(if you dont want to read all this - please read the last part as that contains my question.
So I finally purchased - day before Xmas (Monday)
I had done a lot of research (thanks everyone here who helped).
I sent out about 10 or 11 inquiries to dealers who had what I was looking for (black or brown 2.5 SAP).
I checked the Costco price first. It was -500 below invoice. My other inquiries turned up about the same deal - and 2 dealers did better. Up to 2000 below invoice. I wanted to go to a third dealer first cause I liked the experience I had with a sales guy when I test drove. So I went there asking him to match the best offer I had. Their car had a few options already on that I was looking for (the best offer dealer didnt)
I wont bore you with all the details of the games they played and what I did unless someone asks - but in the end - I got what I wanted. Maybe a few hundred more than I could of but I didnt feel a few hundred was worth leaving and starting over elsewhere - where options I wanted wld get top dollar. I felt I was still getting a good deal. They gave me the minimum I was looking for my trade and they beat my credit union financing by a point so I signed.
What I got:
2013 Outback Limited 2.5 w Special Appearance Package (black)
Options: Wheel Arch moldings, Splash guards, Puddle lights, Side Cargo nets
14 miles on car.
MSRP 34,733
paid 30,550 (including -250 car show coupon)
$4183 off MSRP
Thats WITH 3 of the 5 or 6 options I really wanted. They wouldn't budge on the price for other options and labor was a lot, so I held off on those.
I initially declined the Warranty (I HAD it on my last OB though). The finance guy offered it much lower at $1000 and I took it. (100 deductible). I am still a little unsure if I should have taken it. Im not sure with the 100 ded its a great deal - but whats done is done - they wore me down a bit keeping me there for 4 hours perhaps.
I LOVE the car.
I am just getting to know all the new features and right off the bat, while I love much about the car (I really do) - I can say the HK sound system sounds way worse than the premium sound system that was in the 2003 OB. Im a sound guy (mixer) by trade though and I know that there are a lot of factors that really affect this - shape of car, speaker placement, speaker quality, etc, and in general, cars are HORRIBLE places to try to have good sound, though that said - it can be done and I am very disappointed in the sound in this car compared to my 2003.
My question:
I still want 3 other options. I am not sure the cheapest way to get them and get them installed.
I want:
Rear Seat Protectors
Illumination kit (door sill & interior lights)
Side window deflectors
I dont know if I should just have a local dealer do it all (most expensive?)
Or buy the parts from the dealer and have my independent mechanic put them on (hes a Subaru specific mechanic), or if there is some cheaper place to get these same parts and have one or the other install.
Im also not sure if I could install these myself. Probably not the lights but maybe the others - if I had some instruction.
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks
oh and did I mention I love the car?