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Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Subaru Forester Prices Paid and Buying Experience
2758 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 3:07 PM
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After 3 weeks reading Edmunds Forester posts (and others) way too many hours, waiting for information on the 06 Forester, watching the market in a 100 mile radius (for a similarly equipped used or discounted 05 model), and some hard nosed negotiations I drove home an 03 XS this afternoon. It has 23K miles, 5 spd, premium sound system, auto-dim mirror, rear bumper cover, chrome tail pipe extension, and factory tow package. It is well detailed & looks showroom new. The dealer (Skagit Subaru) was asking $21,000 (way too much since a new XS with rebate in that range or less -- but new XS with 5 suds are almost non-existent in the Seattle area). They had advertised the 03 one weekend as a special  $17,999. Several on the Forester forum thought that was a little high. However, the NADA average retail price for this model in our area was $19,350 & Edmunds TMV was $19,007. Still I thought I would try for a better deal. I waited until the afternoon of the last day of the month. My 1st offer was $17,000, offering cash & reminding them that the car had been on the lot 3 months. Never even got a counter offer!  A week later I again offered $17K, got another "No thanks". So I upped the ante to $17,303 (all over the phone). Then I got turned over to the "sales manager". When I reminded him that it was advertised for $17,999 & I thought they could do better since it had not sold in the 3 weeks since the add, He said they could not sell it for the previously advertised price ("it was expired!") and that I could have it for $18,500. After 2 minutes of painful phone silence I caved  and said "I surely am not going to pay more than the advertised price, but I will pay the previously advertised price". I have never encountered such inflexibility on a price before -- must have had the "NO SWEAT, THIS GUY WANTS THIS CAR" look! The negotiations were always cordial, good natured, just inflexible! For me the search and negotiations are always a rush. Signing on the dotted line always gives me heartburn because I wonder, should I have waited longer, looked harder, gone for the new model..? All that said, I got it for more than a thou less than the average price in our area & believe I got a good price and great car.  Lord willing it will tow my boat fine & last many a mile.
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Look at the big picture, you got the car you wanted, and at least they didn't drive the price up. -juice |
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Replying to: subearu (Jun 07, 2005 3:12 pm) Mine looks like a 6X9. Thanks, Jdhuck
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Replying to: 204meca (Jun 07, 2005 7:11 pm) I do use aggressive phone negotiations initially, but nothing beats getting into the showroom. After I pick out the car I want, I select a different car(that I really don't want) and tell them that this is the one I am considering. While the salesperson is talking with his or her manager, I get up and take a walk around the parking lot. This gives you a bit more control and there is no running back and forth with the salesperson and manager. Make the sales person find you. Leave something in the office so they know you haven't left. After all this is a game. I look at the numbers decrease everything by 8-10% and send the salesperson back to the manager. I get up again, and find someone with a telephone book. I call the nearest dealership to me besides the one I am at and tell them I am getting ready to buy a car and can they beat the deal. I usually like to do this at the receptionists desk so she can hear the whole thing. Usually they will say they can beat the price. I make the salesperson come and find me and I do not go back to their office... Yet. I ask about the numbers and try to talk in front of other customers, this may make the salesperson a bit nervous, to say the least it takes him or her out of their element. After I get what I think the best deal is on this car, I tell them I need a drink and ask them for some water. While they go get the water, I go out again to the car I really want and I ask another salesperson for a test drive. I tell them, I am working with XXXXX but I just saw this car and I think it is comparable. 9 times out of 10, the first salesperson comes outside and wants to know why I am not willing to commit to the other car. All I say is that I really want to drive this one instead. The whole test drive I talk about how much I like the other car and how nice it is. When I get back I ask them to run the comparison numbers. Usually they will not compare car to car on the same sheet of paper. Really ask for this. If you can get them to do this, I consider this a victory. From here on out I know that I have the ability to manipulate them. I did this last weekend for my wife to get a new car and I got her a non-Subaru (She just doesn't understand) for the Invoice price plus rebate. The downside is that this can take 4-5 hours. I figured that I saved about $3000 on her car. This doesn't always work. I have been asked to leave the dealership before. I usually go to the other dealership I called from the first one and try it there. I call this the "wear them down, be indecisive and manipulative" technique or WDIM for short. I hope someone can benefit from my technique. Jdhuck
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Replying to: jdhuck (Jun 08, 2005 7:35 am) Actually I could not blame them -- I proably would have said something similar if I had been in their shoes. There does come a time when bargining came become petty & abusive & it is time to buy or leave, dealers can only give so much. It is not my goal to make enemies. I bought the car! I thought it was a great car & fantastic value, but later gave it to my son for a wedding present. 
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Replying to: jdhuck (Jun 08, 2005 7:13 am) -Brian |
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I was hoping with the facelifted Forester on the way soon that they'd be blowing out existing Foresters. But they haven't gotten any cheaper than last month and are actually $250 more than April when a 2.5X had a $1750 rebate. So has anyone done better than invoice minus rebate? |
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Replying to: bluewolf (Jun 08, 2005 7:25 pm) If you are picky about color or equipment beware that the inventory is getting getting thin. This is especially true of the better equipped ones. There are very few XS still availble within 100 miles of Seattle, a few more XTs, and a fair number of X models. |
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Replying to: bluewolf (Jun 08, 2005 7:25 pm) The dealership had a new 2004 that was $500 more than the 2005 I bought. I almost bought the new 2004, but buying a car that has only been sitting for 1-2 years scared me. XT Auto for $21,000 + tax, tag and title. Then I added leather to it. This was five weeks ago. Jdhuck |
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I think April was such a huge month for them that supplies dwindled a bit, that's why the rebate is slightly less. Prices are still lower than they were in 1998, when the Forester came out! -juice
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