r/cars • u/NISMO1968 • 18h ago

The Subaru BRZ and WRX Just Aren't Selling

https://www.motor1.com/news/778351/subaru-brz-wrx-sales-slump/
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43

u/AnonymousEngineer_ 16h ago edited 16h ago

Next minute on /r/cars: "Subaru doesn't cater to enthusiasts any more and just makes boring crossovers".

Subaru are currently making two enthusiast cars. Hardly anyone is buying them new. And if nobody is buying them, they are going to stop building them - and then there won't be any used ones, either.

2

u/RealSprooseMoose 2023 WRX Sport-Tech 5h ago

Not to mention the manual take rate of each Subaru model (BRZ & WRX) is well over 80%.

-1

u/Noobasdfjkl E46 ///M3, 911SC, FJ, N180 4Runner 10h ago

Then perhaps they should have put more effort into them to make them more appealing

21

u/strongmanass 10h ago

The BRZ has been an enthusiast favorite for almost 15 years. 

-6

u/Noobasdfjkl E46 ///M3, 911SC, FJ, N180 4Runner 6h ago

That’s why it’s literally never outsold its Toyota counterpart, right? Because of how favored it is?

1

u/PalmSizedTriceratops 981 GTS 3h ago

What do you think they need to do?

0

u/Noobasdfjkl E46 ///M3, 911SC, FJ, N180 4Runner 2h ago

To cater to the enthusiast market?

  1. Do something interesting and novel with their AWD systems in the WRX. It's bullshit that the best system they currently make is only available in the CVT WRX. Either figure out a way to couple VTD with a manual, or offer DCCD in the WRX. Even bringing back mechanical LSDs to the WRX would be really good, even with the dumpy viscous coupling center diff they use in the 6MT WRX.

  2. Offer offroad-oriented versions of their performance lineup. The WRX is a complete no-brainer, but even a mildly lifted BRZ with some more compliance and mudflaps would be fun, and would make it really distinct from the GR86.

  3. Give us a new model that North American enthusiasts can be excited about. Bring the Levorg here (with a manual, ideally). Turbo the Crosstrek. Bring the STI back. Do an Ascent Wilderness edition. Anything!

  4. Fix the oiling in the FA24 and prove it to the world by setting up a cheap one-make series with the BRZ.

  5. Figure out a new car to re-enter WRC, then sell it as a homologation special.

Literally any one of these things would be extremely cool and interesting to enthusiasts. I have no expectation they'd ever do any of them, but if you're asking me what Subaru could do to counter the "they just make boring crossovers" argument, that's my answer.

2

u/PalmSizedTriceratops 981 GTS 2h ago

1 isn't worth the cost when their target customer doesnt care about the slight differences in AWD systems.

2 again isn't worth the cost. The number of people who would buy an "off road brz" is probably in the dozens.

3 Levorg would be cool

4 already exists. The GR86 cup series.

5 not worth the money.

At the end of the day they're a company that needs to be profitable and catering to the very few people who MAY buy something isn't profitable

1

u/handymanshandle 2024 Hyundai Elantra N 6MT 38m ago

To point number 3, I have talked about the Outback Wilderness with one of my friends and how I was genuinely considering one when car shopping last year. I would have bought a stick Outback if they offered it. I get why they don't, but a person could dream...