I got my 05 STi from a private party for 26.5 with 19k miles on the clock.....it was in mint condition though.

 

Anyone else?

 

I'm seeing things all over the map, but things that seem to hold true are that a year old STi (which will soon mean an 06) will be around $28K and a two year old one will be around $25 or $26K. I would think you should be able to pick up an 04 for $22-$23K. I'd go in pre-approved and offer $22K on one of the 04s. If they don't budge, tell them you'll wait for a used 06 to pop up at $28K. It won't be long until the 07s will be in showrooms.

 

I got my 05 back in Feb with 9,500 miles on it. I paid $27,800 for it. WRB, short shifter, boost gauge and the keyless entry/auto dimming/compass mirror.
One thing you can also try to do is contact the PO of it and ask him if it was ran hard. Since they don't own it anymore and have nothing to lose, they should be pretty honest with you. I found my PO's number in one of the service slips (which tells you right there it was cared for). The PO said it was meticulously maintained and the only reason he had to sell it was he was starting a family.
Either I got a very very good deal or the used car dealers leave a lot of haggling room. Do your best in negotiating and be prepared to walk if they won't agree with you.

 

Offerning $22-23 sounds good..I went to go look at two of them today (black and silver), dealership was closed, they both look really clean! One of them had a curbed rear rim though not too bad. I did find another silver one with less miles for $2k less than the dealership that I know, so I could always show them that I could go to another dealer and get it cheaper. That might make them budge with not wanting to loose a sale. Thnanks everyone! Kepp it comming if you have any more ideas.

 

Where are you located? Location makes a huge difference in what you should pay. I had to pay $26.5k for an 05 STi, which was actually a huge bargain, but that's because I live in the bay area in cali. Everything here costs more because of the demand and just the way of life here. mike05STi got his for much less with less miles because he lives way out in tennessee, so it all depends on where u live.

 

Where are you located? Location makes a huge difference in what you should pay. I had to pay $26.5k for an 05 STi, which was actually a huge bargain, but that's because I live in the bay area in cali. Everything here costs more because of the demand and just the way of life here. mike05STi got his for much less with less miles because he lives way out in tennessee, so it all depends on where u live.

Actually, I purchased the car from a car lot in Wyoming, PA (not too far from Scranton/Poconos). I flew up to Philly; the car salesman came to pick me up. I drove the car back to Nashville. It was about 830 miles. I couldn't find what I wanted for how much I wanted to pay for it, with the options I wanted on it, anywhere around Nashville.

 

I live in SE Massachusetts near Rhode Island. I have not seen too many STi's or even 2004-2005 WRX's for that matter. I don't know if that would help or hurt me...Dealership that I went to that had 4 STi's is down to 3 so that makes another one that's on the road around my area.

 

Actually, I purchased the car from a car lot in Wyoming, PA (not too far from Scranton/Poconos). I flew up to Philly; the car salesman came to pick me up. I drove the car back to Nashville. It was about 830 miles. I couldn't find what I wanted for how much I wanted to pay for it, with the options I wanted on it, anywhere around Nashville.

Got me there. :wiggles: But you did prove that location does make a difference.

 

Going in on Wednesday to look at them. I also saw quite a few 06 TR's for $25k, so I might have to see about that too, maybe a better deal in that. Thanks again everyone!

 

The TR's are nice, but it's nicer to have the powertrain/suspension/brakes that's included in the STi. The TR's still only get the 5 MT, which is not nearly as strong as the STi 6 MT, and the 6 MT has DCCD as well. Plus the STi comes with brembo's, HID's and a better suspension. The TR would be awesome if you want a brand new car, but if your willing to get a car with some mileage, get an 04 or 05 STi. ....yeah i'm a little biased

 

Got me there. :wiggles: But you did prove that location does make a difference.

Yeah, I just saw your location. I'm sorry. Yep, that would make a difference. You could still do what I did and get a Southwest ticket and fly somewhere to buy one where the prices DON'T suck. Or are Southwest tickets expensive in Cali too? Or better yet, move somewhere where it isn't so expensive. Y'all's housing prices are #$&%@!& ridiculous dude. Houses (nice ones) here are around $100 a square foot (even brick ones with a big back yard). I guess that's the price you guys pay for living in Cali. Hehe...call it the Sun Tax.
But seriously, find one that is far enough away to be less expensive, but close enough to where you wouldn't wear yourself out driving it back. I got my plane ticket from Nashville to Philly for about $100, and you can find internet deals for cheaper than that.

 

Yeah, I just saw your location. I'm sorry. Yep, that would make a difference. You could still do what I did and get a Southwest ticket and fly somewhere to buy one where the prices DON'T suck. Or are Southwest tickets expensive in Cali too? Or better yet, move somewhere where it isn't so expensive. Y'all's housing prices are #$&%@!& ridiculous dude. Houses (nice ones) here are around $100 a square foot (even brick ones with a big back yard). I guess that's the price you guys pay for living in Cali. Hehe...call it the Sun Tax.
But seriously, find one that is far enough away to be less expensive, but close enough to where you wouldn't wear yourself out driving it back. I got my plane ticket from Nashville to Philly for about $100, and you can find internet deals for cheaper than that.

hehe...I'm in college right now and had to drive back to the bay area to look at/test drive/pick up the car. I only had a window of two days to get a car and the one I found was perfect. The seller even let me drive his EVO VIII MR for a bit.

 

Just wondering how price negotiation works when you have a car to trade in? I'm not sure if I'm going to but I would like to know if I do need to. Is there still a way to get a lower price for the car you wan to purchase AND get the amout that you want for the trade? Should have some numbers to work with tomorrow after my visit to the dealer.

 

A really good friend of mine owns six main dealerships in Phoenix. I get to see how the car dealers work.
Here is the scoop. Used cars have so much room in them, it is REDICULOUS! There is lots of room there. Most dealerships make more money on their nicer used cars than they do a new car.
NEVER trade your car in. Sell the thing on the open market and bring that cash in to talk to the sellers. Your cash will say WAY more than your trade in. The 'basic' deal for trade in's, on a nicer car like an STI is they want your car for free. They will try to give you in trade what they have in cushion on the used car. (This is your average driver car, not a nice car.) That way they sell the car for exactly what they have into it, and get your trade in for free. Then sell your trade in for total profit. When they tell you what they are giving your car for trade, they are twisting the numbers so hard. In reality, you are not getting anything near that for your trade in. They jack the numbers around so bad. But they cannot jack around cash.
Good luck man!
Go get em'

 

Went to the dealer and took a 2004 Java Black Pearl STi for a ride...all I can say is WOW. It was my first time driving one and it was great. Sticker price was $27,588 they went down to $26,983 and didn't look like they wanted to budge more. Thier reasoning was because it has aftermarket navigation and the Kicker sound system. They have a silver one for $1k less that I could probably get them down a littler lower. Let me know if you guys think I could get better elsewhere.

2004 Java Black STi
2004Silver STi

 

Went to the dealer and took a 2004 Java Black Pearl STi for a ride...all I can say is WOW. It was my first time driving one and it was great. Sticker price was $27,588 they went down to $26,983 and didn't look like they wanted to budge more. Thier reasoning was because it has aftermarket navigation and the Kicker sound system. They have a silver one for $1k less that I could probably get them down a littler lower. Let me know if you guys think I could get better elsewhere.

If I can get my 05 for 27,800 with 9,500 miles on it, you can definitly get an 04 with 41,000 miles for way less. Offer them like 25,000-25,500 and see what they say. I wouldn't pay more than 25,7 or 25,8 for it. That has 41,000 miles on it, for that much???? :whoa: Be prepared to walk if they won't work with you. The more I see prices of other STis around the country, the more I realized that I may have gotten a better deal than I thought when I bought it. Just be patient and keep looking.
Also, seriously consider looking for one at a small or 'ma and pa' dealership or lot. Sometimes they don't fully know what they have.
Or even a private seller. You'll find better deals. Sometimes someone wants to sell one quick because they want/need another vehicle or their boss (wife :rotfl: ) tells them to sell it because she is pregnant.

 

Sometimes someone wants to sell one quick because they want/need another vehicle or their boss (wife :rotfl: ) tells them to sell it because she is pregnant.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That's exactly how I got mine! The owner's wife drove the STi and he drove his Evo MR. She got pregnant and couldn't drive it anymore because she is like 5'1", so she sat really close to the steering wheel.

Keep looking, and don't pay more than the car is worth. I personally don't think it's worth it to buy a used car from a dealership because dealerships rip you a new one when u buy a used car from them. My car probably would have been close to 29k at a dealership. Private sellers are the best people to buy from because it's much cheaper. As long as you know what you are looking at when you check the car out you'll be fine. A carfax report is also always a good idea as well. Just keep an eye out and you'll find your baby in no time.

 

Thanks everyone! I'm starting to think that I am going to wait till the spring to buy. I will deffinetly keep looking right now though. Not too many Private Sellers around here right now but I'm sure that they'll be out there soon. BTW..what DO you guys think these cars are worth right now or how much they'll be worth in the next 6months?