2008 Subaru Impreza I All Wheel Drive 2.5l H4 16v Automatic 126836 Miles on 2040-cars

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Autoblog sell-it-yourself highlight: 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca

Introduced for 2006 and built in Lafayette, Indiana, atop a Legacy platform, the B9 Tribeca was Subaru's first attempt at a three-row crossover. Like the smaller Mazda5, the B9 provided seating for your kids but cramped quarters for adults. Add to that the controversial styling and upmarket pricing (before Subaru was regarded as upmarket), and you had a tepid response from the buying public. While the styling – specifically the B9's nose – was controversial, I liked its Euro-inspired profile on the outside and really enjoyed the design execution on the inside. The third row was optional, and for the occasional extra kid or small adult, useful. It's the utility of the footprint, however, I really like, and with a 3.0 liter Subaru six, it's perfect for your urban or suburban adventures. Autoblog's 'For Sale' example, located in Woodland Hills, Calif., has average miles for an 11-year-old vehicle and looks to be in good cosmetic condition. Despite Subaru's reputation for rugged reliability, a vehicle of this age will inevitably need some attention. A pre-purchase inspection should be mandatory, and you would hope for a clean CarFax. At $6,500, the asking price is at the low end of typical for a clean example with this mileage and may reflect its Sunbelt location, since Subaru resale is historically higher in the Northeast and Northwest. Related Video:

Subaru suppliers rely on gray market labor

The Subaru Forester is currently the Japanese brand's bestselling model in the US. A new investigation by Reuters is making some scathing allegations about how the popular model is actually made, though. The piece claims that many of Subaru's suppliers in Ota, Japan, are using low-paid foreign workers and asylum seekers to produce components that go into the CUV. The report says that these laborers are coming from places like China and Bangladesh, and they allegedly receive a pittance compared to their Japanese counterparts. Many said that they get about $6.60 an hour, but employment brokers can take a large portion of that pay. At just four suppliers Reuters estimates there are 580 foreign workers, or about 30 percent of the total workforce. The situation has turned Ota into a cultural melting pot because of the significant population of immigrant labor. The problem stems in part from Japan's tiny labor market, and the country's odd asylum system that doesn't allow some applicants to work legally. These suppliers produce many components for the Forester, including the seats, shocks, and fuel tanks. Reuters admits that the businesses have contracts with other Japanese automakers, as well, but Subaru receives the main focus of this piece, which you can read in full, here. When asked for comment about Reuters' report, Subaru of America provided Autoblog with the following statement: "Fuji Heavy Industries does not condone the exploitation of any class of worker, either in its own operations or within its supply chain. FHI expects all employees to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect and to be provided with appropriate workplace protections. The FHI CSR policy respects and adheres to the law and regulations of business as well as upholding human rights and international standards of behavior and the ethical standards of our stakeholders. Our supply chain network has been made aware of our policy and expectations."

New Subaru Levorg teased ahead of Tokyo Motor Show

While we only get a sedan version of the Subaru WRX in the U.S., Japan has had a wagon version to go along with it called the Levorg. The Subaru Levorg is about to get a big update, too, since the company teased a new generation for the Tokyo Motor Show. Based on the teaser image and video, the new Levorg's styling will be evolutionary. The various creases along the side have a bit more curve to them to emphasize the bulging fenders. The lines also look similar to those of the Subaru Viziv Tourer concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show last year. The current Subaru Levorg is offered with either a 1.6-liter turbocharged flat-four or the WRX's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. We wouldn't be surprised if those engines carry over to the new model with some minor changes. Curiously, the current model also only comes with a CVT, which will probably continue to be the only transmission option. We would be more disappointed by that if the Levorg had any chance of coming to America. That said, if there are any Subaru product planners reading, the Levorg might sell well here if it was given a small suspension lift and fender flares. Call it the Crosstrek+ or Crosstrek XL or something like that. The turbo 1.6-liter would be a nice upgrade over the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine. And there are probably some old WRX hatchback fans who would love the turbo 2.0-liter Levorg, provided a manual was made available.