How do Subs sell in Florida?

[P T]

I'm in Minnesota. First Sub in August: a Forester. First AWD / anti-lock
braking vehicle. Friday was our first significant snow, a good 6 or more
(the storm that's hitting the east coast today.)

The Forester rocks! I probably could have gotten through with a FWD car,
but with the Sub, I never faltered It's like a snowthrower, you
don't need them much, but when you do, you're really glad you have them.

Even in the past 6 weeks, when roads were in standard winter driving
condition (i.e. mediocre traction) I noticed I was seldom breaking loose
(although my neighbor says I'm just not trying hard enough!)

This leads me to two questions.

How do other Subs handle in deep snow? I suspect part of my success was
due to the high clearance of the Forester.

How do Subs sell in the sun belt? I would think AWD would have little
appeal in Florida.

Keep on truckin' Pete

 

[LB]

I leave in Seattle. With all the skiing, biking and hiking it seems like
that every other car around here is Subi. I just went to Florida and I go to
So. California all the time. For 1 week in FL I saw 1 or 2 sub, the same in
CA.

I can't imaging that these cars sell anywhere other then place where you
truly need 4 wheel drive.

 

[Generic]

I leave in Seattle. With all the skiing, biking and hiking it seems like
that every other car around here is Subi. I just went to Florida and I go to
So. California all the time. For 1 week in FL I saw 1 or 2 sub, the same in
CA.

I can't imaging that these cars sell anywhere other then place where you
truly need 4 wheel drive.

Yes and no. In California there are pockets of Subaru drivers that largely
fit the college/hippie/granola stereotype. The original eco-friendly SUV
market. The buyer base expanded a lot when the Outback came out, but the
core is still the same. The same group would otherwise get a Volvo, Saab or
Audi--but all put together these form at most 5% of the market.

The WRX racing crowd is entirely unrelated and AWD is just one aspect of its
appeal.

-John

 

[y_p_w]

Yes and no. In California there are pockets of Subaru drivers that largely
fit the college/hippie/granola stereotype. The original eco-friendly SUV
market. The buyer base expanded a lot when the Outback came out, but the
core is still the same. The same group would otherwise get a Volvo, Saab or
Audi--but all put together these form at most 5% of the market.

I see a lot of Subarus here in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's snowed
maybe twice in the last 20 years (and barely at that). There are lots
of Outbacks, Legacies, and Foresters used primarily as family cars.
Some are probably taken into snow country. For the typical Subaru buyer
in this area, AWD is probably secondary to whether or not rest of the
car appeals to the buyer. I see plenty of AWD vehicle around here, and
it's sometimes a selling point, albeit a secondary one.

Now I hear the granola type living in the woods up in Northen California
love Subarus for their capbilities on unpaved gravel or dirt roads.

The WRX racing crowd is entirely unrelated and AWD is just one aspect of its
appeal.

I've got a WRX, but there's no racing or track use.

 

[MN]

Generic wrote:

I see a lot of Subarus here in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's snowed
maybe twice in the last 20 years (and barely at that). There are lots
of Outbacks, Legacies, and Foresters used primarily as family cars.
Some are probably taken into snow country. For the typical Subaru buyer
in this area, AWD is probably secondary to whether or not rest of the
car appeals to the buyer. I see plenty of AWD vehicle around here, and
it's sometimes a selling point, albeit a secondary one.

Now I hear the granola type living in the woods up in Northen California
love Subarus for their capbilities on unpaved gravel or dirt roads.

Almost every other car is a Subaru in Reno, NV; they are immensly popular
in Northern Calif. Places like Auburn, CA, the Sierra foothills in general,
and
particularly Lake Tahoe area (Truckee, Kings Beach, S.Lake Tahoe, Incline
Village).

Resale values are good, dealerships and independent shops abound.
Plenty of people with 'vintage' cars.

Now Florida, I wonder.

Lets not forget that Subaru is not all about AWD. Their cars in general
are nice, and the boxer engine rather unique or altogether unavailable
in an inexpensive car.

There should be plenty of people owning Subarus in Florida, but I suspect
there aren't. Why?

Is the small added cost of AWD such a powerful deterrent, or something
else? Insurance cost, lack of dealerships? Anyone from Florida care
to reply?

I plan on moving to Florida soon, should I take my Subaru with me,
or is selling it and buying something else a better idea?

MN

 

[KLS]

Our 1999 Legacy OBW is lovely in deep snow provided one doesn't perch
it on a fulcrum; driving intelligently is still necessary for full AWD
advantage.

We drove said car to Pensacola in November 2003 and didn't see another
Subaru once we got south of Ohio, not even in the mountains of
Kentucky and Tennessee. We only saw 4x4 trucks and American sedans
and various Japanese front-wheel cars.

 

[jabario]

Look at the dealer locator on subaru.com. There are only a few dealers
in TX and they are far apart. Different regions have different sales
numbers.

 

[John Rethorst]

Now Florida, I wonder.

I live halfway between Seattle and Canada, and every other car is a Subie. I
spent a couple of weeks in Arizona recently, and rarely saw one. I never saw so
many Hummers in my life, though. Sighting one of those is a rarity up here.

When I bought my OBW four months ago, a friend who's a moderately granola type
like me joked that I had got an SUV. I replied that he was right, but it's a
blue state SUV, and there's quite a difference.

 

[y_p_w]

Our 1999 Legacy OBW is lovely in deep snow provided one doesn't perch
it on a fulcrum; driving intelligently is still necessary for full AWD
advantage.

Sure. As I recall someone from Finland once said, AWD/4WD only gets
you going. If you're trying to slow down, it doesn't help you stop
or steer.

I've got a coworker with an Audi Quattro A4. He seems to think that
his car with all-seasons should be more than adequate in deep snow.
Of course he doesn't drive in that stuff 4 months a year, where
snow/ice specific tires are always a great idea because the tread
and softer rubber help with control and braking.

I had a pet peeve with my old car ('95 Acura Integra GS-R). On a
rainy day when I stopped behind a crosswalk or stop line, my front
tires would lose traction on the painted lines in first gear. I'd
take care of this by starting in 2nd gear. With my WRX, that has
never been a problem, since the rear wheels had traction.

 

[KLS]

I've got a coworker with an Audi Quattro A4. He seems to think that
his car with all-seasons should be more than adequate in deep snow.

Your coworker is a moron. I also have the same car he has, but I am
intelligent enough to have a separate set of wheels and snow tires for
November-April, and in my case, my car is great. In deep snow, there
are limits, hello. Geez! The A4 is not an SUV or a truck!

I love both cars, but I love the A4 just that bit more; it handles
better (the extra weight helps, plus the Audi AWS can't be beat) and
is a dream to drive.

 

[MikeL]

I used to live in Pensacola... just recently in fact I left there and that
is where (actually, Destin Beach -50 miles away - is where I bought it
because there are no Subbie dealers in P.Cola). Anyway. I saw a multitude
of WRX cars there. Then again the pan handle isn't much like the rest of
the state, so who knows. I would think, however, that the AWD would be a
nice feature in all that insane summer rain we got there.

Just my two cents though....

Mike

 

[BBB]

Probably not as well as Buicks.

 

[CompUser]

Sounds like Santa Cruz, if it's still the way it
was 15 years ago.

Almost every other car is a Subaru in Reno, NV; they are immensly popular
in Northern Calif. Places like Auburn, CA, the Sierra foothills in general,
and particularly Lake Tahoe area (Truckee, Kings Beach, S.Lake Tahoe, Incline
Village).

I don't think many. I'm in southeast Ga, and see
very few here and in north Florida. I drove up
to NJ a year ago, and seemed as soon as I entered
NJ, I was seeing Forester/Outbacks all over.
Didn't see any WRXs at all...might have
overlooked Legacys...but just a lot more up
there. I'd guess it's pretty easy, if you don't
have an annual, significant benefit from AWD, why
bother paying the extra $$$?

 

[Generic]

Sounds like Santa Cruz, if it's still the way it
was 15 years ago.

For sure. The SC mountains between SC and San Jose. Subaru Outback
country.

-John

 

[Generic]

I see a lot of Subarus here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For sure, it's a center for hippie/granola culture. The cars are almost
Anything But American.

It's snowed
maybe twice in the last 20 years (and barely at that). There are lots
of Outbacks, Legacies, and Foresters used primarily as family cars.

As another said, the Blue State SUV.

Now I hear the granola type living in the woods up in Northen California
love Subarus for their capbilities on unpaved gravel or dirt roads.

It's all about the image. "I could go skiing if I wanted to and people will
think I'm an outdoorsy type."

I've got a WRX, but there's no racing or track use.

The point is it sells to younger street racers and the "Fast and the
Furious" movie crowd. These are anti-granolas if anything.

-John

 

[JD]

Saab

For sure, it's a center for hippie/granola culture. The cars are almost
Anything But American.


As another said, the Blue State SUV.


It's all about the image. "I could go skiing if I wanted to and people will
think I'm an outdoorsy type."


The point is it sells to younger street racers and the "Fast and the
Furious" movie crowd. These are anti-granolas if anything.

-John

That's partially true. A lot of young guys want the WRX up here (I'm from
Eastern Canada), but most people who own them are over 30, and bought them
for the combination of performance and safety.

I bought the STi. Most of my freinds who have toy cars, bought Corvettes
and Vipers; which you can only drive for 3-4 months per year up here. The
STi is great performance, and its fantastic in the snow; so I have an
all-season toy. Performance Scoobies are popular here because of a
combination of fun factor and practicality.

 

[Generic]

That's partially true. A lot of young guys want the WRX up here (I'm from
Eastern Canada), but most people who own them are over 30, and bought them
for the combination of performance and safety.

You've got to be over 30 before the insurance on them drops to even the
nosebleed level! I think interest in safety differs where climate isn't an
issue, such as Los Angeles.

I bought the STi. Most of my freinds who have toy cars, bought Corvettes
and Vipers; which you can only drive for 3-4 months per year up here. The
STi is great performance, and its fantastic in the snow; so I have an
all-season toy. Performance Scoobies are popular here because of a
combination of fun factor and practicality.

In my experience many Corvette/Mustang and traditional muscle car buyers
wouldn't be caught dead in a "rice rocket" like the STi. No V8, the wing,
the fenders, the wheels. None of their friends know much about it. It's a
big cultural split like mainstream rock vs. alternative rock or hip-hop.

If only the new Legacy GT wasn't so boring looking!

-John

 

[Hallraker]

Your coworker is a moron. I also have the same car he has, but I am
intelligent enough to have a separate set of wheels and snow tires for
November-April, and in my case, my car is great. In deep snow, there
are limits, hello. Geez! The A4 is not an SUV or a truck!

I love both cars, but I love the A4 just that bit more; it handles
better (the extra weight helps, plus the Audi AWS can't be beat) and
is a dream to drive.

I agree to that. Although I've never been fortunate enough to own a set of
snow tires, I've always run expensive all-seasons. Adequate in the snow,
but at least they aren't scary. My current tires, however, were purchased
in an emergency and with very little money available (college lack of money
time) so I ended up with objects that are less like tires and more like
rubber circles that can be mounted on a rim, but would perform better
mounted on a rope and used as a swing.

The rubber compound is already pretty hard and cheap, even in the summer,
and once it gets to around 40 degrees (F) those tires are rock hard, so you
can imagine below freezing. Zero traction. It's like racing slicks on ice.

-Matt

 

[y_p_w]

Your coworker is a moron. I also have the same car he has, but I am
intelligent enough to have a separate set of wheels and snow tires for
November-April, and in my case, my car is great. In deep snow, there
are limits, hello. Geez! The A4 is not an SUV or a truck!

I love both cars, but I love the A4 just that bit more; it handles
better (the extra weight helps, plus the Audi AWS can't be beat) and
is a dream to drive.

Well he's probably only taking it on weekend trips to Tahoe, and
probably sticks to the main roads that get cleared. Still - there
are chain restrictions in winter, and I'm sure if it's bad enough,
they're going on AWD or not. Especially if the all-seasons are
even partially worn.

 

[Bobby]

I bought my '02 OBW in Florida. Fort Walton Beach dealership to be exact.
It is in the Panhandle (as noted earlier it isn't exactly like the rest of
the state). Key buying points for me were safety, no matter how hard I
tried in the test drive I couldn't get it stuck in the sand (can be a HUGE
problem there), and I also couldn't get the sucker to hydroplane. I tried
hard too!
I never had trouble finding my car in a parking lot either, as it was rare
to see another on the road much less in the same parking lot. When we (the
missus and I) drove back to GA to visit family people would stare as they'd
never even seen one before.

Of course now I live in Alaska. I'm lucky if my license plate help me
distinguish between my vehicle and the 40,000 others parked on the same
parking row as me.

--

| I'm in Minnesota. First Sub in August: a Forester. First AWD / anti-lock
| braking vehicle. Friday was our first significant snow, a good 6 or more
| (the storm that's hitting the east coast today.)
|
| The Forester rocks! I probably could have gotten through with a FWD car,
| but with the Sub, I never faltered It's like a snowthrower, you
| don't need them much, but when you do, you're really glad you have them.
|
| Even in the past 6 weeks, when roads were in standard winter driving
| condition (i.e. mediocre traction) I noticed I was seldom breaking loose
| (although my neighbor says I'm just not trying hard enough!)
|
| This leads me to two questions.
|
| How do other Subs handle in deep snow? I suspect part of my success was
| due to the high clearance of the Forester.
|
| How do Subs sell in the sun belt? I would think AWD would have little
| appeal in Florida.
|
| Keep on truckin' Pete
|