Subaru MasterCard - $2000 in coupons !!!

[Sumgai]

Well I really like the idea of getting " free" stuff for using a credit card. My favorite card has been an LL Bean VISA card but they have reduced the rebate on purchases to 1/2% of what you charge. Being a Subaru owner ( my 1971 FF1 Subaru died a while back and I just purchased a new 2001 Subaru AWD Forester ). I was glad to see the Subaru MasterCard being offered by MBNA.


The new program allows cardholders to earn up to $2,000 in Subaru Discount Coupons and can be used for a variety of exciting discounts on Subaru vehicles and maintenance.


Each time a spending level of $3,333 is reached, customers automatically receive a $100 coupon (3% of net retail purchases). Up to five $100 coupons can be earned per year for a total of four years (a $2,000 value), and can be applied towards the purchase or lease of a new Subaru vehicle, for scheduled maintenance, a Subaru Added Security Contract or a new automotive accessory.


http://www.subaru.com/frame_main.htm?page=/news/press_releases/pr_00_1101_MBNA_fr.html&start=news

[Twilight]

GM has some kind of similar deal.. but who wants to buy a new one anyhow.. you'll lose $2000 just driving it off the lot.

[helius]

You'd be surprised by how many people there are out there who just can't stand the thought of buying a used car... even one that's been "used" for less than a month. :)

[RyanJL]

Citibank offers a Driver's Edge card. A percentage of your purchases amount to credit towards any new vehicle purchase of any brand. It used to just be for Ford (competing with the GM card), but then Citibank changed it to allow the credits to go towards any brand of vehicle.

[Sumgai]

I bought a demo/loaner car from the dealer ( never registered - so it would qualify for the rebate coupons as it's considered a new car - they just put a dealer tag in the window when it was driven ) - 2001 and got 18% off sticker which brought it to about 6-8 % off invoice ( he still made money because of his flooring price and unit rebate allowance from the manufacturer ). However to compensate he did throw in a 5 year manufacturers warranty at no charge to compensate for the 6,000 miles on the vehicle. Wish I had $2000 worth of coupons when I bought it.
I have a good friend in west Texas who owns a Ford dealership - he told me a dealer is foolish not to sell cars at invoice - get the sales numbers up and you get more inventory and more of the "hot sellers that are allocated to dealers". He stated the yearly check from Ford he got based on the number of units he sold the previous year paid his mortgage on the building, property taxes, administrative costs - including salary - basically the day to day costs of running the dealership. ALL the big money was made in the shop on parts, repairs and body work.

So if a dealer won't sell to you at invoice or less go some where else.... a $99 Southwest Airlines ticket can get you to just about any car dealer in the USA so look every where and use those prices to negotiate a deal with your local dealer.


Buying a new car and paying anything above invoice is not a wise move - there are too many deals out there in cars - dealers have too much inventory and they need to move some cars - good time to buy....