Dealer says I broke the clutch on a 45 minute solo test drive? Is he scamming me?

[ka-t_240]

New Subarus, which come from Japan, have a coating on the bottom to prevent rust in transit as the ships are a very humid enviroment. When that smell gets "burned off" it smells terrible.

[ScoobsMcGee]

Originally Posted by NyC Zn6

so how do you like the 15 STI?

The car is great, but I've heard the dealership experience can be hit or miss.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by SamuelDev

Hey folks,

I own a 2016 Subaru BRZ. My curiosity got the better of me, so I test drove a 2015 WRX STI sport-tech. I drove it for 45 minutes -- I had some fun, but nothing too crazy at all. I know how to drive standard.

Anyway, the dealer sent me this just now:

In reference to your test driveof the STI on november 4th, 2015, I am curious to discover who it is that has interest in this vehicle as I have not heard from you or Mr. Jones. I am also interested to know who was driving as well.

Upon return this car reaked of clutch burn and was subsequently put on the computer which gives a detailed analysis of its path and how it was treated during the test drive, ie: revolutions per minute, revolutions at clutching etc., very similar to the black boxes used on aircraft.

The findings of this process were not very favorable as this car may need a clutch now and we're not yet sure how the clutch burn smell will be removed from the interior.

Normal company policy is that these vehicles are not allowed out on a test drive without being accompanied by a sales person, but in this case our new sales representative did not know this.

I replied with this in response:

I am questioning whether it's possible that we managed to break a clutch in a 45 minute driving window, especially where I don't recall us exceeding normal highway speeds of 120km/h going around the ring road? For example I learned to drive clutch on my BRZ which I recently got from you guys -- which is really the most abusive you can be towards a new clutch (fresh clutch, new clutch driver), and the clutch on the BRZ is still fine, despite that. I also had some burning smell in the new BRZ -- very strong sometimes -- but looked it up online and dozens of owners say that that is perfectly normal for the first 1000Km of driving a new boxer engine with that gearbox. Sure enough the smell went away in my BRZ, and my clutch is still fine.

Here's a few links that I came across, and hundreds of similar posts if you do a quick google search. Same for the BRZ.

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/everyd...ing-smell.html
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2015-sti...tch-smell.html

Dozens of people saying the smells are normal, and sometimes very strong, during the first 300-1000km. If the clutch does need replacement, I would be very, very surprised. When I was learning on my BRZ I made a few posts online, worried that learning stick on my BRZ was going to cause me to break my clutch. I had lots of people tell me that that is extremely hard to do, and that even a clutch which someone goes really hard on should last 30,000Km at absolute minimum. At any rate, that's just my 2c.

So, a couple of questions.

1: Am I screwed here? Is he going to be able to sue me for the cost of the car or something, even though I am 100% positive there's no fucking way in hell I managed to "break" a clutch in a 50Km drive?

2: Is it possible for any of the blame to fall on me, considering that his sales guy "wasn't supposed to let me go alone"?

3: Is the dealer just trying to scam me or something?

Curious to hear your guys' thoughts...

Why did you even respond to / acknowledge this?

[DarkSunrise]

I wouldn't worry too much. On my old STI hatch (basically shared the same powertrain as the new ones), the stock clutch was pretty beefy. I highly doubt the car needs a new clutch after 45 minutes of driving. That said, probably not the best idea to be launching hard on a brand new clutch & engine.

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by BRZoomTX

... It doesn't sink in to the interior in a way something like smoking would, and I've personally cleaned smoker cars of over a year and completely gotten rid of the smell.

...

Not to hijack this thread (which, of course, means I'm about to), but can you tell me HOW you permanently got rid of smoker's odors? I've had my 2013 Toyota-Certified FR-S for almost two weeks now; it smelled like a new car when I got it, but whatever they used has now worn off and I can smell the smoke from the last owner. Gag. What to do?

Now, to un-hijack the thread.. the speed at which you drove the car has precious little to do with any wear on the clutch; once it's engaged, not much wear takes place. I don't know how long the O.P. has been driving manual, but it sounds like this is only his second manual car and that he learned on the first one. Who taught him/her? Self-taught? It's ENTIRELY possible some bad habits have been acquired; riding the clutch, letting the clutch out slowly at high engine revs or when downshifting to give the appearance of "smooth" clutching, or a host of other things, rather than rev-matching the engine and the wheels for the appropriate gears, etc. When teaching folks to drive manual for the first time, you almost HAVE to have folks go through the process slowly 'till they get the feel of it, but you can't drive that in the long run.

Saying you've driven a manual car doesn't necessarily mean you drive manual well. I'm not saying you DON'T.. please don't take offense; I'd have no way of knowing how well you drive... but I'm saying it's possible, especially in the dealer's eyes. During your discussion with the dealership, don't bother talking about how fast you were driving; that shows a lack of knowledge of clutch wear. Talk about your technique; you don't ride the clutch, nor pop the clutch when the engine revs are far out of sync w/ wheel revs, etc. That may help.

It would take a lot to ruin a clutch in a 45 minute drive, but it's sure possible if driving very aggressively AND abusing the clutch. On the other hand, I taught my wife how to drive manual on a Fiat Spider AND a Ford E150 4 speed van back in the 80s. We also put over 240,000 miles on the 325i we just got rid of, and the clutch felt like the day we bought it w/ 60,000 miles on it.

Just some thoughts. I, of course, have no idea what really happened.

Sure would LOVE to know how to permanently eradicate cig smoke smell from my car; I MUCH prefer the occasional burning oil smell.

Best to all...

Barry

[CBR600RR]

It is the dealer's fault, they should have sent the sales person with you as an escort. Case closed.

[jawn]

Man, just going by your post history, your life seems hard.

[Summerwolf]

Here is the deal. There isn't an issue. The dealer is trying to cause you to think there is to open up an email chain. They will get you back in the door and convince you to purchase a new STI through guilt.


They know your credit situation / income / everything from your prior purchase. All this is, is another salesman taking a different tactic to bring you in to the dealership and open communication again. They see you as an easy mark. Don't even respond to another email if you don't want another car.


Did you sign a test drive agreement or give them a copy of your insurance?

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

It is the dealer's fault, they should have sent the sales person with you as an escort. Case closed.

Yeah, probably and legally. Ethically, I dunno.. if the O.P. DID go crazy on the clutch (and I'm not saying he/she did.. who knows) and pushed the car more then he/she would have had the sales rep been in the car, well... that would have been unethical and irresponsible of the customer. The fact that the dealership probably can't do anything about it doesn't make it right.

PLEASE remember.. I'm typing in hypotheticals. I don't mean to assume or infer in any way that the O.P. DID this.. only that the possibility exists that someone has at some time.

Barry

[NyC Zn6]

Then again the STI could be a test drive mule with a scorched clutch and they could just be putting the blame on you. Did you smell it when you went on the test drive ?

[CBR600RR]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Yeah, probably and legally. Ethically, I dunno.. if the O.P. DID go crazy on the clutch (and I'm not saying he/she did.. who knows) and pushed the car more then he/she would have had the sales rep been in the car, well... that would have been unethical and irresponsible of the customer. The fact that the dealership probably can't do anything about it doesn't make it right.

PLEASE remember.. I'm typing in hypotheticals. I don't mean to assume or infer in any way that the O.P. DID this.. only that the possibility exists that someone has at some time.

Barry

I agree completely.

[Toyarzee]

Basic contract law... Liability of loss remains solely with the dealer. If you were held up by gunpoint and someone jacked the car while you were test driving, it would still be on them. PLUS, they already admitted their own fault on their employee. If you signed some sort of agreement admitting responsibility while it was in your possession, they would need proof of your negligence, which they obviously don't have or you would have received something more than an emailed complaint.

Don't even give them the time of day. If you gave them no consideration, didn't sign or orally agree to liability of loss, then they can fvck off

[BRZoomTX]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Not to hijack this thread (which, of course, means I'm about to), but can you tell me HOW you permanently got rid of smoker's odors? I've had my 2013 Toyota-Certified FR-S for almost two weeks now; it smelled like a new car when I got it, but whatever they used has now worn off and I can smell the smoke from the last owner. Gag. What to do?

Smoke gets literally everywhere. You need to scrub down everything in the car. Here is what I do:

Remove: front floor mats, rear floor mats, rear seats, front seats if possible / time allows, all trunk material. Cleaning everything outside of the car will give you more room to really scrub down things, especially the seats. This also lets them air-dry outside of the car. Leave trunk and doors open while you clean.

Hit the floor mats, seats, and carpet with a carpet cleaner. Soak all exposed carpet and other fabric, and go over things with a brush. Once its all scrubbed down, take a wet friendly shop vac and use it to suck out the cleaner. Use a towel or large microfiber to rub the carpets until fully dry, leave windows open so the carpet airs out.

Install a new cabin air filter. This one works great for the 86:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NEWUGI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_de tailpage_o04_s00&linkCode=sl1&tag=tamymoanshup-20&linkId=81c29a67eb93a6466276fd7cedd05cfc"]Amazon.com: FRAM CF10549 Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter: Automotive[/ame]


Don't forget the seatbelts as they absorb the smell too. Top things off with your favorite air freshener and you're good to go. I've never had smoke smell come back.

[ScoobsMcGee]

Originally Posted by BRZoomTX

Smoke gets literally everywhere. You need to scrub down everything in the car. Here is what I do:

Remove: front floor mats, rear floor mats, rear seats, front seats if possible / time allows, all trunk material. Cleaning everything outside of the car will give you more room to really scrub down things, especially the seats. This also lets them air-dry outside of the car. Leave trunk and doors open while you clean.

Hit the floor mats, seats, and carpet with a carpet cleaner. Soak all exposed carpet and other fabric, and go over things with a brush. Once its all scrubbed down, take a wet friendly shop vac and use it to suck out the cleaner. Use a towel or large microfiber to rub the carpets until fully dry, leave windows open so the carpet airs out.

Install a new cabin air filter. This one works great for the 86:

Amazon.com: FRAM CF10549 Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter: Automotive


Don't forget the seatbelts as they absorb the smell too. Top things off with your favorite air freshener and you're good to go. I've never had smoke smell come back.

That's an awful lot of work. We had an expensive industrial sized one, but really all you need is an ozone generator and some time. Do replace the cabin air filter, though.

Can't speak for this one directly, but it seems cheap enough to be worth trying: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Build-Removal-Treatment-Generator/dp/B00632Y4VK"]Amazon.com: Basic Build Odor Removal Shock Treatment Ozone Generator: Health & Personal Care[/ame]

If you'd rather not risk it on just Amazon reviews, I should be able to get the model number of one which I know works well.