I live in Sacramento, CA and am going to pay cash for a new 2003 WRX sedan. I'd like to hear from people who think they got a good deal in the U.S.. Please tell me how much you paid and what options you got. Thanks in advance to those who reply!

 

Hey Darren:

I live in Roseville. I helped my friend purchase a WRX at Roseville Subaru. You have several advantages to buying today. First, interest rates are low right now. Second, it's the last day of the month, year, so dealerships will be looking to meet quotas. With that said, here's what you do:

Call up Jerry Hunter, he's the internet fleet sales manager. Tell him your friends bought WRXs from him, and you'd like to do the same. Then , go to carsdirect.com and get the invoice price on the car with whatever options you may or may not want. Take it with you, and tell him you want 200-300 over invoice. They'll be looking to bolster sales today, so you shouldn't have a problem. Good luck buddy!

 

I did a search and found that people have paid as low as 20,500 in Hawaii with a couple of them paying 21,600 and 21,800. How close to invoice do you think that is? Thanks again!

 

CarsDirect. They say invoice on a basic model is 22,683. Looks like some people have managed to bargain their way to under invoice prices. I think I'll do that as well. I heard that the best way is to just come in with your really low price and just give them 10 minutes to decide if they will go for it and be willing to leave when that 10 min. is up no ifs ands or buts. It's hardline but it can work. Thanks for showing me CarsDirect, I didn't know they gave the invoice.

 

That's definitely the best approach to buying a car (I like Edmunds.com for info, too). It might not work too well if there's a single dealer of a car type within 100 miles of you or if you're buying a more expensive car that needs to be ordered, but for most cars there's no reason to pay over invoice. Every car I've bought, I've researched thoroughly and made the dealer an offer at invoice plus options with reasonable installation costs and left it up to them. Most are happy to take your money, but more than once they've said they can't accomodate me and I've thanked them for their time and left. Half of those changed their minds while I was walking out the door, while a couple were on the phone the next day saying they had changed their minds and wanted my business. Just remember not to budge and if a dealer won't accomodate you, there are plenty of others out there that will. Don't let them sucker you with crap fees, either.

 

Great post Cabal. Darren, also don't let the dealership say, "Oh, if we sell at invoice, we won't be making any money!"

This is a common method used by salespersons. But, just tell them they can always rely on their dealer holdback for profit. They still make money when selling at invoice.

 

Thanks! I love haggling on cars, there's just not enough of that in today's commerce (in the US, anyway).

 

As someone who sells new Subarus as a living I thought I would pop in with my 2 cents. Unlike other models Subaru has no incentives on the WRX leaving you with at least an Invoice deal. True, holdback is paid to the company, the salesperson who spends their time with you never sees any of that. The plant is less than 2 miles from our dealership and unless they are an employee we have no profit for the salesperson, sales managers, and general managers to be paid on. I like to say that buying a car should be easy and I do make it easy for people, thats why I am good at it. Unfortunately when you have a deal with no profit your salesperson is most likely making $50 on that sale. Doesn't sound too bad until you remember that the salesperson only gets paid on what they sell. Most people who buy Subarus are college educated and earn over 65000 per year. We all know how hard it is to pay bills even making that much. I would have to sell 1300 new Subarus at invoice a year to do that. I'm sure you all get paid at your jobs and we like to get paid on ours. The extra 5 - 10 dollars a month on a payment you could complain about may be the only sale that person may have and is often the difference between paying bills and not. That is why turnover is high in this business. I apologize if this makes anyone mad/offended/bored but it is not unreasonable to pay 3-4% over invoice on a vehicle. I happily sell cars at that rate. 4 in 10 people do pay sticker and that's why we ask, but any real salesman would be happy with a nominal profit and 3-4% over is a good deal. Paying invoice with no commisionable profit is a real slap in the face to a salesperson who, in the case of me and most of my friends in sales and management, actually do care about their customers.

And as an added note, don't expect much of a deal on an STI until there is a good saturation. It is worth every penny of the manufacturers suggested price. I wouldn't pay over sticker for one and wont ask anyone to either. I do like negotiating prices, just not when I spend an afternoon or two with someone and end up making less than I would at McDonalds at the same time.

 

i agree that's why i like to go talk with the dealership owner or his/her daughter/son for better deal.
i work on commission too so i fully understand how hard it is to not be making any money after spending god knows how much time with a customer. Again, people love to save money whenever they can, i do.

 

The sugested retail price is not just the asking price but allows the dealer to make a fair profit about 7% that covers advertising, commission, the intrest the dealer pays the bank for the cars on the lot also to clean and detail them for sale, store them, gas them up and all the things they do to make it exciting when you drive off. They deserve some profit you would agree but please give them respect and make a resonable offer you can live with if you treat them with respect you will get it back. Going in with the I want you cost or I'll walk attitude only brings out the bad pratices because you leave the salesperson who has invested their time with you with nothing but b.s. be sincere and when you buy your car be HAPPY!!

 

dah dah! All i did was submit requests for quotes, took it around and said, "this dealer offered this." I don't think I did bad, I got the car for 26 out the door. I think it was a win-win situation...well, at least thats what i think.

 

Hee hee.. coming from the car business I can tell you first hand that you're right.. that line is utter bs Though I usually always rolled over when someone asked for invoice. It didn't matter to me, My commission was the same if it was invoice or not.

I'm in the process of getting financed for my first rex at the moment, so, I'm looking forward to it. The dealership I was dealing with was very easy going on price, and honest and up front about what they could do on price. Of course, they knew I knew each of their little tricks, so...

I'm very much looking forward to the car. I had the chance to test drive one today, equipped similar to the one I will be buying except for color, and it's just incredible that's all I can say. It impressed me. The rep I was dealing with was an enthusiast, and took the car out first to demonstrate what it could do, but was also mindful that it was in it's break-in peroid.

 

If you're walking in there with a suitcase of cash, you shouldn't have much of a problem getting a good price.

 

get a IMBA membership at www.imba.com for $20.00 . If you can wait 6 months you can get any subaru for invoice.

Good Luck