What about a Subaru?

[TylerSVT]

Is there even a point in getting an STI anymore if you are leaving it stock?

Doesn't the WRX make near 270hp?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by username

So no one has a single bad thing to say about a Subaru other than the replacement parts are expensive?

The dealerships are are absolutely bushleague. I'm convinced that if 1 or 2 more dealerships opened up here they'd this City would be blanketed in Subarus. The Value the cars represent having AWD is perfectly suited for this climate. Subaru Canada is either stupid or oblivious to this.

While there are many things that can be said about the two dealers in town (moreso Centaur....) the most obvious one is the location. Subaru of Calgary is in the NE which is pretty inconvenient for others in other quadrants. That leaves you Centaur which is like going back to 1981.

Another franchise needs to be given to Calgary, stat!

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Here is a link to the best Subaru shopping site ever, specs, pictures, options. If you are considering an Outback (or Tribeca), you may want to consider ordering from the States.

http://cars101.com/

[Dynamic]

I was looking at a Subaru and the only thing that stopped me was the fuel economy. It was gonna be the my wifes commuter/weekend vehicle so fuel economy was a big deal for me. I don't know why they don't put a desiel in a subaru, that would probably be my dream vehicle.

[amorak]

Buy it in the US - so much cheaper.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by username

Oh I know. I'm just saying I want a WRX but I know it's not going to suit my situation. It would just be fun/nice to have one right?

I'm going to test drive both the Outback and Legacy Wagon and see how each feels.

Thanks again for your input.

Go test drive a WRX too while you're at it... just for s***s and giggles.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

The dealerships are are absolutely bushleague. I'm convinced that if 1 or 2 more dealerships opened up here they'd this City would be blanketed in Subarus. The Value the cars represent having AWD is perfectly suited for this climate. Subaru Canada is either stupid or oblivious to this.

While there are many things that can be said about the two dealers in town (moreso Centaur....) the most obvious one is the location. Subaru of Calgary is in the NE which is pretty inconvenient for others in other quadrants. That leaves you Centaur which is like going back to 1981.

Another franchise needs to be given to Calgary, stat!

-----

Here is a link to the best Subaru shopping site ever, specs, pictures, options. If you are considering an Outback (or Tribeca), you may want to consider ordering from the States.

http://cars101.com/

This...one dealership in the NW or SW would be a dream...

[ZedMan]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

Is there even a point in getting an STI anymore if you are leaving it stock?

Doesn't the WRX make near 270hp?

- Better front/rear diffs (limited slip vs. open)
- Better suspension
- 6-speed plus DCCD
- 30 extra hp

I think the sti makes MORE sense if you're leaving it stock. If you are planning to modify it is when the performance line between it and the WRX blurs even more IMO.

e.g. if you're going to go with coilover suspension you don't care about the stock stuff.

[CrunchBite]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

Is there even a point in getting an STI anymore if you are leaving it stock?

Doesn't the WRX make near 270hp?

depends on what you're using it for.

STI has the tougher 6spd, fancy centre dif, different suspension setup, wider wheels/tires. few other things as well.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

This...one dealership in the NW or SW would be a dream...

Stay tuned.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by pylon

Stay tuned.

When are they opening and where?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by username

To be honest I'm not that worried about comfort and I don't expect the Subaru to match the X5. I would hardly consider a Subaru to be a luxury vehical whereas that's what BMW promotes. The only other complaint people seem to have is the amount of gas Subaru's consume but I expect that the gas consumption of any Subaru will be significantly less than what I'm getting out of my X5's V8.

fluery - this carcostcanada report looks like a great idea but does it actually work? I'm just shocked that I've never heard of it before???

Lemme give you a tip with carcost. Buy the report, it is worth every penny. But do not walk into the dealer with it, or disclose its where you got your info from. Just arm yourself with the info, and base your offer off of it. When dealers see car cost customers, some of them will just blow you out, as a lot of people that tend to use the service, have ruined it for other people by negotiating like total blow hards with that piece of paper in their hand.

I had one guy threaten legal action once because we would not sell him the car at dead cost. The car was a 25th anniversary GTI which 500 were produced for all of Canada, and our dealer had 7 allocated, with a waiting list of about 15 people. He actually thought we were legally obliged to honor the quote of a service that has zero affiliation with us, on a car that 15 buyers ahead of him willing to pay full price. You get a lot of people like that from carcost, and some dealers are simply excercising their right to not deal with some people it brings in. In the current economic climate, I would say a safe bet would be to start $500 over dealer cost on the car and be willing to stretch to about $1000 if the car has a tight supply.

I would also recommend taking a look at a Tiguan, I can definitely hook you up on one of those, without having to jump through the BS, and it would keep you in a German vehicle, that gets outstanding fuel economy, and handles surprising well for an SUV. I can babysit the deal for you tip to tail, as I run the fianance end of things. They are kinda like the GTI of the SUV market.

Also, I haven't talked to him in a couple years, but if you go to Subaru of Calgary, ask for Terry if he is still there, and tell him you were referred over by Trevor at VW. When I was on the sales floor, he used to take care of a lot of people I know looking at Subaru's, just kinda lost touch with him over the years, but he is a no bs kinda guy, and one of the top Subaru sales guys in North America.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by pylon

Stay tuned.

tease

[pylon]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

When are they opening and where?

It is very Orange Juliusy info, but I do know is a 3rd location is being talked about. However, I heard it through a pretty in the know source. If logic dictates, I would expect it would be a deep south store, as that is where dealers are looking to setup shop right now because of land availability and prices. But as far as an exact location and date, that I do not know.

I have said for years myself, that Calgary could support at least one, even two more Subaru dealers, as their cars are a natural fit for the city. Look at Audi's success in Calgary with AWD. I believe Glenmore Audi is the largest volume Audi dealer in the country and you could base it almost solely on the AWD niche.

[WhiteTiger]

Myself and 3 other friends rented an Outback for a roadtrip from Calgary to Kingston, Ontario. It performed very well going through a lot of different terrain and weather types, and it's KPL impressed us quite a bit.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by pylon

It is very Orange Juliusy info, but I do know is a 3rd location is being talked about. However, I heard it through a pretty in the know source. If logic dictates, I would expect it would be a deep south store, as that is where dealers are looking to setup shop right now because of land availability and prices. But as far as an exact location and date, that I do not know.

I have said for years myself, that Calgary could support at least one, even two more Subaru dealers, as their cars are a natural fit for the city. Look at Audi's success in Calgary with AWD. I believe Glenmore Audi is the largest volume Audi dealer in the country and you could base it almost solely on the AWD niche.

They really should put one in the N.W.

Join the other dealerships near Royal Oak.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

They really should put one in the N.W.

Join the other dealerships near Royal Oak.

A lot of dealers going in up there have been struggling because of the lack of population density, and incoming traffic. The service depts are taking the biggest hits, as people are willing to drive across town for the big purchase, but want to service usually close to the core or LRT access.

I also have wondered how they give directions to get up there.... lol. Around the corner from the prison, near the dump by the Walmart. Holy hell, are you sure I am not getting directions to Dystopian Mazda or Apocalypse Audi?

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by pylon

A lot of dealers going in up there have been struggling because of the lack of population density, and incoming traffic. The service depts are taking the biggest hits, as people are willing to drive across town for the big purchase, but want to service usually close to the core or LRT access.

I also have wondered how they give directions to get up there.... lol. Around the corner from the prison, near the dump by the Walmart. Holy hell, are you sure I am not getting directions to Dystopian Mazda or Apocalypse Audi?

Sadly, it's about the only place in the NW they can put it now. I doubt they can do anymore at Crowfoot/Northland. It's too bad too since there really is no better location.

The only reason I went up there was because that was the closest one to my place. Prices around Calgary for servicing a Mazda was about the same (isn't 3 of the 4 Mazda dealers in Calgary owned by the same guy anyway?)

[psicodude]

There probably isn't much else to add to this thread, but I currently own a '09 Impreza sport and absolutely love it. The handling and responsiveness are great and the vehicle honestly feels solid. After driving domestics for well over a decade, the difference is very noticeable. It also felt great to drive around the long line of cars stuck on a hill during that first snow of the year without any traction problems whatsoever.

My only gripe echoes what many posters have already said - Centaur service is mediocre at best. First of all, I had to wait almost 3 weeks for my first scheduled maintenance appointment because they are so busy. I dropped my car off at 7:30 am and informed them I would pick it up around 4:30 pm. When I got to the dealership they told me they were "just finishing up" with my car. 15 minutes later I watched a technician drive my car into the shop and put in on the lift... I was pissed leaving there at 6:00 pm without even an offer of compensation for my time. The ###### at the service desk just shrugged it off as a normal thing around there.

Dealership horror stories aside - I would recommend buying a Subaru any day of the week.

[Mad Mel]

pylon, a way OT question, but what's your opinion of the 3.0 TDI available in the Touareg?

[FLAMESRULE]

I've owned 4 subaru's in my life. I had an '87 RX coupe that was way underpowered, but was still very good to drive in the winter. I had an '04 2.5RS that was super fun. It was my first "real" car and I found the potenza OEM tires to do a decent job. I then upgraded to an '07 Legacy Spec B. I modded this car with an exhaust + Cobb AP and was as fast as an STi without the harsher ride. I had winter skins for this and they make an incredible difference. Due to circumstances etc I eventually traded it straight across for a new 2011 Forester XT with roof rack, bick rack, and remote car starter. It doesnt have winters on it, and the OEM's suck. My wife has a 2.5 hatchback and loves that little car. Easy to drive, great handling, and perfect for the city.

In Calgary in particular, you cant find a more well suited car.