Stealership blues

[elchivito]

So the wife calls the other night and says she "hit a rock" in the (dirt) road coming from a friend's ranch. Has a big bubble in the front PS tire sidewall. I go out to meet her and follow her as she limps home in her new Subie Crosstrek. Explain to her no you can't drive it until it's fixed. Tires are covered under warranty and so is a tow. The dealer is 60 miles away by highway and the donut spare is a 35mph 50 miles max tire so I have the car picked up and towed.

Dealer just called. Says the lower control arm on the front and the control arm on the rear of the car are both damaged and of course not covered under warranty. 835 bucks. Looking at the price of the control arms the cost doesn't seem out of line, but I can't help but wonder. Finding this hard to believe and feeling sort of over a barrel. Dealer has an excellent rep and we've bought lots of cars from them. Gonna need some more explanation from the missus about this "rock", that's for sure.

[t walgamuth]

I'd go have a look at it before okee dokeeing the repair. Are the arms dented but not bent? I'd probly live with it. Front arm is solid forged so if its bent that is a pretty good sign of a big hit. If the rear control arm is dented being pressed sheet metal it could be dented but not bent out of shape. (240D right?).

[Joseph_Conrad]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

. (240D right?).

Nope, Subeerubeeroo crosstrek.

Coulda been a danged armadilla.

[elchivito]

Yeah Tom, this is on a 14 Subie Crosstrek.

[barry12345]

Sometimes insurance will cover it. Maybe comprehensive with a low deductable ? Maybe an animal ran into the cars path.

[t walgamuth]

insurance should cover it even if not an animal....I would think.

[elchivito]

I haven't checked with insurance yet. I'm not sure it's worth filing a claim but plan to call and ask them. I have to take the Element to Prescott Honda tomorrow to have the air bag replaced under recall and the Subaru dealership is right across the street. I plan to show up un-announced and ask to see the damage. I looked under the car when the tow guy was loading it up and saw nothing obvious but I wouldn't know what to look for in the first place on that vehicle. I did make the svc. mgr. promise to keep all parts for me, for whatever that's worth.

[JimFreeh]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

insurance should cover it even if not an animal....I would think.

Depends on your coverage.

If it was moving, it's comprehensive.
If static, it's collision.

Jim

[P.C.]

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Depends on your coverage.

If it was moving, it's comprehensive.
If static, it's collision.

Jim

Isn't it the other way around?

[jcyuhn]

If she hit the rock with the tire, the wheel would bend before the suspension is damaged. If the tire survived with only a bubble, I am very skeptical that any suspension damage could have occurred. Perhaps you are looking at prior damage?

My spouse made a glancing hit on a good size rock at 60mph in our Honda Odyssey. It destroyed the tire sidewall and bent the alloy rim. The rock was thrown against the undercarriage of the car, where it scratched things up and dented the exhaust a little bit. But the suspension was not damaged. The alignment wasn't even thrown off.

So I share your skepticism of the Subie dealers diagnosis. Anything the tire survives just can't be that bad.

[elchivito]

Filed an insurance claim yesterday. They will send an adjustor to see the car so hopefully that'll clarify things. There was no prior damage. The car is only a few months old.

[Joseph_Conrad]

Were you able to see the car at the dealer and the damage? Interesting it's both front and rear. Must be some other signs of damage under there too I would think.

[Mölyapina]

Originally Posted by elchivito

The dealer is 60 miles away by highway and the donut spare is a 35mph 50 miles max tire so I have the car picked up and towed.

That is a really low speed/short range. I think ours is 50 MPH/3000 miles max or something like that.