$700 sounds like a rip off to me. I just took mine in (because I dont have the time to do this stuff myself right now) and got new front brakes, brake fluid flush, and a drain/fill of fluids in the AT trans, front diff, and rear diff for $525.

 

Do your service ala carte if possible. I am sitting at my dealer right now; my '09 has 62k miles. I decided to let them do the spark plugs and flush the brake fluid (skipped the brake fluid flush at 30k), I changed my own engine air and cabin filters a couple thousand miles ago. (I think they want $100 for a cabin filter change--takes 5 minutes and a $20 filter.) I'm also having them change the oil and filter but as usual brought in one of my old Tokyo Roki filters (bought a bunch of them after Subaru switched to Fram) and some Mobil One 5W30 from Costco. I think I'm gonna come in around $350. And I have a coupon that saves me $40 on service totals between $200 and $499, $110 on $500 or more.

Also doing the recall on the rear seat belt.

Also, I have a Subaru Mastercard which gives a 3% rebate in the form of $100 certificates, and have, oh, $1200 worth of Subaru certificates saved and will be using those to pay for the service. So my net cost will be ZERO.

As an old car freak and now a retiree on a pension, I treat my cars very well but don't believe in spending money I don't have to. Look at the maintenance schedule for your car, consider what's been changed, and request only items that you need. Do not let the dealer intimidate you into doing work that is not needed. You are good on spark plugs and filters, etc. Especially if you don't have a warranty beyond 60k, the car will be your responsibility to repair, so don't let the dealer tell you that your warranty will be voided, etc.

Consider a Subaru Mastercard, and run some money through it, pay it off each month. I have never paid a cent of interest on the card, so I'm one of the few people in the world that actually costs the bank money... My goal is to pay for the 100k timing belt replacement with stashed certificates as well.

George

 

It might help you to get a list of what maintenance would be performed and how much each service would cost. Then you could see what you're actually paying for. That would also help us determine if $700 is a rip-off or not.

Also, when you say, "Subaru shop" are you talking about a Dealership? Or an independent mechanic? Because their rates differ drastically.

Congrats on the car and welcome to the forum, by the way!

 

Very good information, all! What a helpful group!

Regarding the shop, it is associated with the Subaru dealer. I could go somewhere else (would just have to find them via the Internet), but I thought they may need to do the recall repair?

I have an appointment on Thursday. I think I will tell the shop to please inspect, and then itemize the cost of each thing they want to do. Then, I could post that here and see what people think before signing off on the repairs? Is that a good approach?

Again, thank you! I wish I knew more about these types of things, but already feel like I am learning. I printed off the 2010 Forester Maintenance Schedule for reference!

 

Forget the Plugs. Not necessary.

Drain and fill of Auto Trans (no flush)- 4 quarts
Drain and fill of Rear Diff - 1 quart
Drain and fill of Front Diff - 1 quart
Brake fluid change (maybe)
Oil change
Tire Rotation

Should be well under $200

Don't let them talk you into extra stuff. Come back on here and ask.

 

Great advice, but with a brake fluid change, my guess is that it will crack $200 but not by a lot. With the car being new to you, it would be wise to have them check the brake pads for wear (which is basically an instant check when they have the wheels off to rotate tires); my rear pads are at 1.5mm of thickness at 62k miles. But dealer prices for doing brakes are pretty stiff--if you can seek out a trusted independent shop, they would be better for brake work.

Also, you may need wiper blade refils if your blades are streaking at all.

It should not take much more than this at 60k.

Do come back and ask if you have any questions. You might even want to call the dealer on the phone and have them break down the 60k service into components, but as adc and I said, do your service ala carte and don't call it a "60k service" because this will likely include charges like $50 for a "brake inspection" which is redundant if you are rotating tires and especially changing brake fluid.

Geor4ge

 

Did you get that quote from Briggs in Topeka? I'd only do what adc already listed. I know it's a bit of a drive to other Subaru dealers but I'd call some others and don't call it 60k service and get oil, trans, differential fluids, tire rotation, and brake fluid. May save you a few hundred calling around. If you have independent shop do the work you'll want to make sure they use the correct ATF (Subaru ATF per manual) and diff fluid.

 

Just called our local Subaru dealer to tell them that I don’t need the 60K mile maintenance after all and to tell them what I’d like done at my Thursday appointment.

To adc and YoGeorge: Regarding the differentials, the guy said the Forester uses gear oil, which is good for the life of the car. He said he had never done a drain & fill for the rear and front diff on this car before. What do you guys think?

I read him the other items on the list, and here is how he priced them: Drain and fill transmission – around $70; brake fluid change – around $50; oil change – $26.95; and tire rotation/balance 2 front tires - $37. That’s a total of about $184, and with the diffs, it was to come in around $200, so I think this is good!

 

Now you're in the right ballpark doing the service ala carte. And the prices sound just fine.

Bill--it looks like the fuel filters on Foresters after about 2004 are in-tank strainers on the pump; my dealer said that they do not change them out when I had my '09 in for service. Just confirmed on this forum:

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f88/no-fuel-filter-2009-a-78003/

I had my rear axle and front diff fluids changed at around 40k miles; I carried in my own synthetic fluids (Mobil 1 for the rear axle, Delvac for the transmission and front axle--which share fluid on the manual trans model like mine) figuring that even though the change was maybe unnecessary, an upgrade to syn fluid might be an advantage.

Given what I've read on how the rear axle fluid looks coming out, yaudrey, I might be inclined to have that changed out. It's a fairly minor cost. And maybe just do both axles while you're at it. In "severe service" they recommend changing them out at 15k miles, so a routine change at 60k feels good to me.

George

 

Subaru's maintenance schedule says to only "inspect" the differential fluids at 60k miles, unless the vehicle has been driven under severe driving conditions where they recommend replacement at 15k miles. If you don't know the history of the vehicle, I would have it changed or at least inspected.

Another Subaru recommended service item for 60k miles (normal driving conditions) is replacement of the fuel filter. The fuel filter can be rather costly as they have to remove the rear seat to replace the filter. If I recall, the part itself was $75.

 

In regards to the differentials, I'd at the very least have them do the rear. I changed the rear out at 15k miles and it was black and nasty. the front was fine after 30k. It's up to you but I'd spring for the differental service if it were me.

 

Great info on the 60k dealer upcharges!

Bought my 2013 Forester Premium at 57k, dealer went 'certified' 152 spec check, now the kid in the oil dept reads me a $600 maintenance schedule, of course he had no clue.

I agree with the Forum to get quotes, as I trust my independent mechanic, and yes my Jiffy Lube guys are solid, if you really watch them and get it all down in advance. My issue is I've just driven 3k miles, great gas mileage, at 64k. I believe in pre maintenance but am realizing dealers make a ton of money off service. Plugs are fine, brakes solid, never tow, and its an amazing road car.

Had a 2001 Limited Outback fr 99k to 224k, another great car. The dealer is one of the best in the US, people fly in fr Minnesota to drive off with new cars, but I learning to say no thanks to dealer up sells.

So no harm in farming out to independent and Jiffy Lube? Its all in the Carfax someday. I trust you Forum guys more than anyone.