Subaru reliability?????

[null_pointer]

I just read an article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3131800.stm
concerning reliability of various makes which distresses me greatly,
as I had planned on buying an Impreza TS when I relocate to Minnesota.
I'm cutting and pasting a small part:

"Subaru's dramatic fall, from 11th last year to 22nd this year, was
largely down to costly repairs to the Impreza's engine and
transmission units, with the average bill reaching £1,040."

Anyone have any input on this??????????????

 

[Ragnar]

I just read an article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3131800.stm
concerning reliability of various makes which distresses me greatly,
as I had planned on buying an Impreza TS when I relocate to Minnesota.
I'm cutting and pasting a small part:

"Subaru's dramatic fall, from 11th last year to 22nd this year, was
largely down to costly repairs to the Impreza's engine and
transmission units, with the average bill reaching £1,040."

Anyone have any input on this??????????????

First off, I'd say that the article was on UK Subarus, not USA models.
Given that, I'd also say that you need to research USA-spec soobies to get
an accurate picture.

 

[chuckles]

but aren't all subies made in japan? if they're all made in jap then
shouldn't they be basically the same?

 

[tonyrama]

but aren't all subies made in japan? if they're all made in jap then
shouldn't they be basically the same?

No, Outbacks sold in the US are made in the US. I think Impezzas are made in
Japan, though.
Tonyrama

 

[JDC]

Outbacks are made in Indiana. Subaru Outbacks have clutch problems which
seem out of the ordinary as well as engine problems (piston slap) and brake
component parts problems. Toyotas seem to have much better reliability.
Subarus have great all wheel drive capability.You can't have everything.

 

[zippy]

Based on my own experience, I'm not surprised at all. I've got a 2002 WRX, which I love dearly -- when it's not in the shop. In two and a half years, I've had to deal with poor electrical grounding, a broken electric window motor, a failed center differential, a failed air conditioner compressor and now a broken air conditioning high pressure line. This is more problems than I've had in my three previous cars combined, and the last car I had that was this unreliable was a 1975 AMC Pacer. It's a shame, because I like the car when it works.

There was a time when Subaru sold itself as "inexpensive, and built to stay that way." Now it is neither.

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
Looks like big 3 and Japanese are switching their position? Big 3 have
been working hard to improve quality while Japanese got lazy enjoying
their hard earned reputation. Knocking on the wood, my kids'
two MY00 Impreza are doing just fine. No problem other than regular
routine maintenance.
Tony

 

[Ragnar]

but aren't all subies made in japan? if they're all made in jap then
shouldn't they be basically the same?

Not necessarily. UK-spec soobies have different engines, right-hand side
drive, probably different transmissions, etc. There are a host of "spec"
items that are different between USA, UK, AUS, etc. soobies.

 

[FNO]

First off, I'd say that the article was on UK Subarus, not USA models.
Given that, I'd also say that you need to research USA-spec soobies to get
an accurate picture.

I agree. There are considerable differences between N/A scoobies and
everywhere else (partly because of the lower octane fuel and different
emission standards, and partly because of the lower speed limits - gearing
is different). When I reasearched buying my scoobie, I talked to several
owners and a friend whose wife works for a financial group that finances
them. She provided me with all kinds of failure data from the industry that
most of us don't generally see. There are a very high percentage of them
running around with 300,000+ KM on them (180K miles), and still in good
working order. The only common problem I heard of was the clutch-shudder
issues in the WRX and premature clutch failures in a couple of other models.
However, I drove a WRX with the clutch shudder. It wasn't that bad and it
seemed to have more to do with the owner being very hard on it.

Even when the cars do fail, Subaru Canada has been very good about doing
something about it. One person I spoke to had a block crack on a 98
Forrester. While the car was completely out of warranty, and the driver
ignored the overheating problem, SoC covered 30% of the cost, the dealer
covered 40% of the cost, and the driver paid the rest. They could have
insisted that the driver cover everything.

From my experience, these are extremely reliable cars when compared to
similar cars of other makes. I have owned GM and Chrysler, have family
members with Fords, Hondas, and Toyotas. I would say that only the Honda
was a better overall quality than the Scooby, but it does not have AWD;
which is important to me.