6/17 XM satellite radio upgrade on 2013 and 2014 models purchased on or after June 17, 2013
Any 2013 or 2014 model year cars with factory installed satellite radio purchased on or after 6/17/13 will get XM All Access free for 4 months (dealer installed satellite is free for 3 months). This is an upgrade over the XM Select package previously included for 4 months, and includes all the premium channels including NFL and Nascar radio, Howard Stern, and XM internet radio for home computers, tablets, and smartphones. Satellite radio is included with all 2013 Navigation systems, Outback, Legacy Limiteds, Tribecas, and all 2014 Navigation systems, Outback Premium and Limited, Legacy Limited, Forester Touring, and Tribeca. Register for the upgrade and XM home at www.siriusxm.com/getallaccess


6/16 Consumer Reports recently selected the Forester as their top choice.
But not all was perfect. CR edits articles just like every other magazine and here are the comments that didn't make it into July 2013 issue. Surprisingly for me, there are no comments on the 2.5 CVT's lack of transmission control. Makes me wonder how much time any one person spent in the car not to be concerned about this oversight in an otherwise great car.
Here are the comments...
"Not only is the Subaru Forester our recently crowned top-rated small SUV, it's also extremely popular among Consumer Reports' readers. Because of that interest, we thought we'd share some candid outtakes from the logbook for further impressions from our team.
A few of the reasons why this SUV knocked it out of the park: 26 mpg overall is tops in the category; the rear seat is very spacious; and great brakes. And, universally, it was agreed that the Forester has the best visibility and access of just about any vehicle ever. Throw in standard all-wheel-drive, and it's easy to see why the Forester is so popular here in New England. (Read our complete Subaru Forester road test.)
When we decide on which models to test, we do some research to get an idea which trim line, engine and transmission make up the majority of what people buy. In the Forester's case, it came down to a 2.5i Premium with the CVT and All-Weather Package (heated seats and mirrors). So, this is the model we bought. Ours also happened to come with splash guards, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and Homelink, and a rear cargo tray. Grand total: $26,814.
However, as good as this SUV is, there's still room for improvement. Here's an inside logbook glance at some of what's good and not-so-good in the Forester:
"Engine power is just adequate."
"Steering feels soggy at low speeds and too responsive at highway speeds."
"Handling is nimble."
"Crosswinds and truck wakes blow this box around a lot on the highway."
"When you really step on the throttle, the CVT flares to 4,000 rpm and you want to run and hide from the racket."
"The ride is a little choppy at times."
"I think previous Foresters rode better."
"Front seat is a bit stiff, especially the lumbar-lump - but pretty good overall."
"I'd get my Forester with automatic climate control and leather seats."
"Great visibility with small roof pillars and large windows."
"Love the big sunroof."
"Pairing a phone is a cumbersome and unintuitive process."
Clearly, the Forester is not perfect. Like all vehicles, it has its weaknesses, but in our testing, the strengths clearly dominate.
Near the end of every logbook entry, we all try to answer the question, "Would I buy one?" The majority here would be happy to see this SUV parked in their driveway. But the engine/CVT and wind and road noise were consistent complaints and possibly deal-breakers for others. Nonetheless, as an overall package, the Forester reigns as the new small SUV king." read the original article


6/15 Subaru has outgrown their HQ in Cherry Hill, NJ. Will they move, and where? The competition to get them is on...
"Executives for Subaru hope to decide by the end of the year whether to expand their American headquarters in Cherry Hill or relocate to one of four selected sites in South Jersey or Philadelphia. Company officials say they've outgrown the building they've occupied since 1986 and, thanks to record growth over the past five years, desperately need a work environment that meets modern standards in technology, comfort, design and efficiency.
But while Subaru flirts with the idea of moving across the bridge to The Navy Yard, political leaders from Cherry Hill and Camden County are feverishly trying to keep them – and their 500 employees -- from leaving the state.
"I think I've had a constant dialogue with executives since I've taken office, and we have a very good working relationship," says Cherry Hill Mayor Chuck Cahn. "We've advocated to the state to make sure they're doing everything possible to make sure Subaru stays in Cherry Hill."
But while Subaru spokesperson Michael McHale says he and his supervisors would ideally like to stay in the township, local New Jersey officials acknowledge that Philadelphia and Pennsylvania offer incentives that New Jersey doesn't. Most significantly, The Navy Yard is located in a Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone, which qualifies companies for significant tax abatements for a period of several years.
South Jersey leaders are lobbying Trenton to pass existing legislation to implement similar zones, but in the meantime they say state incentives are limited to those that reward job growth. Subaru of America says it doesn't foresee adding any more corporate jobs in the near future...." read the entire article


6/14 Outback 2.0L Diesel CVT arrives in Australia but will it arrive here with the 2015 model year redesign next year? The high torque CVT is already in our Forester 2.0XTs
"They say good things come to those who wait. Personally, I prefer instant gratification - that first glass of wine, that last piece of cake …
But Subaru is hopeful the long wait for the auto diesel variant of the popular Outback has made its arrival all the sweeter with the chunky wagon finally able to truly make inroads into a segment that accounts for 30% of all car sales in Australia, 90% of them with automatic transmissions.
This is the first time a Subaru CVT unit has been teamed with a high-torque turbo-diesel with the Japanese manufacturer forced to undertake a host of mechanical changes to enable the pairing to work.
The result proves an excellent marriage, one that will serve Subaru well in such a competitive market.... This Outback diesel offering is all about the CVT coupling and it is easy to say that Subaru has done a sterling job in delivering a product that offers excellent performance, enviable economy and a rather pleasant ride.
The transmission doesn't miss a beat with none of that agonising whining during deceleration - especially in downhill stages - that can be found in so many CVTs on our roads.
There is power when needed, application around sharp corners and nimble feet when manoeuvring in tight traffic. If there is some criticism it is the Outback's slowness to get going and its lazy turning circle but it impressed with minimal cabin noise - thanks to the reinforced soundproofing - and an assured outing off the bitumen...
2.0-litre turbocharged horizontally-opposed four cylinder diesel generating maximum power of 110kW @ 3600rpm and peak torque of 350Nm @ 1800-2400rpm. .." read the entire review


6/13 Subaru dealer across the border in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada moves to new building. Three Point Motors is now Subaru of Nanaimo

6/12 Comparison of 5 top crossovers- the Forester 2.5, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Toyota Rav4 by automotive.com
"Some people can spell better than others. Some people can do math better. And some can engineer and build a better car, no matter what your biases may tell you...."
The toilet paper test: Honda and Toyota tied for the most at 32 cases, or 960 rolls.
The comments after driving the cars 
"1: Mazda CX-5: Fun, frugal, and sophisticated; it drives like a much more expensive vehicle.
2: Subaru Forester: Holy fuel economy, Batman! It also drives really well to boot.
3: Honda CR-V: By the narrowest of margins, it beats out the Toyota. Chalk this one up to personal preferences.
4: Toyota RAV4: Better steering, but a sloppier ride than the Honda. Japan's Big Two once again trade barbs.
5: Ford Escape: Missed the mpg mark; dynamically outclassed by the Mazda and Subaru...."
And the winner of this comparison is...  "Not the Ford, obviously. It needs more than just a powerful engine to win in this class. Ford needs to go back to the basics.... Next up are two vehicles, tied for third, the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. It sounds like a cop-out, but the Big Two from Japan are evenly matched, with each having strengths over the other. "Handsome, well-crafted interior, but cheap, rubbery steering wheel," said Davis of the RAV4, which didn't come with Toyota's SofTex synthetic leather. In Toyota's defense, the RAV4 we were supplied was by far the cheapest of the group, lacking some of the style and features that would have come with the par-for-this-group RAV4 Limited. The rest of its interior was beautifully laid-out, with a swath of stitched vinyl adorning the dashboard. Like the RAV4, the Honda CR-V is functional, utterly competent, and you know, like a cockroach, it'll be around forever. The Honda has better ride quality than its Toyota counterpart, but it feels dated two years into its production run, with an antiquated navigation system and the same kinds of plastics we complained about in the 2012 Civic before the car was upgraded. Still, both it and the RAV4 it feel like they've endured 15 years of evolution and refinement; shoppers won't walk away unhappy with either. That brings us to No. 2: the Mazda CX-5. "Why is this thing not more popular?" Davis lamented. That's a good question. It's addicting to drive; a lightweight, chuckable, down-to-business crossover that's nearly anything you could ever want. If only it had a little more interior room. So we arrive at the Subaru Forester, which handily wins this comparison, stealing a page from Honda and Toyota's playbook. Those two thrive on benchmarking the middleground, neither exciting nor disappointing their drivers. The Subaru does the same thing, then adds in some extra credit and captures a solid A instead of the standard Japanese B+. Functional, refined, fun, and frugal at the gas pump, this beast is big enough to legitimately replace your midsize sedan and rides the smoothest of any of the crossovers here. It has the most advanced technology of the group without overwhelming your senses with gizmos and buttons, always sticking to a blatant sense of simplicity. Rather than sticking to the archetype crafted by Toyota and Honda over the last 15 years, Subaru has gone its own way and made a noticeably better crossover as a result. While most of the crossovers come out of our test honor students, the Forester was far and away our valedictorian..." read the entire article

6/11 Subaru could sell more cars if they could make them. Or if they refined the line-up and dropped some of the duplicate models
Demand for some Subaru vehicles in the U.S. could outstrip production as Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (7270.TO) expects to hit its midterm sales target more than two years early, the chief executive of the auto maker said Thursday.
Surging sales in the first three months of 2013 followed by a 25% leap in April have convinced Fuji Heavy that it has the momentum to beat not only its 365,000 vehicle target for the current calendar year but also its 380,000 target for the business year ending March 2016, CEO Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said in an interview.
The comment underscores the company's growing success in the U.S. where it now logs about half its global sales and follows a fifth straight year of improved sales in the market in 2012.
But the CEO said the car maker may not be able to take full advantage of soaring demand because of its relatively limited production capacity.  This year's initial Subaru sales target in the U.S. already represented an 8.6% increase on the previous year. But a 17.4% rise in sales to 125,470 vehicles in the first four months of the year from the same period last year strongly indicates that this year will be a banner year for Fuji Heavy. Sales in April were particularly strong thanks to the launch of the remodeled Forester small sport-utility vehicle in March.
The company "will have to set a new target as we are likely to hit" the current goal for the U.S. this year, Mr. Yoshinaga said, referring to the midterm goal.
Fuji Heavy projects a second straight year of record operating profit for the current business year to March 2014 on the back of solid U.S. sales and a weaker yen. The rosy outlook has helped make the company's shares the best performing stock among auto makers in the Tokyo market, even though it is the smallest Japanese car maker by volume.
The firm's efforts to focus more on the U.S. market in the past decade are helping build extra momentum on top of the solid resurgence in the overall market.  The Subaru-vehicle maker now develops vehicles to better meet American customers' tastes by making them wider and roomier. It is also enhancing sales networks in southern states where sales have been relatively weak.
Its latest growth strategy for the market was outlined earlier this month. It said it will increase annual production capacity by 100,000 vehicles to 300,000 at its plant in Indiana by 2016.
However, the latest measure won't help the company meet potential demand over the coming months, the top executive said.
Mr. Yoshinaga said sales of the redesigned Forester could reach 10,000 vehicles this month, above a monthly target of 8,000, but only if the company can build enough. It ships all the SUVs from Japan. "If this situation persists, we'll face a supply shortage," Mr. Yoshinaga said.
The car maker has been working on improving its supply of vehicles in recent years. Its U.S. inventories increased to a 40-day supply from 18 days at the end of 2011, but still well below the U.S. car industry average of around 60 days.
But it will be hard to raise its output capacity in Japan anytime soon as its domestic plants are operating at full capacity, he said. Inventories for the SUV in the U.S. stand at a 16-day supply, he added" read the original article

6/10 a silver 2004 outback with 2 kayaks on it its almost summer....



6/9 an 18yo with cancer get a WRX....
"Green, Ohio. Green resident Ben Ladich, who turned 18 over Memorial Day weekend, this year has been difficult. In January he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the blood. Since the diagnosis, he has been undergoing treatment for the disease, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The combination has been hard on the Green High School senior, who experienced hair loss, radiation burns, lethargy and a diminished appetite.
 Yet through it all, he persevered with the help of family and friends. “It has been hard on him, “ said Ben’s mother Bethany Ladich. “But he has been a fighter and has hung in there through it all."
Of course, despite the adversity, Ben is a typical teenager in most ways. He still wants all those things that any normal teen his age wants and at times, some of the things he wants can be a little out of the ordinary.
One of those things was a car. But not just any car. Ben wanted a 2013 Subaru WRX Impreza. This is a limited-production rally car. Unfortunately, none were to be had in Ohio, as Ben found out after some wistful searching. So he set his sights a little lower.
“He wasn’t above playing on our sympathies for a new car,” said Bethany with a smile. “Still, we also wanted to be realistic and do everything in our power to make his dream come true.”
Bethany and her husband Steve Ladich decided to see if they could make Ben’s dream car a reality. Steve stopped at the Subaru dealership in Green and talked with sales manager Shaun Swihart. After Steve explained the situation, Swihart decided to do everything in his power to make Ben’s dream come true.
“The WRX was hard to get,” Swihart said, “but I decided to everything we could to do to get it for Ben. I got in touch with our company president, Tom Flory and told him about it. He contacted Subaru, and told them about Ben and his situation. He pulled a lot of strings to get it to happen.”
And it took a lot to get it all done. There wasn’t a WRX available in all of Ohio. “It was definitely a difficult car to get,” Flory said.... “  read the complete article


6/8 2014 colors
Forester- Jasmine Green, Burnished Bronze, Marine Blue, Crystal Black, Dark Gray, Satin White, Venetian Red, Ice Silver with either gray or off black.
Impreza- new Quartz Blue Metallic replaces Marine Blue, Jasmine Green, and Deep Sea Pearl. Satin White, Dark Gray, Ice Silver, Venetian Red. Gone- Marine Blue, Deep Cherry
WRX, STI- WR Blue, Plasma Blue, Crystal Black, Ice Silver, Satin White Pearl. I was hoping Tangerine Orange would be available on the 14 WRX/STI but it doesn't look like it.
Outback, Legacy- new Carbide Gray replaces Graphite Gray and Tungsten Metallic replaces Caramel Bronze. Cypress Green, Crystal Black, Deep Indigo Pearl, Ice Silver, Twilight Blue and Venetian Red with either gray or ivory interior. Gone- Graphite Gray, Caramel Bronze, and Brilliant Brown is not coming back.
Tribeca- new Carbide Gray replaces Graphite Gray. Crystal Black, Satin White, Ice Silver, Deep Indigo Pearl, Venetian Red
Crosstrek- new Plasma Green (hybrid only), and Quartz Blue Metallic replaces Marine Blue. Crystal Black, Dark Gray, Satin White, Ice Silver, Venetian Red, Tangerine Orange, Desert Khaki. Gone- Marine Blue.
BRZ- WR Blue, Crystal Black, Dark Gray, Lightning Red, Satin White, Galaxy Blue, Sterling Silver

6/7 advertising- a funny Subaru television ad
Road trips are great until you get naked in the hot tub.... Subaru, the Happiest Automaker, continues apace with its blitzkrieg of cheerfulness in this spot about a very game couple who, in the spirit of Subaru owners everywhere, are up for pretty much anything.
Because I am a broken person, filled with misery and fear, it pleases me to report that the spot—from Carmichael Lynch and director Lance Acord—ends on a down note, with the couple's anything-for-fun spirit getting them into a frightening hot-springs encounter with a really creepy hippie dude and his girlfriend that ends in …
Well, it ends in a cutaway, and the excellent actors agreeing with each other that "we shouldn't have done that."
The folks in this spot are cast to a T. The writing is also good—see how the guy is actually the more conservative (or maybe just skittish) one, even though he's the one who recommends most of the adventures. (Favorite bit: Him: "You know you're eating a bug." Her: "Right, because of the legs." Him, dropping to a crouch: "Uh-oh.")
A second new spot, "Nature Painting," also directed by Acord, shows a not-particularly-gifted painter passionately driving his car through the rain to get exactly the right light. The "Let's Do It" ad is better, though—very cute, right down to the banjo music and the not-too-expensive outerwear. The little regret over … whatever happened in the hot tub is surely a small price to pay. Ha. Also the dialogue. "Nice little massage?" "Yeah, I'm not sure I need one!" And scene."  read the article and see the videos

6/6 everyone loves a Subaru but love hurts
I assume the owner will save the article so when he goes to trade the Subaru in
"Sometime Sunday night, likely when he was watching “The Voice” at a loud volume in his home, a brown bear tore the right driver’s mirror from his Subaru, smashed its right tail light and rear window, ripped off the back windshield wiper, left muddy claw marks on the remaining widows, and shoved the entire vehicle about 8 inches in the gravel driveway.
“It would have been a lot more exciting if I had woke up and caught him in the act,” Sterling resident Norm Israelson said. He could have been sleeping when it happened, too, he said. He is not sure.
Jeff Selinger, Kenai area wildlife biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, visited the Israelson at his home to collect samples. He said May is the time of year when bears are beginning to leave their dens and Kenai Peninsula residents should begin bear-proofing their homes and traveling in the wilderness safely...." read the entire article


6/5 Volvo V60 all wheel drive station wagon expected in 2014
The 60 series Volvo is critical to the company's global prospects. Fortunately, 2012 saw Volvo break even for the first time in a long while, ending a river of red ink the company had been generating since Ford's divestment in the middle of the previous decade. The sole survivor of the Scandinavian automobile industry is back to trying to turn a profit. Part of the plan is releasing the V60 "sports wagon" in America early next year.
Normally, the announcement of the pending import of a station wagon as a profit making spearhead in America would be met with ridicule.
Simply put, station wagons are a very niche type in America, save for the cult followings of two companies—Subaru and Volvo. Both have extensive experience making and marketing wagons to their appreciative buying audience.
Already a big seller for Volvo in Europe, the V60 wagon stands to sell well here to the country's dedicated Volvo buyers, for whom a wagon carries no stigma.
For those fans who dislike the "Outback-ish" suspension height of the XC60, the V60 will offer a very modern European look and road feel to their prospective wagon. The V60 will offer all of the drive train goodness of the company's popular S60 sedan. It is expected that like the S60, the wagon will offer a base 2.5L turbocharged 5 cylinder FWD model making 250 BHP, equivalent to the S60's "T5" offering. In all likelihood, there will also be two optional "T6" AWD models using 3.0L turbocharged 6 cylinder engines making either 300 or 325 BHP...." read the entire article


6/4 2014 Outback and Legacy finance and lease rates are available.
The 14s are coming which means this is the month to get a 2013 - dealers are motivated, there are low rates and lease specials, and there's still a good selection but not for long because they will sell quickly.

6/3 May sales total of 39,892 is the best month ever in the company's history, besting the previous record of 35,513 set last December 2012.

The Subaru juggernaut continues with year to date sales of 165362, up 21.1% over 136602 YTD 2012. At this pace, Subaru will beat the stated sales goal of 380,000 for the year
The Crosstrek outsells all the other 2.0 Imprezas combined for the first time, a trend likely to continue as more people discover the new crossover, especially when the hybrid version is released later this year. Forester sales are very strong and will grow as availability increases. IIHS's crash test and the Consumer reports review both put the model at the top of the SUV pyramid, and word is spreading that some people actually better economy than expected with the 2.5 models.

Outback 12270 up 33.5% over 9192 last May. YTD is 49,101, up 4,301 or 10% over 44800 YD 2012

Forester 10068, up 35.7% over 7323 last May. YTD 40,578, up 10,715, 36% over 29,863 YTD 2012

Legacy  4430, down .7% from 4462. YTD 19,045, down 1333 or 7% from 20375 YTD 2013
WRX 1829, up 19.9% over 1525 last May. YTD 7,856, up 2150 or 38% over 5706 YTD 2013

BRZ  679. YTD 3,279
Tribeca 102, down 38% from 165 last May. YTD 722, down 185 or 20% from 907 YTD 2012

6/2 June 1-July 1 Subaru Certified Pre-Owned 'Love Strikes Twice' event
Love your Subaru when it's new and when its time for another new one, let someone else love it anew. Thus Love Strikes Twice. Certified pre-owned are inspected and have a 7 year or 100,000 mile powertrain warranty (starts when the car is first sold). And special finance rates are available during the Love Me 2x event June 1-July 1 2013. Many 1-2 year old Subarus are available with low miles. These are mostly short term owner 'program cars', ie rental fleet returns and a good way to get a car if you don't need the latest model.


6/1 Forester review in July Consumer Reports
The Forester rated 88 points out of 100!  Worth noting is the new the new Tesla S electric sports car, also reviewed, got an astounding 99 out of 100 points.
Its a well balanced article on the Forester 2.5 Premium. Overall, they like the car through its not perfect, and they appreciate that it has continued its functional, boxy roots, keeping the utility in the Sport Utility. And its good they had a 2.5L, that's the engine more buyers will prefer over the sportier, and more expensive, and less fuel efficient 2.0XT turbos. But then CR buys its own testing products unlike most other magazines and car reviewers that depend on the manufacturer to supply it for free.
Here is a brief survey of a few of the good and bad comments. This is an article to read completely if the Forester is on the short list.
One the positive side, comments include "the Forester has undergone its own redesign for 2014, and its lofty road-test score of 88 has left it alone at the summit with its competition far below. What's it's secret? Sticking to the basics... resisted the contemporary trend of making SUVs look like sports coupes with descending rooflines and curvaceous bodies, instead focusing on the fundamentals with a space-efficient design, large windows and big square doors...  one of the roomiest rear seats... quicker acceleration as well as class-leading 26 mpg overall.... if you're looking for a small SUV that's very functional and fuel efficient, the Forester is hard to beat... it would be hard to improve on the Forester's driving position... big windows and thin roof pillars contribute to outstanding visibility... controls are basic but simple to operate... "

Not so positive comments include "the ride which used to be calm and cushy is now rather firm and jittery.... not as agile as, say, the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5 or Toyota Rav4... the interior was modestly upgraded but remains quite austere, with a few cheap-looking touches... electronics and infotainment connectivity are a little behind the curve, especially in the areas of wireless phone pairing and audio streaming... even on smooth roads, passengers experienced a small, incessant jitter that some of us found annoying. If you put a premium on ride comfort, consider a Honda CR-V instead... as is typical for this class, cabin noise is fairly pronounced...."
The article comments on the CVT without noting the CVT's disappointing, in my opinion at least, Low Mode.
Again, its a good article to read completely if you're considering a Forester- buy the magazine at your local bookstore.
Also reviewed, the Tesla S, Lincoln MKZ, Toyota Avalon, car batteries, and aftermarket car keyfobs and remotes. The Tesla S is not only stunning and stylish in person, but according to the article, is a pretty fantastic vehicle.
Other full reviews and ratings summaries in this July issue include kitchens (counter-tops, floors, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers etc), air conditioners, airlines, garden weed wackers,  TVs, Galaxy cell phone etc.
The magazine is worth buying and available at your local bookstore or online by subscription at consumerreports.org.

5/31 Subarapture! Is Subaru so hot you might not be able to get one?
With crash tests results like IIHS's recent Forester test and articles like this from Jalopnik and the Wall St Journal fanning the flames, its no surprise.
"Americans want Subarus. They want them hard. They want to be inside Subarus. Sales were up 25% year-over-year in April and the company now thinks they'll hit their 2016 goal of 380,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. this fiscal year.
As The Wall Street Journal points out, this could mean problems for the company as they may not be able to produce enough vehicles to meet demand.
Specifically, the Japanese-built 2014 Subaru Forester is already down to a 16-day supply and that's before the busy summer months.
If you want one I'd get in line now." read the original article

5/30 Subaru grows, adds a new port-
A few years ago 2 ports of entry was enough, then they added Richmond Ca. as their 3rd. Now the 4th port of entry is coming soon.
"Subaru has chosen Georgia as its gateway into the Southeastern U.S., and will soon start importing five of its models through the Port of Brunswick.
“It is significant that Brunswick is Subaru’s first port of entry in the Southeastern U.S.,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “The efficiency of service from the GPA and our partners in auto processing, as well as Brunswick’s speed to important markets, makes Georgia the smart choice for roll-on/roll-off cargo.” 
Subaru National Transportation Manager Larry Strug said the deepwater port at Brunswick will serve two zones in Subaru’s national distribution network. The zones cover an area from North Carolina to Florida. Other import terminals include Vancouver, Wash., Richmond, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. 
The Japanese-based carmaker announced at a national dealer meeting that it will move 15,000 vehicles through Georgia annually. Models include the Forester, Crosstrek, Impreza, WRX STI and BRZ. Shipments are set to begin in mid-July, carried by shipping line NYK. 
An assembly plant in Lafayette, Ind., produces the Legacy, Outback and Tribeca models sold in the U.S. 
Strug said the company looked at other ports, but settled on Brunswick.
“We liked what we saw. We liked what we heard from other manufacturers,” he said. “We’re very much about quality. We’re very much about ensuring that our customers have a little different vehicle." the original article

5/29 Click and Clack on dealer vs. independent shop doing service work
"Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2005 Subaru WRX STI with 106,000 miles, and it is time to replace the timing belt. The Subaru dealer will do the job for $1,800, but I found an independent garage that will do the job for $650. The difference is that the dealer would use genuine Subaru parts. The independent mechanic says his parts come from Japan and are just as good as the genuine parts. Should I spend the extra money for the genuine parts, or can I save my money? I would like the car to last another five years, but my finances aren’t that great right now. Please help! Thank you. —Bill
TOM: We normally would use genuine parts in a situation like this, because on this job, the difference in our cost for the parts probably is $100. But I wouldn’t be afraid to use good aftermarket parts on a car with more than 100,000 miles on it. They’d probably be fine. In fact, sometimes they’re the exact same parts.
RAY: But since the difference in the parts price is small, there has to be something else to explain why the dealer’s price is triple the independent mechanic’s.
TOM: Like, he’s got a bigger boat he’s trying to pay off.
RAY: Could be. But it also could be that these two shops have different definitions of the term “timing belt change.”
TOM: For instance, when we replace a timing belt, we always replace the water pump, too. Why? Because the water pump is run by the timing belt. And if the water pump were to seize up a week after you got the timing belt replaced, you’d need, what? Another new timing belt. And wouldn’t that tick you off?
RAY: When the timing belt is already off, most of the labor to change the water pump is already done. So you’re not adding much more than the cost of the part: the water pump itself. And with 100,000 miles on a car, you’d be crazy not to put in a new water pump while you have access to it.
TOM: On a car like this, that has double overhead cams, we’d also take off all the sprockets and replace all four cam seals while the belt is off. Why? First of all, they’re as old as the belt, and you have easy access to them while the timing belt is off. And second, if one of them leaks two months from now, the customer’s going to try to blame us. So we avoid that potential conflict by making it part of the job.
RAY: If we were doing a job like this, on your car the price probably would be somewhere around $1,200. So the Subaru dealer may be charging too much, but the other guy may be charging too little — because he’s not doing enough.
TOM: So, get a better accounting from each of these shops as to exactly what it proposes to do. I’m guessing the dealer plans to do all the stuff we usually do. But check. And you need to find out what, exactly, the other guy plans to do for $650. You also can ask him to give you a price with a new water pump, four new cam seals, a crank seal and genuine parts (if you’re curious).
RAY: Then you can make a fair comparison of the prices and decide whether the real difference in cost is large enough to stay away from the dealer. It very well may be, but you can’t know that unless you’re comparing apples to apples. Or cam seals to cam seals." read the original article

5/28 The Crosstrek being lifted from the Skagit River
Three cars, including this Crosstrek went into the river when the bridge collapsed, and everyone was safe. You can see the front of the Crosstrek crumpled as it was supposed to.
more photos



5/26 2015 STI spy video.
"Overall, the styling of the car is not as exciting as the concept showcased in New York last month since it appears the production version will adopt a regular sedan body with narrower fenders, taller roof and smaller lower intakes." watch the video on youtube


5/25 about Consumer Reports review of the Forester coming in the July print issue and now available for online subscribers
Another review that doesn't address the 2.5 CVT's low mode with its lack of driver control for safety and performance. from USA Today "The magazine says the "2014 Subaru Forester earned the top spot against a very competitive small SUV class – easily outpointing other recent redesigns including the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5."
It's the second award for Forester lately. The car also was the only small SUV to pass a particularly challenging front-offset crash test performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Consumer Reports says that the new Forester's not stylish, but that's good: "Subaru continues to put function in front of form....Forester resists the contemporary trend toward making SUVs look more like sports coupes, instead focusing on the fundamentals with a space-efficient design, large windows, and big square doors. The result is the easiest access and the best view out of almost any vehicle. It also has one of the roomiest rear seats in the class, with copious amounts of head and leg room."
Jake Fisher, head of the magazine's auto test center, says, "The Forester is hard to beat."
In its tests, Consumer Reports registered 26 mpg overall and 35 mpg on the highway, and noted: "While the CVT is an annoyance in many other vehicles, it's largely unobtrusive in the Forester. Ratio changes are quick and responsive and engine noise is only noticeable during hard acceleration." CVT is a reference to continuously variable-ratio automatic transmission, a design used more and more because it generally delivers better mpg.
The redesign "is not without trade-offs. The ride used to be calm and cushy, but now is rather firm and jittery. Handling is responsive and very secure, but CR's engineers found that the Forester isn't as agile as the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, or Toyota RAV4. And Subaru's in-car infotainment technology is behind the curve," the publication reports.
The model bought and tested by the publication was a Forester 2.5i Premium, $26,814. That is "a good value that included heated front seats, a big sunroof, a backup camera, and a power driver's seat," Consumer Reports says.
Even though it is a new design, and those usually have more problems than normal, CR says it forecasts "above-average reliability" and so gives the 2014 Forester a "recommended' rating" read the original article

5/24 the driver of the orange Crosstrek that went off the Skagit River Bridge
"Bryce Kenning saw a puff of smoke and suddenly the north section of the I-5 bridge over the Skagit River vanished in front of him. "I was going 60 mph. It was like an explosion, but I didn't hear anything. I slammed on my brakes, but it didn't matter," Kenning said. "My car launched into the air and I landed nose down on top of the bridge deck in the river. The airbags went off."
Kenning was one of three people in two vehicles that crashed into the river with the dramatic collapse of the Skagit River Bridge on Thursday night. No one was killed. Kenning, 20, was headed north on I-5 at about 7 p.m. for his usual Thursday hockey game with friends in Bellingham. The Mount Vernon High School graduate and University of British Columbia sophomore played this past season with the Bellingham Blazers junior hockey club.
Kenning's bright orange Subaru Crosstrek slammed against a fallen bridge truss, keeping the car from completely submerging in the frigid river.
"I tried to open my door, but all I did was let water in up to my waist. I panicked and that's when I thought I was a goner," Kenning said. "In a last-ditch effort, I kicked open the passenger door, which wasn't all the way in the water, and I was able to climb on top of the car.
"I didn't think to turn the engine off and my windshield wipers were going. I thought about swimming to the bank because I didn't know if the car would sink, but the river was so cold and moving so fast. I was freezing, but I stayed put."
A foot one direction or the other, Kenning said, and his car might have been squashed from above by the collapsed trusses. "It was an act of God that no one else was driving north at that moment," he said. "The whole thing is a miracle." When he got on top of his car, Kenning looked over to see Dan Sligh of Oak Harbor and his wife, who had been traveling southbound. They were still alive in their pickup truck. Their camper trailer was smashed to bits and the pieces were floating down the river.
"The guy was bleeding, but he asked me if I was OK and he kept talking about his wife being in shock," Kenning said. "At that point, some first responders had arrived and called down from the top of the bridge. I waited about 45 minutes for the sheriff's deputies to get me to shore."
Bystanders cheered as Kenning was pulled out of the river and put in an ambulance. He was taken to United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.
Meanwhile, Kenning's friends recognized his distinctive orange car. A friend's mother called Kenning's mom, Sheila Kenning, at home near Conway.
A nurse, Sheila Kenning drove as fast as she could through the extra traffic, mistakenly heading to Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. An ambulance driver at that hospital's emergency room said her son had been taken to United General. "On the way, I talked to God like I never had before," she said
In spite of the goose egg-sized bump on his head, Bryce Kenning did not have a concussion or any internal injuries. "I had whiplash from falling 50 feet, but I was OK," he said. "My cellphone was in the drink, so at that point, I just didn't want my family and friends to panic." It was a good hour before Sheila Kenning arrived in Sedro-Woolley.
"I told Bryce that he scared me to death, but it was such a delightful joy to see him again," Sheila Kenning said.
The young man's father, Barrie Kenning, and his sister, Claire Kenning, 15, were working out at the Everett YMCA. Claire got a text message from a friend.
"They thought Bryce's car was in the river. I tried to keep cool, and my dad told me it would be one in a million chance that it was Bryce," Claire said. "I was praying the whole time we drove north from Everett to the hospital."
After Bryce Kenning was released from the hospital close to midnight Thursday, the family went home. They stayed up most of the night talking and even watched an episode of "The Office" to take the edge off.
"I thought about how I was in the luckiest place in the middle of a bad scenario," Bryce Kenning said. "I'm so glad no one died." the original article


5/23  Crosstrek is one of  the three cars that went into the Skagit River when the I-5 bridge collapsed. Everyone is ok.
The bridge crossing the Skagit River in Burlington, Wa, (just north of Mt Vernon), collapsed sending 3 vehicles into the river. I-5 is the main North-South interstate and a very busy highway. The Skagit River Bridge carries around 70,000-75,000 cars daily.  It fell after one of the girders was struck by an semi.  There are a few other bridges nearby but they're street bridges not intended to carry the volume the Skagit Bridge did. 3 cars went into the water, thankfully everyone is ok.
One of the cars was a tangerine orange Crosstrek. There's some body damage in addition to being dumped in the river. The driver was rescued from the top of the car. The local dealer in the area is Skagit Subaru.

That's an orange Crosstrek in the Skagit River. The roof and right side roof rail is damaged and the side airbag is deployed against the driver's window.

5/21 he's lucky
A Dixfield teenager who was riding on a car roof Thursday afternoon on Thad White Road was pinned under the car when it rolled into a drainage ditch, police said.
Firefighters from Mexico, Rumford and Dixfield lifted the rear of the car and held it up, allowing Med-Care Ambulance crewmen to retrieve the injured boy, Rumford fire Deputy Chief Richard Coulombe said.
The teen, whose injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, was taken by Med-Care to Rumford Hospital, Mexico police Lt. Roy Hodsdon said at the scene.
Citing pending charges, Hodsdon declined to identify the injured teen, the Canton driver of the 1997 Subaru Legacy station wagon or two teen passengers from Peru and Dixfield.
The accident happened at about 4:30 p.m. on a dirt road that parallels the Webb River. Hodsdon said a 15-year-old boy from Canton, who was learning to drive, backed the car toward a curve, got into the soft shoulder on the outside of the curve and flipped the car over. It fell about 8 feet, landing upside down, pinning a leg of the teen who was riding on the roof, Hodsdon said.
Coulombe said they had enough manpower between the three fire departments to lift the rear of the car high enough to free the pinned teen. Hodsdon said the boy, who had scrapes and bruises, escaped serious injury. “Soft mud kind of cushioned the fall into the water in the brook,” the lieutenant said. “I talked to the ambulance crew and they said he was conscious and breathing. It could have been worse.” read the entire article


5/20 more on the IIHS' Forester crash test results
"Only two of 13 small SUVs performed well in front-end crash tests done by an insurance industry group, with several popular models faring poorly in the evaluations.
Subaru's 2014 Forester was the only vehicle to get the top "good" rating in the results released Thursday. The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was rated as "acceptable." But fast-selling models such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Jeep Wrangler received only "marginal" or "poor" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Small and midsize SUVs, which get decent gas mileage and have the cargo and passenger space of larger SUVs, are among the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. auto market. Sales grew 50 percent from 2005 to last year, when U.S. consumers bought more than 2.5 million of them, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank.
The IIHS ratings are influential because many auto shoppers find them while researching vehicles on the Internet. The group says its crash tests and ratings are designed to get automakers to improve the crashworthiness of their vehicles.
The ratings are for the institute's "small overlap" crash test that covers only 25 percent of a vehicle's front end. The test was added to the IIHS evaluations last year, with the institute aiming to push automakers into bolstering the crash resistance of their vehicles.
The group's tests are more stringent than the U.S. government's full-width front crash test. The institute says that in many vehicles, a crash affecting one-quarter of the front end misses the main structures designed to absorb the impact of a crash. Yet such crashes account for nearly a quarter of the collisions that cause serious or fatal injuries to people in the front seats, IIHS said.
The new Ford Escape, the top-selling small SUV so far this year, got a "poor" overall rating, while Honda's CR-V, the No. 2 seller, got a "marginal" rating. Toyota's RAV-4, another big seller, hasn't done the testing yet because Toyota asked for a delay to improve the vehicle's structure, the IIHS said.
Other SUVs getting "poor" ratings were the Jeep Patriot, Buick Encore, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tuscson, the institute said. The BMW X1, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan and Jeep Wrangler two-door all got "marginal" ratings.....
...The Forester and Outlander Sport each received the IIHS' coveted "Top Safety Pick Plus" award because they performed well in multiple tests including the small offset crash. Many of the other SUVs, including the Escape and CR-V, won "Top Safety Pick" designations, but didn't get the "plus" due to their performance in the small offset tests. Only 20 vehicles across all car segments have received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick Plus" award.
"With the redesigned Forester, Subaru's engineers set out to do well in our new test, and they succeeded," Joe Nolan, the institute's vice president of vehicle research, said in a statement. "This is exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to improve protection." All SUVs tested, except the Forester, were 2012 or 2013 models. The institute said tests of 2012 models were valid because no significant design changes were made between model years...." read the entire article 5/19 John and Phil's Subaru in Corvallis, Oregon sold, reopened as Subaru Corvallis, at the same address

5/18 This is a good time to get a new Outback. The current supply of Crosstreks is good but the other Impreza 5 doors can be harder to find. 2014 Foresters are selling as they arrive, especially with the recent great IIHS crash test results.
The 14 Outbacks are expected in July (late June?) so its time for 13s to go- dealers currently have a good selection available (popular models always go first) and 0% financing for 48 months, oac.
The supply of Impreza 5 doors is tight as the sales of  the (Impreza) Crosstrek grow. For example, last month (April), 4692 Imprezas were purchased - that's all 4 and 5 door Impreza models including the Sport- versus 4433 Crosstreks. So Crosstreks are clearly gaining and thats where Subaru sees growth.
On the 2014 Imprezas due late summer, I would like to see roof rails added to the 2.0i Premium and Limited 5 door models, the Sport model dropped, and the  Crosstrek acknowledged as an Impreza (which it is). This would simplify the currently confusing model line-up and increase the popularity of all the 5 doors.
The 2014 Foresters are currently in short supply. Subaru will be shipping more to dealers but they're selling quickly. The recent IIHS crash test results created a wave of interest from people new to the model.


5/17 2014 Legacy research page is up

5/15 safety- the 2014 Forester gets top crash test rating from the IIHS in all five tests- Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear and the new Front small overlap.
The IIHS rates vehicles as Good, Acceptable,  Marginal, and Poor.
Of the vehicles tested in all 5 crashes, Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear and the new Front small overlap, only the 2014 Subaru Forester was rated Good in all tests.
The 2nd best rated was the Mitsubishi Outlander with Good on all except the Front small overlap with a rating of Acceptable.
BMW X1, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX5, VW Tiguan, Buick Encore, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage all were also rated Good on all except the Front small overlap but they all received a lower safety rating of Marginal. The Nissan Rogue received a good rating in 3 or 5 test, Acceptable in the rollover test, and Marginal in the Front small overlap test.
Be sure to check out the IIHS press release with video of the crash test.

> The IIHS report, "The 2014 Subaru Forester is the first vehicle to ace every aspect of the challenging small overlap front crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester, the only one of 13 small SUVs to earn an overall rating of good in the test, and the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which earns acceptable, are the latest vehicles to qualify for the Institute's recently inaugurated top honor, Top Safety Pick+. Each of the other 11 SUVs earns either a poor or marginal rating.
"With the redesigned Forester, Subaru's engineers set out to do well in our new test, and they succeeded," says Joe Nolan, the Institute's vice president for vehicle research. "This is exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to improve protection for people in these kinds of serious frontal crashes."
This is not the first time that the Forester has stood out in a new IIHS crash test. When the Institute first rated small SUVs for side protection in 2003, the Subaru model performed the best and was one of only two to earn good ratings.
IIHS added the small overlap test to its lineup of vehicle safety evaluations last year. It replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object like a tree or a utility pole. In the test, 25 percent of a vehicle's front end on the driver side strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph. A 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy is belted in the driver seat.
Most vehicles today are designed to do well in the government's full-width front crash test and in the Institute's moderate overlap front test, but that is no guarantee of good performance in a small overlap crash. In a 2009 IIHS study of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection, small overlap crashes accounted for nearly a quarter of the frontal crashes involving serious or fatal injury to front seat occupants. In many vehicles the impact at a 25 percent overlap misses the primary structures designed to manage crash energy. That increases the risk of severe damage to or collapse of the occupant compartment structure. Also, vehicles tend to rotate and slide sideways during this type of collision, and that can move the driver's head outboard, away from the protection of the frontal airbag.
Those difficulties were apparent in the small SUV group. Two-thirds of the vehicles had poor ratings for structure, and about half of them were poor or marginal for restraints and kinematics, meaning the dummy's movements weren't well-controlled to prevent contact with hard surfaces.
In one example of poor structure, the front pillar of the Nissan Rogue's door frame was pushed far inside the occupant compartment and after the crash was almost touching the driver seat. The Jeep Patriot was among the worst for restraints and kinematics. The dummy's head slid off the frontal airbag as the steering wheel moved 8 inches up and nearly 6 inches to the right. The side curtain airbag didn't deploy, and the safety belt allowed the dummy's head and torso to move too far forward.
In contrast, the Forester had good ratings for structure, restraints and kinematics, and all four injury measures on the dummy. The airbags worked as intended, and the space around the dummy was well-maintained. The Outlander Sport was acceptable for structure and restraints and kinematics and also had good injury measures."
the IIHS press release with video, the list of small SUV safety ratings. The IIHS rating page for the 2014 Forester
> The 2013 Outback was rated Good in the Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear, and Acceptable in the Front small overlap test. the 2013 Outback test page

5/14 recall- 5,379 2013 Outbacks and Legacys might have a steering column shaft that was not correctly assembled that could possibly lead to a steering failure.

Not all vehicles in the VIN range will be affected. The VIN range for Legacy is D*002001-003605,  the the Outback is D*200001-204233.
Owners will be notified 5/14/13 by mail and email which is why its important to make sure Subaru always has your current contact information. This is steering column recall  #WQI-45