Originally Posted by fdcg27
Originally Posted by edyvw
Demand of market. Subaru is not aiming anymore for people who would care about XT. That is why they for example streamlined Outback to CVT only and generally most of their line up. Average buyer of new Subaru is same as average driver of Toyota, just wants AWD.
Tomorrow give them inline 4 cyl, and POS AWD from RAV4, market it the way they market now, and they will not see a dent in sale numbers.
The manuals are going away because few buyers want them anymore. Quite a change from just twenty years ago, when manual Subies, Hondas and Toyotas were easily found in good numbers on any lot since many buyers, me included, wanted them.
WRT giving the Forester the drivetrain of the RAV, I'd doubt it.
Cheaper for sure, but many Subaru buyers are repeat customers, as were we, and actually do understand the advantages that the Subaru AWD system and the flat four bring.
This type of parts sharing would totally destroy the brand equity that Subaru enjoys and that allows Subaru to get up out of the price fight between Mazda, Toyota and Honda in the medium CUV segment.
Toyota is slowly chipping Subaru. They kicked out LSD from all but STi, They are only using CVT in case some dead owners of Subaru wake up so they can drive. Yes, Subaru had, (emphasis on HAD) cult fallowing when similar to SAAB, but this is far from what Subaru was some 15-20 years ago. And you will see, Boxer will become too expensive (and it is not like they are that good, but they did finally solved head gasket issue), than Toyota will say: well, let's develop RAV4 and Forester on same platform. Then it will be Toyota AWD, just with some computer gimmick so Subaru drivers can still think they have best AWD. And, all that will not make a dent in sale, because Subaru is anyway for long time interesting to drive as my new refrigerator I bought on Saturday. That is type of drivers Subaru is going after, and if they doubt it, Subaru will make commercial so they could feel better about that refrigerator.
As for AWD, this is good video of what drivers in Colorado have to endure when average driver of Subaru decides to "take on snow."
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/5006849/1/tfl-snow-tire-test