How Subaru helped me decide to buy a Toyota.

I have a beautiful 2011 Subaru WRX Limited. Flawless pearl white paint. Flawless leather interior. Some minor modifications to engine and exhaust. Some aesthetic changes to ride height, wheels, and misc other things to make it a bit different from everyone else's. I LOVE my car. I've never raced it or launched it. I've never had it on a race track of any kind. I don't even let it get dirty. I had been thinking of selling it or trading it in for a 2015 Subaru STI.

In August the odometer had close to 49k mi. As I was driving to work doing about 30mph in 3rd gear, I heard and felt a clunk. Bye Bye 3rd, 4th, and 5th gear. I called Subaru. They said, as I already knew, the transmission had a factory warranty until 65k mi. So I had it towed to my local dealer, who has
performed all maintenance on the car since I've owned it. A couple days go by and I get a call from the dealer. They found that the input shaft had broken in two, and that they weren't going to cover the transmission on the warranty. They said the warranty was void because it had signs of "abuse." I nearly lost it. Lol. I asked them how they came to that conclusion. Dealer told me the input shaft would only break if I "abused" it. I went rounds with them for a couple days before just giving up. I suppose I could have gotten an attorney and fought it, but knew it would cost more money than it's worth. Subaru wanted to charge me $6k for a new transmission. I told them to try again. They said a remanufactured would be $3800. I told them to try again. They said a used one with no warranty would be $3300. I told them to install the used one because the warranty obviously didn't mean anything anyway. I told them as soon as I got the car back I was going to sell it and never buy a Subaru again.

As soon as I got my car back I drove it to a dealership in Coeur D'Alene Idaho and ordered my new Tacoma. Why a Toyota? Well, Toyota has a great name with a proven product. I've owned a Toyota Supra in the past and it was a great car. My wife has an 08 4runner she bought new and loves it. It hasn't had a single issue. Why Tacoma? There have been a few times in the last couple years a truck would have been real handy. And for the simple fact I just like the way they look.

As soon as I take delivery, I intend to write to Subaru of America to let them know pretty much what I just wrote. How much I loved my car. How much I looked forward to buying a new STI. But because of the company's poor customer service and not standing by their warranty, I decided to take my money elsewhere. I may include a picture of me standing next to my new truck as well.

 

I wonder if one or more of these got something out of alignment, which resulted in the damage? Even if not, manufacturers oftentimes void warranties if modifications are made.

That said, doing a bit of quick browsing on the Subaru forums I find this:

That was written in 2006.

 

Love it

Oh, and send them one of these too!

 

I had an 09 wrx with 320 at the tires with only 38,000 miles. The throw out bearing was replaced 4 times with the trans case on the last bearing they put in it. The next day the bearing was screeching in the morning till it warmed up. Took a video of it and showed the service writer. There is nothing they can do about it he said and he couldnt hear it in the video. I said my mother who is deaf can hear the noise. I contacted subaru america and they are a bunch of asses. Anyway they would not replace the bearing again. So out of the subaru dealer take a right and turn into the Toyota dealer to trade in for a 2014 tacoma. Couldnt be happier with the new ride.

 

I had an 05 bought it new, I raced it on the weekends (on the track) did all my maintenance myself...3" turbo back exhaust and full KW suspension and much more..never had any issue at all!
We have a 2014 outback now, again no issues so far 15k and no oil consumption

 

The commercial with the family hugging the tree is enough to keep me out of their showroom.

 

Lol yup.. sold me old truck for a wrx. Check engine light came on 3 times in 3 months for a cylinder 1 misfire. Subaru refused to fix it unless they held on to my car until they could figure out the problem. Well the light was only coming on every 1000-1500 miles. When I said thats fine just give me a loaner they told me no and I should just go rent a car until they were done couple days later traded the wrx back in on a Tacoma

 

Subarus have quirks. I've had two and I'd be the first to admit that. Some of their platforms are bulletproof and others, well, they're not.

I had Outbacks with the 4EAT and 5EAT transmissions and H6 engines. I'd challenge you to find a more bulletproof combination than that. Never a problem with anything drivetrain related. That said, I replaced all four wheel bearings, all the struts, control arm bushings, all sway bar bushings and links, inner tie rods, and possibly other suspension/steering related things I'm forgetting about between 60,000 and 80,000 miles. I was constantly chasing another clunk noise.

 

That really sucks but unfortunately Toyota isn't free of those type of experiences. Just look up frame rot for the '05+, driveline vibrations, throwout bearing on the 6speed transmissions.
Subaru has made some great cars in the past, I almost bought a STi on two separate occasions but the money side of things didn't work out. Unfortunately the boy racer crowd gave the WRX a bad rep with Subaru (trying to get things covered under warranty for cars heavily modded, etc) so maybe that's was the reason you go the run-around from them. Still doesn't excuse their decision, and I don't blame you at all for not wanting to deal with them ever again.

 

I hear you Dunckel, that's why I love going to muscle car meets or any classic car meets. The crowd are a lot older and more mature. You don't get a lot of D-bags doing burn outs or revving their engines to redline in the parking outs. I met a lot of helpful and friendly guys/gals at these meets. You don't get the usual groups staying in one area and another stays in the other. I get to see a lot of true car enthusiasts when I go to these type of car meets

BTW TW meets so far has been awesome IMO