First Subaru - 2025 Crosstrek, love it, BAD dealer experience. Looking for extended warranty (Subaru) Tampa area

[raff98]

Greetings everyone! Bought my wife a new 2025 Crosstrek Premium. Love it! Unfortunately, BAD dealer experience. I hope it's ok to ask a question here, if not, please let me know where best to post.

As I said, I had a bad dealer experience (they messed up entering vehicle into Subaru database) total time at dealer was 12hrs, good credit, 75% down.

I had wanted to get an extended warranty from Subaru, but after the 12th hour I just wanted OUT. Can anyoneone reccomend a dealer in Tampa area (if required) that is interested in selling me an extended warranty? I know huge mark-up's, so if they come back with list price - no thanks. Doesnt mean I'm not reasonable. Do any dealers look at this forum, or can anyone reccomend someone to work with. Thank You!

 

[jjccrv]

go to caredge.com Minimum markup

 

[rrs517]

Greetings everyone! Bought my wife a new 2025 Crosstrek Premium. Love it! Unfortunately, BAD dealer experience. I hope it's ok to ask a question here, if not, please let me know where best to post.

As I said, I had a bad dealer experience (they messed up entering vehicle into Subaru database) total time at dealer was 12hrs, good credit, 75% down.

I had wanted to get an extended warranty from Subaru, but after the 12th hour I just wanted OUT. Can anyoneone reccomend a dealer in Tampa area (if required) that is interested in selling me an extended warranty? I know huge mark-up's, so if they come back with list price - no thanks. Doesnt mean I'm not reasonable. Do any dealers look at this forum, or can anyone reccomend someone to work with. Thank You!

HOW TO BUY A SUBARU EXTENDED FACTORY WARRANTY in 1 HOUR WITHOUT INCURRING BRAIN DAMAGE

I've been through this twice, the last time 10 days ago.

#1) If you just bought your new Subaru - DO NOTHING NOW. You have 3 years to buy this. Why give your dealer your money 3 years ahead of time since you have a 3-year warranty? However, be very careful because you cannot buy this warranty if you are 1 day past the date of record of the sale to the first owner. Be careful that date may be a few days different from the date you picked up the car. So mark your calendar for 10 days before the 3-year term is up.

#2) You can buy this warranty from any Subaru dealer in the country. Shop around. The price can vary by 100%!

#3) Three weeks ago, I called six dealers in the Denver, CO, area and got prices for my daughter's 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. Prices ranged from $3,400 for a 7-year/70,000-mile warranty to about $1,450 (all with a $100 deductible). The dealer quoting $1,450 also quoted an 8-year/80,000-mile warranty with a $100 deductible for about $1,750, which is the warranty we bought.

#3A) Speak ONLY with the Dealer Finance Manager. Not a sales person. They have the authority to price at any level, and the price you will receive just depends on how hungry the dealership is for your business. Every Finance Manager quoted far less than the salesperson who has no authority.

2 years ago, in 2023, I did the same for my 2020 Subaru Forester and saved aa bundle. You don't even need to buy from a Subaru dealer in your state.

 

[Hjulbyhavn]

Does anyone know why you need an extended warranty on one of Consumer Reports highest rated vehicles? I am want to believe that it is a sales trap and a way to sell it for less . Most decent cars these days have an 10yr extended drive-train warranty - that is of course possible because the chance is minimal that the manufacturer will have to pay out very much under warranty per car. To me it would make more sense to buy one for $3000 less (or something like that) or at the current interest rates skip the down payment and essentially self insure at market rate. I expect the extended warranty is 50% profit the way it was when I worked with cars.

 

[keith3267]

You will never use it, money wasted.

 

[rrs517]

Not so fast! I just used mine on my 5-year-old 2020 Forester, and I am now even with the game on one single claim. The days of repairing your car with a screwdriver and socket wrench set are long gone. The cars are loaded with unrepairable electronics. The cars today (including Subarus) are full of remove and replace modules. The Subaru warranty is truly bumper to bumper and avoids the hassles of cheap third-party warranties fighting over whose fault it is.

I've been having a pesky, but intermittent CarPlay/Starlink issue which required rebooting due to the locking up of the infotainment system or failure to "see" Autoplay and software updates by the dealer failed to correct the problem. It was a $1,500 charge to replace the computer module and touch screen, and I paid $100. NO hassles.

Also, an even more compelling reason to have the Subaru Extended Factory Warranty if you intend to keep the car is that the warranty is fully transferrable to a new owner when/if you sell your car. This gives you a premium on your asking price. If you shop around, you will get the warranty for around $1,500 - $1,800, depending on the length, and with a $100 deductible vs. $0 deductible.

 

[JohnM]

Remember, they offer extended warranties because they make money on them. It's basically an insurance policy, if you can afford the risk then "self-insure" and you will come out way ahead.

 

[spower]

I was always against extended warranties, but now with all the electronics and everything else these cars have I think it is a good idea. When I was shown what it covers....I'd be crazy not to do it! I got the 8yr/80000 mile for $1900. I drive with no worries!!

 

[Dick Foster]

Insurance of any kind is a scam and odds are you will not get ahead with any kind of insurance. It's like going to Las Vegas and expecting to beat the house. Just remeber they could not afford to build those big expensive and glitsey casinos and hotels by loosing. Odds are you're gonna pay and pay through the nose. BTW I once spent an entire week in Vegas on business and didn't gamble even a nickel in

 

[Ohiogal]

What rrs517 said...I've had 2 extended service plans on 2 other Subaru's that I bought new and they paid for themselves. I've found most problems occur after 65K miles, so get the longer term - like 8/80,000 miles or greater to cover you. Think of it as "prepaid" maintenance. The last one saved me over 6K$ in repairs (engine issue/bearing issues) on my 2019, 100$ cost for me at the time of repair. Free rental car too while it was in the shop. Nowadays, due to cost of parts and mechanical knowledge, if you can't do the work yourself its a good insurance policy to have in place. As for all 'new' cars, you have to accept that the flying laptop you will be driving is going to wear out, its not like the older stripped down models that we could get that ran for just regular service and gas.

BTW, I got my extended service plan a day after I bought my car, at a different dealership, for 50% less than what was offered when I closed the purchase on my car. That made it very affordable to buy, so shop around. The price of these things is NOT set in stone.

 

[raff98]

Florida residents beware! There is a state law that requires Florida residents purchase the warranty from a Florida provider. The warranty provider must charge the same amount no matter which Florida dealer you purchase it from. This is supposed to protect the consumer from any warranty company taking advantage of the consumer. I can’t remember exactly the price for a 2025 crosstrek, $100 deductible, but it’s around $3700 plus tax in Florida for a Florida resident. Every dealer (or other extended warranty provider) selling warranties in Florida charges full list price (now you know why every other commercial on TV in Florida is extended warranty!)
Now I did see some internet posts questioning how the state would know when and where an extended warranty was purchased, especially out of state, since it is a Subaru warranty, not a dealer warranty. Supposedly, all any dealer can see is you have a corporate warranty with Subaru, no way to see where it was purchased. One example was a Florida resident who purchased the same 2025 crosstrek 10yr/100,000 mile, $100 deductible warranty for $2080 in Texas and listed an email to the Texas dealer & person to contact.

Unfortunately I am a Florida resident.
Obviously, $3700 (plus tax) is not worth it to me, so I quit pursuing the option.

Just thought I’d pass along the update.

 

[bmart]

That one has to pay a lot extra for a vehicle that works to 200k is a total scam. Modern cars should go 300k easy...but they build them not to.

 

[MPK]

What rrs517 said...I've had 2 extended service plans on 2 other Subaru's that I bought new and they paid for themselves. I've found most problems occur after 65K miles, so get the longer term - like 8/80,000 miles or greater to cover you. Think of it as "prepaid" maintenance. The last one saved me over 6K$ in repairs (engine issue/bearing issues) on my 2019, 100$ cost for me at the time of repair. Free rental car too while it was in the shop. Nowadays, due to cost of parts and mechanical knowledge, if you can't do the work yourself its a good insurance policy to have in place. As for all 'new' cars, you have to accept that the flying laptop you will be driving is going to wear out, its not like the older stripped down models that we could get that ran for just regular service and gas.

BTW, I got my extended service plan a day after I bought my car, at a different dealership, for 50% less than what was offered when I closed the purchase on my car. That made it very affordable to buy, so shop around. The price of these things is NOT set in stone.

Could you post the name of the dealership that saved you 50%? Thanks in advance.

 

[raff98]

Kelly O’Brian, (e-mail address removed)

(361) 826.0630

Hicks Family Subaru
3615 South Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78415

$2080 for the 10/100 about 4-5 months ago

GREAT TO WORK WITH (or so I was told)

 

[Ohiogal]

Could you post the name of the dealership that saved you 50%? Thanks in advance.

Busam Subaru in Cincinnati, OH.
I bought it on 7/31/25 and it was the very last day of the 2025 model clearance sale so I don't know if they would offer that now.
They do have sales on these, sort of like a courtesy to Subaru owners, so keep checking to find the best deal.
And be sure to get the real SoA plan, Gold Plus.

 

[ebjet123]

I was always against extended warranties, but now with all the electronics and everything else these cars have I think it is a good idea. When I was shown what it covers....I'd be crazy not to do it! I got the 8yr/80000 mile for $1900. I drive with no worries!!

Just make sure you follow the recommended services.. If you don't, they could deny a claim.

 

[raff98]

As far as I understand it, you must follow the maintenance as listed in the owners manual, correct? My dealer “recommends” a bunch of crap above what the owner’s manual says. I forget the list, I was in the service for a question, and they had 1/2 dozen “recommendations” beyond the manual, and they were beyond ridiculous! Can anyone confirm the actual REQUIRED maintenance is what is listed in the owners manual?

 

[piste]

As far as I understand it, you must follow the maintenance as listed in the owners manual, correct? My dealer “recommends” a bunch of crap above what the owner’s manual says. I forget the list, I was in the service for a question, and they had 1/2 dozen “recommendations” beyond the manual, and they were beyond ridiculous! Can anyone confirm the actual REQUIRED maintenance is what is listed in the owners manual?

What else would it be? That's why it is there. Dealers aren't there for your best interest. Caveat emptor.

 

[Shaggy]

Greetings everyone! Bought my wife a new 2025 Crosstrek Premium. Love it! Unfortunately, BAD dealer experience. I hope it's ok to ask a question here, if not, please let me know where best to post.

As I said, I had a bad dealer experience (they messed up entering vehicle into Subaru database) total time at dealer was 12hrs, good credit, 75% down.

I had wanted to get an extended warranty from Subaru, but after the 12th hour I just wanted OUT. Can anyoneone reccomend a dealer in Tampa area (if required) that is interested in selling me an extended warranty? I know huge mark-up's, so if they come back with list price - no thanks. Doesnt mean I'm not reasonable. Do any dealers look at this forum, or can anyone reccomend someone to work with. Thank You!

I have had the extended warranty company - Warranty Solutions(https://www.warrantysolutions.co/) on several of my vehicles and they never screwed me over. Looks like the cover the Subarus. You may want to check them out.

 

[MPK]

Kelly O’Brian, (e-mail address removed)

(361) 826.0630

Hicks Family Subaru
3615 South Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78415

$2080 for the 10/100 about 4-5 months ago

GREAT TO WORK WITH (or so I was told)