2008 Subaru Impreza Wrx Sti on 2040-cars

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How new car shortages may impact your buying experience

If you want further proof that the auto industry is bouncing back, look no further than the empty lots and forecourts of your local dealership. According to a story by The Wall Street Journal, continued high demand for mainstream cars is overtaxing automakers' ability to produce enough models. Several dealers interviewed for the story are reporting two-week supplies as opposed to the typical two-month allocations.
With sales expected to hit 1.4 million units when August numbers arrive shortly and incentive spending down to its lowest amount since January, these limited supplies are pushing prices even higher. For example, according to the WSJ, the average price of a Ford Fusion is up past $26,000. Unfortunately, it's difficult for manufacturers to increase production quickly. If it invests in its facilities, as many manufacturers have done, it risks wasting cash if growth suddenly slows. At the same time, the momentum gained over the past several years could be short lived if vehicle supplies continue to dwindle. "Manufacturers are in a precarious situation," notes Karl Brauer, a senior director at Kelley Blue Book.
Low interest rates and a wealth of desirable features are also allowing customers to purchase more expensive vehicles while justifying their higher overall price tags, a situation that is compounding supply shortages. Even now, during the annual end-of-summer clearance season, deals on new vehicles are remarkably difficult to come by. According to the report, the Toyota Corolla is in a self-inflicted state of shortage, as Toyota clears out inventory in anticipation of the new 2014 generation arriving in dealers. Ford's supplies should rebound as Fusion production comes on line at its Flat Rock, Michigan factory. The Chevrolet Impala, Honda Odyssey, Civic, and Accord and Subaru Forester are also facing shortages.

'Baby Driver' stunt Impreza WRX sells for nearly $70,000

Well that escalated quickly. When we reported that the 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX used for driving stunts in the movie Baby Driver was being auctioned on eBay, bidding had taken the car up to over $40,000. Now the car has sold, and the price rocketed up to $69,100, and there were 71 bids on the car when it sold. That may seem like a large sum of money for a banged up Impreza WRX with a few prior wrecks. But the price starts to make sense considering how unique the car is. Besides starring in a great movie with superb stunts, it's one of the few WRXs out there converted to rear-wheel drive. As stunt driver Jeremy Fry told us, this was done to make it easier to perform some of the stunts. This Impreza isn't the only Baby Driver movie car to sell, either. The same Subaru parts and car dealer selling the WRX was also selling a wrecked, but drivable, Dodge Charger police car. That one didn't attract nearly as much attention though. It sold for the same $3,000 bid we saw when we reported on the cars. It was one of only two bids. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2006 Subaru Impreza used in Baby Driver News Source: eBay via JalopnikImage Credit: eBay / Allpro Subaru TV/Movies Subaru Auctions Performance Sedan baby driver

Subaru revisits 1998 Impreza 22B STI

It was 1998 when Subaru made some crucial changes to its World Rally Championship Impreza, such as increasing the displacement of the turbocharged flat-four-cylinder engine from 2.0 to 2.2 liters and fitting wide fender flares. Subaru won the WRC manufacturer championship with the car that year, and it also was the year of the automaker's 40th anniversary. To celebrate the milestone, the company came out with this limited-edition, road-going Impreza, the hallowed 22B STI, which looked nearly identical to the rally car.
Only 424 22Bs were built, and most of them stayed in Japan. But Dominick Infante, national manager of product communications at Subaru of America, was able to secure a drive in one of the only two 22Bs in the US. He details the car's history and some of the design and engineering cues that made the Impreza STI so popular both in motorsport and on the street, but we were caught up listening to the exhaust and admiring the timeless blue-and-gold paint. You should too, so head below to watch the video.