So it’s been about a month since I bought my new Subaru Impreza 2.5i Hatchback. It’s been okay, but now I’m feeling like I didn’t buy the right car. I did the test drive, the research, etc. But still, I’m not liking it as much as I’d thought.
I bought it with an auto loan and have yet to make a payment on it. So my question is: is feasible/prudent to sell it to a dealer in exchange for something else (i.e. something smaller?) or should I try to sell it private party and hopefully someone will nibble?
Argh. I know, why can’t I just be happy?
Your going to loose money anyway you go, it all depends on what you paid initially vs the suggested MSRP.
Future I would suggest a slightly used model so when or if you decide to bail the sting is not as huge as a new car.
My mother had a similar problem. If you try to take this car back they will rake you through the coals financially. You are better off selling it privately, although the bank that financed it might not let you. The best thing you can do financially is it keep it until you owe less than you can get for it.
It will be handled as a trade-in the same as if it were 1 or 2 years old. You could always go and ask the dealer what they will give in trade in value, but I’m sure you will not be happy with their offer.
Unless the car is really lousy, keep it.
If you wanted to swap it for a different Subaru, I would say it would be worth it to go talk the dealer you purchased the Impreza from, and see what could be worked out. It sounds like a long shot, but I actually had a similar experience in which I purchased a turbo (not a Subaru), and about a month later decided I really should have gotten a V6. The dealer set me up with a V6, transferred the tags and title, and didn’t hold me liable for the depreciation of the turbo.
Since it sounds like you’re looking for something smaller, and the Impreza is as small as it gets for Subarus, I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find a way out of it without taking a pretty big financial hit. Just by driving it off the lot, you probably owe more on the Impreza than you’ll be able to sell it for. Honestly, your best bet is probably to just learn to like the Subie, even if you can’t bring yourself to love it.
The dealer can’t sell it as a new car, so you could trade it or sell it to someone else. I’d keep it until the loan is paid off.
I had the same problem. I bought a Camry LE in 1990 and regretted it about two months later. I kept it until I paid it off (4 years) and that sucked. As soon as I had the title, I traded even for something (a 1991 GLI Jetta - what a mess!) that I loved dearly.
What kind of car would make you happy? If you find it, try to make a deal. You probably will be offered a beatdown on the trade. I couldn’t let myself get taken by a dealer back then, but looking back, I probably should have made even a bad trade to get out of that Camry. Good luck!
I forgot to ask. What is it that you don’t like? Maybe it can be fixed by an inexpensive add-on. Or not. You have to help us understand your funk.
Thanks everyone for their thoughts. I think keeping the car is probably a better idea at this point. At least I know I’m not the only one who’s gone through this.