Yep I did it. Just bought a 2001 Legacy L up here in the Northwest (Seattle) for $100 over invoice. I was considering Maxima (my last 2 cars were 280Z and Taurus SHO), then I looked at Sienna and LeSabre. I liked Maxima but the center console was too big and I could not get in a comfortable driving position. If Nissan would fix that and fuel cut problem I would probably have the Maxima - I like fast cars. Sienna OK but too big and pricey. LeSabre no fold down rear seats and not as reliable as Subaru.
So how did I end up with Subaru ? A friend mentioned it and I came to the discussion groups here on Edmunds and saw how much owners liked it. Okay, not a sporty engine (well at least when compared to my past 2 cars) but not too bad. Good low end torque and passing with A/T shifted to 4th gear acceptable on highway. AWD. Reliability (FORD can you spell that word ?) and lots of space to put my stuff...
I have some pretty good bad dealer stories which some day I need to put in a paperback . At one I actually knew more about the car, options and pricing than the Sales Manager. Believe it or not he walked away from me when he found I would not fall with the dealer prep nonsense. I love Internet buying because I had dealer's competing with each other rather than trying to stick me with Dealer Prep, etc. I spent 3 solid weeks researching and reading many car sites including Edmunds and FWIW I recommend 2 Internet sites highly for buyers: Edmunds (of course) and www.carbuyingtips.com - I used CarsDirect, AutoVantage, AutoWeb, and InvoiceDealers.
Any case this is a rant but I just want to thank all of the Subaru participants helping make a choice that makes me comfortable that I have a long pleasurable ownership ahead of me! Now I actually hope it snows up here this Winter .
Wow, what a diverse set of vehicles you tested? A Sienna, a Buick, and a Subaru? Who would've thunk it?
You're mentioning the dealer prep reminds me of something. I spent the whole day Friday under my Forester installing a hitch and the rear skid plate, and I noticed the undercoating in specific areas that Subaru applies at the factory. Only where it's needed, and very neatly I might add.
So, next time a dealer asks if you want undercoating, tell him IT'S ALREADY THERE!
Ray, Congrats on the new Soobie! I live in Seattle too. I bought at Melody's Nissan/Subaru (use to be Kirkland Nissan/Subaru back in Feb) in Feb of this year. Bought a OB Ltd wagon w/auto. I didn't get as good as deal as you but it was Feb in the NW and there literally was a shortage of OB Ltd's to be had. They dealt with me fairly (a couple of minor attempts at foolery but I clipped them in the bud).I originally wasn't considering Subaru either but once I saw the 2000 models, I was hooked. All the issues of reliability and AWD were the major factors for me too. Anyhow, have you noticed how many Soobies there are in the Seattle area (let alone the NW)? I literally see my car coming and going (black in color). The first week I had it I saw one just like mine, bought from the same dealer. It was freaky because it was driving past me, my heart stopped (could it really be stolen!?). Later in the week I saw it parked, looked in and saw a stick shift...whew! Enjoy your new ride and let us know your experiences going forward.
We've just moved back to the U.S. after a year in South Am. and we're in the market for a new car. Hubbie favors an Accord and I'm trying to sell him on an Outback Sedan. Anybody out there have good things (or bad) to say about them. It will be his car since I already have a Forester. Thanks for the comments.
The Subaru has several advantages, including AWD (vs. FWD), rear limited slip diffy (vs. open front diffy), 4 wheel disc brakes, 4 channel ABS (vs. 3 for Honda), more ground clearance, moonroof, 5/60 powertrain warranty (vs. 3/36), 16" alloys, and heated seats.
It also comes pretty much loaded, with leather, fog lights, keyless, CD player, A/C, power everything, etc.
Both are reliable, though the Accord may have a slight edge. Consumer Reports recommends both.
As for safety, both are good but the Subaru has the overall edge. Here's a summary of several safety scores. The Subaru has seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters, plus side air bags.
But here's the clincher: the Subaru has character.
The Honda offers more power in the V6, but it only comes as an automatic and does not offer AWD. Plus, it's relatively boring.
Tell him to leave the vanilla ice cream for his aunt, and to try some rocky road
-juice
PS Don't overlook the value-priced Legacy L sedan, and the GT and GT Limited sedans are great if he drives hard.
My husband was not very happy with his Accord EX'97 so far. He finds it comfortable but boring and underpowered (he got V4; maybe V6 is better). The reliability was OK, but some problems pop up from time to time -- not exactly the level of quality we expected from our first Honda. Some of our guests also noticed that they get nauseated when riding in the back seat for a while...
I myself am annoyed with how many the same exactly Accords are on the roads.
If your husband is looking for driving fun, then Impreza seems to be the best choice. If he needs versatility and cargo space, Outback wagon is very good. I personally like Forester S Premium.
I recently purchased a '00 OB wagon from Dexter's in Halifax, Nova Scotia and due in large part to the info I got from the posts here, I managed to get an amazing deal. My one piece of advice for all those who would rather scratch and claw for every nickel off their new car price, do not sacrifice personal service for any price. As I did my research, I knew that I could have paid a couple of hundred $$$ less somewhere else, but based on the service up to that point, I felt a certain loyalty to the salesman who lent me his own vehicle not once but twice, for an entire weekend. When we picked up the car (on a Saturday no less), it was spotlessly clean (gleaming), first in line in the tight parking lot, fully gassed along with many other nice amenities that don't show up in the bottom line. My salesman is now with the service department, and I have a certain peace of mind knowing that I will be dealing with him for the next few years.
Now, to get to my point. The Canadian models come with few options, and this includes the audio system. The '00 OB wagon that we got has a 4 speaker stereo (AM/FM Cass). There is a factory option for an in dash single or an in dash 6 player CD, however they do not come cheap. I want to put a CD player in my car, preferably a 6 pack under the passenger seat. My questions are these:
1) Can I run a CD changer directly to the stereo to take advantage of the built-in CD controller functions?
2) Or do I need to set my sights lower, and use an FM modulator type CD changer?
3) Or do I need to replace the whole enchillada with an in dash model?
I understand that most CD players i.e. Pioneer, will only directly feed into a same tuner. Who makes the Subaru audio equipment? I heard it was Clarion, but would like confirmation. Are they any good?
Since the members of this post were of great assistance in the past, I hope I can get some help this go around also.
Has anyone information on the Grey armrest extention for the 01 forester? Dealer states that the grey armrest extention are on back order. I am in the New York City area.
Suggest you Email Darlene at Qsubaru@aol.com and ask her if that's true. You quite possibly can get it faster and cheaper thru her and either install it yourself or take to dealer and have them install it. However, I believe she is on vacation this week so you'll have to wait a week for a reply.
I ordered the extension from the dealer back when I purchased the Forester, in June. As of last week, salesman said they're on a national backorder.
Question: If I buy this from QSubaru if she has it, can I cancel the order from the dealer AND have the dealer install it? Sounds like a bad sales tactic...no?
You probably don't want to create a bad relationship with the dealer, so if you've already ordered it I wouldn't cancel the order and then still go back there for the install.
Though you could always install it yourself, I imagine it's quite easy to do.
I read about the changes on the Subaru card here recently. (5% points rate down to 3%, etc.) However I have not gotten any notice from MBNA about this. So I am going on the assumption that I am still under the original deal. (And I will argue that way if necessary.)
Anyone else with the Subaru card in the same boat? By the way I have the 'gold' card, not the 'preferred' card... maybe that's the difference.
My old Toyota, an '86 Tercel 4WD wagon with 120K (basically an imitation Sube), is showing signs of needing replacement sooner rather than later. To wit, I don't think replacing the gas tank would be a great investment. And the timing belt, which I don't think has EVER been replaced, isn't going to last forever.
I was hoping to stall and wait for the 2002 Forester, but that may not be possible.
Sube Dealer told me yesterday that they still didn't know when to expect the H-6s but had heard rumor that initial alottment may be limited to one of each per dealer. If that's actually the case, don't expect prices to drop very fast.
It's expected that dealers will receive two H6 Outbacks per month until availability of the engine is increased (1,300 divided by 600+ dealers). Delivery date remains scheduled for late October-early November of this year.
Hi, I'm new to this forum, but I've been reading all the entries for a while. Last night I bought a Forester L w/auto and a few extras for invoice. I tried to get $200 under, but finally settled. The other dealer in town wanted $2,000 more, claiming "it's our only automatic." I was surprised at the disparity, but I think I did ok. Any opinions?
Based on my shopping experiences in Austin — I finally ended up buying in Waco — I'd say you did well. If you don't mind me asking, which of the dealers did you buy from? (Actually, since there are only the two rival Subaru dealerships here, you could just say the north one or the south one.) So far, I've done my scheduled maintenance at Gillman on I-35, mostly because it's closer to where I live, and also partly because Austin Subaru by Highland Mall has usually — though not always — been higher when I've called for parts quotes and such.
Thanks for the feedback, guys. Yes, the dealer I used is Gillman Subaru on south I-35. They recently relocated, so they're further south than they used to be. They seemed hungry for volume. My salesperson was Reuben M. These guys don't have PC's or e-mail; I was teasing them about that. Nevertheless, they were pretty fair and did not push "undercoating" etc.
Well, my dad finally moved here. He's unpacking the crate today.
That means we should be Outback-shopping soon. Let's see, Fitzgerald has a 2001 Wintergreen Outback Limited, CD changer, wood kit, cargo net for $25.7k or so, freight included with no fees.
Sounds good?
-juice
PS I call dibs on it. It's the only auto 2001 LTD on their lot.
I went to a local Subaru dealer with my brother this weekend. He has a new pet dog so he's thinking of trading in his Passat for an OB Ltd.
While I was there, I asked the salesman about the H-6s. According to their sources, the delivery date has been pushed out to around the Jan 01 timeframe. He also mentioned that there would be very few so expect high markups on them.
has anyone special ordered the subaru? I wonder if there is a way to know the delivery date (i mean, plus minus a week or so ) and to avoid screw ups from the dealers side? thanks
Ridermania- Factory orders take approx 6-8 weeks depending on the time of month you place your order. Also depends on whether it's a Japanese or US model. It's possible to get one in as little as 5 weeks if the order is timed right. Your dealer gets computer printouts of incoming shipments and should know the delivery date fairly accurately when it's 2 or 3 weeks out. Hope this helps.
Subaric: looks sweet! Congrats. Join us this Saturday in Gettysburg, PA. Check the Events topic for details, but we'll be mountain biking and talking shop about Subarus so you'd be right at home.
Well, my dad finally did purchase that Outback Limited. We're picking it up tonight, so I'll share the details tomorrow. That's the 3rd Soob in the family.
rider: it varies a lot. I've seen 6-12 weeks, and dealers are usually optimisitic.
Thanks for sharing the pictures of your family with us.
If your dad has similar experiences with his new Outback as I have had with my '96, he will be more than a satisfied owner! Now, let's see if you can talk him into visiting the SIA facility next spring!
Has anybody here bought a Subaru from Gillman Subaru in Huston TX..if so, how was your experience? We would also like to know more about a supposed Dealer Inventory Tax on new vehicles in Texas...we are thinking of buying a Legacy online..we live in Florida. Any help would be appreciated.
Well, for whatever it's worth, I've done most of my regularly scheduled maintenance with a Gillman Subaru branch in Austin, TX, and so far I've no complaints with them. Of course, you'd be dealing with completely different folks (just same broad corporate management, I guess) in Houston, so that's probably not too terribly useful info. Hmmmm, this Dealer Inventory Tax isn't ringing any bells with me. I don't doubt that dealerships do get taxed based on their inventories, but I do doubt they're under any legal obligation to slap it onto the sticker price and pass it directly on to you as a non-negotiable cost. But, then again, I'm not a car dealer, obviously.
I went to the dealer today, found out that 2001 Legacys are out already. The difference? An outside air temperature gauge in "L" and higher.
Anyhow, too it for a test drive (both shift and auto). The shift is difficult to shift, maybe just because I'm not used to yet. (clutch goes very far, shift isn't easy to shift). So I think I'll go with the auto.
That brings me to the part of my post that complies with the topic. How should I negotiate? Call them? And what would I say?
From the Edmund's home page, the Buyer's Guide link has some good information. I'd also read the April issue of Consumer Reports (try your local library) for some excellent tips. Calculate the invoice of the car with the options you want using Edmund's or CarPoint. Add a reasonable amount of dealer profit and use this as a starting price. Dealers will move up from the price you offer but not go below it. Dealers also get a holdback from the manufacturer; Edmund's explains it and how much it is.
If you want to avoid the negotiating hassle completely and save a boat-load of time, you can use a buying service. I paid the non-profit organization CarBargains $145 for the service and they located a GT for $87 over invoice (no documentation or other fees). CarBargains negotiates anywhere in the US. Click on my profile for details. Hmm, noticed you're in Canada, Jeff. I don't know if CarBargains negotiates outside the US, but if you contact them they might be able to suggest a non-profit in Canada offering a similar service.
Also, I ordered our Legacy GT to get exactly the options we wanted and nothing more.
how did your factory ordering process go? how long did you have to wait? any problems on the day of delivery? I have heard that sometimes cars arrive damaged or with the wrong options thanks
The factory order process, combined with ordering through CarBargains made the process quite easy, but it's tough waiting. On the other hand, because I was willing to wait, I got exactly the model I wanted (Legacy GT wagon) with a 5 speed manual (tough to find in DC), in the color I wanted (Timberline Green Pearl), and paid for only the options I wanted. You fill out an order, put down a deposit ($500 in my case -- I think $250 is more reasonable), wait, and then you get exactly the car you want. Keep in mind the SIA plant in Lafayette, IN is probably already producing MY2001 Legacys and Outbacks. Foresters and Imprezas come from Japan.
For details, click on my the link above to my profile. For your convenience, here's the link: miksmi's profile. Scroll down and you'll see a good link by Howard (fudd2be) that explains factory orders. As my profile says, my order took 11 weeks, 5 days, probably due the time of year that I ordered. Most orders I've read about take much less than that (6-8 weeks).
Ordered cars and cars allocated to the dealership are shipped the same way: by rail to a "port", then by truck to the dealer. I think cars off the lot or ordered have equal chances of getting damaged in transit (mine wasn't). It's in Subaru's and its shipping company's best interest to eliminate shipping damage (lest you get angry customers and higher insurance rates). I doubt this is a real issue or we'd have heard more of it.
The only way I know of getting a car ordered with the wrong options is if the order is filled out incorrectly. Your best bet is to get a list of the option numbers from Edmund's or CarPoint and thoroughly reviewing the order before signing it.
Mike: Firstly, thanks for your reply. There are 4 dealers in my area, so I think I'll spend the time myself. Am I "allowed" to phone them to get a price?
Jeff- Many dealers are reluctant to give their "best" price over the phone. This is due to the perception that phone inquirers aren't serious buyers. It certainly won't hurt to try but don't be surprised if their reply is the MSRP.
You will get your best deal for a lease only by first negotiating your absolute best price for a purchase. That determines the basis for the amount to be financed under a lease. Only at that point, say to the dealer that you might be interested in leasing versus purchasing. He now cannot base his lease quote on MSRP or some other higher starting point, as almost 100% of dealers usually do.
He gives detailed tips regarding buying, leaseing, extended warranties, the whole process. He also has some spreadsheets that you can download to figure out for yourself what payments should be like. Mark
Kelly is notoriously optomistic in their valuations.
If you want your best deal, don't trade your car at the dealership. You will ALWAYS come out way ahead by selling it on your own and keeping your purchase a separate transaction. This is especially true of a vehicle that is as popular as your Outback.
blane: Yes I think that you are right, but I would have to own both cars while I sell the old one. Also I would like to know what its going to cost me to get into the new one and if I buy the new one first, then I won't know exactly what it will cost me to get in the new one. Whether I buy the old one depends on how much of a loss I will be taking on the old one. I would hate to buy the new one and then find out I can only get $15000 for my old one. If I trade in at the dealer, I'll know the bottom line and whether it is acceptable to me. I guess that I could always sell my old car first and rent while I shop for the new one.
By the way, When I bought the 99 Outback, I sold my 3 year old 95 Legacy for just $3000 less than I paid for it. I figure $1000 per year to drive a new car is a pretty good deal. If I can't do something close to that, I'll just keep the old one areound.
Comments
So how did I end up with Subaru ? A friend mentioned it and I came to the discussion groups here on Edmunds and saw how much owners liked it.
Okay, not a sporty engine (well at least when compared to my past 2 cars) but not too bad. Good low end torque and passing with A/T shifted to 4th gear acceptable on highway. AWD. Reliability (FORD can you spell that word ?) and lots of space to put my stuff...
I have some pretty good bad dealer stories which some day I need to put in a paperback . At one I actually knew more about the car, options and pricing than the Sales Manager. Believe it or not he walked away from me when he found I would not fall with the dealer prep nonsense. I love Internet buying because I had dealer's competing with each other rather than trying to stick me with Dealer Prep, etc. I spent 3 solid weeks researching and reading many car sites including Edmunds and FWIW I recommend 2 Internet sites highly for buyers: Edmunds (of course) and www.carbuyingtips.com - I used CarsDirect, AutoVantage, AutoWeb, and InvoiceDealers.
Any case this is a rant but I just want to thank all of the Subaru participants helping make a choice that makes me comfortable that I have a long pleasurable ownership ahead of me! Now I actually hope it snows up here this Winter .
You're mentioning the dealer prep reminds me of something. I spent the whole day Friday under my Forester installing a hitch and the rear skid plate, and I noticed the undercoating in specific areas that Subaru applies at the factory. Only where it's needed, and very neatly I might add.
So, next time a dealer asks if you want undercoating, tell him IT'S ALREADY THERE!
-juice
Congrats on the new Soobie! I live in Seattle too. I bought at Melody's Nissan/Subaru (use to be Kirkland Nissan/Subaru back in Feb) in Feb of this year. Bought a OB Ltd wagon w/auto. I didn't get as good as deal as you but it was Feb in the NW and there literally was a shortage of OB Ltd's to be had. They dealt with me fairly (a couple of minor attempts at foolery but I clipped them in the bud).I originally wasn't considering Subaru either but once I saw the 2000 models, I was hooked. All the issues of reliability and AWD were the major factors for me too. Anyhow, have you noticed how many Soobies there are in the Seattle area (let alone the NW)? I literally see my car coming and going (black in color). The first week I had it I saw one just like mine, bought from the same dealer. It was freaky because it was driving past me, my heart stopped (could it really be stolen!?). Later in the week I saw it parked, looked in and saw a stick shift...whew! Enjoy your new ride and let us know your experiences going forward.
Stephen
Thanks for the comments.
rockie
It also comes pretty much loaded, with leather, fog lights, keyless, CD player, A/C, power everything, etc.
Both are reliable, though the Accord may have a slight edge. Consumer Reports recommends both.
As for safety, both are good but the Subaru has the overall edge. Here's a summary of several safety scores. The Subaru has seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters, plus side air bags.
But here's the clincher: the Subaru has character.
The Honda offers more power in the V6, but it only comes as an automatic and does not offer AWD. Plus, it's relatively boring.
Tell him to leave the vanilla ice cream for his aunt, and to try some rocky road
-juice
PS Don't overlook the value-priced Legacy L sedan, and the GT and GT Limited sedans are great if he drives hard.
-mike
I myself am annoyed with how many the same exactly Accords are on the roads.
If your husband is looking for driving fun, then Impreza seems to be the best choice. If he needs versatility and cargo space, Outback wagon is very good. I personally like Forester S Premium.
--Kate
Loyale'92 and Forester'01
Now, to get to my point. The Canadian models come with few options, and this includes the audio system. The '00 OB wagon that we got has a 4 speaker stereo (AM/FM Cass). There is a factory option for an in dash single or an in dash 6 player CD, however they do not come cheap. I want to put a CD player in my car, preferably a 6 pack under the passenger seat. My questions are these:
1) Can I run a CD changer directly to the stereo to take advantage of the built-in CD controller functions?
2) Or do I need to set my sights lower, and use an FM modulator type CD changer?
3) Or do I need to replace the whole enchillada with an in dash model?
I understand that most CD players i.e. Pioneer, will only directly feed into a same tuner. Who makes the Subaru audio equipment? I heard it was Clarion, but would like confirmation. Are they any good?
Since the members of this post were of great assistance in the past, I hope I can get some help this go around also.
Morgan
-Frank P.
Question: If I buy this from QSubaru if she has it, can I cancel the order from the dealer AND have the dealer install it? Sounds like a bad sales tactic...no?
Though you could always install it yourself, I imagine it's quite easy to do.
-juice
Anyone else with the Subaru card in the same boat? By the way I have the 'gold' card, not the 'preferred' card... maybe that's the difference.
My old Toyota, an '86 Tercel 4WD wagon with 120K (basically an imitation Sube), is showing signs of needing replacement sooner rather than later. To wit, I don't think replacing the gas tank would be a great investment. And the timing belt, which I don't think has EVER been replaced, isn't going to last forever.
I was hoping to stall and wait for the 2002 Forester, but that may not be possible.
Best wishes,
Alan
The 2001 S Premium looks good, have you test driven one?
Or wait for the Impreza turbo wagon, early next year. Think it'll make it 'til then?
-juice
-mike
-Frank P.
-juice
Don
I'm new to this forum, but I've been reading all the entries for a while. Last night I bought a Forester L w/auto and a few extras for invoice. I tried to get $200 under, but finally settled. The other dealer in town wanted $2,000 more, claiming "it's our only automatic." I was surprised at the disparity, but I think I did ok.
Any opinions?
-mary
Feel free to share names of dealers, folks. You may be helping someone else down the road.
-juice
PS That is a good deal
-mary
I read in C&D that there are 3000 H6 Subies slated for US delivery. Umm, that ain't many.
Cheers,
WDB
Well, my dad finally moved here. He's unpacking the crate today.
That means we should be Outback-shopping soon. Let's see, Fitzgerald has a 2001 Wintergreen Outback Limited, CD changer, wood kit, cargo net for $25.7k or so, freight included with no fees.
Sounds good?
-juice
PS I call dibs on it. It's the only auto 2001 LTD on their lot.
While I was there, I asked the salesman about the H-6s. According to their sources, the delivery date has been pushed out to around the Jan 01 timeframe. He also mentioned that there would be very few so expect high markups on them.
If that doesn't work, here's the address:
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~rdeleyos/Pics/rixoutback.jpg
thanks
Ridermania- Factory orders take approx 6-8 weeks depending on the time of month you place your order. Also depends on whether it's a Japanese or US model. It's possible to get one in as little as 5 weeks if the order is timed right. Your dealer gets computer printouts of incoming shipments and should know the delivery date fairly accurately when it's 2 or 3 weeks out. Hope this helps.
-Frank P.
Well, my dad finally did purchase that Outback Limited. We're picking it up tonight, so I'll share the details tomorrow. That's the 3rd Soob in the family.
rider: it varies a lot. I've seen 6-12 weeks, and dealers are usually optimisitic.
-juice
I'll share some photos later. He got it at Fitzgerald Subaru (Rockville, MD), and it was totally painless and hassle free.
-juice
-juice
Thanks for sharing the pictures of your family with us.
If your dad has similar experiences with his new Outback as I have had with my '96, he will be more than a satisfied owner! Now, let's see if you can talk him into visiting the SIA facility next spring!
Don
-juice
Anyhow, too it for a test drive (both shift and auto). The shift is difficult to shift, maybe just because I'm not used to yet. (clutch goes very far, shift isn't easy to shift). So I think I'll go with the auto.
That brings me to the part of my post that complies with the topic. How should I negotiate? Call them? And what would I say?
Jeff
From the Edmund's home page, the Buyer's Guide link has some good information. I'd also read the April issue of Consumer Reports (try your local library) for some excellent tips. Calculate the invoice of the car with the options you want using Edmund's or CarPoint. Add a reasonable amount of dealer profit and use this as a starting price. Dealers will move up from the price you offer but not go below it. Dealers also get a holdback from the manufacturer; Edmund's explains it and how much it is.
If you want to avoid the negotiating hassle completely and save a boat-load of time, you can use a buying service. I paid the non-profit organization CarBargains $145 for the service and they located a GT for $87 over invoice (no documentation or other fees). CarBargains negotiates anywhere in the US. Click on my profile for details. Hmm, noticed you're in Canada, Jeff. I don't know if CarBargains negotiates outside the US, but if you contact them they might be able to suggest a non-profit in Canada offering a similar service.
Also, I ordered our Legacy GT to get exactly the options we wanted and nothing more.
Good luck.
..Mike
..Mike
any problems on the day of delivery? I have heard that sometimes cars arrive damaged or with the wrong options
thanks
The factory order process, combined with ordering through CarBargains made the process quite easy, but it's tough waiting. On the other hand, because I was willing to wait, I got exactly the model I wanted (Legacy GT wagon) with a 5 speed manual (tough to find in DC), in the color I wanted (Timberline Green Pearl), and paid for only the options I wanted. You fill out an order, put down a deposit ($500 in my case -- I think $250 is more reasonable), wait, and then you get exactly the car you want. Keep in mind the SIA plant in Lafayette, IN is probably already producing MY2001 Legacys and Outbacks. Foresters and Imprezas come from Japan.
For details, click on my the link above to my profile. For your convenience, here's the link: miksmi's profile. Scroll down and you'll see a good link by Howard (fudd2be) that explains factory orders. As my profile says, my order took 11 weeks, 5 days, probably due the time of year that I ordered. Most orders I've read about take much less than that (6-8 weeks).
Ordered cars and cars allocated to the dealership are shipped the same way: by rail to a "port", then by truck to the dealer. I think cars off the lot or ordered have equal chances of getting damaged in transit (mine wasn't). It's in Subaru's and its shipping company's best interest to eliminate shipping damage (lest you get angry customers and higher insurance rates). I doubt this is a real issue or we'd have heard more of it.
The only way I know of getting a car ordered with the wrong options is if the order is filled out incorrectly. Your best bet is to get a list of the option numbers from Edmund's or CarPoint and thoroughly reviewing the order before signing it.
Feel free to ask more questions.
..Mike
..Mike
Jeff
-Frank P.
-juice
How do I get the best deal for a lease?
Jeff
You will get your best deal for a lease only by first negotiating your absolute best price for a purchase. That determines the basis for the amount to be financed under a lease. Only at that point, say to the dealer that you might be interested in leasing versus purchasing. He now cannot base his lease quote on MSRP or some other higher starting point, as almost 100% of dealers usually do.
They are very helpful with basic information and preparing to ask specific, well-informed questions on Sube-specific issues.
Take care.
Joe W.
Also check out this site:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/
He gives detailed tips regarding buying, leaseing, extended warranties, the whole process. He also has some spreadsheets that you can download to figure out for yourself what payments should be like.
Mark
Kelly is notoriously optomistic in their valuations.
If you want your best deal, don't trade your car at the dealership. You will ALWAYS come out way ahead by selling it on your own and keeping your purchase a separate transaction. This is especially true of a vehicle that is as popular as your Outback.
Yes I think that you are right, but I would have to own both cars while I sell the old one. Also I would like to know what its going to cost me to get into the new one and if I buy the new one first, then I won't know exactly what it will cost me to get in the new one. Whether I buy the old one depends on how much of a loss I will be taking on the old one. I would hate to buy the new one and then find out I can only get $15000 for my old one. If I trade in at the dealer, I'll know the bottom line and whether it is acceptable to me. I guess that I could always sell my old car first and rent while I shop for the new one.
By the way, When I bought the 99 Outback, I sold my 3 year old 95 Legacy for just $3000 less than I paid for it. I figure $1000 per year to drive a new car is a pretty good deal. If I can't do something close to that, I'll just keep the old one areound.