Subaru Baja

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Comments

  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    Painting plastic is always a problem. Local Red Spot paint plant did the paint for Ford to do the Taurus with. Think that was their first plastic paint job on one of their cars. Our chem teacher where I teach used to work for them and invent paints designed to stick on things paint should not. Anyway what I am saying is that convetional auto paint would be very risky on cladding.
    TWRX
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Prolly another case of conservative SoA Lawyers in the US vs. Canada. I bet SoC just took the GVWR and subtracted the curb weight, that's the real useable payload.

    That's the one, Dave. Cover your windows or he'll paint right over them! LOL

    Shoot, I'd like to see if you could REMOVE the paint and have cladding like the Forester X, which is like teflon. There you go, get it teflon coated. :-)

    -juice
  • ruba410ruba410 Member Posts: 4
    I can recall seeing on a web site an all yellow BAJA, that was painted. I am now getting the impression that the paint on the clading may not be permanent.
    If the Ford Taurus's plastic parts were painted then it is possible.
    Unless you are painting the BAJA an entirely new color, there is no need to paint the upper half of the (car?)
    Is it possible, Local Red Spot paint plant can come-up with a formula for painting clading.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They'll paint it, the question is how durable will it be?

    Repaints are always risky. On my Escort, I had damage on the passenger side and had to repaint it, a couple of years later the clear coat flaked off.

    Now my Miata, which had the rear 1/4 panel repainted, is peeling down by the door jamb. Ugh. I'm not sure the surface was properly prepped.

    Body shops can't "cure" the paint the way the factory does. It can take 6-8 weeks for the paint to fully cure, until then you should not even wax it. I followed this advice and still had problems both times. :-(

    -juice
  • ruba410ruba410 Member Posts: 4
    I did a quick check on your suggestion for teflon paint,don't know if it is available in colors but it does have many great qualities.
    "Du Pent Teflon filled Polyurethane Paint"
    Its even used on aircraft.
    Seems like............Where there is a will, there may be a way.
  • fastfoordfastfoord Member Posts: 9
    You only get what you pay for...& that means both materials & skills. New cars require the correct paints & flex agents in the paint if being applied to a flexible surface. Proper training to apply those paints.

    If were talking older cars, you can get away with outdated paints, skills & technology.

    Do your homework before taking your car to any paintshop.

    fastfoord
    (not a painter, not an expert, but my wife has crashed enough cars, my buddy is a painter/restorer, I have restored cars with my dad since before I was old enough to drive)
  • purduealum91purduealum91 Member Posts: 285
    Inquiring minds want to know.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Not sure if anyone saw this or not:

    http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/0308_baja/?

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They've gotta put the 5 speed in there, it's so much better IMO.

    -juice
  • gvmelbrtygvmelbrty Member Posts: 64
    The way the reviewer worded it, it almost sounds like he test-drove a Baja turbo with a 5sp manual. As far as I knew, the initial intro of Baja turbos are coming with automatics only, correct?:

    "The standard five-speed manual transmission is the best way to take advantage of the turbo's punch; the four-speed automatic is the Boost [non-permissible content removed]: "Need one more gear! No boost for you!"

    -tom
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I bet he just made a lot of assumptions. Generally speaking 4 cylinders are much happier when mated to manual trannies.

    -juice
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Two dealers in the Portland area are offering great ad deals this weekend on Bajas. The Portland dealer has one at $7000 off MSRP and the Beaverton dealer has one at $8020 off MSRP.

    It's almost worth paying cash for one of these and selling our Outback. We'd only have to shell out a couple thousand more for a brand new car... I mean pickup...no...I mean crossover ;-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Used car prices are depressed. You'd have to take a depreciation hit if you sold.

    If you're already in the market, it's a bargain. But to sell just get in the new car market? I doubt you'll come out ahead financially.

    -juice
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Wouldn't come out ahead, but I know about what our Outback would go for and we'd have a brand new vehicle for a heck of a lot less than almost any other Subaru. For example, if we bought another Limited we could get one for about $23,500 right now... that's another $6500 bucks.

    I'm not really serious, but if you are in the market it's a heck of a deal.
  • baja7baja7 Member Posts: 14
    Haven't seen their ad lately, but driving by saw one yellow on the lot a few days ago. Call them @ 1-858-278-7100. I am just now starting to see a few of them on the road, like four.

    LOL
    Bill
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think it would make a good 3rd vehicle, if you can afford to own and insure 3. I love having an extra car, and you'd be surprised how often we use all of them.

    -juice
  • baja7baja7 Member Posts: 14
    FYI:Just saw Balboa's Baja ad in local San Diego paper: all Baja's in stock $17,999 after $2K factory incentive. I think this is with any optional equipment the cars may have been order with.

    LOL
    Bill
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Unless SOA has increased the GVW, the Baja turbo will have a lower payload than the current non-turbo model. If the turbo adds 100 pounds to the curb weight, you can subtract that from the current payload.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I don't think it will - I think Subaru leaves a bit of "gravy" there. Meaning:

    curb weight + payload < GVWR.

    So my guess is payload remains unchanged. Bet ya lunch on it? :-)

    -juice
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    Spotted a Black Baja Turbo this afternoon off route 422W outside of King of Prussia, PA. It was on the side of the off ramp sitting with the driver's door open.

    I guess that means they must be at dealers now.

    DaveM
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That may be a demonstrator, still. You're close to SoA HQ.

    -juice
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    Maybe it was Patti? :-)

    DaveM
  • thebigkahunathebigkahuna Member Posts: 83
    I am seriously looking into buying a Baja and if I could find the above prices (Balboa and Beaverton) it would be a done deal. My initial inquiries (around february) were met with alot of resistance to lowering the prices. With the slow sales I am hoping for some renewed interest in them moving one. I have sent 5 e-mails to all of the dealers in my area for quotes. Beyond that, is there any advice anyone can give me on how to get them to meet Balboa's or Beaverton's prices? thanks,
    Kahuna
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Have you considered a road trip? Negotiate the deal over the phone, fly or train over, and then drive back.

    Or they could deliver it, but that might add $500 or so to the final cost.

    -juice
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    Joe Spitz http://www.cars101.com/ says he has driven the Baja turbo and it has a sport shift transmission.
    TWRX
  • thebigkahunathebigkahuna Member Posts: 83
    I have received three quotes out of a request from six dealerships. One is offering $20,420 from a MSRP of $24,811. Another has quoted $20,498 from a MSRP of $23,998. The last dealership only promised to beat any offer I have received and promised to do "whatever it takes". Not quite what I was hoping for. Any thoughts on these prices?
  • purduealum91purduealum91 Member Posts: 285
    If I were serious about the Baja, I would definitely fly into San Diego and Oregon and take one off the lot for $18k. If those dealers can do it, others can as well.

    Tom
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The current dealer incentive is $2000, so I would aim for no more than $2000 under the invoice price of whatever model you shop.

    The Sports may have a smaller incentive, though. I'm not sure how those dealers can do it. Even the holdback is just $400 or so, that's not much they can dip into.

    Maybe those dealers are selling them at a loss to be the #1 dealer in that region? Maybe Subaru gives them some incentive if they do that?

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I saw 3 today at two different dealers. They're all late '03 models. One dealer told me the '04s have been delayed a couple of months. Must be having trouble clearing inventories of '03 models.

    The MBP Bajas look great in person, BTW.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yep, my salesman told me they would not get the 2004s until all the 2003s were sold. At least the dealer had them up front, to try to get some attention.

    -juice
  • purduealum91purduealum91 Member Posts: 285
    blow the 2003s out the door for $18k!
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    why are things so mum about this vehicle? I thought they were due out in September. Anyone see any real "reviews" or previews?

    John
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Autoweek wrote a short note about it, but within a review of the turbo Forester XT.

    Note that it's heavier and the gearing is more relaxed, plus it's auto only, so it won't quite delivery the knock-out punch that the XT manual does.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    5-speeds will follow later. I've heard the '04 Baja's release has been pushed back a couple of months. There's a lot of '03 Baja inventory to clear out first.

    Bob
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Absolutely miserable heat and humidity today... I hope someone is bringing lots of ice to the chat tonight!

    Welcome to the Subaru Crew's Weekly Chat!

    The Subaru Crew meets every Thursday at 6PM PT/9PM ET... stop by and join us to talk Subaru or anything else automotive that might come up! Hope to see you there tonight!

    /direct/view/.eea5f48

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  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    I am rolling around in my mind the idea of trading my '03 Forester in for a Baja Turbo. I love the Forester, but I have a farm and various things to haul that don't lend themselves to being in the interior of the vehicle. I am also waiting until the Baja gets rid of its "garrish" high school colors and becomes more presentable. My wife loves yellow, just not in a car lol.

    John
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Check out the new Blue ones. 2004s look even better, slightly lifted and all.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    That's for '04 models.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's what I meant, the 2004s (black/dark gray) look ever better than the blue 2003s.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    is a '04 Baja turbo/LL Bean exclusive I think.

    Bob
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    said they weren't getting any baja turbos until the spring, and it would be an '05 model. Anyone hear similar?

    John
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Fitz now has a 5 speed, yellow, for just $18,680. Considering that includes freight and a bed extender, not bad! $49 processing fee and that's it.

    -juice
  • kimgurookimguroo Member Posts: 6
    I am really interested in baja sport (automatic) and I can't find any dealer quote below invoice price in my area. Every dealer try to sell $20200-20500 and 2.9% financing for 60 months. I want to buy below $19400 and 2.9% financing.
    one dealer said next month financing rate could be higher. What's going to happen after sep.2? $2000 incentive and financing offer will be over?
    Should I wait for price drop?
    How much did you pay for Baja recently?
  • thebigkahunathebigkahuna Member Posts: 83
    Shoot, I'd buy any Baja for that price ateixeira...except a yellow one. I like yellow on some cars, just not the Baja with that silver cladding. Kimguroo, good luck finding a dealer willing to sell one at that price. I just ended an exhausting search of every dealer in the Philly to Washington DC area for a sub 20,000 price to no avail. Most, in fact, where very insulted by my insistence that dealers in the west (see posts a few pages back) were selling them cheaper and I wanted a similar deal. I have nothing against dealers making a profit, in fact, I'm not upset with them at all. They do have to make a living. I'm just in love with a car that is slightly out of my comfort range. I do have a feeling that some dealerships will have to sell them cheaper in order to clear out the 03's at some point. Maybe the fall/early winter when the turbos start to arrive?
  • thebigkahunathebigkahuna Member Posts: 83
    Whoa, I just checked Fitz and they have deals on the new mystic blue Baja Sports as well as a silver and black sport. Delivered internet price on all of the above is 19,402. I may be able to get a Baja after all. :)
  • bstanleybstanley Member Posts: 2
    Where is Fitz? Sorry, I'm new :)

    I am considering between a MB Pearl and a Turbo.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They have locations in Rockville and Gaithersburg, MD, and in Florida.

    If you'd like, e-mail me and I'll provide a reference to my salesman. I'll split the reference fee w/you. Prices are no-haggle and don't change anyway.

    -juice
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    My local dealer has a color chart for all Subarus including the Baja. Guess what? They already have a chart for the Baja! There is the monochromatic mystic blue, black with the dark gray, darker silver and lighter silver and I think that the red/silver from 2003 was retained. No other Baja information on the chart.

    TWRX
  • kimgurookimguroo Member Posts: 6
    I think fitz offer the good price on the baja.
    Do you think I can still negotiate price at fitz?
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