2004 Forester XT Premium vs. 2005 Forester XT Premium

So you are considering a used vehicle. Unless the price difference is outstanding I would surly go for the 05.

The price I am looking at for the 04 is $22,300. Best I can get for the 05 is $27,500

I would take the '04.

Be wary in case the dealer loaned it out for test drives, you wouldn't want a Forester that had been repeatedly redlined in its first 500 miles.

Ian.

04 Forester XT AT

'05 has different (3 rather than 4 spoke) steering wheel; power driver's seat; maybe a few other minor cosmetic touches.

I would go for the '04. With only 500 miles they will sell it to you as a new vehicle with a full warranty. And you don't have to take the hit in depriciation. BlueSTi "Scary-Fast"

2005 as the 500 miles on the 04 was probably a lets-see-how-fast-it-is vehicle for wantabe race car drivers.

Remember this car is technically a year old with 500 miles on it. 500 miles is not new, it's a DEMO, and technically used.

According to Edmunds a '04 Forester X with 500 miles, automatic tranny, auto dimming mirror, and alloy wheels should retail at 20785 in my 06xxx zip code.

The XS with the same equipment is $21935.

I don't know the exact equipage, but the OP can find that out easily enough.

AFAIK, the warranty is transferable, not matter who you buy an '04 Forester from.

Barry

In my case, my STi had right under 864 miles on it. So, the dealer sold it to me as new. Including the 90 day warranty. I was told that any car with less than a 1000 miles was sold "as new". My STi was actually purchased by someone else who changed their mind about the car. Or should I say his wife changed his mind about the car. It saved me $40000. And I can tell you for a fact the dealer babied the car. The car never left the lot without a guarded escort. As a matter of fact when we were test driving it with the salesman in the back seat the lot called him twice to make sure everything was OK. He wouldn't let me get it about 4K when shifting and had the shift light set at 4000 rpm. BlueSTi "Scary-Fast"

Where are you? I can't figure out what 90 day warranty you're talking about. The OP is probably in the USA. Most US Subaru's are covered by a 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty, that is transferable to other people. Buying it new has nothing to do with warranty coverage. From Subaru's US web site:

"When These Warranties Apply These warranties are made by Subaru of America, Inc. (except in Hawaii) and apply only if the car was imported or distributed by Subaru of America, Inc. and sold to the first retail purchaser by an Authorized Subaru Dealer in the United States. Any and all repairs must be performed by an Authorized Subaru Dealer located in the United States. Every owner of the car during the warranty period shall be entitled to the benefits of these warranties. If the car is sold or otherwise transferred during the warranty period, it is recommended and requested that the new owner promptly send written notice of the transfer of ownership to:

Subaru of America, Inc."

Of course.

Purchased by someone else first, and then by you with 864 miles, is known as "used" where I come from, hence the $4000 discount. I'll bet the dealer didn't give the original purchaser all of his money back.

What about the guy who brought it back?

Barry

The 90-day warranty was for any cosmetic damage. Scratches in the dash, door panels, seats, ect. Basically, it covered anything that was a factory defect in manufacture or installation. This was in addition to the 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. My sales details showed the car as a New sale not a Used sale. Everything was indicated as new on all my contract information. Apparently the original owner had it for less than a month. I still had all the original owners information and contacted him. He had only driven the Sti approximately 500 miles. I'm located in the USA. My credit union loaned me the money towards a New vehicle not a Used vehicle. It makes a difference on how much money they will loan you. I would have to agree that it was a used vehicle because someone else owned it. But the dealership sold it to me under a new vehicle contract due to the mileage. I don't know what the legal ramifications of this are, but I was more than happy to take the discount. I drove both the WRX and the Sti and with the discount it was only a few thousand difference between the two. I opted for the Sti. I still think it was the best choice for the money.

BlueSTi "Scary-Fast"