I will be needing a new car (either used or new) in the near future and since I trust Costco, I plan on using their plan. (probably buying a Subaru Forester)
Outside of using Costco, my research says to stick to getting an “out the door” price” from a couple of dealers and not discuss financing, extended warranty or other “add ons”.
Has anybody used the plan and can share their experience. Does it make sense to initially go to the dealer (or 2) for such an “out the door” price and then go in through the Costco plan or skip right to Costco.
I will probably purchase for cash unless I can get a low interest rate that doesn’t increase the “out the door costs”
Extra Credit questions:
I’ve only heard positives about the Forester - does anybody have anything negative?
I used the Costco plan when I purchased my 2007 Tacoma. The dealership couldn’t give me an exact out the door price at the time until the truck got delivered. I was satisfied with the way things worked out, I purchased a basic manual truck with hand crank windows, the non electric package. I was recently looking into purchasing a new vehicle and i was able to get an exact quote so maybe things have changed.
Additionally, their brochure says “Save 15% on parts and service at participating service centers” (with some limitations, including NA at Costco tire centers)
That’s great. The way things are, I’d rather implement Clark’s plan of buying 2-3 year old used. Honestly, I’d like to buy a 2013 Corolla someday, and restore “the most boring car ever made”. That was the last year without the unreliable touchscreen.
I’ve used it. Dealers were straightforward but only 1 dealer in an area is contracted with, not every dealer. Prices were straightforward no haggle but I was able to make a much better deal by shopping around and directly contacting the internet manager by email regarding specific cars on their lots, the longer on the lot the easier to negotiate a good price. I’ll admit it’s a lot of work, but I think Clark would be proud of me. As far as the auto repair plan, I found the garages were general repair and didn’t specialize in my car’s make.
I’ve used the Costco Auto Program not just to buy a car, but to start a smart negotiation.
Example: The Costco price was listed at $25,000, but I ended up paying $23,000. (I do not recall the real numbers)
Here’s the trick: Use the Costco price (valid only at that dealership) as your baseline and let other dealerships compete to beat it.
I have no personal experience, but I have never heard or read anything negative about Forester. Note that my mechanic mentioned he has experienced delays in obtaining some Subaru parts. So, if you have a mechanic, check with them.
Has anybody used the Costco auto repair plan? If this is what I think, yes, it is just a coupon.
I’ve previously utilized the Costco Auto Program, and it’s a good choice if you would prefer a simple and no-haggle purchase. Costco’s set prices are typically fair and close to what you would normally have negotiated, though it is still good to seek out 1 or 2 “out-the-door” quotes from other dealerships just for comparison.
The Subaru Forester is a solid, safe, dependable choice which is roomy and utilitarian. Some users find the engine a bit of a dog compared to highway driving.
If you’re a cash buyer, the Costco experience was easy and pressure-free. For service, the Costco auto program can be a great savings provided a participating shop has a good reputation. Overall, it was a reasonable auto purchasing experience, particularly for those who favor transparency over the bottom dollar.