Justin Time

Thanks for the replies. Interesting points to ponder. I too have a natural aversion to dealership garages having had poor experiences, albeit many years ago now. I was watching a Subtledriver YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OR7PEJwhdw about the challenges of distinguishing between the diif fill and drain plugs and the CVT diff and drain plugs, and wondered whether this and other issues might pose problems for a none Subaru garage. Likewise, MrSubaru1387 has advice about how to install and pre-pressurised, a replacement, new, inverted oil filter, etc. Fortunately, the OB has a 'lifetime' (oh yeah!) timing chain and not a belt so one less job to worry about. Reading your posts, my gut feeling is now to stay with the indie Skoda garage, who have been consistently good IMO for many years.

What's best for my OB's first service? A) Take it to a Subaru dealership B) search out a Subaru independent specialist (if I can find one near enough to me) or C) Go to the independent Skoda specialist I've been happy to use, and trust, for the last 18 years (who say they can also service the Subaru as they service other makes too) ? RAC guy I spoke to before I bought the OB said that one of the downside of Subarus is that they're quite specialised to work on, compared to other vehicles - true or not?

Any advice on useful OB accessories? I've bought a bumper protector, low level boot tray and rear seat back rubber protection mats, rubber floor mats, plus front and rear mudguards and a spare wheel plus kit. These are all highly functional and protective, for what I do, and I'm happy with them. But most of the other stuff I can see (e.g wheel arch trims, skid plates, etc.) appear more cosmetic - but perhaps not?

I'm finding out that Subaru OE parts can be expensive. They quoted me £168 for a single TPMS value! (but the parts guy did admit that there are other universal valves available elsewhere), and £168 plus postage for a single tyre, when I could get the same tyre from HiQ, Tyremen, ASDA, etc for around £130 fitted!

Agree. I've looked at all-seasons, but have always gone for winter tyres, usually (vredestines). Since changing to the OB I'm pondering what to do this winter. With my last two cars (both Skoda Yetis) I bought a set of Skoda OE alloys for the winter wheels acquired when I bought the first Yeti and so they fitted the second too. The alloys were on-offer or otherwise I'd have bought steel rims. With the car I owned prior to the Yetis' (A Skoda Octavia 1.8T 4x4) I just changed the tyres over and didn't buy a new set of rims. However, the advantage of having my own set of winter rims and tyres is that I can change them over, at home, whenever I want and i'd read somewhere that fitting and re-fitting a tyre multiple times onto and off a rim can create its own issues. Maybe I'll look to get a set of Subaru steel wheels for winter tyres, but with the Subaru that'll lead to having to also buy a set of TPMS values (about £100 https://www.impactdiagnostics.store/autel-tpms-valve-4-pack )and also the issue issue of re-registering them (about £300 https://www.autel.uk/diagnostics/tpms/ts508/ for the re-registering tool) which I'd prefer to do myself. Costs mount up! Anyone know the cost of Subaru steel rims? I'd only want Subaru OE so as to avoid any insurance issues (modifications).

And since Jan 2021 it's only 3 years! I luckily just bought an OB registered December 2020, so just missed the cut off. I can't understand why Subaru have made this change when competitors are offering up to 7 years. I was also shocked to read that the service intervals are 9000/10000 miles alternating, or every year, and not the 12500 I'd expected (they do but its in KMs)! Still I'm enjoying the car so let's hope all goes well.

I've also just acquired an OB, four weeks ago, and it came with Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport tyres on. I tried to buy another H/P for the spare wheel, but Bridgestone UK confirmed to me that they have now discontinued that model of tyre and that the Turanza was the next nearest! Yet Subarl UK said it, the Turanza, couldn't be used as a full-time tyre mixed with the others, but only used as a temporary spare. I'd hoped to have been able to have a 5 wheel rotation pattern so that all 5 tyres/wheels had a similar level of wear on them, just in case I got an unfixable puncture and then could avoid having to buy 4 new tyres! I eventually sourced a H/P but after a lot of effort (in the size for the OB 225/60 R18). Had a quick check of the H/T in 225.60 R18 and can't find another one of those either, but just a cursory check so far. I think both the H/P and H/T are classed as summer tyres, with no snowflake emblem on the side walls, but I'd read somewhere they were also described as "all season" in the US. As I live in the rural north Pennines, at altitude, I'll be fitting winter tyres come November, as I've always done for the last 20 years of motoring. Never tried all-season/all-weather tyres, but they could work too.