I'm buying a 5 door WRX in the next few weeks.

Best price from Subaru dealer: £19,750
Price from importer: £17,800

Basically £2000 less. Those are "on the road" prices.
Colour is WR Blue, which adds about £300 usually.

Downside with import:
1. Only 1 year warranty
2. No side airbags
3. No alarm system, but does have factory fitted immobiliser

Apart from that, are there any other downsides? If you made this decision recently did you buy from official Subaru dealer or import, and why?

Cheers

 

Make sure to account for insurance difficulties / greater premiums as well.


[Edited by jhrfc1 - 7/16/2003 2:13:53 PM]

 

Weve just been having a brief discussion on this subject

See http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...hreadid=230292

 

A car supermarket in Slough are selling new age WRX's for 16599!

 

speaking from the import side of the fence I've had no difficulties at all. Servicing is always fine, insurance is fine as well. The only downside, as you say, is the warranty.

Oh, and deciding what to do with all the cash you save...

 

You can get a better price than that, of that I am fairly confident. Also, see full reply on other thread

 

Where's it imported from? If it's EU, you'll still get a three-year warranty (though not precisely the same warranty).

Other issues:
- have to pay for first (1000 mile) service. Cost me £150.
- insurance may be higher, some companies won't quote - especially if you don't have an alarm fitted
- PPP, if you want it later, must be fitted in the country of origin to maintain your warranty
- local dealers are less interested in helping you
- warranty fixes may be more difficult to organise (the dealer has to jump through hoops to get the money, so is naturally reluctant)
- resale will be lower, especially if you want to part-ex with a dealer.
- currency charges, transfer fees, etc may push up the price - unless that price includes all that. And beware that the rate may change at the last moment.

Unless you're right on the limit of what you can afford, I really wouldn't recommend it for a saving of £1000. I saved much more than that, but still wished I'd gone for a full UK model.

 

What would the additional 2 year warranty be worth? And i dont know how good the subaru alarm would be but how much it cost to have a similar aftermarket item?

My way of thinking is, £2000 is a fair wedge of cash BUT...

£300 - £500 for a decent alarm?

and

£500 - £700 for a decent two year warranty. Airbags? Can you put a value on them?

So lets say £1000 to add the bits you dont get, makes it £1000 cheaper and i feel thats a small price to pay for a UK model.

 

Have just purchased a 5 door WRX, from main Subuaru dealer. I did a v.good deal that slightly beat your best price by a few hundred £s. Trick is have no trade in and haggle like mad with all local dealers, letting them all know what each other is offering ! They don't like Dutch Auctions - but tough !!

I ended up haggling for a week with all the dealers over a 120 mile radius. Also try freebies, I got a load thrown in (no PPP I am afaraid !!) but things like mats, mud flaps, etc etc to the value of a couple of hundred £s.

Also I considered the import route, but with a combination of the Euro excange rate worsening and having paying for extras such as alarm, doubts about a valid warranty and my discount meant it was'nt worth the hassle and wait of getting an import or a Motorpoint car !

So my advice is get the good local deal and enjoy !!