Wanted: Subaru PZEV Badges -- Gasp!

I have debadged the rear lift gate on my ''08.

I'm still puzzling over what to do with the fender HybridSD badges due the
holes underneath. I am resigned to the fact that something needs to go there.

I see the car as a canvas which I can use to send a message. And one of he
messages I want to send is VERY LOW EMISSIONS. I want to replace the
HybridSD fender badges with a PZEV with a little leaf coming out of the V,
and a connecting bar that spells out in small letters, "Partial Zero Emissions
Vehicle," from Subaru. I've seen the badge on two rare occasions on Foresters.

(Yes, I know there's a wimpy, just barely readable PZEV decal on the inside
of the driver's side rear window. I want the message more "out front" and
stated more clearly.

My problem; I can't find a source for the PZEV badge -- I actually want two --
anywhere on the web.

Do any of you Subaru crossover folks know of a source? Even the Subaru
parts sites I've found don't list/show it. (I am a rotten web-surfer -- Wipe Out!)
I need a solid go-to-site, not a sort-of... maybe... site.

BTW, if you want to make a bigger HybridSD statement, both the Camry and
Highlander badges are about 25% larger in length and height than the Prius
HybridSD fender badge.

 

Re: Wanted: Subaru PHEV Badges -- Gasp!

I'm still working on getting PZEV badges to replace the fender HybridSD ones.
Although I have more information, I still cant find a source.

I have discovered that Ford puts this badges on the Focus in CA:

http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9124&stc=1&d=1210602855

I like the text, but the "road and leaf" element definitely identifies it as a
Ford transplant. Ford has used it back as far as 1989 on Ranger pick ups.

Subaru does not state that there is any geographic limits on their use of
their badge. It was implemented only in 2007, hence I suppose its rarity.
It looks like this:

http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9125&stc=1&d=1210602855

I much prefer this style as it is not immediately identifiable as being from
Subaru.

The guy at the Parts Dept. at my local Subaru dealer said:
"Does Subaru use that badge in the United States?" He's checking it out.
This could be a long, uphill pull.

Any other approaches?

 

The guy at one of my local Subaru dealers called me back.

PZEV Subarus -- more models than just the Forester -- are sold only in
states that more or less follow California's pollution standards. Closest to
me would be Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and "New England ?,"
Massachusetts for sure. Apparently, the badge can be the basis for
entitlements in those states, such as HOV lane use, tax write offs/refunds,
free parking, etc. The badge costs only $6.00 US.

Difficulties immediately arise because the badges are stocked solely at
Subaru USA, and they will only provide single badges to dealers who
provide the VIN for a car that was originally sold with the badge.

A call to a second dealer got the same story unprompted.

So this project is going to be far more difficult that I thought. It looks like
I may have to go hunting around in junk yards up in Pennsylvania.

Rather than a long, up hill climb, this is looking like a long, near vertical
climb with one hand tied behind my back and a boxing glove on the other.

FWIW, here's a somewhat larger, clearer picture of the badge:

http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9235&stc=1&d=1211071880
.

 

That's pretty much what I have done. I'm working with some friendly
Subaru folks I've found through their forums. I haven't asked them to lie to
get the badges for me. That is too much to ask.

I have gotten one set of badges that a fellow up in Manchester, NH had just
removed. Definately "used but good" quality, but good enough.

Very educational, I thought it was one piece. No, its five separate pieces. Low
profile, thin plastic, had to be cut off with dental floss and WD-40.

To mount them I'll first have to get 3M tape, attach the pieces, cut the tape
to fit, then mount them on the car in the correct alignment so that they
cover those irksome holes in the fender... it'll be a challenge.

So, I'm halfway home. I've still got feelers out and am hopeful that I won't
have to spend hot summer days prowling junk yards in Pennsylvania.

 

A quick update for anyone thinking of getting PZEV badges from Subaru.

I decided to go directly to Subaru of America to try to get the badges. I
back-and-forthed e-mails for a week and despite my best efforts the result
was a definite, and I suppose final, "Not only no, but hell no!" I certainly
prefer new badges, but they seem to be beyond my powers of persuasion.

So, I'm still looking for a second badge set at junk yards and prowling the internet.

Below is the text of the last missive from Subaru:

Hello Mr. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your response.

While we can certainly appreciate your perseverance, Subaru will not
provide you with these PZEV badges. They are made and intended to be
used on Subaru vehicles only. We will not provide these badges for any
vehicle other than a Subaru.

I apologize that we are unable to offer you the response you are
anticipating. Thank you again for the opportunity to be of service.

Best wishes,
Gina Holwell
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer/Dealer Services
[THREAD ID:1-1G42WH]

 

Ken,

Ain't this just a kick in the teeth?

I'm guessing that somehow Subaru got in trouble for their badge showing up
on a non-PZEV vehicle. I offered to drive to Cherry Hill, NJ, to pick up the
badges and mount them under their scrutiny... No go! :frusty:

To confirm the theory of the perverse universe, once or twice a week on my
commute I see a white Forrester with the badge. Yesterday, it was directly
in front of me for ~5 miles. Aargh!

So far, I've shied away from finding a cooperative Subaru owner to try the
VIN ruse. But over time, sour grapes can grow to become a powerful enough
motivation to overcome quibbling moral objections.

 

Ct. Ken V, strieby,

I find Subaru's intransigence, and absolute refusal to sell their PZEV badges
to non-Subaru PZEV vehicle owners wholly incomprehensible. The badges
retail value is just under $6US. I'd pay $12, or even $18 for one. But no,
somehow my request is a threat to the continued existence of Western
civilization, or to the future worldwide hegemony of the Japanese auto
industry; no, No, NO, a thousand times NO!

I too have seen the "road and leaf" badge on a Ford Escape Hybrid. In
addition to the ready connection of the badge to Ford -- it was first used on
the flex-fuel Ranger pickup some years ago -- two factors argue against its
use in my intended position on the front fenders: First, the letters are two
narrow to fully cover the holes from the HybridSD badge pins. Second, while
in the badge's current incarnation the PZEV letters are quite thin, the road
and leaf emblem is at least 1/4 in. thick. To my eye, it is quite clunky
looking. While I can see it on the lift gate, I can't on the front fenders. It is
possible that the badge used on Focuses in CA are less lavish. If so, I might
reconsider. I never pursued getting this badge to the point of digging up a
part number.

(Coincidentally, it was the first sighting of the plain road and leaf badge on
the fenders and tail gate of a old Ranger that got me started on this quest.
That badge was only about 1/16 thick, and it stood alone, no PZEV letters.)

One way out of this conundrum would be to get the individual P-Z-E-V letters
from one of the EBay Auto vendors. I looked into this some while back, I
don't remember if they have lower case letters. As long as the letters are >
3/4 inch tall. you could adjust the spacing to cover the two holes. If I were
to go this way, I would probably pull out all the stops and get the letters for
AT-PZEV. The weakness of this approach is that you don't have the bar
below the letters with the explanatory text, "Partial Zero Emissions vehicle,"
which both the Subaru and Ford badge sets have.

All this said, I'm still doggedly working on finding a second, used Subaru
PZEV badge set. I can be just as stubborn as Subaru. In time I will find it. At
that point, I think an email with pix to Subaru will be in order to
demonstrate the ultimate futility of their corporate boneheadedness.

(N.B. FWIW, the line of the HybridSD badge is parallel to, but not the same
as the line through the lower edge of the door handles. The holes in the
fenders, at least on my 2008, are about 1/8 inch in diameter. Horizontally
the centers of the two holes are 2-11/16 inches apart. The two holes are not
in a line relative to the botom edge of the badge. For the driver's side, the
forward most hole is behind the connetor at the botom of the B and R
letters. The after hole is on the D, just below a line extending the upper
edge of the HYBRID lettering. The center of the aft hole is 1/2 inch above
the forward hole. I haven't looked under the passenger side badge, so I don't
know if the holes there have the same forward-aft orientation.)