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Subaru's fortunes sinking - can they turn it around? - READ ONLY

3134 messages,  Last post on Jul 20, 2009 at 7:18 PM

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Messages Page 311 of 314

#3095 of 3134 Re: full year [boaz47] by dino001

Dec 28, 2008 (12:46 pm)

Replying to: boaz47 (Dec 27, 2008 11:37 pm)
I think the key word here is debt. If you debt level is low than even tough economy is not going to take you out, as scaling down is a simple excersize of lowering input and output (variable cost reduction) and reducing your fixed costs with them. Conversely, if you lived on high debt, any adverse wind can take you out really fast. Basically, the lever works both ways. So, it's not really the size of the company, but its balance sheet that matters (case in point: GM vs. Toyota).
 
I would also be very cautious if not downright skeptical in calling Subaru a rising star - it takes more than just surviving one bad year. But it definitely was doing much better in 2008 than many others, even though I remember in early 2008 it did not look that great: WRX was already a clear disapointment (probably only Mike and Juice liked it ), Tribeca could not find its way back even after a clear improvement (was just too late), Outback and Legacy were already on their way down, Forester was still unknown, the only bright spot then was Impreza 2.5i and to much lesser degree STI.
 
Now - can anybody tell me how is FHI doing in terms of their balance sheet and debt levels?

#3096 of 3134 Re: full year [dino001] by ateixeira

Dec 29, 2008 (11:44 am)

Replying to: dino001 (Dec 28, 2008 12:46 pm)
nippononly surely said that tongue-in-cheek, he even had this emotorcon after that phrase:
 
So let's not overreact, folks.
 
Still, dino001 will tell you I'm the optimist and even I did not think the new Forester would be enough to offset a lousy market, but it was. I predicted success for the Forester, but I thought the market would be so bad it would drag Subaru down with it. It's in this very thread, actually, right about a year ago.
 
If the market is down 25%, Subaru sales thru Novemeber were up slightly, so that means they increased their market share by more than 25%, which is quite a feat.
 
Rising star? Not quite. Fair to call them a diamond in the rough, though.

#3097 of 3134 and if that by nippononly

Dec 29, 2008 (1:38 pm)

brings up Subaru's market share to, say, 2.5%, that's pretty significant. It's one of every 40 vehicles sold, and consider that they have a very limited presence in parts of the Sun Belt, which includes California, Texas, and Florida, 3 big car markets.
 
Plus, I wonder how much other niche manufacturers have - Subaru's share probably handily exceeds that of Mitsubishi, for instance, and is probably quadruple Porsche's, or more. It handily beats the Scion brand, which has almost twice as many dealers. What other good niche automaker examples are there? Hmmm......

#3098 of 3134 Re: and if that [nippononly] by ateixeira

Dec 30, 2008 (9:59 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Dec 29, 2008 1:38 pm)
Mitsu is suffering badly, a few months this year even Suzuki beat them out. And Suzuki is sharing parts and costs with GM.
 
Scion is really just a sub-division of Toyota, though they up-sized the engine just when the market decided they wanted smaller ones. Seriously bad timing, is all.

#3099 of 3134 Re: and if that [ateixeira] by kyfdx HOST

Dec 30, 2008 (10:08 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 30, 2008 9:59 am)
Isn't Suzuki going to re-badge a Nissan pickup as a Suzuki?
 
That wouldn't be a bad move for Subaru... An AWD-only Tacoma as a Subie.. Heck.. my Subie salesperson has to sell L-M part-time, next door, just to stay busy...

#3100 of 3134 Re: and if that [kyfdx] by rsholland

Dec 30, 2008 (10:50 am)

Replying to: kyfdx (Dec 30, 2008 10:08 am)
"An AWD-only Tacoma as a Subie."
 
Could work—if it offered the full-time, permanent (AWD) 4WD that comes with the Land Cruiser.
 
I've always felt that boxer engines had to be part of the Subaru picture, but I've come to realize that a gas or diesel engine of any type will only be a short-term solution. The future is with electric power. So using a Toyota engine, I could live with, knowing that it's only a stop-gap solution.
 
Having said that, I do still think, that if it's badged as Subaru, it MUST have a full-time AWD of some sort.
 
Bob

#3101 of 3134 ouch by steve_ HOST

Dec 31, 2008 (2:12 pm)

Tough Love From My Driveway (AutoObserver)
 
Tractor? Brazenly cheap?

#3102 of 3134 Re: ouch [steve_] by explorerx4

Dec 31, 2008 (7:26 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Dec 31, 2008 2:12 pm)
i kind of think 5+ speed transmissons are somewhat fashion statements.
an engine with a good torque band doesn't really need a lot of speeds.
that being said, i like the 6 speed in my fusion better the than the 4 speed in my wife's escape. they have basically the same engine. it's probably just that the 6 speed shifts better.
does anyone here who lives in a cold climate leave the wipers in the 'up' position against the windshield? (see mustang pic).
if they are frozen against the glass, it's a lot harder to scrape the ice and you have to break them loose anyway.

#3103 of 3134 Re: ouch [explorerx4] by steve_ HOST

Dec 31, 2008 (7:47 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Dec 31, 2008 7:26 pm)
Sometimes I'll stick my wipers "out" at the ski hill if it's cold and snowing. I never left my wipers like that Mustang's, even when my cars lived outside in Anchorage. What would be the advantage?

#3104 of 3134 Re: ouch [steve_] by explorerx4

Dec 31, 2008 (8:40 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Dec 31, 2008 7:47 pm)
i have seen it done too, but i just don't get it.
it's not a comment on the vehicle reviewer.

Messages Page 311 of 314

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