Subaru Baja

[Phil]

Have just spent an interesting 3 weeks in Texas. (I am from Australia). On
the last day I was there, I read a survey on the front page of the Houston
Chronicle on the Best and Worst vehicles in America. It stated that the best
pickup truck was the Subaru Baja. I thought this a bit strange as having
just spent three weeks in the State of the Pickup Truck I didn't even see
one Outback let alone a Baja. What's the story, anybody see this survey? By
the way, out of the 20 categories of motor vehicle, Japanese cars won 17 of
them.

 

[Oscar_Lives]

Have just spent an interesting 3 weeks in Texas. (I am from Australia). On
the last day I was there, I read a survey on the front page of the Houston
Chronicle on the Best and Worst vehicles in America. It stated that the
best pickup truck was the Subaru Baja. I thought this a bit strange as
having just spent three weeks in the State of the Pickup Truck I didn't
even see one Outback let alone a Baja. What's the story, anybody see this
survey? By the way, out of the 20 categories of motor vehicle, Japanese
cars won 17 of them.

Found it!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/4324440.html

 

[Mark T.B. Carroll]

It stated that the best pickup truck was the Subaru Baja. I thought
this a bit strange as having just spent three weeks in the State of
the Pickup Truck I didn't even see one Outback let alone a Baja.
What's the story, anybody see this survey?

Consumer car-buying is rarely done on anything like a rational,
well-informed basis. You also get a lot of people patriocally sticking
with domestic brands, even if they're mostly made in Mexico, Canada,
etc.

-- Mark

 

[Rebecca B.]

My best guess, is that perhaps the Baja is too small for work that
farmers and ranchers in Texas might need and regular people don't see
the need to buy something that is all wheel drive when there are no
harsh winters to deal with. I don't know though, I've never been to
Texas.

 

[Mike Rezsutek]

My best guess, is that perhaps the Baja is too small for work that
farmers and ranchers in Texas might need and regular people don't see
the need to buy something that is all wheel drive when there are no
harsh winters to deal with. I don't know though, I've never been to
Texas.

Being from Texas, and a Subaru owner, my take on this is that pick-up
trucks are part of the culture down here, and the bigger the better. You
can't imagine how many soccer moms drive extended cab duallies but never
get them off road or do any real farm or ranch work with them. And a
diesel engine is more impressive it seems. Like another poster said, too,
it's a patriotic thing, even though many "foriegn" cars are now made in
America. But then again, I'm no sociologist.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Being from Texas, and a Subaru owner, my take on this is that pick-up
trucks are part of the culture down here, and the bigger the better. You
can't imagine how many soccer moms drive extended cab duallies but never
get them off road or do any real farm or ranch work with them. And a
diesel engine is more impressive it seems. Like another poster said, too,
it's a patriotic thing, even though many "foriegn" cars are now made in
America. But then again, I'm no sociologist.

I agree. The Baja is sometimes called an Avalanche 'wannabe'. But, it is
a rare animal period. I don't theink they sold more than 700 or so in
any year model.

Carl

 

[Ragnar]

Found it!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/4324440.html

You should read the article again. The Baja was rated "most reliable".
, not "most popular". Big difference.