I've been on the forums and have talked to a few of you, haven't done a proper intro though. Got it last year, first Subaru and first awd car, loving both, and might get a 12-13 WRX in 3-4 years. STORY TIME! Right off the bat I was unhappy with Bloomington Subaru, I took it for a test drive with three different people, trying to point out a noise I was concerned with but they 'didn't hear it'. I ended up getting it anyway as it had a 30 day bumper to bumper and a 5 day return, after they fixed a broken fog light housing that I pointed out. The first day I drove it home, I realize the front passenger fender liner is shredded, aha! This rubbing against the wheel must be it! Called up the sales guy, go over and go to get it fixed BUT here I am, in the parking lot, and the sales guy in a dress shirt and all, gets down on his hands and knees and was going to replace it himself. Without any hardware, without even a screwdriver, without removing the wheel, what he intended to do I do not know. I stood in disbelief. Thankfully a mechanic walked over and said he'd throw it on the lift, fifteen minutes later it's fixed. Drive home... ****, it's still there. Fed up with Bloomington Subaru, I took it to D n' D Auto in SLP. Get a call the next day, bad right wheel bearing and BOTH front wheels were bent; I even said, during the test drive, it sounds like a bad wheel bearing. Didn't even know that was possible, but not a total surprise as the wheels have some bad curbage from prev owner. I give Bloomington Subaru the quote and they fix it (including two new wheels). In the end they made it right, but it was something that shouldn't have needed to be made right to begin with. Haven't had any issues since. Rant Over. 08 OBS, OBP and black interior, bought with 58k miles, currently 72k 4eat, I'm fine with it because I commute downtown and I got SPORTMATIC SUPERIOR SHIFTING MODE (also adds like 20hp) Stuff: WRX Grill Sound deadening in doors and A-Pillars 19mm STI RSB, Rallitek Endlinks Tail-light Overlays and Chrome Delete by Chris at Flawless Front Ends 50% front 35% tint by Chris Plastidip front and rear bumper guards WRX Exhaust H9 Low-Beam Mod Separate winter wheels and WS60 Roof rack with Rockymount bike racks, currently adding 3m clear vinyl to protect roof. I do all the work myself (aside from tint) and it's been great learning the in's and out's of the car. I'm still impressed with how flat it stays in the corners. But I will never install exhaust by myself, without a lift, on a car that lives in the north, on an 80-degree day, ever again. So much rust. Ha. Thanks for all the help you guys have been so far!
Really nice car, sad that you had a bad experience with Bloomington Subaru. Whats the difference between Subaru outback and impreza hatchback? Looks very similar.
It is the nicest trim version of the Impreza, name is just for marketing. It does have quite a few perks, a few of them are shared with the 2.5i premium. It has VDC which most don't, 4-wheel independent slightly raised suspension (not sure if this is different than 2.5i, some say the .4" increase is only due to wheels), 17" alloy wheels, and all-weather package which has heated seats, mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, and various other things. Looking back on it I got a lot of car for the price I paid. Don't know if you can see it, but the two large plastic fasteners for the bottom of the front bumper underguard are missing, I tried sizing it at advance auto but nothing fit. Same thing with the bottom holes for the fender-liner to bumper connection. The two long plastic fasteners that attach the sides of the bumper to the front quarter panel snaps in, but I think parts of them are broken because it has some play, anyone have experience with what parts I would need and how to replace that? Not a big issue but would like to get it fixed before winter. Thanks for the comments.
Take some pictures of what you are talking about. I'm sure you can get what is needed at a dealer once the parts are identified. Sometimes that is the only way to do things right.
Contact Erik (awdimprezal), he works parts counter at Morries Minnetonka Subaru. He can get you what you need.
Am I missing a splashguard? The two fasteners for the bumper underguard (they are hanging down) On both sides of car, where the front sides of the bumper meet the wheel well splash guard, no fasteners. (On the bottom only, wheel well is fastened properly). Back right of driver side seat, can't figure out what trim piece is missing. The bumper to quarter panel is still sturdy, so I'm not going to worry about that right now. They are long-ish retangular clips. I intend to get the center console rear cup holder as well, unless someone says it sucks or something. I'll send a message to erik (awdimprezal) once I figure out what I need, I'm going in next week for the recall so I can hopefully pick up the parts as well. Thanks for the help.
