I want to start by saying thanks. I’ve learned a lot obsessively lurking here the past 6 months. I’m planning to get an Outback next month, but thanks to every Subaru post by @Ursus I’m comfortable with buying being the better path…spend countless hours on a lease website and decide to buy…wtf.
I need a dealer recommendation. Who’s easy to deal with and gives whatever meager discount typically comes with Subaru. Between trains/lyft/family, I’d say anywhere within 75 miles of Manhattan is reasonable.
Navel Gazing Portion
Has Subarus slow depreciation been tied to their status as a niche player and will that go away now that they trying to be a much bigger player?
I recommend Ramsey Subaru. I suggest you call and ask to speak with Clayton Mantel, cmantell@ramseysubaru.net He’s a sales manager there and I worked with him on my WRX STi purchase. I got in contact with him through the WRXClub forum. He was easy to deal with, no BS.
the usual push for warranty, and a bit on their financing, but nothing bad by any means, and easy to get to the bottom line.
You can drop my name, Chris Kugler, and mention that WRX forum and see what he can do for you. At the time he was running under invoice (but there was a $300 dealer fee).
I agree with your hypothesis, I think as Subaru becomes more of a volume player, the depreciation curve will normalize more. However, there vehicle mix also lends itself to be less depreciation prone, and somewhat unique which helps it still maintain some advantages.
Outback doesn’t have a lot of direct competitors.
Forester and Ascent are probably the closest to a normal SUV competition.
Crosstek straddles the line
The Legacy and Impreza I think suffer the most on resale as they are sedans or hatches which aren’t hot now.
You are welcome
Edmunds shows current trade-in value of 67% on my 2016 Forester and about 50% on 2016 S60 with 4k fewer miles. So, for me the choice is clear what to buy and what to lease
