Subaru actually does market one car that, like a weedy, inbred relative you always feel ever so slightly creeped out by but otherwise completely ignore - does not feature 4WD.
Behold the abomination that is the "Subaru Justy":
Actually that relative turns out to be merely a badly disguised weirdo - this is a slightly "restyled" Daihatsu Sirion - another insignificant bleep of a car.
The "Subaru" is of course the cheapest of their offerings. In Denmark your friendly Subaru dealer will relieve you of DKK 121,900. At 5,6464 kroner to $1, that'll be $21,588.98. Like all cars, the Justy's purchase price includes a 180% taxation, added to the already added 25% import "VAT" plus something like 3-5% profit for the retailer. Can you believe people here atually drive cars, even nice ones?
I've never seen anyone driving a Subaru Justy, though.
@Krapster: One of my friends in college had an original Justy and it was AWD and also totally awesome. We'd use it to climb the steps of the campus building late at night:
It offers leagues more capability than 90% of everyone not living in Colorado or Montana really needs, but in my experience the Fozzie is really very user friendly. I could ask for more mileage, but when the going gets snowy, I just keep the tank topped up.
I can attest to the off-road and mudding capability of the Forrester. Just don't tell my dad. His slightly-less-ugly first gen. made it through some pretty gnarly trails and creeks.
I think that Subaru should really have gone in more of a Trail-Rated™ direction rather than a Soccer Mom direction with the redesign, though. A little bit of a lift, some off-road tires, locking low-range gearbox, and you would have an even more capable machine. If I had the time/money/insanity necessary, I would make some custom portal hubs and some transmission mods to a Forrester and go hit Moab.
@discontinuuity is now meme-free: I agree. Soccer moms don't buy Subarus, woodsy alternative types do. And woodsy alternative types like to drive out into the middle of the forest and go camping, mountain biking, hiking, whatever.
@discontinuuity is now meme-free: You're looking for an Australian Forester... They have the low range option and there are plenty set up for the bush...
@Turkina: Why has no one told me about this? Thank you kind sir or madame. I will no doubt now spend countless hours reading Australian off-road forums.
Once again, Australia is the cause and solution to all my problems. Or was that some other word that starts with an "a"?
Confirms my desire for a Subie next time I'm shopping. The kid down the street has a garden-variety Impreza that he takes off-road hooning; as we speak, it's covered roof to rocker panels in a delicious mud glaze. Mind you, I just need something to get up my hill in the winter, but based on this video, I've got the right idea in mind.
I have to give the Subies credit, they are great little beasts. My only issue with them is I don't usually like the owners, BLW-excluded, of course.
I have seen little all-wheel drive cars do appalling things at these off-road parks. Light weight, plus power, plus traction, equals impressive. I watched a lifted Syncro Vanagon with a Haldex conversion truck through a pretty tough course with almost no trouble.
My favourite was the Iltis, however. Watching an Iltis pull out an F150 was worth the price of admission.
@Greasy Breakfast: Around here, most Subaru drivers I encounter seem to be the spiky platinum-tipped hair and massive-sunglasses type. You know the ones, 20-something guys who still like to cruise around and chat up the 16-year-olds in miniskirts. And every time I pull up to a stoplight beside one, he insists on revving the snot out of his engine while glaring at me for 45 seconds.
05/16/09
Subaru actually does market one car that, like a weedy, inbred relative you always feel ever so slightly creeped out by but otherwise completely ignore - does not feature 4WD.
Behold the abomination that is the "Subaru Justy":
[subaru.dk]
Actually that relative turns out to be merely a badly disguised weirdo - this is a slightly "restyled" Daihatsu Sirion - another insignificant bleep of a car.
The "Subaru" is of course the cheapest of their offerings. In Denmark your friendly Subaru dealer will relieve you of DKK 121,900. At 5,6464 kroner to $1, that'll be $21,588.98. Like all cars, the Justy's purchase price includes a 180% taxation, added to the already added 25% import "VAT" plus something like 3-5% profit for the retailer. Can you believe people here atually drive cars, even nice ones?
I've never seen anyone driving a Subaru Justy, though.
05/17/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
You keep this up, even the Unregulars around here may find themselves redefining their inner understanding of terms such as "redneck".
05/15/09
05/15/09
I think that Subaru should really have gone in more of a Trail-Rated™ direction rather than a Soccer Mom direction with the redesign, though. A little bit of a lift, some off-road tires, locking low-range gearbox, and you would have an even more capable machine. If I had the time/money/insanity necessary, I would make some custom portal hubs and some transmission mods to a Forrester and go hit Moab.
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
Once again, Australia is the cause and solution to all my problems. Or was that some other word that starts with an "a"?
05/15/09
Found some great photos:
[www.subaruforester.org]
05/15/09
If you ever need to beat on anything in Southern California, drop me a line.
We can visit the scenic Salton Sea. Great for post-apocalyptic photo shoots.
05/15/09
But also much less talented. Or maybe just blind, in accordance with workplace equality laws.
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
I'm pretty sure that ain't a GT-R, fellas.
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
I have seen little all-wheel drive cars do appalling things at these off-road parks. Light weight, plus power, plus traction, equals impressive. I watched a lifted Syncro Vanagon with a Haldex conversion truck through a pretty tough course with almost no trouble.
My favourite was the Iltis, however. Watching an Iltis pull out an F150 was worth the price of admission.
05/15/09
Subaru owners seem to fall into two types: woodsies and hooners.
I confess, I'm somewhere in between. My bike rack gets used regularly.
05/15/09
05/15/09