[Ed]

If you find negotiating unpleasant and end up paying near list when you buy stuff, get the 2004. The 2003 should be going for invoice.?

Also look at the the differecne in used bluebook prices (online) for cars that changed model years about 4 years ago... Edmunds is a good start. Type in identical milages for say a Forrester from its first year and the year after. The resale value for these two cars with identical milage will be different by some amount. Is this amount more or less than what you would get the dealer to take off the 2003 Element? If it is more, get the 2004. If it is less, get the 2003?


Hope this has been helpful.

Ed

 

[Ed]

Compared a 98 Subaru Forrester with a 99 Forrester on edmunds for trade, private party and dealer retail pricing difference. Both were clean, white and with 50,000 miles.

The 99 resale value averaged $1200 higher. This is for identical cars that could have been purchased on the same day.

If the dealer will not take more than $1200 off list for a 2003 buy the 2004.

Ed

Thanks for telling me about dealer inflexibility.