New York Subaru Car Dealers

Hi everyone, I put a deposit on a 2011 Forester Premium Auto yesterday at a dealership near me in Massachusetts. Very happy with the deal I got - sent it around to other dealers that say they beat other dealers offers, and nobody wanted to touch it. The internet sales manager was great to deal with, and everyone at the dealership was pretty helpful and nice. In going through the financing, however, something happened that I wasn't completely comfortable with, and I wanted to run something by the group to see if I was being told the complete truth. I'm planning on financing close to the whole amount, either for 60 or 72 months. The current promotional rate Subaru is offering is 2.9% for this time period. My credit isn't great, and I was planning on having my Father co-sign with me to help get the best rate (the 2.9%). The finace manager a the dealership told me that even with the cosigner, I probably wouldn't get the best rate because they would take/use some combination of our credit-worthiness. He was able to get me a rate on my own of 4.19%, and thought the best we would do with my Dad on the loat was 3.9% so he thought it wasn't worth it. My parents live in NY, and we would have had to overnight the credit application to them and have it overnighted back. I understand his logic, and the difference between 4.19 and 3.9 is pretty marginal, and I'm fine with getting the 4.19 if the best I could do with a cosigner is 3.9. But I got the distinct feeling he just didn't want to bother with the overnighting and/or he didn't want me to get the lower rate (the 2.9%) because that's less money for the dealership/Subaru. I guess my question is - would I really not get the 2.9% even if I had my dad as a cosigner? Does that seem correct? I'm really interested in hearing what people think. Thanks! Pat

Your comments probably point out the fact that two different people can have different reactions to the same car. It doesn't mean either one is wrong. I haven't driven the Kia, but I certainly found the Hyundai comparable in handling to my '08 Legacy Limited and the '11 Legacy Premium that was my last dealer loaner. At the NY auto show last week, I had a chance to do a close examination of the Sonata hybrid and that will probably be my next car. I'm willing to give up AWD for the better looks, extra luxury, additional room (interior and trunk) and superior gas mileage and warranties. If you put that hybrid next to a current Legacy, the latter simply looks old and out of date. I also had a chance to look at the new Impreza and, while it's better-looking than the last model, it's still a really boring design. Subaru may be selling well now and it's attempting to boost sales in warmer climates, but the competition is invading its territory. There are now more AWD choices and a number of other brands in the price range are matching its five-star crash ratings and exceeding its technology. Subaru was supposed to do a hybrid using Toyota technology, but we've heard nothing about that recently. It'll be offering Toyota's new small sports car, but it will be RWD and not AWD. It's getting a lot tougher to remain a Subaru loyalist when the brand isn't keeping up with the competition or maintaining its unique position in the market.

Hello, Is the acquisition fee the same for all cars leased with Subaru Motor Finance/Chase? I was quoted $895 for the acquisition fee in Erie County, NY. That is for an Impreza. Everything I read says Subaru's acq. fee is $595. Would it be lower for the Outback? Help! I don't want to pay an extra $300 just so the dealer can make more money on the deal. Thank you, Susan

I have a question on MSRP. In researching prices have found that dealer sticker prices are higher than those listed on both KBB and Edmunds. Ironically the prices on both KKB and Edmunds are identical. I don't see any special dealer add-ons on the stickers and the higher sticker prices are consistent across dealers I surveyed in Upstate, NY. So why the difference in MSRP between KBB/Edmunds and sticker? For example: 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited w/ * All Weather Floor Mats * Luggage Compartment Cover * Rear Bumper Cover * Remove Engine Starter * Splash Guard Kit (Mud guards) * Vertical Cargo Net Dealer Window Sticker: $28,535.00 MSRP from both KBB & Edmunds for same vehicle: $28,161.00

I would sell you my '08 (diamond gray metallic) if I didn't love it so much. I bought mine at North Coast in Glen Cove, NY. They will bargain hard, they don't seem to be able to keep much in stock (Subies very popular here on north shore of Long Island), but their service has been fabulous and very reasonably priced. You might try casting around at www.legacygt.com. The folks on there are very helpful. And while you're there, you can check the postings on Kolb. The stories I read are mostly bad. The last time I checked, Subaru was valuing my car at between $15-$16 as part of its guaranteed trade-in program, so if you add a hefty dealer profit on top of that, you're talking in the very high teens retail before taxes, tags, etc., for an '08. Frankly, though, unless you're buying the Subaru for its AWD, you can get a new Hyundai Sonata for around $20K (although not with leather at this price). They are really fine cars, and to me, feel far more advanced than even the 2010 and later Legacys. I'm a Subaru loyalist (I also have an '08 Outback), but I would still switch if I didn't need the AWD in the winter. Good luck with your search.