Just got my DMV registration for new '05 Outback 2.5i and it is classified as a UT. My "98 was registered as a SW (station wagon). What's up here? Is Subaru tryin' to fly under/over the radar on something? Clearly the '05's are station wagons. Maybe something to do with emission/safety regulations at play here? I'm thinkin' I'm payin' too much for insurance because it's classified as a UT here in Oregon.

 

What do you think?

 

Juan

Yup, classed as a truck mainly for CAFE. Your particular car should get *better* mileage than last year's models... but it's for the turbo 4 and the H6 that they did that.

 

There was a lot of grumbling about it in the press last year when it was announced, more for the sedan than the wagon though.

 

Steve

Just got my DMV registration for new '05 Outback 2.5i and it is classified as a UT. My "98 was registered as a SW (station wagon). What's up here? Is Subaru tryin' to fly under/over the radar on something? Clearly the '05's are station wagons. Maybe something to do with emission/safety regulations at play here? I'm thinkin' I'm payin' too much for insurance because it's classified as a UT here in Oregon.

 

What do you think?

 

Juan

I thought Subaru was acting too much like one of it's minority partners, GM, when they pulled this stunt. Subaru increased the ground clearence and called your wagon a truck so as not to be forced to get better mileage as Outback 97 mentioned. I still think Subaru should be ashamed. By and large Subaru owners "cling closely to trees" if not all out "tree huggers". GM doesn't have the intellectual muscle to get better mileage so they cling to loopholes. I guess the bean counters at GM showed Subaru the dark side and the bean counters at Subaru liked it! Enjoy your Outback wagon, er, I mean your Outback truck.

Greg

Some of this of course has been discussed before:

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10229&highlight=CAFE

 

Is insurance in fact higher because of the different designation? Or is it just higher because you went from a '98 to an '05? I'm curious, having a '97 myself and I like the new ones.

 

Steve

SUV's sell, there is nothing wrong with designating Subaru's as SUV's for the marketing ploy that they generate - it's not like the gas milege has plumetted or anything on Outbacks, nor is there any threat that it will, most of us "tree huggin hippies" who drive Subaru's wouldn't buy them if the gas milege began to mirror that of an H2, a 4Runner or even a CRV. The co. has been marketing the Forester as an SUV for years, the fact that Subrau has expanded this marketing strategy to it's Outback line should come as no surprise. Remeber Paul Hogan (crocadile dundee) that's the whole image that the company is trying to create with these cars, and as long as the SUV designation helps them with that, and the gas milege stays where it is, there is no problem. Just b/c Subaru has started to designate it's cars as SUV's does not mean that the CARS have changed or that tommorow we'll get massive gas guzzling monsters with the label of Subaru (well maybe the B9) that are going to kill the trees that we Subaru drivers enjoy so much.

SUV's sell, there is nothing wrong with designating Subaru's as SUV's for the marketing ploy that they generate - it's not like the gas milege has plumetted or anything on Outbacks, (snip).

I could live with it if it was marketing but it isn't marketing. According to AutoWeek it was to skirt the need to get better mileage with the H6 and Turbo as Outback_97 has mentioned. Subaru made it a truck so it would not be included in CAFE and for that I stick with my "Shame on Subaru". I still like and drive my Subarus and will for years to come but I just expect better, thats all.

Greg