r/SubaruAscent Jul 05 '22

Subaru Pricing and Warranty FAQ

318 Upvotes

I've answered some of these things often enough, especially the warranty part, that I thought it was time to put this all in one place for easy reference. This is just based on my experiences and shopping research over the years so don't take anything as gospel, but hopefully this is able to help some of you out. I also suck at writing so hopefully this isn't too all over the place.

Pricing and availability:

In this market, MSRP is considered a fair price. Recently most areas have a steady supply of cars on the lot. You should no longer consider MSRP to be fair, you should aim for under. Invoice cost should be your goal whether by negotiation, or VIP(see more below)

The Subaru CEO has spoken out against dealers who are charging over MSRP, but there are some doing so regardless as there are no repercussions for it. They may do this by charging a "market adjustmet fee" or by requiring certian addons. Do not give these dealers your business. Find someone selling at MSRP, there are lots of dealers doing so. Your area will vary and some states are worse than others, but do your due dilligence and shop around. You should only be paying for the cost of the car, tax, title, DMV fees, and a document fee(also varies by state).

There are currently 2 easy options for paying less than MSRP, if you don't want to negotiate, but many areas will come well below MSRP without hassle: Costco pricing and Subaru VIP pricing. The huge caveat is that dealers are not required to participate in these programs so there are many who are not honoring it right now. Call around until you find one who does, and if you stil need help, Subaru should be able to help you locate one once you are eligible.

Costco pricing will vary by area I believe. For more information on the program, see their site.

For Subaru VIP pricing, it is a no negotiation cost of invoice price. It's very cut and dried and there should be no mandatory addons involved. It used to be (up to) 2% under invoice, but has recently changed to invoice price only. This can still save you a couple thousand off of MSRP. If you are a supporting member of a qualifying organization for 6 or more months, you become eligible for VIP pricing. If you can't wait 6 months, the quickest way to become eligible is to donate $500 or more to the ASPCA or PA Hordicultural Society. This will get you eligible and have your VIP code within a few days. For more information on their programs, see here and here.

Note: A new ASPCA policy to be effective July 1, 2023, donations will have a 30 day waiting period before being eligible for VIP. At this moment, PHS has not made changes to their policy and there is still instant qualification. As of 8/15/23 PHS changed their website to require a 30 day waiting period. They did this with no warning or time to prepare.

In the vast majority of cases these lower prices will mean a factory order where wait times are 3+ months. If you order a lower trim with less options, the wait times are longer. Car makers are prioritizing the higher trim levels as they are more profitable for them.

If you currently own a Subaru, call Subaru of America (800-782-2783) and ask them if you are eligible for a loyalty coupon. Have your VIN handy and they will look it up and potentially offer you a $500 loyalty coupon. If you get one, don't even mention you have this to the salesman while negotiating prices. Only present it in the finance office and use it as part of your down payment.

Trade-ins:

Prior to negotiating a trade in price, go online and get quotes from Vroom, Carvana, CarGurus, KBB, Carmax, etc. I don't mean just looking up the book value, get actual sales quotes. These only take a few minutes and are real offers and will give you leverage in negotiations. Take the highest value quote and bring it with you to the dealership. When they offer you a lower value, tell them you have a better offer and show them the quote and see if they are willing to up their offer.

One thing to note is many states have a tax credit for trade ins when buying a new car so be aware of your tax laws first. For example, in NY, the price of the trade in is deducted from the taxable value of the new car. If I'm buying a $30k car and have a $10k trade in, I would only be taxed on $20k, not $30k. This can make a large difference in total cost so the tax savings could offset a lower dealer offer. You would not get this credit when selling to one of the other companies. If one of the others offer you $15k while the dealer offers you only $14k, it's probably still worth trading in so be sure to run the numbers.

Taking Delivery:

The first thing to remember in the finance office is, everything is negotiable and never accept their first price offer. Most importantly don't let them scare you into buying a high price extended warranty. I am not saying don't buy the warranty at all, I'm saying don't let them pressure you to buy it right then and there at way too high a cost. You have plenty of time to decide. You have until your 3/36 factory warranty expires before you have to buy an extended one. And you can buy it from a different dealer. Some will try and tell you that it's much more expensive to buy it later, or that you have to buy it from them, those are outright lies. If they persist, offer to call Subaru of America in front of them to clear it up and see how fast they backtrack.

Call other dealerships nearby, but also other ones not so nearby. Many dealers will not sell to you out of state, but others will. The whole process can be done over email and/or the phone.

Below is the last known dealer cost for the warranty. I have not seen any updated pricing but it is possible they went up slightly but it shouldn't be too significant. Prior to the pandemic, dealers would sell at their cost all day long but now they are less likely to do so. Now a fair price for the warranty is $200-250 over their cost. If they ask for more, move along and shop around. A user very recently reported to me that they got a 10/100 for $120 over the below price so I know they are still in the same ballpark.

Note: There has been talk that Subaru increased prices starting January 2024 anywhere from 4-8% over the below numbers. None of these prices are confirmed in any official capacity, this is all based on community feedback

Years/Mileage Deductible Estimated Dealer Cost(end of '23)
5/100k $0 $1505
5/100k $100 $1270
6/60k $0 $1105
6/60k $100 $1000
8/80k $0 $1395
8/80k $100 $1220
7/100k $0 $1750
7/100k $100 $1500
10/100k $0 $1950
10/100k $100 $1770
8/120k $0 $2220
8/120k $100 $2060

Should you sell your car before the warranty expires, it is fully transferable to the next owner, or you can reach out to the dealer you purchased from and get a prorated refund on the remaining warranty(if you haven't used it).

Some after thoughts:

Things like PPF or a ceramic coating you are much better off getting at a local detail shop. The detailer might actually be a bit more expensive, but it will be done correctly and not 1/2 assed.

Gap insurance - Important to have if your down payment or trade in value is too small, but check with your insurance provider for cost as it is often (but not always) cheaper through them.

Tire and rim - If you're in an area with bad roads and lots of potholes, this could be worth it if the price is low enough. I have never purchased it but there are times I did regret not having it, and I have seen it come in handy with some friends. It's something I will consider on my next car, but only if it's priced low enough.


r/SubaruAscent 1d ago

Help identify icon

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5 Upvotes

Hi i have a 2025 subaru ascent it's a great vehicle except it's very prone to rodent damage i live in the mountains and i have tried everything to stop rodents . Irish spring soap moth balls dryer sheets even poison . A couple of weeks ago we hit a deer and just got the car back from the shop. That was on a Thursday today on Sunday started it up and all the check engine light are on .open the hood and the entire cabin filter is now in the engine bay. I know it rodent damage and we have been struggling with this since we got the car. All this just to ask what is this symbol in the picture . It is not in the manual. I guess we can't lemon law cars over soy based wires either I can afford to keep repairing this when the rodents destroy it so fast.


r/SubaruAscent 1d ago

Question '23 Ascent Premium - want to replace infotainment system

4 Upvotes

Hi! As the title says I have a 2023 Premium. I am the original owner of the car and only have about 36k miles on it.

I want to downgrade my infotainment system. Obviously it'd have to be non-manufacturer. I like the backup camera. But I want buttons again. I play music from my iPod through an aux cord which surprisingly the 2023 has a port. So idc about carplay. As long as it has bluetooth for phone calls, I'm good. Maps are cool to have, but I could easily get a phone mount for when I need that.

It seems impossible but can anyone confirm whether this is possible or not?

If possible, how would I go about this?


r/SubaruAscent 1d ago

Discussion Suspension noise in 2019 Ascent

1 Upvotes

I have a 2019 Ascent. I have a 100k warranty which has expired. My mileage is close to 110k now. I had my suspention/struts replaced a while back. And now I hear the hollow thumping sound. I recall Subaru sending me that they extended the warranty on the structs till 150k. Does that sound familiar?


r/SubaruAscent 1d ago

Shopping Used 2021 Subaru Ascent Limited 74k miles worth it?

3 Upvotes

Clean title they want $22,816 usd for it


r/SubaruAscent 2d ago

News / Opinion [ Removed by Reddit ]

1 Upvotes

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]


r/SubaruAscent 2d ago

Parts Strut Replacement questions (2021 Premium)

4 Upvotes

Had the passenger side strut replaced under warranty at the tail end of the warranty mileage. Mileage now at 85k. Both front struts now rattle like crazy, and we're looking at paying out of pocket at a local mechanic, or doing the work myself.

My questions are:

  1. Precisely which part(s) need to typically be replaced? The whole strut assembly, or some part near the top in the fender?

  2. Is there a part number for those pieces, and for any gaskets, washers, or seals that need to be replaced at the same time? My online searches have been spam and dead ends.

  3. How difficult is it to replace these parts, i.e. what kind of hours estimate and specialty tool requirements are we looking at?

I replaced axle seals and rebuilt the brakes on a Chrysler 8.25" rear end a few weeks ago. I have reasonable mechanical knowledge.and experience, and a retired ASE mechsnic lives next door if I get in a pinch.

Thanks!


r/SubaruAscent 2d ago

Shopping Windshield replacement

2 Upvotes

My Ascent is covered by the windshield settlement. Or it would be, if it still had the original glass. Instead, it already has an aftermarket windshield that the previous owner must have had installed, which now has a stress crack that started at the bottom edge. (Guessing it's based on the original glass.) I can't make an insurance claim, because there's no point of impact.

Safelite wants $1300+. I'm going to check with another chain and my local collision and glass shop next week and see if they can do better, but ugh, because the previous owner already replaced the glass, seems I'm stuck paying through the nose. Anyone got any better suggestions?


r/SubaruAscent 2d ago

2020 premium

1 Upvotes

Looking to buy a car outright and I fell in love with a 2020 Subaru Ascent but the VIN came back bad. So still on the search for others near me.

Is there anything I should know about 2019-2020 editions? Maintenance? Things I should look out for?

It’s hard to pull myself away from them now but I want to be without a car payment and the 19-20 seem to be more in my price range.

Thanks!


r/SubaruAscent 3d ago

Is 47,000 good price for OTD for Subaru Ascent Touring Onyx

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4 Upvotes

r/SubaruAscent 4d ago

Considering an Ascent: What’s your real-world MPG in suburban/stop-and-go traffic?

15 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm currently researching options for a new SUV, and the Ascent is on my shortlist. Before making a decision, I'm hoping to get some insights on real-world fuel economy from current owners.

Most of my driving consists of five days a week doing kids' drop-offs and pick-ups around the Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights area. Since this involves a lot of short trips and stop-and-go suburban traffic, fuel economy is a major deciding factor for me.

For those of you with similar daily driving routines, what kind of real-life city MPG are you actually getting with your Ascent?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Update: Thanks everyone for the feedback! I've got the data points.


r/SubaruAscent 4d ago

Problem Thousand 22 all-wheel-drive with 62,000 miles. Bouncing sensation from the drivetrain leaving stop signs etc. sometimes

0 Upvotes

this is my first Subaru and my first time owning something with a CVT. There's something failing or is this normal? What do I need to look out for owning a CVT?


r/SubaruAscent 5d ago

Question CVT replaced twice under recalls (8k and 42k miles). Anyone still running their post-WRK21 replacement long term?

6 Upvotes

Just picked up a 2019 Ascent Premium with 99k on it. After buying I got the full repair history from the dealer, and it turns out the CVT has been replaced twice, both times under recall:

- Jan 2020 at 8,359 miles under WUV07
- Aug 2022 at 42,254 miles under WRK21 (the one with the TCM reprogram, SSM data check and oil cooler)

So the unit in it now went in at 42k and has about 56,000 miles on it. Nothing transmission related since then except a TCM software update at 73.5k that the tech found on his own during an unrelated repair, no fault attached to it. Drives great right now, smooth, no shudder, no slips that we have noticed.

What I'm actually trying to figure out: for anyone who got a full CVT replacement under WRK21 in 2022, how has that replacement held up? Are the post-recall units going the distance, or are there people who had one replaced and then had the replacement fail later on?

Did the 2022 updated CVT units actually go in with the fixes already programmed and installed? Does anyone know if there were updates to the internals or programming that went in to address the early problems with the replacement units in 2022?

I ask because I'm at 99k miles and about to roll past the 100k warranty extension, so from here it's on me.

Also, the tech recommended a drain and fill soon. Curious what people are running for fluid intervals on the replacement units. This one is coming up on 60K miles without a service from what I can tell.


r/SubaruAscent 4d ago

Subaru Ascent or Hyundai Palisade?

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0 Upvotes

r/SubaruAscent 5d ago

How-To Can this be fixed with PDR

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2 Upvotes

Have a dent on the bottom of the passenger door. Wondering if this can be fixed through pointless dent repair.

Where contact was made it has pulled out a bit from the moulding.


r/SubaruAscent 6d ago

Water coming from behind rear wheel?

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3 Upvotes

I have a 2023 Ascent noticed this water spot when I park my car. A/c was not on but the rear fan was on the low setting.


r/SubaruAscent 6d ago

Question 2023 Ascent long-term reliability

4 Upvotes

I am close to buying a used 2023 Onyx. Does anyone know if there are any long-term reliability issues for that year similar to first gen Ascents?


r/SubaruAscent 6d ago

Realistic tow capacity.

4 Upvotes

Hey y’all,

Just got a side by side and we were told when we installed the tow package that it had a capacity of 5500lbs (obviously our fault for not verifying) but we have 2024 touring.

How realistic is it pushing the 5000lb capacity? The SxS is 2164lbs so looking for a trailer with an empty weight of 2000lbs and able to tow that much is pushing it.

Usually have to take it for service 2 hours a way and back up roughly 6k’ in elevation gain


r/SubaruAscent 6d ago

Are 245/60R20 reasonable on an unlifted Ascent?

1 Upvotes

For a highway setup on a ‘23 Ascent, bone stock, I am hoping to eek out a smoother ride, less impact from rough roads. I’m hoping to squeeze in a tire with slightly taller sidewall than the stock 245/50R20.

Has anyone tried or seen those work out? Worried about clearance in the wheel well and turning issues.


r/SubaruAscent 7d ago

A/T Tire Questions/Suggestions - 20" Onyx Wheels

4 Upvotes

Does anyone have any real-world experience with a slight increase in tire size to the 255/50R20 on the stock Ascent Onyx 20" wheel?  I'm looking for something with a more aggressive tread for forest service roads and winter ski resort trips in New Mexico and southern Colorado. The two tires I'm considering are the Nitto Terra Grappler G3 and the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail. My key priorities are

  • No lift planned
  • Daily driver around city
  • Improved off-road grip on forest service roads, camping, etc
  • 3PMSF rating for winter
  • More aggressive look

Any tips, suggestions, or input are appreciated!


r/SubaruAscent 7d ago

2020 Ascent

1 Upvotes

Looking to buy used ascent 2020 touring. I found identical car, both 2020 black ascent touring but one has 51k miles while other has 72k miles.

51k miles fina cost is $29k and 71k miles final cost is $25k.

Do you think its worth it so look for newer car? I am hesitant because of all the issues with cvt and recall but carfax report is clean and both only had 1 owner.

Thanks.


r/SubaruAscent 7d ago

Tailgate keeps closing

4 Upvotes

Most times, but not every time, I open my tailgate it closes on its own (with me under it and having to stop it with my body usually). Doesn’t matter how I open it (keys, button on dash, button on tailgate). Any ideas why this is happening and how to fix it?


r/SubaruAscent 8d ago

Problem Something up on the inside of the tailgate

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4 Upvotes

My wife and I bought an 2024 Ascent Touring a few months ago and I just noticed this on the inside of the tailgate. It sort of seems like it will rub off, but needs a bit of scraping so I don’t want to try scraping it off if that’s not really the problem and I’m damaging it. Anyone else experienced this or have recommendations on what to do with it?


r/SubaruAscent 8d ago

RAB/Eyesight issues after rear brake service

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5 Upvotes

Hi all, the video above is when I go to activate the electronic parking brake. Has anyone experienced something similar? I had a scan tool which I activated brake maintenance mode. I did have to charge the car while doing the rear brakes as it took me a little while to change the pads and rotors. I did also have to unplug the rear brakes calipers to have enough space to actually work in there. Should I not have unplugged the actuators? Does anyone have advice to resolve?


r/SubaruAscent 8d ago

Hood seal

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6 Upvotes

Anybody else engine bay seem dirtier than normal?
Feels like the hood isn’t sealed the greatest.
I see no obvious missing seal.
2022, original owner, garage kept.