meridock

My dealer had me put the Subaru buy/hold amount of 200.00 Actual deposit once the options and colors are chosen will be 500.00

Fido

I've had money down on one for months now (refundable deposit ). I figure what's it hurt me to have some money down, have first dibs at the first STi my dealer gets, and if I don't like it get my money back and go buy an Evo or an RX8. I'm a little unhappy about the stereo thing, and something about that 'energetic' blue interior heh...But hey, I can get a better stereo for cheaper aftermarket anyway.


BTW, hello to anyone who remembers me...I'll mourn for my post count

97itr153

Yes you're right.

It was rather arrogant and foolish of me to criticize your choice. Your vision of an enthusiast street car is different from my vision.

Speaking of Exotic Cars, Given the chioce of a top Ferrari, you would probably go for an F50 which is incredibly competent and has Leather seats & other luxuries. I would go for an F40 which comes pretty much stripped down and without leather. However, both car are awesome in their own way.

It just my opinion that Subaru should give a chioce of a lightweight version that emphasizes handling and performance while MINIMIZING the cost of non-performance items.

I would not want to strip down a loaded car because that would have a negative impact on the car's resale value and possible endanger the car's warranty. Rather, I would like to see a hard-core version straight from the factory.

cobraKLR

Rally ready version, drool. But really, I have to agree that creature comforts do count in a street car -AC, power steering/windows, etc. But for me, drop the leather and give me some Sparco's. I think a lot of the reason that porshe/lamborgini/ferarri/etc put leather standard in their car is that their target market (i.e. ultra rich yuppie type) would turn their noses up at a car without corinthian leather (Hans can't have his backside touching yucky cloth). The STI goes for a totally different kind of enthusiast - rally fans. And any real rally fan would turn their noses up at leather in their street legal rally car.

And I for one will own one of these cars, but not this year. I have been raped too many times for having to be the first on the block to have a new car. I was one of the first in my state to get a Chevy Avalanche, and had my first WRX a few months after it came out in the U.S. Then you start seeing them new for less than you owe on them. Maybe next year after everyone has payed the initial premium to be first I'll have my new baby. Love you DCCD.

theprod

i contacted a dealer...they told me i would have to give them a $500 NONrefundable deposit because of people giving deposits just to test drive the car and then taking the deposit back. since when do dealers not give test drives for free anymore?? also they said that the car will be sold at MSRP

Cabal

When it's a $30,000+ limited production car that someone has no intention of buying. That being said, dealers in my area are requiring $2K fully-refundable deposits and selling at MSRP, so it probably varies by region.

theprod

i have evry intention of buying one, just not sure if i would have the money in time...i think thats a valid reason to have a refundable deposit...and why should u have to pay if u have never driven the car?

WoRX

Nissan dealers did the same thing, at first. There were many preordered
Z's. That makes it hard to get a test drive as the owners don't want miles on their new $30k plus car, especially a unique limited production vehicle.
But, let's be serious. This "limited production" is only because it'll take some time to make the cars. It's not because Nissan nor Subaru really want limited production of a great selling car. Case in point, the Z. Now that the fever is over anyone can get a test drive as there a Z's sitting on dealer lots and showrooms. Same thing will happen with the STi and the EVO.

We've got some Nissan dealers around here where the owner or general manager takes a Z car for his own driving pleasure, drives it up to the typical 600 miles or under (so that it can still appeal to someone as "new" demo) and they try and sell it for the same as a new one. Yet, they wouldn't give demo rides to potential customers when the car first came out.
There is no way I would ever buy a car without having driven it first.
Would you get married without having sex first?

It's a hot car and stealers...er dealers will take advantage if you let them.
I'm sticking with the WRX. It seems to have some nice improvements which are to my liking. I still think the STi is cool though.

T

theprod

yea i agree...no way am i puttin a non refundable deposit down if i have never driven the car...i dont care how much hype it gets or whats its reputation already is, i gotta drive the car first...worst comes to worst, i'll wait the few extra months if i have to..the dealer said they will arrive late summer

wrxwagon2b

Hey guys I love the new STI but there is one thing you guys have to realize about the EVO. Yes the new STI has more HP due to an extra .5 liters that had to happen cause of emmisions but in the end has there ever been a STI that can beat a EVO. On a post when u guys showed the Jun STI going around a track in Japan the STI couldnt even touch the top EVO when it came to xtreme mods. I love the fact that there is a WRX wagon but is the gonna be a WRX STI Wagon w/ flares? We will see in a few months after the launch of the STI if those Jun guys can finally use a subie to beat a Evo. Will it happen... umm it will be a nice battle.

Stock: yes the new STI may beat the Evo but when fully modified can a STI really beat a EVO around the track? Hasnt been proven so far.

cobraKLR

No STI has ever beat an EVO? Gotta disagree with that. Have you ever heard of the WRC. That is extreme mods at its finest. And yes the STI has beaten the EVO there many times. And the EVO/STI battle has been waging on the street for years, both rides are awesome. As for comparing the two US models highly modified on the track, no one has because they have not existed yet. The STI traditionally has been a 2.0 L displacement to qualify it for WRC competition. The 2.5L changes everything (more low end torque), and both cars are in a new body shell. Plus with the DCCD the subaru will handle variable road conditions much better than the EVO (I wish they had brought the ACD and AYC to the US).

As for getting a wagon, has there every been an STI wagon? I am not aware of one, but I could be wrong. That to me is like asking for an automatic STI-probably not going to happen. The STI is all about performance.

jmjunker

Subaru Marketing,

Here's a data point: R&T's 2002 Car of the Year- The Swanky Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe.

Has 280 hp, 6 speed, leather, and stereo for ~32.5k.

I think that much of the WRX success in the states has been to its high value - good performance for a good price.

I hope the STI maintains the same value and doesn't get ahead of itself at this increasingly competitive price point and economic landscape.

Can't wait to get my STI!