Subaru UK has responded to a recent drubbing over repair costs by slashing up to 56 per cent off its factory parts.
Warranty Direct prompted an angry response from the importer when it revealed that, of all the cars the insurer covers, Subaru’s Impreza is by the far the most costly to repair. All-too-common engine failures push average warranty payouts up to £1623, and to £4500 in one case.
The importer’s parts price cuts will bring repair costs down. An average 20 per cent has been slashed off components ranging from clutches and brake pads to bumpers for Impreza, Forester and Legacy models. An Impreza timing belt falls from £77 to £35, and a standard oil filter from nearly £10 to just £4.50.
These changes come after Subaru UK dismissed Warranty Direct’s findings as ‘insignificant’, being made up largely of grey-imported WRX and STi-derivatives not covered by a UK warranty, and run on damaging lower-octane, higher-sulphur European petrol. It immediately suggested the real figure, based on its own warranty scheme, was £396 per fix.
Subaru was prompted to overhaul its servicing processes after similar accusations two years ago. Back then, the importer cut factory to dealer delivery times for parts, and lengthened the service intervals on its performance models.
Now that parts prices have come down, its cars may also be rewarded with lower insurance groupings.
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