Looking for takes on the following questions:

Currently, I own a '03 WRX w/ about 31K miles on it. I love the car. I received a letter from SOA last week about their Guaranteed Trade-Up Program. SOA is offering me over $18K (minimum) for my car if I trade it in to buy a '04-'05 subaru. Needless to say, I was intrigued. KBB says my car is worth 15.5K trade in. I figured I'd look into the deal and I'd pull the trigger if I could be out the door w/ a new '05 WRX Premium Package for just a bit more than what I pay now per month. I spoke w/ the dealer, did the numbers and I CAN be out the door for roughly $8 more per month than what I pay now. I got a better loan APR, my insurance actually drops a bit (no idea why), and I get a new car. The only downside I see is that I just added a few years before I actually have the car payed off.

Any takes on this deal? Has anyone else received a letter like this? From what I hear, SOA is buying the car, not the dealer. What is SOA doing w/ the old cars and why are they guaranteeing more than kbb value? (maybe i shouldn't ask).

2nd part - let's say I pull the trigger and do the deal. Subaru is also offering $500 in subarubucks. Any takes on what SPT stuff I should buy w/ the cash? The '05 comes w/ the short throw shifter and momo shift ****.

Thanks!

 

I believe SOA is offering this deal because of how hot the WRX is. See, when the WRX first came out, many people couldn't or didn't want to afford the car. Now that used WRXs are starting to hit the market with relatively low miles, those people who still love the WRX, however can't afford a new one, are looking at the lower mileage used examples. SOA is buying our cars back because they're putting them back on the dealer lot for about $18k - $20k and reselling them. That's still about $4k or so less than a new WRX (MSRP wise), and since you bought a new Subaru in the deal, they still make out like crazy.

I think the buy back is a cool deal. However, the only way I'd consider actually doing it is if I were to upgrade to an STi or maybe pick up a Legacy GT. If you just buy another WRX (and there's nothing currently wrong with yours), all you did was buy your car with some different sheet metal and interior bits and increased the time that you're in debt. Unless your car is somehow messed up, I really can't see any reason to do this if you're just buying a newer WRX.

 

i just got 17,450 for my 03 with 37,000 miles on it and got the new 2005 for 22,090 because the dealer had a promo coupon for 3,800 off a 2004 or 2005 wrx or sti. only down side was the APR was 4.4%

 

Can you upgrade to an sti?? Or does it have to be a wrx??

 

Any Subaru.

 

That's a downside? Go to a payment calculator and look at the differences between 0, 1, 3, and 4.4%. You didn't make out badly at all.

 

i got a letter with a guarantee of 18,300 for mine, as long as i have under 40,000 miles and it's been maintained and driven responsibly. too bad i've got 43k miles...

 

question associated w/ the topic - Since the GTP letter peaked my interest, i did stop by the dealer last sunday just to take a look at the new 05 legacy and wrx. One of the wrx on the lot had some items I've never seen before from a dealer. I noticed it had an STi rear strut tower brace, STi pedals (pink) and an STi radiator hose set and radiator cap. These items were not listed on the sticker. None of the other WRX on the lot had these items. Is these a special package I don't know about or did the dealer just throw in a few extra parts? I guess I was just surprised they weren't on the sticker and they didn't add them to the price of the car.

 

Some dealers will modify a car with performance parts from the manufacturers tuning arm and sell the car that way. I remember a few years ago one of the Acura dealers here in Sacramento had a black 1999 Integra GS-R that they bolted on a Jackson Racing Supercharger, upgraded the engine for the boost, upgraded the suspension, exhaust, strut tower bars and a bunch of other goodies. The car was FAST. They wanted $34,xxx for it (sticker) and one day offered it to me for $29,xxx but I had no money

 

the minimum value soa offered for my 02 w/ 22k on it was 14,100. kbb says approx trade in of 16,5. i brought it to diablo in wc and he offered a ballpark of 15. it seems i'm getting a pretty low estimate to many others here who have checked. the car's in excellent condition so i don't know why the numbers are so low. this gives me no incentive here at all to trade in.