Guys,
14 months ago, I bought a new Subaru WRX with a 6 speed manual. The car is excellent and is one of the best handling vehicles I have driven. It is sporty and fun to drive.
The problem is... when it is colder than 23F outside, it doesn't want to start. It spent 4 weeks at the dealer for this problem this past spring after another dealer replaced the battery 3 times in 2 weeks to solve the problem. Over the 4 weeks, a lot of troubleshooting was done and an injector was subsequently replaced. When I got it back, it seemed OK and it was until September. The problem is back and it has been at the dealer for 5.5 weeks again and they are now waiting for a PAC file to update the engine management for what has become a well documented issue. The file was supposed to be available today (it wasn't).
To put this in perspective, in the 14 months of ownership, it has been at the dealership for 2-1/2 months. IT'S A NEW CAR!
I have not once had a loaner vehicle despite paying for one as part of my ECP plan that apparently doesn't kick in for another 2000 miles.
Where I live, it is likely to be colder than 23F (-5C) every morning for 6 months of the year. I need a car that starts.
I've kicked around various options for potential replacements and have decided to just get a new Tundra. The 2011 I currently have (in addition to the WRX) has 377,000 kms (235,000 miles) on it and is still tight and runs fine.
I think I can get $10 - $12k still for the Tundra. The dealer is offering nearly what I paid for the WRX on a trade, and I can get a new Platinum or 1794 Tundra for dealer cost.
Obviously, the fuel economy is significantly different between the 2 vehicles but my company pays for my fuel. I can write off the Tundra as a farm expense (benefits of being a cattle rancher).
I know that the new Tundra is due out in 2020 sometime and will be amazing... but will it be reliable like the old ones like my 2011 and the 2019 I am contemplating?
Would you...
A) Hang onto the WRX and put up with the sheety build quality?
B) Try to sell the WRX privately and take a bath on it?
C) Trade it in on the 2019 Tundra knowing something better may be lurking around the corner?
D) Go through CAMVAP to try to get Subaru to buy the WRX back?
https://www.camvap.ca/
Option C is the easiest for me but it costs the most money.
Option D could go either way but I stand a good chance. It might take months and do I drive it or park it while I wait?
Option A will drive me crazy but I will generate some social media content, including the videos I have already taken of this POS.
The cheapskate in me can't swallow Option B.
Options B and D allow me the option of getting the new 2021 Tundra when it comes out.