Subaru Outback Buying Experience

I was trying to buy a new 2013 Subaru Outback over the weekend. I didn't like the price much but maybe it is not too bad.

I went to IRA Subaru in Danvers, MA. From my experience and from my friends' experience they do not bargain. They give you a price and they stick by it. Here is what happened.


The vehicle I was looking at had an MSRP of $27865. The so called invoice price was $26551. IRA offered my $1500 below invoice - $25051. See the attached page.

I am confused - if the invoice is what the dealer's cost is then how can they sell it so low?

I went to Clay Subaru in Norwood, MA with that invoice and of course they said they would beat IRA's offer by $200.

I did not buy either of the cars and I don't know what to do? Am I getting a good deal?


A copy of the invoice:

Attention My Dear Friend.

Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day to you. I hope you are doing well. On my honor, I want to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Douglas Asare, Chairman of Contract Award Committee of West African Health Support Organization (WAHSO). I operate at our headquarters which are located in Accra, Ghana, but our sub and area offices are in all member states of the organization. This organization is an arm of the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) which is the single largest organization operating here in the West African sub-region with 15 member states. In addition, my organization oversees health support related matters in the whole region.

I am contacting you based on the committee's need for an individual/company whom are willing to assist us with a solution to a money transfer. The amount of $23.5 million (Twenty Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) represents the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of ECOWAS for supply of hospital equipment from foreign contracting firms, which we over-invoiced deliberately, of which the actual sum has been paid. We need you to help us by providing a durable account that will be used to receive this money for the benefit of all of us. We made up this mark up to take care of our retirement benefits because some of us in the committee are due for retirement soon and we believe this will help in no small measure to affect great change in our generations coupled with the fact that the project was a multi-million dollar one so it provided a very unique and great opportunity for us all.

Would you be willing to assist us in the transaction? Your share of the sum will be 30% of the $23.5 Million, 65% for us and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses. To enable us to begin commencing, you should provide the following for immediate kickoff of this deal if it interests you: Your company's name with its complete address, telephone number, and fax number. We are mature men in the highest cadres of our careers and would want to protect both our reputation which we have worked hard over the years to build, our family names, careers and grown up children, so we would want you to take this transaction serious and give it, it's desired attention if you accepts this partnership.

Please confirm the receipt of this message and let us know your position immediately.

Yours Faithfully,

Dr. Douglas Asare.