'We can't, and don't,control our dealers... they are independent, and therefore free to do what they want'

SUBARU UK are responsible for the overall standard of the cars and customer care of their official dealers you might have thought.
I had real problems with a beautiful Subaru STI Prodrive that I had purchased in good faith as an ex-demonstrator from Donnelly Subaru of Belfast.
After purchasing the car I became concerned when the promised registration book failed to materialise. After repeated requests for the document, Donnelly Subaru kept promising that they would look into its location. In-fact it took a full five months before the document appeared.
Surprisingly I had not be registered as the keeper. I was stopped at a Police check point only to be told there was an unconfirmed keeper who was a complete stranger.
By this stage I was seriously concerned.







'Hugh Orde has not commented yet'



WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON? WHO OWNED THE CAR I WAS DRIVING AROUND IN? I contacted Donnelly Subaru who said
that their administration department had indeed made a mistake and that they had 'ACCIDENTALLY' registered somebody else's name
on my car, but they would sort it out.

The car was handling in a nervous fashion, steaming up in rain and frankly I was concerned something odd was afoot.






SUBARU UK became involved in the case but received the run around from Donnelly Subaru. Donnellys said their was nothing wrong with the car and the fact that they had with held the registration document for five months was just a 'Wee mistake'

Following advice taken from my solicitor, we contacted Donnellys and asked them to advise what they could do to sort out my concerns.

Donnellys laughed and said that I was making up stories because I couldn't afford the car. It took five months for Donnellys to produce the registration document, the car steamed up, handled oddly and was actually a March 05 car rather than the described July 05 car.

My solicitor decided enough was enough and he advised Donnelly Subaru that we intended to rescind the goods. Donnellys were advised of this. A date to return the car was given in writting.

Donnellys ignored our pleas for help so when the due date came round we loaded the car onto a transporter and headed off to Donnellys Belfast.

On arrival the delivery man was met by a tirade of abuse from Paul Donnelly. My deliver man offloaded the car on Donnelly's forecourt as instructed. In a moment of sheer madness Donnelly Subaru dashed out in a van an blocked the exit.

Donnellys then contacted the Police who sent out a young constable. The situation was a simple civil matter not a criminal matter, but due to his inexperience the constable became agitated and irrational. We were told to remove the vehicle otherwise he would prosecute us for 'Criminal trespass' Not wishing to spend the night in prison we decide the best course of action was to leave with my Subaru and pursue the matter later.



The Police Ombudsman became involved in the case when the PSNI constable overstepped his 'Knowledge envelope'

My beautiful Subaru STI Prodrive going for another ride.

The car was taken to Eastwood Motors of Lisburn. They checked the car over for mechanical faults and apart from a 2mm variation in the tracking and a flat battery they could find no physical fault with the car.

This was very odd as at speed the car felt nervous and very unstable compared to my previous Subaru WRX PPP which I had been delighted with.

We continued to contact Subaru UK and Donnelly Subaru to see if a sensible resolution could be achieved. I suggested that the car ws exchanged for one of the same age,colour and specification. I would go away as a happy loyal Subaru customer and put the experience down to bad luck.

Trading Standards interviewed me as they felt there were grounds to pursue the matter under the sale of goods act. They felt the car had been mis-represented and Donnellys may have some questions to answer.

Donnellys advised my solicitor that I would have to issue proceedings and they would not stand over the car. They stated that I could not afford the car and I was a time waster.

Incensed by this outrageous insult I decided that if no one would help, I would dispose of the car live on the Internet in a dramatic 'Burning'









Subaru UK have not offered me any help nor have they had any success in controlling Donnelly Subaru of Belfast. It seems appalling that a main Subaru agent can act in this way with no control or accountability to Subaru itself.



I now propose to burn the car live on the Internet to raise awareness for Donnelly Subaru's appalling customer service. This may seem a little extreme, but hey I can't drive the damn thing on the road so I might as well have some fun!

Donnelly Subaru Belfast 'Winning the hearts and minds of customers'

I have also contacted Channel 5 to discuss the opportunities for their 'WRECK MY RIDE' feature. Goodness me, you would have thought that Subaru would have helped.



'This situation is crazy, if somebody from Subaru UK or Donnelly Subaru had tried talking
I am sure things could have been resolved with out all this upset. It makes me sad to see
a loyal Subaru customer being so badly treated'


















Ernest Carmichael (Aged 74)
Noted car authority

The love I feel for Subaru

Baa baa black sheep!