Brand Preference

So how did I choose the Subaru R1? After all, there are a string of small cars from other manufacturers like Daihatsu and Suzuki to name a few. Perhaps it's because the other car in the family also happened to be a Subaru. I first saw the Subaru R1 up close when my wife sent her Forester to be serviced at local Subaru agent's service center at Toa Payoh. By chance they had a couple of pre-owned Subarus on sale and there in the showroom was a silver R1 for sale. That was the first time I had a good look at the car up close and I have to say I did walk away impressed.



The car is just beautiful to look at. Inspired by the Subaru 360 of old, the design engineers took the design inspiration from the ladybug and the oval shape of the egg. This makes it a firm departure from the rectangular breadbox shape common to other small cars. The compact and streamlined form certainly makes for a close connection between the user and the car in my opinion.

Thus far my missus and I have had a very positive experience with the brand after a string of Toyotas. Perhaps by chance or God's providence, we stumbled on the brand when we went looking at a replacement for our Toyota Vios. A while back, a young driver crashed into the rear of my wife's Toyota and even after an excellent bodywork repair, it didn't really give much assurance that somehow the structural integrity of the car had been compromised. My wife was on the lookout for an SUV and by chance stumbled upon the newly revamped 2009 Subaru Forester.



This new Forester was a complete departure from the earlier wagon style and even though it didn't get much attention, everything about it checked off the right boxes. A quick test drive and it was immediately clear that the Subaru was more than a match to the Honda CRV and Toyota Rav 4. The superior all wheel drive, great visibility and drivability, spacious interior and solid build quality made it an easy decision. In the time that we've been driving it, the Subaru Forester has proven to be a great drive, so it made an easy choice to consider another Subaru.



Side by side, the size difference is pretty obvious that the R1 is overshadowed by its bigger sibling, no doubt accentuated by the colour differences. The R1 still sports the "jet intake and wings" front grille first seen in the Subaru Tribeca and carried over to the second generation Subaru Impreza. The Subaru Forester shows the redesigned front grille that is similar to the current third generation Impreza. What remains distinctive is the oval Subaru badge emblazoned on the front grill. Personally I still like the older look as it somehow conveys an altogether friendlier look.