bassoctopus

Sell it private for an extra couple of grand then go in and get a grand discount on the STi for cash.

It's common knowledge that if you trade with the dealer you lose both ways - no discount and crap px price.


[Edited by bassoctopus - 8/3/2003 9:24:37 AM]

Toonman1

"Well if they wernt mediocre and everyone wanted one, residuals wouldnt be rock bottom would they"

It's absolutely ridiculous to say the car's mediocre. Do you actually know what the word means? I know some car's are catching up speed wise, but as an overall, performance package, the WRX is huge fun, and pretty damned hard to beat. That's why it's still rated so highly by the motoring press - in the UK, Europe and North America - and by so many owners and non owners alike.

The Clio you mention is a fine car - fast etc etc (my Wife owned one), but it's so small and has such a crap driving position, I simply couldn't drive it. Granted at a generously proportioned 6'4", I'm a big guy, but in this day and age, I'm no Giant. It also has to be said, that the aforementioned Renault's certainly not snapping at the exhaust pipe of my WRX PPP when it rains. Residing here in the UK, it often does that...

I'm on my 5th new Scoob since April '94 and can remember the days when residuals were very, very strong, and still not "everyone wanted one"... Demand is one factor determining residual values, but there are many and varied other reasons. As I thought had been explained very well by a number of others contributing to this thread, the 2nd hand car market is in a rather poor state recently - lots of makes, not just Subaru.

As for values being rock bottom; I wish. We looked recently for a WRX Sportswagon for my Wife, and found prices pretty strong. We chose not to pay £15K for a 2.5 year old example with 40K on it, or £16K for a 2 year old, 32K car, when we can buy a new one for less then £20K. Someone does though, as both cars sold fairly quickly. I hear the stories about UK WRXs for £12K, but never, ever see any, and neither do any of my Pals... I'm sure my local Subaru dealer would like some of them too, as they'd fly off the Lot! They have no probs selling BugEyes, or BlobEyes either!

I also read stuff about Classics commanding higher prices than newer BugEyes. Hmmm. Read something about this in the SIDC forum and posted this:

SIDC Forum 10/06/03

"People keep telling me that too, but having just spent a couple of months or so looking for a car for my Wife, the marketplace doesn't bear that out much. I had a quick look in Autotrader, and of the 200 cars in the £10-12.5K band, there are only 4 BugEyes (2%) that are cheaper than Classics (and one of those is an accident repairable jobbie). In the £12.5-15K band, there are 24 WRXs (12%) out of 200 cars that are cheaper than the most expensive Classic. The Classics that do appear more costly, are usually STi variants, and a lot of the cheap WRXs have 50K+ mileages. We certainly didn't come across a single Classic at several local dealers in our £12.5-15K price bracket. They were all BugEyes and mainly 2001s. Neither did we come across any in the £10-12.5K band.

Having said that, anyone that wishes to pay that kind of money for a Classic is welcome to. I'd rather go for the newer car, knowing that all things being equal, it should be more reliable and cost less in general maintenance. I also think it's a way better car, but that's another debate."

Mediocre? You must be someone with exceptionally high standards - way higher than most of us in Scoobynet...

Cheers






[Edited by Toonman1 - 8/5/2003 5:26:06 PM]

( R6 CDW )

I have had the 03 since march and the spec as is follows.

03 wrx
wr blue
ppp
painted side skirts
quick shift
tinted windows
mud flaps
uk300 spoiler 9wr sport)
if you add these to the original price £20550
i reckon £23500 would be what subaru uk would want.

I went to subaru out side edinburgh (penicuke) "spelling" today with the intention of trading my now 10'000 wrx in for an sti.

I was insulted and offended and gutted and pi$$ed off" you get the picture", when the robbing ba$te@rds offerd mw £16461 for my pride and joy.

They can keep there sti and i'll keep wrex, but its there loss, they have just lost a customer , there are "other "performance car dealers in the country.

DIRTY ROBBING *******.

CHRIS

bogie

Chris,

Know how you feel, had the same experience last year at "bargain bugeye" time with my UK300.
In the end I have still got my UK300 as they a)weren't getting my car for what they offered, b)weren't getting any more of my hard earned cash!!
If things settle down (i.e. they stop taking the p*ss) then I may look again. Until then I still happy as **** with my UK300.

I sometimes feel that Subaru have degraded themselves to "average" car levels regarding residuals and customer service.

Our weakness is we just can't do without our Scoobs and they know it!!

Bogie

Neil Smalley

It's not really Subaru per se though, it's the state of the market and the dealers themselves as Subaru don't set the market value of second hand cars. In fact their preference would be to have strong residuals as it increases sales

There was an article last week on how used car values have collapsed over the past few months and I suspect that's what you're seeing here, that and a dealer that may not want your car and/or is a little greedy.

casper555

i bought 1 of the last of the classic shapes sports on a 51 plate payed £13500 swapped it for a turbo 2 weeks ago got £8000 for it but at least i have a turbo an lovin it just wished i'd got the turbo 1st time around would of saved a little money me thinks

p1doc

have a chat to ian armstrong at stan palmers,he gave me£3000 more than town and county for my p1
martin

Davestamf

Please - there are only so many exclamation marks to go round. Be considerate and leave a few for other users.

Luke

What did you expect to happen to the Scooby S/H market???
There are so many for sale and the image is going well down hill.

Pete Croney

Resale values are driven by the dealers. Subaru trade ins used to be very good but the £3000 price cut to shift the last of the 02s killed the value of the car, new or used. It was a big mistake and the marque won't recover from it.

In my early years of owning Imprezas, I lost a combined total of £1800 over my first 3 cars, in as many years. That figure would be 5 times as much today.

( R6 CDW )

I have today faxed a letter to colin noble, showing my disgust.

I will be looking else where, today, in the hope of getting an 03 sti.

chris

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Why not ring round some other Subaru dealers, they may well have a customer looking for your particular car with those mods.

Try these people:-

Turbo Centre: Martin Coles 01707 873388 / 07967 377347 www.turbocentre.co.uk

Proven: Keith Pattison 01428 652554 / 07771 547406

Gibsons of Brock: David Gibson 01995 640542 / 07710 378136

Beechdale: John Oldfield 01332 372555 / 07989 345226

Andrew Burt: Elliot or Andrew 01564 794455

Lancaster: Ron Raymond 01189 845555 / 07771 511288 / 07802 536414

Day of Chelmsford: Andrew Richards 01245 512115

Wilsons: Martin or Simon 020 8598 4100 / 07973 384307

Spring Park Motors: Keith or Martin 020 8777 1916 / 07957 237385

Marlborough: Murray Heywood 020 8568 1414

Sparshatts: 01489 785111 / 07775 508255 / 07860 218500

There are more, but these companies openly advertise that they are looking for imprezas regularly. They may be a long distance away but they will collect and as long as you describe your car accurately and accept that if you havent described it accurately the deal could fall through.

Might be worth ringing a few and see what offers you get to buy it. Then go back to your local dealer and ask for that big juicy discount because your not part exchanging

Leslie

I think as Neil says it is most likely to be the big decline in the used car market. I'm sure they would rather have your trade on the STI than not, but can't risk offering a higher part-ex price.

Les

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Dealers will always offer the lowest price to buy your car. If they think they can get away with. You'd be suprised at the amount of stupid people who would'nt be bothered about the price that's offered. Normally the ones who have more money than sense and like to have the latest "thing".

My dad's one of them. I'm yet to forgive him for trading in his immaculate 1987 911 supersports cabriolet (rare as hens teeth) for just £20k Next day it was on the forcourt for £28960 Bearing in mind he already paid over the odds for the car he part-ex'd it for!

As said earlier.... Robbing Bar-stewards



[Edited by ALi-B - 8/2/2003 12:03:26 PM]

spanner75

know just how you feel mate i have a wrx bug eye , mint inside and out serviced as per subaru guide and oil+ filter in between uk 300 lights WR boot spoiler clear side repertors and reflectors gold 18" prodrive alloys , leather seats (black and blue), 2k worth of I.C.E.

was offered £13,500 against a new wagon , told him where to go.

i agree with some of what neil said used car values have droped but i think some dealers are taking the pi$$ , they love low milage 12month old cars.

Boro

iTrader: (1)

And do you ever get back the money youv've spent on mods? Nope!

Best thing is to take them off, replace them with the originals and sell them on the for sale board.

Toonman1

Firstly, with the exception of the PPP, most of the extras you've had fitted, will be worth zilch at trade in time; some may even have a negative affect on value - the tinted windows for example. You've also got way above average miles in a short period of ownership - 10K in 5 months? Pretty good going.

To be honest, I don't think the price is too bad, but as the others have said, you'd be a fool to take the first offer anyway. Shop around and good luck!

Cheers

spanner75

i know you don't get your money back on mods , thing is the wagon i wanted had some mods pro drive spring kit , morrete(spelling soz)
twin head lights , prodrive exhaust , the price was £1,500 more than the standard wagons because of the mods, dealers can't have it both ways put my car in auto trader in the end and got £18,250.

Spooks

Saw Chris's car today( yes that was me in the Homebase car park waving like a loony) and its worth way more than what he was offered. I would go to Town and County in Perth if I was you, spoke to a great guy, Gary, sure he would help rather than insult ya.
I work for a garage but have no dealing with the prices but from what I have heard its bloody scandelous (sp?) what they do.
Good luck with the search for a Sti Chris but persoanally I would keep her as she is loverly.
Laters
Spooks

Toonman1

Chris

I know they're further south, but how about SG petch in Richmond (N Yorks): 01748 825757 (Jed) - done 4 great deals for me over the years, or GMD Subaru in Durham. We bought our 03 from them recently - another great deal, plus they're a new franchise, so will be looking to build a customer base: 0191 384 0070 (Nigel).

Both have got to be worth a call. Tell them Mike the Photographer sent you.

Cheers and good luck!

( R6 CDW )

Hi spooks al long last an eyeball, wasent sure if you saw me wave back, but rest assured, i was waving.

i'm sue iv seen a girlie drive your wheels too, tell her to wave back, or take the keys off her! (LOL).

I have a stand (alliance blinds) inside homebase, if yer passing my other half diane stands there daily, say hello and tell her who you are.

cheers

CavT

I think what doesn't help your cause is the amount of older scoobies in the hands of numpties. Generally, they like the tinted windows look, the Max Power look with everything they can stick onto the car to make it 'faster'. Unfortunately, this also has a negative impact on guys like you, who then get lumbered in the same bracket. Dealers will use any old excuse to try and knock a few quid off, and if your car looks remotely like its 'boyed' up, then they'll just trot out the 'what you've done to the car makes it harder to sell' crap!

As more Scoobies get owned by numpties, other people that would have considered buying one will be put off by the image. Almost getting to the state of a modern day equivalent to the XR3i (not in performance obviously, the intelligent will get the analogy!)

( R6 CDW )

every **** stop selling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leslie

Thats good advice-just takes a bit longer.

Les

Trucker Ted

Chris,i had the same thing happen to me at the dealers in Penicuik.Some blonde haired **** after an hour of messing around offered me £7.5k for my BMW ,car was immaculate with full service history and he offers me a grand lower than bottom book price.Gave me a bullsh*t story about it being hard to sell a car like mine???EHH!!Not very (Noble) of him!No wonder they can afford the fancy showroom!!

I eventually done the deal with Eaglesham garage where i was offered £9.25k (i was looking for around £9k for the car)

Mortywrx

When I bought my classic wagon it had black tinted windows on the back windows so out they came what a bitch to get the glue off must have been trying to get that off for a good 2 hours...

Hold out for as much as possible they cave in before you do.

Darren

Chins

As Toonman says most of the extras are not worth anything, except the PPP - that according to most dealers is worth £750.

If you try out there you can get WRX inc Met and PPP for about £19k and with a lot less miles. Dealers will always try and make a good couple of grand on the sale. Saying that, I got a WRX with PPP and high rear spoiler underwritten for £16,500 at the end of the year. £17,500 is realistically the best you can expect from a dealer - straight cash deal. Some will give you more, but give you less off the new car.

Jonathan

logiclee

I don't think the price is to far off considering the current market.

I know someone with a 18month old Alfa 156 Selespeed Veloce, 17000miles, £20000 new and has been offered £7500 trade in.

The market is swamped with second hand cars at the moment.

Lee

scoobypig

chris, I'm afraid I'm not too surprized by that offer, still a bit tight though.
Still, it saved you throwing even more away on an sti which you would have needed 2k for the ppp and then wished you'd waited for the 2.5/twin scroll etc.
I wouldn't buy any new car at present (except cooper-s).
Sell privately and buy a year old one from someone else who's taken the initial hit!

WillieF

Chris

I had exactly the same problem with that dealer. Took my last car there and was offered (to my mind) peanuts. Less than T&C!!

So I went to meet John Spicer of S&S services 01292880080 he offered my a much better price which resulted in him getting the sale. Since then they have all my service business and the order and fitting of lots of toys on the car (PPP, suspension ETC ETC )

Really nice people nothing is too much trouble for them ... go and speak to them I promise you it will be worth it...