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> vehicle silhouettes that combine the best attributes of cars and utilities, such as higher ride height, space and versatility Subaru has been successful in t

> vehicle silhouettes that combine the best attributes of cars and utilities, such as higher ride height, space and versatility Subaru has been successful in this zone for decades. In fact I'd hazard to say that they set the standard for this and would be the point of comparison if Ford launches a model like that.

nhebb 9y ago
4WD Ranchero? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranchero https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranchero
- jdhn 9y ago
  One can hope! Perhaps they'll remake the Ranchero on the Escape or new Ranger platform.
chiefalchemist 9y ago
As a part-time Vermonter I'd also attribute Subaru's (niche) success to it being one of the first to fully embrace 4WD/AWD. Yes, along with functional body styles, as well as general higher quality. You don't buy a Subaru to impress anyone. And that's precisely the point ;)
- StudentStuff 9y ago
  Subarus are very popular in Seattle, though there are two distinct groups that own them, those that want to get over the mountain passes without chains (skiers and the like), and less clued in people that just like the style. Most of the latter group wish they'd never bought a Subaru after a few years, as the repairs can be eyewatering when your head gasket go, followed by a shoddy repair at your local stealership that wrecks your engine. Even when a head gasket replacement goes well, the gasket will degrade again in due time and your right back where you started. 300k miles in a newer Subaru without major work just isn't common.
  - Gibbon1 9y ago
    Subaru answers a question. Q: Can people be happy with a car that requires a $2500 repair at 100,000 miles. A: Yes As on I know multiple people that bought a Subaru, had to replace the head gaskets. And then later bought another Subaru. And they're happy.
    - bruceb 9y ago
      $2500 is on the low end, some shops in the Seattle area with everything you are looking at near $4k.
      - Gibbon1 9y ago
        Head gaskets are a 8-10 hour job, my mechanics shop rate is $120/hr in SF. A friend had her Subaru engine replaced for $4 in north bay. I'm never going to take my car into get fixed in Seattle.
    - StudentStuff 9y ago
      Its $4k minimum here on the outer fringes of the greater Seattle area to get your head gasket done if you go to a stealership (eg: using a dealership in Kent). In town you'd be up at $5k, though an independent shop will do it for $3500. Most of the latter category I outlined will never set foot in an independent shop though, due to their own shitty preconceptions. Additionally, the oil consumption and leakage seems to start a bit after 70k miles. I don't know anyone who made it to 100k before needing the head gasket done, my aunt generally parts with Subarus right before they hit 65k due to this. Its an expensive addiction if your a skier. Comparatively, a serpentine belt (rated to 100k, can easily do 120k) on a Lexus engine will run you $1200, and is one of the few things you'd need to change besides oil as you get up there in mileage.
      - opencl 9y ago
        Who in the hell is charging $1200 to install a serpentine belt? In every car I've seen it's a $20 part and maybe 1-2 hours of labor depending on how annoying the engine design is.

nhebb 9y ago

4WD Ranchero? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranchero https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranchero

jdhn 9y ago
One can hope! Perhaps they'll remake the Ranchero on the Escape or new Ranger platform.

chiefalchemist 9y ago

As a part-time Vermonter I'd also attribute Subaru's (niche) success to it being one of the first to fully embrace 4WD/AWD. Yes, along with functional body styles, as well as general higher quality. You don't buy a Subaru to impress anyone. And that's precisely the point ;)

StudentStuff 9y ago
Subarus are very popular in Seattle, though there are two distinct groups that own them, those that want to get over the mountain passes without chains (skiers and the like), and less clued in people that just like the style. Most of the latter group wish they'd never bought a Subaru after a few years, as the repairs can be eyewatering when your head gasket go, followed by a shoddy repair at your local stealership that wrecks your engine. Even when a head gasket replacement goes well, the gasket will degrade again in due time and your right back where you started. 300k miles in a newer Subaru without major work just isn't common.
- Gibbon1 9y ago
  Subaru answers a question. Q: Can people be happy with a car that requires a $2500 repair at 100,000 miles. A: Yes As on I know multiple people that bought a Subaru, had to replace the head gaskets. And then later bought another Subaru. And they're happy.
  - bruceb 9y ago
    $2500 is on the low end, some shops in the Seattle area with everything you are looking at near $4k.
    - Gibbon1 9y ago
      Head gaskets are a 8-10 hour job, my mechanics shop rate is $120/hr in SF. A friend had her Subaru engine replaced for $4 in north bay. I'm never going to take my car into get fixed in Seattle.
  - StudentStuff 9y ago
    Its $4k minimum here on the outer fringes of the greater Seattle area to get your head gasket done if you go to a stealership (eg: using a dealership in Kent). In town you'd be up at $5k, though an independent shop will do it for $3500. Most of the latter category I outlined will never set foot in an independent shop though, due to their own shitty preconceptions. Additionally, the oil consumption and leakage seems to start a bit after 70k miles. I don't know anyone who made it to 100k before needing the head gasket done, my aunt generally parts with Subarus right before they hit 65k due to this. Its an expensive addiction if your a skier. Comparatively, a serpentine belt (rated to 100k, can easily do 120k) on a Lexus engine will run you $1200, and is one of the few things you'd need to change besides oil as you get up there in mileage.
    - opencl 9y ago
      Who in the hell is charging $1200 to install a serpentine belt? In every car I've seen it's a $20 part and maybe 1-2 hours of labor depending on how annoying the engine design is.