Subaru Needs Your Help Building 'The Guide To Everything'

Subaru prides itself on being a brand for adventurous types -- a reputation that's reflected in the company's lineup of sporty, AWD vehicles.

Now, Subaru is asking those thrill-seekers -- whether they're Subaru owners, fans, or interested bystanders -- to help create a handbook for those who take the road less traveled. 

It's called "The Subaru Guide To Everything", and you'll find it on Subaru's Facebook page. We received an email notice about it yesterday, with this text blurb:

"As a Subaru owner, you’ve probably found more than a few interesting places off the beaten path. It could be a great out–of–the–way restaurant, a remote scenic overlook, or a unique find right in town. Whatever it is, now you have the opportunity to share your discovery with a growing community of Subaru owners through 'The Subaru Guide To Everything.'"

The "Guide To Everything" takes the form of a Google map, with activities arranged into six categories: Hiking, Camping, Dogs, Sights, Biking, and Dining. Anyone can add a pin, a photo, and note to the map, and users can sort activities by category. Click on the "Dogs" tab, and you'll see just only those sites and activities that are dog-friendly, and so on.

The gist is that the "Guide to Everything" becomes a crowdsourced map of must-see places for serious travelers, not casual tourists. If you've ever used a guidebook like Lonely Planet, this is similar. In fact, Subaru has pulled points of interest from Lonely Planet to get the ball rolling.

While the map itself is interesting (heck apart from Martha Stewart, who doesn't like insider tips?), the most intriguing part of "The Subaru Guide To Everything" is that it's not designed to sell anything. There aren't any flashy banner ads, no videos to skip through. Like the "First Car Story" site that Subaru debuted in March, "The Guide To Everything" is essentially a branding exercise: Subaru gets to refine its image, and we get to share our travel secrets with complete strangers.

And that's a good thing.

Source: The Car Connection