Traditionally we wait for a maintenance reminder to flash before we perform routine maintenance. It's the way most (non car folks) play the game-- and they're not dealing with 30-something cars. There are certain exceptions to the rule; cars without electronic service reminders, and cars that are oft-flogged spring to mind immediately. This past Thursday I had the pleasure of wheeling the STI and its non-linear, springy clutch and bog-happy engine through heavy traffic. The bright "YOU'RE OUT OF GAS. PANIC NOW!" light was a welcome relief from having to commute with this thing.
While at the gas station I noted that nobody had checked the Oil in a couple of weeks. Hooray! More time I'd get to spend out of the car. Tires were all in good shape and spot-on for pressure. Oil was a different story. It was about a quart low. No real surprise there. It's what these cars do. But then, when writing down the odometer reading for the fuel log, I noticed we were pretty close to needing a routine maintenance. We could have let it go another day and waited for the light, but I was already with the car, so what the heck.
I called Subaru of Santa Monica--a new dealership under the umbrella of Santa Monica Ford-- and they said they could take me later that morning. The appointment making process was the first, last and only positive of this dealer run.
Follow the jump for the run down.
The appointment was scheduled for 11:30 and I pulled into their garage right on time. Turns out they never took my name and I was never given the name of a service advisor. Halfway through my check-in process, the guy I originally called spoke up and my paperwork was thrown onto his desk. I was told to follow.
I wanted the 18,750 mile service. Well, they don't do that. They might be able to do it, but there's no price on the deli-style menu board for that service. 15,000 was close so they picked that one. I told them I didn't want the cabin filter as Erin had already changed ours. I also mentioned that our navigation screen was going all sorts of crazy. There's a TSB out for that issue, number 15-127-08 Navigation Update 6300. He typed a bunch more stuff into the computer and then walked off to the printer.
He came back and fanned out the copies for me to sign. Intentionally or not, the price on each of them was covered by another piece of paper. I pushed one aside to see an absolutely staggering figure. Over $300. "For what!? Let's go over this item-by-item." I said. There wasn't a mirror, but I'm pretty sure my face was approximately the color of our Long Term 135. "That's just the price. It's there on the wall." On the wall, as noted earlier, were prices and mileages, none of which aligned with those required by our STI and none of which were priced even remotely sanely. I opted only for only an oil change, and the Nav upgrade.
Some three hours later I got anxious and called my service advisor. The car was finished and just getting a bath. The navigation could not be upgraded because they didn't have the discs in and they weren't sure when they would be getting them.
An oil change and fluid check cost us $54.25. We're used to higher prices here in Santa Monica, and even though the oil change fell into the regionally adjusted acceptable range, nothing else here did. There's a Subaru dealer in Long Beach. We'll be going there from now on.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 18,654 miles
kurtamaxxxguy says:
04:20 PM, 02/ 2/09
Ahhh, yes, the joys of Subaru maintenance in S. California. A former Co-worker living in Santa Monica took WRX to three different dealers in the SF valley/ SM area to get a Fuel Emission systems problem fixed (Santa Monica goofed diagnosing his pinched tube to charcoal canister). His laments about not finding a competent servicing dealer kept me from purchasing Subaru there.
However, he did not try Long Beach. Hopefully you will fare well there.
The NW USA has many more Subaru dealers to choose from: at least 5 competent ones within a 20 mile radius of Portland OR.
iancar says:
05:39 PM, 02/ 2/09
That's okay. Every STI only last for two model years and then mechanics and interior designs will get some improvements, while the exterior will just get uglier and uglier until the next generation platform that gives you even uglier looking exterior than all previous ugliness combined.
KC_Scooter says:
07:06 PM, 02/ 2/09
"It's what these cars do?" Mine, doesn't burn a drop of oil and it's at 14,000 miles.
boxermike says:
07:36 PM, 02/ 2/09
""It's what these cars do?" Mine, doesn't burn a drop of oil and it's at 14,000 miles."
You need to check your oil or drive it harder. We've had a lot of STIs on our hands over the years, they all use a quart every once in a while. Check page 11-9 of your owners manual, "If the oil consumption rate seems abnormally high after the break-in period, for example more than 1 quart per 1,200 miles..." I figure us getting more than 3K with one quart is well within Subaru's "normal" range.
-mike
Mad_Science says:
09:10 PM, 02/ 2/09
So far my 06 WRX doesn't drink oil. I change it every 3750.
I've received great service from Subaru of Sherman Oaks (located in Van Nuys, oddly enough) for the 2 times I've brought it in.
Not sure how good their prices were for the 30k service, but I start with the assumption that I'm going to get reamed on pricing at the dealer, which is why I do the rest of my maintenance on at home.
tmanz says:
10:39 PM, 02/ 2/09
So you grunted and pointed at a board with a price by the service and then were surprised by the price of the service?
A service department that loads their regular services up with things like "check to see if the windows are still see through" and charges extra for it? Shocking!
If only there was a book that showed what the car needed done under severe driving near that number of miles on it. That would be a handy book to have.
rick8365 says:
05:57 AM, 02/ 3/09
I've stood in line at Toyota service and listened to the "advisor" tell someone about the $600 tune-up items their Camry needed with the mileage around 30K. Undoubtedly when they bought the car a year or two before the salesman at the same dealer sung the praises of no tune-up until 100K or later. If our 4-Runner wasn't back for another follow-up on a warranty repair I would have spoken up, made a scene and left.
A_ _holes!!
farvy says:
08:58 AM, 02/ 3/09
"If only there was a book that showed what the car needed done under severe driving near that number of miles on it. That would be a handy book to have."
There is such a book. It's called the Owners Manual in the glovebox.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
09:49 AM, 02/ 3/09
BTW, is this STI a rattle-trap? A comparison elsewhere on Edmunds suggested this was the case.
'09 Foresters definitely have rattle issues in doors, fixable with insulation. Perhaps STI, using similar trim, has same issues?
canadaphant says:
10:19 AM, 02/ 3/09
Farvy, nice catch :-)
Mad_Science, think you're changing the oil enough? I mean, I always thought 3000 miles was kinda pushing it with modern lubricants and engines; that 750 mile difference means your engine will need a rebuild in 300k miles, not 500k like mine! Don't even get me started on those crazy manuals that recommend 7500 mile changes, or the mechanics that say 5000 is good.
bankerdanny says:
10:36 AM, 02/ 3/09
Hey, on the subject of service costs, did you ever get the itemized bill for the Smart service a couple months back?
crowb says:
12:39 PM, 02/ 3/09
tmanz and canadaphant: are being sarcastic.
Just in case someone else misses the obvious.
rsholland says:
01:46 PM, 02/ 3/09
No rattles in my '09 WRX 5-door.
canadaphant says:
03:00 PM, 02/ 3/09
Crowb-
Dilemma time-is it better to waste oil by burning it in the engine or changing too often?
tantan73 says:
03:19 PM, 02/ 3/09
Suby Specialities in Monrovia is the best Suby Shop in the world.
Yes, I know it is a little far from Santa Monica, but they'll take you on a Saturday, won't jerk you around, and they do the best work around.
WORTH.THE.DRIVE.
crowb says:
02:39 PM, 02/ 4/09
Canadaphant -
Isn't there a way I can do both?
subytrojan says:
02:56 PM, 02/ 4/09
I had my 2004 WRX's 105,000-mile service performed by Steve and friends at Suby Specialties last Friday. :thumbsup: They're not the cheapest, but they do good work. I had them replace the timing belt, spark plugs, and perform a LOF. :o) It cost me $663.xx with me supplying the timing belt (but not the pulleys and front main seal), spark plugs, oil, oil filter, and crush washer.
Steve says their current schedule requires an appointment at least 1 week in advance under normal circumstances. When the economy was better and they were busier, one would need to schedule 2 weeks in advance or more.
canadaphant says:
03:40 PM, 02/ 4/09
Crowb-Hmmm...maybe use olive oil instead of Mobil1?