Top Cat

You have just jogged my memory - my first WRX wasn't faultless ! My battery failed just outside warranty and Subaru didn't want to know. That was a late Y reg. I hope more people will join in voicing their frustrations. Subaru UK might get its act together if enough people complain about the way we've been let down. We might even see a decent performance car that looks the part !!!!

They are not acting on their balls ups ! From everything I have been told the Impreza shocks have a design and/or manufacturing fault. The dash paint wears in the Forester and maybe I'm the only Impreza owner with the problem. Subaru know the fault and have elected to ignore customer complaints - it saves money short term. Long term they will find people stop buying the cars. Subaru UK has marketed the brand as reliable and rugged (its unique selling point) and it is simply no longer the case. The cars are also no longer cheap. The new STi is not far behind the Evo x and Golf R on price and dearer than the audi s3 ! I am seriously considering the Golf and if I go back to VW I wont be returning to Subaru in a hurry. I see one respondent said their STi was fine after 40k miles. My last WRX was fine after 33,000 miles when I sold it - that's why I bought another new car - but my current car has had too many faults. There are obviously people out there who have encountered problems and Subaru's don't car attitude. All I am saying is just because you have had one good car don't assume you will get another one. Eventually Subaru's attitude will filter through to the wider public and that may significantly hurt resale values.

It's not a lot of use if you have car with faulty shocks and its out of warranty. I can't be the only one who didn't realise that what was a barely perceptible knock from time to time would turn into a clear problem out of warranty and Subaru wouldn't then want to know. I've noticed what could be rust in the depths of the petrol filler flap but otherwise the paint looks good everywhere else but as I said in my last post the silver finish paint around the dash has worn off and it didn't on my last WRX. The more I look into it the more it looks Subaru quality is not consistent

I've had problems with my current impreza (MY05) with ppp. I've had no engine problem but gold wheels had to be replaced under warranty. Windscreen the same after dealer found it wasnt bonded properly. I've had the knocking shocks problem and paint wearing off the dash. The last two problems were outside warranty (I'm pretty sure the shocks were starting to play up within the warranty but it wasn't obvious). The letter from Subaru UK made it look like the shock absorber problem was new as was the paint wearing on the plastic dash panel. I now know (as it turns out so did many others) that the shock absorber problem was not new. The paint wear on the dash seems to be a Forester problem more than an Impreza problem - still a Subaru problem. My previous (bug eye) Impreza which I also bought from new was faultlesss. So you have to ask the question - What happened to the famous Subaru rugged reliability and customer service. I've waited two years (after driving the awful sti hatch in 2008 ) for something from Subaru that I want - I'm still waiting. A letter to Subaru UK's MD Lawrence Good elicited no response. Am I missing something or are other people like me thinking - is it time to take my £30,000 elsewhere. Top Cat

put it down to being dozy. It's genetic so it's not my fault !

Anyone suggest where I can have my 05MY WRX seats recovered in leather (or even alcantara). Preferably somewhere in the North Cheshire area. Thanks in advance.

test drove 190. Suspension hard as hell. Didn't have chance to tests handling/roadholding but the way it bobbled about at low speed suggests it wouldn't be so hot as you rack it up speed. looks nice in standard guise - inside too. Pillarless doors are a gimmick and the rear console limits extra curricular activities ! On road a lot noisier than my WRX. Forward visibility is crap - getting in and out for anyone 6' and over is a struggle. If you are 15 1/2 stone like me once you are in you don't move much ! Sales blurb says low bonnet line - who are they kidding. I wound the seats down so that I wasn't looking at the sun visor and I'll swear I needed binoculars to see the end of the bonnet. Don't know if the engine sounds good at speed but sounds like food mixer at town speeds - no character. Nice to see something worse on fuel than the WRX. When you drive other cars you realise just how good the Scooby is. Subaru still need to sort the inside out and cut the gimmicky styling touches that look like they cost a fiver and were shoved on at the last second as the car came off the production line. By the way - anyone know how long the battery typically lasts on the Scooby ? I've just put my MY01 WRX (bug eyed model )up for sale and hey presto ! If I leave it for a couple of days (with alarm armed) I get a squeal from the alarm (as though it has detected low battery voltage - like battery lead being cut ) when I try to start the car and some times it wont start before I put the battery on charge. Real pain in arse !

Anyone know where can get leather fitted on new WRX. Don't really want to wait for an SL order to arrive - don't want a sunroof and heated seats either ! Rather get car and have leather fitted at my leisure. Are Subaru still saying it will affect airbag deployment - they told me that when I wanted leather on my MY01 WRX. Other manufacturers don't seem to have a problem though ! Ho Hum !.

Apart from saving shed load of money at dealer is 04 WRX really that much lesser than 05 ? Gimmicky styling bits inside and out of 05 model look crap .....and those silly red calipers and chrome effect button on handbrake ! ..er hello mister Subaru stylist !! Want to replace my 3 year old WRX but interior of latest cars looks really tarty. Seriously thinking about Mazda RX8 ? Comments anyone ?

Anyone recently done a search for best price on a new UK spec WRX (4 door in blue or silver) ? I've been through a few comic websites with headline grabbing prices and am not so sure I'd trust any of them. Any advice would be appreciated. TC

O.K. but does anyone out there know the rules ?

Hi everyone, My usual Subaru agent A and J White of Blackburn have given up the Subaru franchise but are still servicing. Anyone like to comment on Subaru attitude if I make a warranty claim after a service from them. As I understand it, the Rules relating to the block exemption give manufacturers a years grace to get their act together and until then compliance by them is voluntary. I don't want a claim within the next 12 months just to find Subaru getting arsy ! Anyone any thoughts. Cheers

Anyone suggest a good Dentmaster (or similar ) in Manchester area that will do a decent job on a few dings (slightly more than minor ones !) Ta in advance

Yeah I'm with direct line with my 2001 WRX for £650 and no tracker is required. £300 excess. The trouble I found with most insurers is that the people doing the quote haven't got a clue and often insist it must be an import - which insurers hate. I was lucky with Direct Line 'cos the guy doing the quote had a Scooby and knew what I was talking about straight away ! I've had quotes for 4 grand + £600 excess + Tracker !!! Top Cat