| Click to Post a New Message!
Page [ 1 ] | | | |
|
|
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
It seems the women in our lives influence our purchasing habits to a great extent. I normally trade the wife's ride as soon as the warranty expires, our jeep Cherokee being the exception. I ran it 14k past and would just as soon have kept it to 100k but the truth came out, she hates the SUV's. The jeep provided good gas mileage and great traction and visibility but she does not like the handling or ride. My concern is that she is safe on the highway and can get in and out of our driveway when the snow piles up and I am not here to help her. It is at my insistence she purchases all wheel drive and has good crash protection.
We took a left turn and purchased an Outback yesterday. I have been following Subaru and never hear much negative about them. All wheel drive, handles like a car, excellent crash test results and good fuel economy. It presumably will have the reliability of other Japanese cars, although this one is made in the US (my Dodge truck is made in Mexico). The VW we owned was made in Mexico, nice car but the moldings fell off it.
Does anyone have experience with these? The only negative I have heard is up to last year they have had some front brake problems ie warped rotors and some wind noise near the mirrors, which I did not notice when we test drove one.
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
Cutter DIL (daughter-in-law) has one the biggest problem she has is the Super Screw service department. You need this, you need that, you has 40,000 miles you should replace the brakes....
and the list goes on...
Harvey
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
So she does not need it, the service department needs the work, correct Harvey?
They threw an extended warranty offer at us when we were sent to the "finance manager". This guy needed some H/R guidance, did not know his product and was insulted when I questioned the package he was offering. For $850 I could purchase a bumper to bumper that covered an additional 24k to run up to 60k total. He claimed the warranty was $325 and the rest was the oil changes and tire rotations for the warranty period. I said how many oil changes is that? He said he thought it was eight (Subaru suggests a change at 3750 miles), you can figure the rest for yourself. I said "give me the warranty and keep the oil changes, I do that myself". So I have bumper to bumper coverage to 60k for an additional $325. I think he screwed up as I spotted him running into the manager's office as we left the showroom, he seemed upset, wonder why.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
Sounds like it'd be a good idea to save receipts for oil and materials and buy from someplace that gives detailed receipts. At least that's what the shop that rebuilt my truck engine said they'd need if I was doing my own warranty work, and it sounds like there may be fair potential here for arguments down the road.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
It is a factory extended warranty Tom, the rest was a dealer add-on that has questionable value. I will probably bring it to the dealer from time to time for service, usually do that during the sloppy season as it is not worth getting covered with slush to save five bucks on an oil change.
As far as saving receipts, I put the oil and filter invoices in the glove box of each vehicle. As long as the oil doesn't look like mud when it comes in on a hook I doubt that will ever be a problem. From what I have read, the durability of the boxer engine is comparable to that of the old slant six, if not better. So my presumption is that any problem which may occur down the road will most likely be electrical in nature or not related to the drive line.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
Sorry I guess I was I was vague. Me thinks the service dept is trying to get all they can. I do not see anything out of the ordinary when I look at it for her. NY roads are tuff on all components.
You make a good deal up front and service tries to make back the difference.
I've owned a Subaru and was very pleased. Biggest complaint I had was cost of parts. I expect it is the same for all makes now.
Subarus are good cars.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
I think we can thank Honda for the change in automotive/parts cost distribution. In the early 70's when I sold Honda cycles the parts changed slighly every year. A 750K motor did not change the basic design from 68 to well into the 90's. The price of the bike was low but they made it back with the parts. Something as trivial as the mirrors or cover plates would not fit one year to another.
Nissan wants an arm and a leg the first 5 years and drops after that. Other manufactures are seeing the better idea and following suit.
I don't believe it matters what brand it is with the ignorance of the general public you can be taken to the cleaners. I recently changed the gas filter on my wife's Volvo. Looking at the bolts I realized that the filter had never been off the car. The former owner like Cutter had saved all the receipts for dealer Volvo service in Anniston AL. A bell rang in my head. I went back through the receipts and they had charged her twice for the fuel filter (50$) in routine service. Nice scam if you can get away with it. You definately need a heads up these days.
Ask me why I hate to take anything to the dealer, unless it is under waranty.
Peters
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
Interesting about the filter. I wrecked the front end and you should have seen the repair bill. I looked at it and choked. Over 4000.00 w/ 500 deductable. I went down the list item by item. NO WAY DID THEY FIX MOST OF THE STUFF ON THAT BILL. I brought the body shop guy out and the service mananger they Ah-ah-ah-ah well we did all that work. I showed them rusty parts and bolts that had never been removed and suggested we get the insurance company down here to inspect the repairs before I moved the car. They asked if they took 1000 off the bill and I did not have to pay the deductable if that would be fair...
Good service departments with honorable managers are hard to find and when you do keep all of your business there. We may pay a little more up front for our cars but when the service guy brings a loaner to where I work and takes my car and gets it back the same day with no extra charges that is where I'll spend my money.
Dealers may have to fix your vehicle even if you do not buy from them but they sure do not have to provide that kind of service.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
I used to buy from a dealer that did the loaner thing but I was treated poorly on some other issues. They had the private offices where they sold you the car, fed you coffee and pampered you. My wife's VW was vandalized and I sent it right there for repair, to my surprise it was in terrible condition when returned. Filthily inside, terrible paint work not to mention stunk like a can of lacquer thinner so badly you could barely drive it with the windows open. Now I shop price along with a reputable dealer and don't expect more than that. The place we just dealt with has a free shuttle, works for me.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Just gave up my SUV What s next
My wife just bought a legacy this spring and everything I hear is good about them. Every mechanic I talked to talked highly of there quality.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Page [ 1 ] | | | |
Thread 65005 Filter by Poster:
3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|
()
Picture of the Day
DennisCTB
Unanswered Questions
Active Subjects
Hot Topics
Featured Suppliers
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
09-28-2003, 06:39 
Digg It 
Del.icio.us 
