Another car question

[grrrr]

So GM owns Saab and a 20% interest in Suburu. They make a Saab version of the WRX and call it the 9-2X, dressing it up a bit. GM is in financial hurt, so they're offering all GM cars including Saabs at employee discount. The 9-2X Aero is discounted from 27K to 19K.

Hadn't planned on buying a new car until the winter, but someone really wants to buy my truck so I may be looking now.

The Kelley trade in value of a WRXth a 2.0l and 10k miles is 18,875. The private party value is 21,975. I doubt this offer will make much of a dent in the resale value unless they extend it past 7/5, the current cut-off date. I would ahve to assume the Saab, which doesn't even have a blue book value yet should equal or better the WRX value, as it lists 1K higher and has refinements.

Saabs are pretty rare around here - never even seen one of these on the road. Car and driver gives it a thumbs up over the WRX, but also notes it doesn't come with the Sti 2.5l. So, would you buy it or pass?

[Below Zero]

Pass, keep the WRX.

[lemon boy]

buy it. Way cheaper than a WRX, better looking, nicer interior basically the same handling. :shrug: sounds like a winner to me.

The 92 was simply a big miscalculation since they're not for saab people and subie people don't want them either but if you're not tied to either brand that is a great value car right now.

You can get the linear model for 16K.

This is not going to be a smart buy for "holding" its value but if you're gonna keep it for a few years then it is a great value on its own merits.

[El Chupacabra]

Pass, keep the WRX.

I don't think he's asking about trading in a WRX for the 9-2X, just whether the 9-2X will take a resale hit (due to the GM pricing program going on now) vs. the resale value of a WRX.

$19K for a rebadged WRX wagon looks like a good deal; around $3-4K under invoice pricing on the WRX version. IMHO, the 9-2X has nicer styling than the WRX wagon. As far as I can tell, the cars are mechanically identical; looks like Subaru offers more options (primarily interior trim stuff).

This thread has me somewhat tempted to sell my '02 Grand Cherokee and pick up one of these Saaburus for a ski car, since I still have around $1500 in GM Card earnings to further sweeten the deal. (I also have an '05 Rubicon Unlimited for offroad use, so the Grand is pretty much just a ski car/ family hauler at this point.) A quick Google search indicates that GM Card earnings can be combined with the GM employee pricing during this promotion, although it's not normally allowed to be combined.

-Karl

[cj001f]

I don't think he's asking about trading in a WRX for the 9-2X, just whether the 9-2X will take a resale hit (due to the GM pricing program going on now) vs. the resale value of a WRX.

GM car rebadges always take a resale hit.

[Jumper Bones]

I'll be honest, I'm real tempted by it too. Without the discount, the Saabaru isn't enough of an upgrade over the WRX to justify its price; however at this price...yeah, spot on! My issue is that I think the WRX is overpriced by about 5000 bucks - while it is a fast and nicely-handling car, you can't get it with any amenities (leather, sunroof, etc), and the interior is still chintzy. At its soul, it's still a Subaru Impreza, a cheap compact car - just like the Dodge Neon SRT 4 is still, at its heart, a Dodge Neon.

Anyway the Saab model can be had with those luxuries that the WRX can't, and now it's even cheaper. I also personally think the sheetmetal's a little prettier as well. Still doesn't have the center-console-ignition like a true Saab, though. Strange bastard child isn't it?

If you're super-concerned with retaining value though, I don't imagine the 9-2X would do any better than the WRX, considering how popular and well-known the WRX is (and the 9-2X isn't). The one thing that could work out for it is that there is going to be less of them than there are WRXs running around, maybe it'll get a cult following or something.

[El Chupacabra]

GM car rebadges always take a resale hit.

At a car sales price of $20K, I wouldn't really expect to see a huge difference in resale between a Subaru badged WRX and a Saab badged WRX. I suppose one place to look for a comparison would be to research the resale prices (trade-in and retail) on a Pontiac Vibe and a Toyota Matrix, which are the same car.

[grrrr]

Don't own a WRX, selling my pickup to buy something that handles better and gets better gas mileage. Actually was looking at the bona-fide Saabs and the AWD Volvos, but really had to take a look at this. Fits most of my needs, although just a bit smaller than I had been looking at. I felt the Suburus were overpriced - good cars, but almost as expensive and not as nice as a European. The nice thing about this car is you get an interior upgrade and can find mechanics that can work on it easier.

My thoughts on the resale are that if the car turned out to be too small and I really wanted to stick with a Euro wagon I could resell this in a year without a huge hit. If it resells at or near the WRX, it would be almost free to drive the first year.

I'm not sure that a Pontiac/Toyota rebadge would be comparable. I think people would think Toyota is quality, Pontiac is junk in resale value. I would think most people see Suburu and Saab as good quality. I know Saab drivers tend to be idiosyncric about their cars, and WRX drivers are not the same demographic, could affect resale.

[lemon boy]

a better way to look at it is that Saab took away 6K in resale value from everyone who already bought them.

yee of little faith in the market mechanism.

[Viva]

Well, if you do end up replacing your truck for a Saab or Volvo, be sure to change your TGR handle from Grrrr to "Cupcake" of something else equally appropriate.

[cj001f]

I'm not sure that a Pontiac/Toyota rebadge would be comparable. I think people would think Toyota is quality, Pontiac is junk in resale value. I would think most people see Suburu and Saab as good quality. I know Saab drivers tend to be idiosyncric about their cars, and WRX drivers are not the same demographic, could affect resale.

Depends where you are located Subaru/Saab. Saab's have a good reputation in New England, not much of one anywhere else, and the Saab reputation is quickly plummeting most everywhere.

[Tippster]

VS



I know which one I'd buy...

[Jackie Treehorn]

You also get 4 free season passes to Crested Butte with the Saab. Yippee skippy.

A friend of mine bought the Aero a few months ago, and he likes it.

[schuss]

I'm buying one this weekend methinks. Red 5 speed aero with the cold weather package (heated seats, mirrors and wiper de-icer). I'm scared (as this is my first real car purchase) but this is an ultra-sickter deal. My dad, who owns a WRX, is jealous of this deal. Just go for it, the WRX wagon is a swiss army knife of a car.

PS: with the purchase of any saab you can get up to 4 free gold season passes to Crested Butte for you AND your friends.