Does Subaru need a 2 door hatch?

Marine06 · 02-14-2003, 05:32 PM

Actually instead, Ford and others are turboing their small cars i.e. the focus to compete with the WRX. Looks like the giant will have to play catchup...

Soopafly · 02-15-2003, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by super_bean21

hey, anyone think subaru will ever make a small two box hatch? light weight, compete with the focus, 206, corolla, etc... A small subie hatch with twin twin scroll turbos on a stroked flat six would be a world beater!!!

Hey super_bean21, if SOA came out with a little AWD hatchback, they would have that market on lockdown turbo or not, though if they did put a turbo on one that would be a pretty awesome little car.

jbhebert · 02-20-2003, 07:14 AM

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

**SnowbordrWRX** · 02-20-2003, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbhebert

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

Wouldn't this be called the STi Wagon?

91TB78 · 02-20-2003, 10:54 PM

Perhaps something like RSX sized AWD sports car...

jbhebert · 02-21-2003, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowbordrWRX

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbhebert

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

Wouldn't this be called the STi Wagon?

Granted, what Subaru is offering as a "wagon" right now for the Impreza is really a 4 door hatch, it's still too big. 2 doors, the size of a Golf. That would be perfect.

alfredob1 · 02-21-2003, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbhebert

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

Subaru might have to now. Even Skoda has a new car in the works. We might see it near the end of the WRC season.

CloNeGTS · 02-21-2003, 10:08 AM

Woah......

Yeah, I think Subaru needs to do something to get a smaller car in there. I just don't see it being Subaru's style though....a Subie hatch?

Just curious though....aren't there regulations in WRC that give a heavier car like the STi a benefit in power or something? Or a weight requirement for the other cars? Kinda like the penalty weight "cooler" the JGTC series :wink:

91TB78 · 02-21-2003, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Just curious though....aren't there regulations in WRC that give a heavier car like the STi a benefit in power or something? Or a weight requirement for the other cars? Kinda like the penalty weight "cooler" the JGTC series

No, it doesn't quite work that way. Every one of the cars has to meet weight standards and power standards..you can't go over in power and under in weight. The biggest reason you would want to go with a hatch-sized car would be its manueverability...its short turning center..

alfredob1 · 02-21-2003, 11:31 AM

They use restrictors to limit the amount of hp the cars produce. The cars have to be within a certain margin (don't know what) of weight or the driver can get penalized. Last year Tommy was excluded from a rally because the car wasn't heavy enough. Burns (Peugeot) got excluded once too for having to light of a flywheel. They have rules for everything.

91TB78 · 02-21-2003, 12:08 PM

Yup..there are a ton of rules dealing with weight, power, etc.

Agent Chobos · 02-22-2003, 01:14 AM

That Skoda pic must be a street car, right? It clearly has 4 doors. If they were building a car specifically to be competitive in WRC, wouldn't they have built a 2-door hatch like everyone else?

CloNeGTS · 02-22-2003, 09:28 AM

I think all cars have to have a certain level of mass production. And bottom line, a company wouldn't want to have to make X amount of a car and take them to market if it wasn't a truely marketable car made only to win rallies.

yxan2 · 02-22-2003, 10:29 AM

who cares how many doors it has as long as it has a small wheelbase. there is no difference between a golf hatch that has 4 or 2 doors

potay · 02-24-2003, 01:39 PM

Good point, I think Subaru could benefit greatly by making a smaller hatchback. Granted that Subaru has never been one to just "follow the trend" and granted that there are a ton of new small hatchbacks on the streets right now (focus, protege5, etc, etc) but with the smaller wheel base and the classic AWD, I think that subaru could really dominate the class if they wanted. Not only that, but traditionally (at least in my part of the world) "boy racer" type people loved the smaller cars cause they were so much fun to throw around (IMHO). I can't speak for all areas of the world, but up here, I'm sure that it would be an instant hit. I'd certainly buy one for the little woman. (and take it out on the weekends)

02-14-2003, 05:32 PM	#1
Marine06 Junior STI Driver Car: WRC Fav Mod: Network Admin/Student Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 192 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	Actually instead, Ford and others are turboing their small cars i.e. the focus to compete with the WRX. Looks like the giant will have to play catchup... This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

02-22-2003, 10:29 AM	#14
yxan2 Grassroots STI Racer Location: Denver, CO Posts: 575 IWSTI Addict since: Jan 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Dilema who cares how many doors it has as long as it has a small wheelbase. there is no difference between a golf hatch that has 4 or 2 doors

02-24-2003, 01:39 PM	#15
potay Amateur STI Driver Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 28 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	Good point, I think Subaru could benefit greatly by making a smaller hatchback. Granted that Subaru has never been one to just "follow the trend" and granted that there are a ton of new small hatchbacks on the streets right now (focus, protege5, etc, etc) but with the smaller wheel base and the classic AWD, I think that subaru could really dominate the class if they wanted. Not only that, but traditionally (at least in my part of the world) "boy racer" type people loved the smaller cars cause they were so much fun to throw around (IMHO). I can't speak for all areas of the world, but up here, I'm sure that it would be an instant hit. I'd certainly buy one for the little woman. (and take it out on the weekends) This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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02-20-2003, 07:14 AM	#3
jbhebert STI Driver Car: Anything automotive Location: South Deerfield, MA Posts: 281 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

02-20-2003, 10:54 PM	#5
91TB78 S204 Racer Car: 06 IX MR Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,666 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2002 Trader Rating: (12)	Perhaps something like RSX sized AWD sports car...

02-21-2003, 10:08 AM	#8
CloNeGTS S204 Racer Car: Solo II, WRC Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,776 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (1)	Woah...... Yeah, I think Subaru needs to do something to get a smaller car in there. I just don't see it being Subaru's style though....a Subie hatch? Just curious though....aren't there regulations in WRC that give a heavier car like the STi a benefit in power or something? Or a weight requirement for the other cars? Kinda like the penalty weight "cooler" the JGTC series :wink:

02-21-2003, 11:31 AM	#10
alfredob1 The Next Petter Solberg Car: 03 Evo VIII Fav Mod: Track days Location: Somewheres in CA Posts: 872 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2001 Trader Rating: (0)	They use restrictors to limit the amount of hp the cars produce. The cars have to be within a certain margin (don't know what) of weight or the driver can get penalized. Last year Tommy was excluded from a rally because the car wasn't heavy enough. Burns (Peugeot) got excluded once too for having to light of a flywheel. They have rules for everything.

02-21-2003, 12:08 PM	#11
91TB78 S204 Racer Car: 06 IX MR Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,666 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2002 Trader Rating: (12)	Yup..there are a ton of rules dealing with weight, power, etc.

02-22-2003, 01:14 AM	#12
Agent Chobos Grassroots STI Racer Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 542 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	That Skoda pic must be a street car, right? It clearly has 4 doors. If they were building a car specifically to be competitive in WRC, wouldn't they have built a 2-door hatch like everyone else?

02-22-2003, 09:28 AM	#13
CloNeGTS S204 Racer Car: Solo II, WRC Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,776 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2002 Trader Rating: (1)	I think all cars have to have a certain level of mass production. And bottom line, a company wouldn't want to have to make X amount of a car and take them to market if it wasn't a truely marketable car made only to win rallies.