Cam: 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness

[Cam]

I guess I never updated the bumper situation. Service manager claimed he lost my info. Rrriiiiggghhht... Long story short, we finally got it taken care of after repeatedly bugging them about it.

More recently, I took the car to our new-to-us local dealership for regular service. When I first rolled in, I told them to give me a regular service. The rep suggested I get a wheel alignment. The car only has 20,000 miles on it. I am pretty sure it did not need a wheel alignment at that time, so I declined. I waited for my car to be serviced in the waiting area. A rep asked to talk to me about a "concern" and that they recommend a wheel alignment. I politely declined again. They finished, I paid and left. A few days later, I got an e-mail from the dealer recommending a wheel alignment. WTF? They claim that Subaru recommends a wheel alignment every 12,000 miles. I've owned Subies, and always had them serviced at the dealer, for almost 20 years and I've never heard of that. Sounds like the dealer is just trying to make work for themselves.

Did I mention the navigation system is awful?

[Yw-slayer]

Maybe, as it's an Outback, they are recommending it because you are no doubt driving in an EX7R3mm333!/1/1/!/!! fashion over R0CKz and D3 DIR7z7 and stuff??!/1/?!?!?!!

Jokes aside, I let the dealer do the alignments if and when I get them to change the tyres. Other than that, I've never had an alignment. Am I missing something? Does getting a "laser wheel alignment" etc. etc. really make a difference for a daily driver like a Legacy or a BRZ on stock rims?

[Cam]

I am of the opinion a pretty new car should not need a wheel alignment unless you have done damage to it or abused it. We drive pretty sedately. On the other hand, we have done a bit of driving in an EX7R3mm333!/1/1/!/!! fashion over R0CKz and D3 DIR7z7 and stuff??!/1/?!?!?!! I would consider an alignment after several years of ownership, but certainly not 20,000 miles. Maybe when the car needs new tires, which will probably be 60K-75K miles.

[FaultyMario]

We don't need six-month alignments, because our roads are given regular maintenance.

[Yw-slayer]

Wait, Cam, you drive 40,000 miles on one set of tyres?

[Cam]

Depends on the tire, but our current tires should last that long. The car has 20,000 miles on it and the tires still have plenty of life left in them.

[Yw-slayer]

I find that pretty amazing, but I guess tyre use depends greatly on the general use cases.

[Cam]

Obviously, high-performance tires will have a shorter life, and driving style will also affect tire wear. Lori and I are sedate drivers. Rear tires on the Boxster would last between 10-20,000 miles, because 1.) Michelin Pilot Sport is a performance tire. 2.) The rear wheels have negative camber, resulting in the inside of the tire wearing faster than the outside. The Forester had general purpose tires, which lasted pretty well. The Outback has all-terrain tires, which are pretty much a truck tire; very durable.