Too good to be true?

"TheOnelectronic" (theoneelectronic) 08/12/2015 at 19:15 • Filed to: None

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While looking for a used BRZ, I found this car, brand new, listed at a whole $3k under sticker from a MD dealership.

What concerns me, though, is the following disclaimer:

“The Internet Price includes all current applicable manufacturer rebates and incentives, but you may not qualify for all of these offers. Examples include but are not limited to military discount, recent college graduate, and loyalty programs.”

Maybe it’s just legal ass-covering, but it does open the door to the fact that this insanely low price might be due to several discounts I don’t qualify for, and basically is just the ever popular “get them in the door” tactic of internet car sales.

What’s Oppo’s take on this?

bob and john > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:16

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thats EXACTLY what that is.

Decay buys too many beaters > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:19

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Might as well take a look, worst case scenario do a hoon and run test drive.

TheOnelectronic > Decay buys too many beaters 08/12/2015 at 19:20

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The dealership is ~2 hours away, in Baltimore, which makes it a significant time investment.

Shark-Attack > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:22

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Go check it out, if they waste your time, waste their time with what he said ^^^

Entropic Force > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:24

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Honestly, 2 hours doesn’t seem that far away when talking about a car. I’d at least check it out, see what’s up.

Worst case scenario, you get to give them the middle finger as you drive away.

Sam > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:25

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It could be some sort of weird special order that they’re having a hard time selling. But the rebates you don’t qualify for is WAY more likely.

SonorousSpeedJoe > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:28

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It’s what you think. When I helped my family shop for a new car for my mom, we went to a Hyundai dealership that listed a 2013 Santa Fe Sport for a lower price than similarly-spec’d units from other dealers - the salesman explained that the price was just what we’d see if we got all possible discounts/rebates, and he used the disclaimer (which we admittedly did not read) to claim that there was no bait-and-switch involved.

TheOnelectronic > Sam 08/12/2015 at 19:29

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It’s a BRZ. It literally has two trim levels and nothing else.

Textured Soy Protein > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:29

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Most dealerships have an internet sales department. I’m sure you could email them and get some additional details on the price without physically going to the dealership. They do this all the time with customers, local or otherwise.

More than once, I’ve bought a car by finding a bunch of examples of the same car, which I’ve already decided I wanted, then getting offers from the internet sales departments from several dealers in like a 200 mile radius of me. (I’m in Madison WI which is not a very big car market. If you’re within a couple hours of Baltimore you probably don’t need to do a 200 mile radius.)

Whoever sends the best initial offer, I send that back to the other dealers and see who makes the best counter-offer.

According to Subaru’s incentives page (I entered 21117 for the zip code) the only offers on the BRZ at the moment are:

$349/month for 36 months lease, 36k miles, and $2149 due at signing

0% financing

But really, I would just email the dealer about the price and see what they say.

Sam > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 19:50

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Huh. Then yeah, they’re baiting you in with a heavily rebated price, only to find out that you qualify for none of them.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Sam 08/12/2015 at 19:57

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Former Subaru owner rebate, former brz owner rebate, military, friend of the owner rebate, blonde with huge knockers rebate, in house financing rebate...

Forgetful > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 20:15

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Call the dealership and tell them you’re 2 hours away. They might buy you a tank of gas or lunch or something. I’ve heard dealerships advertise stuff like that on the radio.

Sn210 > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2015 at 21:54

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There’s no “price includes a $3k trade” disclaimer anywhere, is there?

TheOnelectronic > Sn210 08/12/2015 at 21:55

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No. THAT would be utterly ridiculous.

Dunnik > TheOnelectronic 08/14/2015 at 17:50

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Yea, pretty sure what you suspect is correct. By now, its common knowledge that dealers internet storefronts are solely designed to lure you in to the dealership itself.

2015 Subaru BRZ, $22,000! There’s never been a better time to buy!

LEGAL DISCLAIMER Price includes the following adjustments and discounts: family discount, employee discount, government worker discount, the sales manager is your buddy discount, seniors discount, college graduate discount, factory rebate, government rebate, mail-in rebate, rebate rebate, Martian colonist rebate. Please note that not all customers will be eligible for all (or any) discounts. To inquire further about this or any other of our fine vehicles, please show up in person as we cannot manipulate you as efficiently over the phone or via email.

TheOnelectronic > Dunnik 08/14/2015 at 17:52

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I did manage to make it work for me. Got a local dealer to beat the probably-a-scam internet price.