Crispy2

Hi all.

I've been a member of the site for sometime, but have only just purchased my first scooby. Until last month i was driving a chipped SEAT LCR (approx 270bhp).....however i've now got a 2003 STi PPP which is a different beast entirely.

I'm currently going through the "have i bought a lemon" and "did i pay too much" phase, so yet to get into the bit where i really enjoy the car.

Anyhow, here are a few details about the car:
2003 (53) Impreza STi
20K Miles
WRC Blue
WRC Reg Plate
Prodrive Performance Pack (dealer fit)
Prodrive 18" Alloys (dealer fit)
Prodrive Springs (dealer fit)
Prodrive Geometry (dealer fit)
Subaru Front Fog Lights (dealer fit)
Subaru Mud Flaps (dealer fit)
Tints (dealer fit)
Paint Protection Film - so it's totally mint
Tracker
1 Year MOT

It's now due it's 3 year service......i wish i had investigated the price before buying it!

However, i've also got until next week to decide whether to extend the warranty. I've been quoted £510 for a year......is it really worth it? Surely, unless the engine or gear box blows, £510 would be difficult to exceed in a year on repairs on such a well cared for car. Plus i'll only be doing 5K miles per year at the most.

I look forward to your views/experiences, and spending many happy hours surfing the site.

Jza

Welcome m8

Hindsight is a great thing... if i had of known that in 5 years of motoring my car never would have gone wrong i wouldnt have paid for 2 year warrenty (only £440 for the two years).

I dont think myself £510 for a year is good value however.

So if it was my car.... i'd save.

BUT you dont know the cars history.. so for "piece of mind" it might be worth it - last owner could have shagged it?

Jza

GazTheHat

Has the struts/top mounts been replaced do you know? Do they knock?

That is the only problem i have had with mine (a common fault).

I personally wont extend the warranty, but i've blown that with modifications anyway, so there's no engine/gbox come back for me. Other things have been fine though.

You can then get a remap done to the PPP for £650-ish and make it the car it should be, not the out the box PPP.

simo

might be worth getting the 3yr service done at a dealer & asking him to go over it with a fine tooth comb. Any warrenty work if required he will get so he should be keen enough to check it fully for you. Where did you buy the car from, if a dealer / trader, did you get a warrenty with it?

EVOLUTION

well, i hate to be the bearer of bad news,


If the struts have not been done and replaced with the revised replacement, you are not going to be far off your £500 mark for the warranty.


Then that leaves you with not alot of margin forerror.

My MY05 has had the suspension replaced all round and up to now, 3 engines all done under warranty, its sat outside the house awaiting engine number 4.

granted, not all cars are like mine, my problems have be cause by my dealer, but **** can and does happen.


If you have ideas of tuning the car, forget the warranty and do as suggested in the previous post, service and a good check.


if not, and the car will stay standard, personally, i would not run one of these cars with out a warranty, but then again, i use mine, i dont just drive it lol


so you have been given the not so rosey side of the cion now, i hope all goes well for you

GazTheHat

4 engines on a MY05!!

Use & Abuse

EVOLUTION

its down to the dealer putting in a short engine everytime, when the thing requires a whole new engine, with out a complete strip down though, i cant get my local spcialist to prove that. So im stuck in a bit of a fight.



it doesnt get abused, its oil is changed regular, about every 3 weeks now, thats how long it takes to pour out the sde of the engine lol

Crispy2

Thanks for the replies guys....anymore experiences/advice/views would be much appreciated too.

I've not noticed any knocking from the rear, but then again i've only driven it twice. I've done about 100 miles on the motorway (getting it home), plus about a further 20 on uneven and twisty lanes. I've not noticed any knocking, but then again i may have missed it as i'm new to the car and the sounds it makes.

The car has got a full Subaru history, and i've got all the print outs to show that everything required for each service has been done. The first owner was the Subaru dealer as it was their demo car for a year.....i would hope any warranty work would have been done then. Then again, it could have been thrashed for a year!

GazTheHat

You may notice the knocking when you get more miles done. I didn't notice at the start, then it suddenly started. It's like a "clonk" when going over a pot hole/speed bump etc. It does get louder too, as i ignored it for a few months.

stevebennett

Dont want to hijack the thread, but i had a discussion with the dealer who sold me my car. and he said that the struts have not been replaced since the car was sold would that mean that i should insist on this being carried out under warrenty or were there some cars that were ok. I have a 04 plate WRX


Thanks

Steve

GazTheHat

I don't know if it just the STi's that were affected and whether it was every 04 Car.

Maybe some others could pitch in the comfirm the above.

Just to let you know, that my fronts are starting to have the same problem. (20k miles).

Crispy2

Sorry, failed to answer earlier questions.

I got the car from a private seller. The warranty officialy expired at end of August, but local dealer says i can extend if i get it done within next few days.

I've noticed that the ride can be a little "bobbly" at low speeds (sorry don't know how else to explain it). It's certainly not soft suspension, and the clutch is fine. May be there's a tiny bit of slack in the AWD transmission (not the gearbox). Or mayve it's perfectly normal and i'm just use to my old LCR.

Nigel H

I don't believe in warranties, after all the companies that flog them make money out of you

After nearly 5 years of MY01 (not an STI I agree) service I've done - 60,000 miles and no faults (touches wood). As somebody once said on here, go and put your money in the bank where it can earn interest. If you need it's there, if not you're quids in

Mr Bat

My rear suspension didn’t clonk or make a noise, I took it for a drive (spirited) got home then within 10 minutes my neck seized up completely, hospital the next day turns out to be whiplash. Took my car in for another reason a week later to find the shockers had completely frozen…weak

stevebennett

Would be good to know but i am strill under warrenty until August 2007 so would like ot kepp an eye on things. Cars is on around 44K miles