SOA has hired a company to test my BRZ emissions
 

Hopefully we don't suffer the same fate as VW!

I don't think my 86 would qualify for it because I'm stage 2 and E85 and I wouldn't let them NEAR my car even if I did qualify. Now get off my lawn!

What's to suffer? This is contracted by Subaru, this isn't some 3rd party company testing on behalf of a government agency.

Lots of people (by lots I mean hundreds) get this randomly from time to time. Most people just see it as free money and a free car to drive.

fear of them seeing the tune, and voiding engine warranty.

"Hope we don't suffer the fate of VW" because of a person's E85 tune... then yeah, all the modders out there are ruining Subaru as a company.

Send them my way! I could use 500 bucks

If subaru wants good data, they will test stock tuned cars, to make sure they aren't the next VW. They aren't concerned with how your tuned cars emissions are, that is on you, but they could note the tune, and decline you warranty service in the future.

Exactly, and since (I'm assuming) OP didn't mail a letter to Subaru about the condition of the car, they always assume you have a stock car and nothing else. I've seen a few other people get this letter, and I only see it because it's different people who have mods on their cars and post the letter on social media as a big "no thank you" because of said mods on their cars.

I was referencing the "we" part of it, as in collective BRZ owners. I was not referencing the "I" part of the original post.

They tested my Evo VIII back when I got it. Only drawback was I didn't have my Evo for a week, and they gave me a Mitsubishi Galant loaner car, which was terrible.

Don't forget the free swirl marks by them washing it for you prior to returning it. What a great opportunity.

If it were my beater I'd gladly allow it. But no one is allowed to touch my 86. It even pains me to take it to the dealer for warranty/TSB work. Like I said though, I don't think my car would even qualify due to the modifications, and moreover, yes I would be concerned about them flagging it for being modded and voiding the warranty.

The emissions testing company has the word "shart" in it. That should tell you everything you need to know.

Testing non-aspirated vehicles? Turbo gen 2 confirmed! :lol:

:bellyroll: Thank you for the laugh!

BTW something similar was put out in California before, I recall this type of thread.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96078

That person ended up helping Perrin get CARB exemption for their intake.

There is no way I would leave my car with anybody for multiple weeks to accrue hundreds of miles on a dyno while they poke and prod at it for a mere $500...

FYI, nothing you do to a car short of dunking it in the ocean voids your warranty. At worst, they can decline to perform a specific repair under warranty if your modifications could have resulted in the failure of the warranted part(s).

Just clarifying for the people who don't understand how warranties work. Too many people think your entire warranty is voided the moment you tune or otherwise modify a vehicle, which is simply untrue.

^ Good luck arguing with the dealer and SOA when you can't prove you changed your oil every time @ the interval if you ever develop engine problems.

I received the same letter but I would not qualify either. The tune and the fact Im under 50K miles.

Studies such as these are critical in advancing data and therefore tech. They need to know how the car stands up through normal use so they can make improvements. This is not a bad thing. This type of study happens all the time with all makes and models there is no hidden agenda behind it.
They are not interested in testing the modded cars so a simple "no" is enough. Hopefully they can find enough non "enthusiasts" to participate and help advance the platform.

Keep your receipts for the oil and filter. If you want to go a step further take a date stamped picture of the receipt beside the odometer. If you are going to do it yourself that is not an issue but the burden of proof that you actually did it within the specified requirments is on you. There are valid reasons they can't just take everybody's word for it.

Yeah, I have to say you come across as a pretty big asshole with that hand-scribbled "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" text, lol.

When my oil pump gear exploded and spun two bearings and took out one of the heads, the local dealer didn't even ask me about oil changes or any other maintenance. They just said, "Yep, it's toast," and built me an engine under warranty. They gave me a loaner under warranty while it was in the shop. (I'm not significantly modded, though.)

In the US at least, a company can deny a warranty claim, but you can always sue them or take them to arbitration (if your sales contract requires it). Then they'll need to be able to convince a judge or arbitrator that your modification or actions caused the problem. That's not always easy to do. And even if they have strong evidence that it did, a lot of judges fall back on the idea of "deep pockets" liability, where it's assumed that the manufacturer has deeper pockets than the consumer and should just pay it anyway.

Someone here posted a story a couple of years ago about how he was a tech at a dealership that denied warranty work, and he had to testify. He said they had the guy dead to rights on his aftermarket turbo causing engine damage. The judge actually agreed with them that it was the owner's fault but ruled in the owner's favor anyway because the dealership was assumed to have deeper pockets.

The dealers count on you being intimidated by being told they're going to void your warranty. If you do have a problem, you really don't have a whole lot to lose by challenging it anyway.