Listen VW : Subaru Plans For Their Aftermarket

["George & Deanna" <coolidge@tidalwave.net>]

Hey,
    I was just reading the tech letter section of the new Road & Track. An
owner of a Subaru Legacy GT asked for info regarding increasing his hp,
since there seems to be a lack of aftermarket for Subaru. As a very small
player in the US, not many tuners have taken Suby under their wing, but with
cars like the Impreza 2.5RS and Legacy GT maybe someone should.
    Anyway the editors at R&T Responded the following:

Some Subaru performance parts make it into the hands of the US-based SCCA
Pro Rally set, but it is rather likely that these produce engines that are
too highly tuned for street use, and thus unsuitable anyway.

The good news is that Subaru of America just announced a performance parts
plan at the New York Auto Show. The program will work through the catalog
and local Subaru dealers. The 1999 RS 2.5 is the first model being
supported; look for an exhaust system, clutch, plenty of handling parts
(these from Japan and no doubt rally based) and possibly some aerodynamic
body parts by mid summer or fall of this year. Some of the parts may fit the
2.5 liter Forrester, but test fitments have not been made at this time.

Obviously Subaru is looking to capitalize on its sporting successes by
building more of a performance image. Part of this plan is to support a US
tuner to develop more hot-rod items, along with the vending of higher
performance models currently not imported to the US, but this will take
time. So, in the short run there's little hope of increased performance for
your Legacy, but the longer run is looking bright.

    I wish VW would be this open to embracing their performance ability.
There are currently no sporting based vehicles in the lineup except the GTI
with Eagle GAs and GLX worse off with floaty suspension. The new Beetle 1.8T
will sort of go there, but VW is high and dry IMHO on this subject, with
Audi about the same with the addition of their beautiful Sport suspension
package. While VW has an established aftermarket, Audi is in the position of
having strong worldwide sporting recognition and little aftermarket (in
comparison to VW).
    Imagine if VW would approach VW Sport, ND or Neuspeed or Audi to
approach Hoppen, TAP or LLtek to develope high performance parts for
enthusiasts and to sell high performance models in low quantities like the
new S4, but maybe in tuned trim. Their sporting image would go up a ton, and
it would make enthusiasts like us, sell their cars to our friends by the
boatload.

Later-George Achorn
VW Vortex
http://www.vwvortex.com