The new Outback trucks

[dcarrb]

Subaru is raising the bodies of 2005 Outback wagons and sedans by about one inch and classifying them as light trucks. Interestingly, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard for that category is 20.7 miles per gallon, whereas passenger cars must meet a 27.5 MPG average.

The Forester is classified as a car.

Amazing how the corporate mind works.


dcb

According to Subaru, they raised the body of the Outback because of customer surveys indicating a higher ground clearance was desirable. I know there are a lot of conspiracy theorists out there, but I beleive Subaru when they say they did it because a higher ground clearance was what consumers wanted. After all this is Amercia, home of Super-Sizing....we always want things faster, bigger, higher, etc.. Take a look at the surge of Hummer 2 sales, that says it all.





Dave

[dcarrb]

I'm sure you're right about consumer preference regarding height; a friend of mine who spends lots of time on gravel Forest Service roads around here is constantly wishing aloud that Subarus had a tad more ground clearance (and that his wife hadn't talked him into selling their Outback Sport).

That said, categorizing an Outback as a light truck is just loony, regardless of suspension height. No doubt there were a few chuckles in the boardroom when they made the call. Modify it as they will; there's still no other reason for them to change the classification (unless light trucks continue to evade the same level emissions and safety standards imposed on passenger cars).

Guess I can't fault Subaru for exploiting a loophole that ought not exist. I believe automakers should have a single fleet fuel economy average requirement, and the bar should be raised every model year.

dcb

Originally posted by dcarrb
Guess I can't fault Subaru for exploiting a loophole that ought not exist.

From what I understand, this is exactly what happened with the BRAT. At the time, the U.S. had a heavy import tax on foreign trucks. Not wanting to pay heavy taxes on each BRAT, Subaru threw two seats in the back and called it a "passenger vehicle". Trucks were defined at the time as having two seats, so a truck with four seats wasn't really a truck and therefore not subject to truck tax......instant loophole.



Dave

[GreenMarine]

So the BRAT had 4 seats in it???

[dcarrb]

Yeah, and as I recall, my '86 GL Wagon, with its 4WD, skid plate and steel-spoke wheels, was classified as a "multi-purpose vehicle" or some such, no doubt to beat some Federal mandate. It's amazing.

dcb

[dcarrb]

Originally posted by GreenMarineSVX
So the BRAT had 4 seats in it???

Two in, two out: It had two rear-facing seats in the bed.

dcb

Originally posted by GreenMarineSVX
So the BRAT had 4 seats in it???

I don't know if all BRATS had them, but a lot of them did. There were two plastic seats in the cargo area, facing backwards.




Dave

[LarryIII]

With the way Hummers & other gas guzzlers are selling, I'd like to paraphase an old Christmas song; "All I want for Christmas is just two oil wells."
Soon we'll be importing LNG from the middle east to run our electric generating plants.
The big sales of gas guzzlers are doing more to speed up the return of nuclear power than any politician ever could.
Next summer when gasoline goes to $2.50-$3.00 per gallon our so called economic recovery (?) will turn into a full blown recession.

Compared to some of these SUV behemoths, our SVXes are fairly economical.

[dcarrb]

Originally posted by LarryIII
With the way Hummers & other gas guzzlers are selling, I'd like to paraphase an old Christmas song; "All I want for Christmas is just two oil wells."

If truck and large SUV fuel mileage numbers had to be factored into fleet averages, we'd see improved economy in all models, right quick. The unhappy reality is, corporations have more say in setting the regs than the regulatory agencies.

dcb

[GreenMarine]

Originally posted by dcarrb


Two in, two out: It had two rear-facing seats in the bed.

dcb

Oh, that's pretty cool .... I'd love to have one of those

[benebob]

Originally posted by GreenMarineSVX


Oh, that's pretty cool .... I'd love to have one of those

You wouldn't have a windshield if I didn't. My understanding is that Subie failed to get the 25% tariff dropped but people loved the seats so they remained until 85. Subie lost a lawsuit b/c some drunk in the back cow tipping got his head knocked off or something. 86-88 didn't have the seats but I got tired of not having them and everyone asking if I had them. I now have some bolt in seats.

[Subafreak]

Gotta have the seats



Christ, Chris, do you even know what a BRAT is?

[benebob]

Originally posted by Subafreak
Christ, Chris, do you even know what a BRAT is?

Remember it isn't a BRAT to his like. It's a BRUMBY.

[Subafreak]

Originally posted by benebob


Remember it isn't a BRAT to his like. It's a BRUMBY.

Thats right mate.