Why are Subarus so popular in the DC area?

[Anonymous]

For my family of five with three very young children we wanted three rows (3 car seats in a single 2nd row is tight) and the Subaru Ascent had the highest consumer report ranking of any mid sized SUV. It was an obvious choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume it's because a Subaru is kind of a status car for outdoorsy liberals (I count myself as one).

But, I don't think of them as popular in DC. I grew up in Alaska and every third car there is a Subaru, not exaggerating.

There are a fair number in our NW DC neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Four wheel drive is essential for mountain ski trips.

Nope not true.

Maybe if you are going cross country skiing and need to get to a hard tp reach trail head but all of the ski areas are on major roads and the ski areas make sure they are clear because they can't sell lift tickets if you can't get there.

I grew up skiing in Colorado and we drove a Datsun station wagon.

The clerance difference between a car and an SUV is a few inches which makes no difference in.a big storn, most SUV's, believe it or not are 2WD, and every car slides on ice especially if you don't know how to drive which many SUV owners don't.

The best safety device for icy and snow packed roads is chains though most people driving luxury SUVs would never dirty themselves by putting them on.

But 4WD and AW2 is really overkill around here and both kill your gas mileage - we get the road conditions that require such cars every few years at best and in any case if you are concerned about safety the best thing you can do in conditions that require AWD is stay home.

There are lots of utilitarian cars with leg room that get better mileage than an Outback SUV.

But there isn't a car brand out there that so succesfully hoodwinks its liberal customers into believing you can be a progressive and drive a gas guzzling SUV.

Love

You really nail it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ummm advertising.

They are gas guzzling SUV's but they are marketed as cool laid back hippy cars so the limousine liberals around here can feel ok driving them - most SUV's are sold as status symbols or bully mobiles not a way to be hip and cool and environmental.

And to re-iterate Subarus are SUV's - not cars or wagons.

It’s a lifted wagon with cladding https://www.torquenews.com/1084/why-subaru-won-t-sell-their-new-2015-subaru-legacy-wagon-here-us

Same with the XV crosstrek which is a lifted Impreza. VW did the same with lifting and cladding their Sportwagen and calling it Alltrack and sales quadrupled. For Subaru, only the Forester and the new Ascent do not have “regular” car version and are pure SUVs

[Anonymous]

Subarus are what Volvos used to be in the 90ties, ie slight upscale and a tad bit different than regular Japanese offerings without all the bling bling of German lux-cars

[Anonymous]

I drive them because they’re safer in a crash. IDGAF about their mileage, or their marketing, or any feel good bullsh!t. I own two because I know, courtesy of my firefighter neighbor, that they are the brand of car that is THE hardest car to cut apart after a crash. They use high strength steel alloys in the A,B, C and D pillars, and in the door frames and door bodies. Their bodies are so strong that firefighters have broken extraction tools (jaws of life) trying to cut them open after a crash. That’s why I drive one. In case I ever crash it, I want maximum protection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ummm advertising.

They are gas guzzling SUV's but they are marketed as cool laid back hippy cars so the limousine liberals around here can feel ok driving them - most SUV's are sold as status symbols or bully mobiles not a way to be hip and cool and environmental.

And to re-iterate Subarus are SUV's - not cars or wagons.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

I drive a Legacy. Great gas mileage for AWD. I easily get 40mph on highway trips. Super safe, not a lot of horsepower. The best vehicle to hand down to my son who’s about to get a learners permit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Subaru has good legroom.

And head clearance. DH is 6’4”

[Anonymous]

I bought it for the safety ratings, no other reason. It does get better mileage than my secondhand Toyota, and we routinely use it to move dog crates and mulch and other stuff that wouldn't fit in a sedan.

I don't think most people buying crossover SUVs imagine they'll be in AWD conditions. We want safety and a practical amount of space. My mom has a Leaf and putting a car seat in there is a PITA, for example. This thread has a lot of vague references to cars that hit those marks without AWD / with better mileage, but I haven't seen any models actually named.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I mean, how many days/year are you going to require AWD? This isn't Vermont or Colorado.

We got ours because it’s a little narrower than other SUVs and it fits in our tight city parking space better than other big cars. I know a few other people who got one for the same reason. In the city, a few inches matters.

[Anonymous]

Subaru is not hoodwinking anyone; the Outback is an automotive Swiss Army knife.

By all means though, buy what works for you.

[Anonymous]

What’s up with all the weirdos in this thread who are bashing Subarus by attacking the owners?

What a strange line of commentary. Stop with anti-social signaling. It’s a supremely practical car for practical people.

Further, Subaru has teamed with Toyota to offer hybrid Forester starting next year and hybrid Outback sometime in the next couple years.

[Anonymous]

I think of Subaru as an old lady car, not based on their advertising, but by who is driving them. I figure Subaru drivers are about 60% old lady and 40% hipster
Wanna bee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm advertising.

They are gas guzzling SUV's but they are marketed as cool laid back hippy cars so the limousine liberals around here can feel ok driving them - most SUV's are sold as status symbols or bully mobiles not a way to be hip and cool and environmental.

And to re-iterate Subarus are SUV's - not cars or wagons.

Well said.

Which models are the gas guzzlers and do they pay for a gas guzzler tax? The biggest 7 passenger vehicle gets over 20 mpg which is better than most SUVs of that size. The majority of them in the DC area are even smaller so get in the mid 20s lower 30s. Given the reliability, safety, AWD capability, and practicality, why wouldn’t it be a popular choice.

Is there a model car that is DCUM acceptable to drive without attacking the brand or the owners? I don’t have a dog in this fight since my automobile is even more vilified than Subaru.