other sites

cell phone laws
crash tests: summary by model, 
nhtsa.gov, hwysafety.org, iihs.org; 
Carfax, NADA, KellyBlue Book, Edmunds
subject to change, correction, updating.

Aftermarket performance parts,
WorldOnePerformance.com
Independent Subaru Repair Smart Service, in Shoreline & Mukilteo, Wa

7/27  The Subaru life- drives a Subaru, tows a Shasta canned hammobile, is a gourmet roadside cook, and defintely likes burgers. 
'Canned Ham Cuisine '- the Top 5 meals this trip from Mary Brown Malouf in SLC
'Once the Subaru axle was fixed, not even Pieandbeer could keep me here on Pioneer Day. We high-tailed it to the Tetons in our 1956 Shasta, also known as a “canned ham... ”We bought this particular trailer because we’re junkers at heart and because it has a 3-burner Princess stove WITH AN OVEN in it. 
Because camping for us means hiking, scenery, birdwatching, wildlife and eating well. Here are the top five dishes of this trip:
1 and 2. Grass-fed New York strip cooked over a wood fire, with goat cheese, garlic and butter-stuffed focaccia bread and orzo in pesto with jug red wine—Shebang.
Cans of Sofia sparkling and salted almonds served as an aperitif and only minor injuries were sustained during preparation, due as usual to poor packing. I forgot that essential piece of camping equipment, aluminum foil and had to grill my ciabbatta directly over a fire. Now I have a bandage on my right arm...
3. Our next issue of the magazine features burgers, evidently a topic we’ll never cover enough.
After eating 100 burgers across the state of Utah, you’d think I’d be sated, but no. We stopped at Jackson Lake Lodge for lunch and ordered the elk-buffalo burger on ciabbatta bread with steak fries, which I usually eschew but these were fantastic, and I believe this was the best burger I’ve ever eaten..
4. When we’re out in cool weather, I usually make biscuit dough and bake some off in the Princess oven for breakfast. But the heat in SLC made me feel faint at the idea of baking. So the night before we left I made a batch of blueberry muffins to take for our morning nosh. And let me say a word here about muffins: Muffins are not cupcakes....
5. You’ve heard my milkshake rant: they should be made with real ice cream... '  read the article and Mary's canned hammobile

7/26 advertising- "We've got a bridge, and we've got a gorge- it's time to jump into it!"  Subaru sponsors Bridge Day. 
Jump off a bridge at the 31st Annual Bridge Day Festival in West Virginia October 16, 2010
'This festival, the state's largest, is all about living. Our setting, the New River Gorge, is one of the world’s oldest places, and BASE jumping is one of the world's most cutting edge sports. Above the famous white water rafting on the New River, jumpers, rappelers, and thousands of onlookers gather for the state's biggest party of the year'. Bridge Day

7/25 Chinese Subarus  'Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. and Power Diversity Automobile Trade Co. are in talks with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.’s Subaru car unit about setting up a production venture in China, the Economic Observer said.
Beijing Auto and Power Diversity plan to each hold 25 percent stakes in the venture, while Fuji Heavy will own a 50 percent share, the Chinese newspaper reported today, citing unidentified people. The partnership, with an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles, will be based in Beijing, and its first model will be a Subaru sport-utility vehicle, the report said. The companies will later add local production of Subaru sedans, the report said. Kenta Matsumoto, a spokesman for Fuji Heavy in Tokyo, couldn’t immediately comment on the details of Chinese report. Fuji is also talking to two other Chinese automakers about forming a venture, according to the report.' the article

7/24  Recall - 2010 and 2011 manual transmission Outbacks and Legacys built April 28,1010 - June 23, 2010, App 809 cars are missing a lubrication passge in the transmission transfer case which could eventually lead to gear failure. The passage will be opened in the affected vehicles. If the gears are not properly lubricated, a groaning sound may begin to develop. Cars with 6,250 miles will need third through sixth gears as well as the main shaft.  Letters will be sent August 6th late July . Recall WVS-29

7/23 July 29- August 1st X Games in LA . Saturday 7/31 is the rally day.  Check out the Rally and new Super Rally. All on ESPN. Subarus will be driven by Pastrana, Mirra, Block and Travis Hansen. - schedule - drivers - online rally video schedule

7/22 WRX and STI prices and features released.  Factory orders accepted for delivery late summer.

7/21  2011 Legacy GT images added here

7/20 WRX and STI reviews are out. Over the last few weeks, car reviewers had an opportunity to vist Colorado to test the redesigned 2011 WRX and STI due later this summer.  The reviews are now out and here's a sampling. Remember, you can now order the cars.

> from MotorAuthority.com  '..there remains quite a difference between these two models, just in the way they respond to your right foot—even in how they sound. Start the STI up and take off gently and the engine sound is deep and pulsating, with more of a tuner note; the WRX sounds more like a 'normal' car..
.. There's a real difference in the way the WRX and STI ride and handle. While the STI's setup feels tight and well controlled in almost every case, and the WRX continued to surprise us with its poise, the WRX has a little more bounciness, a little more lift and squat during extreme maneuvers. Both models, by the way, benefit from an inch more of rear track, and the WRX has stiffer rear bushings and new, lighter 17x8 Hitachi wheels. While the WRX's suspension layout has been mostly carried through, there are some major changes in the STI's suspension. With some clever engineering, Subaru has managed to stiffen springs, bushings, and stabilizer bars, and lower ride height, without making the in-cabin experience any harsher..  We still weren't that fond of the interface or the sound quality from the audio systems in the WRX and STI models, though they now include Bluetooth connectivity....  Otherwise, it's easy to forget when out on the track that these are very practical, useful vehicles; with a good set of all-weather tires, they're great in the snow" the article
> from Popular Mechanics 'For years, the Subaru WRX  has been one of the world's least pretentious performance buys. In either sedan or hatchback trim, the car has presented itself as a conservative economy car...  But you can forget all that. For 2011, the WRX has ditched the black robe for a string bikini, flaunting some serious haunches in the process. Meanwhile, the car's big brother – the WRX STI – has been fitted with a completely reworked suspension and an all-new four-door body style... 
Subaru has managed to sharpen both the WRX and the WRX STI for 2011, but in different ways.'  rear the article
> WRX from caranddriver.com  'For 2011, the Subaru Impreza WRX gets new bodywork, wider wheels and tires, stiffer rear subframe bushings and . . . not much else. We’re not complaining. We had a chance to drive the new WRX on the back of the 2011 WRX STI launch, and we found its intrafamily struggle with the STI further muddied. The WRX continues to be available as either a sedan or a five-door hatchback... The flared fenders carve out room for wheels and tires widened one inch over their 2010 counterpart... Track increases by 1.3 inches in front and 1.5 in the rear. The STI’s quad exhaust outlets show up in back as well....The driving experience is much like that of last year’s WRX. The ride is compliant, and handling is good if not quite STI-sharp...' the article 
> STI from caranddriver.com  '...and now, for 2011, progress yields a sharpened Impreza WRX STI that addresses some long standing complaints about its handling. Taking the modifications responsible for the 2010 STI Special Edition a few steps further, Subaru’s STI engineers aimed to improve grip, steering accuracy, and aerodynamics, while reducing body roll and understeer...  A few back to back laps at the former Aspen International Raceway with 2010 and 2011 cars confirmed that the changes have made a noticeable if not dramatic difference....' the article
> STI from autoblog.com   '...that was then, and this is now. The company assures us that for 2011, we can expect a return to the fundamentals that helped establish the STI as a force to be reckoned with.... It isn't a completely new generation – more like a much needed do-over – but the changes are enough to make the 2011 model instantly recognizable from behind the wheel...
Complete with its rear wing, the sedan version of the 2011 STI looks downright menacing. The widebody treatment is easier to spot compared to the five-door version, thanks in part to the bulging rear quarters, and the overall effect is a squat, muscular stance. While the look is a little showy for the less potent WRX, it's right at home on the mighty STI...
..We have to congratulate Subaru for rearming the STI. In a world of ever eroding performance in favor of poseur looks and not much else, the company has done an intelligent job of refocusing the car toward what made it a success to begin with...' the article
> from jalopnik.com   '...three main things are changed for 2011: The WRX now sports STI-like fender flares and a wider track; the STI boasts sharper, retuned suspension; and we are once again gifted with a four-door STI sedan..
As you might expect, the WRX and STI feel a lot like they did last year. Yes, you can now buy a four-door version of either, which is nice, though the car drives exactly like the five-door upon which it is based. No, the WRX's wider track isn't really noticeable behind the wheel... And yes, the STI's suspension updates make a significant difference - cornering stability and overall grip are up, as is dumbass-driver error forgiveness at the limit...
..The STI is still the most approachable and user-friendly all-wheel-drive speed demon on the market, a go anywhere, do anything piece of all weather genius that wants to be your friend in a million different ways. The suspension updates merely sharpen the knife..' the article

7/16- making it harder to find dealers?  The subaru.com dealer search function has changed. Where before you used to be able to find all the dealers in a state, now dealers must be searched by city and state, or by zip code, and then only a few dealers are shown. 

7/15 - new optional Wi-Fi mobile internet for 2011 and 2010 Outbacks is now available.  Mobile router mounts in the rear cargo area providing internet access for multiple wi-fi devices such as laptops, phones, game devices, Wii, iphones etc. Great for families with kids who like to study or play while traveling and camping, and especially for business people who want internet access on the road.  Range is up to app 150ft depending on line-of-sight access and buildings. The car must be running or the key turned to 'accessory' to power the unit. The router can carry many connections at the same time. 
Internet access is 3G by AutoNet Mobile and see the coverage map. Requires a 1 year contract at $29 month with the first 3 months free (promo code 'Subaru'). Connection is 802.11a/b/g, with USB, ethernet ports. Security features include passwords. 
Optional services available from autonet include 'Find My Car' vehicle tracking and 'Geo Fence' vehicle location notification. 
Available factory installed for $529 list price, or from Subaru dealer parts dept for $499 part #H001SAJ200

7/14-  new optional side window moldings are available for 2011 and 2010 Outback and Legacy.  Have a dog, kid in the back seat, do you like fresh air, or smoke? These window moldings will help minimize rain dripping in when your windows are open a bit. Lets in the fresh air but not the rain on both front and back windows, plus they look good.  Dark gray with chrome trim. Available from your dealer, not from the factory. Photos on my Outback, Legacy page..

7/13 talk to Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra on July 26th, in advance of the the X Games, July 29 to Aug. 1 in LA. 
Subaru is having an hour-long interactive conference call featuring rally drivers Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra on Monday, July 26 at 6 p.m. EDT and inviting fans to participate!  On the call, fans can ask questions and hear Travis and Dave talk about their preparation and plans for X Games 16, their love of Rally and the the new 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and STI. 
Sign up in advance for a chance to connect with them. 

7/12 why does Subaru look like that -  Subaru designer Osamu Namba's job is to change it starting with a redesigned Impreza due in the coming year or two...
Osamu's favorite car designs: Renault 5 (who remembers the Le Car with the canvas roll-back sunroof?), and first generation Fiat Uno. Foods: Ham, salami, prosciutto, tomato pasta...
"When Subaru arrived in the United States in the 1960s, ads used the unflattering slogan "cheap and ugly."  The brand has come a long way. But to critics, the concept of "Subaru styling" is still an oxymoron. Even loyalists describe it as "quirky"; the less charitable choose "bland" and "boxy."
Subaru is one of the few brands that have been unscathed, even growing stronger, during the U.S. recession -- and now it wants to build on its success. The company finally is getting serious about design, its Achilles' heel, and is turning to an outsider as the new point man.
Osamu Namba joined Subaru in 2008, hired from an independent styling studio he had founded a decade earlier. His mission is to unify the Subaru look across models and win new fans.  "We want to broaden the appeal to make it accessible to more than a small, loyal crowd," Namba, 54, said last month in an interview at the Tokyo headquarters of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., Subaru's parent company. "We need to add a more contemporary element." 
Styling long played second fiddle to the Subaru brand's engineering must-haves: all-wheel drive, horizontal boxer engine and a functional interior.
Traditionally, the Subaru boxer engine's horizontally aligned pistons make for a low front profile. But they also lend the car a lower center of gravity, making it more agile. Tall roofs, meanwhile, offer plenty of cargo space for all the outdoor gear that Subaru fans tote around, while aiding visibility.  Performance came first - and if the car looked funny, so be it. Previous attempts to improve design sometimes fell spectacularly flat -- most notably the widely panned, aircraft-inspired "propeller" grille of the mid-2000s...
..But executives and dealers say sales could do better still with a more eye-catching lineup.
"They had the engineering down," says Ernie Boch Jr., owner of one of Subaru's two independent U.S. distributorships. "Design was the final frontier. It's absolutely crucial."
Namba's creations for Subaru have yet to hit the street. But his Hybrid Tourer Concept, designed for the 2009 Tokyo motor show, foreshadows the clean lines and bold look he is seeking. 
His first production design will be the Impreza, which was last overhauled in 2007. The company won't say when the next Impreza will arrive. Namba cut his teeth as a designer at Suzuki Motor Corp. straight out of college in 1979. Early works included the first-generation Wagon R, a minicar that today is among the best-selling vehicles in Japan. In 1994, Namba left to form his own design studio, HUB Design Engineering Ltd., where he consulted for Subaru and rival Japanese and Korean brands. HUB is not doing any business currently...
Subaru was already on its way to unifying its design language with what became the latest overhauls of the Legacy sedan and Outback wagon. Namba says he will build on that, with a couple of tweaks.
He wants to keep Subaru's utilitarian spirit and functional packaging but add a more modernistic flair.
Namba says he will approach the packaging of the upcoming Impreza with a keen eye for whether it should be bigger. Previous versions of the Forester crossover and Legacy were too small for the United States, a problem resolved only with their latest upgrades, he notes.
Also, look for the Impreza sedan to shed its soft, rounded silhouette in favor of something stronger. "We have to show the function through design with simple, clean lines," says Namba, who counts the compact, no-frills Renault 5 - remembered in the United States as American Motors' Le Car -  among his all-time favorite rides. "I want a very simple design that exhibits strength."
Subaru needs to be more responsive to market trends but not slavish to them, he says. Namba decries the styling of some European brands as too busy with flourishes that perform no function.
Design watchers say Subaru is making improvements but still has a long way to go. "Subaru has too long been heading in the wrong direction and become too focused on confused brand development," says Kuni Ito, an automotive design instructor at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.
But aiming for a futuristic, market-driven look again might be off the mark, he says. "Subaru users want a unique, almost cult, design, not a clean design like the Hybrid Tourer Concept," Ito says. The goal should be a timeless look that better embodies functionality, he said.
Subaru bets existing fans will stay true. "It won't alienate the core because they appreciate that it's an evolution, not a revolution," Boch says. "The hard-core fans will keep buying it even if it's ugly. It's an added plus if it looks good."
And that encapsulates Namba's challenge: Sticking to Subaru's roots while casting a wider net that keeps fueling the momentum of one of North America's hottest-selling brands. "I don't want it to be just something serious and boring," Namba says. "A lot of people don't know that Subaru brand. If we can make styling more accessible, it will bring them in."  the article from autonews.com

7/11   Subaru 'welcome packet' guide to owner benefits with corporate websites, info etc mailed to new car buyers. You should still always contact your dealer with any questions about operating the car, or for help, service, comments, advice etc.
Plus you can request a free 'Badge of Ownership' to put on the car to help spread the Love. If you currently have a Subaru, you can get one too. Check out photos here.

7/9 Road trips are great! Author Jane Smiley writes about road trips and hitchhiking in the 1970s, and now being a parent with kids who drive..
'When I came home for the summer after my first year of college, I told my mother that my best friend and I were driving to California. She laughed out loud – 2,000 miles in a what? Well, my best friend had an old Chevy. What could go wrong? ...
.. There are several methods for introducing your children to driving, and all of them are bad. Probably the worst is to put it off...'
read the article

7/7 STI with an automatic tranmission?  While in the US, the slow selling Impreza 2.5GT (an automatic WRX with 224hp) has been dropped from the 2011 line,  Subaru Australia is making an automatic STI. The 2011 Impreza WRX STI will be available for the first time anywhere with the option of a 5 speed automatic transmission... 

7/6 Comparison- 2010 Outback with Honda Crosstour and Toyota Venza
'While some see station wagons as the family haulers of yore, the future looks bright with new models like the Honda Accord Crosstour and Toyota Venza entering the fray. They square off against the venerable Subaru Outback....
Crosstour- is a curious beast, and one whose appeal seems limited. A lot of utility is sacrificed in the name of design. It's more "wagon lite" than fully functional hauler. 
Outback- By sticking to the basics — like a comfortable, roomy cabin, a forgiving ride and vast cargo room — the Outback gives shoppers plenty of reasons to check it out. 
Venza-The Venza's sculpted looks and spacious interior win points, but its suspension is too sporty for the shopper it's likely to attract.'  the article

7/5 Tip of the hat to the top Subaru salespeople through June 2010
(note this is unofficial, subject to correction, and there are lots and lots of hardworking people at dealers that don't generate the volume to be a top producer).
#1 is Desiree Farey at Irvine Subaru in Irvine, Ca; #2 Reid Ferris, Georgetown Subaru, Ct; #3 Jeff Miletta, Liberty Subaru, NJ; #4 Vince Rizzo, Metric Subaru, NY; #5 Margaret Walsh, Van Bortel Subaru, NY; #6 Craig Parsons Groove Subaru, Co; #7 Charles Gianakis, Subaru of Cherry Hill, NJ; #8 Guillermo Wong, Bird Road Subaru, Fl; #9 Theresa Ali, Van Bortel Subaru, Ca; #10 Jack Berkowitz, Manchester Subaru, NH; #11 Steve Applebe, Manchester Subaru, NH; #12 Andre Tocci, Rafferty Subaru, Pa; tied at #13 Mir Massod, Stevens Creek Subaru, Ca, and John Hughes, Sheehy Subaru, Va; #15 Lawrence Fung, Carlsen Subaru, Ca; #16 Dan Fisher, Van Bortel Subaru, NY; #17 Jordan Raport, Stohlman Subaru, Va ; #18 Karl Lindemuth, Van Bortel Subaru, Ca; #19 Bob Bruggeman, Kerven Subaru, Pa; #20 Jason Ryan, Brunswick Subaru Oh; tied at #21 Clayton Earle, Liberty Subaru, NJ, and Stuart Lesser, Bill Kolb Subaru, NY; #23 Abe Baraka,  Bruce Titus Eastside Subaru, Wa; #24 James Triplett, John Howard Subaru, WV;  #25 Larry Boro, Ganley Subaru Bedford, Oh.

7/4 July 4th Independence Day

7/3 2011 Forester details. Just some initial information released. Looks like no CVT transmission, or diesel engine (but no one really expected a diesel). 
The 2.5L engine is upgraded to a chain-driven double overhead cam DOHC (replacing belt driven SOHC) with slightly more power at lower RPMs, 175 torque at 4100rpm (10s are 170 at 4400), and 1mpg better fuel economy to 21/27 for manual and 4 spd automatic. 
New top of the line X and XT Touring models. 
All models except base X have Bluetooth, and driver's window auto up/down feature.
Model line-up 
> 2.5L X, Premium, Limited and new top of the line Touring.  Premium gets redesigned alloy wheels. X Touring model adds HID low beams, dual front zone climate control, silver roof rails, electroluminescent guages, outside mirrors with turn signals, upgraded stereo
> XT turbos are Premium and new top of the line Touring. XT Limited is dropped. Premium gets the 10way power seat, and both get a redesigned rear spoiler.
> new Stereos: 
X Premium and XT Premium get a new single cd/am/fm with 6 speakers, handsfree bluetooth, audio streaming, iPod control, USB and auxiliary jack. Sirius radio capable.
Optional on X Premium: very cool sounding Tom-Tom removable 4.3" touchscreen Navigation GPS unit with handsfree Bluetooth, audio streaming, iPod control, USB and aux input. Back-up camera is optional.
X Limited and Touring, XT Touring all get a new 4.3" audio screen with back-up camera (camera optional on Limited), single cd/am/fm with 6 speakers, handsfree Bluetooth, audio streaming, iPod control, USB and aux input. Sirius radio capable. (note- not sure if this is the same removable Tom-Tom navigation gps unit)

7/1 Sales- June totals 21,601, up 16% from 18,620 in June 09. Another stong month.
Volume Winner of the Month is Forester with  7,607 for the month, up 25% from 6,090 in 09. The Low Volume Winner of the Month is Tribeca with 175 sold in June, down 78% from 784 June 09.
June 2010: Legacy sold 3,006, up 1% over 2,984 in 09; Impreza 4,259 down 16% from 5,041 in 09; Outback sold 6,554, up a whopping 76% from 3,721 in 2009 when the last of the 09s were disappearing and the redesigned 10s were in short supply. Forester 7,607, up 25% from 6,090 in 09; Tribeca 175 down 78% from 784 2009
YTD- over all sales total through Jan-June is 125,960, up 35% over 2009. 
YTD by car line model: Outback up 117% to 41,147; Legacy up 50% 18,993; Forester up 19% 42,935; Impreza down 3% to 21,574; Tribeca down 62% to 1,311 for the year.

Canada- Subaru Canada Inc.SCI today reported a new record for June with 2,316 units, up 31.4% over last June. YTD is up 32.4%, the sixth consecutive month of growth.. 

6/25 recall - 2010 Outback and Legacy . This is similar to an Australian recall earlier in the week. According to NHTSA (safercar.gov), the grease used in the steering roll connector can cause the flat cables of the roll connectors to crack, which could damage the surrounding electrical circuits. Damaged circuitry would cause the airbag warning light to illuminate and the loss of steering wheel mounted controls, including the cruise control, radio controls, paddle shifters, and the horn. Subaru has received nine reports associated with this issue.

6/24 2011 Imprezas start arriving at dealers

> Did you know Subaru makes generators?  Parent company Fuji also has Robin America and makes small engines for lawnmowers, jets skies, generators etc. They make a Subaru brand generator including quiet inverter ones.  Subaru generators

This website is by Joe Spitz, selling Subarus in Seattle since 1996 and in the greater Northwest, Idaho, Montana, California, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii Shipping available.  This independent unauthorized website not approved or supported by any dealer or by Subaru. Comments, corrections, tips welcomed.