[SpudBud]

Hi folks

I have been reading this forum for a few weeks now, it's great. I have been a fan of the WRX since 1998 when I lived in South Africa ( by the way they sold the Impreza GT model there since around '95). My friend's dad bought a sportswagon GT in '98 and after a few rides in that, I was hooked!!! Ever since I have been following WRC loosely and WRX's and STi's closely.

Anyway I am in my last semester of my Aerospace Studies degree at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and I am doing my senior thesis under my Int'l Business minor. It is entitled: "The promotion of the Subaru Impreza WRX in the U.S. and the faults in the marketing used by Subaru". I am planning on going into the history of the WRX abroad and here in the US, rally history, other rally-inspired vehicles and then get into Subaru's marketing plans. Make some solutions like maybe, increase promotion of rallying and attempt to get WRC into USA, etc......

Now I am not saying Subaru did a horrible job of marketing the WRX, but a thesis has to focus on a problem and offer a solution. So this is one of the only ways I can do a thesis about something I have a real passion for after studying about aviation for 4 years (need a break now!)

Anyway, I need some help..... I need your help please :sadwave: Where should I get some info on this subject???

I have two books, "Impreza" by Brian Long and Owning, modifying and something Impreza's. Also going to go through our library and all local libraries plus the internet like a demon.

Any help, suggestions or ideas from you folks would be super-schweet.

PS. I also got to drive an STi last year, and holy bejesus that thing was the most phenomonal experience behind any steering wheel, ever!!! You are some lucky peeps that get to drive these things.... :wiggles:

 

[Spectre186]

w00t for embry-riddle! I'm at the Daytona Beach campus as aero sci major. Great choice for a thesis...sounds like something that you are really interested in. As far as sources go, I really cant help you too much :sadwave: sorry! I would go to some bookstores though, I've seen a book titled, "History of the Impreza" at one bookstore. Speaking of which, the history of the wrc wrx is in the mail for me! Well good luck on your thesis!

 

[MasiveMunkey]

I thought they did a pretty good job marketing it. Lance Armstrong rocks.

 

[snowcat]

Hmm... Aerospace and marketing?

I don't know how much you know about marketing, but be sure to do your homework about alternate marketing venues, such as the WRX commercial in the middle of the film "Dawn of the Dead," product placement in films, TV, etc. for cars, press buzz (Car & Driver, Road & Track, etc.) and so on...

Don't forget to use the search feature on these forums - many ads/commercials have been posted in these forums over the past few years...

-snowcat

 

[snowcat]

I thought they did a pretty good job marketing it. Lance Armstrong rocks.

"Radar Love" anyone?

 

[bigd1]

yeah, Lance was a pretty solid move for the marketing department. good timing with the tour wins becoming a huge deal and the cancer foundation success. yellow bracelets = Lance = Subaru etc..

 

[MasiveMunkey]

"Radar Love" anyone?

I downloaded that song and put it on a cd. I play it while I race down the freeways and mountain roads and I have my friend pretend he's a codriver. Man I feel like driving everytime I hear that song.

 

[SpudBud]

yeah the timing on the Lance Armstrong thing worked out nicely, especially with his Tour de France win... he's one tough dude- just like Subarus

But come on Subaru's slogan "Driven by what's inside" - it's an engine. :rotfl: just kidding. I know I am no ad genius, i need all the help i can get so all these ideas will come in handy.

Now, maybe you should let me test drive all of your cars, you know, to get a better "feel" for my thesis. It's strictly eductational of course....

 

[STI4theSlowGuy]

Dont forget that the Saab 9-2x is part of the marketing of the WRX. You can find out a lot about the marketing campaign of subaru by reading the saab literature.

PM me or post here and ill give you a hand.

I studied marketing and do a lot of it for my job.

 

[jmussetter]

but be sure to do your homework about alternate marketing venues, such as the WRX commercial in the middle of the film "Dawn of the Dead," product placement in films,

I don't think Subaru paid for this advertisement. If you listen to the commentary of "Dawn of the Dead" (bada$$ movie!), it turns out that the director of DOTD also directed that WRX commercial that they showed on the TV. I think he needed TV footage to play on the TV, and used that since he had some rights to it already. The director distinctively said that they couldn't get ANY product sponsors for the movie, so everything down to the beer can had to be a 'fake' product.

-jason

 

[gusto]

spud email or PM me i got something that can help...

 

[yo vanilla]

faults in marketing? how about when the wrx was introduced here in mid 2001, they gave you a free, 1 year membership to the Sports Car Club Of America. Sounds nice, no strings attached right? well, go ahead and sign up, they might just void your whole warranty for it. :sadwave:

(as a disclaimer, i work in the car business and always look at a situation from both sides, i.e. a car manufacturer shouldn't have to warranty a problem that was clearly caused by misuse. hiwever, the more and more i hear about how subaru handles claims, the less and less i like them. seems like all you have to do is fit a certain demographic and oops, we can't cover that, sorry :thumbdown

 

[flyin_gnome]

whoa small world I graduated ERAU Prescott last May and am currently a flight instructor for the school. :wiggles: . I usually just read the forums as I dont have an STI or subie yet, *in the process of selling my integra*Good luck with that thesis should be an interesting read.

 

[silver_rex_4eat]

i got an idea..

why not look at the why it took so long to bring the wrx and sti over hear in the first place. Is it the gas or emissions? Does subaru or even mitsubishi not think us americans would buy a awd rally bred turbo monster. Lets look at the facts that Europe and japan for years have gotten the better cars ie skylines, escort cosworths, sti and evos for years before us. Then they finally market the car and bring it over hear. I have to say the first time i saw the commercial of the wrx rounding the corner with dirt spraying out back in early 2000 or 2001 got my attention. I have loved subies for years from the wrc and simulator video games like the grand turismo series. For the longest time the only exposure to these cars were in video games and i believe that has helped also with the success.

I would like to see more limited editions come our way. I am not talking bout the esx sti either but more of the specialness to rallying type edition.

chris

 

[rallymaniac]

i on the other hand will give you some valuable links :
Subaru.com is obvious
Subaru Global
Anything about WRC

 

[SpudBud]

Yo Vanilla - that membership to SCCA sounded like a great idea for such a sporty vehicle coming into the untapped market, but then they void your warrenty if your partake? not cool, will definately look into that one for sure!

Flying gnome - Erik you were supposed to have your STi by now damnit!!! come on dude I want a ride.... pweeeese!!! Good luck with the IPing. if I dont see you, seems like I never see you anymore. What you doing with "tegra"? what you gonna get?

Silver Rex - All excellent questions, I have included some of them in my preliminary questions that we had to make up EXCEPT for the video games. I must put that in and investigate if Subaru had anything to do with getting the game manufacturers to put their cars in, perhaps for the US games to build up interest, maybe???

Rallymaniac - nice links, I am going to use them as sources, seeing as though we have to have like a bazillion of them and there arent too many books around here on subarus, just on marketing.

Thanks folks, any more questions or info like this stuff would sure help me. :wiggles:

 

[flyin_gnome]

haha i thought it was you craig, I have been working instructing, havent had the budget to get the car yet but I am selling my teg for a downpayment on an STI I am going today to look again at the used one they have at Tims at the moment. Good luck with the Essay see you around

 

[PurelySwift]

I'd vote for motorshow history. When the Sti was released to the US market, they debuted the car 3 days after Mitsubishi had debuted the Evo 8 and totally squashed mitsubishi. It was a huge secret for the company and Mitsu never saw it coming, or so I've heard from a documentary of same.

 

[Smooth22]

I'm sorry I can't help in any way, but do you think it would be a problem if you can post the finished copy or some of it on the internet for some of wrx's fanatics here to check out? i just got hooked onto wrx's within the past few months and i for one would be thrilled to read it :wiggles: