I’m quite certain there will be another Forester turbo in the future. I think it was just a question of being able to produce enough 2.4L turbo engines to meet demand. They couldn’t and didn’t want to certify the new forester on two different turbo engines. So instead, they wait until they can ramp up 2.4L turbo…

Very true! But personally, I think the Forester XT will return with the 2.4L turbo and had to retire the XT because the 2.4L turbo production figures probably aren’t high enough yet to meet the likely demand and wanted to avoid certifying the new forester model on two separate turbo engines.

Makes sense if you think…

But see, that’s not accurate. The Forester XT sold more units annually than the Mazda MX-5 or the BRZ. I’m not kidding. Subaru said the Forester XT sales accounted for about 5% of US Forester model sales. Well...that’s about 8000 copies. Meanwhile, the BRZ/FRS twins don’t even muster 5,000 per year.

So it’s all a…

The problem with your theory is that there are pictures of oil screens completely covered in RTV chunks in this post.

True, but this should be answered with a “TR” version. WRX’s are selling more than ever because they now have the looks and accouterments to go with the performance but that leaves a gap in the price point for a wider audience if they had a stripped down, cheaper version ready for aftermarket upgrades.

Yup, but the control thereof is what has been lacking.  As they progress, the locking mechanism will be quicker than a dry clutch when you aid it with a slushbox.  So far, it’s close but not perfect but the concept is there. 

Yup, that’s part of my point although mine was far more long-winded.

Subaru is probably a good study on what happens when the economy overheats. We’re in a little bit of a market bubble. The economy is at full throttle in terms of employment, production and consumption and there’s government stimulus in the form of continued low interest rates, tax cuts, excess spending etc. that’s…

Yeah, brand image has a lag to it. Subaru built up a strong brand image and are spending that image’s value by ramping up production and cutting corners.

I’ve had Subarus for a long time, they’ve always had certain reliability issues that avid Subaru fans were willing to accept for an otherwise solid car - things like…

As I understand it (saying that a lot cause I’m no expert) much of the heat on these newer auto slushboxes is negated by having basically a mechanical clutch that fully engages between shifts and the fluid coupling (constant slipping) only happens during a shift.

DCT engages next gear before last gear is disengaged. No torque loss between shifts but yes there’s a torque surge which is negated by slipping the clutches enough to smooth the transition.

Yeah, but there’s a limit to the minimum and maximum gear ratio spacing on a CVT before it gets weak mechanically as I understand it.

Yeah, Honda isn’t selling anything too well compared to the CRV. They can’t just make the CRV over again in a different size each time and expect to sell when CLEARLY people eventually want something a bit cooler.

#hondaridgeline 

Weird Al? More like a modern white politically correct Salt N Pepa right?

They be gangsta like rappers in the 90's driving SUV’s but the passport is the perfect mis-interpretation of what’s cool.  Like showing up in a monster truck thinking you’re badass but it’s a monstertruck made form a Subaru Baja with eyelash…

lol...no it was Moms with Attitude but yours is good yours is good...

Right, but Honda already has that...the Pilot. The Passport was SUPPOSED to be a more rugged alternative right?  That’s what they teased and marketed it as...and it’s just a mini pilot.   The Nissan Rogue still has more trail cred than this.  

Why oh why does it still have to look like a lifted minivan for a mom with ‘attitude’

Eh, more like successful lawn care company owners who are retired highway patrol officers.  But yeah, out of a quarter million new riders a year you’ll have some sleazy strip-mall orthodontists in the mix. 

You have an xterra, skip AWD.

If you didn’t have that and were weighing 2wd and snow tires vs. AWD, it’s simple for you, AWD. You’re in the south, 1500 bucks now to get you through what ends up being a few snowy drives a year that also nets you more value on the used market is a no-brainer.

Winter tires require you to…

You, In NY (probably a flat part of NY too) can totally use snow tires. It stays cold enough for them to last all winter and you have snow on the ground often enough that the trouble of storing and swapping tires is relatively minor.

In Tenessee, snow is on the ground for an average of maybe 3 or 4 days a year and the…