CAR PCOTY

British car magazine, CAR, whose editors proclaim on the cover that they offer the definitive view, has named their Performance Car of the Year.

If you're looking for consistently sound opinion, CAR may not be the place for you. Once known and perhaps even renowned for a magazine that centred on dynamic peformance, CAR has evolved into what seems to be a car-as-a-conversation-piece style magazine, with none other than Piers Morgan contributing.

Nevertheless, the PCOTY feature is certainly suggested reading. The Audi R8 was joined in the final three by the BMW M3 and Honda's Civic Type R. The Audi overcame some high-strung group members (Caterham 7 R400, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, Porsche 911 GT3 RS) and the M3 and Civic didn't put up enough of a challenge.

Having already battled the Renault Clio F1 Team R27, Vauxhall Corsa VXR, and a Mini Cooper with Works package, the CTR was relegated in the final round despite obvious credentials. "A great hot hatch.... but not quite torquey or communicative enough to feel really special in this company," said the judges.

And the M3? CAR says: "Because, as good as it is, it doesn't move the M3 game on massively. Yes, it's quicker than the old car, more refined, practical and as sideways as ever, but we expect all those things from the M3."

So the R8 takes the crown. One paragraph by Chris Chilton makes very clear the overall reasoning for Audi's win. "And then I pointed the R8 home and knew we picked the right car..... The icy white markings on the dials glowed back from the dash, the Bang and Olufsen hi-fi murmured quietly, and I tried to figure out how this car costs only £76,000. It's still a lot of money in anyone's reckoning, but not for a car of this calibre. In the context of an M3 that costs £50K, a Lamborghini that shares many of the R8's parts and costs over three times as much, and a Porsche that costs £94K but can't be driven in the rain, the R8 easily cements its place as a worthy winner."

In order of their lap times around the Cadwell Park circuit (as driven by British Touring car great Matt Neal), here are CAR's candidates and a brief summary by CAR and the inevitable GoodCarBadCar take as well.

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PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS: "Even Neal thought it was too hot to handle; naturally we wanted to marry it." GCBC says: "A regular GT3 is enough 911+, the RS adds way too much cost for way too little improvement."

CATERHAM 7 R400: "Like being hardwired into the tarmac; if lapping circuits is your thing, nothing beats it." GCBC says: "Proof that a little less weight will do you good."

LAMBORGHINI SUPERLEGGERA: "Couldn't beat the GT3 on the road but was even more exciting on track." GCBC says: "Amazing that extreme examples of extreme cars can face such competition now, such as the GT3 RS, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, and 911 GT2."

AUDI R8: As happy chasing Lambo's on the track as tailing eVextra's on the M25. Brilliant." GCBC says: "Audi now has more than power, looks, and Quattro on its side; the R8 is a pure driving experience."

BMW M3: "We still don't like the steering but what fun - and what an engine!" GCBC says: "The original M3 had a four fewer cylinders and a lot less luxury....."

SUBARU IMPREZA RB320: "Last of the saloon Impreza's divided opinion. Mighty fast but hard work." GCBC says: "Showcasing passion that may never be revealed on the new WRX's or STi's."

NISSAN 350Z: "Quick, but far from the sideways here at Cadwell its roundabout antics suggest." GCBC says: "The Z, as usual, laps with the big dogs for a substantially smaller cash outlay and looks good doing it."

AUDI S5: "Old style Audi - safe and competent but not fun on track; A5 TDI better on road." GCBC says: "Not fun on track, true. But stinking fast and heart-wrenchingly beautiful."

VAUXHALL VXR8: "Bargain V8 saloon better on road than on track." GCBC says: "What was CAR expecting? I'm expecting the Pontiac G8 to be very good indeed."


HONDA CIVIC TYPE R: "Almost racer-like in its responses but amazing VTEC engine needs another 40 bhp." GCBC says: "Needs a communicative chassis and steering before it needs another 40 horsepower, but it looks sweet."

RENAULT CLIO 197 F1 TEAM R27: "A proper oldschool hot hatch and great at Cadwell; but hardwork on the road." GCBC says: "If the weight remained equal to that of the old Clio, then the long-titled new Clio would be in with a shout."

MINI COOPER S WORKS: "Great to look at but minimal power increase from Works kit and poor under braking." GCBC says: "Pray the Mini brand doesn't go soft. It hasn't... yet."

VAUXHALL CORSA VXR: "Torquey engine and smooth ride great on road but VXR outclassed on circuit." GCBC says: "Have you seen this little sucker go 'round the Nurburgring?"

BEST WINTER CARS PART II

BusinessWeek's automotive section recently showcased winter's best automobiles. Along with the vehicles brandished ↓ and in Part I, BusinessWeek provided some interesting statistics.


SUBARU OUTBACK: BW says: "The Outback has as much ground clearance as the taller Tribeca SUV (which is based on the same platform), and like all Subarus, the Outback has permanent all-wheel drive as standard equipment." TGCG says: "The Outback is an obvious choice and obviously good."


VOLVO XC70: BW says: "Ground clearance is almost three inches higher than the V70 wagon, and only a fraction of an inch less than the more imposing Volvo XC90 SUV." TGCG says: "The previous XC70 was the most comfortable vehicle I've ever spent a weekend in, a weekend with snow and sun. I expect nothing less from the new Cross Country."

AUDI A6 AVANT: BW says: "Besides Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the A6 Avant has headlight washers. Standard equipment includes heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors. A cold-weather package of options ($600) includes heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a removable ski sack to keep melted snow from dripping in the rear cargo area." TGCG says: "Much as I love the headlight washers, I stick to the imposing appearance and impressive capabilities as reasons for making wintry use of an A6 wagon."

TOYOTA SIENNA: BW says: "The Sienna is rare among minivans in that it has all-wheel drive in its highest trim and equipment levels." TGCG says: "You and your's and their's and their stuff will fit comfortably and possibly unaware of the peril outside."

HONDA RIDGELINE: BW says: "The oddly styled Honda Ridgeline gets good marks for off-road performance in slippery conditions, with a driver-friendly combination of all-wheel drive, traction control, antilock brakes, stability control, and a five-speed automatic transmission that helps take care of most slippery situations automatically." TGCG says: "It may look funny, but the Ridgeline is capability personified."

TOYOTA FJ CRUISER: BW says: "Toyota says the FJ Cruiser is the most capable off-road SUV in the Toyota lineup." TGCG says: "That lineup is freakin' full of SUV's, too. Put a plow on the front and take care of every driveway in the neighbourhood. So cool."

HUMMER H2: BW says: "Features aimed more specifically at Old Man Winter include heated front and rear seats, heated outside mirrors, and remote starting." TGCG says: "Read my review."

RANGE ROVER: BW says: "With a single knob, the driver can select one of five modes, depending on the road (or off-road) surface: general, for everyday pavement; grass/gravel/snow, for slippery conditions; sand; mud and ruts; and "rock crawl." The system governs throttle response, automatic transmission operation, electronic differentials, antilock brakes, the air suspension, traction control, and hill descent control." TGCG says: "It may be the world's most impressive all-around vehicle... the Queen seems to think so."

SATURN VUE: BW says: "The front-drive version, with a four-cylinder engine sitting over the driving wheels, probably provides enough winter traction for most people, coupled with antilock brakes, traction control, and electronic stability control, all standard—plus winter tires, which cost extra." TGCG says: "The Vue is almost cool now, but not if the badge lacks the V6 and AWD alphanumerics."

TOYOTA TUNDRA: BW says: "Something called the Tundra better be able to go (and stop) in the snow, and with optional all-wheel drive this pickup certainly has the right equipment, subject to proper tires." TGCG says: "The Tundra is fast, and will accelerate almost as quickly in slippery conditions when badged 4x4. But be careful, you've many thousands of pounds to slow down."

BEST WINTER CARS PART I

BusinessWeek's automotive section recently showcased winter's best automobiles. Along with the vehicles brandished ↓, BusinessWeek provided some interesting statistics.

Subaru, which equips all of its North American vehicles with all-wheel drive, sees its market share rise from the cross-America total of 1% to 5% in Colorado, 6% in Alaska, and 8% in Vermont. 85% of all vehicles Audi sells in America send power to all four wheels. All-wheel drive won't help when braking begins.

Terrific winter tires are your best friend(s) in emergency stops. Because of all-wheel drive's limitations, BusinessWeek also emphasized vehicles which feature technical equipment that will help you in wintry situations - perhaps in ways that AWD couldn't dream of.

One Land Rover test driver also made clear the importance of practice, in empty parking lots of need be. My personal winter driver training came at the wheel of my future wife's cousin's Nissan pickup. A very old and very rear-wheel drive Nissan pickup. A 5-speed manual Nissan pickup with a lever for an emergency brake hidden just beneath and to the left of the steering wheel. So, let it be clear: despite our apparent lack of winter to this point - I can drift into a snowbank with the best of 'em. Here, then, are BusinessWeek's best winter vehicles, spread across a wide swathe of the marketplace, with their reasons for induction and The Good Car Guy's further reasoning for purchase.

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SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5i: BW says: "Standard all-wheel drive is the Impreza's primary claim to fame when it comes to winter driving" TGCG says: "It ain't pretty nor a terrific value, but you will make it up any snowy hill faster than any Civic in town."


VOLVO C30: BW says: "Traction control and sophisticated antilock brakes are standard, including electronic brake force distribution and brake-assist—features not always found on small cars." TGCG says: "It's a little, pretty, Volvo hatch, so if front-wheel drive, ABS, trac-con, EBD and brake-assist don't save you; you can rest assured the structure will keep you safe."

HONDA ACCORD: BW says: "Like other front-drive cars, the weight of the engine over the front axle makes for better traction in slippery conditions, especially with winter tires instead of standard-equipment "all-season" tires." TGCG says: "It's probably the best mid-size sedan you can buy, so garnish it with winter tires and enjoy whatever season comes."

BUICK LUCERNE: BW says: ".... unlike its competitors, the Lucerne is front drive, with the engine over the drive wheels. Rear drive is supposed to confer sportier handling on dry roads, and in pursuit of a sportier image, most of the competition has evolved to rear drive." TGCG says: "Buy an AWD Buick Enclave instead."

MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC: BW says: "unlike the previous product generation, the Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is now available for the C-Class." TGCG says: "An all-new Benz is cause for paying attention. The advent of the best C-class ever is reason for purchasing, with or without AWD."


MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC: BW says: "The 4Matic is a competitive advantage for Mercedes, since archrival BMW does not offer AWD in its flagship 7 Series." TGCG says: "You'll be cool enough - in your neighbour's eyes - when your driveway holds the flagship Benz, but when you venture out in a strong winter storm and they're stuck inside.... well, that's cool at another level."

JAPAN'S CAR NEWS

You've seen how the latest Impreza WRX makes the run-of-the-mill Impreza look timid and powerless. Now you see the STi. WRX? Timid and powerless in the sight of this monster. I picture Camry and C-class buyers being totally in fear of the body addenda. Front air dam, massive hood scoop, low-hanging rocker panels, and a nuclear exhaust note exiting from quad pipes combine to generate an Impreza to be feared. The Subaru Impreza WRX STi utilizes a turbocharged flat-four and its 305bhp and 290 lb-ft of torque aid the cause of inciting fear.

Problem? Just the one: This upcoming STi is $1,500 more than STi's were in the '07 model year, $2,000 more than they were in 2006, $2,550 more than the price of an '05 STi, $3,875 more than the WRX STi's of 2004, and perhaps almost $5,000 more than the cost of the equally new and fearful Mitsubishi EvoX in base form.

Toyota showcased its brand-new Sequoia in Los Angeles. 381bhp from a 5.7L V8 will be available. Suspension is indepenent at both ends. The Sequoia's chief engineer, Motoharu Araya, lived for a short while with an American family who owned a fullsize SUV in order to understand how these beasts are used by families. That aforementioned 5.7L is mated with a 6-speed auto, while the base 4.7L engine sticks with a 5-speed. Toyota's big ute will be available with air suspension and monstrous 20-inch wheels. Speaking of air, the drag coefficient of 0.35 is remarkably low for such a large box and would have been unheard of only a few years ago. This CoD must be partially responsible for a larger and more powerful vehicle becoming more fuel efficient.


There was an altercation between environmentalists and a Toyota boss following the Sequoia debut, which you can read about here on GoodCarBadCar. It appears to my eye, as an aside that Toyota's interpretation of the square-jawed American truck styling theme is better showcased on the Sequoia than the pickup version of same, the Tundra. That pic above just seems to be - dare I say it..... handsome.

Toyota's luxury-brand, Lexus, assumed the number 1 spot in J.D. Power's measurement of customer satisfaction. The Sales Satisfaction Index is based on customer satisfaction in five areas including: dealership facility, delivery process, vehicle price, finance process, and salesperson.

With Lexus riding at the top, the SSI basically suggests that your buying experience is best if you're buying at a Lexus store. Hummer, Jaguar, Lincoln, and Mercedes followed Lexus in the standings. Perhaps more importantly, for the second year in a row, the industry as a whole united to achieve a record high score. Lexus topped the list at 897 out of 1,000, but the manufacturers' overall score was up five points from last year to 852.

Buick, Cadillac, Saturn, Porsche, Mercury, Land Rover, BMW, Pontiac, GMC, Saab, Volvo, Acura, Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, Infiniti, and Mini were all above average on the SSI. Volkswagen, Chrysler, Honda, Kia, Toyota, Subaru, Scion, Hyundai, Dodge, and Jeep scored below the average mark.

1 KEN BLOCK + 1 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI + 1 ABANDONED AIRFIELD = 1 WICKED VIDEO

I've watched figure skaters who couldn't complete the kind of turns Ken Block hooks up in this Impreza STi. Ken Block is sick. This 530-horsepower '06 WRX STi is sick. The sound of the boxer four-cylinder in this video makes the viewer very glad that no music was added. Sure, Mr. Block touches one barrier, but we're gonna say he meant to do so. Some very impressive skills are displayed in the video below, and you will want to hang around for the full 4:27. Defying physics? The Good Car Guy isn't qualified to render that verdict. Simply put, this is the new best car video on the web. Watch it. Then watch it again. Then watch this other Subaru vid where Ken Block is playing around with snowboarders on the side of a mountain.

WRX & DAN QUAYLE

One Car & Driver reader recently wrote some stinging criticism of Subaru's latest Impreza WRX. Thank your fortune that C/D decided to print it in their Backfires section.

"I have worked on WRXs. Three of my friends have WRXs. I have owned three of them, including my current '06. I know WRXs, and sir, you are not a WRX." Rick from New Mexico wrote such familiar words, and I found the intended air of presidential debate, so with YouTube's help, you can watch Lloyd Bentson below.

BOOMERANG TRACKING'S TOP 5 MOST STOLEN VEHICLES IN CANADA

If you've been an active member of The Good Car Nation this morning, you already know which car sits at the top of this list. Follow that link back to learn more about Boomerang Tracking and read below to learn about the most stolen vehicles in Canada. Since GoodCarBadCar.net loves Top 5 lists and Boomerang provides the Top 10, hear ye this: the '94 Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance hatchback is likely part of the list because of its, shall we say, lack of security. Audi's 2000 TT Quattro sits at #9. The '98 Acura Integra is in the #8 spot. Numbers 7, 6, and 5 belong to variants of the '94 Dodge Caravan. 

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#4 - '94 ACURA INTEGRA: Loved by every tuner and appreciated by all for its quality, the Integra was a stellar car with multiple positive characteristics.

#3 - '04 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX & WRX STI: Early in its North American life, this turbocharged Japanese rally rocket was about as desirable a real-world car as could be found on the continent. Apparently thieves feel the same way as the rest of us.

#2 - '00 HONDA CIVIC SIR: While we joined with the Americans in naming the current Civic Si the, er... Civic Si; the previous generations were stuck with SiR north of the 49th. The good ol' Honda double wishbone front suspension with a high-revving inline-four that made VTEC a household brand was ripe for modification. This Civic was simply a very good car. So good in fact that slightly older models were ripe for thievery as well.

#1 - '99 HONDA CIVIC SIR: With prices for stock SiRs around $10,000 for a 10 year old car and not likely to budge anytime soon, one can understand - and still blame - auto thieves proclivity for jacking this Honda. 

BREAKING NEWS - TOYOTA, LEXUS, SUBARU & MERCEDES-BENZ POST BEST EVER OCTOBER SALES IN CANADA

Toyota's sales figures for the month of October in the True North Strong and Free stand up as the world's best-selling automotive manufacturer's best ever month in Canada. Toyota sold 14,539 vehicles; Lexus sold another 1,304 marking its best ever October.

Also setting "personal bests": Subaru, with 1,784 vehicles sold, and Mercedes-Benz, just ten vehicles under 2K. Diesels were under the hood of 51.7% of all Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold. 72.7% of all Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs were kitted out with all-wheel drive. Click here for Honda info and check back soon for full rundowns of the Canadian and American October sales statistics.

SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI 20TH ANNIVERSARY - All 300 To Remain In Japan

For about $4,700 extra more than the basic WRX STi, Subaru will offer 300 Impreza WRX STi 20th Anniversary editions to its domestic market customers. All 300 are supposed to stay in Japan, but don't be surprised if somebody like Litchfield Imports manages to sneak a couple out.

Remember the criticism when the basic Impreza was first introduced? Then the WRX looked kinda soft, as well. The STi is mighty aggressive but has undertones of weakness. Well, this 20th Anniversary special is body-coloured in all the right places and matte black wherever matte black looks best. Power isn't improved, but new shocks and coil springs will supposedly bump the handling up a notch, provide added steering feel, and offer a more compliant ride. 

Mind you, the 304-bhp engine isn't the same as the powerplant found under the hoods of North American-market STi Subies. Where we see a 2.5L four-pot, the JDM car is back-to-WRC-roots in its 2.0L format. 30 pictures are in the gallery below.

MOTOR TREND NAMES SUBARU FORESTER ITS SUV OF THE YEAR

On its website, California-based Motor Trend has announced that the Subaru Forester is their SUV of the Year.

Other SUVOTY contenders included the BMW X6, Infiniti FX and EX35, Honda Pilot, Kia Borrego, Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Journey, Volkswagen Tiguan, Ford Flex, Nissan Murano, Lexus LX570, and Toyota Sequoia. The Good Car Guy profiled the Forester in a 3 To Beat back in February where it performed admirably as well as in Part III of Dreams VS Reality with the Infiniti FX45 and Porsche Cayenne. Subaru's advertising for the Forester has garnered plenty of positive attention, as well.

Although there are dozens of different numbers that Motor Trend factored in when determining the SUVOTY, read below to see a list of the contenders in order of their fuel efficiency as tested by MT. In an era where fuel is expensive and families are struggling, the efficiency of family haulers is more important than ever. 

Subaru Forester (awd): 20.1 mpg

Volkswagen Tiguan (fwd): 17.3 mpg

Nissan Murano (fwd): 17.3 mpg

Subaru Forester (turbo awd) 16 mpg

Infiniti EX35 (awd): 15.8 mpg

Honda Pilot (awd): 14.9 mpg

Ford Flex (awd): 14.9 mpg

Dodge Journey (3.5L awd) 14.9 mpg

Kia Borrego (V8 4wd): 13.6 mpg

Lexus LX570 (4wd): 13.2 mpg

BMW X6 (I-6 awd): 13.2 mpg

Infiniti FX50 (awd): 12.9 mpg

Toyota Sequoia (4wd) 12.8 mpg

Chevrolet Traverse (awd): 12.1 mpg

TOKYO AUTO FREAK SHOW - Part I

Famous, perhaps even infamous, for its offbeat concept cars, this year the Tokyo Auto Show is garnering a little extra attention for its offbeat and also green, environmental nature of its concepts.

GoodCarBadCar won't attempt to offer a diatribe per or even an expose or epistle regarding these wacky concepts. How about a freak-o-meter, exemplified best by five ¥. Now, you might expect that the Japanese monetary symbol may be mockery, indicating that more ¥ is equivalent to less yen in real life. But in Japan, who really knows? Certainly not The Good Car Guy. When tastes vary as widely as the behavior of Yakuza kumichos and the youth of Osaka, anything is possible. Check back to GoodCarBadCar later for the all Toyota Tokyo Freak Show.

NISSAN PV200 - ¥¥¥









SUBARU STELLA REVESTA - ¥¥










NISSAN ROUND BOX - ¥¥¥









NISSAN PIVO 2 - ¥¥¥¥¥









SUZUKI KIZASHI 2 - ¥¥

WRX COMMERCIALIZED

GoodCarBadCar has given Subaru's Impreza a bit of a hard ride - but few would deny the humour behind this commercial. Ignoring the driving dynamics, the WRX doesn't seem to be what it once was.

Read about the new Subaru Technica International version here.

Some (many?) would argue that the Impreza was an ungainly, over-accessorized, noisy, unrefined econobox turned into a rocket. I would argue that those people weren't willing to buy an Impreza then, and the new Impreza & 'Preza WRX's blandness isn't going to pull them into showrooms now, either. At least the previous Subaru Impreza was Hillaryesque in its polarizing nature - the new car comes across all Chris Dodd forgettable.

Going bland hasn't hurt Toyota, though. Striking fact, that. Check out who owns a large stake in Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries. Oh, right... that'd be Toyota. Anyway, this commercial isn't boring.

SUBARU TECHNICA INTERNATIONAL REVEALS ITS HEADLINER

Subaru's latest Impreza is likely the best Impreza yet. It may well appeal to a larger cross-section of consumers than did any Impreza before it. Yet it still managed to meet with harsh criticism, regardless of the market into which it was delving. The Brits bemoaned what they thought was going to be the lack of a proper WRX, North Americans derided its dull styling, and everybody united to declare its carryover powertrains as insufficient.




Behold, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Japanese STi's still battle with a rally-derived and turbocharged 2.0L flat four, which now produces a heady 304 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The last STi to cross the Pacific to North America was a sedan, powered by 2.5 litres of horizontally opposed cylinders; four of them, turbocharged. 293 horsepower and a similar torque figure propelled the old STi to great heights.

The latest STi must still battle its old foe, Mitsubishi's Evolution. The Evo is Lancer-based. Considering the growth and maturity evident in both the base Lancer and base Impreza, expect more refinement and comfort in the Evolution and STi during this generation's tenure. Fortunately, the STi manages to continue its manifesation of all things boy-racer and aggressive. Be ye thankful. A soft STi is as welcome as a boy-racer Cadillac.

WHO WILL BUY THE BMW X1?

Within hours of naming the Audi Q5 the fifth-best looking current Audi, BMW sends out pictures of the X1 Concept, making their smallest "sport-activity vehicle" the worst-looking BMW. The battle with the X6 for that position is fierce, however. 

Moving on, the Q5 won't likely be perceived as a direct competitor for the BMW X1. Isn't that the X3's job? Then again, the X1 will certainly be plentifully-powered, as BMW's tend to be, and is only 4.3 inches shorter than the X3 from bumper-to-bumper. If the X3 is the direct competitor for the upcoming Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK, and thus; the Infiniti EX35; Acura RDX; Land Rover LR2 and Volvo XC60, with which vehicles will the BMW X1 compete?

The $39,000 X3 leaves plenty of room beneath. A well-equipped and thoroughly-accessorized Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited easily tops $34,000. Likewise, consumers who like their Volkswagen Tiguan SEL up-optioned also spend over $35,000 easily. Spend a few minutes with options on a Toyota RAV4 and $34,168 comes up quickly. 

The point of all this? Luxury badges are one thing; luxurious vehicles another. Premium brands move downward as mainstream brands swing upward. Everybody wants what everybody else already has. BMW will put the X1 into production and market it in a segment that's difficult to define. Nevertheless, competitors already exist. Most people just don't know it.

SUBARU RECALLS '09 FORESTER, '08 IMPREZA & '07-'08 LEGACY

Some recent Subarus "may have the cylinder head-side oil supply pipe and turbocharger-side pipe improperly assembled." The vibration that ensues could lead to the cracking of pipe(s), allowing oil to leak in dangerous and very hot places.

The 2009 Subaru Forester, 2008 Subaru Impreza, and 2007 and 2008 Subaru Legacy - 16,715 of them, NHTSA says - fall under this Recall. Subaru's available at 1-800-782-2783 to answer your questions about your Legacy, Impreza, and Forester. 

NO JUST-Y CAUSE FOR SUBARU TO IMPORT SMALL CAR TO NORTH AMERICA

Once upon a time in a small, east-coast city in Canada, tucked away in the suburbs, there was a group of young friends whose parents would never consider buying a car named Justy. The Subaru Justy.

To us, Subaru's little car was deemed more worthy of the name, "UnJusty". Cruel and unusual punishment imposed upon people who should have known to make better car decisions and buy a used Corolla. Or something. Please.

But instead, they bought the Justy. And it was one of a few cars that drew derision from us boys. We didn't know much about cars, we knew less about their reliability standards. We did know that the Justy never should have set foot (wheel) on North American tarmac. That Justy tarnished Subaru's image in our eyes, never fixed until my father drove a red, be-winged Legacy. (And yes, GoodCarBadCar did find the worst possible image of a Justy.)

Subaru took the Justy away. The story is very unlike that of the Fiat 500; recently reintroduced to much fanfare, or the Mini Cooper with its second iteration of its Second Iteration sustaining the British/German momentum. No, the Justy was taken away from us, but many of the planet's citizens were able to maintain their acquaintance.


Whatever the case, wherever you live, there's a new Justy. It doesn't fit into Subaru's plans for North America and most assuredly doesn't jibe with Subaru's image here. Albeit, the Justy is a much better car than anything my group of mocking friends would remember. Deep down, this Subaru is really a Daihatsu. Like Subaru, Daihatsu is now connected to the Toyota empire.

SUBARU BOXER DIESEL TECHNICAL DIAGRAM AND WITH SOUND AT IDLE

Subaru worked hard to continue their horizontally opposed tradition. No, we're not talking about their characteristically unique nature, but the configuration of their engine. Now available in the Forester is a boxer diesel, discussed a few minutes ago at this post. Have a look below at the boxer diesel in motion. Below that you can listen to the boxer diesel running at idle in a Legacy.

SUBARU PUTS BOXER DIESEL IN THE FORESTER

Chances are unless you've worked in secretive operations inside the Porsche R&D facility or lived in Europe and paid close attention to the curiously wonky sounds emanating from a Subaru Legacy idling in traffic, you've never heard four or six horizontally opposed cylinders suck diesel. 

I'm just sayin'. The sound is as unfamiliar to you as it is to moi.

Nevertheless, two manufacturers are addicted to this cylinder layout. The boxer engine, found in the rear end of the Porsche 911 Carrera, Boxster, and Cayman as well as the Subaru Legacy/Outback and Tribeca in six-cylinder form and in the Subaru Impreza, Legacy/Outback, and Forester in four-cylinder form, is a unique layout.

See, everybody else likes to line up their cylinders in a row or position them in a V, like Canadian geese except without taking turns at the front. True, Volkswagen Group members have been known to configure their cylinders in a W formation, most famously in the Bugatti Veyron and previous-generation Volkswagen Passat. 

The boxer nomenclature comes from obvious engines. Think of Obama and McCain or Biden and Palin who will go back and forth at each other in a few debates, over and over and over. They are diametrically opposed, basically two competitors inside a square circle ring; just without the punches. As for the Subaru and Porsche engines, the cylinders are going back and forth at each other; also without making contact in an uppercut or jabbing fashion.

Because of this strange configuration, Porsches and Subarus export a unique sound. We all know that diesels, even modern ones, still have a bit of a unique note as well. 

Subaru has joined the two. The aluminum block 2.0L boxer four is now in the Forester and makes 145 horsepower. That's 25 down on the output of the basic 2.5L gasoline-fed four-cylinder in the Forester. However, torque stands at 258 lb-ft, up 32 lb-ft on the turbocharged version of the 2.5L gas engine and 88 lb-ft more than the torque output from the naturally aspirated 2.5L. All that torque is available from a very low 1,800rpm.

With towing capacity of 4,400 pounds, Foresters with the boxer diesel can tow an extra 2,000 pounds. And as you'd expect, the Subaru Forester with the boxer diesel and new 6-speed manual transmission will return between 8-10 more miles per gallon than an equivalent gasoline-powered Forester. Subaru UK claims the Forester diesel has the lowest fuel consumption and emissions in its class.

What must it sound like? Check back soon and The Good Car Guy will post a couple YouTube clips.

MORE POWERFUL SUBARU IMPREZA WRX PRICED NICELY

Subaru has decided to stay the course with the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX; but only in terms of the price. Equipped with an extra 41 horsepower, stiffer springs, larger anti-roll bars, retuned dampers and upper strut mounts combine to give the WRX a more STi-like suspension while a more aggressive bodykit provides a closer link to the STi, as well.

Future Impreza WRX customers should be pleasantly surprised with news that the re-jigged turbocharged Impreza will provide $5.00 in change from your $25K. Mitsubishi couldn't have been surprised when, in their first attempt to strike the WRX and not just the STi, they introduced a Lancer Ralliart with a de-tuned Evo X engine and an amazing dual-clutch gearbox only to see Subaru strengthen the WRX. 

Poor Mitsubishi could have been surprised to see that Subaru strengthened the WRX without increasing the numbers on the window sticker. The Lancer Ralliart costs $27,665 in the United States. (Read about the Lancer Ralliart in a GoodCarBadCar.net Lowdown here.)

Mitsubishi's quasi-rally car is still a very good deal and should be successful. For more traditional buyers, Subaru will continue to offer the 224-bhp powerplant with gentler suspension, more equipment, and a similar pricetag in the form of the Impreza GT. With the new WRX, Subaru is simply ensuring a longer run for the original entry of Japan's hi-po econo-sedans into North America. Press onward.

MUST HAVE CARS

Following up never hurts. GCBC maligned three cars in the previous post (Buick Lacrosse/Saab 9-5/Suzuki Aerio) so today we'll skip the criticism and head straight for celebration.

Lifestyles differ drastically from one individual to another. The first car mentioned could and would supply everything my family needs. Albeit, the first car seats only two comfortably. The second vehicle can squeeze in seven if need be. The third presents itself in the format of a typical family sedan..... with a turbo. All three are attainable cars for regular human beings. Attainable, but not necessarily practical. So, The Good Car Guy offers options. Herein lies the justification.



The Mini Cooper - or Cooper S or Cooper D or Mini One - are suggested purchases. On the authority of The Good Car Guy. Reasons are legion. Here come they.

1. Cool. Not a chick car, not a boy-racer, not an old man. Cross culture; cross barrier; cross socioeconomic classifications. Cool.
2. On-road dynamics. Admittedly, the steering isn't what it was on the first new Mini, but this car is just a big go-kart. Fun to own, fun to look at, but also very fun to drive.
3. Efficient transportation. Fun to drive while also economical? You bet'cha.
4. Easy to drive. Fun to drive, cheap to drive (but not buy), and easy to drive.
   

Mazda's 5, on the other hand, is relatively cheap to own; shockingly fun to drive; and more economical than just about any competitor. One of North America's two small seven-seaters, both of which base with a four-cylinder, the Mazda offers minivan living for those who don't crave boatloads of Grand Caravan space. This Mazda offers less than 160 horsepower, accepts only the short of leg in the rearmost seats, and can't hold 7 + a week of luggage. It does, nevertheless, offer these immensely positive purchase motives.

1. The 5 is the best looking minivan you can buy.
2. The 5 is up to 4 mpg better than the Honda Odyssey.
3. The 5 has lively steering. It pretty much communicates.
4. The 5 will never cause your teenagers embarrasment at the school drop-off.

But, I admit, there are those for whom a minivan - even a mini minivan like the 5 - is unnecessary or, dare I say it, unwanted. The Mini may come up short in too many categories. You want a regular car, but you can't give up the fun factor. You'd never consider a car as stand-out as the Mini. Thus, Subaru builds the Legacy GT for you. Available in wagon or sedan form, equipped every time with all-wheel drive, and ready and willing to propel you forward with 243 horsepower and almost as much torque right in the middle of the tachometer. Sweet. Need a list of reasons to present to the significant other on behalf of the Subaru? Well, would you believe a list is already prepared?

1. It's a Q-ship. The Subaru is for the mature buyer; young or old. Classy and tasteful. Neither overdone or undercooked.
2. It has 243 ponies that perform like 280.
3. A manual transmission is available and recommended.
4. The purchase of the GT Wagon positions you near the top of The Good Car Guy's good books. Especially if it's black with the manual shifter.