Talking to a Chevy dealer (we just bought a Tracker over a Forester cause of the hi-lo issue) and he said Chevy now owns a big chunk of Subaru...

 

The yen can't be that weak, is it?

no...

 

GM owns 20% of Fuji Heavy Industries - Subarus parent company...and they dont really have a say in what Subarus day to day operations are.

 

so we wont be seeing anything other then boxer engines...dont worry

ya, a pushrod inline 4 subaru would already be made if chevy had a say.... probaby with like 2.8 liters and 150 HP :rollin:

Was out last night with a couple Subie nuts who have the last of the dual range trannies and they're loyalty ain't there over the hi-lo issue.

 

Subaru lost three people to GM and Jeep over the hi-lo issue just in my area...

 

I wonder if they even read customer feedback.

Actually, GM owns 24% of Fuji Heavy Industries.

 

I read somewhere that FHI sold GM 20% to avoid falling under the control of Nissan. (Nissan owns a bank that FHI owed money to or something.) Then Nissan sold GM the other 4%.

 

I also read that this relationship is allowing Subarus to be sold in parts of the world that previously were devoid of Subies because they can now be sold at GM dealerships. This relationship has also allowed GM to purchase some AWD technology rights from Subaru.

Subaru offers Hi/Lo in pretty much every market but North America. If you can find a good Importer they can get Hi/Lo trannies out of Japan. Then it's up to you to get the linkage and console pieces. There is a down side to the Newer Hi/Lo trannies, Lo is only a 1.962 reduction. I have heard in the BYB forum that you can swap out the Hi/Lo set from a EA82 trans.

Man, if I ever do the Legacy 2.2 conversion in my 4x4, and I don't use an Automatic, I'd love to get my hands on one of those DR Legacy trannies. I'd just fab up my own linkage, or use the existing linkage. Mike heard somewhere that the Legacy DR trannies are cable operated?

Anyone have any pics of the tranny, or the console?

Actually there is a very rare legacy/impreza that is a pushbutton 4wd with a lever for low range. From what I have read, only Japan and Australia got them in the super low end legacys and impreza.

 

Here is a pic of the inside of a Australian Legacy with one of them.

 

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~c.moe/legacy4wd.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

 

one more thing, the Baja prototype had a Hi/Lo 5-speed

Sweet

 

hmm since 4WD and low range are independent of each other... I wonder if you can FWD Low??

actually, thereis going to be a Saab sport sedan that is going to be a rebadged impreza.... (GM owns Saab)

it's going to be more then just a rebadged impreza, my understanding is that the sheet metal will be different

well isuzu and subaru were also supposed to do model sharing in the late 1980s...i wouldnt sweat it too much guys

Look at market stats and it shows:

 

Given a choice between a Tracker, Hyundai, or Kia micro-SUV at a price $4-6,000 less than a new Forester (with better warranties) the new herd of Generation Guess opts for the lower-priced wheels.

 

Given a choice between a Legacy or Outback (or that hideous -designed-by-the-same-dope-who-gave-you-the-Aztec Baja) or spending $4-6,000 more for an MDX or hopped up Pathfinder or Grand Cherokee, people are swinging that way.

 

NOW: if Subaru built a simple, no frills family around the 2.5 with a dually AND some hard points for modest "all-terrain" performance as opposed to the present "all-weather" vehicles, they'd absorb more market share.

 

IMHO, they still make excellent vehicles, but sacrificing genuine off-road capability has hurt them as they move to the target center...that costs them the fringy buyers - and that's where word-of-mouth creates better brand loyalty better than incentives, rebates, deal-of-the-month hooey...

I have seen some of the promo stuff for the Saab/Subaru project. wrx boxer motor/chassis/drivetrain. Saab sheetmetal, saab amenities. I have owned 4 soobs. I like them. I have owned upwards of 10 saabs. I Love them. My 9000T was one of the fastest things on the road around here. Not to mention their safety rating are excellent(with good reason, known by personal experience). The Saabaru will be one badass ride.. I just hope the pricing will be as cool as the car.

I dont mind giving OUT technology, I just dont wanna see them bringing it in. A subaru "trailblazer" would just be terrible.

I can't speak for anybody else, but I can speak for myself... I love my '92 Loyale . I'm starting to realize that I paid a little too much for it, should've paid a little time checking out the details before I bought it, but ain't that what love does to you?

 

Anyway, I'd have to agree with Subazoo. I don't want something fancy. I love the simple and functional design of the Loyale. I don't care about curves... I want power windows, locks, mirrors. I want to be able to have a car simple/roomy enough for me to work on myself. I want that 4wd... hi/lo would be great, too, though I'm settling for the pushbutton in the Loyale.

 

A more powerful engine would be nice, though... I'm tired of getting passed every time I'm accelerating to highway speeds...

Today, Subaru of America released sales figures for January, 2003 (see vocuspr.vocus.com/vocuspr...Releases). So now I add to the list of previous month's sales.

 

2002

Sep - 415

Oct - 881

Nov - 606

Dec - 566

2003

Jan - 642

 

Note that Subaru's press releases claim about 600 Subaru dealerships

Hey, Hey, now we can have a Corvair 6 164cui boxer (turbo back in '64 180hp) as OP? or the 140hp with 4 carbs? convertible like the one I had back in '83. Chevy did have some great ideas at one time 1+1>2, it could be! 4X4 Corvair convertible (in my wet dreams). Konrad What you think of THAT? POP

i'd rather push a subaru than drive a chevy tracker:x

that's the spirit!!!!! i agree with thebrad17, loyals are GREAT!!!! Subeepl, i maybe can work, but soob's parts are more accessible than corvair, i would be nice to have some Xtra horse power,......

 

konrad

 

1989 DL Wagon 5spd D/R with LSD

1984 GL Sedan RWD

1982 DL Sedan 4WD