Subaru BRZ to be sold on internet only

By Jez Spinks | July 14th, 2012

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The new Subaru BRZ that will become the brand’s only non-all-wheel-drive model in Australia will also be its only vehicle not to be sold in dealerships.

Subaru Australia has announced it will sell its new rear-wheel-drive sports car exclusively online from Monday (16th July) as a result of severely limited BRZ supply.

The company says global demand for the coupe means it anticipates only about 200 BRZs being available in Australia in 2012. It believes only about 80 to 100 vehicles will be available by the time its online BRZ section goes live on Monday.

The Subaru BRZ consequently comes with national drive-away pricing only, starting at $37,150. It includes free servicing for three years or a maximum of 60,000km.

The company believes the plan is unique for the automotive industry.

“This may well be a world first in terms of being able to complete the entire new car purchase process online,” said Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior.

“We knew we wouldn’t have sufficient BRZs to supply our entire network immediately following the launch.

“High demand with short supply gave us some challenges on how to give our customers the best possible purchase experience.”

Demonstrator versions of the Subaru BRZ, however, will be made available at a selected number of showrooms from its network of 105 dealerships.

Customers still need to use Subaru.com.au to arrange test drives.

Subaru Australia says the online purchasing process will also allow buyers to arrange a trade-in valuation if they have an existing car.

The full contract is completed on the internet and customers can nominate their preferred dealer for delivery.

Subaru says in the rare instance where a customer doesn’t have internet access they can complete the process on a computer at a Subaru dealership.

There is also a designated Subaru BRZ co-ordinator responsible for liaising directly with BRZ customers.

Click to read full details of pricing and specifications for the new Subaru BRZ.

Read CarAdvice’s Subaru BRZ Review.

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Hsus

I saw a 86 other day, they looks very nice
mrxandthexfactor

In this case, the 86 might be more ‘common’.
kazuo

most potential buyers will go to Toyota dealers o check out the car, then Toyota sales will do anything to keep them away from Subaru. Unless Toyota have no stock.
- Kejovi
  
  i read this morning there could be a 19 month wait for an 86
  - kazuo
    
    yeah i know, but once toyota keeps up supply
- F1MotoGP
  
  How I can test drive this car or there will be few at Subaru dealers??
  - http://www.facebook.com/Frank.sJ1 Franklin Johnson
    
    In America we have the Scion(Toyota) FRS and the Subaru BRZ. I test drove the FRS. Than I purchased the BRZ without a test drive. The two cars were very close the BRZ has less oversteer (more neutral) and slightly better ride and throttle response. In the states we only get HID headlights and the NAV on the BRZ.
PIZZA

So there will be a (Go online or go away~) campaign? With limited stock and little profit margin…i doubt Subaru Dealers would spend much effort to advertise it…
- PIZZA
  
  They shouldn’t charge the BRZ buyers for “dealer delievery” fees….
- PIZZA
  
  They shouldn’t charge the BRZ buyers for “dealer delievery” fees….
Daniel

What’s actually the point? Originally I thought the Subaru version would be AWD with a Boxer engine and the 86 would be RWD with a regular engine, but they’re just the same car with different badges. Why?
- Nada
  
  Goes to show how much value is in a badge.
  - Daniel
    
    But it’s a Subaru badge! The only reason Subaru has ever had to be high and mighty is AWD which this doesn’t have.
  - D987
    
    There sure is. I would buy the BRZ over the 86 just because it’s a Subaru. Due to the Corolla, Camry etc. the whitegoods on wheels is still the image I see when I think about Toyota.
- Buddy
  
  Remember back then the Toyota lexcen it was a Holden Commodore back then rebadge. Same thing. Its a common thing you just don’t realise it.
  - Daniel
    
    No, I do realise it, I just don’t see the point in it.
Aussie

Good move. Hope all new cars will be sold on-line eventually.
- Numanthepostman
  
  Why? This method of selling takes away the chance to negotiate. If you want to pay full price, then it is good.
- Goodfa
  
  I agree. Opel give you the option of buying online at a significant discount. I really hate negotiating with a salesman when you are not sure if they are being honest or not. If you know the car you want it would be much better experience buying the car online and the dealer still gets a cut from the dealer delivery fee.
  - Blueberry
    
    How do you take it for a test drive then… A car on paper will always sound good… Driving the car gives you the best idea whether you like it or not
- Daniel
  
  I would never buy a car online! I buy everything else online, but ridding the world of face to face interaction when paying large amounts of money for things, no matter how tedious it can be, would be a terrible terrible thing to do!
Daniel Dacey

The first toe in the water, to see if buyers will accept fixed price cars online. If it works, expect the distributors to scale it up and take the dealers out of the sales process. Pretty much inevitable, because for every person who enjoys haggling with the sales sharks, I’d wager there are two who just want a fair price and to get out of the dealership as soon as possible.
- Buddy
  
  For that bit extra to get everything bar sat nav and leather seats is a win already for me plus the 3 year free servicing. I bet all those who brought a toyota GT would be wishing they waited. Most would like the HID, and Speed display that only the GTS had
- jekyl & hyde
  
  you are retarded if you think that subaru aren’t “in bed” with the dealers in this deal.all it’s doing is stopping customers negotaiting a better deal with the dealers.everyone (salesman,dealership,subaru themselves) is getting paid for this.its the customer who is getting screwed. don’t think the guys like the ACCC havn’t pricked up their ears at this…
Zzzzzzz

No way i am going to buy online without a test drive. Everyone is different doesn’t matter the reviews said ultimately it is down to personal opinions, requirement and taste.
D987

It will be interesting to see if Subaru’s website crashes on Monday as I’m sure a lot of tyre kickers will be logging on.
Ted

Do you get the discount if buying on line !
Neutralman

It’s a plain gimmick. It’s an artificial short supply, trying to create undue interest. No one is a fool here not to know that if a car sales, they will make it no matter what.
- PaulM
  
  I doubt the website will go into meltdown since they demand a minimum $3000 (originally was going to be $5000) deposit to place your order.
  Many dealers will have a demonstrator available for test drives, I dropped by both my local Subaru dealers on Friday and took a test drive in an auto and a manual.
  Brace yourself, this will happen more and more in the future. You will check out the car you like on a website, book a test drive at their depot in a light industrial estate rather than a main street car yard, with expensive overheads.
  
  Hopefully the days of sleazy car salesmen bullshitting their way through the day are coming to and end. If only something similar could happen to rid the world of real estate agent, we can only dream.
  - Guest
    
    Are they all bad are they? I’ve actually never met a bad car salesman. Do you just walk in and the first questions out of your mouth is “What is your best price on?”
Ted

Hi PaulM, I agree – get rid of the lovely / scum realeatate agents. They are worst than car salesmen, and only to day an auction in Syd, I experienced this.
http://www.facebook.com/Frank.sJ1 Franklin Johnson

You are only getting 200 cars so wile you guys are debating the cars will be sold. I purchased my BRZ 3 weeks ago I have yet to see another one on the road. I have seen a few Scion FRs. The BRZ is sold out in the states right now. For every 4 Toyota’s their will be 1 BRZ. Drive the GT86 than order the BRZ. The two cars are very close. The BRZ has less (oversteer) and a slightly better ride and throttle response. Th GT-86 has a bit more top end (slightly faster) firmer ride.
Chest Rockwell

This confirms what I think of Nick Senior… And it’s not complimentary. I purchased a Liberty in 2006 and not only was I told that the car runs fine on 95 RON fuel (it does not, it needs 98) I had the excellent Panasinic battery replaced before delivery with a barely adequate Century that left me stranded on a cold morning 6 months after I purchased the car. When I contacted the dealer and head office they ran a mile. NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A SUBARU NICK SENIOR!
JHP

pffftt, that’s stupid, why would you buy subaru brz with more money when you can just get the 86 for much cheaper price.
if you want subaru brz instead of toyota 86.all you gotta do is buy toyota 86, take out all the toyota badges and 86 logo, and replace them with subaru badges and brz logo. how damn simple is that? they are both exactly the same car.
there, i just saved you like thousands of dollars.
- Likasumbodee
  
  because people dont want to wait 12 months+ for new toyotas to come in?
Guest

Sorry Nick, it isn’t the first in the world for online selling. Mazda did it with the square box 121 (Demio) in Japan as a limited edition.
gt86.com.au

The subaru site is down..when I checked last night you could not actually order the car.. I wonder if you can now? has anyone managed to get on today to confirm?
- Smart US
  
  …to order a car? this car? are you serious?
gt86.com.au

The subaru site is down..when I checked last night you could not actually order the car.. I wonder if you can now? has anyone managed to get on today to confirm?
Dinmelb

I placed advance 1k deposit eight weeks ago and another 2k with Subaru direct on Friday when I confirmed spec I wanted WR Blue in a manual, with upgrade seats(apparently this guaranteed one of the first)…. however today, I am told I won’t get the car before sometime in November…. starting to smell pr bull at work!
Has anyone not placed advance order (I.E., went online to place deposit yesterday) and have a confirmed delivery earlier than December???? Thinking of telling them to shove it!:(I placed advance 1k deposit eight weeks ago and another 2k with Subaru direct on Friday when I confirmed spec I wanted WR Blue in a manual, with upgrade seats(apparently this guaranteed one of the first)…. however today, I am told I won’t get the car before sometime in November…. starting to smell pr bull at work!
Has anyone not placed advance order (I.E., went online to place deposit yesterday) and have a confirmed delivery earlier than December???? Thinking of telling them to shove it!