Mazda RX-8 Prices Paid and Buying Experience

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Comments

  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    went down there today and started negotiating... honestly it was going easier than I'd expected.... I had them draft up a set of lease papers.... and as far as I could tell the only thing they wanted up front was the first months payment, license and registration fee, and proof of insurance... I asked em if I could fax it to my father and have him take a look at it and they said sure... I'm waiting for an answer back from my father... so far I've had no troubles what so ever... it even says in the paper no money down 299 a month ... I got them to agree to 299 a month including tax... so I think thats good
  • 307web307web Member Posts: 1,033
    I knew there would at least need to be license and registration fees. It could not be "only" $299 unless the dealer was going to pay for your registration and taxes out of his own pocket or add it to the monthly payments.
    Do they provide free gap insurance and no security deposit or acquisition fee and do you get 24,000 free miles in the 2 years?
    How much do you have to pay for the disposition fee if you decide to give it back to them after the 24 months are over?
  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    to answer your questions I would have to say to most of it i don't know... I started getting too confused about half way through looking at all the fine print (which is why I sent it out to my father) any ways yes its 24K miles for two years 12 miles a year. as for gap insurance no, our insurance plan already covers it, we have two other leased cars and from my understanding it was coverd through our insurance already so that is already taken care of.... there was a security deposit which they said they would wave... as far as I could tell it was just the first months payment, title and license fee and I was all set for the upfront money... now for the disposition fee ... well thats where i got confused because I wasn't totally understanding how they were explaining it to me.. so I sent it to my dad and he's looking it over... so he'll give me an answer soon here and I'll head back up to the dealor and probably (if luck be with me) sign and drive off in a new car :) I hope this works out.. and thank you for all of your help... if you have any other comments or suggestions for things to look out for I 'd greatly apriciate it
  • 307web307web Member Posts: 1,033
    The way you describe the terms, it sounds like a very good deal for the car.
    I think it would cost more than that to lease a Camry for 2 years (except for the gas, insurance and maintenance).
  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    camry? don't know if you where just comparing that as an example or what..lol but anyways thank you for the advise... and wish me luck I'm off to sign papers for an RX8 (smoke color) with automatic, sport package
  • farinjfarinj Member Posts: 1
    If the dealer doesn't have the color combination you want on the lot make sure you are very clear as to what color you want.

    After 2 test drives and 45 minuits of trying to find the Black Chapiral interior (to see what it looked like in person) on the lot we finally found it. I decided that I didn't like it with the Titanium gray and told the salesman I wanted the Black on Black interior.

    The next day I came back to finish the deal and they had shipped a Black exterior with Black interior for me. What a surprise when I said "That's not my car!" It was pretty looking but not for me.

    Anyway in the end I found what I was looking for Titanium Gray with Black leather interior.

    I paid cash and the deal was $31,022 including tax, tags, and a PDIS. Tax and Tags were $800 and the PDIS (per-delivery inspection service) was $250. I got the Grand Touring Package, Floor mats, Wheel locks, Spare Tire, Moonroof wind deflector, and a cargo net.

    I traded in my 1994 Honda Accord 5 speed with 165K for $1000 so total cash out of pocket was $30,022.

    How did I do?
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Won't comment on your price on the RX8, but I think you shouldn't have traded the Accord for $1,000.

    According to my quick check on Edmunds, the retail value of the car in "clean" condition is listed ar $4,000. Doubtful you could sell it for close to that price, but you could have donated it to the charity of your choice and taken a $4,000 tax deduction. That hopefully is worth more to you than $1,000 cash, or you are in too low of a tax bracket to have bought an RX8 :-).
  • 307web307web Member Posts: 1,033
    Isn't "retail" what a dealer would list as their starting price before negotiations? A private party would have to sell for less because even the dealer doesn't expect to sell for full retail.

    Anyway $1000 was a giveaway unless the car needed a lot of work.
    Pre-delivery inspection service for $250 is a junk fee to the dealer.
  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    HEy cjs...just wondering where your dealer is located and the dealerships name....

    id love to get one at price.....that means if i can give 2000 down the price will basically be 198 a month...considering that 1k down on a 24 month lease, knock the payment down 45$

    thanks
  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    unfortunatly according to them the residuals have changed... so when I went in yesterday to sign the papers they where like on no now its 340 which I can't do so I said no how bout you make it the 299 and leave it be... of course they said no... they siad I'd have to put 3450 down to bring it down to that price.. which I highly doubt because yea I know for every 1K down the price drops between 30-60 dollars... so I think there trying to BS me around now so I left ... its the mazda of kent dealor if ya wanna try and let me know if ya have any luck cause then I'll go back and say listen I know you just sold one from here at that price now do the same for me
  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    which state is that in..i think that is crap...i know for a fact with 2k down u can walk out with a 200-250$ payment...varied by options..
  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    kent ohio... and yea from everything I've ever been told and read about I know that to be 99% true so I don't know what there trying to pull ... I think I'm just gonna go to another dealer and see what they can do
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    Lots of factors go into leases. As you found out, residuals are different, CAP costs are different, then there are the aquiaition fees, the disposition fees and what your credit looks like will determine the money factor.

    To make a blanket statement like putting $X,XXX down and getting a payment of $xxx/mo. will vary by the person and many other factors.
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  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    sorry i did mean perfect credit..if it is far less then perfect you wont be able to lease any way..

    Welll i write to tell a piece of news..

    the REBATEs....4000$ ON THE CAR which made leases like the ones people got possible...FINISH tommorow.

    THere will be a whole new plan out tommorow ...lets see what it is..hopefully better than what it was..!
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    Mazda credit has 5 tiers in which credit can be approved. Zero thru five. The special lease rates require a tier zero approval which is the best credit. A few late payments (still not BAD credit) and the approval is now tier 1 which does not qualify for the best programs....but folks with some credit issues can still lease but not at the best advertised rates.
  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    well turns out the only change is that they added 30 months to the lease
  • anshul_rx8anshul_rx8 Member Posts: 3
    Just thought i would drop this by you guys

    I got an Velocity red Rx8 last week leased it for 2 yrs

    6 Speed
    Grand Touring Package
    Rotary Accent
    6 CD InDash Changer
    Spare tire
    Appearance Package
    15K miles/year

    I paid $3000 Down (this includes 1st months payment and all taxes including plates )
    My montly payment is $254(including taxes)

    This was Suburban mazda , troy michigan
  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    hmm.... do you think you could give me a phone number to them... cause I'd more than gladely drive up there if I could get away with getting a 24 month lease for 299 after tax... only thing I want is auto with sport package.... think its possible... I don't need the rest of the stuff... (mainly I just don't have the 3K to put down) and just to let you know I have perfect credit so I hope I can make something happen.
  • anshul_rx8anshul_rx8 Member Posts: 3
    this is there phone number
    248) 822-7084 ask for mike philips
    i am sure u could get a deal for 299/month sport package just telll them that someone is oofering you the deal u want say its metro mazda or something and i am sure they will match it or give a better deal
    they even ask you if they could do something to get you to buy the car that very day , and you could give them an offer and see if they agree u would be surprised how flexible they are

    Good luck
  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    would you care if I gave refrence to you if he asks how I know or who i know who got a deal like that? thought i should ask you first, just to be considerate and thank you for the number and contact info. I tried that trick at my local dealor about having another dealor offering that deal to me and it didn't turn out the way I'd hoped... anysuggestions as to what I should say specifically to them... or what feel free to email me too and thank you
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    Do yourself a favor....do some homework and go to a couple of nearby Mazda dealers. Have a number in mind that you can afford and live with (know the numbers before you get there). If you're leasing, have the purchase price you're willing to pay, the residuals, the CAP cost you're willing to put down, the first and last months payment, the money factor, terms/length/mileage of lease, monthly payment, etc and give all that to them. You can find all this info here at Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book and/or NADA...even your bank should be able to provide the numbers you'll need.

    Tell them you'll buy based on your numbers. IF they all come back and say "no", you're offer is too low. If they all come back and try to "bump" you up, you can say no. IF you're reasonable with your figures, I'm sure at least one dealer will jump on the deal.

    Be prepared, however, with the fact you may not be able to get the car you want at the lease price you want. Just don't get financially in over your head. The dealer may try to up the amount of months you lease for, or the payment, or the CAP cost amount and fees. If you don't feel comfortable that it makes financial sense, walk away. The worst thing you can do in a lease is to get a few months into it, decide you can't afford the car, and then try to get out of it. That's a financial recipe for disaster and will literally cost you thousands of dollars.
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  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    see heres the problem, i've done alot of homework but based on my apperance I can't get any real or strait answers (I'm 20 years old with blue hair) don't ask about the hair I just thought it'd be fun to have blue hair... anyways every dealor I've gone to has either one told me one thing and then when I come back in change it all around and say we need this amount down or two said that that its not possible to do a lease at 299 and when I quote things from the boards and from others I've talked to they say "well go there then cause we can't do that for ya good luck"? and thats been the story on the 5 dealors I've gone to... now I've had two say ok we'll match that, but when I came back with my father they changed it and refused to budge... thats the trouble I'm having right now... I was able to get the residuals and pricing stuff and from the board know what others have been "typically" paying on there leases now grant you I'm not opposed to going into a 36 month lease either but so far I've had completely no luck and I'm begining to think that they're looking at me as some punk kid who they can squindle out some money.. unfortunately my father has his business to run so he doesn't have the time to go in lue of me and see what he can get. I explained everything to hime and he's gotten farther but ended up having to hang up cause he got a call at the office he had to take... so I don't know I might try the dealer up in michigan cause right now I'm just running out of time and options... hell I'm half way temted to ask someone on the board to work out a deal and I'll just come sign the thing... I mean I don't think any of the numbers I've offerd or given to them are unreasonable by any means. 24 or 36 months,12K a year,Auto w/sport package for 299 a month all taxes included thats it... judging from what others have gotten on there leases I would assume that I'd be able to get this no problem.... once again... ready to ask people on the board to negotiate it out for me so I don't have to go and get the run around (I'll rack it up to the blue hair style) :) thank you for the help guys... i'm gonna go out tommorrow again and hopefully see what we can pull off
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    Mazda made some changes to the dealers lease incentives program which makes it hard to get there right now.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    Please don't take my comments as any sort of slight, but to inject a little reality into your situation, it really sounds like you can't afford the car. Dealers are more than willing to make creative deals. Here's the important part.....they only can make deals based on the buyers ability to pay and what the banks are willing to lend to any one person (based on many factors). Anyone can post here that they got "this or that" deal. What you don't know is...

    1) If the deal was actually legitimate
    2) What "front end/back end" money they had to pay (that they didn't report)
    3) whether the deal reported was for a color or equipment level no one else wanted
    4) what their income level and credit history is

    Being 20 years old (regardless of your hair color), I'm going to assume your income level, credit/work history and/or debt to income ratio is below what lendors consider prime. Couple that with your lack of willingness or ability to put down a sizeable chunk of change and you aren't going to get the deals that someone with a sterling credit history and a good down payment will get.

    Not saying it's fair and not commenting on your status in life or credit-worthiness, but maybe shoot a little lower on the automotive ladder instead of sports cars in the $25K-$30K range.

    Maybe a Scion would be more within your reach since Toyota is trying to attract your demographic with those cars.

    Better yet, find a nice used RX7 and pay cash for it....or, put 1/2 down and find a bank/savings & loan to finance the rest. Then pay it off before the note is due. That way you'll have some very positive credit history to make your next purchase.
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  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    thank you for the comment and no offense taken but heres the thing I'm 20 with perfect credit had it run at a dealorship and it came back 740 so I know thats fine, two I make about 35 grand a year have no other payments except for insurance (free ride on scolarship to school), and three my original car I was looking at was a Mercedes C class or an 04 TL (30-36K), but being 20 I decided I didn't need to spend that kind of money right now. I had a feeling when I started this whole ordeal with mazda that things would wind up changing in the middle and make it very difficult for me to get one at a good price... hell if i wanted to pay that 340 plus taxes I would go with the mercedes for 360 all taxes included... what I was trying to do was tone it down a bit but I can't get a nice deal then fine I'll go back to what I was originally going to buy and leave it at that... but I thank you for your comments, I just get frustraited by dealors when I know the prices others have recieved yet no matter how hard I try and negotiate I can't pull anything off close to what they had got....
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    OK...with more facts, I see your age and income working against your here.

    What you're asking a lending institution to do is to take a lot of risk in the event something happens to the car or you. If the car is somehow totalled (hope not), then there isn't a cushion for them to come back to you to get their money since you make about as much in one year as the car will cost. Same is true if something happens with your job or to you (hope not) and you can't make payments. There's no cushion there. That makes for an income to debt ratio (especially for a depreciating asset like a car) that's extremely high on the negative side. I'm sure the reason they are asking for more money down is for that very reason, to mitigate their risk.

    Your age, rightfully or wrongfully, is working against you, too.

    If you feel comfortable finacially with the terms of the MB or Acura, and they are willing to make those deals, go for it. You may find that when it comes time to sign the paperwork, those deals may change too.

    From a lending institution's standpoint, it's hard to see how someone making $35K/year can pay for a $30K car.
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  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    I can understand what your saying but its just frustraiting to sit here and know that I spend my money on nothing else except for the car I live at home and school is free so that income mainly just gets banked... if I'd wanted to I could just go sign for it and pay for it in cash (but that would involve cashing some stocks which I'd rather hold on to) anyways I have a savings account set up for the soul purpose of paying the car payments, and at the begining I just put the full amount into the account and have it automatically withdrawn, i never have to worry about being late... I have an explorer and its how I've paid for that... financing isn't really the problem The financing is set (I'm already aproved for a loan and the only reason I want one is so I could further better my credit history) my only problem now is getting a fair price on the car, like I said if i can't get a fair or good price I'm better off just going and getting one of my other cars I wanted I was just hoping to get a RX8 (friend has a 94 RX7 w/turbos and I love it) only time will tell I guess
  • 307web307web Member Posts: 1,033
    It sounds like 740 is too high at 20 years old. In 2 years (18-20), I don't think you can build enough of a credit history for it too be that high even if all the credit you had in those 2 years was good.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    Since you're already approved for the loan, how much did they approve? That may tell you what kind of car you can look at.

    One more suggestion, take the amount they approved you for, and either with a down payment, or trade equity, make certain that you aren't using the entire loan amount. Subtract 25% from the amount of your loan and use that amount as the actual amount you want to borrow.

    That way, after 2-3 years, you won't be "upside down" in what you owe on the car.

    If everything is as you say, then there's something I'm missing or you're missing that I don't know about.

    Best I can tell, it's still a matter of what the dealer's lending institutions are willing or aren't willing to extend to you for whatever reason.

    BTW, the best leasing deals I've seen on stripped RX8s is $299/mo for 48 months with $2,000 in CAP cost reductions plus fees, taxes, tags.

    By using Edmunds TMV, you should be able to come up with a price that the dealer and you believe is fair.
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  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    People with fairly new credit often have an unusually high score....one J.C penny card that has a $500 limit and the guy paid it like clockwork for 6 months will have a 700 score....but the problem with younger buyers oftem stems from a lack of "high credit". Banks don't like to be the first guy to loan somebody $30K they all want to see a track record leading up to that number.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    You are right. Credit history goes into lending institutions decisions as much as their beacon score. I would imagine if a lending institution would be willing to loan cjs2002 money for the RX8, they are going to ask for a sizeable down payment plus, they'll probably "ding" him with a high money factor for them to take the risk on a lease, if they've already approved him.

    Again, not a slight to cjs2002, but I know of probably a half dozen 18-22 year olds in my general neighborhood who wanted to buy an RX8 after they saw mine. They ran into the same problems cjs2002 did. When I asked them what happened, they all came back with practically the same answers...."the dealer couldn't make the deal....or, the dealer couldn't get me financed." Very little of it had to do with them negotiating a decent price for the car.

    Believe me, I had dreams of all sorts of sports cars I wanted when I was late teens/early 20s. I even had bought my first house when I was 23 (with a 25% down payment, which was the only way the lending institutions would finance it). But I couldn't swing getting a loan on that new BMW I wanted so badly.
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  • cjs2002cjs2002 Member Posts: 341
    well my credit score is that high for two reasons... one I have 3 credit cards that have never been late and are always early (never carry a balance) and two I think because I actually have 2 other cars in my name (mothers and grandfathers) and niether have ever had a late payment. as for my loan I took out a loan for 5K just to put in the bank so that I could get started with the payments... I'm aproved up to 28K (my uncle is a president of the bank I went through and took care of that end) ....
      alright you say call john kennedy mazda and tell them that.. do you have there number by chance... secondly if this is all I need to do I thank you very very mutch... you just became my new best friend... if ya could leave a number and I'll call them first thing
    thankx
    craig
  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    610-279-1700....im not too sure...just go to mazdausa.com

    and then do dealer search..and put in the zipcode 19087.... itll come up as John Kennedy Mazda.....:)its pretty simple...a guy from my college just got one..and they took 460$ and had it sent to the door :)!
  • superusersuperuser Member Posts: 3
    the dealer is offering me the following deal on the yellow 6sp, with GT, AP and spoiler:

    including tax, delivery, and the mazda cash back (2500 dealer and 1500 customer)

    391/mo for 30 mo + 20,490 baloon, total $32,200 including NYS 8.25% sales tax and interest. to make things easier, this means $29,800 before tax (but includes interest for 30 mo)

    is this a reasonable deal? it's a floor model, yellow with black leather, btw.
  • drothdroth Member Posts: 1
    Has anyone seen a $300 Houston assessment or Houston commission fee on a S Plan invoice?

    Can this be negotiated or is it part of the S Plan price? It is printed on the factory invoice so I didn't know if it could be removed.
  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    hey guys...just got a number for you all...i Just got a Titanium grey sport package...stick shift...msrp was 28sumthing....and i got a lease for 2000$ down..which covered all inceptions etc....for 276$ a month...got the car on splan...if you arent a graduate in the last 2 years that number would be 296$...the cars pretty base but i love it..its all i need...go a cd and is after all an RX8..which is a 30k sports car..and a damn good one too...didnt cross shop too much...nuthing came close in price...got it on 24mo lease...0 tier credit :)
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    Good luck and welcome aboard!
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  • hardcoregamerhardcoregamer Member Posts: 3
    Hi I was wondering if the RX-8 came with tinted windows? Or is there an option where you can get it factory tinted? If so then how much does it cost? It would suck to have to go somewhere else to get it down.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    I think all cars come with tinted windows these days. As far as aftermarket tinting, every municipality has their own restrictions on how much tint you can use.

    However, to me, the RX8's tinting is just fine to keep the "hot" sun from frying you....even with my black interior.

    So you probably don't need any aftermarket tint.
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  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    the answer to ure question is that No ...there is no option that you can get which will give you factory tinted windows :) ....Unless some dealer charges you 500$ and goes to the shop aroudn the corner and gets it for 100$
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    Looking at my windows, they have tint. On my MSRP sticker, it says "tinted windows with front windshield sunshade".

    So, yes...the RX8 does come with tinted windows standard. As far as there being an option, I would be hard pressed to pay for a dealership to offer 3rd party tint if the car already comes with tinted windows as standard equipment.
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  • cheezeboycheezeboy Member Posts: 218
    gguy - hey, when I got Shima, there were about 20 RX8's on the lot and not a one of them had tinted windows....however, like your sticker, mine says "tinted windshield with sunshade".(just re-read it!)..which, I believe, is just that top area tint. If you got tinted windows all around, then I think you got a great deal!!....I've asked my dealer for info on full tinting and they gave me the name/address of a local company who does there work....when i get the funds, I am there!!!...wheee!!.....
  • hardcoregamerhardcoregamer Member Posts: 3
    Haha well that just blows. Mazda should have them already pre-tinted all around or at least give you the option to have them do it for a decent price. I don't know if I should trust other places to mess around with your brand new car. How much does tinting of windows cost usually?
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    Cheeze...glad to see you're still around and no worse for the wear with all the bad weather down your way. I just re-read my MSRP sticker. You're right. It says front tint with windshield sunshade.

    hardcore....like you, I'm not wanting to let some 3rd party do any tint to my windows. I couldn't even guess what something like that costs.
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  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    it costs about $170-270....270 for suv,s about 220 or so for sedans...aand then i guess 170 for convertibles or sports cars ?!..but u can get it done in 200$ and they do a pretty damn good job..in the rare event they spoil smthn there is a warranty
  • hardcoregamerhardcoregamer Member Posts: 3
    Oh ok great. That's not too bad of a price. Do you guys know of a reputable big chain that will do a good job for a good price? Also how dark can I get the tinting before it becomes illegal? hehe.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,135
    I know around my area, police ticket cars with dark tint fairly regularly. They actually stop cars and have some sort of "tint measuring device". I see them using it just about every week when they have somone pulled over. But, as cheeze mentions, it's mostly SUVs that I see with dark tint. I see some ratty civics with the dark tint, too but that's about it. I don't know what the different laws are in different municipalities regarding level of tint.

    It's considered "bad taste" around here to have dark tint on a nice car. So, either the "pimped out" SUVs or the ratty civics are the only ones with dark tint.

    Of course, I don't live in FL like cheeze does, either.

    Saw the most bizzare thing I've ever seen yesterday...speaking of bad taste. It was a beautiful day, so I took the RX8 for a long ride down along the OH River. Lo and behold, about 2 hours inot my cruise, I saw a mid-late 90s Infiniti SUV (QX4?) with a large spoiler bolted to the top of the rear hatch area while stopped at a red light. Go figure! Oh yeah, it had dark tinted windows, too.
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  • chopperzchopperz Member Posts: 6
    is there some sort of navigation rebate on the rx8s? anyone had a good experience with a central nj mazda dealer? would like to buy in the next couple weeks...thanks
  • jeff193jeff193 Member Posts: 29
    i know a good dealer an hour from you who can give you a really good deal...straight cut very cheap...awesome deals on 24 month leases.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    Hi jeff193 - could you go ahead and post that dealership name here? I'm sure several members would be interested!

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