beyond its intent to exempt commercial vehicles.

One wonders how this will sit with the "tree hugging" element that traditionally makes up Subaru's customer base in the US. Will they still feel smug and "better than thou" with their vehicle choice. Definately a marketing gamble for Subaru.

However they do sell the Legacy Outback as an SUV alternative. One issue with it is lack of power even with the 6 cylinder. Its not really suprising they would explore ways to make higher power options available given the range of power available in SUVs these days.

 

I guess my initial impression of Subarus - before I discovered how much fun my friend's '97 OBS was - was that they were an alternative to SUVs targeted to the tree-huggers, and every once in a while they'd build something totally wacked-out, like the Brat or the SVX.

Now as an owner of an Impreza, where I live, there is no one else modifying their Subarus (as per the area mechanics), and every day I see an average of three Imprezas (not to mention an average of 12 Legacy wagons), and they are all driven by white-haired old ladies.

I think those white-haired old ladies are the audience that may find the new classification disappointing, especially since the Sierra Club has formally denounced the move. This impression, and my distaste for SUVs led to my initial reaction.

yowza,
chrx

 

I think you hit on a good point. IIRC, Subaru was struggling financially in the late 80's early 90's before they tapped into a niche market with the Outback. I think a lot of the success of the Outback is a result of the SUV craze. Bottom line is that companies have to market to what is hot for buyers. That has been SUV's for a few years. The Outback is a competant, comfortable vehicle. It is not a stoplight racer, but my buddies Outback with the EJ25 has no problems pulling the grade at 70-80 mph on Highway 80 up to Truckee with 4 dudes and all their stuff.