Wanted: Subaru PZEV Badges -- Gasp!

MAC89,

:welcome: to PriusChat.

I must say, the folks at the Subaru site that I have visited, it's for the
Forester, were most kind... :cheer2:

Which is more than I can say for Subaru corporate.

This potential mod is still hanging around, but it is nowhere near the
top of the list right now. I do have a five piece PZEV set, "used but
good." Given that my modding scheme now calls for no chrome on the
exterior of the car, the set that I have and any other I might find will
have to be smoked or black chrome to get mounted... possible but not
likely at this time given the additional expense.

That said, thank you for your kind posting. :rockon:

 

Recently, while poking around the 'net for news/updates on the various
EV's promised for the future, I came across an article on a possible
Subaru entry, the R-1e. In part, the article read:

"Fuji Heavy Industries, which owns Subaru, plans to offer a hybrid
based on the technology that underpins the Toyota Prius.

"The two automakers have long had an alliance to share vehicle
development, production and supplies. Ikuo Mori, president and CEO of
Fuji Heavy, says his company will draw on that partnership to offer a
gas-electric vehicle.

"'We will take advantage of our alliance with Toyota,' he told reporters
in Japan..."

Now, WRT SubaruUSA easing up on their tight-fisted refusal to sell
their PZEV badge to a Prius owner, you might think there is room for a
fresh new attitude.

Well, think again. Here is the email response I got when I once again
queried Subaru corporate on this matter:

Dear Mr. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

I understand your disappointment that Subaru will not provide you
with Subaru PZEV badges for your Toyota Prius. Genuine Subaru parts
and accessories are designed specifically and only for Subaru vehicles.
We would not recommend that any Subaru part be used on a vehicle
other than the Subaru vehicle that the part was designed for. We are
also not in the position to provide any Subaru parts, including badges,
to any non-Subaru owner.

I do hope that you have made your complaint and request to Toyota.
They are the manufacturer of your vehicle. They are responsible for
equipping your Prius. Contact them to request that they design and
offer a PZEV badge for your Prius instead of the decal that they
equipped on your Prius. We would recommend that any Subaru owner
with a concern with their Subaru vehicle to contact Subaru of America
and not another car manufacturer.

As for your email address, it has been removed from our email
mailing list. It is possible that the list for a future email or two has
been compiled and may include you. Any email lists compiled from
today onward will not include you.

If you need any future assistance, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer/Dealer Services Department
1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)

No sign here that any home office spirit of bon ami and "hail fellow,
well met" has made it into the hinterlands. The situation brings this
snippet to mind:

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little
statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul
has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his
shadow on the wall." Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

For the whole Subaru R-1e article, go here:
Subaru Prius Set for 2012 Debut | Autopia | Wired.com

 

svitale75,

thank you for your post, I'm glad you got your badge(s) and it will help
anyone else who also wants them.

Truth be told, I don't want them anymore.

First, I noticed that fully 1 out of 3 of the badges that I saw on Subarus
in the wild had the chrome peeling off the badge. I suspect that it's
from how the badges are applied. The plastic is very soft and I can see
where it would be easy to bend the badge cracking the chrome when it
is applied.

I decided that I didn't want the possibility of a second rate, cheezy,
peeling badge on my car. Because of this, when my daughter bought a
used Subaru pzev, -- with a peeling badge -- I didn't even approach
her on her getting badges for me.

Second, sometime back I decided that rather than add bling to the car,
I'd de-chrome it. The HSD badges on the front quarter panels were
located with pins going through asymmetrical holes in the panels.
My solution to dealing with the holes was to get rid of them by
installing BMW "arrowhead" side lights:



Bottom line; thanks again. I'm happy, you're happy, "all's well that ends
well."

FWIW, more on the BMW sidelight installation here:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ng-hybridsd-badge-holes-bmw-side-markers.html