I suppose we could debate the merit of extended warranties here if you wish.
This is the only Japanese car I've ever owned that needed non-warranty
repair prior to 100k miles. In addition, I researched Subarus a great deal
prior to my purchase and came away with the impression that they are
reliable vehicles for the most part.
Hence, my experience and research pointed to a vehicle that I believed would
give me at least 5 years of trouble free service and wouldn't need an
extended warranty. I don't want a car that needs an extended warranty.
Taking a car to a dealership for repair, when that dealership is far off the
beaten path, is a hassle that I don't like dealing with regardless of the
expense.
This car spent 3 weeks in the dealership at 10k miles while they were trying
to diagnose what we thought was "piston slap", which ended up being a faulty
timing chain tensioner. Again, no other car I've owned has needed that type
of service in the first 5 years of its life. I guess I should've figured it
out then.
As an aside, my OBW LTD is the most expensive car I've ever purchased. I
thought I was getting what I paid for. In retrospect its been a decent car,
but the reliability isn't where I thought it would be (t/c tensioner/clutch
chatter and slippage since early on/IAC valve). What's next?
Mine may be a bad apple, or it could be that because the car was built in
Indiana that its less than optimal. I don't know. Some people believe that
Japanese marques that are built in the US are inferior to products from the
same mfgr that were built in Japan. Again, I have no evidence to that fact
other than anecdotal and personal experience.
That's a good idea about the emissions warranty.
Thanks,
Roy
