Dealer: Subaru NZ/Subaru Armstrong lower hut/combo
Month/Year: Sometime last year
Category: Recall
Vehicle: 2006 STI RA-R
Raring: 7/10
Description: There was 2 recalls for the RA-R, one was for the airbag, the other for the Red STI under manifold inlet pipe touching the fuel rails and causing a fire risk.
I emailed using their website and got a fairly prompt reply, only problem is they ignored the under manifold pipe and only gave me a customer number for the airbag.
So I did what all good internet warriors do and took to Facebook, I messaged their Facebook page and explained how rare it was, that it was never sold out of Japan, etc etc. if they could do anything, or if I was doomed to one day burst into flames and die a fiery death.
They promptly replied again, and said they’d have to contact Subaru Japan as to what the go is.
A fair air time later I receive a message saying that STI Japan was coming to the party and my parts were on their way.
Booked it in with Armstrong lower hut, drove it out there at about 2.45 and they said it’d be done by 5pm, but I lived far away and had to go so they gave me a Pugeot 207 to take home, most gutless 207 I’ve ever driven, but hey. At least it was a 207? ?
Before leaving I asked to see the parts, and what was involved. They let me see the box of parts, it was just the attachments to the pipe, not a replacement pipe itself, I asked if I could keep the old parts but they refused. Much sad.
In with the parts was a 3-4 page A4 sized step by step instructions, with photos, on how to replace the pipe.
Oh man, that was so sweet. I love STI Japan, they didn’t let me keep that either.
I basically begged them to make sure it came back with no dash rattles, as it had absolutely none and luckily it still doesn’t.
And nagged their workshop manager to emphasise that I’d know if they took it for a thrash.
I got a call early next morning saying it was done, ready for pick up, and washed.
I didnt want want them to wash it, but oh well.
So all in all there was a bit of F*** around on the beginning but it got sorted out and to a good standard that I was happy with.
(Most people know how much of a C*** I am, so any form of praise is fairly rare, lol)
The parts guy with the glasses there is also very good to deal with. I took the RA-R in one day just to get some filters and crush washers, he came out and had a look and spotted things about it no one else has ever noticed.