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Comments
I'm copying pieces of a post I placed in the smart shopper area that perhaps someone here can help me with.
Steve - Where in the US do you live? I would be very interested to know whether or not they honor your 180 days (I'm in NJ).
Dave
2001 Protégé ES 2.0, prem pkg + cassette
South Jersey
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I recently purchased a Protege, qualifying for and taking the 0% for 48 months finance rate they offered. I am also eligible for the College Grad promotion (which I asked for): 180 days deferred payment and $400 cash back. Well, during the purchase negotiations, the sales person indicated that everything was good to go - I qualified for the promotion and would get the $400 and my 1st payment deferred. However, upon submitting the contract to Mazda American Credit, the dealer told me it was only good for 90 days deferment using 0% financing.
Apparently the 90 day deferment is a gimme (since anyone who gets 0/48 can receive it when qualifying) and has nothing to do with the education rebate. So if I was eligible for the college grad rebate promotion that explicitly states "180 days deferred payment PLUS $400 cash back" and does not indicate anywhere an exclusion when obtaining 0%/48 month financing, why then do I only receive the $400 but not the full 180 days? To be precise, the promotion states the following referring to the 180 days deferred payment:
"Payment deferral not available in PA and limited in MI and DC. Offer not available on lease contracts. Qualified buyers as determined by Mazda American Credit, take new retail delivery from dealer stock by 4/2/01."
To me this is either false advertising or a screw up at the finance center. I did in fact take delivery of the vehicle today with a 90 day deferral and am told the dealer will follow up with MAC but somehow I don't trust what the outcome will be.
Could anyone offer any advice on what I should do at this point? I believe they are in default of promoting something which may have limitations that are not openly specified (if that's even the case - read on).
Incidentally, the finance company or the dealer could not find any documentation indicating that 180 day deferred payments were not honored for the college grad promotion; they only found where it stated that a 90 day max deferment could be taken with the special financing.
And of course, having read messages here on how someone has in fact received both, the whole ordeal tastes even more sour.
- I'm down in Cherry Hill area.
Here's an update to the situation: as it turns out, the dealer in fact made good on their promise to investigate the matter further and got an answer from Mazda American Credit. It took a phone call from Mazda's corporate HQ to the NorthEast region of AMC to get the final answer (pun intended) and validate the graduate program incentive, thus allowing the 180 deferred payment for a qualified individual, regardless of what financing method was chosen.
IMHO, the deferment really took AMC by surprise by the manufacturer's program (understand that AMC is a separate company altogether) and they simply did not know how to handle it, so AMC went with what they knew: 90 days max allowed. Perhaps a classic case of the left hand not talking to the right (?)
Lessons learned:
- How useless it was to call the 800 numbers to AMC and Mazda's customer service personnel who, as would be expected, had no clue on how to address / answer the question, who would not up channel the question to a supervisor when asked, and who would advise that my only resolution was to call the other's customer service number.
- An informed consumer will undoubtedly benefit the most. At no time did my discussions with the dealer reveal the 0% / 48 mos. financing or the graduate rebate program; they only acknowledged it when I brought it up.
- Persistence and reading the fine print certainly pays off. Thanks to the information gained on the Internet, particularly the manufacturer's web site and more importantly Edmunds', I was able to purchase a new vehicle for the first time in my life (6 total) armed with the knowledge to get the absolute best deal possible. Thanks to Edmunds for the outstanding service they provide!
Time to "zoom zoom"!
Regards,
Dave
Last night when I arrived home from work I found a bill from Mazda Credit for my first car payment, due on the March 29. Just like the dealer finance guy said. Not sure what happened to the 180 days. Based on your experience I should be able to get the 180 days, but I've got the money to start paying it off now, and since there is 0% interest it really makes no difference, I'd just have the car paid off six months sooner. So should I just pay it, or fight for the principle of not getting the full deal. Thoughts? BTW, my bill had the number for Mazda Credit customer service. I might give them a call, they could probably help more than the standard Mazda CS. They also probably have record that I qualified for the student rebate. Also, refresh my memory, whats AMC?
Best Regards,
Steve
maltb, thanks, I should have realized that, time to wake up here.
I'm actually thinking its new because when we got ours, the rebate was there, but you could get the $400 or get a Palm Vx package instead.
As it was explained to me, it's a "qualify" thing and at a minimum, people who can get the 0%/48 should get at least the 90 day deferment (I saw this in writing), with those who can "qualify" higher able to get the 180 days (qualifications based on the tier level which a consumer's credit rates at, from 0 to 4). Like I said, I really through these people for a loop because no one knew what the rules were and had to go pretty high to get an answer, which was certainly in my favor (and others as well). No doubt they'll remember me 'round them parts!
So I'd say pursue it if you wish to have some extra cash for a few months to put into the car (which is what I intend to do). If this were a standard financing where interest may accumulate on you during the deferment, then it would be unwise since there's more to pay, but at 0%, either way you can't lose!
The web site is: Mazda College Grad.
Victor - 2000's are also eligble (according to the info).
Knowledge is power - use it!
Regards to all,
Dave
Are you familiar with the initiation ritual? You need to send $5 to each member in the rotation. Over time you will more than double your investment until you move out of rotation. I know this may sound like some wacky e-mail that you have received from zillions of people in the last year, but it really works. Just read this testimony from Mark Binolly of Eugene Oregon:
"I'm a millionaire thanks to the Protege owners club on Edmunds.com. I now have a stable of 31 Proteges; 1 for each day of the month."
That's right friend, you too can be a Mark Binolly and have riches beyond belief. Just send $5 for your FREE information package to get you started on the road to riches.
Sorry all, got carried away, but seriously Bruce, welcome to the board.
Welcome to all new members!
Don't forget tonight's first Protege Owners chat (6-7pm PT / 9-10pm ET)! Just click on the link at the top of the page.
See ya there!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
Welcome Bruce, from Meade here in Richmond, VA, with a 2000 ES 5-speed and spoiler! (No, I'm not 18, I turned 36 two weeks ago and I'll be a dad in two months! OWWWWW!!!)
Anyway, welcome to the club. I've had mine since last May and am about to turn 16,000 miles. Loving my car!
Please enter your credit card number and expiration date below:
________________________________________
Meadeball
(I swear I haven't been drinking today -- er, YET)
To become a member of the panel, please visit
Drivers' Opinion Panel
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
Any others out there from the Rochester Area?
Hey everyone. This is Jerry Standefer from San Diego. Much like Mr. Civiletti, I currently terrorize the town (and poor unsuspecting "suped-up" Civic's) in my 1999 Protege ES 5-spd in Classic Red.
I have 35,000 miles and this car just keeps getting better with age. I've put on new tires, spark plugs, air filters, and brakes, so if anyone has a question about replacement parts, feel free to ask. Also, I've sold Mazda's for two years and I continue to follow the market quite closely, so feel free to throw any question my way!!
Zoom. Zoom. And Still Zooming!!!!
Worth about how much to you? He he, eh?
My name is Lynn and I live in Toronto or 'Tarana' if you're a native. Don't ask my age, it's not P.C. (although I have posted that my 1st car was a GLC, which should give you an idea. Got it when I was 6 years old. Seriously.)
I do test engineering on electronic assemblies.
My Protege is just breaking in, it's a '01 ES auto, GT package, sand mica.
I don't think I can make to many chat's in near future due to previous commitments.
Nice to meet all you zoom-zoom enthusiasts! I've learned lots already!
www.olnyasuckerwouldfollowthislink.com
Of course, that is reduced for those of you like me who are back in school to get that degree out of the way...finally.
nice little toy to liven things up a little.
pick your favorite country flag!
H
I see myself driving just like this down by the beach. (Australian version pictured)
My name is Adnan and I have owned my first ever car for almost 2 years. I bought this car from Eau Claire, WI a week before graduation in December 1998. I have always loved this car and its handling, not forgetting the ZOOM, ZOOM,ZOOM.....
Build Quality on the Protege is flawless and no rattles still after all those miles that I have put on.
One more thing, as always I am ready as ever to shut the evil civic, neon and corolla owner criticism.
Keep the Owners Club going and I will give my loyalty and support.
My name is Olga, I'm 26 y.o, software developer, moved last year from Belarus (ex-Soviet republic) to Dallas, Texas. Here's my 5 roubles... oh sorry
I'm proud owner
Nice to meet all of you, and I'll get back soon.
Also, I would love to hear some of your observations about living in Belarus and how you like living in the USA.
Best regards,
Gene
Steve
For 3.33%, you'll have an extra $152.
For 5%, you'll have an extra $233.
go Terps!
H
By the way, welcome back Jerry! Haven't heard from you in QUITE a while. Where you been??
I too had problems getting the deal straight. In my case, MAC indicated that they would only honor 90 days deferred payment for person's receiving the 0% / 48 month financing; the grad special was something they never heard of and thus initially rejected. However, my persistence with the dealer to follow up with MAC to get the whole story from Mazda HQ is what got me the advertised "deal". Had it not worked out and MAC stood firmly on a 90 day max arrangement, that would've been ok but still, it's the principal, so don't give in!
Best of luck and enjoy!
ZoomooZ
Dave