AWD compact car?

[The AD]

Find the dealer invoice cost. That's basically what the dealer pays for the car unless the manufacturer is offering special incentives, which reduce this. Shoot for something like $1,000 over invoice. If the car is very popular you may have to pay more than this, if the car isn't as popular you might get closer to invoice.

If you have a trade-in make sure you know how much it's worth (wholesale). Dealers commonly try to rook you on trade-ins.

www.edmunds.com is a good site for some of this info, but I'm not sure if they have Canadian prices or just U.S.

[eDub]

Other good locations for prices (I just went through this when buying my Subaru):

MSN Autos

Kelly Blue Book

Make sure you check the "incentives" section of Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds so you know what kickbacks are being offered to the dealer and to customers. Depending what they are right now, you might be able to get the car at or below invoice. And when the dealers start telling you that they can't go lower because they aren't making any money, remind them of the holdbacks. In the U.S. at least, the dealer gets money back/rebate from Subaru on every car sold. I guess its so they can show you the invoice and make you think you are getting a good deal. Edmunds lists the holdback for Subaru at 3%, but for some reason I think my earlier research found it to be either 1% or 2%. But I could be wrong about that.

Again, not sure about the relevance to Canadian prices. If available, I would encourage you to use carsdirect.com and other internet pricing tools (set up a separate free email account and give them a phone number you can ignore if necessary because these people are persistant (polite, but persistant). Note, however, that each referal from carsdirect.com, etc costs the internet sales manager like $50 (U.S.) so you might call up you local dealer, ask for the internet sales manager and tell them that you are trying to save them the referral fee, but that you expect to receive similar treatment and if you don't feel like you are, you will use the service anyway for another dealer.

Also, I don't know about the Canadian equivalents, but Subaru offers a VIP program to AASI/PSIA instructors and to members of IMBA (you have to be a member of IMBA for 6 months before you can use the VIP Program). The VIP program allows you to buy a Subaru at dealer invoice (I've been told there is still a kickback of a couple hundred bucks to the dealer from Subaru.)

Some good Subaru resources:

Subaru Outback.org (other models are discussed)
Ultimate Subaru Message Board (these guys are fanatics)

I just did this whole thing in August ('05 Outback) and I just helped another friend buy a Subaru last month ('05 impreza WRX), so feel free to post or PM any other questions. There's always the chance I will know the answer off the top of my head.

edit fer spellin', then edit for more info

[unionbowler]

to revive a dead thread,

one thing that is great about the subarus is that you can get the outbacks without the H6 engine with a manual transmission. alot of other AWD cars on that list don't offer a manual - gotta got automatic. so they get thrown out immediately. suby all the way. by the way - the outback sport is plenty big for two people + gear!

[mntlion]

Thanks,

Ya it looks like the subi will be the winner, but she will not be buying untill after guiding season (more money then after heli guiding all winter)

I think that AMA (Alberta Motor ass) will have the dealer costs, Will call soon. Also a few pay sites $50 CAD for 5 dealesr costs.

So strange that no makers other then subi will do the standard and AWD.

Thanks for all the info guys

[L8APX]

from that list, the matrix is the best by farrrr..

do not get the pontiac.

plz, it has to be the ugliest car out there.

funny, because the matrix and the vibe are the same car.

go subi.

[unionbowler]

other ways to decrease cost of buying a subi: become a member of IMBA (international mountain bike association) after 6 months or something you can apply through them to get a super deal. also, inquiring at first through the subaru website saves on dealer costs because they don't have to try and sell you the car - you pretty much order it over the net, the dealer contacts you, and you go pick it up. check out these options!

it's sad that more companies don't offer standard and AWD. i hammered a VW and Audi dealer about this for quite awhile one day - i want a golf or passat with AWD or an A6 wagon with a standard - all in one way or another not possible (except of the the allroad, which has got to be the dream car of this category) - and all i got out of them is that there is not enough interest out there for them to offer such a product. it's funny, cause over here in germany you can buy a passat or A6 wagon with AWD and standard - they just don't bring them over to the US. it's crap!

i remember when that matrix thing came out, my dad was all excited to get an AWD toyota in that size (remember the 4wd Tercel?) and then he found out that the AWD is only automatic, and well, there went that idea.

i guess that means all the more business for subaru...

[eDub]

other ways to decrease cost of buying a subi: become a member of IMBA (international mountain bike association) after 6 months or something you can apply through them to get a super deal.

Doesn't work in Canada.

IMBA, Subaru VIP FAQ

Subaru VIP Partners Program - Frequently Asked Questions

. . .

11. Can IMBA members in Canada take advantage of this too?

Unfortunately, this is only open through participating dealerships in the United States.

. . .

[unionbowler]

that's too bad...IMBA is international...oh well.

[Snow Dog]

Doesn't work in Canada.

Unfortunately, this is only open through participating dealerships in the United States.

So buy the car in the US and import it. There are issues like daylight running lights but with the strong canuk dollar it can be the cheapest route.

[eDub]

So buy the car in the US and import it. There are issues like daylight running lights but with the strong canuk dollar it can be the cheapest route.

Actually, the '05 Subies come with daytime running lights.

However, I thought that there were some pretty serious taxes that made buying in the U.S. and importing to Canada financially impractical.

Current exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.18691 CAD

Damn. This season's trips to Whistler just got more expensive.

[BC_Mike]

mntlion, I'd personally go for the Suby though I don't own one. I've done a few bike trips to Whistler and Sunshine Coast in my friend's Vibe, and have to say I was impressed! I have no idea how they handle in the snow, but the interior/cargo space was great for the wheelbase, and the dashtrim was pretty good too. I'm a VW guy but this was the first domestic I kinda liked. In this end I thought it was good bang for buck based on the price of the 2WD.

[Snow Dog]

However, I thought that there were some pretty serious taxes that made buying in the U.S. and importing to Canada financially impractical.

You have to pay GST (7%) when importing but you have to pay that up here too. You should avoid the state sales tax but that's just paperwork. I'm pretty sure there's no duty.

[Idris]

You have to pay GST (7%) when importing but you have to pay that up here too. You should avoid the state sales tax but that's just paperwork. I'm pretty sure there's no duty.

There is quite a bit more to it than that, for anything less than 15 years old...I am just starting to learn all the hoops I have to jump through to import a 91 subie from PA to AB...its much easier to import a french bought car to the uk, from a one language to another and one side of the road to the other there is less BS and hoop jumping than here??????

[Snow Dog]

There is quite a bit more to it than that, for anything less than 15 years old...I am just starting to learn all the hoops I have to jump through to import a 91 subie from PA to AB...its much easier to import a french bought car to the uk, from a one language to another and one side of the road to the other there is less BS and hoop jumping than here??????

It used to be that a vehicle had to be the current model year or more than 15 years old. Period. The end. With NAFTA that went away. The Registrar of Imported Vehicles (there's a government office of everything!) gives all the gory details and it doesn't look too bad. But since I've never gone through it, what do I know.

[INDY GS]

would you be interested in a 2000 Subaru Outback sedan? It just rolled 70,000 miles, and has been a perfect car for me. I am entertaining the idea of selling it and going back to an old cherokee, I miss my old one. Anyway if you are interested in a smokin deal on a subie, give me a PM, I emptied my box.

I'll get back to you on those binders soon.

INDY

[Benny Profane]

mntlon, I would say (first) seek out whatever 2004 Subis that you can find, especially the Outback, since they just redesigned it. (second) Look for a low mileage Subi just coming off lease. You can pretty much count on trouble free 120000 out of an Outback or Forester.
I've owned Subarus for 10 years, and they absolutely rule. It's all about clearance. I intensely covet a Mini, but stop myself by imagining what it would be like navigating the Bear mountain parking lot at KMart after 12" in the spring and it melted in that little thing.

[mntlion]

would you be interested in a 2000 Subaru Outback sedan? It just rolled 70,000 miles, and has been a perfect car for me. I am entertaining the idea of selling it and going back to an old cherokee, I miss my old one. Anyway if you are interested in a smokin deal on a subie, give me a PM, I emptied my box.

I'll get back to you on those binders soon.

INDY

Thanks, I think she will be goning wagon, but can you send me some info?
PM or real email is fine

Dave

[Mit]

Go for the Suby. I got a 2004 Impreza wagon and it rocks.. It was amazing in the winter. Make sure you buy a good set of winter tires..even though it's AWD good winters will make a HUGE difference. I've got some Nokian Hakka's which are probably the best tires I've ever had.

Best time to buy is around March/April because that's when they drop the financing rates on the older models to get rid of them before the new line comes in. I think the price i negotiated for mine (before options) was 20,500 (cdn) and it came to around 25-26k all told (options, taxes etc etc). Oh yeah when comparing to the vibe/matrix make sure you look at the options in the base package. The Impreza comes with a wackload of them (A/C, power windows etc).

The only things I'm not really happy about is the fuel consumption (it's quite a bit higher then the vibe/matrix), if you have a full size thule (the 2m one) it restricts access to the hatchback, and finally the ABS sucks. I ended up putting in a switch to turn the ABS off during icy/snowy conditions. Sides that it's the most fun/best car I've had..I love it.

One last thing.. as people have said the Matrix/vibe are the same car, just different option packages. They are made out near Toronto (Cambridge I think) in the same plant, so if you have any leanings to a CDN made car that might help the decision.

[mntlion]

Best time to buy is around March/April because that's when they drop the financing rates on the older models to get rid of them before the new line comes in. I think the price i negotiated for mine (before options) was 20,500 (cdn) and it came to around 25-26k all told (options, taxes etc etc). Oh yeah when comparing to the vibe/matrix make sure you look at the options in the base package. The Impreza comes with a wackload of them (A/C, power windows etc).

MSRP $23000 and your price $20,500? she would be happy with that.

THnaks

[powdog]

I would not go with a Geo Tracker/Suzuki something - they're an accident waiting to happen. The thing that I noticed about the Matrix/Vibe is that it's too low on the road - meaning not much road clearance with snow. Plus the AWD Vibe/Matrix have a horsepower of 130, maybe less - it's criminal what Toyota did, the XT model gets some more horsepower, but it's only front-wheel drive, which ought to standard on the AWD model. How about the base model of the Impreza wagon? I know Ford makes a Focus AWD wagon in Europe.

Toyota is oustanding with all their vehicles - the Vibe is rebadged, the changes are minor in the interior. The frame, the unibody, the paint the engine, the suspension, and the steering are top-notch. It's better car manufacturer than Subaru (aka Isuzu - some big zaibatsu in Japan owns them).

Has she considered a late-model CRV AWD? The only kicker is an automatic transmission - no manual transmission.

I think she would better served with a compact 4X4 truck...