Subaru VIP Program

[statuskuo]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Yeah... don't count on it.

I wouldn't call it 100% official yet (as I haven't heard from SoA directly, although they are supposed to follow up with me next month), but the word I have is that the VIP team has decided that the BRZ is NOT going to be eligible for VIP program. Sorry guys.

I've read the opposite around the forums from dealers that ppl have talked to (in the state of CA) I wonder what the case will be...

[borge12]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Yeah... don't count on it.

I wouldn't call it 100% official yet (as I haven't heard from SoA directly, although they are supposed to follow up with me next month), but the word I have is that the VIP team has decided that the BRZ is NOT going to be eligible for VIP program. Sorry guys.

Dave, you know how to break hearts.

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Yeah... don't count on it.

I wouldn't call it 100% official yet (as I haven't heard from SoA directly, although they are supposed to follow up with me next month), but the word I have is that the VIP team has decided that the BRZ is NOT going to be eligible for VIP program. Sorry guys.

That's a pretty terrible decision if true. Scion here I come!

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by statuskuo

I've read the opposite around the forums from dealers that ppl have talked to (in the state of CA) I wonder what the case will be...

It's not a dealership decision by itself.

I'll save several hundred if the "unofficial official" word I recevied is wrong, however it fully matches what I expected anyways based on how SoA did this with the STI when it hit the US. I was hopeful for the VIP program but I honestly didn't expect it, that's why I made sure if VIP didn't happen I had another deal to fallback on

Regional reps should be delivering this data to dealers soon so I suspect we'll have more confirmation (or not) soon. I'm going to contact the VIP group tomorrow as well and see if they'll give me an offical answer in email.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Spaceywilly

That's a pretty terrible decision if true. Scion here I come!

I agree to a point, but you can probably find a dealer to do 500 over invoice, which from VIP is significant, but probably still less than Scion, and of course (as far as we know) if you want the features of the limited you are even more.. well limited

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I agree to a point, but you can probably find a dealer to do 500 over invoice, which from VIP is significant, but probably still less than Scion, and of course (as far as we know) if you want the features of the limited you are even more.. well limited

Yeah, it really depends on what the price difference ends up being. The two big features that were pushing me towards the BRZ are the HID headlights and the interior (I don't like the red accents on the FRS, and Scion interiors tend to use lots of hard plastics), but those things are not really worth much money to me. I'm getting the feeling the BRZ with standard nav and HIDs will come in at a few grand more than the FRS even if you manage to get it for $500 over invoice. To me, it just isn't worth the extra money for HID headlights and a different interior color (I don't want want nav). At the end of the day it comes down to which car has the features I want for less money.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Spaceywilly

Yeah, it really depends on what the price difference ends up being. The two big features that were pushing me towards the BRZ are the HID headlights and the interior (I don't like the red accents on the FRS, and Scion interiors tend to use lots of hard plastics), but those things are not really worth much money to me. I'm getting the feeling the BRZ with standard nav and HIDs will come in at a few grand more than the FRS even if you manage to get it for $500 over invoice. To me, it just isn't worth the extra money for HID headlights and a different interior color (I don't want want nav). At the end of the day it comes down to which car has the features I want for less money.

According to the Scion guys at the autoshow, the FR-S will have Nav anyways. Take that for what it's worth, as my opinion of those people was that they had no idea what they were talking about

I highly doubt the MSRP of the FR-S vs BRZ Premium will be more than a few grand (2k at most IMO) apart, let alone the difference between MSRP of the FR-S and the invoice+500 of the BRZ Premium. Doing so will basically make it a sure bet that no one would buy a BRZ Premium. People will pay a 500-1000 increase for HIDs, Nav (which may be standard on both) and losing the ugly red accents (and they are really ugly IMO) but if the FR-S stickers at, say, 22k and the BRZ Premium at 25K (say an invoice of 23.5 to hit your minimum of a few grand more for invoice+500) then it's obvious that the BRZ Premium won't sell. It'd be a pointless option to have IMO.

Assuming the FR-S comes in at 22k (which I doubt) the max I think the BRZ-Premium can sticker at is 24k.

I don't want to add to the pricing guesses, but I just don't think we'll see a 3k or more difference between the FR-S and BRZ Premium.

[Dave-ROR]

OK so who knows on the VIP thing.

Regional news is that it's off, SoA says "undecided".

ugh.

Like everything else I guess it's back to "wait and see" lol

[zigzagz94]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

According to the Scion guys at the autoshow, the FR-S will have Nav anyways. Take that for what it's worth, as my opinion of those people was that they had no idea what they were talking about

Did they say Nav would be standard or just offered as an upgrade option (much like the current pioneer premiun is a $500 upgrade from the standard Scion head unit).

That extra $500 could be the deciding factor for some on FR-S or BRZ premium depending on base prices of both.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by zigzagz94

Did they say Nav would be standard or just offered as an upgrade option (much like the current pioneer premiun is a $500 upgrade from the standard Scion head unit).

That extra $500 could be the deciding factor for some on FR-S or BRZ premium depending on base prices of both.

They repeatedly said that car will come exactly as shown in Detroit, which had the pioneer premium head unit. Again though, I wasn't confident in anything they said really.

[zigzagz94]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

They repeatedly said that car will come exactly as shown in Detroit, which had the pioneer premium head unit. Again though, I wasn't confident in anything they said really.

Thanks Dave.

That's interesting. Maybe Tripjammer was right and Scion plans to offer the Bespoke audio system standard. If that's the case, then choice between FR-S and BR-Z premiun bought with Subaru VIP program just became a very hard one. I can't see the prices in that scenario being more than $500-$1000 apart, and the Subie would have HIDs.

[Buggy51]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

OK so who knows on the VIP thing.

Regional news is that it's off, SoA says "undecided".

ugh.

Like everything else I guess it's back to "wait and see" lol

Huzzah! Hope has been restored!

XD

at any rate, I think the Scion thing is also a "wait and see"

I can see adding hte Bespoke as a marketing tool to justify a higher FR-S Price though to balance against the yen. I personally think that's a terrible idea and wish that the BRZ also had nav as an option as well. Sigh... deciding factor for me really is price. Hope for the best! Save for the worst!

[Brett]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Also as stated above, you need to be a member for at least 6 months before you get the VIP pricing.

I apologize if someone already pointed this out, but there are some organizations that you can donate to and get the discount immediately. For example if you join ASPCA's Founder's Society. Joinging the Founder's society requires a donation of more than $500. It is not cheap, but you may save more than that, and the money goes to a very good cause. Something to consider.

I contacted ASPCA to verify this, and here's what they had to say (bold emphasis mine).

Originally Posted by ASPCA

Dear Brett,

Thank you for your interest in the Subaru VIP program. We truly appreciate
your support!

As a Founder's Society member, there is no time restriction for the
discount. To request a form, please provide your full contact information,
member ID# (if known) and the name of the dealer you will be visiting. You
will then receive the form via email directly from Subaru. They will also
send a copy to the dealer. Each form is valid for 40 days, and a new form
must be requested after that time.

Thanks again for your interest. Please let me know if you have any
questions.

Brett

[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by Brett

I apologize if someone already pointed this out, but there are some organizations that you can donate to and get the discount immediately. For example if you join ASPCA's Founder's Society. Joinging the Founder's society requires a donation of more than $500. It is not cheap, but you may save more than that, and the money goes to a very good cause. Something to consider.

I contacted ASPCA to verify this, and here's what they had to say (bold emphasis mine).

Brett

Thanks for this info. If I buy a BRZ instead of a FR-S I will definitely go this route. ASPCA is certainly a good cause and I encourage everybody that plans to buy a BRZ to do the same.