New WRX One Expensive MF To Own

Dave Head · 2013-03-26T15:56:45+00:00

Got my 2012 WRX last year. It wasn't a few weeks until I had cracked the air dam on a high curb. One usually, on a regular car, just rolls up to a curb until the front wheels hit it, but this car has the air dam way out front, so the wheels can't lift it over obstacles before it contacts them. The air dam is 7.25" off the ground, not enough to clear all the common obstacles such as curbs, semi-truck "gators" laying in the lane of travel, etc. Then, a couple months later, doing a U-turn on a dirt road high in some Arizona mountains, the air dam contacted a hill of dirt and was torn off. $1000. After that was repaired, a couple more months passed, and another rise in a dirt road back in Virginia contacted the air dam. Another $1000. I'm going driving back to Arizona, from Virginia, at the end of May. I'll probably do all the driving during the day, so I can see debris in the road, such as truck tire treads, dead animals, etc. and hope I can swerve. If I can't, it'll prolly be another $1000. Not that the car hasn't had regular problems besides the air dam. It has. A faulty brake light switch had been causing problems since about 2000 miles. It finally failed completely around 32,000 miles, so I took it in to the dealer, where it was throwing codes for the brake light switch, which was fixed, grudgingly, under warranty. Only took them 3 weeks to determine that they would fix it under warranty, order the part (why wasn't it in stock???) and schedule a repair. The steering rack decided to start leaking around 20,000 miles. Again, a big hassle with the warranty. They made me pay $100 for that repair, that would have otherwise been $1200 - $1400. Finally, since the warranty has expired, the traction control and hill-holder warming lights have illuminated on the dash. I took it to the AAA service center in Fredericksburg, Va., who said it was throwing codes for the "steering wheel angle sensor." The AAA mechanic said it was a 2 hour remove and replace for...

Mar 26, 2013 22 Replies

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AD 13 years ago

Only if you are in a snowstorm and you've opted for awd, which I understand is not available on cts of any kind, -v or not.

awd on ats is not available with a stick though. the insignificant portion of the clientele preferring manuals AND awd would still have to pay their dues to the germans

but wait for ATS-V...

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Your Name 13 years ago

At least it's not as bad as a real super car, where even replacing an internal lightbulb can cost you $1000+. :-)

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AD 13 years ago

I doubt that. A 20 something guy in a beater around here brushed against a lambo (driven by another 20 year something, go figure) while merging on the freeway. Bodyshop PR person sworn they would squeeze the repair bill under $10k which is the uniform liability cap where I live. I doubt

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