The 08 STi has turned out to be a major ordeal. Will post all the gory details on a separate website later (the fact that I registered mysubarusucks.com and had it nearly done and had also regsitered mysubarusucksass.com should give a hint where this is going), but here's the Reader's Digest version.
I took delivery of the car when I got back to the States, broke it in, used it comparatively lightly at an event for which I was the Chief Instructor, then two weeks later used it at a regular driving school, drove it comparatively lightly on Friday because I was training a new instructor, then finally started really wringing it out on Saturday.
It lasted 2 1/2 20-minute sessions before it spun a rod bearing and had only 2 quarts of oil left in it.
At 1987 miles!
That happened May 24th. Subaru refused to cover it under warranty, citing neglect and abuse, though I checked the oil at least 4 times (how many people do THAT in less than 2k miles on a new car?) and they claimed I "raced" it, though I don't race. I'm a Performance Driving Instructor for Track Days/Driving Events. That kind of use is mentioned in the owners manual as an (implied acceptable) usage pattern since they tell you things which Driver-Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) setting is optimum for different conditions including track use.
The engine had a spun road bearing, a broken piston ringland, and a camshaft sprocket that had been mounted incorrectly, making that camshaft (intake) out of time and displacing metal from it, which I think might've found its way to the rod bearing.
It had a persistent 5200-rpm stumble that was very nasty and would only clear up for a few laps after an ECU reset, but did seem to be gradually improving near the end.
The Check Engine Light came on within a second of the spun rod bearing getting audible. They need to call it a "Replace Engine Light" because most owners are reporting that it doesn't come on until the engine is toast.
A disconcerting number of the 08's have suffered the same or similar failures. >1% of the ones delivered to the States, which means likely closer to 3% of all the ones sold since they can't move these cars and there's a major run on the 05-07 model now (I got a good price for mine when I traded it in on my truck and actually got RETAIL for my Camry Hybrid I traded in with it -- that car ended up not owing me a penny!).
The week before last they issued a recall to address a problem with them breaking ring lands. I called them (Subaru of America -- I was way past working with the dealership) and even in light of the recall, they still refused to reimburse me.
They finally called me last Friday and told me they'd reimburse me as a "goodwill" gesture after they'd read my 11-page "Final pre-litigation demand for compensation and warranty coverage" in which I also mentioned I've bought 5 new Subarus in 4 years, 4 of which have been WRX/STi models.
To this day, I'm sure I would've had to take them to court (the lawyer was eager for the case as it was looking real bad for them) if not for their deciding to "be nice" because I'd bought so many of their cars.
Mine was the only one for which warranty coverage was refused. But it was also the first one to blow up, so the pattern wasn't known yet.
Anyway, it was $10,600 to replace the engine with an assembly line engine that was complete, including accessories. They had some sitting around in different parts of the country in case they needed them for the "Stop Sale" they issued earlier in which very low-mileage ones were eating bearigs.
One guy I talked to had a spun rod bearing with a full load of oil. And never used it on any kind of track.
I haven't received the check yet but should this week. And though they finally made things right by me, I would NOT recommend the 08 STi to anyone. It's a fragile car with some serious design/manufacturing problems. Well, I say they made things right by me, but that remains to be seen. I won't accept/cash the check if they include any verbage to the effect that I'm letting them off the hook completely and forfeiting my right to sue later if I need to.
The recent recall is a reflash of the computer. And so far I'm not very happy.
The new engine ran extremely hot (nudging but not intruding into the "overheated" zone on the gauge) when I ran it on the track a while back, and since getting the reflash, it's developed a stumble that happens consistently at a few different rpm points between 3500 and 5000. It doesn't stumble as hard as the original engine did at 5200 rpm, but still worries me that it's a ringland-destroying detonation stumble.
Then again, it just may need more miles before it finishes "learning".
I'm taking it to the track September 5th through 7th and we'll see how it does. Really a nice car if not for how fragile it is for about $40k. I may be making arrangements to have a Subaru technician ride with me half the day that Friday to witness the stumbling and hot running (it can't be legally made to run that hot on the road and I'm not sure it can be done illegally either) and to monitor the car's health. Won't be cheap, but if the engine pops again, it should make warranty go smoother, and if it does it again, it becomes a lemon law issue since tracking it is a fully-disclosed usage pattern and one the company supposedly treats as an acceptable one. I'm the only person we (the STi community) are aware of where they played the "You drove it hard" card.
The news that they were going to reimburse me for the engine replacement came the day after I found out that Ford would sell me a factory remanufactured long-block for my 91 Mustang GT for the bargain price of $1900. I picked it up today and if I can find time away from work, hope to have it running for the September event. Especially since I'm personally renting the track and inviting my best track buds to join me. Would be a shame to be paying for the track, too, if the engine blows up again and I don't have the Mustang waiting in the wings. |
