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Old 09-10-2003, 11:38 AM   #1
GSXR
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Default STi's not selling well

About a month and a half ago, if I wanted one I was on a waiting list. I checked a week ago and there were 25 available with 100 miles of me with no waiting list. I talked to one dealer and they had 7 in stock. He mentioned that many people that were on their waiting list didn't pick up the car when they were called. Is demand for these cars drying up that fast?

I was offered MSRP but I'm waiting for a better deal. I know I can get an Evo or 350Z for less than MSRP now. I'm sure it'll just be soon when the STi's will be crowding the lots and going for less.
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Old 09-10-2003, 11:54 AM   #2
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Persnally i think 350z's are a dime a dozen. There are way to many of them on the road and way to many boneheads driving them. They are the new corvette.
It's a choice between the STi or EVO in my book and i got the STi.
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Old 09-10-2003, 12:22 PM   #3
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I have been tracking the STi inventory in Texas and will continue to do until I am ready to buy. Currently, their are 29 STis between dealerships in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. They recently took a big delivery between 9/3 and 9/8 b/c the inventory more than doubled. I hope to use this to my advantage when I am ready to buy.
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Old 09-10-2003, 12:34 PM   #4
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I'd say by the end of the year, you'll be able to get an STi for $500 over invoice pretty easily, if not less. Heck, if one dealer already has built up 7 in inventory, he might be willing to do a deal like that. And I think some dealer in NY has done $400 over invoice from the outset.

Everyone was pumped up for the STi and got themselves on the waiting list, but when it comes down to it a good number of people who want these cars (STi and EVO) simply can't afford them. Talking to a Mitsu dealer who's had a yellow EVO for 6 months now, he said he's had 10 guys in to make a deal on the car and not ONE of them qualified. Another Mitsu dealer in KC has 5 EVOs on the lot, all of them advertised for $2000 off sticker (pretty close to invoice).

Sad to say, but it's the under 25 crowd that wants these cars, and MOST of that crowd can't afford them. Sure, there's a few of us 'older' guys buying as well, but the majority of 'older' (I'm saying older meaning over 25) guys either want some luxury to go with their sport and buy BMWs, or want the sports car 'look' that tarted up Japanese subcompacts don't provide (but 350Zs do).

Also sad to say, I think because of the reasons above these cars won't be around all that long. The EVO will probably be first to go, but I don't think the STi will be around much past the 2006 model year either. Just not enough of a market to justify them in the long term.

Oh, and don't get me wrong, I think the STi and EVO are THE cars to have. Why get a 350Z when you can have a more practical car that will hand a 350Z its ass on a mountain road, racetrack, whatever? I will probably own one or the other within a year or so, but I'm going to wait until dealers start getting really desparate AND they start letting people drive them thoroughly.
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Old 09-10-2003, 12:59 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally posted by wrxsvt
Sad to say, but it's the under 25 crowd that wants these cars, and MOST of that crowd can't afford them. Sure, there's a few of us 'older' guys buying as well, but the majority of 'older' (I'm saying older meaning over 25) guys either want some luxury to go with their sport and buy BMWs, or want the sports car 'look' that tarted up Japanese subcompacts don't provide (but 350Zs do).
Or we want a wagon version of the STi.

I can say that in this forum now without fear of locking as all these threads will be moved soon, anyway.

[Glenn Wallace] we can always edit them.

Last edited by ANZAC_1915; 09-10-2003 at 07:33 PM.
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Old 09-10-2003, 01:16 PM   #6
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Well, now that the development work for the STI has been done for the US market, with the new engine, etc., I think the STI will be around at least as long as the WRX. I suppose the real bummer would be if the WRX goes away, but sales of the WRX have been pretty good, at least enough to justify production for Subaru.
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Old 09-10-2003, 01:28 PM   #7
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How do you track dealer inventory? Call around on a regular basis?
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Old 09-10-2003, 01:46 PM   #8
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Just go on the subaru.com website. Click on search for dealers and then click the dealer. Almost every dealer has a "search inventory" button and then you can see what each dealer has. I'm try to negotiate with dealers that have a large inventory on hand.
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Old 09-10-2003, 01:49 PM   #9
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woow.. good to know

i ll redirect all my STi envy buddies to head out to Texas.
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Old 09-10-2003, 01:49 PM   #10
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where i live there are 4 sitting on the lots and 3 at another dealer.. i asked the salesmen if they were sold and he said no.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:00 PM   #11
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I have an evo and have noticed the same thing. all the hot japanese cars are no selling well cause stupid people here just want to go fast in a stright line (muscle cars) and the truth is anyone can build a car to do that but handling is a different story. Im trying to talk my dad into buying a sti so I can have the best of both worlds
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:03 PM   #12
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I'd rather imagine the economy is a larger factor.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:11 PM   #13
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Texas sales are mostly do to people haveing no clue to what an sti is......................You get people who come in they always compare it to a m3 or they compare it to a rx8?
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:11 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by canis
How do you track dealer inventory? Call around on a regular basis?
go to subaru.com and type in the name of your state in the dealer locator. A list of every dealer pops up and their websites list the inventory. I don't know how often it is updated but I have been checking it twice a week and have seen some movement, mostly deliveries.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:14 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by WRXMaster
Texas sales are mostly do to people haveing no clue to what an sti is......................You get people who come in they always compare it to a m3 or they compare it to a rx8?
I am 25 and most people have no idea what an STi is and give you a weird look when you say Subaru. I go on to explain that people who buy these cars and Subaru in general believe that form follows function. I could have a BMW or a new truck but I want some real performance with a degree of practicality. Not to mention my wife thinks it is a good idea to get our "fun" car before the family car since we don't have kids yet.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:14 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally posted by MitSubEd
I'd rather imagine the economy is a larger factor.
I'm with you. I for one would be driving an STi if the economy were what it was three years ago.

Oh, and for the record, just about all the Subaru garages in the Albany area have an STi sitting in the showroom.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:22 PM   #17
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I know this is a sore subject here. I don't want to get into an argument about functionality. However, what was Subaru thinking when they put the big scoop and wing on the STi. It is fairly obvious that these are marketing additions designed to appeal to the FATF crowd, who typically have trouble affording the paint job on their Honda ground effects.

I believe that more STis would sell if the only thing that separated their looks from the stock WRX was a handful of pink badges. The sleeper or optioned high performance car concept has been successful in cars since even before their heyday in the '60s. It is also shown that the closer the hi-po car is to the stock, the better the stock cars sell. Just look at how many non-turbo Eclipses sold. At the very least, more baby boomers would be more willing to consider it.

Subaru took a major gamble by making the STi stand out from the crowd. If they are interested in selling more in the future, I think they will have to tone the looks down. Fortunately, I don't think Subaru wants to sell more STis in the future. I think their only motivation for continuing to sell STis will be to change the general consensus that Subarus are cheap and slow. I don't believe they will cancel production just because they are breaking even or losing a little money.

In the rest of the world, the STi and EVO have been niche cars sold in low volume for a long time. I don't expect production will be stopped any time soon. The allocations will probably change, though. I can't understand why SOA would think Texas would need that many. Then again I don't understand why anyone in Texas would need an SUV either, but the place is crawling with them.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:25 PM   #18
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Price is most definitely the big factor.

Say for MSRP at 31.5k, you have to add taxes and road fees etc and that can add up to about 10% of the price.
Also, the STi doesnt come with a stereo (imho, a big mistake).
This will add say $500 for a decent system.

Then, you got the tires which wont last too long and a new tireset costs about $1000. In the snow, they most definitely need to be replaced.

The MPG isnt too good either, about 20mpg average?

Add up all the cost and a new STi can easily come up to about $35k to $36k. Factor in the maintenance and gas and it gets very expensive.

That's a lot of money for the 20's and maybe 30's crowd who are really into these cars.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:26 PM   #19
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Well, I guess there's no one single reason for the slow in the sales. But I agree with just about every reason that has been stated in this thread.

Other contributing factors (my speculation):

- gas prices?
- styling? the general opinion is that for $30k, buyers can get a more stylish/quality/sturdy car than cars that share shells with $15k econoboxes.
- lack of knowledge? "what so special about this Lancer compared to the one that's half of the price?"
- mark ups? it's only a matter of time b4 the "rarity" and "must have the initial batch" factor wears out. Maybe people are waiting.

I don't know... I just know I want all those nice cars, but I am too deep into modding my WRX so selling the car would make it unfeasible.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:29 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally posted by HekWRX


I am 25 and most people have no idea what an STi is and give you a weird look when you say Subaru. I go on to explain that people who buy these cars and Subaru in general believe that form follows function. I could have a BMW or a new truck but I want some real performance with a degree of practicality. Not to mention my wife thinks it is a good idea to get our "fun" car before the family car since we don't have kids yet.
Case in point. My wife got into an argument with one of her coworkers because they refused to believe that Subaru builds race cars. This isn't just the STi, but a denial of all Subaru rally experience (and they mention that in the TV ads).

Subaru and Mitsubishi have neglected the NA market for too long. It is going to take lots of time and money to convince the general public otherwise. Bringing the B4 to the states would do a lot to help.
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:30 PM   #21
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As noted by MitSubEd, the economy is the largest factor and its killing sales everywhere for eveything except pornography/sex trade, liquor sales, drugs (legal & illegal) and sports book which are all recession proof businesses.

Bottom line; if you have no money, job, place to live or food to eat...then you aren't going to be returning calls from dealers about a $32K toy, as your cell phone service will be cut off.

Not to mention a lot of people got on dealer lists all excited and everything telling folks; "I'm gonna get an STi!". But as with most things when it comes time to show & prove many/most folks folded. Besides it isn't exactly a practical car to live with, wagon or not. Just ask an owner.

Talk to any dealer anywhere and they will tell you the same.
As for Subaru replacing the WRX with the STi, that makes no business sense what so ever. The WRX is their cash cow and most fitting for the majority of Subie buyers, which is a minority of auto buyers overall (automatic trans Camry & Explorer are for the majority).

The STi is Subaru's Z06 while the WRX is their Vette.
Lots of Vettes on the road are owned by every other dentist, plumber and MILF no matter where you live. Z06's are much less common for a reason and its not just because it's available only as a hardtop & 6-speed.

- Janq
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Old 09-10-2003, 02:36 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally posted by Janq
As noted by MitSubEd, the economy is the largest factor and its killing sales everywhere for eveything except pornography/sex trade, liquor sales, drugs (legal & illegal) and sports book which are all recession proof businesses...

- Janq
Don't forget fast food, candy, pop, music, and movies.
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Old 09-10-2003, 03:02 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally posted by VVVV


Don't forget fast food, candy, pop, music, and movies.
Nope, all of those above too are 'regular' mainstream businesses and they too suffer from swings in the economy. Take a look at the numbers for Mars Industries, Vivendi, Sony Entertainment and such. Those vendors and their industries are all down.
The movie industry in specific have been suffering for nearly a decade. The glory days for Hollywood is long gone.
The salad days are now for the folks in the San Fernando valley with studios with names like 'Vivid' & 'Wicked'.

If you want to make money no matter what happens, even if Martians, invade...the product/service you want to sell is sin & escapism.
As a general rule if what you sell/provide is bad for the buyers spirit & soul then its good for your back pockets.

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Old 09-10-2003, 03:10 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally posted by VVVV


Case in point. My wife got into an argument with one of her coworkers because they refused to believe that Subaru builds race cars. This isn't just the STi, but a denial of all Subaru rally experience (and they mention that in the TV ads).
Your wife was fighting an already lost battle.

Average Americans know nothing about anything that occurs in areas with a Zip Code that doesn't only have numbers and have five digits as the primary value.

All we generally know about are 'roundy round' NASCAR like racing, 'funny cars', Monster Trucks and to a lesser degree motrocycles, swamp buggies and F1.

Anything else different from what we know might as well not exist. And you know how we are self centric. If it ain't in our neighborhood then its not worth talking about or looking into.

It's sad but true.

- Janq
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Old 09-10-2003, 03:12 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by VVVV
I know this is a sore subject here. I don't want to get into an argument about functionality. However, what was Subaru thinking when they put the big scoop and wing on the STi. It is fairly obvious that these are marketing additions designed to appeal to the FATF crowd, who typically have trouble affording the paint job on their Honda ground effects.
These are not something added to appeal to the FATF crowd, the big wing and hoodscoop have been part of the STI heritage since 1992!

Take a look:

STI Version I (92) -


STI Version II (95) -


STI Version V (98) -


STI Version VI (99) -


I wish SOA had brought over the STI Version VII, I'd probably still be driving it
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