I noticed several people on this forum saying that they got orders sent in to SOA by their dealers when they made their deposit for their STi. So I asked my dealer if he did the same when I made my deposit. The message is shown below, but take this with a grain of salt as I generally don't trust salesmen.

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I was wondering if you have sent SOA any buyer’s requests or anything of the sort. Is SOA actually taking any orders at this time?

Thanks,
Mark
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Hi Mark,

As of this writing, Subaru has no plans to allow factory orders on the STi.

It appears that some dealerships have falsified names on factory orders of the WRX to get more than their allocated share. Subaru has no intention of allowing the same thing to happen with the STi so that everyone will get their fair share of a limited production rally car.

Feel free to contact me at any time with further questions.

Regards,

----
Internet Manager
----- Subaru

 

so that means we won't have a choice in terms of color of the car or rims?? options?

 

silver ghost

you Will have your choice of color and rims, the only thing is you might have to wait for it...what is going on is that they are bringing in a certain amount, say for the first month (i.e. 45 units in N.E. in June, then another 45 in July and so on) and of those 45 units, they will be a certain percentage of blue/gold and black/gold and so on...so what is happening is that you make your color/rim choice, Subaru of NE will look at all the orders out there.....if your choice is available when your turn is up then you get it, if not you can either take the color that's available or wait for your color, maybe July, maybe August? that's why your salesman is probably asking you for your second choice....it's also going to help if your dealer is one of the top ones in your area....and from what I've heard, the first batch throughout the country is going to be mostly blue/gold, which does not help me since my choice is black/gunmetal? oh well, we'll have to wait and see!!

hope this explains it

 

Cloner, I actually went back to the Worcester area where I am originally from to put my order in, I went back to the dealership where I got my first Subie, which is what I am driving right now...a stock 99 RS...I am 2nd on the list at Patrick Subaru...I did do some calling around the Boston area, and the ones that I could actually trust and be comfortable ordering from, the best I could do was 4th, so I figured I'd go with someone I know AND be 2nd on the list! What color/rim choices do you have? I'm going with Black/gunmetal.....maybe we can trade on some info and see which dealer has what information since it'll all come from Subaru of N.E.

 

that sux about Patrick, you probably talked to one of their mindless salesmen...even the good dealerships have them!
if you hear any updates from your dealer, let me know and I'll do the same! hoping my color choice is available in June!!! you should be one of the first since I heard most of the first batch will be Blue/gold....
BTW, I think your new STI will be a "little" different than your Sebring LOL!

 

I've seen on this board and others that people are placing orders with their dealers. They have selected color of car and wheel. I was pretty bummed that my dealer didn't call. So I decided to ping him about it.

I sent to my sales guy:

"Hey Michale,

I have been hearing on-line of dealers taking orders on car color and wheel color options for people with deposits. I was told earlier that Subaru was not taking sold orders and all STis are on allocation with no option anything. Has this change? Have you heard different?

Thanks"

I got back:

"The latest I've heard, directly from Subaru's factory rep, is that Subaru is NOT taking orders on the STi. Any presold orders will be filled from the dealer's normal allocation. Some dealers may be telling their customers otherwise, but we haven't even been told what options and color choices are, in fact, available. I'll stay on top of my Subaru sales manager to stay on top of our factory rep and will let you know as soon as anything changes. Believe me, I understand your concern about this issue since you've been waiting so long for this car to come to the U.S. market."

It falls in line with what he told me when I first put my deposit in. SOA is not taking sold orders. All cars, AFATK, are on allocation. Dealers may not be even getting a choice on color. They seem like straight up poeple. Many of my friends have baught 740's, M-roadsters, M3s, M5s and Z8 (lucky bastards) from them. He has told me that these guys are on top of it when it comes to delivery and service.

 

So I emailed my dealer about my situation:

Question:

-----,
Thanks for the prompt reply. I also have another question which I am not sure if I asked you already: I am 4th on the list. Let’s say that the person before me orders a blue/gold (car/wheel color) and later decides to decline it. I decline it also because I want a black/silver car. Will I lose my spot in line? Or will the car be passed onto the next person and you will take my order for a black/silver STi? I am willing to wait as long as a year to get this car in the right color/wheel combination but I don’t want to lose my position in line.

Thanks,
Mark

Response:

Mark,

I always try to be right up front with my customers and I don't want to mislead you in any way at all. At this time I don't think the word "order" even enters the scheme of things. Our Subaru Rep has told us that there will, initially, be no factory orders. This is because of a situation that occurred when the WRX first appeared. It seems some California dealerships fabricated some orders to increase their allocation. Because of that, Subaru has changed the way they will handle the STi or at least this is what I have been told officially.

The supply will be limited with each dealership getting only one to begin with. When it arrives we will contact the people on our waiting list, in order, and each will be give the opportunity to take the STi or reject it and wait. If the customer accepts the car then he/she may purchase it at MSRP and the next person on the list will be waiting for our next STi to arrive. There won't be an endless supply in 2003 because it will be a very limited edition car. A refusal by a customer on the waiting list will result in the refund of the customer's deposit and they will be removed from the list and will wait, along with everyone else who was not on the list, for a Subaru to arrive that they like. They will no longer have the guarantee of MSRP pricing at that point and will, like everyone else, not have another opportunity to purchase an STi until everyone on the waiting list has had the chance. You must understand, this will be a very high-end Subaru and we cannot afford to sell them all at MSRP. But, as long as there are people on the waiting list who have not had the opportunity to purchase an STi and pay MSRP, then those people will have that chance for as long as our supply continues to arrive. We do not guarantee you a car. We only guarantee you the right of refusal on an STi and they begin arriving. Later, Subaru may well allow factory order for the vehicle. Later you may still be able to buy the car at MSRP. But I emphasize the word may because once you've been given your right of refusal we will not keep coming back to you and keep the offer open indefinitely.

Again, if you find this arrangement unacceptable or not what you initially thought it would be, then we will be happy to refund your deposit at any time. We want to earn your business but I won't intentionally mislead you in any way simply to sell you an STi.

Best Regards,

----
Internet Manager

My thoughts:

What I gather from that is SOA will send a STi to the dealer without the dealer's input on color combination. 1st person accepts or declines. If they decline then they get their money back. 2nd person gets a chance, accepts or declines, and so on. But none of the people have a choice of color. Sure I can accept that if SOA wants to do it that way. But really gets me is what he says later on at the end of the 2nd paragraph. What I get from that is that if I decline and SOA later allows orders, he may not honor me an MSRP sale price. That does not seem fair as the only reason why I declined was because the car was the 'wrong' color.