My partner and I are planning to buy a 2024 Forester Premium from our local Subaru dealership this weekend. We’ve already agreed on a fair price, so we’re ready to close as long as everything checks out.
I’m wondering what to expect from the Finance and Insurance office. Are any of the add-ons worth considering? My first thought is to decline everything and look into add-ons later if needed, but I’d love to hear what others think.
We’re financing at 2.9% APR for 72 months with 25% down. Does that make GAP insurance unnecessary? Any other products that might actually be useful? Appreciate any advice!
I think the Subaru Gold Plus extended warranty (Added Security) is worth looking into.
Prices vary a lot, but you can negotiate. When I bought my 2024 Outback Touring XT, they first quoted me $4,800 for the 10-year/100k-mile plan, which is way too high. They quickly dropped it to $3,800, and I pushed them to $3,000. I was hoping for $2,500 but settled since I felt it was fair.
They also tried to add $1,700 in dealer extras, and I got them to cut that in half. It included a ‘batteries for life’ deal, which probably won’t pay for itself, but at least it’s something.
One thing to watch out for is nitrogen-filled tires—total gimmick. When the finance guy started explaining it, my salesperson, who I’ve known for a while, just rolled his eyes and immediately removed it when I declined.
Best advice: go over every line item carefully, ask questions, and push back on anything that seems unnecessary. Good luck!
Forgot to mention GAP insurance. Check with your insurance company first.
I declined the dealer’s GAP coverage because my insurance company offers it for about $6 a month, which was way cheaper than what the dealership wanted. Definitely worth looking into.
With 25% down, you probably don’t need GAP insurance.
If you’re considering the 10-year/100k warranty, don’t pay more than $2,500. Most people get it for somewhere between $2,100-$2,400. Dealers will try to tell you that you have to buy it right away, but that’s not true. You can buy it from any Subaru dealer before your factory warranty expires, and the price doesn’t change based on mileage (as long as you’re under 36k miles).
The maintenance plan can be a good deal. I got a 36,000-mile plan (6 oil changes) for less than what I would’ve paid out of pocket. Can’t remember the exact price, but after doing the math, it was worth it for me.