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Old 03-04-2013, 07:13 AM   #1
metroplex
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Default Best way to buy/order new Subaru?

I've been wanting to buy a new Subaru since 2002 (specifically the WRX or STI models). I recall the VIP Discount being available for the WRX and STI models as late as about 3 years ago. I went to check, and apparently the VIP discount is no longer applicable to the WRX and STI.

So what is the best/easiest way of buying/ordering a new WRX or STI? I recall the STI being in extremely short supply all the time, and that I either had to be put on a waiting list for factory ordering one. My local Subaru dealership is probably the largest in the area, and the dealership is tiny. The dealership lot is about the size of a corner gas station parking lot.

I hate haggling, even at American car dealerships. I typically factory order with an employee or friends/family discount, but those are hard to get for Japanese and German automobiles unless you work for them or a supplier directly.

Any ideas?
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Old 03-04-2013, 07:43 AM   #2
vision.dynamix
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Buying a car is rocket science now apparently.
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Old 03-04-2013, 07:46 AM   #3
HinshawWRX
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Why not call your local dealer? I mean, they sell the cars so why wouldn't they know? Or hell, maybe McDonalds or Hertz rent a car knows.
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Old 03-04-2013, 07:50 AM   #4
metroplex
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I guess you guys missed the part about the Subaru VIP Discount and Domestic employee/friends/family discounts. Are you just haggling down from MSRP at Subaru for the WRX/STI? The dealership isn't going to help me save money, been there tried that. The most they will do is say something like, "I'll tell you what, I'll knock off $3000 from MSRP" which turns out to be like $1500 over invoice. The VIP Discount would have been around invoice, no haggling required - but they don't seem to offer the Subaru VIP Discount for WRX or STI's anymore according to the club/membership programs.

Buying a Ford using X-Plan or a GM with the employee/friends discount was easy, I was hoping to do the Subaru VIP Discount.
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Old 03-04-2013, 07:52 AM   #5
vision.dynamix
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When I bought my sti I searched to see who had one in stock, walked in with a pile of money and walked out having paid $800 under "invoice".
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Old 03-04-2013, 07:58 AM   #6
metroplex
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I'd like to factory order. My experience was that the STI's that come in are usually spoken for, or aren't ordered the way I want them.

So you're just haggling at the dealership? What about the Costco discount, is it worthwhile?
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:12 AM   #7
a2cpc
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Double post

Last edited by a2cpc; 03-04-2013 at 08:20 AM.
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:19 AM   #8
a2cpc
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I thought I read where the WRX, STI and BRZ were going to be included again soon. You can always go on Edmunds, find out the invoice price, and call/email around to dealers in your area with the price you want to pay. That worked once for me.

Last edited by a2cpc; 03-04-2013 at 08:25 AM.
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:23 AM   #9
Isotonic
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Wait a few more months.
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:28 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metroplex View Post
I'd like to factory order. My experience was that the STI's that come in are usually spoken for, or aren't ordered the way I want them.

So you're just haggling at the dealership? What about the Costco discount, is it worthwhile?
Yes, that's how it works. You call all the dealers and find out what their best price is and pit them against each other.
Costco discount huh? How much is it? Step 1: call all the dealers and find out what their best price is. Step 2: pit them against each other. Step 3: Apply Costco discount.

Seriously what is up with kids today!?

Quote:
Originally Posted by a2cpc View Post
I thought I read where the WRX, STI and BRZ were going to be included again soon. You can always go on Edmunds, find out the invoice price, and call/email around to dealers in your area with the price you want to pay. That worked once for me.
This. It's not that hard. There's no secret handshake or "Hey dealer, I'm a friend of a friend of Joe-Bob wink wink nudge nudge."
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:37 AM   #11
Beau M
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I walked into the dealer, found a car I really liked, paid a fair price and drove it off the lot. Or, you could haggle and stress over every cent, drive all over hells half acre calling every dealer and Costco in the land and then wait 6 months for your car to show up. Personal preference I guess.
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Old 03-04-2013, 08:42 AM   #12
metroplex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by a2cpc View Post
I thought I read where the WRX, STI and BRZ were going to be included again soon. You can always go on Edmunds, find out the invoice price, and call/email around to dealers in your area with the price you want to pay. That worked once for me.
Thanks. I just did a search and noticed these models were specifically mentioned as being applicable, like you said. I wonder why they weren't applicable just a few months ago?

I've had dealerships laugh at me for trying to buy cars at invoice without using some kind of OEM discount, and haggling is always a pain. I had to haggle a few times until I moved to Michigan and learned about Ford's A/D/X/Z Plans, GM's Employee and Supplier Discounts, Nissan's A/B/C plans, and Subaru's VIP Discount.

The Subaru VIP Discount is easy to work with and I'd like to use that on a WRX STI factory order.
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Old 03-04-2013, 09:35 AM   #13
HinshawWRX
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So you want the VIP discount that they do not offer for the car you want?
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Old 03-04-2013, 09:40 AM   #14
metroplex
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They apparently are now offered on WRX STI models. I'll have to check with some of the participating clubs. I recall that the WRX STI was excluded when I checked a few months ago, although they typically were included in the program.

Last edited by metroplex; 03-04-2013 at 09:46 AM.
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Old 03-04-2013, 09:44 AM   #15
Loyale93
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Cool story. Do you know how to get money from the bank, or do you need that explained as well?

Step 1: Get ski mask...
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Old 03-04-2013, 09:46 AM   #16
vision.dynamix
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loyale93 View Post
Cool story. Do you know how to get money from the bank, or do you need that explained as well?

Step 1: Get ski mask...
SHould I use a Glock or an AK47?
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Old 03-04-2013, 09:56 AM   #17
Jack
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email every subaru dealer within 300 miles. Tell them what you MUST have. If you don't care about color, tell them that (that's what I do). They all have internet sales and know that you're trolling every dealer in creation. Ask for their price for the car plus all of their bogus doc fees (they are simply their profit). Tell them that if they are the lowest, they win and you will come in with a deposit.

the end
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Old 03-04-2013, 10:34 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack ffr1846 View Post
email every subaru dealer within 300 miles. Tell them what you MUST have. If you don't care about color, tell them that (that's what I do). They all have internet sales and know that you're trolling every dealer in creation. Ask for their price for the car plus all of their bogus doc fees (they are simply their profit). Tell them that if they are the lowest, they win and you will come in with a deposit.

the end
OR ....
Sign up with IMBA, wait six months and for the Subaru VIP benefit to kick in, and save yourself some money and a ton of aggravation.

http://www.imba.com/membership/indiv...ru-vip-program
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Old 03-04-2013, 10:37 AM   #19
vision.dynamix
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Wait 6 months to save 1 hour of emailing.
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Old 03-04-2013, 10:59 AM   #20
Cocoa Beach Bum
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post
Wait 6 months to save 1 hour of emailing.
Your 1 hour of emailing is just the start of a long process with lots of guaranteed dead-ends and disappointments.

While waiting, he might cheat a little and insure that his dealer will have ordered the model/color code of the car he wants so that it will be available when his 6 month probation expires.
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Old 03-04-2013, 11:01 AM   #21
vision.dynamix
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IDK Why people make car buying so hard.

Once Ive decided what Ive wanted, its never taken more than a week to either get a firm order in or to bring the car home. Ive never paid more than invoice.
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Old 03-04-2013, 11:28 AM   #22
Cocoa Beach Bum
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post
IDK Why people make car buying so hard.

Once Ive decided what Ive wanted, its never taken more than a week to either get a firm order in or to bring the car home. Ive never paid more than invoice.
There is no easier way to buy a new Subaru than with the VIP Partners program. Not sure what the discounted price is nowadays but it used to be a guaranteed 2% below dealer invoice. Assuming you COULD haggle down the price to that level, the dealer would be much happier selling the car under the VIP program because SOA will reimburse some money to the dealer ($500?) for his trouble. And SOA will also make a contribution to the organization you joined. Win! Win!

Instead of wasting time haggling over the new car price, one could devote his efforts to getting the best price for his old car in a private sale unless, of course, he's also taking advantage of Subaru's Guaranteed Trade-in Program for an old Subaru.
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Old 03-04-2013, 02:57 PM   #23
Unabomber
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me b4 j00 buy

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Last car I bought was the wife's Honda Pilot. Drove onto the lot with her old one, drove off in a new one. Total time on the lot was 2 hours with most of that being wait time due to process ladder climbing from sales to finance to options to signing. Not sure where all this car buying confusion occurs from as I've never spent more than 2 hours buying a vehicle and I always pay exactly what I want. I also sold a Honda CR-V on craigslist last week....from ad post to cash in hand took 45 minutes.


<----------must be a car sales wizard
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Old 03-04-2013, 03:11 PM   #24
sketcheroo
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Emailed all the dealers I was willing to travel to. Got the best price and set up an appointment to go in and place order and deposit. Went in, test drove car, put down deposit. 2 months later new car. Didn't have to haggle at all.
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Old 03-04-2013, 03:18 PM   #25
Varady360
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read unabomber manifesto... has car sell/buy tips and faq
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