Warranty question!!

[wrxftw619]

hey everybody!! i tried looking for the answer to this question but am new this forum and a new subaru owner.

first off, i just took delivery of a 2012 wrx sedan, and I have the gold plus warranty (6yr/100,000 purchased. I was wondering, if i cancel the warranty before the 90 days is up, will i be able to purchase a subaru extended warranty later?

I want to cancel, because I really want to get the cobb ap and get out of the factory tune but am too worried that it would void my warranty, and the money i used for the warranty will just be wasted.

also, i do not plan on going past stage 1, with only maybe an intake upgrade as well as maybe a catback, and that is all. this is a daily driver and only plan on taking it to the track for fun. will i REALLY need the warranty? I am having a tough time deciding. please help!!

thanks in advance for everyone's inputs!!

[HinshawWRX]

Welcome. Search, Read the manifesto, understand, learn.

A Cobb AP will not specifically void your entire warranty. In order for ANY part of your warranty to be voided, the dealership will have to accuse and prove that the aftermarket part placed on the vehicle was the cause of the warranty claim. (Example. Customer complains that his ride is bouncy or creaks, come to find out customer is on aftermarket springs.) And even in my example, only the warranty on the specific suspension part will be void.

Will you REALLY need the warranty? No one can tell the future. Why cancel it and buy it later if you still want to go stage 1? But seriously, keep you warranty! Flashing a stage 1 tune won't kill the car, and as long as you don't have major engine problems you won't have an issue. But of course, you yourself will need to balance these options.

Once again, read the manifesto. There is no need at all for an intake on your car, and it can hurt the car. Go for a catback if you want, you won't gain anything but sound from it. Also, FILL OUT YOUR PROFILE. And finally, if you are at all worried about a warranty and modding your car, then stop modding.

[guygettnby]

Originally Posted by HinshawWRX

There is no need at all for an intake on your car, and it can hurt the car.

while i agree with most of your post, i can not agree with this. installing an intake on his car will not hurt it if he is using the AP like he was planing on doing. also if anything it does infact add power if he is using a cobb OTS map for stage 1+... i am stage 1+ SF and did notice more power from my car from just stage 1. 1+ also runs more boost, so there is a difference.

now if he does not choose to use the cobb AP then yes, he should stay away from an intake as he wont be tunned for it and it could harm the car.

[HinshawWRX]

Originally Posted by s2ktosti

While the "won't necessarily void the warranty" sounds good, history has taught us that it will be used to deny anything drive train related. The "arbitrators" almost always side with the manufacturer, and the expense and time it takes a lawyer to sort it out isn't usually an option.

This is true. However if you do have a dealer wanting to deny you, you can always goto another one. Surprisingly if you get denied a warranty it does not actually take away the entire thing forever. (At least a few years back when I was still working at the dealer it did not) Also, it does not always mean they will scan the flash record for the car when diagnosing. Hence why ANY modding should be thought out, and opinions taken with a grain of salt to your particular situation.

Originally Posted by guygettnby

while i agree with most of your post, i can not agree with this. installing an intake on his car will not hurt it if he is using the AP like he was planing on doing. also if anything it does infact add power if he is using a cobb OTS map for stage 1+... i am stage 1+ SF and did notice more power from my car from just stage 1. 1+ also runs more boost, so there is a difference.

now if he does not choose to use the cobb AP then yes, he should stay away from an intake as he wont be tunned for it and it could harm the car.

Intakes do work, there is no real arguing this. But like you touched on tuning it for the Subaru chassis is needed. There is a list of claimed intakes that do not hurt the OTS tune. (located in Unabombers manifesto) BUT some of the are only claimed by the manufacturer. And for the amount you gain for the price, it could go elsewhere.

Did you flash Stage 1 with your stock intake then again when you put on your aftermarket intake? You really won't gain more then 4-5 whp with any intake, and that isn't enough to truly feel in the butt dyno. Perceived gains vs. true gains is always something to remember.

[s2ktosti]

Originally Posted by HinshawWRX

Welcome. Search, Read the manifesto, understand, learn.

A Cobb AP will not specifically void your entire warranty. In order for ANY part of your warranty to be voided, the dealership will have to accuse and prove that the aftermarket part placed on the vehicle was the cause of the warranty claim. (Example. Customer complains that his ride is bouncy or creaks, come to find out customer is on aftermarket springs.) And even in my example, only the warranty on the specific suspension part will be void.

Will you REALLY need the warranty? No one can tell the future. Why cancel it and buy it later if you still want to go stage 1? But seriously, keep you warranty! Flashing a stage 1 tune won't kill the car, and as long as you don't have major engine problems you won't have an issue. But of course, you yourself will need to balance these options.

Once again, read the manifesto. There is no need at all for an intake on your car, and it can hurt the car. Go for a catback if you want, you won't gain anything but sound from it. Also, FILL OUT YOUR PROFILE. And finally, if you are at all worried about a warranty and modding your car, then stop modding.

While the "won't necessarily void the warranty" sounds good, history has taught us that it will be used to deny anything drive train related. The "arbitrators" almost always side with the manufacturer, and the expense and time it takes a lawyer to sort it out isn't usually an option.

[Byzantium]

Originally Posted by HinshawWRX

A Cobb AP will not specifically void your entire warranty. In order for ANY part of your warranty to be voided, the dealership will have to accuse and prove that the aftermarket part placed on the vehicle was the cause of the warranty claim.

While this is the idea behind the policy, it has no basis in reality. If the dealership wants to say that his Accessport is the cause of an engine failure, that's the end of the discussion without him taking legal recourse, in which the burden of proof will be HIS (the car's owner) to show that it did not cause it.

Even if they cannot, dealerships can use their trump card on modified cars coming in for service: Abuse.

Originally Posted by HinshawWRX

This is true. However if you do have a dealer wanting to deny you, you can always goto another one.

Except for A.) you might get flagged or B.) the same Subaru rep looks at the car to determine coverage.

That being said, my extended warranty paid for itself even though I was modified.

[Moti2012]

We recently bought a 2012 Subaru Impreza 2012 (MT) and planning to get a 7yr/70k Gold Plus plan. Is it true that being a CA resident, we can only buy Subaru Ext Warranty contract from a dealer in CA?
I was on another forum (legacygt.com) because of our previous car and one of the guys there mentioned this in his PM to me
"Your state (California) is one of 6 that are considered MSRP only states on extended service plans as per your state law. Your state government voted to not allow its residents to have the opportunity to shop for a better deal on certain items outside of state lines, with extended service plans/warranties being including in those terms. (MA, WI, WA, CA, FL, PA are the states that fall into this).

You can probably find a dealer in your home state that will sell a warranty at a discount, but we can get major fines from the government as well as other penalties from Subaru is found selling a qualifying product under those guidelines for lower rates."

[JRCrutc]

I think "hinshawWrx" is right to warn the OP that the intake can do damage. When you read unabombers manifesto you can see that not all intakes are created equal, and if it causes
turbulance it can cause harm that an AP can't tune out. Granted, most name brand intakes won't have turbulance issues, but there are other reasons not to install an intake.

All that being said, I will be adding an intake purely for the added turbo spool sounds that it gives you. Just like a cat back, I want my first set of mods to make the car sound as mean as it looks .

[wrxftw619]

thx everybody!! I just woke up so that's why I'm just replying now.

I ask this question because I do feel (while I'm driving) that a tune would help the ride so much! I feel the car lacks some acceleration and some turbo lag and maybe a tune would help? I do not plan on touching the suspension, but really want to tune the ecu to get out of the factory tune. I guess I'm trying to weigh out whether or not it's worth voiding any claims to the drivetrain/engine to get it tuned.

and you're right about the intake, it's not worth losing the warranty over. but I guess the time will come when I decide to mod or not.

my final question is: am I fine on the factory tune? I want my car to last as long as it can, which explains why I won't be modding heavily, and I've read that with a tune the life is more reliable.

thx!!

[HinshawWRX]

Originally Posted by wrxftw619

thx everybody!! I just woke up so that's why I'm just replying now.

I ask this question because I do feel (while I'm driving) that a tune would help the ride so much! I feel the car lacks some acceleration and some turbo lag and maybe a tune would help? I do not plan on touching the suspension, but really want to tune the ecu to get out of the factory tune. I guess I'm trying to weigh out whether or not it's worth voiding any claims to the drivetrain/engine to get it tuned.

and you're right about the intake, it's not worth losing the warranty over. but I guess the time will come when I decide to mod or not.

my final question is: am I fine on the factory tune? I want my car to last as long as it can, which explains why I won't be modding heavily, and I've read that with a tune the life is more reliable.

thx!!

The intake isn't really the issue, it would be the AP. The biggest point of the intake is they don't give you much, and can compromise the dynamics of the motor. They can't tell if you've had an intake on the car before if you change back to stock.

Factory tune, this is where I disagree with NASIOC in part. Many say the factory tune is garbage, and stage 1 is a must. I argue if the factory tune is garbage then why would they even use that? The car is designed to last not blow up after 100K. And as already mentioned, stock or modified cars have been blowing almost equally. You just have to measure the pro's and con's.

[s2ktosti]

I don't think the tune really matters much honestly. They pop with or without them, it just seems if your car was meant to go boom, it's going to.

[wrxftw619]

Originally Posted by s2ktosti

I don't think the tune really matters much honestly. They pop with or without them, it just seems if your car was meant to go boom, it's going to.

well put sir! I'll maybe mod it if I get a better job lol. or once the car is paid off!
you just made up my mind for me haha