Canadian Subaru Dealers - Pound Sand

[pickles70]

Ugh I wish Canadian Subaru Dealers would just pound sand and stop complaining about all the US dealers that offer a Canadian section on their websites. I know of several US Subaru dealers that took down their Canadian section due to many complaints from the Canadian dealers.

Instead of the Canadian Subaru Dealers being a bully asking US dealers to take down the Canadian section of their webiste, they should be bullying the Subaru of Canada HQ for better pricing.

[BartBandy]

Instead of the Canadian Subaru Dealers being a bully asking US dealers to take down the Canadian section of their webiste, they should be bullying the Subaru of Canada HQ for better pricing.

QFT

There are higher distribution costs in a country of similar size but lower population density like Canada, and I think the market would swallow a 5-8% difference in price without crossing the border. But the difference in price for Subarus across the border is insane, and demonstrates how much more they are making from Canadians. The excuse of special Canadian-related vehicle content doesn't wash. How much does it cost to install a block heater? It ain't $4000.

The remaining problem for Canadian dealers is, if they could drop prices to be competitive with the US dealers, anyone who bought a Subaru in Canada in the past year would be furious. Anyone who bought just prior to the latest round of rebates should be furious if they aren't getting them.

[Time-Lord]

Ugh I wish Canadian Subaru Dealers would just pound sand and stop complaining about all the US dealers that offer a Canadian section on their websites. I know of several US Subaru dealers that took down their Canadian section due to many complaints from the Canadian dealers.

Instead of the Canadian Subaru Dealers being a bully asking US dealers to take down the Canadian section of their webiste, they should be bullying the Subaru of Canada HQ for better pricing.

Better prices on parts as well. Oxygen sensor for WRX in Canada $425 same part in US $195. I bought one recently and had it flown in overnight for $90 freight and still saved a bundle.
The only way to stop the higher prices in Canada is to not buy from the manufactures that are ripping off Canadians.

[Stickee]

Agreed. I've been driving Subarus for 10+ years. My family has had around 8 or 9 of them. I'm in the market for a new car and won't be buying new from a Subaru dealer here in Canada, that's for sure.

[dlander]

There are higher distribution costs in a country of similar size but lower population density like Canada

That's true for buyers on Baffin island, and other remote locations.
But not at all true for the Montreal/Ottawa/Toronto/Windsor corridor.

[jwstewart]

Agreed. I've been driving Subarus for 10+ years. My family has had around 8 or 9 of them. I'm in the market for a new car and won't be buying new from a Subaru dealer here in Canada, that's for sure.

Buy before Jan 3, because incentives for US dealers who export will be eliminated then.

[BartBandy]

That's true for buyers on Baffin island, and other remote locations.
But not at all true for the Montreal/Ottawa/Toronto/Windsor corridor.

Canada is a smaller car market than California. We simply can not achieve the economy of scale that the U.S. can. I agree that it only accounts for a small fraction of the price difference.

[dlander]

Canada is a smaller car market than California. We simply can not achieve the economy of scale that the U.S. can. I agree that it only accounts for a small fraction of the price difference.

It does not matter how big the U.S. is. What matters is how many people live within 50 miles of the dealership. The Toronto market is one of the biggest in North America.

[BartBandy]

It does not matter how big the U.S. is. What matters is how many people live within 50 miles of the dealership. The Toronto market is one of the biggest in North America.

Riiiiight...which is serviced by SoC, along with some decent-sized markets in Quebec, BC and Alberta.

How do we hold a candle to Bos-NY-Wash, Florida, Texas, California, Chicago, and all points in-between?

Look, we just don't have that buying power. But again, that doesn't mean we should pay 30% more.

[brokenteeth]

Canada is a smaller car market than California. We simply can not achieve the economy of scale that the U.S. can. I agree that it only accounts for a small fraction of the price difference.

It shouldn't count for anything as most Canadian manufacturers/dealers charge 2X-3X over US market for Freight/Delivery/Prep. Many US cars are ~$500 where many Canadian ones are $1000-$1500.

[Spray]

Yeah you guys gotta think it's only 10 hours drive to where Legacies are made. Should be no difference in price really :S

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

All of this stuff is irrelevant. If dealers are allowed to charge whatever they want, why are consumers not allowed to buy where ever they want? Either we have free trade or we don't - which one is it?

[Numberwang]

Ugh I wish Canadian Subaru Dealers would just pound sand and stop complaining about all the US dealers that offer a Canadian section on their websites. I know of several US Subaru dealers that took down their Canadian section due to many complaints from the Canadian dealers.

Instead of the Canadian Subaru Dealers being a bully asking US dealers to take down the Canadian section of their webiste, they should be bullying the Subaru of Canada HQ for better pricing.

I used to own a 2004 Legacy wagon that I bought new in Ottawa. Whenever the weather was damp, the clutch would shudder and shake for the first ten minutes or so. Subaru USA had a dealer bulletin about this problem, with a free replacement of defective clutch plates. Subaru Canada refused to acknowledge the problem. One less Subaru customer after that.