NY Times call new WRX "Ugly" - Page 3

11-12-2007, 12:15 AM

#51

Rhawb

Has the whole shit.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jethro Tull

I've been thinking about this for some time.

We've been a Subaru family since '86, currently on our third Subaru in the last 21+ years. Love the sure-footedness in winter, unflagging dependability, low maintenance costs. We keep 'em until they either die from extreme old-age, or get taken from us prematurely from an unfortunate accident. 2 were purchased brand-new including our current '04. I make this preamble to demonstrate that I love the Subaru brand and will in all likelihood continue to be a customer.

The WRX is just another pod, from a visual standpoint.

This isn't anything recent so no need to hang your heads and wonder what happened. Subaru has NEVER been a leader in the style department.

True, but they also always had their own style...that kind of quirky sporty/ugly/awkward look and that gave them character. Love it or hate it, you always knew it was a Subaru, but this car has none of that. It looks like your standard roadgoing appliance. Problem with that is I really don't think people who are looking at midsize Camrys and Accords are going to cross shop Subaru's small car.

I really think Subaru just went totally braindead to their target market - the people who are buying "car as appliance" (who Subaru seems to want desperately) are going to go to something larger and likely cheaper. The people who want cheap, quick cars are going to go to one of the better looking (and likely still cheaper) hopped up compacts put out by other companies. I just think this thing is kind of in a position like the Mazdaspeed 6 - they've poorly planned out its market position and have made this car uninteresting to both of their ideal audiences.

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