Currently i'm running a 6month old STI7 type UK. Yesterday I rang several dealers asking for trade in values if I bought an STI8........18K!!!!!!.........So that means i've lost 8K in 6 months! I find it almost criminal that Subaru (IM) launch the Prodrive style STI8 at 1K less than what I paid 6months ago for a non-Prodrive STI7....I want some compensation!!!!!!!!I have already written to IM for there comments and I think i'll drop Watchdog a line too.

I know buying new cars is perhaps not the best investment (ok bad investment!) but one does'nt expect to loose 1333K per month for six months!!!!!!!!

Comments welcome from a rather hacked off STI7 owner (Matt)

 

That's 25% in 6 months. Given that a new model has come out and that a car loses 20% of its value when driven off the dealer's place on the day you pick it up, I find that normal.

I understand your feelings, but that's the way it is. I dont think there's anything abusive or unfair here.

For 26k, you could have bought an almost new 350 bhp Evo, so it's all relative anyway. (not sure about me having a good idea adding this last comment )

 

You have got to keep it longer mate, spread the loss.

 

Keep shopping around mate - I have done a very sililar deal and have got several K more for my trade in.

 

I was talking to my dealer the other day, as well as a few STi7 owners, and that seems to be about par for the course at the moment.

However, the dealer did suggest that selling a 7 now wasn't that good an idea at the moment, as he felt that people will start to look at them as an alternative to waiting for an 8, and prices would then settle/improve.

Josh

 

Even if they offered you 20K for it why would you swap and loose 5K for a set of dubious (IMO) head lights and a smaller steering wheel?

Then in a years time there may be a 2.5 or a twin scroller with DCCD for say 27K and try and trade again and be offered 18K again?

If you swap the car now you'll double your loss in the long run i reckon. Wait for the next version, you can't dislike the bug eye that much if you've got one!

I've unfortunately been there before in the Lotus market. Sit tight and the market will come back to you to some extent but its a mugs game buying cars and trying to swap them for the new best thing a year to 18 months later.

RB

 

Have a look at the prices of the new Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8. At least a couple of grand less than the old model!

The scoob may lose sales...





[Edited by Squizz - 1/24/2003 12:07:23 PM]

 

Stop looking at what your car is worth and look at the price to change and whethere or not you can afford that. Then base you haggling on that. It works much better than looking at the value of your car.


Why would you want to part chop a car that is only 6 months old anyway ?

 

KT Greens in leeds prices will climb in a few months,but to be honest with why sell STi7 is a far better looking car than STi8?

 

Thats a matter of opinion

 

I emailed Ed Swatman and Bob Edmiston at IM on exactly the same point a month ago, and they told me no-one else apart from me had complained........

 

Evo 8 is better looking than a Scooby 8....

Another matter of my opinion

 

I was really only testing the water when asking about the trade in prices. I really like my STI7, although I do prefer the look of the 8. I just was'nt expecting such a low trade in value and I guess I feel a little cheated by Subaru/IM.

For the moment i'm going to stick with the 7, buy the PPP and have a blast! I will review my position in a year or so.

 

Have you contacted watchdog yet?

 

What are you complaining about? That the STi8 is cheaper? So you want IM to put their prices up and not react to market forces?

I'm no fan of the way IM seem to go about their customer service but surely, before you shell out major money on a new car you think twice, do a little research, and weigh up the risks? And the car is only six months old Well substantiated rumours of the face-lift have been around for about 18 months.

Me? I've just bought my three year-old UK00 off the lease company for £10k Vanity is an expensive hobby

Bite the bullet.

Richard.

 

IMHO its only a problem for people looking to trade-in in the short term. Prices will even out in time plus the new models are slightly cheaper anyway so that will help balance out some of the difference.

Doesn't seem a big enought difference to me to look at panic swapping a MY02 to MY03 of any model in the range.

 

Perhaps more STI7 owners should contact IM with their thoughts. If only a small number complain then ofcourse IM will just sweep it under the carpet. We should complain in force - write to car mags etc.

I hav'nt contact Watchdog yet but i will drop them a line.

 

Anyone who swaps a 6 month old car (not saying that you're going to do this Pelham)for the latest model is just a fashion victim IMHO, they must also be stupidly naive about depreciation or obscenely wealthy like Dave TS

If you complain to watchdog it'll only make it worse, I doubt very much if you'll get compensated either.

F

 

How the hell can you moan that the new model is cheaper!!

The car market is driven by market forces at the end of the day.
You chose to buy the old shape. No one forced you.

Write in to watchdog????? Dont make me laugh.

 

I'm not intending to do it, but enquired about the price to change a 10 month old 11,000 mile STi7 to an STi8 from a dealer and was quoted £4.5k to change, which isn't too bad considering.

Our situation is, however, PX-ing the STi for a new Tuscan S, and the TVR dealer could initially only get a Subaru dealer to underwrite it for £17k. With a bit of pushing this went up to £18.5k.

So, if you are swopping for a new STi, it isn't too bad. If, like us, you are getting out of Imprezas altogether, you will get about £2k less.

 

To be honest, I would consider buying the 8 if the trade in was better - I generally change my car every 12-18 months. I really did think the trade in would be about 21K requiring an extra 4K which I could live with but certainly not 7K.

 

The one`s who are buying an sti8 at the monent are just buying a sti7 with a new new body shape the changed cars with the stiffend suspension and that wont arrive here until about may so who`s being ripped off


all of us in one way or another.




[Edited by dave-h - 1/24/2003 2:23:52 PM]

 

Or you could just sell it privately..

Who in their right mind would part-ex anyway? The dealer's getting you both ways. I've always sold my cars myself and made between £800 and £3500 more than I've been offered by dealers. Plus you can go into the dealership and bargain with cash, so the've got nowhere to hide!

 

Keep the sti7 for another year, it"s one hell of an
awesome machine. ENJOY.
Rob.

 

Rang my dealer for a laff.

Offered me £19k against a standard STI 8.

Didn't seem keen on a discount (got one on the STI 7). I think a change of staff hasn't helped.

No doubt they would offer me £18k for a straight purchase, at a push.

Think I'll keep it until the next MY comes out.

 

I have been moaning about the los aswell.
Wait 4 months for the STI7 with a £2000 deposit in their hands then a couple of months after I get it they announce the new one.
Nothing like selling us the trial model for them to get the feed back on.

Due to this I upgraded the power by other means than the PPP.
(More money in their pockets).

Also Cant say whether I like the JCB Bucket on the new bonnet.

& I like the looks of mine.

 

Just checked their website. Similar car to mine, but without PPP, £24k.

Anyone thinking of buying it, you can my PPP model for the same price.

 

Had an Elise 135 early this year, missed my scooby , so decided to sell it. The Lotus dealer who I payed £27500 3 months earlier offered me £19000, because the roof design had changed a month after i got it.
Luckly I did a straight swoop with a friendly Subaru dealer for a STI7 UK Prodrive.

 

I'd wait. You will always loose loads of cash if you sell to soon.

I personally prefer to wait until an new version is out and tested before I jump in. The same goes for tv's, computers, well just about everything actually. Why rush, in 6 months, there will be something better out anyway .

Just my 2 pence worth.

 

Dont forget, the new model is only a facelift model to help flagging sales of the fugly. The STI I gather sold well but the rest struggled.
Their is already rumoured to be an all new model due out in the reosnably near future, I have heard 2004 mentioned but others may know better, stick with the 7, IMO they are a lot better than just looks, (I hated them until I drove one) & wait for the NEW model, why get shafted twice, The 9 may even have a twin scroll turbo or a 2.5, who knows