Hey guys, I have an 05 RS which I bought a few months ago with about 500 miles on it. It now has 14000 miles on it and I'm starting to regret buying this car. I love the way the car looks and handles, and even though it isn't a wrx, I am ok with the power. There are a lot of little problems that are starting to drive me crazy. I'm not sure if these are just characteristics of the car, but either way I'm bothered. My problems include: squeeky passanger side window, grinding noise in drivers side window, rattling glove box, squeeky drivers side seat belt, horrible shifting (mostly from a stop) reverse seems impossible to get into sometimes, super delicate paint, various noises and rattles from dash and roof, creeking/popping sound in drivers sided seat back, and the seat doesn't like to set on the rails when i move it back and forth, oh and the terrible wind noise at any speed above 50 from the windows. I am getting frustrated, I feel that an 05 shouldn't be giving me so many problems. I'm grateful that they aren't big problems, but still. Do you guys think that I am being over critical or did I buy a bad car. I like the way the car performs but these issues are making me think that I could have gotten A LOT more car for the money. Do I have any options? Would trading up for an 06 help or will i see the same problems with a new car? I brought my car in for some of these issues the other day and when i got the car back i swear the clutch is significantly worn. They only had my car for one day and I didn't check the mileage before i dropped it off, so i don't know how far they drove my car. Anyway, what do you all think?

 

Subaru's paint as always been not the best, but it gets the job done lol
as far as the tranny goes, bring it into your local dealer and have them look at it while you still have your warranty! the seat rails are your issue that you two cant get along really, as far as the misc things, it may be up to the dealer to warranty those items so take it in and see what they can do. give it a chance these cars are awesome and will last forever just about

 

The rattles and squeaks are typical for subarus as they have little/no sound deadening.

As for the transmission...the synchros can be picky. Just be sure not to jam them into gear, with a little finesse, you should be able to get used to it. Double clutching and rev-matching also help. Another trick that I use from a stop is always shifting to second then first. When you do that, it will always be a smooth engagement to 1st gear.

If you think the tranny is suspect, take it to the dealership like t3h hatteroo says.

 

As frustrating as everything listed is, none of that falls into the realm of lemon law - I'm an expert witness that deals solely with lemon law, dealer fraud, and breach of warranty cases - been around the WRX and 9-2X forums for a while, but just found this one.

In order to have a "lemon", not only do your state's time and mileage constraints have to be in line, there has to be a "significant impairment of use, safety or value", most likely all three, depending on your state, and that's a burden that's hard to meet, even by vehicles with some scary bad service histories.

 

Maybe you should quit crying and turn the radio up??

 

That's an educated response, thanks I never thought of that. That fixed all of the problems. I'm so stupid for not thinking that my radio would fix these problems. Good work 5LTRETR, I owe you one.

 

Mature response - is that guy old enough to drive?

 

Are you sure it hasn't been in an accident? Possibly before it was titled? As far as the tranny, that's somewhat normal, reverse is a pain, but if you double clutch* you shouldn't have any problems.

*In case you don't know what double clutching is. Depress and release the clutch with the shift lever in the neutral position before trying to slot it into the reverse shift gate.

 

yah, actually i am old enough to drive. I deal with people like you on a daly basis. You bought the cheapest suby you could and complain about build quality? Its plastic bro. Plastic squeeks and makes noises. Its a suby tranny they are notchy and touchy get used to it. You want perfect peace and quiet go buy a Cadi.

 

Must agree. If you want MBZ quality then step up to the plate and pay $40K. Of course after 90,000 miles it will cost you $1K a month to keep on the road (I know this 1st hand, I have owned 4). But, look on the bright side. No squeeks!

You have a fun to drive, good handling car that can go anywhere, no matter what mother nature throws at it and keeps it's resale value in line with Toyota and Honda.

I forgot, what was your point???

 

dont get me wrong im not dissin subaru. great cars for the money. You said "could have gotten alot more car for the money" umm from who? What a civic? Kia? Hyundai? Scion? and those arn't made from plastic??

 

"I deal with people like you on a daly basis"

You deal with me? I don't think so - we've never met or done business, and i don't hang out with people who can't spell simple words (daly?).

I made the comment, but I'm not the one complaining about the car. These are realistic complaints in any vehicle, though, regardless of price - I just pointed out that they don't rise to the "lemon law" level. The funny thing about Cadillacs is that in my (serious level of) experience in working on over 3,000 GM lemon law cases, the cars are freaking horrible. Not Hyundai or Kia horrible, but horrible for a "flagship" vehicle for America's greatest marque.

 

i wasnt refering to peple lik u. i was refering to peple who ***** about smal things in life. He took the car to the dealer and made some poor flat rate tech chase down all his little petty squeek and rattle complaints. oh i cant spell well and i dont know grammer, so screw me. i dont complain when i cant spell daly. probably has somthing to do with smoking pot through highschool. but i am very good at what i do.

 

I was a service manager for many years - it's a flat rate tech's JOB to fix things under warranty, whether it's a small item or huge. It's a matter of comparing this car we're speaking of to others like it - if your buddy's car doesn't squeak and rattle, yours shouldn't. And, that's what your warranty is for, and why it costs more for a new car than a used one - you get a warranty, and the additional cost, to take care of whatever goes wrong, big or small.

I don't think it's wrong to expect things to get corrected - I just though it was wrong to give the car a "lemon" classification, and all that negative press for minor issues.

People tend to use that "lemon" word pretty loosely, and don't realize what it does for people's attitudes - those people who may be shopping for a particular car.

 

What's wrong with wanting a relatively new car to drive quietly? It definitely doesn't sound like a lemon, but seriously, I have an 11 year old car that has minimal noise like that.

Also, the way the original poster presented the problem was completely sensible, he was trying to get more info and suggestions on a course of action, is that really so bad?