[Darth Jader]

Alright, so here I am, house sold, all other expenses covered, about two months away from moving to Vancouver to start the stunt driving career, and about a week away from wiring the full cash transaction for my '08 STi (still negotiating "out the door price" and which - if any - accessories they're going to include free of charge). Importing it to Canada (hey, I'll put up with "wrong" speedo and odo for a while if it saves me $10,000). So anyway, just read these topics on faulty paint and engine knocking. Last 6 digits on chassis Code on the one I'm buying is 826717 any ideas on whether this individual car would be in the clear?

I've wanted one of these for the past 12 yrs., don't want my first experience with the indomitable STi to be a nightmare.

Some other questions for those who may know more about STi's in the US: is there a governor chip in the US models? Also (I am not entirely sure what taxes or delivery, etc. charges are added on in the US, what should the final cost to me be when I drive off the lot? Getting the base model STi, I've been quoted for $38,000 something, but this doesn't seem right (according to Subaru.com Homepage this should be the price of the car with bbs wheels plus a few accessories added on)

Thanks in advance

Darth Jader.

[Wales Garage]

car has drl's from the factory, so that isnt a problem. us speedo reads in KPH on the smaller ring, so no worries on that. what is the production date on the door sticker? if its 01/08 or later the car must have a free inspection done by the dealer before released to the consumer. only a handful of cars were affected by this. to my knowledge none have appeared to be owned by people on this site. the paint issue is affecting all new cars being sold in the us. get a clear bra and a set of rally armor mud flaps, and go beat the hell out of your new car.


P.S. Welcome to the DARKSIDE.

[WRXGuyInUSA]

Get a Cobb AP as soon as possible! Makes the car feel amazing...

[Rum]

Originally Posted by Darth Jader

I am not entirely sure what taxes or delivery, etc. charges.

I don't know which of these you have in Canada - I imagine it's pretty similar. But anyway in the US, aside from the negotiated price for the car you have the following fees:

1) destination charge, approximately $600-$700 - this will be on the window sticker.
2) sales tax, which varies by state
3) Licence fees, document fee, assorted other small fees.

Generally people say estimate the total price as your negotiated price plus destination plus 10%.

[Darth Jader]

ok, excuse my ignorance (I've always been into minor modifications - used to rally race with a 1990 Civic Si, had it modified just enough to compete, did rather well), but what is "drl" and "ap"?

So it sounds to me then that $38000 (usd) final price (before I take it across the border), along with fog lights installed, and (lol) STi keychain, seems like it should be a pretty decent deal then...

thanks guys.

p.s. as a side note, someone got me in contact with a guy in Vancouver, who can apparently import an STi ver. III or EVO IV for me, for about $15,000....neither would perform quite as well as the 08, but they'd be pretty freggin cool, and I'd save $25k....opinions?

[waktasz]

$38k for a base model with fog lights is way too much. You should easily be able to get one for invoice, which should be $33,655, plus accessories, plus tax.

DRL means Daytime running lights and AP is a Cobb Accessport, used for reflashing the car's computer. Basically "chipping" it, although not really.

[Darth Jader]

no no, we're talking about a base model STi, not Impreza, i.e. without nav & BBS. Dewey Griffin Subaru Bellingham Subaru Dealer Washington Subaru Dealer Skagit Valley Subaru Dealer Outback Forester basically this car with fog lights installed.

In response to a previous question, in Canada we have PST GST, delivery charge plus a whole host of bs charges. In short, msrp on an 08 STi is $45,995....final cost ends up being just shy of $52,000. BBS and nav. aren't options, they come standard.

so, there's no speed limitor, as I've heard some US vehicles have? I won't need to get any quick mods done to reach the vehicle's top speed?

Also, after reading a couple topics, I've begun to wonder...does the 08 come with a boost gauge from the factory?

[waktasz]

I realize you're talking about a base STI. A US model base STI has an invoice price of $33,655. If you are buying it in the US, $38k is way too much.

No boost gauge standard.

[Darth Jader]

well, base msrp on this one is $36,149, so either they're marking it up quite a bit...or...I'm missing something here...

[Rum]

Originally Posted by Darth Jader

well, base msrp on this one is $36,149, so either they're marking it up quite a bit...or...I'm missing something here...

MSRP is always a good 5-10% over invoice. It is completely normal for a car to MSRP at 36xxx and have an invoice price of 33xxx.

[Darth Jader]

After having a look at Subaru.com Homepage (who's listed base msrp is $34,995, and pricing the accessories they have on the specific one I'm about to buy, with destination charge, it comes to $36,094 (which means they marked it up by $100), so if what Rum said about adding 10% to the final cost is true, it should come to $39,700 something. Sales person and I are discussing $38,000 with Fog lamp kit (and STi keychain) added. This is what I was considering when I said earlier that it sounded like I'm getting a reasonable deal. Car is being sold from Washington (I have no idea what state laws are on taxes there) If I'm missing something here, please feel free to call me a n00b and set me straight, lol (I'd rather get flamed in an obscure thread, than get shafted in a deal on the first new car I've ever bought)

I assume then that the heated seats come standard then...or is that a Canadian specific thing (since it's "so cold" up here, lol)

Well alright then, Boost gauge is another one of those early installs I'm gonna have to do (after the bra, flaps, skidplates, AYC, BOV, (and perhaps) JDM spec twin scroll turbo.

Oh, and what about auto run after you turn the ignition off? (so the turbo has time to cool before it's left sitting).

oh, crap, I just read what you said, so, you're saying I should be able to get it for $35,000-$36,000...

[Rum]

Go to Edmunds.com to price out what this specific car's invoice price should be with the accessories that it has:

Edmunds.com - 2008 Subaru Impreza Car Pricing Guide

[Rum]

Actually 38K out the door isn't all that high - by my calcs it comes out to about a grand over invoice once you factor in the fogs and a few hundred bucks for accessories. You can do better though.

[waktasz]

38k is still high.

And Jader, he's not saying that add 10% to the final price, he's saying that MSRP is about 10% above invoice.

Also, there are no heated seats on US models, at all. Even as an option.

Take my price and add what, $500 for fogs and a keychain?

[Darth Jader]

Alright, thanks. I needed something like that scan of the invoice to see what it should all run.

I thought he meant 10% in licensing fees, and other charges. I assume they're going to go a little higher for the trouble of sending info to the border, and doing all the work to export it to me.

in the end it means I'd be getting burned by about $1500 (US), given the potential risk they run by selling to a Cdn, I wonder if it'd be worth arguing over. Was thinking of doing a wire transfer, but might be simpler to deposit with my mastercard, then bring cash with me, and try to negotiate em down $1000 or so....oh wait, lol, in taking $38,000 USD out of my account...I'd get shafted by more than $1000 in bank fees...

well, I still have 1-2 weeks to figure it all out for sure...so any suggestions on how to negotiate down the price by $1000 or so would be welcome (whether getting them to lower the cost a bit more, or getting them to add options, I don't really care).

Thanks for the info guys, excuse my ignorance over the american car market, lol.