I'm going to put down a deposit for the 2004 WRX (Oh yah baby!!!) at "invoice" pricing but I want to get a ballpark estimate of how much that will be. I've looked at Edmunds and others but they only give me pricing for 2003. Anyone know, especially you guys working at dealers, if it will be much higher than last years model? Will the "invoice" price be higher when the car comes out in March as opposed to being out for a few months? Also, how will I be able to tell that the dealer is really giving me "invoice" pricing and not some number they made up? Do you think I will even need to put down a deposit since the car won't be limited like the STI? Sorry for all these stupid questions but I'm new to car buying and don't want to get burned. Thanks in advance. Can't wait 'til March!!!

doubleU

 

Good luck at getting the 04 WRX at invoice when it comes out. Even though it isn't a new model, I'm sure the dealers are going to try to get MSRP for the new body style. The styling will probably attract a new crowd and renew interest in the WRX. A lot of people like the generic looking front headlights and much of the American market is driven more by aesthetics than performance.

 

Thanks to both you guys. If I can get the 2003 for $2000 less, screw the 2004. I have noticed more of a gouging trend in LA than any where else. Sounds like I will be getting a good deal if I get the car at invoice, which leads me to my other question. How will I know that what I'm getting is actually invoice? Is it on the sticker? Will they have a reciept from the factory? I don't think the dealer will toy with me but I'm just curious. Anyways, I'll be counting the days...

doubleU

 

If I remember correctly, you can go to the Yahoo auto section and they list invoice and option prices. But, I doubt they will have that information before the cars hit the dealerships. Also for some of the options, you may be able to find the stuff cheaper than what is listed as "dealer invoice." I seem to recall that I could get stuff like the cabin air filter and the cargo net for substantially cheaper online than what was listed as invoice. I'm guessing that the invoice price will go up $1k at most for the 2004. Subie doesn't want to price itself out of the market. Especially with the Evo coming and the rumored coming of a detuned Evo to compete with the WRX.

Oh yeah, one more thing. When the 2004's hit the lots, I'm guessing the price will drop on the bugeyed 2003's (I personally prefer the bugeyes but like the center tach better). And, the 2004 will come with more options (sunroof, leather seats, etc.). Of course, they may charge you for some of the options that came standard on the 02's and 03's but we'll see what happens when it hits the showroom floor.

 

Sea Dragon,
when you say you found some options at a cheaper price online, are you saying that you bought them off the internet or you just used those prices to try and make the dealer lower the price for those options? If you bought them online, were they factory parts or replicas?

 

I bought the stuff from a dealership that advertises online (www.subaruwrx.com). You have to pay for shipping but you don't have to pay for tax. What I did was to order several things to minimize the shipping costs. I figured I would need probably need to replace the cabin air filter in the future and they don't go bad so I order several of them along with the ski rack, oil drain plug gaskets, cargo bin and tray, floor mats and car cover. I didn't know about the online stuff until after I purchased the car so I ended up paying for things I could have gotten cheaper online such as the cargo net and first cabin air filter. I also purchased some things online that I could have gotten cheaper if I got them at invoice with the car (cargo tray, cargo bin and floor mats).

If I had purchased everything at the cheapest possible at the time, I probably would have saved about $75 which isn't really that much considering I paid $25k for the car (includes tax and licensing) and additional $1k in accessories (I installed leather seats and bought the cargo tray, cargo bin, floor mats, car cover and ski rack). Some of the items such as the upgrades speaker, security system and turbo boost gauge I probably would prefer to pay the few extra dollars to the dealership because it wouldn't be worth my time to install. But items like the cargo net/bin/tray, floor mats and air filter only take a few minutes to install (I actually removed the rear door panels when I tinted my window and it isn't that difficult but for $3 it isn't worth it).

Anyway, check out the website and see if a little time a labor is worth the cost savings to you.