From the IBMA website, it appears that the STIs are now available through the VIP program. Has anyone purchased a STI using this program? If so, any feedback on the transaction.

No problems. Quoted 6-8 weeks and it took 8 weeks for delivery (ordered just before Thanksgiving, so that and xmas/new year's may have been at fault). The VIP program would not allow sale out of existing dealer inventory. Don't know if that's for real, but nobody had what I wanted in the area anyway, so it was a moot point.

Selected dealer closest to my work, and VIP checked that they would sell @ invoice (something that's not happening in my area, but may be happening elsewhere in the country based on posts I've seen <fwiw>).

I gave the dealer a $1k check that they never cashed to get the ball rolling, and stipulated I wanted delivery of a single digit (odometer) STi, and that I wanted my sales guy (the Internet manager) to personally take delivery of the car off the truck and chaperone it through the pre-delivery check, window tint and fueling (no lot boys behind the wheel!).

All was done as promised. Turnaround from truck to sale was absolute minumum. Off the truck my STi had 5.5 miles, delivered with 9 miles -- they notified me of all distances and got my approval prior to adding the miles necessary to do the required pre-delivery work.

Two thumbs up for Camelback Subaru in Phoenix, and for the Subaru VIP program... I believe I was the first order placed under the program that allowed for the STi, but I'm sure others took delivery first due to my special order.

HTH,
gr.

Thanks Gregr01. I will probably hold out for the introduction of the new Legacy. This seems like the best way to go for a popular model.