BigGuy

I'm having a problem with the paint on my STi7 MY 02. The paint is of obvious bad quality and seems to chip just by looking at it The whole front (Especially the hood/bonnet) is dammaged. This is the first car that has ever done that with me - even my MY 98 WRX didn't do that.

I contacted my dealer and he set up an appointment with the Subaru warranty rep. When I showed up, the Subaru representative was rude and obnoxious and treated me as I was a punk who had purchased a cheep car and was told that it was normal, that I live in an area with a lot of stones on the road and anyway "THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON ANY IMPREZA" !!!!????.

As I'm in for a lengthy fight with Subaru over the "only Impreza with paint problems", I would appreciate any comments/personal experiences on the quality of the paint.

Also, there was an article in EVO mag concerning the purchase of used Imprezas and it had comments on the paint quality. If anyone would still have this article I would appreciate if someone could scan it and email to me.

I love my car, and I think avery one would agree this is not a cheap car, but I'm having a hard time accepting being treated in such a manner by idiots who don't believe in common courtesy and customer relations.

Any comments?

wrxmania

Sound like nonsense!!!

My MY03 chipped from the day I drove it out of the showroom and the salesguy - when I said to him a week later - said "Oh, that's unusual" - boll*cks.

They do chip and especially the colour coding on the bumpers - it combined with the Ally Bonnet obviously have difficulties holding onto paint. Push them like hell - Even with 192,500 miles on it my Primera M reg has the same amount of stone chips as my 1 year old Impreza.

A car like the STI which had a retail of £25,000 or whatever should have paint to match - you would NEVER put up with that paint work on a Merc or BMW at £20,000 so why on a Subaru.

Dig your heels in - has it had it's body warranty service done - my first year one was done last week?

Brian

forest172

The DOORS on my MY03 STI are covered in stone chips and that`s with flaps on!!! The bonnets not actually that bad but the front bumper is. It`s only got 12,000miles on what will it be like with 30,000 on???

DBY

My WRX 03 comming up to 20k with more chips on the front than the local chippy has in his deep fat fryer!!

John

forest172

anyone else have the problem with the doors???

BigGuy

Thanks guys and sorry about the paint problems. I'll be sending this thread to Subaru when I get some more responses. If the customers don't ever complain, Subaru will never do anything about the poor quality

PC555

Bigguy

I'm going through the same process mate .... the 'Subaru Man' has check my car over and is currently compling his report. Customer complaints department will no doubt be my next port of call.

BigGuy

Yes my doors are getting hundreds of small chips in the lower area. Also I never park in a regular car park and yet I still find paint missing on the upper sides but without any dents that would come from someone oppening the door and hitting the car.

DAZ6151

iTrader: (1)

I parked under a tree once for three hours ,when i returned there were five lots of bird cr4p on the bonnet i washed it off immediately and found that it had gone right done to the bare metal.
I went and tried to get this done under warenty but was told that there was no-way that it was standing for only three hours with the mess on and that they would not cover it,their was nothing i could do as i had no-way of proving it.
The paint must be v v thin for it to come off so easily, my megane has sat under the same tree with mess on it for a week and no marks in the paint what so ever.
v peed off.

Cheers Darren.

Brendan Hughes

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=210870

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8763

BigGuy

BTT

BigGuy

BTT

Cider boy

My MY98 is rusting on the roofline by the windscreen, no chips or marks to the paint there though

I started a thread about it a few weeks back and quite a few people seemed to be having problems in the same area, crap paint is obviously a subaru speciality

Matt

pmarch

My Bug WRX in WR Blue is covered in probably about thirty small chips on the lower half which really need to be checked for the start of rust and touched in asap. I even noticed one chip on the roof with the start of surface rust and bubbling of paint.

Yes, the paint quality is very poor, when you consider I only had to do about three or so chips on my old '96 Primera in the four and half years I had it. I am sure loads of new chips have appeared since I had it at the end of Feb.

The WRX has never had the body check warranty done by the previous owner or myself - so I suppose I have no good grounds to complain or have I?

justin price

THE STONE CHIPS ON MY 01UK300 IS VERY BAD ON THE BONNET.
HAVE NOW GOT A CHIP ON THE ROOF WHICH IS STARTING TO BUBBLE UP ..
NOT HAPPY..

Yorkie

Don't drive too close to the car in front

TURBO RAY

i got a 95 wrx import and the paint on that is very good maybe they dont paint british spec the same?

BigGuy

btt

Fizz_daz

my MY01 looks grey!!!!! the paint is very thin (to save weight ) but it is a fact of life.....

kris130

My 03 sti has stonechips on both front doors , i bought two prodrive mud flap stone guard protectors ( I think they are an extra for a Rb5 or P1 but fit ok.) They are smaller than the current Prodrive Mudflaps (And cheaper at £25 per pair!)
They come out to the side more preventing the stones from flying down the doors and chipping them.
They seemed to solve the problem and after 4 months ive hardly any fresh stonechips.

Hope this helps.
Chris