Calling all diesel and Subaru Fans

[QuietPortage]

I've been wanting a diesel Forester since Subaru announced that they would be bring it to North America in 2008. Of course, that never happend, but I'm still intrigued by the idea of a torquey diesel Forester with the potential for 40 MPG.

This petition is from the diesel Subaru fans Facebook page. I think it's important to show Subaru that there are people in North America who are interested in small diesels.

Diesel Subaru Petition

So, I'll challenge all diesel and Subaru fans to sign it. Free rides in my time machine for every signature.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Sadly never happen.

I agree a diesel powered Outback or Forester would be nice but with the EPA and economy Subaru is not going to go there.

There may not even be a Subaru 10 years from now selling in the US.

Bill

 

[QuietPortage]

Ohh, c'mon Bill. Let's be positive! I agree that Subaru is being difficult, but there are a whole slew of other manufacturers bringing small diesels stateside soon. Mazda seems set to go ahead with a 6 sedan and CX-5 diesel next year. Actually, that CX-5 diesel is looking mighty nice if I can get it in a basic trim without spending a huge premium.

Time will tell.

 

[simple_gifts]

Other companies are selling diesels so it is clearly not the EPA. Perhaps Subaru's exhaust is what leaves them overseas.

 

[QuietPortage]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Other companies are selling diesels so it is clearly not the EPA. Perhaps Subaru's exhaust is what leaves them overseas.

Maybe they're just lame.

Anyway, a few signatures from the BITOG crowd sure would be nice.

 

[gathermewool]

I was excited when I first heard they were bringing a boxer diesel state-side, hoping for a sporty diesel WRX, or even a forester or outback for when I grew up. Now, I'm hedging my bets against diesel becoming big here and sticking with gassers.

I'm looking forward to the 2.0DIT Forester, honestly. I plan to be a full-on grownup by around 2015, so the timing of having a Forester I actually like is very convenient!

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Sadly never happen.

I agree a diesel powered Outback or Forester would be nice but with the EPA and economy Subaru is not going to go there.

There may not even be a Subaru 10 years from now selling in the US.

Bill


Based upon Subaru's sales growth, which began in the teeth of the recession in 2008, there can't be any doubt that there will be Subarus here ten years from now.
Subaru also has a rich uncle, much richer then GM, to assure their viability as a marque.
There will be Subarus as long as there are Toyotas, which is more than you can say for a few GM brands.

 

[Bill in Utah]

We don't know what the new CAFE rules are going to do with most manufactures.

54mpg or more is going to be impossible with Subaru's AWD policy as of now.

Things WILL change and many manufactures have stated they may not be around to find out how to make that number.

If they dump the larger AWD and go to diesel or hybrids then possible, but expect a large cost to acquire and even more to run/maintain IMO.

Take care, Bill

PS: And I agree with some nameplates being gone sooner than later.

 

[fdcg27]

Subarus will have to change mechanically.
The flat four will probably be gone and the engines will bear a striking resemblance to those used by Toyota.
Hybrid or diesel?
Maybe a mix of each.
Certainly more expensive to buy and probably to maintain, although diesel emissions technology should become cheaper to install and maintain as it matures in use.

 

[mcrn]

signed

 

[QuietPortage]

Originally Posted By: mcrn
signed

Thanks!

Does anyone have a NASIOC membership that can recruit over there? The BITOG community seems disinterested.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Originally Posted By: mcrn
signed

Thanks!

Does anyone have a NASIOC membership that can recruit over there? The BITOG community seems disinterested.


I'd be all over it (and have said so before the new EPA regs) but now I'm not interested in $1000+ DPF units and other garbage.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Our Forester is great and I would have loved a diesel!

I read an article a while back that said the reason that Subaru was not bringing the diesel to the US was because the current auto trans couldn't handle the torque of the diesel and that it wouldn't sell with just a MT.

 

[oilmaven]

I've heard for years that Subaru would abandon their boxer engines at some point...most likely for fuel economy reasons...hasn't happened yet. The engines and AWD systems are what makes a Subaru a Subaru.

 

[JHZR2]

The EPA Will call 50 mpg diesels "gross polluters", while calling 12MPG trucks "Partial Zero" emissions.

Priorities aren't in the right place. But I'm not sure it is even as much the EPA as it is the cost to do fuel economy stats on every engine and transmission combo.

I hope diesels from all the majors show up.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The EPA Will call 50 mpg diesels "gross polluters", while calling 12MPG trucks "Partial Zero" emissions.

Priorities aren't in the right place. But I'm not sure it is even as much the EPA as it is the cost to do fuel economy stats on every engine and transmission combo.

I hope diesels from all the majors show up.


So true!

I love it when someone tells me that my 6.5 hp lawn mower being used for 45 minutes a week pollutes more than a Suburban that commutes 35 miles a day for a week! (actual statement made by some pinhead trying to get controls on small engines)

Of course the "media" just reported on it without questions.

I'd agree that I would also like to see simple turbo/non turbo diesels.

I doubt we will.

Bill

 

[Kiwi_ME]

I know diesels sound great for the cool factor but gasoline engines are catching up quickly for fuel economy and as mentioned don't have the complicated emissions hardware.
We have Subaru diesels here but they hardly sell.

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
... like to see simple turbo/non turbo diesels. I doubt we will.

There is little place in the world anymore for a diesel without a turbo to maintain a high level of excess air making it easier to maintain a low particulate output.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Kiwi_ME
I know diesels sound great for the cool factor but gasoline engines are catching up quickly for fuel economy and as mentioned don't have the complicated emissions hardware.


Agreed.

And to be sold in the States, they would have to be more complicated then they already are due to emissions compliance. They would need a separate DEF tank that you'd have to keep topped up, not to mention the much higher sticker price, higher cost for fuel, etc.

No thanks. I love Subarus, but I don't get the love for diesels for a lower cost passenger vehicle application.

If you were talking an old school simple VW diesel or a tractor simple Yanmar or Kubota under the hood. How cool would that be?

OTOH, Soob has committed themselves to the boxer design, coupled to a CVT auto now. The new (gas) FB2x's and EJ253's are yielding some pretty impressive MPG numbers.

They've got some faith in this Aisin built, chain drive CVT, giving the Outback a tow rating and factory hitch. Haven't heard of a failure since they've been out since 2010.

Joel

 

[JHZR2]

Im not sure in the end all that diesels have that much more complex emission stuff.

EGR? Done on diesels since the early 1980s, and on gassers for 10 years before.

Catalyzed systems? On gas cars since around 1973... And those converters are roughly $1500 a piece in OEM form.

Sensors? See them all over gas cars as I do diesels.

High pressure injection? Its coming to gas cars too...

The thermodynamics of diesel cycles will always win out, but the rest of the stuff seems a wash... Its just that we were spoiled by diesels that could run totally mechanically without even an alternator

 

[Bill in Utah]

Catalyst for my 2004 truck is $359 for both converters (can not buy OEM for it anymore) But I've (so far) never had to replace one. (A couple of plugs fixed it for me!)

Plenty of folks are getting DPF replaced at low miles on the newer VW TDI units.

Good site for Turbo Diesel I can tell you none of my vehicles have a DPF or more than one/different types cat converters. Nor does it have DI and I hope to stay that way as long as I can.

But you are correct that DI is coming on more and more. And it will cost more to maintain and replace.

Take care, Bill