Goodbye to Subies

[Fred Boer]

Hello all:

Well, an hour ago I took the plates off my 2002 Subaru Legacy wagon (160,000
km), and traded it in for a new Mazda 3.

I have owned two Subarus. (a Loyale and a Legacy.)

I was so excited when I bought the Legacy - here was the first car I ever
owned that had everything I wanted, nothing I didn't, and seemed to me to be
a wonderful combination of intelligent engineering and sensible design. My
Loyale had lost its engine due to an oil pump failure and it had a short
life span. But I was confident that was a fluke, and was hopeful that the
Legacy would fully live up to my expectations.

Sadly, after two (!) head gaskets, radiator, waterpump, 2 steering pumps,
wheel bearings, and a 6 month struggle with a stubborn check engine light
(and more...), I had had enough. Over the last 2 years I have spent over
$4000.00 on repairs and have had the car in various shops and dealerships
about once every month. Between the Loyale and the Legacy, our Subarus have
left us stranded on the side of the road 4 times. Two Ford Tempos, and a
Suzuki Swift never stranded me in this way, ever!

I know many happy Subaru owners, but I have lost all confidence in Subaru. I
am disappointed in the service I've received, in the way I've been treated
in dealerships, and in the lack of support I have experienced from Subaru -
and most of all - in the reliability of the car I so much wanted to be "the
best car I ever owned"

Thanks for listening to me and offering help and suggestions in this
newsgroup! My hope for all of you is that your Subarus are trouble free and
enjoyable!

Best wishes, and adios!

 

[bigjimpack]

Didnt you buy this one used? That explains it. The lloyale was the
low point in subaru history- they were nearly bankrupt. The outback
saved them.

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi!

Nope. Both were bought brand new... and maintained properly, btw... Nor were
they driven off-road, or abused in any way...

And, yes, I know many people with amazing stories to tell about the
reliability and longevity of their Subaru cars. Just wasn't my experience,
at all!

If I had a penny for every time I heard "You know, I've never seen this in a
Subaru..."..

Cheers!

Didnt you buy this one used? That explains it. The lloyale was the
low point in subaru history- they were nearly bankrupt. The outback saved
them.

 

[johninKY]

I know how you feel as I use to be a loyal MOPAR guy but our last Chrysler
was just too much. Quality just went down hill but the screwing the local
dealer treated us to was the last straw. I'll never own another Chrysler
product. The wife has a shorter, more forgiving memory and hints at going
back to Chrysler but I have drawn a line in the sand and it just ain't
going to ever happen. After I die she can buy whatever she wants.

 

[DK]

I know how you feel as I use to be a loyal MOPAR guy but our last Chrysler
was just too much. Quality just went down hill but the screwing the local
dealer treated us to was the last straw. I'll never own another Chrysler
product. The wife has a shorter, more forgiving memory and hints at going
back to Chrysler but I have drawn a line in the sand and it just ain't
going to ever happen. After I die she can buy whatever she wants.

LOL.

Probably just bad luck. It happens. I've never bought any Sony
product that was reliable - and others statistics clearly says
otherwise.

My experience with Subaru was good. My wife's 2002 Forester,
although, admittedly, very low mileage, has never had any
issue thus far. In 14 years, Impreza 1993 had bad starter,
loose heat shield and was plagued by torn CV boots requiring
a half-axle change at some point. Other then that, all other fixes
were normal (clutch, battery, brakes, spark plug wires
replacement, etc). Friend's 1998 Legacy Turbo has never been to
a shop for anything but scheduled maintenance.

DK

 

[KLS]

Hello all:

Well, an hour ago I took the plates off my 2002 Subaru Legacy wagon (160,000
km), and traded it in for a new Mazda 3.

Hope you enjoy the Mazda 3; we have one now, too, and it's a nice car,
but it's not a Subaru. Fun in a different way. If you find a good
Internet Mazda group, could you post that here? There seems only to
be a Miata group, and I'm trying to find a good discussion forum on
these cars, no luck yet.

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi:

Well, I've only test driven the Mazda and driven it from the dealership to
my home. So, I have little to go on as yet. We hope that it provides us with
reliable and fun transportation for a nice long time...

Try here for a Mazda forum:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/

 

[Mike Avery]

There seems only to
be a Miata group, and I'm trying to find a good discussion forum on
these cars, no luck yet.

Don't know if they're active, but there's rec.autos.makers.mazda and
free.autos.mazda

I had a B2000 pickup, and after I replaced the head gasket a second
time, I got rid of it. It was great when it ran, but that became an
issue.

It seems every brand has their lemons, whether that's a certain
year/model with issues, or just a certain car.

I've been very happy with Nissan's..... not so sure about my second try
at Subies.

Mike

 

[Fred Boer]

In 14 years, Impreza 1993 had bad starter,

loose heat shield and was plagued by torn CV boots requiring
a half-axle change at some point. Other then that, all other fixes
were normal (clutch, battery, brakes, spark plug wires
replacement, etc). Friend's 1998 Legacy Turbo has never been to
a shop for anything but scheduled maintenance.

DK

Please, please...you're killin' me here with these stories!

Fred

 

[KLS]

Don't know if they're active, but there's rec.autos.makers.mazda and
free.autos.mazda

The one I find is rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata, which is not what I
need or want. The other one you recommend is not on my news server.

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi:

Yes, I found those newsgroups as well as one called
rec.autos.makers.mazda...but none of them seemed very active.

The link I gave you was for a web-based forum specifically for Mazda 3s. It
isn't actually a newsgroup, but it is a place to discuss your car. Enter the
URL into your browser.

Cheers!

 

[JD]

I know how you feel as I use to be a loyal MOPAR guy but our last Chrysler
was just too much. Quality just went down hill but the screwing the local
dealer treated us to was the last straw. I'll never own another Chrysler
product. The wife has a shorter, more forgiving memory and hints at going
back to Chrysler but I have drawn a line in the sand and it just ain't
going to ever happen. After I die she can buy whatever she wants.

I hear you. But I wouldn't say THAT. Your life expectancy could depend on
how badly she wants another Chrysler...

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

I hear you. But I wouldn't say THAT. Your life expectancy could depend on
how badly she wants another Chrysler...

How did you know why I've had several Jeeps?

 

[hippo]

Hope you enjoy the Mazda 3; we have one now, too, and it's a nice car,
but it's not a Subaru. Fun in a different way. If you find a good
Internet Mazda group, could you post that here? There seems only to
be a Miata group, and I'm trying to find a good discussion forum on
these cars, no luck yet.

Hope you enjoy it & it's everything you want.
As long as you bought new you won't need this!

http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recall_detail.php?Recall_ID_Auto=15026

Cheers

 

[osamahornifukus]

Hope you enjoy the Mazda 3; we have one now, too, and it's a nice car,
but it's not a Subaru. Fun in a different way. If you find a good
Internet Mazda group, could you post that here? There seems only to

free.autos.mazda

even less traffic than on mitsubishi NG

no idea why it's outside alt.autos.*

probably created by a free.* tree proponents