Am I being too pedantic?? New 2.5L Lib owner

[llbjt]

Hi all,

I picked up my brand new MY09 2.5L Lib sedan last Friday and have found a few issues with it.

1) Scrape under my front bumper - have already been promised it will get fixed at my first service.
2) Rubber seal around my drivers side frameless window is torn and is letting water into the cabin - am concerned as to how long it was sitting at the dealership in this state and letting water in, have been promised it will get fixed ASAP.
3) Rust underneath both of my mufflers.
4) Rear brake light doesn't work! - probably just a bulb.
5) Found a plastic "nub" under my carpet mat. Looks like it may have broken off the dash assembly somewhere - am worried it will cause rattles.
5) Stains on the interior - looks like they did a 5min detail.
6) A couple of minor scratches to the painwork - hopefully will buff out but i dont think they will.

I've got to make the long trip back to the dealer tomorrow to try and sought it all out, and am really annoyed as too how they could release the car in this state considering some of these things stick out like a sore thumb. Am curious to hear your thoughts and experiences with this sort of thing. I'm not sure if i am being a bit too pedantic, i will post some pics as soon as i work out how to do it lol. Cheers!

[jdm rsk]

Hi all,

I picked up my brand new MY09 2.5L Lib sedan last Friday and have found a few issues with it.

1) Scrape under my front bumper - have already been promised it will get fixed at my first service.
2) Rubber seal around my drivers side frameless window is torn and is letting water into the cabin - am concerned as to how long it was sitting at the dealership in this state and letting water in, have been promised it will get fixed ASAP.
3) Rust underneath both of my mufflers.
4) Rear brake light doesn't work! - probably just a bulb.
5) Found a plastic "nub" under my carpet mat. Looks like it may have broken off the dash assembly somewhere - am worried it will cause rattles.
5) Stains on the interior - looks like they did a 5min detail.
6) A couple of minor scratches to the painwork - hopefully will buff out but i dont think they will.

I've got to make the long trip back to the dealer tomorrow to try and sought it all out, and am really annoyed as too how they could release the car in this state considering some of these things stick out like a sore thumb. Am curious to hear your thoughts and experiences with this sort of thing. I'm not sure if i am being a bit too pedantic, i will post some pics as soon as i work out how to do it lol. Cheers!

yes and no imo
1) Scrape under my front bumper - will happen again
3) Rust underneath both of my mufflers - wouldnt worry about this
the rest i would be concerned about

[tmacca]

Repair of most of these are things that are reasonable expectations of a "new" vehicle. Every time I have taken delivery of a new vehicle I have given the car a fairly thorough inspection (even had the Dealer tell me it wasn't necessary because of the warranty). Consumer law is a bit "grey" around issues such as the scratches and the stained interior - once you've driven off the dealer's property they can claim the scratches (etc) occurred after you took delivery.

I would be making them fix all these (perhaps the "plastic nub" is something you will have to let pass) immediately - the magic "first service" repair can be a good excuse not to repair at all (unless you have the repair offer in writing).

[SpecB]

Tell them you're not satisfied and jump up and down until you get a new car or enough stuff thrown at you until you are satisfied - I don't mean CD cases or key wallet either.

Saturday morning is the best time to do it too - I got results doing it

I'd be taking photos not just for our benefit either, I'd do it so you can send them to Subby HO.

[llbjt]

Cheers guys,

Got the repair of the bumper in writing. They got some gimp at the dealership to try hand buff the scratches out but it did jack all. Hopefully they cooperate tomorrow and accept responsibility for the majority of these. If not Subaru Aus will be hearing about it.

[Sentinel]

The key with any new car is to NOT settle and take delivery of it, until you are happy. Now this is bloody hard to do as we get emotional about getting the new car and don't see the 'little things' until we get it home and wash the damn thing... Then they all jump out but it's too late. You paid and lost your negotiating power.

I basically tell the dealer that I will settle and take delivery the car upon siting and signoff. If there are things wrong with it, I'll get it in writing as part of the settlement.

That's just something I've always done.

In your circumstance, it's a bit difficult now coz you've paid and had the car. Subi Aust may be sympathetic, but they 'may' maintain that you had the chance at delivery to raise the issues and didn't. Good luck with it and hopefully your dealer is good to you - by that I mean they should acknowledge the issues and fix them.

[BUDDAH]

I would have told them to shove it up their ass and not taken delivery. Yes I have done it in the past and would do it again Did you find these items before you took possession? I also feel you are entitled to compensation to the value of the work required . Ask for the next 3 service free of charge no harm in asking Will you name and shame them ??

[nicam]

Looks like they didn't do the basic check. typical from dealers, once you sign the dotted line they don't care about and palm you off to let service deal with it.

When I took delivery did a very good eye over the whole thing and picked up the rear seat belt buckle were hiden behind the seats. very minor but I found then not the dealer.

[llbjt]

I picked up the paintwork damage and dodgy detailing on the interior upon pickup as these were the things i was focusing on. Definatly a lesson learnt here, got caught up in the emotion and wasn't thorough enough. The big ones i missed were the brake light and torn seal.

Thankfully they are being cooperative so far and are taking the steps to rectify things after I had a go this morning, so i wont name and shame just yet, but they are one of the bigger Sydney dealers. They cleaned the rust off the exhausts tips and cleaned up the interior for me today. We organised the seal and park light repair for tomorrow at their service centre. Had a brief chat about the paintwork but will be talking more on that tomorrow. I braught up the "nub" but just used it as another example of their lack of thoroughness, I'm going to let this one slide.

Had to laugh at some of their excuses though... "the nub would have got caught on one of the detailers shoes", "the park light could have gone out as soon as you drove off" - both possible but unlikely, and my favourite "you have to expect all new cars to have some rust on them".

[nicam]

yeah I know the feeling getting caught up with the emotion. But demand the paint be fixed ASAP and they should give you a free service for all the trouble they put you through.

"the park light could have gone out as soon as you drove off" unbelievable!!

[Sentinel]

and my favourite "you have to expect all new cars to have some rust on them".

You're kidding!?!?! What drugs are they on!?! I hope they said that as a "tongue in cheek" gesture!

[smythie]

"the park light could have gone out as soon as you drove off" - both possible but unlikely,

Actually, generally speaking, lights of any kind are equally likely to fail at any time. In a minute's time or 10 year's time. It is the nature of how the things fail.

[adz2.0r]

Mate you have bought a brand new car not a second hand one. I would be in there demanding a new one.

[llbjt]

Baught it new... that option went out the door once i took delivery of it I guess, my bad mistake. Anyway, I got the sports limited edition and i believe i got one of the last in the colour i wanted (black with the ivory leather - looks pimpin'!!).

I've sorted through all the issues bar the scrape under the bumper. They wanted to do a 1 hour hack job to patch it up, i told them to get stuffed. To make it look factory I think it would at least be a 2 day job, by the time they remove the lip, prep the area, spray in a booth, bake etc, around the $500 mark. No one knows the scrape is there except me, and i'm sure i will add to it at some point. I would much rather keep the factory paint on there than let them stuff around with it for an hour.

I'm thinking 2 services and a tin of touch up paint should do it as far as compensation goes, and i think im letting them off easy given all the mucking around i've gone through. Will discuss this with them tomorrow.