Would You Travel 469 Miles To Score A Deal On A Used Subaru?

How far would you be willing to travel to buy a Subaru Crosstrek, Outback, or Forester if you couldn't find one close to home? With the new 2022 Subaru Forester, 2023 Outback, and 2023 Crosstrek new model shortages, many buyers are searching for a used model they can buy now instead of waiting months to get a new all-wheel-drive Subaru.

Quantrell Subaru surveyed 2,690 car shoppers online to find the distance car shoppers in each state said they would travel for a better deal. A recent study by Quantrell Subaru in Lexington, Kentucky, reveals the average used car buyer is willing to travel up to 469 miles to score a good deal on a used car.

photo credit: Quantrell Subaru

And those in Alaska will travel the farthest to find the car they want. It's no surprise the Subaru Forester is one of the top 5 best-selling cars in Alaska, where the snow is deep and all-wheel-drive traction is a must.

Brentley Jones, general manager of Quantrell Subaru, told Automotive News (by subscription) that the new Subaru inventory shortage is driving up the cost of low mileage lightly used vehicles. The situation pushes customers to drive farther distances, particularly if they're seeking a specific model they can't find in their local market.

photo credit: Boise Subaru

A lightly used Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV is in the highest demand, along with the Outback midsize SUV and Forester compact SUV. "Most of it is just availability and the type of car you have," Jones said. Where shoppers once may have searched up to 250 miles away to find a specific vehicle, "I think now they probably would search the whole country more or less."

Many buyers buy a plane ticket closest to the car they find, save a few thousand dollars on the purchase price of the vehicle, and then drive home. Quantrell Subaru has adapted to the increase in long-distance travelers in part by offering to pick them up from the airport, Jones said.

Where is the best city to buy a used Subaru Outback or Forester?

A recent report from iSeeCars reveals the cities where the Forester and Outback are a good value for used car shoppers and the cities where you will pay significantly more than the national average.

The cities to avoid when buying a Subaru Forester

The iSeeCars data says you will pay 2.5 percent (+$740) more for a used Forester in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The Forester goes for 1.7 percent (+$509) more in Orlando-Daytona Beach, Florida. Columbus-Tupelo-West Point, Mississippi, is the most expensive city, where you'll pay 23.5 percent more ($7,889) for a used Forester.

The cities to get a good deal when buying a Subaru Forester

The study says you will pay 12.6 percent ($3,705) less if you buy the compact SUV in Duluth, Minnesota, or Superior, Wisconsin. A lightly used Forester sells for around $25,648, while the national average is $29,353 in these cities.

The cities to avoid when buying a Subaru Outback

The iSeeCars data says you will pay 4.0 percent ((+$1,231) more for a used Outback in Austin, Texas. The Outback goes for 3.6 percent (+$1,126) more than a used midsize SUV in New Orleans, LA. In West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Florida, the Outback is 2.5 percent (+$762) more than the national average.

The cities to get a good deal when buying a Subaru Outback

The data says you will pay 5.1 percent ($1,218) less if you buy a used Outback in Kansas City, Missouri. In Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Virginia, the Outback is 2.6 percent ($818) less than the national average.

The study reveals it's challenging to find a deal on low mileage used Subaru Crosstrek, Forester, or Outback in today's market, but expanding your search radius can provide consumers with the best chance to find more savings. "Even if you can't travel to the city with the greatest savings on your car, you will probably find greater savings beyond your local area, making the travel worth it," says iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer.

With the new 2022 Subaru Forester, 2023 Outback, and 2023 Crosstrek model shortages, how far would you drive to score a good deal on a used Subaru vehicle you want? Let us know in the comments below.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru