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Comments
Guess I haven't had my buying experience yet... that is if the deed must actually be done to be a part of this forum. I guess a lot of others have been wrong also. Sorry--my bad. But based on this kind of chill, I'll just keep my Carbon Gray secrets to myself... that is, whenever I find out just what the heck that color is! I'm already down to a couple of hundred over so called invoice with no trade, I just haven't found the '05 with the options I want yet. See ya!
Beware the add ons. Dealer at first included a bunch of these (something about security window etching, second driver credit check, gas), after we agreed on that which would have brought the price up another $300.
Another questionable area- NY/CA emissions appeared as a $250 line item in the dealer invoice price they showed me. I do need this since I live in NY, but didn't expect to see this added in on the invoice, according to all the price reports I had seen on Edmunds and Consumer Reports. Then again, NJ is not a CA emissions state so the dealer could be requesting this for NY shoppers and adding it in themselves. Has anyone else seen something like this?
A) we don't know.
C) the main thread for the Mazda3, which the moderator graciously provided the link for, is the ideal place for the question as it generates many more readers.
D) AND that thread has already had some discussion about this special edition model.
In other words, this is a specialty thread dealing mainly with pricing issues. Sure, sometimes things go a little off topic on occasion, but that doesn't change the validity of our advice to go and seek your answer over there.
Good luck.
Got the color off the Mazda Canada web site -- it seems it is a stock color for Canada dealers (so how many of you knew that???)--its sort of in between the Titanium and the Black, and I also down loaded a pdf file off another chat site that had all of the options, and pictures of the interior and exterior for the preliminary sales package, including the brown leather interior. It was enough to convince me. Went down to a high volume dealer in Charlotte and ordered one--the boss sales manager showed me on his super duper secret Mazda order site not only the projected build date, but the projected delivery date.
BTW, slow racing is aptly named -- I autocross and road race a Corvette, and I am thoroughly impressed with this little car ...maybe "not so aptly named," but I couldn't see waiting around for "combustible" input from the so called experts--MY SP3s is on its way, and that is a buying experience for sure.
- ABS package
- Moonroof & 6CD in-dash
I got it for $19,000, which was I believe $100 under invoice price. Nor entirely sure, but I know MSRP on the car was $20,245. So, I got $1000 off MSRP, which was pretty good I thought esp. considering it was my first time negotiating a car deal. I also got it on the last day of the month, in October, so that may have helped me out. Sales quota blah blah...
But, the dealership there is awesome, and I will recommend it highly. They are teh biggest Mazda dealer in the nation, and if you see their inventory you can see why. They havea parking lot in the back, lined up with Mazda galore. Very professional too. I've gotten like 10 letter already from them, "Thank you Thank you, We Strive to Serve you Best",and all that good fluff.
Anyways, if 18300-18800 is price for a 2005 manual trans., that's not bad.
A Mazda3 with the same package except automatic transmission will definately cause about $800 less. $18000 to $18200 is the price to pay and good for you if you can go for less. APR for finacing should be 4.9 or less. Dont do any trade-in since they will likely give you a terrible price.
Just go there and tell them exactly what want and make a deal on the car price (before tax and license), not how much you pay monthly because it is confusing. Tell them that you are firm about the price and that is it!
I believed that i could get a 100 or 200 lower for my car. However, i live in Silicon valley area (honestly average income here is quite high compared to national average) so things here are more expensive than else where. Dealers at different locations should be more willing to lower their prices a bit more.
Now! I want to know any Rebate , Holdback?
Thanks
In the Mazda3 Canada forum several members have discussed Cdn. prices.
How many nearby Mazda dealerships do you have in your area? Making some calls and visiting them may help reduce the price significantly. I had more than C$1000 discounted off the MSRP for my then new 2002 Protege5 in Ottawa. Although the Mazda3 may be a terrific car you may want to price other models (and let the Mazda dealers know you are doing so) to comparison shop.
Spring delivery is a good idea (especially to avoid a brutal winter) but I don't see an incentive for the dealership to give you a better price for the car.
Best wishes!
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Share your vehicle reviews
I've seen many people here give good reviews about Wayne Mazda dealership in NJ. I'm going there tomorrow... Is there anyone in particular you would recommend?
Thank you!
Asya
If the dealership is getting a lot of positive reviews, chances are good that the dealership employs good salespeople, and hopefully you'll have the same positive experience there.
kirstie_h
Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host
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Share your vehicle reviews
Thank you for your response. Understood:)
Sorry..didn't know about this rule.
Asya
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i had been reading the threads here and searching mazda's online inventory. it really helped to have other dealers in the area compete against each other to give me the best price. also, thanks to this site, i made sure to check the rotors and a few other things to make sure there were no problems from the get go.
btw, i did see one 04 at another dealer that did have substantial grooves in the rotors with only 20 miles on the odometer!
only thing i plan to do now is break the engine in gently and tint the windows when it warms up a little.
the mini is what got me looking at a new car originally, but when i saw that it (s model) was more expensive, smaller, yet not as quick as the mazda, my mind was made up.
thanks to all who helped me find my perfect car!
btw, this will be my daily driver/busines car. i'm starting my own business next year and want to put my logo, website etc. on the rear window.
thanks again!
Thanks
The salesman @ Eddie Accardi Pompano Bch, FL, kept shaking his head, (in disgust?), said he couldn't even get the car for himself at the price we were paying!!! He probably says that to everyone, (eh, don't BS a BS'er here). I have to hand it to them though, after a few gliches (misunderstandings?), they kept their word. They were not happy though, (but they were nice). The sales manager said, "they absolutely didn't make any money on us, but that's okay, they will on the next deal, it all evens out." A nice fellow. I would do business w/him again.
They tried to low ball us on my trade, 10k for my 2003.5 P5 w/7666 miles. I showed about a 12K TMV. So a strong word of advice, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, if you have a trade, take a copy of the Edmunds TMV AND the Kelley BlueBook sheets w/you!
The sales sheet after it was all said and done had a MUCH higher value for my car but w/little or no discount for the MZ3. Which is okay, less sales tax paid. Whatever works for them, and if I'm happy w/the deal, it's okay however they work the numbers.
We were an informed buyer, dealt from invoice up, and before Audi08 has a cow, we were nice, (but firm). We left the dealer on good terms, (we smiled and shook hands). Ummm, not sure if they want us back there though, (just because of the no profit factor for them, remember, we were NICE!) Oh well. Such is life. We be very happy, and that's what really matters.
Allen
Sorry, I can't disclose the actual dollars, per dealer request, he said we got too good of a deal. I can and do recommend them.
and allen53fl -- you worked from invoice UP to get your deal??? dude, i start at invoice and work my way DOWN! it's just an arbitrary number anyway. and don't ever believe the dealer that says they are "losing money on a car deal". it would be more accurate to say they "aren't making as much" off of you, but they are still getting a chunk. don't you worry about them...
oh i forgot to mention -- i HIGHLY recommend the dealer i got my hatch from, hiley mazda. the financing guy tried to be a little squirrelly with me, but we got that straightened out, and all was well.
the dealer that was NOT so agreeable was freeman mazda. they basically lost my business for the cost of a tint job and wheel locks. i could not believe it! we had agreed on a price, but when i mentioned throwing in a tint and wheel locks, they had a problem all of a sudden. i told them another dealer had offered this (which was true), but they wouldn't budge. they started the "we'll be losing money on this car" line. i was amazed, and i will never buy a car from them.
But - you said " i could not believe it! we had agreed on a price" IMO once you agree on a price - and then YOU go back and ask them to add something in for free - that is not right. Like I said I have no problem trying to get free stuff thrown in - but once I agree on a price MY word is good - I stand behind it and expect the dealership to do the same.
Put the shoe on the other foot - if you both agree on a price - then the dealer wants to add some other charge in do you think that is OK?
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
The Sandman :-)
I think working from the invoice up, is reasonable, especially for a hot car like the MZ3. Many dealers are not discounting MSRP much, if at all. I knew what the invoice was, I knew what the trade in value of my car was, and I knew approximately what the TTL was. I had a mental limit of what I was willing to pay, (P5+cash+TTL). We started off w/a VERY low cash difference offer, the dealer said that was unreasonable, (it was). EOD we met in the middle, which was my predetermined target, (BINGO!). All part of the game.
I realize the dealer always tries to make it "appear" that you got a fantastic deal, it's part of the "game". But when we went in to the finance guy, who was very good btw, (didn't waste our time, he had his routine down so pat, he could do it in his sleep). He said "Boy! you got a GOOD deal!", I said "Yeah, but he still made money on us." He replied, "No, he didn't" and showed me the net proceeds page (not sure what that page is really called) on his computer screen. I've spent more on a low-cost dinner, btw.
Audia8 slammed me a couple of years ago, when I purchased my P5, I got a good deal on it, and I said I was going back to the original dealer who wasn't willing to deal, and "rub his nose in it". It was a tongue-in-cheek statement, and I admit, phrased wrong. I was out of line, and failed to state tto him hat I was on good terms with this dealer, (Audi was VERY PO'd). But I did go back and talk to them, (remember, I AM a nice guy!), and they couldn't believe it, congratulated me, and appreciated me coming back to let them know. I have a lot of repect for Audi, and I completely agree w/him, a dealer has to make some money, he has overhead expenses and employees that they need to take care of. They also have a business to run, and well, no profit=no business.
I wasn't planning on buying until March, but this dealer had the BEST inventory of the color and options I wanted within 150mi. I thought, fat chance on my target price, but hey, if they go for it, great. If not, I'll wait until March and go to Del Ray Mazda, (where I got my P5), and get it from them, as I like them a lot.
I got the deal that I wanted, and I am happy.
Allen
-Manual
-Sport Package
-6-disc CD
-ABS
-Xenons (can take 'em or leave 'em)
I'd like to get a feel for what people have actually paid as I'm planning on buying in late April. Thanks.
I agree with Z71....you agreed to a deal and you should have been big enough to honor the agreement... spin it around and lets say you agree to a deal with the dealer and at delivery they want YOU to throw in another $100 and if you didnt they would sell the car to somebody else? You would be on here calling the dealer liars, cheats and crooks.
Z71Bill..."but once I agree on a price MY word is good - I stand behind it and expect the dealership to do the same."
...We dont see eye to eye on some car things but your statement is very honorable and more consumers and dealers should feel the same way. The whole process would be alot easier for everyone.
z71bill -- actually, we didn't agree on a price and then i just started trying to add things on. (didn't detail my story too well i guess). what happened was when we were coming in from the test drive, i did mention to the sales guy that another dealer had been willing to add a tint, so i wanted to see about adding a few things onto this car and dropping the cargo net and door edge guards (tacky btw). so he said he'd see what they could do. THEN when we had agreed on the price, i then said what about the things i had talked about switching/adding, and that's when the problem started. they just kept talking about how they were the first dealer in the area, and how they sell more mazdas than anyone else. basically, they had an ego problem, and somehow think that their supposed status means they don't have to lower their prices to that of "lesser dealers".
i mean, they were actually saying that this other dealer's tint will most likely turn purple over time, and it wouldn't be worth it. on the other hand, they said THEY had a tint co. that THEY work with that apparently is beyond reproach! (the previous dealer had said the free tint would have a lifetime warranty btw, so i doubt it would have been a problem).
so yeah, i really was amazed that this dealer in irving basically threw away a car sale and a potential customer for life, not to mention good word of mouth from me -- all for some wheel locks and a tint job.
i did tell them that if i were a dealer and a NEW CUSTOMER requested something small like that added into the deal, i would not hesitate to throw it in -- almost as a courtesy, or "thank you" for buying your first mazda from us. oh well, their loss.
i really love my mazda and have respect for the company, but some dealers could learn a thing or two about how to win over a customer...
like i said, another dealer had already offered this to me, but they didn't have the right color...
When helping my daughter buy a car, we had a manager show us a computer screen with figures supposedly proving what a great deal we would be getting. From doing my homework here at Edmunds, I knew that his figures, although appearing official, were false. It was a Mazda dealer; I haven't been back there.
"eh, i don't see how wheel locks and a tint job (their cost or retail) could ever equal $200-$300, volvodan1...
like i said, another dealer had already offered this to me, but they didn't have the right color..."
It works both ways. Until that other dealer has written down in the contract what they are going to include, it is still negotiable. "Bait and switch" is used to get you into the sales cubicle. Haven't you ever checked a contract and found costs included beyond what you had verbally agreed to?
BTW, I haven't priced it, but I can easily imagine wheel locks and tint costing $200-300. They charge about $100 for a pinstripe that you can apply yourself (free labor) for less than $10.
ok, maybe tint jobs and wheel locks are really expensive in some areas of the country, but mazda lists the locks at $24 and in my area, you can get a good tint for $100 to $150 depending on how many windows on the vehicle. and i'm sure dealers get a sweet deal discount for sending their cars to one company to have them tinted. so at the most, i figured it was costing THE DEALER around $75 if that. who cares what the retail is -- you have to approach it using their costs. that doesn't make you too popular with the salesmen -- they'd like everyone to pay msrp, but how smart is that?!?
and yeah, i know about "bait and switch", but you have to be able to walk away from the deal if they start playing those kinds of games. maybe my situation was a little simpler, as i had no trade, wanted a no option car, and no extra warranty fluff, but i would use the same techniques if the situation were completely different too...
To get a little bargaining leverage I'm thinking of using CarBargains, which is the u unusual car-buying service run by consumerscheckbook.org in some major cities. It's got a great reputation. You identify the car you want (e.g., Mazda3s sedan), they get multiple dealers to bid for your business in the format "I'll charge you $x over invoice for whatever combination of options you want."
Here's my question: it's likely any dealer I choose will have to go fetch a car in trade from someone else. The folks at Checkbook tell me that part of the bid will be the fee the dealer will charge for that service.
Anybody had experience with such pickup fees? How big are they likely to be?
You have selected INTERIOR TRIM PACKAGE
This requires removal of
• ABS/SAB/SAC PACKAGE
Are you sure you want to select INTERIOR TRIM PACKAGE?
I had first selected ABS/SAB/SAC Package & then I proceeded to chose the Interior Trim Package, in addition.
Apparently & according to Mazda, the ABS/SAB/SAC Package & the Interior Trim Package (Red or Blue: Door & Instrument Trim Panel; plus premium floor mat upgrade)
I could not find this same restriction while trying to build the same vehicle on Edmund’s web site & a couple of other web sites that offer similar car build programs. In fact, on some of these independent web sites they direct the order to Blue or Red Clothed Seats when ordering Interior Trim Package (blue or red to match). Sometimes, this is done by prohibiting the order of black/charcoal leather seats in conjunction with ordering Interior Trim Package. I wasn’t able to duplicate this on Mazda’s Canadian web site because the packaging is different (without descriptions)
What gives? Who’s correct?
I have been looking at the Mazda 3 as my beloved Contour SVT now has 151K on it and the transmission is going:( A dealer here in San Diego (one of those "no haggle" bottom line places) has quoted a price of $15900 on a 04 3i sedan with 16,609 miles, a price of 15,995 on another used 3i with 15,429 miles and a price of $16,595 on a 6i with 11,752.
What do you think of these quotes? The 6 is 1K more with 4,000 fewer miles. Is the mileage on these cars too high? How does one negotiate with dealer that say the posted price is their bottom line?
Thanks very much!
CG
I'm not saying you didn't have a bad experience, I'm just saying it's normal practice when dealing with many car dealers. Also, it's usually a dealer ad, rather than a national or regional brand ad. They don't want to actually SELL that car, they want to get you in the door to work on you.
I have had another unpleasant experience which I reported to the dealer and Mazda.
J.D. Power has noted that Mazda dealers are among the worst in terms of repeat sales. A letter to the dealer and Mazda from you about your experience and their loss of a sale would be useful. The auto brands and their dealers should realize that these practices are self-defeating and have no future.
Congratulations on the new Toyota!
The thing that really bugs me is when a dealership claims to have 350 vehicles (of the model I want) in stock ready for delivery. I call and ask the salesperson if they have the specific vehicle / color I want.(the answer is always yes - we have several). After I drive across town and find that they have zero of the specific vehicle I wanted in stock - and that instead of 350 they have maybe a dozen of that model. If they lie about some things they will lie about everything. I have even tried getting a stock number - and surprise - we just sold that car 15 minutes ago.
...price includes AARP, military, college grad and and lincoln owner loyalty incentive...
Unless your an 80 year old recent college grad who is in the army and driving a Lincoln, you don't qualify.
can I still negotiate the price (after rebated) with the saleman ? He told me not; it will be the (fixed) price to purchase. Also for the car sale by Hertz; do your think cosumer can be negotiation the price or not, eacy time in the car dealer shop; I felt presure, they will hold you there until they got your business. Thanks
The dealership is Alhambra Mazda in Alhambra, CA.
The main thing that bugs me about these fees is when you agree on a final price plus Tax and then they add the fees on top of the agreed on price. I always ask the salespeople to tell me about any fees up front and include it in our negotiation - or plan on not making the sale. Even though I tell them this about 1/2 the time when the paperwork gets done they have added in some additional charges. In this case I will not pay the fees / but will allow them to adjust the paperwork to show the fee - but reduce the purchase price of the car so the total equals the price WE agreed on. IMO this is fair - adding in fees after the fact is just plain wrong - the only reason dealerships do it is because they CAN.
It's the people who make the mistake of offering $xxx over invoice or just selling price who run into problems with fees.
I do however use invoice as a basis for my negotiations -you have to start somewhere and invoice less rebates & holdback is as good a place as any. If I was buying a 2004 model today I would normally start even lower. In reality I normally end up some where around invoice + - $350 (less rebates of course.