Well all the 2WD technology to prevent slippage are pretty good, but when going into really poor ground conditions that have no road, those 2WD technology really can't help much. I drove my Forester regularly into construction sites (during early stages) and the AWD really really helped out a lot. Tried driving a X1 RWD into site before...big big mistake. If there was rain the night before....

Anyway..as you said a lot of the buyers don't bother too much about AWD. Similar to what ever platform the car is on.

Females will look at it and like or dislike the looks, comfort, usability, ease of getting on or off, get to see the road from a higher level....etc.

Uncles/Aunties will probably like the nice height for getting onto these CUVs without killing their knees...

So far I have seen a few on the road and the drivers are housewives and uncles.

So at the end of the day, these CUVs/SUVs are indeed priced higher than their siblings because the car makers know there is a market for them. Irregardless of how they reuse a platform from a smaller car. If the market needs/wants it they make it. And I am pretty sure coming up with a whole new platform will drive car costs up and given the competition of car models nowadays, I doubt it would be very wise to redesign from floor up unless something is really wrong with it.

i resent that , i ain`t a uncle .. XD 
anyway back to the car having used it since before cny , the one complaint i have with it is , the gearbox is bit noisy ...

sonic: No offense. Was just agreeing to sleepwalker and reinforcing the fact that majority of car buyers don't give a damn about many technical details of the car, especially housewife and uncles. But I can see how they can be attracted to cars like ASX and XV.

Also was just stating the fact that I have only indeed seen female and uncle drivers on this car so far. Not to say that it is only a car for uncles and housewifes. I personally like it too. But too bad not enough ommph for me, having driven a Forester 2.5 turbo unit with an upgraded turbo. If this car came with a turbocharged boxer, I would have booked it way back when.

But mind sharing what made you buy this car in the first place? What were the positives of this XV for you?

Kevler: I think you need to test drive both and see for yourself what you need and price of course.

none taken . XD
pretty sure it can be turbo`ed later on .

as what made me buy the car , well for one

1 engine does not give headaches
2 size , compared to my previous car .
3 4wd...this due to personal preference .
4 parents nagging , one pasal they cannot get into my old car ( too low)  , and another being the maintaince/repair on the previous car ..
5 hate the crv shape ,and no new rav4 .. (recon only )
6 the handling is quite good for car that tall .

Out of interest, did you not compare to the ASX?

Wait till u send it for service....

You'll 'love' it!!!!

never did consider it ... lol
meaning ?

Simple... The service sucks big time!!!

never did consider it ... lol
meaning ?

Do what you need to do at TCS/MI until the warranty runs out. Anything that you can do outside that does not void warranty, you might want to consider doing it outside. They charge an exorbitant amount for parts. For example, OEM Subaru Impreza WRX front brake pads RM850 per pair. For that price I can get racing spec pads and OEM Replacement pads 0-500C range is only around RM400-500 per pair. Suspension.. hah.. that one is a real joke.. RM5000 OEM.

Since you have a new car, it should be pretty much trouble free as Subaru parts do last quite long but once they break, it becomes a headache as it does not share many common parts with other cars. Their parts are pretty 'unique' to Subaru only.

ah , that .. pretty much expected that already , well, not yet rech that stage yet though .

It is true. I owned the Forester between 09 till end of last year. The minute warranty was over, I did not return to MI for servicing. The last time I was there to service was in 2011. However, I see that they have now expanded their operations and the XV sells in larger volumes compared to the previous Foresters, WRXs and Legacys.

Also heard that they are gonna have a spare part hub here. They are also rebuilding a 7 storey HQ building 2 lots away from their current HQ. So hopefully this will change things around a bit. Afterall, if they want to establish an increased market share, they need to change their service attitude.

It is true. I owned the Forester between 09 till end of last year. The minute warranty was over, I did not return to MI for servicing. The last time I was there to service was in 2011. However, I see that they have now expanded their operations and the XV sells in larger volumes compared to the previous Foresters, WRXs and Legacys.

Also heard that they are gonna have a spare part hub here. They are also rebuilding a 7 storey HQ building 2 lots away from their current HQ. So hopefully this will change things around a bit. Afterall, if they want to establish an increased market share, they need to change their service attitude.

I don't think they'll ever change bro. It's the attitude that matters the most. Most of their SAs have worst attitudes than even Proton's SAs!!!!!!

I'm also speaking from experience as I send my car for servicing since 2010!!!

Been a customer of T and H before, even proton and perodua but nothing 'out beats' Subaru!!!!

malaysia is like that one lah...

Cannot say that bro... if everyone says that then, our service industry will die soon.

I can say Subarus are great! Great in handling, great in quality and great in looks! 

Just that IF... and I say IF Motor Image or TC is really keen on capturing the Malaysian market with Subarus, they MUST improve on Customer Service dept!!!!!

Every 2-3 months, they have so many staff turnover! Everytime I go there, it's a new person. Being new and perhaps they know that they'll not last that long, they just treat customers like rubbish!

I don't think they'll ever change bro. It's the attitude that matters the most. Most of their SAs have worst attitudes than even Proton's SAs!!!!!!

I'm also speaking from experience as I send my car for servicing since 2010!!!

Been a customer of T and H before, even proton and perodua but nothing 'out beats' Subaru!!!!