Ask the Car People.SM


New Subaru Forester Owners - Give Us Your Report!

225 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2008 at 1:40 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Car Buying, Wagon

Messages Page 17 of 23

#156 of 225 Re: Engine Smell!? [ateixeira] by aladwag

Oct 10, 2007 (10:49 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 10, 2007 10:00 am)
First, let me say thanks for all the responses, it is greatly appreciated. I have a case number, I've been nice but firm about not wanting my three-year-old daughter to have to smell the fumes that make even me a little nauseous...
 
After being told a scenario by an otherwise incredibly rude and abrupt supervisor in customer service that if my car cost $5k to trade in that Subaru might pick up $4k of the cost, two months later and one month after I brought my car to the dealer for an estimate of the trade in. I also requested and was granted another supervisor, whose only role was to deliver the offer. The offer? Subaru would pick up 50% of the trade-in cost.
 
That means it would cost me $4500 out of pocket to take a chance on another vehicle from them...something I'm not willing to do. They've abused and betrayed my trust, and I will no longer recommend them to anyone.
 
Some responses suggested I look for ways to fix the problem...makes sense. I just lost confidence when the dealer's own service technician described the problem as being due to undercoating sprayed on the engine (a manufacturing defect) and then stated the problem was not fixable. If Subaru can't fix it, I figured, nobody can.
 
But I am open to having the car looked at (assuming it's not going to cost me anything to look) just to see if what I'm describing makes your nose and throat cringe as it does mine. And who knows? Maybe there is a fix, maybe the tech was wrong. Stranger things have happened.
 
I'll also be writing a letter to Subaru certified mail return receipt requested insisting they fix the car within twenty days as the first step to having the car declared a lemon, something I realize is not a slam dunk, and taking all possible measures to publicize my dissatisfaction with the car and the service I've received since Subaru didn't consider my problem to be worthy of addressing properly when it was just me complaining.
 
I also believe the trade-in value assigned the car was unbelievably low ($13.5K) for a March 2007 Forester Sports X with 7000 miles which did have some body work done for a non-structural scrape on the driver's side. But losing $10k in value in less than six months? I think low-balling the trade-in value was just a nice way to have the dealer and SOA combine to make it look like they were being generous while having me pay most of the cost of trading out of their lemon.
 
I just drove home in the cold rain last night, and even in the rain as I walked away from the car I could smell that bitter stale odor...of the engine with the manufacturing defect, and the car company that positions itself as the environmentally aware automaker but doesn't care for the drivers who have to suck on stale fumes from their vehicles.
 
What I need is to have a consumer advocate read my letter in a public forum, at which point the attitude would change and Subaru would suddenly be eager to resolve what was certainly an unfortunate misunderstanding.
 
I really don't like the way I was treated by customer service who try to deny the smell, then blame the smell on third-party alterations (the remote start and alarm installed by the dealer!), the misleading "don't quote me" scenario of an 80% coverage by Subaru being floated for two months only to get a 50% offer.
 
P.S. They knew about the body work from the start of the discussions, so that was no surprise. And I was told in no uncertain terms after I calmly expressed my dismay at the low offer that it was the only and final offer Subaru would make.
 
As a standup comedian, one of my advantages is I can turn this scenario into a funny bit that will make audiences laugh and think twice about who they hand their money to.

#157 of 225 Re: Engine Smell!? [aladwag] by ateixeira

Oct 10, 2007 (10:51 am)

Replying to: aladwag (Oct 10, 2007 10:49 am)
They have a Guaranteed Trade-in Program right now so many owners are seeing the exact opposite - very high offers for their trades.
 
The damage may disqualify yours, though.
 
Still, keep fighting, sounds like you can do better.

#158 of 225 Re: Engine Smell!? [aladwag] by p0926

Oct 11, 2007 (9:20 am)

Replying to: aladwag (Oct 10, 2007 10:49 am)
Undercoating getting sprayed on the engine is quite common (and I doubt it's limited to Subaru). Were that the problem then the tech would be correct in saying it's not fixable. However, the undercoating normally burns off after a few weeks at most so I can't see that being your problem.
 
Since the dealer's service dept is no help, it might be worth taking it to an independent mechanic to see if he can ID the problem then you could take it back to the dealer with specifics of what needs to be fixed.
 
-Frank

#159 of 225 Re: Engine Smell!? [p0926] by paisan

Oct 11, 2007 (3:04 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Oct 11, 2007 9:20 am)
So you mean to tell me that you are hinging all this on one single tech who looked at it? Unfortunately in this world, you generally need several opinions to get a problem fixed. As I said I'd take a gander at it just cause I'm curious to see what the problem is. Having worked on Subies since about 1999, I've seen it all.
 
-mike

#160 of 225 Re: Engine Smell!? [paisan] by p0926

Oct 11, 2007 (4:25 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Oct 11, 2007 3:04 pm)
I think he said the regional rep looked at it and didn't smell anything either.
 
I too am curious what the problem is. Maybe if he's in the NYC area he'll take you up on your offer.
 
-Frank

#161 of 225 Re: Engine Smell!? [p0926] by aladwag

Oct 12, 2007 (8:55 am)

Replying to: p0926 (Oct 11, 2007 4:25 pm)
Sure, one opinion doesn't do it for surgery...but I figured no one has seen more 2007 Foresters or should be more invested in fixing the problem than the dealer's service department. Naive, perhaps.
 
That said, I'd be happy to get a second opinion. Where are you?
 
-Al

#162 of 225 Re: Engine Smell!? [aladwag] by paisan

Oct 12, 2007 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: aladwag (Oct 12, 2007 8:55 am)
NNJ, exit 138 on the GSP. I live in NYC though.
 
-mike

#164 of 225 giving my report by sistine

Oct 13, 2007 (4:51 pm)

#165 of 225 Giving my report by sistine

Oct 13, 2007 (5:06 pm)

Hi everyone,
   Have not bought a new car in many years. Researched many cars,decided on the Subaru Forester 2007 Sports edition. I was very excited about finally getting a new car for me since the kids are older.
First off it starts off very rough in the morning for about 20 secs. Happens again after work. Does not happen in between if driving in less than 8 hrs.So of course it doesnt happen when I bring it in.Thats number 1.
2. I don t feel the AC gets cold enough. Had a 2002 toyota corolla that got colder.
3.When I accelerate I can hear a knocking noise. When u take your foot off the gas it goes away. But when u accelerate, it again it happens again.
   I took the car back for the first 2 problems & was told: that is the way the 07 & 08's start up. (why dont they tell u that before u buy it so u can decide if u want to deal with that) haha
   They checked the AC & said nothing was wrong with it. Tues I take it in for the knocking noise. Cant wait to see what they say about that.
    I guess my point is I was hoping for 3 years without problems but I have a funny feeling that is not going to happen.
   Would I buy another Subaru, probably not.

Messages Page 17 of 23

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement