Subaru in UK/Europe vs America

[jimmytheone]

I've not had to use my local dealer much but i tried - 3 calls about a non-functioning key (yes, i tried replacing the battery) and they could not have been less interested.
Dealer - "how old is the vehicle?"
Me - "2005 [WRX]"
Dealer - "I'll have to see if we can work on cars that old"


If thats the way a main dealer operates i'm not surprised they hardly sell any cars

[Smint]

jimmytheone said:

I've not had to use my local dealer much but i tried - 3 calls about a non-functioning key (yes, i tried replacing the battery) and they could not have been less interested.
Dealer - "how old is the vehicle?"
Me - "2005 [WRX]"
Dealer - "I'll have to see if we can work on cars that old"


If thats the way a main dealer operates i'm not surprised they hardly sell any cars

That's pretty well the attitude and competence i experienced at the Mitsi dealer when i had issues with an Outlander, i used to deliver new Mitsis at one time, we used to joke about which Mitsi dealer had the most miserable bunch of sales people, like walking into a funeral home chiller room.

[markiii]

jimmytheone said:

I've not had to use my local dealer much but i tried - 3 calls about a non-functioning key (yes, i tried replacing the battery) and they could not have been less interested.
Dealer - "how old is the vehicle?"
Me - "2005 [WRX]"
Dealer - "I'll have to see if we can work on cars that old"


If thats the way a main dealer operates i'm not surprised they hardly sell any cars

Cambridge by any chance?

[jimmytheone]

markiii said:

Cambridge by any chance?

Hemel.
There used to be another in Slip-End (nr Luton) but they're Citroen / Isuzu now
(amazing to think i had 2 subaru "dealers" within a 15 mile radius!)

[Rich_AR]

jimmytheone said:

I've not had to use my local dealer much but i tried - 3 calls about a non-functioning key (yes, i tried replacing the battery) and they could not have been less interested.
Dealer - "how old is the vehicle?"
Me - "2005 [WRX]"
Dealer - "I'll have to see if we can work on cars that old"


If thats the way a main dealer operates i'm not surprised they hardly sell any cars

The key or the fob? The fob on my 2007 WRX failed, but I just bought a used fob from another Subaru off eBay and reprogrammed it myself. It's pretty simple (unless the key/fobs are massively different in the UK?).

Like this?

[jimmytheone]

Rich_AR said:

The key or the fob? The fob on my 2007 WRX failed, but I just bought a used fob from another Subaru off eBay and reprogrammed it myself. It's pretty simple (unless the key/fobs are massively different in the UK?).

Like this?

I had 2 original keys, 1 never worked, 1 stopped working = problem, and just before its MOT was due too
like this


I paid a mobile locksmith to supply and reprogramme 2 keys for about £90 i think

[Rich_AR]

jimmytheone said:

Rich_AR said:

The key or the fob? The fob on my 2007 WRX failed, but I just bought a used fob from another Subaru off eBay and reprogrammed it myself. It's pretty simple (unless the key/fobs are massively different in the UK?).

Like this?

I had 2 original keys, 1 never worked, 1 stopped working = problem, and just before its MOT was due too
like this


I paid a mobile locksmith to supply and reprogramme 2 keys for about £90 i think

ah yes, they are different. 2 keys for 90 quid ain't bad really!

[InfamousK]

Rich_AR said:

jimmytheone said:

Rich_AR said:

The key or the fob? The fob on my 2007 WRX failed, but I just bought a used fob from another Subaru off eBay and reprogrammed it myself. It's pretty simple (unless the key/fobs are massively different in the UK?).

Like this?

I had 2 original keys, 1 never worked, 1 stopped working = problem, and just before its MOT was due too
like this


I paid a mobile locksmith to supply and reprogramme 2 keys for about £90 i think

ah yes, they are different. 2 keys for 90 quid ain't bad really!

There's definitely something iffy with the older Subarus and their keys.

My Legacy BP5 has a Cobra on it from when it was brand new and now all of a sudden the immobiliser won't disengage and trying to find an auto electrician for the job is proving difficult. Doesn't help how the MOT will expire this Monday too. If the garage it is at can't rectify it I see myself scraping it.

[GravelBen]

My old 1990 BF Legacy sometimes used to lock itself if you got out and shut the door behind you... even with the key in the ignition and the engine running!

After getting caught out and having to leave the car running on the side of the road while I ran home for a spare key (boot wasn't shut properly, stopped to shut it, went to get back in and nope locked out... fortunately only 5 minutes from home) I got into the habit of always opening the window before closing the drivers door with the engine running, and also perpetually kept a spare key in my wallet for a backup.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 5th April 01:12

[jimmytheone]

InfamousK said:

There's definitely something iffy with the older Subarus and their keys.

My Legacy BP5 has a Cobra on it from when it was brand new and now all of a sudden the immobiliser won't disengage and trying to find an auto electrician for the job is proving difficult. Doesn't help how the MOT will expire this Monday too. If the garage it is at can't rectify it I see myself scraping it.

Do you need the number of the key man i used?
He's mobile, i'm in Herts, i see you're Essex, might be worth a try to save it?

[broadspeed1]

Their boring standard models have big engines, that people can't afford to run and get highly taxed.
The brand isn't a status symbol like BMW etc it's more associated with obnoxious chavs waking you up with his 6 inch exhaust.
Their fast models made the same power they did in the 90s all while being less reliable with the 2.5.

That being said I still want a turbo Impreza but logically they make no sense, expensive, unreliable and slow compared to much cheaper and more reliable hot hatches.