I have finally had enough of the utterly sh-T service from International Motors that I am afraid this will be my last Impreza (through official UK routes at any rate). After being f@cked around with warranty and servicing issues in previous months, their inability to organise the tyres of my choice, via the Kwik Fit service I'm contractually obliged to subribe to, for the third time running is the last straw.
I'm fed up with their b@ll**** excuses, I pay enough for the s@dding pleasure, so IM - so long and goodbye.

I

 

Buy am imported STI for fun, loads more car for less money, find an
independant to service it (better service for less dosh) & buy an old Diesel for work.
It works a treat

Stuart

 

erm....What about warranty ?....Not wise words friend...Blutes

 

warranty is no longer a concern!

 

I have an grey import and I wanted standard power and not P1 price power . Best decision I made if it breaks I get it fixed.

 

I blame you for buying such a crap car in the first place - You raving bumboys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

...oh, here we go!!!!!

 

I have never owned a car new enough to be warranted, my scoob has now done a hard 91k (it is an ex demonstrator!), and as far as I am aware has never needed a warranty claim.
As far as I am concerned the warranty thing is just to scare the public into buying in the UK, and not explore the cheaper alternatives abroad.
All EU cars come with a 1 year warranty anyway, which UK dealers are legally obliged to honour, if it hasn't broke after a year, the chances are it isn't going to.
Also, in my experience with the company cars at work, you get a better service from an independent specialist who cares about his(her?) work, than you are ever going to get at a dealership, because all that the dealerships are interested in is selling, the servicing is just a necessary evil.

 

quite the oposite. Dealers make more money on service and waranty work than they do on new car sales.

I found it usefull having a waranty when my engine was replaced due to piston slap, saved me a few thousand pounds and that was when the car was over 1 year old.

It's an insurance policy, nothing more or less.

 

warranty means **** all if they wont akknowledge the fault time and time again!

brakes.....squeeky window.........paintwork.......abs....clutch


these all spring to mind

[Edited by mbc - 5/30/2002 11:02:51 PM]

 

John is correct regarding where a dealers real income is derived - servicing and after sales. As far as I am aware dealers do not have to accept the first year warranty on an import. Surely this still resides with the country of origin? I stand to be corrected on this, but instances of claims I am aware of the owner has had to get the claim accepted first from where he bought it.

As far as I am concerned, as my car is used for business (not company supplied, but I do get an allowance) I can not afford any worries about warranty cover. I change my car every 2 years and this is my 3rd Scoob. I have no complaints whatsoever about the standard of service I have received on any of these cars. Cheap insurance for the miles mine covers!

[rant on]This BBS is in danger of becoming an 'import club' supporting one dealer in particular (no names to protect the innocent). It will be interesting to see how any problems are handled in the future should they occur.[/rant off]

Ken

 

mbc has it spot-on.

Yes, if the engine is a mass of twisted metal, the guys at the local dealership will 'consider' it as a warranty claim (although it's probably your fault for going over 3,000rpm in second), but as for the squeaks, rattles and a constantly buzzing stereo it takes seven months and cc'd letters to Subaru UK to get a hint of action from the dealer. The pan-European warranty is the way to go - one year or three. I have given up with trying to get the niggly faults sorted as it's more stress than it's worth (yes, dear dealer, you have won) so next time it's straight to our Continental cousins who, unlike the UK dealerships, are quite honest about the fact that they just want your money for the sale - not as an investment in 'future customer care'.

I gather from the comments so far that certain people on this thread are trying to defend their own UK business!!

 

I am not trying to defend anything? Just telling it from my own experiences.

 

None of the above detracts from the fact that I have found IM to be completely useless!!!!!!!!

I am however aware that there are people out there that have received nothing less than excellent service, just a shame it wasn't me.