Subaru VIP Program

[tranzformer]

Rather than clog up the Scion thread with info on this I figured I would put it in here for those interested in going the Subaru route rather than the Scion route and wanting to save some money.

Here is a link showing the programs/organizations that qualify: http://www.subaru.com/company/partnerships/index.html

Really anyone that you can qualify to be a member for would be fine. Personally I feel that LNT as an organization has a great mission and does something good for our society.

Just about every organization will have something similar to below on their website talking about the Subaru VIP program:
LNT= http://www.lnt.org/programs/subaruVIP.php
ACA=http://www.americancanoe.org/site/c.lvIZIkNZJuE/b.4884957/k.CAE0/Subaru_VIP_Program.htm

So you might wonder how much will it save you by going 2% below invoice? Yahoo auto or Edmunds is a great place to start: http://autos.yahoo.com/subaru/

Just a few examples:

Tribeca Touring has an invoice of $33,611. You would get it for 2% below this or 32938.78 or about $2850 off MSRP.

Legacy 2.5GT Limited has an invoice of $29,259. You would get it for 28673.82, taking about $2720 off the MSRP.

WRX 4 door invoice of $24,079 and you would save about $1900 on it.

WRX STi Limited 4 door would save you $2765.

Now remember that is just off the base car price. Throw in some options like Nav and you save a bit more. But that is the starting point. You also get any incentives currently going on. Doubt there will be many 216a at the end of the year on the dealer lots for incentives, but say there were. If there was $500 cash incentive from SOA (Subaru of America) or 0%, you would get that on top of your VIP pricing. Pretty sweet if you ask me. Obviously you need to do your internet research and price quotes before you go into the dealership. Some customers could get a better deal (potentially but depends on many variables) on their own. However, if you don't want to deal with haggling and literally just want to walk into a dealership with a letter from SOA giving you the 2% below invoice and being done with the process in less than 10 min this is the way to go. Plus it counts on those cars on the dealers lot and those that are ordered. Since production is slow at the beginning and Subaru dealers might try to mark the car up/not budge on MSRP at all, this is a great way to get around that if you want the car right away. Otherwise you could also wait and see how things play out.





If interested you want the middle column (VIP Partners Program).

Hope this helps.

[ryun84]

Good post. I was looking into this when I was interested in purchasing WRX/STI. I believe you need to be a member for 6 months before the deal takes effect. The organization I was looking into had a one-year membership for a fairly low flat rate. That would give some extra time for decision making. Time your membership applications well. If you wait until the release date of the car, you'd have to wait 6 months before being able to purchase with the VIP pricing.

[tranzformer]

Yes that is correct, 6 consecutive months. I think some of the memberships can be as low as $30 for the year (LNT) and you might even get a free t-shirt. If you are serious about the Subbie version, this might not be a bad way to go.

[blur]

Wish the scion/toyota had something similar. What are you guys expecting base to cost? 25K, more or less?

BTW, with leave no trace, theres an option to donate any other amount, does that mean I can get membership for like $2?

[tranzformer]

Blur, I have no idea about price speculation. If it really will be Scion and Subaru only in NA, expect Subaru to possibly cost a bit more than the Scion and the Scion to cost less. That might be offset by different features that will come stock on the Subaru. But at this point that is only guessing. Otherwise I don't see why Scion would sell for the same as the Subaru.

Just realize that donating (i.e. $2 like you mentioned) is not the same as becoming a member. In summary donating ≠ becoming a member. You will have to spend at least $20 for the intro level. I would just recommend going for the $35 and get the t-shirt in the process. If you really want the Subaru > Scion, spending $35 to save well over a $1000 seems well worth it. Just remember you have to wait 6 months before you can get the paper work to get the car. So say car goes on sale spring/early summer of 2012, you will need to plan your membership accordingly.

[OldSkoolToys]

Might want to make sure one of your local subaru dealerships honor's the leave no trace VIP status before investing into it.

[blur]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Blur, I have no idea about price speculation. If it really will be Scion and Subaru only in NA, expect Subaru to possibly cost a bit more than the Scion and the Scion to cost less. That might be offset by different features that will come stock on the Subaru. But at this point that is only guessing. Otherwise I don't see why Scion would sell for the same as the Subaru.

Just realize that donating (i.e. $2 like you mentioned) is not the same as becoming a member. In summary donating ≠ becoming a member. You will have to spend at least $20 for the intro level. I would just recommend going for the $35 and get the t-shirt in the process. If you really want the Subaru > Scion, spending $35 to save well over a $1000 seems well worth it. Just remember you have to wait 6 months before you can get the paper work to get the car. So say car goes on sale spring/early summer of 2012, you will need to plan your membership accordingly.

Next saturday I'm going to the NY Auto Show to see the scion in person. I think it will be clear as to what I want to buy then =)

Oh and thanks, I'd rather donate 20 though... I have plenty of tshirts lol.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolToys

Might want to make sure one of your local subaru dealerships honor's the leave no trace VIP status before investing into it.

Guess you never bought a Subaru through the VIP program have you? It isn't whether they accept the LNT VIP status. Everything is done through SOA. Not sure why people are acting like this is the hardest thing ever? I have used it in the past and it is the easiest thing since slice bread. After 6 months you call your organization. Tell them you want a Subaru. They say ok. Ask you which dealer you want to deal with in your area. If you don't know or don't care they will pick the closest one to you. Then Subaru of America will send you a confirmation letter AND to the Subaru dealer of your choice. You just show the letter to the dealership and everything else goes as planned. It isn't that hard OldSkool.


Edit: You could actually haggle less than the VIP pricing if you really wanted to. It would depend on a lot of factors; is the car on the lot or being special ordered, is demand high for the car, how good you are at negotiating...etc. But SOA actually reimburses the dealer back the 2% from being under invoice. Sometimes you can actually split this with the dealer or you can haggle about the dealer holdback. Just depends on your skills and how much haggling you want to do.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by blur

Next saturday I'm going to the NY Auto Show to see the scion in person. I think it will be clear as to what I want to buy then =)

Cool. Not sure what you see at NYAS will even be the production version. Just keep that in mind. We all probably have several more months before we even see what the production versions will look like.

[OldSkoolToys]

"While dealer participation is strictly voluntary..."

I mean, it says it right at the top. What about my conclusion to this statement isn't logical? Is it brainless? The print says it. If I were trying to do this I would want to make sure my local dealership(s) are aware and honor whatever the fuck it is.

Maybe be a little less condescending eh? And what did you buy through that program?

[ryun84]

Yeap. Wouldn't hurt to give your local/favorite dealership a call or shoot them an e-mail to verify that they do accept VIP pricing for your specific club membership.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolToys

"While dealer participation is strictly voluntary..."

I mean, it says it right at the top. What about my conclusion to this statement isn't logical? Is it brainless? The print says it. If I were trying to do this I would want to make sure my local dealership(s) are aware and honor whatever the fuck it is.

Maybe be a little less condescending eh? And what did you buy through that program?

You wrote: "Might want to make sure one of your local subaru dealerships honor's the leave no trace VIP status before investing into it." This isn't any issue of whether a dealer takes a LNT or IMBA or ACA or ....etc. VIP program. There is just a (1/uno/single) VIP program. Doesn't matter how you got into it. Whether through a family friend who works at Subaru or through a partnership program. If you are worried about this dealing sounding too good and that a dealer will not take the VIP program all you would have to do is ask "Do you participate in the Subaru VIP program." That is all. You don't need to go down the list of "Do you accept VIP program from association X? What about Y? What about Z?" The dealer only cares about you getting the VIP program letter from SOA.

So yes, in that regard it is brainless as you wrote. This isn't trying to match up the right association with the Subaru dealer. This is just about getting the VIP program. What you should have stated was whether every dealer takes the VIP program. From my n=5 sample (contacted 5 local Subaru dealers) the answer was 5 out of 5 saying yes. Based upon my research of the VIP program I have never ever heard a dealer saying no to the program. That would be idiotic on their part, partly because they still make money on the transaction based off the money SOA kicks back to them. If for some reason they said no you could just contact the next dealer in your area or just call SOA and have them help you out.


Btw, what did I write that was condescending? I didn't even say anything negative about you in my reply. I only asked if you had bought a Subaru through the VIP program. That was all?

[OldSkoolToys]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

So yes, in that regard it is as brainless as you wrote.

You forgot an "as" in that sentence. And no, nothing about my post was 'brainless'. Misinformed, yes. Brainless, no.

My statement still makes sense anyways. Based on your image people would want to make sure their local subbie dealerships honor that shit before going through the hassle.

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolToys

You forgot an "as" in that sentence. And no, nothing about my post was 'brainless'. Misinformed, yes. Brainless, no.

My statement still makes sense anyways. Based on your image people would want to make sure their local subbie dealerships honor that shit before going through the hassle.

Chill out man.

And dont correct other peoples grammatical errors if your corrections are also wrong.

"it is brainless, as you wrote." is the properly punctuated and grammatically correct phrase.