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2009 Subaru Forester

3747 messages,  Last post on Oct 15, 2012 at 3:22 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Future Vehicle, Wagon

Messages Page 169 of 376

#1673 of 3747 09 Forester build quality by ncc4

Jun 15, 2008 (8:13 pm)

I was at my local Subaru dealer having some servicing done on my Outback so I had an hour to wait in the showroom. They still had a new 2008 Forester as well as a new 2009 Forester on display. I wanted a better look at the tires on the 2009 model and leaned on the fender, above the front tire, to get a better look and it almost dented it was so easy to push in. I then tried the same motion on the 2008 model and the sheet metal is much more sturdy.
Yes the 2009 has more room etc., but is it as well built for the long haul?
 
Buyer beware!

#1674 of 3747 Re: 1st Impressions [ateixeira] by red927

Jun 16, 2008 (8:37 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 15, 2008 7:35 am)
Congratulations!
 
I am still waiting for mine. I ordered it on 4/19 from dealer I have dealt with since 1992. He told me that they had a black on order and he would find out who in the area had a dark grey one coming in and then arrange for a swap. On 5/30 he called and told me that the other dealer had gotten the paperwork on my car and as soon as my guy gets the paperwork on his and they are delivered, the swap will be made. It is now 6/16 and neither dealer has received a car. He says that there is some sort of delay in delivery and no one knows exactly when the delivery will happen.
 
Has anybody else heard of this problem with deliveries? The dealer also said that they have quite a few customer orders and they are having difficulty filling them. It appears that Subaru did not anticipate the tremendous demand for the cars and is now struggling to get them built and shipped. Even those that were promised for June are now being pushed back to July and possibly August.
 
In the meantime, the lease on my present vehicle has ended and I had to return it. I asked if they could give me a loaner to use and they said OK. I am now driving a 1998 Outback Limited with 237,000 miles! Surprisingly, it runs fine.

#1675 of 3747 Re: Room to negotiate if you have to Order [sylviecat] by bigfrank3

Jun 16, 2008 (9:46 am)

Replying to: sylviecat (Jun 13, 2008 1:00 pm)
Some things to keep in mind -
 
Every dealer wants to increase their volume of sales. In addition to the profit on an individual vehicle they can get bonus money for achieving sales benchmarks. In addition, their future allocation of vehicles is also based on their volume.
 
Dealers have to pay for cars that sit on their lots, usually through loans with finance charges for them. This is called "floor planning". The longer a vehicle sits on the lot the more it costs them. They always want to sell what they have for that reason.
 
Even if they swap with another dealer, that can also cost them extra. If they are trying to swap a vehicle that is not as popular a model or color they may be "charged" a small premium by the other dealer. This is usually in the $100 to $300 range. This cost gets passed on to you. Sometimes it is an even swap, sometimes not. The "hold back" money also goes to the dealer listed on the window sticker, not necessarily the selling dealer.
 
Sometimes at the end of the model year the dealer gets incentive money to clear out the "old" stuff, so this can help you get a deal, but not at the beginning of a model year, for the current model.
 
Despite their motivation to sell what they have, the absolute cheapest vehicle they can sell you is one they don't have yet. If you buy a vehicle that is either just coming in or ordered they pay no extra via the floor planning, and they get the hold back.
 
So the best deal available should be on an ordered or arriving vehicle because they own it for less. If you notice in this thread, most of the best deals have been on ordered vehicles. This is a win for them because they sell a car, they haven't had to pay financing for it to "store" it, they get the hold back, and it pumps up their sold volume.

#1676 of 3747 Re: 09 Forester build quality [ncc4] by phdhusky

Jun 16, 2008 (10:55 am)

Replying to: ncc4 (Jun 15, 2008 8:13 pm)
How much do you weigh? I don't think there is any concern about the quality in this new forester.
 
Next time squat.

#1677 of 3747 Re: Congrats [irollit] by p0926

Jun 16, 2008 (11:24 am)

Replying to: irollit (Jun 15, 2008 6:29 pm)
I'm pretty sure that VON = Vehicle Order Number. The dealer should provide you this so you can track your new Forester's progress all the way from the factory to your dealer.
 
Having a VON also proves that the dealer really has ordered your Forester and isn't just waiting and hoping one shows up in the next allotment.
 
-Frank

#1678 of 3747 Re: 1st Impressions [red927] by p0926

Jun 16, 2008 (11:45 am)

Replying to: red927 (Jun 16, 2008 8:37 am)
I ordered it on 4/19 from dealer I have dealt with since 1992. He told me that they had a black on order and he would find out who in the area had a dark grey one coming in and then arrange for a swap.
 
There's the problem, your dealer didn't really "order" your Forester on 4/19. I'm sure they had good intentions regarding the dealer swap and were trying to get you into a new Forester as soon as possible. However as you've now discovered, the downside is that these behind-the-scenes trades don't always go as planned. Had the dealer gone ahead and placed a factory order back in April, you'd probably have your new Forester now.
 
Some dealerships are reluctant to do factory orders and I don't know why. There's really not that much paperwork involved and as Big Frank pointed out, they get a sale without worrying about any floor-planning fees.
 
-Frank

#1679 of 3747 Re: Room to negotiate if you have to Order [bigfrank3] by sylviecat

Jun 16, 2008 (11:51 am)

Replying to: bigfrank3 (Jun 16, 2008 9:46 am)
Thank you Big Frank; that's some very helpful info! Really explains the whys and wherefores. I'll be sure to use it; can't wait.
 
Sylviecat

#1680 of 3747 Re: 1st Impressions [ateixeira] by jbkennedy

Jun 16, 2008 (12:43 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 15, 2008 7:35 am)
Congratulations on your new Forester!
 
As to the low seat postion, all 3 people who have sat in the passenger seat of my Forester have all complained about seat height and ask me, "Where is the height adjustment?".
 
Has anyone asked their dealer if anything can be done about permanently raising the seat height? I will call my salesman to see if anything can be done.
 
Other than that, I am extremely happy with my purchase.

#1681 of 3747 Full size spare by bbthomas

Jun 16, 2008 (6:35 pm)

Just curious, has anyone tried (or measured) to see if a full size spare will fit in the storage well?
 
Thx
BBT

#1682 of 3747 Re: Questions about 2009 Forester [johnc19] by redherring1

Jun 17, 2008 (6:46 am)

Replying to: johnc19 (Jun 13, 2008 6:48 pm)
Can you elaborate on what's better/different about Subaru's 4WD system compared to Honda's
 
phdhusky gives a good summary above, and as the previous owner of two CRV's I can tell you the practical downside to the part time 4WD. Even though the power transfer to the rear wheels happens very quickly when slippage is detected, there's still a slight delay and this can be bad in snow, particularly during a turn. Think about the physics of it--you're partway through a turn, front wheels pulling and starting to slide when the rear wheels kick in. Is this going to help you turn? No--it's going to push you forward, straight ahead, and in my wife's case, right into a curb with the front wheels turned so you screw up the front suspension to the tune of about $900.
 
I got used to it after a while and got so I could plan for the delay, but it was never a comfortable feeling.

Messages Page 169 of 376

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