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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 73 of 355

#713 of 3539 Concerned: I just agreed to buy a 2004 by genga

Jun 11, 2005 (10:47 pm)

Help! did I act too fast? I am not good at negotiating. I did my research and checked other dealers but I should have read all this before I went into local dealer for second time today. I was most concerned about the safety features and a few creature comforts. I signed on line to buy 2004 Forester XS Premium with leather in silver/gray. It has 21,000 miles on it is very clean and dealer with "certify" it, ie bring it up to standard, I asked about rotars and brakes and will check those are in good shape. Asking price was $22,200. I took it for test drive loved it! This is my first Subaru. I had checked Edmunds and Blue Book which give this much higher cost, also Intellichoice says price over $23K. According to dealer this has all the features I wanted except for power seats. Dealer quoted similar 2005 as over $25K. He offered this 2004 at $20,700 and I accepted. Any opinions if I should try to get better deal and opt for 2005 at end of June maybe near same price? I think law says I have three days to change my mind. Thought I would trade this 2004 Forester in two years for a 2006, but with NY tax at over $1600 I am thinking now better to just pay for newest model and keep for five years. Appreciate any feedback. Genga

#714 of 3539 Advice by mike75

Jun 12, 2005 (12:44 pm)

Hi all,
 
First time buyer and first time poster. I'm looking at buying either a 2005 or 2006 Forester. The '05 seems like a fantastic deal at Invoice - $1500 rebate. I was wondering if you guys think the '06 is worth the extra cost (no rebate)? Also, do you think we will be able to get the '06 at invoice? Is the '05 only at invoice because it's being phased out? Thanks!

#715 of 3539 Re: Concerned: I just agreed to buy a 2004 [genga] by p0926

Jun 12, 2005 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: genga (Jun 11, 2005 10:47 pm)
Genga- Stop second-guessing yourself! Sure, few people want to readily part with $20k and everyone wants to feel like they got the best deal possible but it sounds like you did everything right. I.e. you checked several reliable sources and then negotiated a price substantially less than the book value.
 
There a two truisms of car ownership and they are a: the moment you drive almost any vehicle off the lot it depreciates substantially and b: next year's model will always be nicer and better equipped. So you can either continue to drive a heap or hitchhike while always waiting for the perfect car and deal or you can find a car that will meet your needs and ideally make you happy and be satisfied that you got it for a good price
 
-Frank

#716 of 3539 Re: Advice [mike75] by p0926

Jun 12, 2005 (6:16 pm)

Replying to: mike75 (Jun 12, 2005 12:44 pm)
New model year Foresters usually start out at several hundred over invoice with the first rebates appearing about halfway into the model year. If it wasn't for the rebate, I'd say get an 06 since the few extra hundred you'd pay will be offset by the slower depreciation. IMO Subaru only made modest changes for 06 but the decision is yours on whether those changes are worth $1500.
 
-Frank

#717 of 3539 Re: Supply and Demand [204meca] by p0926

Jun 12, 2005 (6:24 pm)

Replying to: 204meca (Jun 09, 2005 1:35 pm)
Subie must have found a way to lower costs, or were making big bucks on the early models, or are losing money on every sale (or some combination of the above). Certainly the content & quality of the product has increased.
  
How can they stay in business?
 
Intense competition is doubtlessly squeezing the profit margins for almost all car companies but I'll hazard a guess and say that after being in production for eight years, Subaru has no doubt developed efficiencies in the production and assembly processes. Also, don't forget, the longer a vehicle is in production, the lower the development costs.
 
-Frank

#718 of 3539 Re: Advice [p0926] by mike75

Jun 12, 2005 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Jun 12, 2005 6:16 pm)
Thanks for the information! I really do like the revised look and increased power of the '06 Forester, but I agree that the changes are pretty modest. I'm heading to the dealership tomorrow to see if we can hash out a deal for an '05.

#719 of 3539 2006 by ateixeira

Jun 13, 2005 (12:42 pm)

Subaru announced pricing and the 2006 is about $500 higher than the 2005 was initially, so add a $1500 rebate and you'll see prices at least $2000 higher at first. Bargain hunters should get a 2005 while there is some selection.
 
Genga: yours is pretty loaded up, I doubt you'll see a 2006 any where close to that in price. With that mileage it's barely broken in.
 
Congrats.
 
-juice

#720 of 3539 Got much better deal! by genga

Jun 16, 2005 (6:34 pm)

Frank and juice, thanks for the encouragement but as much as I did the research I had missed the great rebates on 2005s this month. My brother in law thought he had heard of low prices on 2005 Subarus and made calls and discovered that for $3000 more I could get a 2005 LL Bean. I called the original dealer Monday morning explained this and asked what their prices were explaining that I was considering buying a new car instead of the 2004. Manager was too busy said
he would call me back in half hour but never did until late day and I was out. Next morning I called and learned that their own real post-rebate price on new Forester was $24300, and not the 27,000 he had originally quoted me.
 I had been getting quotes as low as $23,100 on the LLBeans
from other areas. But this dealer already had my deposit and I decided that I would just take the one for $20,500. But with 21,000 miles and not certified
 I wanted my mechanic to look it over. Dealer went bonkers and accused me of not trusting them and then said they had "bent over backwards" (never a good thing to hear from a sales person or an attorney) told me they had just changed the oil! and put in a new oil filter!....Heaven forbid I trust my own loyal mechanic over this dealer I had known for less than an hour heh? Anyway they got very unpleasant, the owner's daughter got on phone and told me I HAD to make a decision. I told her I had I wanted the car to be looked over by my mechanic. She agreed to it. They had already said two things to me that should have been large red flags the day I left deposit: manager said "you are getting great deal on this 2004 we are only making $100 over what we paid for the car"...and "Don't tell anyone what you paid for it" I laughed at the time and asked why not? I was told that it was "such a good deal" they didn't want people coming in expecting to do as well. Counter intuitive to me, good deals bring customers so I knew it was a sales line but didn't realize that they make more on a used car and wanted to get rid of this 2004. I cancelled order and got money back.
 
I know I should have realized they had the bill of sale for the Brooklyn
 Bridge in their pocket for me but I was worn out. Buying a vehicle is very stressful and tiem consuming. I will be picking up a brand new 2005 LL Bean Forester tomorrow for $23,690 from dealer in Conn. I would not buy a postage stamp from the dealer of the preowned one. So for $2190 more than the 2004 XS Premium with 21K and only 16 months left on warranty, I have brand new LLB which has more features. I didn't bargain much, probably soemone could have done a few hundred better? But I am satisfied. I will post when I have the Forester. I just have to decide, crystal grey, green or white. Thanks all, Genga

#721 of 3539 Congrats by ateixeira

Jun 17, 2005 (12:02 pm)

Sounds good to me. Those are very, very well equipped, too.
 
-juice

#722 of 3539 pricing on the X by sonyc

Jun 21, 2005 (7:27 am)

Hey all,
 I didn't know about this forum until after I bought my Forester yesterday!
In any event, I paid 18995 + fluff stuff for a 2005 X Auto with no extra options. (NJ)
Being a first time Subaru owner, I am not sure if this is a good price - I just hope it lives up to its rave reviews.
 
Regards,
Sony.

Messages Page 73 of 355

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