Question regarding body dings and warranty/ first 30 days of ownership. - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

left footed whooten · 2007-03-13, 05:28 PM

Hey all,
This is my first actually new car with an actual issue that needs addressing.
After a semi-eventful delivery, I give it its first claybarring and wax, only to find some small dimples/dings. I wonder if they can be brought to the dealer's attention. Am I SOL since I didn't catch it on delivery/purchase? I've PM'ed Kostamojen to see what he thinks.

The one on the hood stands out the easiest in the photos, its nearly dead center in the tree reflection. The door ones are hard to capture on photos. Look in the white reflection between the two door handles.

Factors:
1) This was the last 06 wagon they had on the lot, got a good deal on it, but its been on the lot a while, between two dealers.
2) Didn't notice these dimples until last week while starting its panel-by-panel initial claybar/wax treatment. Lighting/time of day didn't bring them to light on the lot.
3) Car is CGM
4) Car was delivered from Sac to Reno via a dirty I-80 over the summit. Another thing that made the surface a bit obscured. Also, a few things went 'wrong' and demanded my immediate attention and phone calls, plus a bursting pen. I got distracted from a thorough inspection, plus the dirt obscuring things.
5) 'damage' is on the aluminum hood in the center portion, dime-sized. The other site is at the passenger rear door just below the window nearest the seam between it and the front door. Twin dimples, very small, but putting a shine on the car brought them out.
6) They seem like 'dent doctor' material, but I've never had an aluminum hood before.

***Do people bring things like this up to their dealer? Is this the kind of stuff that is covered in the first 30-day period? As I asked before, am I SOL since I didn't notice it @ delivery/purchase?***

Kevin M · 2007-03-13, 05:42 PM

You may be SOL on the dings. I don't think you can force them to do anything, so only by cajoling some good will out of them will you get them fixed on the dealer's dime.

Also... don't pay much attention to what Steve thinks in such matters... he works for the shittiest service department in the entire valley, and he had heard all the stories before he got the job. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

sperry · 2007-03-13, 06:09 PM

Be a squeaky wheel, you will get them pulled by a dent dr. paid for by the dealer. A new car should be new.

left footed whooten · 2007-03-13, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperry

Be a squeaky wheel, you will get them pulled by a dent dr. paid for by the dealer. A new car should be new.

That's what I was thinking. After all, it was on the lot for quite a while. Originally was at Livermore, per the sticker. They probably wont have to pay much at all to have it straightened out. But, SOL wouldn't surprise me either.

MPREZIV · 2007-03-14, 06:24 AM

Usually, if it's brought to our attention within a decent amount of time, we'll take care of crap like that for our customers. It's not really a warranty issue so much, but something that they *should* have fixed for you. Like Scott said, a new car should be NEW.

left footed whooten · 2007-03-14, 03:08 PM

So far, the outlook looks good. Maita is good to deal with. Waiting to hear back.

bxracer69 · 2007-03-21, 08:56 PM

My roomie got a new outback 2.5i and when I waxed it with her we found a shitload of little things screwed up with the paint. The worst was the factory screwed up and the painted bubbled on the door under the molding... needless to say the problems were corrected within a week. I don't think yours should b ne different

M3n2c3 · 2007-03-21, 09:00 PM

I had a few tiny paint chips on the front bumper and the front edge of the hood when I got my RS. . . I just shrugged and figured that I'd just end up doing worse in two years. . .

I was right

left footed whooten · 2007-03-23, 07:12 PM

^^^Oh, I know it....that's one reason I went with a silver. The chips are going to happen, hopefully silver will do nicely to hide them.

Maita is being cool about it, I just have to trek my way down there so they can see it and, on approval, they're slated to fix it in-house while I wait. I finished the initial claybar & wax bumper to bumper and no more blemmies other than these.

doubleurx · 2007-03-24, 04:26 PM

Honestly I wouldn't worry about those little dings. I have owned 5 subarus; and of all the cars I have owned Subarus chip and ding easier than any other car. My '05 subaru has a few of those dings and many chips on the front end while our other cars '91 Porsche c4 and a 2001 Acura MDX are in much better shape even with more mileage and abuse. Even if they fix these, new ones will sprout up within a month or two.

2007-03-13, 05:28 PM	#1
left footed whooten EJ251 Real Name: Dylan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Truckee Posts: 539 Car: 06 WRX wagon CGM Class: Stuck working weekends	Question regarding body dings and warranty/ first 30 days of ownership. Hey all, This is my first actually new car with an actual issue that needs addressing. After a semi-eventful delivery, I give it its first claybarring and wax, only to find some small dimples/dings. I wonder if they can be brought to the dealer's attention. Am I SOL since I didn't catch it on delivery/purchase? I've PM'ed Kostamojen to see what he thinks. The one on the hood stands out the easiest in the photos, its nearly dead center in the tree reflection. The door ones are hard to capture on photos. Look in the white reflection between the two door handles. Factors: 1) This was the last 06 wagon they had on the lot, got a good deal on it, but its been on the lot a while, between two dealers. 2) Didn't notice these dimples until last week while starting its panel-by-panel initial claybar/wax treatment. Lighting/time of day didn't bring them to light on the lot. 3) Car is CGM 4) Car was delivered from Sac to Reno via a dirty I-80 over the summit. Another thing that made the surface a bit obscured. Also, a few things went 'wrong' and demanded my immediate attention and phone calls, plus a bursting pen. I got distracted from a thorough inspection, plus the dirt obscuring things. 5) 'damage' is on the aluminum hood in the center portion, dime-sized. The other site is at the passenger rear door just below the window nearest the seam between it and the front door. Twin dimples, very small, but putting a shine on the car brought them out. 6) They seem like 'dent doctor' material, but I've never had an aluminum hood before. *Do people bring things like this up to their dealer? Is this the kind of stuff that is covered in the first 30-day period? As I asked before, am I SOL since I didn't notice it @ delivery/purchase?* Attached Thumbnails __________________ I'd rather drink muddy water and sleep in a hollow log

2007-03-13, 05:42 PM	#2
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	You may be SOL on the dings. I don't think you can force them to do anything, so only by cajoling some good will out of them will you get them fixed on the dealer's dime. Also... don't pay much attention to what Steve thinks in such matters... he works for the shittiest service department in the entire valley, and he had heard all the stories before he got the job. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2007-03-13, 06:09 PM	#3
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	Be a squeaky wheel, you will get them pulled by a dent dr. paid for by the dealer. A new car should be new. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2007-03-14, 06:24 AM	#5
MPREZIV Token Real Name: Le Stig Afrique? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sitting next to a big yellow box Posts: 3,589 Car: 2001 Impreza 2.5 RS Class: 05 TDSP No, I won't work on your car. F your car*	Usually, if it's brought to our attention within a decent amount of time, we'll take care of crap like that for our customers. It's not really a warranty issue so much, but something that they should have fixed for you. Like Scott said, a new car should be NEW. __________________ "...these condoms have a topical anesthetic to reduce sensitivity, so you can last longer. What a paradox. You can't feel a thing, but you can f*ck for HOURS..."

2007-03-14, 03:08 PM	#6
left footed whooten EJ251 Real Name: Dylan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Truckee Posts: 539 Car: 06 WRX wagon CGM Class: Stuck working weekends	So far, the outlook looks good. Maita is good to deal with. Waiting to hear back. __________________ I'd rather drink muddy water and sleep in a hollow log

2007-03-21, 08:56 PM	#7
bxracer69 EJ22 Real Name: Nick Langkamp Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: On the Road Posts: 384 Car: 2003 Mitsubishi Evo8 Class: SM Snowboarding....Because gravity is cheaper than gas	My roomie got a new outback 2.5i and when I waxed it with her we found a shitload of little things screwed up with the paint. The worst was the factory screwed up and the painted bubbled on the door under the molding... needless to say the problems were corrected within a week. I don't think yours should b ne different __________________ My better is better than your best. My fast smells like french toast. www.langkampracing.com

2007-03-21, 09:00 PM	#8
M3n2c3 EJ205 Real Name: Jeremiah Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dayton, NV Posts: 1,888 Car: Current: 2014 Forester 2.5i Premium. Old: 2005 Impreza 2.5RS, 2000 Forester L Class: RNP, long ago (see motto) "Kids are ruining autocross."	I had a few tiny paint chips on the front bumper and the front edge of the hood when I got my RS. . . I just shrugged and figured that I'd just end up doing worse in two years. . . I was right __________________ Small red text that looks curious at first glance but is ultimately inconsequential

2007-03-23, 07:12 PM	#9
left footed whooten EJ251 Real Name: Dylan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Truckee Posts: 539 Car: 06 WRX wagon CGM Class: Stuck working weekends	^^^Oh, I know it....that's one reason I went with a silver. The chips are going to happen, hopefully silver will do nicely to hide them. Maita is being cool about it, I just have to trek my way down there so they can see it and, on approval, they're slated to fix it in-house while I wait. I finished the initial claybar & wax bumper to bumper and no more blemmies other than these. __________________ I'd rather drink muddy water and sleep in a hollow log

2007-03-24, 04:26 PM	#10
doubleurx EJ205 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Truckee Posts: 1,948	Honestly I wouldn't worry about those little dings. I have owned 5 subarus; and of all the cars I have owned Subarus chip and ding easier than any other car. My '05 subaru has a few of those dings and many chips on the front end while our other cars '91 Porsche c4 and a 2001 Acura MDX are in much better shape even with more mileage and abuse. Even if they fix these, new ones will sprout up within a month or two. __________________ Does it have a motor..............Does it have a motor?