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Subaru Forester Prices Paid and Buying Experience

3539 messages,  Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 8:29 PM

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon, SUV

Messages Page 190 of 355

#1884 of 3539 Re: Help! '09 Subaru Buying Experiences! [slaterac] by victor_pv

May 11, 2008 (11:09 am)

Replying to: slaterac (May 10, 2008 3:31 pm)
To slaterac:
you can go to subaru.com, then go to "check inventory" or "find a dealer" and you will be shown all the dealers around you post code, from there you can open the dealer webpage, check the inventory, and if it have the model you are looking for, ask for a quote. I did that way, and some of them offered really good quotes for an Impreza WRX I was looking for, though now I am undecided between the impreza and the forester.
For the forester 2.5X + premium package+fog light and a few more extras (worth about $1000), we have been quoted $23.500+TTL more or less, in the Austin area, and there is still room for negotiation, because a friend and myself could be buying a car each at the same dealer, but definitely, no way I would pay more than that even for only 1 car, and forget ridiculous fees. They should total no more than $200, then the taxes depend on the state you are so you and the dealer have no control, but must be the same in every dealer in the area. I wouldn´t stick to that dealer if you have others at 30min drive. You may be quoted as much as $2000 less, and for $2000 I would drive even a couple of hours. At the end the car is the same, and after you have it, you can service it anywhere.
Get 3 or 4 prices asking through the dealer webpages, and then go back to that dealer and tell him no way you would pay more than that. If he doesn´t come down, go somewhere else.
And post here the results
Good luck!

#1885 of 3539 Re: Help! '09 Subaru Buying Experiences! [pgb0517] by victor_pv

May 11, 2008 (11:33 am)

Replying to: pgb0517 (May 10, 2008 8:12 pm)
Just a note, you can never know how much profit the dealer can get by selling you a car.
Apart of some other bonuses, that run on a month to month basis, and on certain models, and particular to only an area, or only a dealer, Subaru has a program called Ascent, and another called Summit. They can be different depending on the area, but this is more or less how they work:
Once the salesman has sold 3 cars in a month, he can get about 100$ for each car that month, if he sells, lets say more than 5 (the exact number can be different for different areas), then he gets 125$ for each car, for all the cars sold that month. If he sells 7, then maybe 150$, and if sells 10, then maybe 175$ dollars.
So imagine your salesman has sold 9 cars so far that month, so he would get 9x$150=$1350, but if he sells you one, he gets to the next step, so would get 10x$175=$1750, so by selling you one car, he gets $400 more, apart of other profits they have, like holdback, etc.
So this salesman knows by selling u that car he gets $400 extra, plus all the others bonuses for that specific car (holdback etc), maybe he is willing to give you those $400, to get all the other bonuses, or maybe he is willing to give you half, lets say $200, that he wouldn´t give you if your car is just the 2nd he sell that month.
It is impossible for you to know what will he get with that car, and maybe the next dealer 10 miles away, can get even more by selling you the car, so you only know ur best deal by asking several dealers.
I recommend you not to make any offer until you know the prices of several dealers, because if you try to calculate the price by adding a 4% profit over the invoice for the dealer, and you make that offer, then he will not go any lower, even if he is getting really a 10% profit thanks to that car, he knows you are willing to pay that, so why would he offer a better price?. Better ask for prices, compare them, and then try to get it the lowest the possible, when the dealer doesn't want to go any lower, if you like the price, take it.
Different dealers in the same city can get different profits in the same car thanks to this programs, and even 2 different salespersons in the same dealer can have a different bonus, so though the sales manager will tell them the lowest they can get, maybe your salersman knows he will get more bonuses with just your car, and can push his sales manager, or give you some add-ons for free. You can not deal with 2 salesmen in the same dealer, but at least can check at different dealers and see what they can offer.

#1886 of 3539 Re: Help! '09 Subaru Buying Experiences! [victor_pv] by pgb0517

May 11, 2008 (1:56 pm)

Replying to: victor_pv (May 11, 2008 11:33 am)
Excellent points, victor_pv. I didn't mean that he should automatically offer 4% over dealer cost (not invoice, btw) and make the sales rep prematurely happy. What I tried to convey was that roughly 4% over dealer cost (or as close as we can get to what that figure is) is closer to a fair price than the quote he got. No doubt lots of buyers would consider even that highway robbery, so certainly, get as many bids as there are dealers in your area and offer as low as you feel comfortable with, and as low as your desire to haggle will let you begin. If the dealer won't even hit cost plus 4%, I'd try real hard to find another dealer. If you can get it for less, great!

#1887 of 3539 Re: Help! '09 Subaru Buying Experiences! [victor_pv] by phdhusky

May 11, 2008 (8:14 pm)

Replying to: victor_pv (May 11, 2008 11:33 am)
When I bought my car the reason we were able to negotiate the best deal was because I did my homework and had all the dealers wanting my business. Once you get your internet price you can always work down from it, as we did. Also try asking to speak directly to the manager as when we ask for the manager he quickly responded to our counter offer without having to go back and look at prices again. And yes he told us about the program where if he sold a certain amount of cars he would make an extra 100 on each car, etc. If you push them enough they tell your more info but they still make money from financing, service and such. You just have to be patient and know what you want.

#1888 of 3539 Re: Help! '09 Subaru Buying Experiences! [pgb0517] by sgloon

May 11, 2008 (8:27 pm)

Replying to: pgb0517 (May 11, 2008 1:56 pm)
Have you figured out how to find out what dealer cost (not invoice) actually is?

#1889 of 3539 Re: Help! '09 Subaru Buying Experiences! [sgloon] by pgb0517

May 11, 2008 (9:26 pm)

Replying to: sgloon (May 11, 2008 8:27 pm)
Sgloon, there is the known information and the unknown. For the known information, use a service such as Consumer Reports' car pricing kit, which doesn't cost much -- check out their Web site. That will tell you the invoice, holdback and any other available incentives or adjustments to dealer cost. The unknown factors, as victor_pv pointed out, are highly variable from dealer to dealer and among manufacturers. Check the recent posts for discussions on that aspect of the horse trade.

#1890 of 3539 Input Re: Lease & Price Quote For 09 LL Bean Model by jverrico

May 12, 2008 (4:26 pm)

I've settled on the '09 LL Bean model as the one that fits what my wife and I are looking for - I've test driven and researched about a dozen cars and small SUV's and the Forester is the right mix of all the must have items for upstate NY - awd, great safety rating, decent mpg, heated seats, room for kids/cargo, etc.
 
However, I am not sure our local dealer is giving us good price quotes - I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts. Here's what we're being offered:
 
LLBean with some basic options like all weather floor mats, aero cross bars, side molding, and a few other minor extras, purchase price $26,306. Lease quote is 42 months (?) and 15,000 miles w/$0 down, $439 month. Purchase quotes are 48 mos/$669 month and 63 months (another ?) for $529 month.
 
Any thoughts on the lease quote. The residual is $14,500 (don't have exact #) and I have not been told the money factor but it has to be around 7.2% rate.
 
Thanks for any input, help, etc. I want to buy the car, but am not sure about those rates & prices.

#1891 of 3539 Re: Input Re: Lease & Price Quote For 09 LL Bean Model [jverrico] by snowbelter

May 12, 2008 (5:36 pm)

Replying to: jverrico (May 12, 2008 4:26 pm)
Take a look at the prices, online, at Vanbortelsubaru, near Rochester. If you're not too far away, your dealer ought to match their prices. Your quote may be a little high depending on whether you are including shipping and what those few "minor extras" add up to. Can't help you with lease numbers.

#1892 of 3539 Re: Help! '09 Subaru Buying Experiences! [pgb0517] by sgloon

May 12, 2008 (10:18 pm)

Replying to: pgb0517 (May 11, 2008 9:26 pm)
Yep! It is those unknowns which make it harder to deal. I have this gut feeling that there is really a lot more room to play with than we know. Definitely more than I know! I've worked in manufacturing in the past and it amazes me how much markup there is compared to actual production costs.

#1893 of 3539 Re: Input Re: Lease & Price Quote For 09 LL Bean Model [jverrico] by slaterac

May 13, 2008 (7:50 am)

Replying to: jverrico (May 12, 2008 4:26 pm)
Hello All,
 
I just wanted to give you the latest information and see what you thought about this. The dealer that I might go see tonight, otherwise this weekend, is offering 1% over invoice, a good trade in value as long as the car is in fair condition (which it is), and a $250 gas card as well as a good finance rate for qualified buyers, I'm hoping we fit that because I don't know what exactly that means.
 
What do you all think? I can get the Limited edition (that was the LL Bean before the name change) for under $26,000 and I've told him that if he gives me what we want for the trade in then we will get the Limited edition.
 
Thanks for all your comments. I'll check back in a little bit as I have a meeting to attend.

Messages Page 190 of 355

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