Ok here is my situation.

I just pickup my Brand new 2002 WRX from my local dealer last Friday night around 6:30pm with 150miles on the Odometer.

As I was driving the Brand new WRX home, I notices that my instrumental light was not on.
I first thought it was a adjustment issue.
I then check the adjustments when I gotten home about 25miles later(total of 175 miles). Everything was on except for the damm instrumental lights as the sun was setting. I then started to get a little pissy because I could not see anything but the stereo and clock light. I could not tell how fast or what rpm I was driving. :mad:

I then called the dealer that same night before they were closed.
They inform to me to check the fuse box for blown fuse.
So I check the fuse box under the driver side dash.
Read the fuse layout and pulled the instrumental fuse to check to see if it had blown. And yes it was blown. So I then replaced the blown fuse with a spare new one from the fuse box in the engine compartment.
Once I replace it with the new fused, it immediately blows.
I now know that there is a short somewhere. I called the dealer again. The sales person told me to bring it in the next morning, which is Saturday.
So I did, which total my mileage to around 200+ on the odometer when I reach the dealer the next morning.

As I was there, the dealer tells me that it could take from 10min. to a few hours to locate the shortage. So I waited for 2+ hours for the car to be repaired. I was thinking, did I pick a lemon here?
Then they told me it won't be fix today and offer me a loner car to drive for a few days as my car gets fix.

So here is my situation and question.
Do I deserve a new replacement 02 WRX or am I just in tough ***** with getting a new car.
My defense is that I paid for the car and did not even get to drive it for more then a few minutes before something went wrong with it. I only put about 50+ miles on the odo.

As it was still bright outside when I pickup the car. I neglected to check the instrument lights to see if it was working before I drove it off the lot. (could this be my fault?).

So now the car is at the dealer shop being repair for at least two to three more days. Which I'm paying for something that I'm not able to used.

I'm ready for the flaming opinions.


BTW,
I've contacted the Sales Manager on this issue and waiting for his responds.

factory glitches aren't uncommon. mabey you got a monday or friday car. =P

the dealer needs to fix it under warranty.. in a lot of places, they get 3 tries. if it's still broken after that, they owe you a new car, but not before then.

I would demand another car you should'nt have to take a car that has a major problem rolling of the lot.

Sounds like a tough break, but not grounds for WWIII. Take the loaner and let them fix it.

Congrats on your new REX and welcome to the I-Club!

Sorry to hear about the problems you have with the car. My biggest issue is the fact that your car had 150 miles on it when you took it off the lot. The car may very well have been a demo car. My concern would be that the car was driven hard, poked, probed by people hoping to get a test drive of the WRX.

I would go back to the dealership, ask whether or not your car was used for test drives. If not, ask them to account for the 150 miles. I got mine with 7 miles on the odo. Then I would tell them to diagnose and fix this problem and have them go through the entire car and do a quick check on ALL the systems especially the trannie and the brakes. If your car was abused, it would show up there first.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

Yeah, I agree with topcover. I'd also be concerned about the 150 miles to start. I got my WRX with 9 miles on the odometer, and the Bill Of Sale guarantees that the odometer has no more than 15 miles on it.

150 miles smells a lot like a demo car to me.

/mel

Kinda too late for that, however, as he's already signed the papers and driven off the lot. That should have been a question for much earlier.

As far as the instrument lighting - it's not really a "major" problem, and lemon laws dictate at least three attempts to fix something ("major" has certain definitions within the law) within a year, then you get a different car or your car bought back at what you paid for it.

No big deal. Subarus are very reliable, but even so will suffer from the occasional problem. Many have reported a variety of problems, but I've read Very Few posts where the car left anyone stranded.

Guys on the forum feel that anything more than 10 miles is used. I know that doesn't help much...

They HAVE TO disclose whether your car was used as a demo/test drive vehicle. If they admit that your car was used as a demo/loaner/test drive vehicle, I feel that you have grounds to negotiate a free/heavily discounted extended warranty (at least) and free stuff.

If they refuse to account for that 150 miles, I would negotiate for new car and DEMAND free/heavily discounted extended warranty.

If you were aware that it was a demo car... then you should have to suck it up and have them fix it under warranty. :(

It's probably not a big deal. I'd prefer to get a new one if they agree, but the odss of them doing it are probably slim to none. :(

If you are planning to get them to replace the car I really don't think you have a chance IMO.
I bought a brand new 2000 Jetta 2.0 2years ago and after couple of weeks that I've had the car my power steering failed and they had to replace my power steering.
2 months have passed after that then my transmission failed, and they had to give me a new tranny.
I complained to everybody that I can think of and everybody told me if is not declared a lemon, then they was not going to replace the car.
After I've realized that there waesn't any hope.. I complained to BBB and they set up an arbitration hearing and the only thing that I got out of that deal was an extra 1yr/12000mi. warranty.

but who knows.. maybe SOA is more friendly and care about their customers, I wouldn't know because I never had any problems only more cheese on my face:D

No, you shouldn't have the right to a new car. I would only assume that you made a deal with them based on the fact that the car had 150 miles on it already. Hopefully you had them discount it further or throw in an extended warranty. You signed paperwork saying that you are paying for the car that you got. Now, this doesn't mean that you are screwed. They NEED to fix the problem and shouldn't give you ANY hassle. The car is still under warranty and should be fixed.

By the way, texas state law gives you 3 business days to cancel a contract. I think you might lose your taxes but nothing else. Also, the lemon law is not all that it's cracked up to be. It's a last ditch effort and you don't make out like a bandit with it. I had a friend who got a REAL lemon (dodge dakota) and was able to apply the law, but there are a lot of things in the dealer's favor that make it hard for you to get back what they REALLY owe you. Remember that the car manufacturers have lobbyists that help keep things in their favor. Don't count on it to save you, it will cost you more than you think when you use it. But it is better than being stuck with a car that doesn't run.

In Colorado, a car can still be considered a new car if it has less than 1200 miles on it. No joke! Most of the new cars I sold (except the BMW's) easily had over 150 miles on them.

I think its 200 miles before its used in California... dont know for sure

Anyway, its just a fuse and a short, nothing to burst your bubble about

I had the same problem on my 01 Forester after driving it for about a year. It was a short caused by the wiring loom being snagged on a sharp edge of the firewall, causing the insulation on that wire to be worn away. It started shortly after I had the windshield replaced, but I'm not sure if it was related.

I made an appt, took it in, and they fixed it in 1 day (replaced section of wire, pulled some more slack in the wiring, and dressed the sharp edges of firewall). No problems now.

Give the dealership a chance to fix it. Things happen. That's what the warranty is for.

what kinda retard (no offense to retarded folk) would buy a WRX with 150 miles already on the odometer??? dude, i bet the fine folks at your dealership RAGGED the hell out of your car. i remember telling my dealer, "there better NOT be anymore than 10 miles on my car, or i'm not gonna take delivery!"

did i ever tell you the story about the salesman who took a brand new (not even sold) mazda protege mp3 to the autocross?? talk about f***in up a car!

We got our 96 OBS with 240 miles on the clock. But it had been driven down from another dealer in another state (freeway miles)

I redlined the hell out of a 99 civic EX Edit: With 12 miles on it /Edit with absolutely no intent of buying it :devil:

my car had 35 miles on it.. off course 5 of those were mine test driving it before I bought it.. If the miles are pretty low I doubt you will see any problems.

My roommate picked his up with 9 miles on the odometer :eek:

Mine had 106 on it, but it was tough for them to locate a white 5-speed. I'm not worried though, I'm sure I do a lot more damage racing my car than then they did driving(beating) it on the highway.

Yeah, my outback had 150 miles on it when I got it, but it was the only white 5 speed limited in texas at the time, so what are ya gonna do. And I agree, I'm as hard on it as most everyone else would've been. I like to drive hard!

Mine had the same problem. It was a circuit board behind the instrument panel. They ordered a new one. Took about a week. Took my car ina after work, got a free rental car, picked it up the nest day. No biggie.

One thing though. When mine was out, the odometer only worked about half the time and re-set itself to zero twice. Check yours. Your car might have more than 150 miles on it.