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Comments
I drove the MX-5 at the Zoom Zoom Live event, not at that dealer.
Subaru had a similar offer for the 05 Legacy, it got my wife in to drive one. In a way it worked, she wants a Legacy 2.5i Limited sedan now.
-juice
That works for standard full production models but not for limited production ones like the STi. There's just not enough of them floating around that can be abused on test drives. Besides, cars like the STi and Evo have all the publicity they need for their target demographics.
-Frank
You're ready to buy so you head for Starbucks, logon to subaru.com with your laptop, find something in inventory you like and place your order. The next day a couple of folks from the dealership that had your desired model in stock deliver your new ride, get the paperwork signed and you're done.
Two months later you visit the free-standing service center for your first oil change. After lunch you go play golf with Terry and Isell ('cause they sure aren't hunting for ups anymore).
Hey, it could happen (remember travel agents?).
Steve, Host
Steve, Host
I agree with Frank, though, the STI is limited production and already has all the attention it needs. No trouble selling those. If you leave due to the test drive policy, someone else will just buy it, no big deal to them.
-juice
Cheers Pat.
Ken
I'm not sure what the intended reference is for "this sales tactic". If you mean "test drive" and for academic purposes we are excluding damage, wear, and bodily harm :sick: then I would say that a test drive in a very fast car is actually a GREAT way to sell them.
~Colin
Point 2 For me The driving dynamics, seat position, steering feedback, clutch and gearbox feel all factor in to the process. However, so does dealership experience. For me to get denied so early in the " Subaru club" says a lot about the overall experience.
In summation, it hasn't "worked " as some might think, all it has done is pissed me off. And I've gotten on here and been rude and I apologize. But, it hasn't made me want to "rethink' how to get a testdrive. It's made me want to laugh hysterically at they're business practices and swear to never set foot in a Subaru store again.
I hope that helps, and once again my apologies for going off on some......Merry Christmas to all
If there were rows upon rows of STis sitting on the lot collecting dust that would be one thing, but since I suspect that's not the case, then the dealer's is free to set whatever policy they want. Just like some dealer's charging over the MSRP for hot sellers, they do it because they can still sell cars for the inflated price. If they alienate some customers in the process, that's a risk they're obviously willing to take.
-Frank
I'm no business expert, but I would think that Subaru would be trying to gain customers, not push them away.
I'm sure if most people were denied say service or something at Kmart and were treated rudely they wouldn't be saying, "well you just have to look at it from Kmart's perspective" That's what I now think of Subaru, Kmart...
So yeah, you may have to jump through a few hoops, something most eager STI intenders are more than willing to do.
Do you realize that 400+ people attended the US debut of the 2006 STI at Miller Subaru in PA? They are not cutting production by any means.
You were not very motivated, and got turned off right away. In all likelihood you would have driven the STI and used the test drive as a reference, an chosen something else that wasn't so "K-Mart" to you. You don't think it's special, fine, but the people most likely to actually buy do indeed think it's special. So it sounds like they were right to rule you out, ironically - they made the right decision!
Subaru isn't trying to get badge snobs that are "slumming" in their dealerships. Those people are going to whine about the dash not being strokable enough, LOL.
You never answered my question, though.
Would you buy an STI with a few hundred test drive miles on it? And YES, that is a trick question.
Say Yes, and you are a hypocrite.
Say No, and you are unwise.
-juice
Subaru's not cutting production on STI's, which are selling as fast as dealers can get them. Yes, Tribeca production is being (temporarily) reduced, but that's unrelated to the STI.
You'd surely have no trouble in being allowed to test drive a Tribeca, even a top-line model that costs more than an STI. Price isn't the issue behind the dealership's no-test-drive policy. In addition to the possibility of abuse, they're not letting people test drive STI's because they don't have to.
-Frank
-juice
but of course... don't expect a test drive unless they have a used one or you're willing to commit to buy pending a favorable test! :P
~Colin
-juice
I posted over in the Events board (bat1161, "Subaru Crew - Events" #2439, 14 Dec 2005 9:44 am) talking about our annual Subaru owners 48HR trip. Everyone is invited, even for just a portion or to meet up for dinner/breakfast along the way. Our first night is in Philly; the second night in Niagara Falls.
I don't have access to any of the sites where the details are being planned here at work, but you can always contact either Mike or myself and we can get it for you. Unless Mike can link it up?
Mark
Does that strike anyone as crazy? I doubt it. Most people in here seem to have drunken the Subaru kool-aid from the golden chalice. That's fine. Brand loyalty is great.
A far as the question from giz err juice. It seems to me that it would be smart to check the date that the vehicle went in to service. For instance if the warranty is 3 years 36k miles and we are in december and the car went in to service last month, Then I would say that enough of the warranty is in tact. And if given enough of a discount of MSRP then yes, I would buy it. Oh wait, it's an STI and the clutch can't handle all that torque It's not as reliable as we just said it was. Granted that's the scenario for a loaner, or demo as suggested by some to be out out for test drives. On a new STI? not now, after hearing how they can't hold up due to public nuisances like me test driving them. Would I buy that Audi? hell yeah. It's once again for me about 75% car, 25%dealer experience.
Now we are going [non-permissible content removed] for tat here and it's fun eh? No whining now children. Get in your Subarus and hope you make it home because I may have driven it while you were sleeping and darn it all it just can't take the abuse.
The other post where someone said good luck finding a reliable 35k Audi? There is no such thing. Not looking for it. I am looking for the best car out there under 50k that offers both a great driving experience, Descent autocross capabilities, Comfort for long drives, and a good dealer relationship. Good luck to all, and I sincerely wish you all a merry christmas. :shades:
Also, you may want to take some time and read thru Test Drives & Dealership Promotions
I think you're misunderstanding me. I'm not saying that a test drive isn't a good tactic. It's an excellent sales tool, but in the case of the STi, why bother if you can sell one without a test drive? That's all I meant.
Ken
Better yet, now that we've successfully alienated another potential Subaru convert, there's more Kool-Aid left for me :(o)
-Frank
seems to me that if you 'ignore' the whiny child they stop whining .. and if you give him attention ...
Subaru is a niche brand, it's not Toyota, it's not VW, and it's certainly not GM. It has a very loyal following, for good reason. They are very safe, reliable, comfortable, stick like velcro, go almost anywhere, and are not flashy (and maybe even funny looking!) They are popular among professionals and many people buy them who can afford to buy much more, but choose to buy a Subaru.
I hope you remember that Subaru Dealers are not the only ones that limit test drives, so don't villify all Subaru dealers and owners because of your bad experience. If your wife is a resident physician she can tell you all about the danger of making conclusions based on anecdotal evidence.
According to what you are looking for, you should think about a Legacy GT and mod the suspension, wheels and tires, and maybe some mild engine massage. And find a better dealer. But if you're just looking for a fight, well, I can't help you. Nor would I want to.
Merry Christmas back. Good luck.
Cheers Pat.
I would think that would work very well in public education!
Sorry, I shouldn't even joke about this. But there's always that temptation to smack the whiny kid. . .
tom
I had ordered roof rack cross bars (Outback Sport type w/bungie cord loops, not the round bar type), center armrest extension, and the rear bumper pad (for our dog).
I was a little miffed when I went to pick up the car last Thursday, only to find the accessories were not on the car, but that they weren't even ordered! I was under the impression the accessories were installed, or so the salesman lead me to believe that. Fitzgerald's dropped a notch or so after that. Still excellent prices though...
At any rate, the accessories are now in, and I had them installed to day. I had to wait about an hour and half. Oh well...
Bob
i believe Edmunds to be a place to come and posts opinions, and debate what we all love...cars. I have been enjoying this process. It's hard to figure however. There are complaints about being whinny, stated by being whinny. It's seems silly to me. I think we are debating a valid issue and making some funny jabs, and then all of a sudden feelings seem to be getting in the way. Bring on the debate. Bring on the jabs, just make them funny and interesting. STY I believe, thanks for your advice. I wish you a merry christmas and I hope many patients err clients stuff much wampum in your g-string
How could you!
Jim
Bob
Just make sure that the accessories get covered under factory warranty and not the typical 1-year parts/labor for dealer installs.
Ken
Clutches are a wear and tear item, on any car, at any price. Do you think Ferrari could sell an F430 with 300 miles without knocking off a substantial amount?
If you buy a high-performance car with 300 miles on it, you risk that is has been used hard and therefore worn a little. This is by design, this does not mean a car is "unreliable".
Now you're saying you'd buy a car if it came with a discount. I imagine that would be a few hundred dollars, at least. Even if there are enough people like you, willing to buy an STI with a few miles on it, then it's still costing the dealer a few hundred bucks, which is a decent portion of their profit margin.
So from a dealer's perspective, he can cut his profits in half or so plus limit the number of potential buyers with an open door test drive policy. Not to mention accept the liability for aggressive driving.
Suicide. That makes no business sense. You have to filter out the potential buyers at least somewhat.
This is not an SoA policy, it's up to dealers. Many people here can and have test driven STIs. They were willing to jump through a few hoops, you were not. Pretty simple.
Your attitude that this is "KMart", i.e. badge snobbery, is probably what hurt your odds. You probably don't shop at KMart anyway, and you probably would not have bought the STI, either.
I still say the dealer had good judgement in this situation.
-juice
It was just an unexpected hassle, nothing more.
Bob
Swampy- Agreed but the only way the "no test drive" policy can work is if they don't have a problem selling their allotment of STIs.
And how many "potential buyers" are they actually pissing off? I'm not in the market for an STi but if I were, I agree with Juice's point that I would only want to buy one with low or no miles on it (my FXT had 7 IIRC). when you look at it that way, the dealer's policy makes a little more sense.
Since the STI and Evo are the only two cars on the market today that are basically street legal versions of their autocross counterparts, the pool of true potential buys is very small and also very knowledgeable. Therefore I suspect that most of them tolerate the "no test drive" policy since they understand what the STi is capable of.
On the other hand, casual shoppers looking for a fun test ride or who just want to brag that they've driven an STi (this is the group I would belong to), will be far more likely to take offense at this policy.
Just my two cents...
-Frank
Also, as this discussion is intended for friendly discourse for Subaru owners, this debate really belongs elsewhere, such as the two topics I previously mentioned. Or if it appears to be one that needs its own place, I will gladly create a new one. Your choice.
Are you sure you were drunk with joy, or just drunk???(j/k)
Serge
Let me know...lunches will be tough as I have some interviews lined up in West Orange and Union high schools as well as a middle school.
Serge
Mark
Well, Bob. Maybe in your giddiness you misunderstood the salesman.
Hope you still like the rex. It must be a blast with the 2.5L. Almost STi like. Except with more room! (for the helmet)
tom
Bob
Wrong. I said "on any car, at any price". Once again you're reading selectively (you did with Colin earlier).
I'm done....
Promise?
Three points remain.
1. Rough test drives add miles and buyers are for the most part extremely sensitive to how many miles a performance car (not luxury) will have on it when they take delivery. Dan admitted as much, saying he expects a discount in those cases, while others like me and Frank would skip the car entirely.
2. To make matters worse, these miles are accumulated during the car's break-in period. It's very unlikely that a tester would stay under 4000 rpm and avoid full throttle as recommended by the manufacturer's guidelines for the break-in period.
3. A test drive that was "ethical" and did stay under 4000 rpm would not begin to tell you the capability of a car like the STI anyway. The smart thing to do is find a local club and ask for a ride-along with an owner that has a broken in car. Life begins at 4000rpm.
Subaru could perhaps get around that with demo cars for each region, but the fact is they don't have to. Smart, resourceful shoppers can get around that.
Lazy ones will whine about it.
-juice
Bob