2013 and Earlier - Mazda3 Prices Paid and Buying Experience

rinebird

they allow college kids two years before graduation to use it too.I have proof but they never asked. have you asked about what month? or just say two years?

billo

Just email me & I send you the details.

flight13

Went to pick up my new car yesterday. While in the middle of completing the paperwork, the salesman comes in and says "I don't think you're going to want the car anymore, come look". I asked him if he was kidding and he said no. Keep in mind that it's been a major pain locating the car I want and I am now 90 miles from home. I go outside to the car where a service technician and a manager are standing by the car. Apparently the service technician was carting a rack of tires by the car and one of the tires fell off and crunched the back corner. I couldn't believe it...I was literally minutes from driving that thing home. Had to drive 2 hours home, through Los Angeles traffic, without my new car.

kyfdx

Unreal.... Is your last name Murphy?

npaladin2000

They need to find you another car...and unless they want to get some serious bad vibes, they need to do it quick to make you happy. You're angry now. Understand? Make SURE you tell the dealer how ANGRY you are and that they NEED to make you HAPPY. Hint. Hint. Hint.

flight13

They actually contacted me this morning and said they found one coming to another dealer in 2 weeks and that the other dealer has agreed to trade them the car. Additionally, they offered $100 off (making the deal $200 over invoice) plus they will deliver the car to my front door. Seems like a pretty fair offer to rectify the situation.
Does anyone know for sure if the assessment fee is refunded to the dealer by the manufacturer?

mattinla

I have been trying to make a deal on a fully loaded Titanium 5 door with a manual for some time.. and there just weren't any in So Cal...and seemingly none coming in. It was looking like my only option was a custom order, and then I wouldn't have gotten that great Mazda financing deal. But someone backed out of a deal on a Titanium custom order exactly like the one I wanted, coming in 2 weeks to Heritage Mazda, and I got it through their internet department. With the options and accessories it has, Cars Direct was $200 under invoice, and Heritage gave me $500 under invoice, which was exactly what the TMV target was.. so I am happy. Could I have gotten a better deal?.. perhaps... but I've been looking for 4 weeks, and sold my Explorer last week.. so getting what I want at the target price is fine with me. And Heritage was very easy to deal with. No surprises...

rinebird

Are you in the Philadelphai area? The assessment fee .I am glad you mentioned this .I am negotiating a mazda 1 sedan with options. I thought it was 400over invoice.The dealer said 200 over. I asked what is the extra 200? the assessment fee charged to the dealer in Phial it si onteh invoice.I want to knwolike you if we are NOT from Phila do w ehave to pay it? I live in NJ.

rinebird

I have been told that the Mazda dealer in Phila is charged a fee of $200.00. It is on the invoice.( I never saw it so Ihad it sent to me) Do we have to pay that if we live in nJ?
It is on the invoice. I was not told until the total of my car was negotiated.I said I am 400 over invoice,they said 200 over.I asked then what is the 200 extra?I was then told the Phila assessment fee charged the dealer.

rinebird

Hi I told you I had gotten invoice.Mazda i with options. My car is 200 over invoive (negotiated). I also was charged a fee of $200 called the Phila Assessment Fee charged by the dealer (you mentioned). were you aware of this? I live in NJ.
sorry about the mix up about invoice.I didn't have the clear picture until yesterday.

kyfdx

the assessment fee is a regional advertising fee. This is common for many makes of car. I doubt they get it back later... it pays for regional advertising that the manufacturer provides in the area.

rinebird

Thank you for the explanation

halocline

I picked up my Winning Blue hatch from Sentry West Mazda (Shrewsbury, MA) on Friday; 5-speed, leather, moonroof/6CD, ABS/SAB. Dealer experience was excellent, highly professional and courteous. Used s-plan to avoid the haggling. Invoice included the $100 "Boston Assessment Fee" others have described (even for s-plan buyers). The salesman did mention something about a "leather shortage in Japan" and that they were "not really supposed to sell leather on s-plan"; but it was merely a passing comment, rather than anything he expected me to answer to. 600 miles on the clock so far and very happy. Cruises nicely on the highway, even with 4 adults and a trunk full of luggage.

kyfdx

How much is the S-plan in relation to invoice? under/over or about the same?

regards,
kyfdx

halocline

Pennies under. The dealer can't charge "document prep" or any other wierd fees either, so you pay the plan price, plus sales tax, title and registration. It's a nice way to buy a car.

ashutoshsm

In you folks' epxerience, which dealers offer/accept the S-Plan without hassle in NJ? North NJ - say in the vicinity of 30-40 miles south of NY.

This would be for a 3i, automatic, minimal options.

mloose

Halocline, I'm from the Worcester area, and looking to purchase almost the exact mazda3 you did (except in sedan form without leather). If you don't mind me asking, how much was it, and how much of a discount did you get via the S-plan (i'm not eligible). Would you go back to Sentry West for another purchase? And lastly, did they have a lot of 3's on the lot, or did it seem like they were selling like hotcakes? thanks a ton.

halocline

As others have commented, s-plan is about the same price you can negotiate, maybe a little less(except you don't have to waste time negotiating).

I would go back to Sentry -- I found the buying experience to be more professional than other Boston area dealers (none of the old fashioned, hard sell, tooth pulling, let-me-talk-to-my-manager, car buying experience).

They have quite a few on the lot, and if you're flexible and looking for a minimal spec they probably have what you want (most dealers seem to have many sparse spec vehicles on hand). I used them because they were the only local dealer with the spec I wanted according to the inventory search on mazdausa.com, and emailed them to check they had it on the lot.

Good luck!

rinebird

I got my Mazda i sedan with AT,AC. PP1,wheel locks(2900 list options). 16268 OTD.

Bought it over the Internet for less after spending 4 hours at a dealer for a price about 1000 higher after 2 hours negotiation .I got the price I wanted more or less, considering the car is sells itself: starlight green mica.I looked at HOndas. Toyotas.Ford Focus thsicar has so much more and the looks.Warranty is best too.

gokalps

Hey Rinebird,where did you end up buying it?
Enjoy it.

otoluva

mloose, Gallo Mazda in Worcester has been advertising s plan prices for the public.

snarks

What is the s-plan? Sorry about naivity. I'm interesting in a black Mazda 3 hatchback 5-speed without options but any will not bother except the NAV system. There are a few around this area of seacoast NH, what is a reasonable price to pay?

rinebird

Thank you .I went to F. Mazda in the NE ,the place you discussed.

I did get an extended service plan.
I dont' drive too may miles per year( not yet).

Any questions just email .I got the starlight green mica beautiful color. If you go to the web site for Renee9 internest sales) there is a 50.00 coupon.I did trade in my old car( after price given to me).college rebate too.

mz3cat

I'm in the process of factory ordering a lava orange Mazda 3 hatchback. Dealer said 6-8 weeks. In the mean time, they are looking for one from another dealer, I assume because they would rather not have to order one. I've signed papers agreeing to the factory order and have given them a deposit.

So if they call me up and tell me they found my car at another dealership, but they will have to drive it over (probably over 100 miles or so), would I be able to ask for a lower price than I agreed on? I mean, I only agreed to the factory order. How much would you think is fair to ask? I'm paying MSRP (I know...I'm a first time car buyer and didn't do enough homework...my fault).

thanks for any info.

jrct9454

...to have it brought to the dealership on a flatbed, or no deal...if they don't want to do that, I wouldn't take the car.

audia8q

if your factory order has not been accepted by mazda already, you won't be getting one. The last allocation, which ran on 5/14 was the last order cycle for the 2004's.

also, FYI, factory order times on the MZ3 are in the 4 month range not 6-8 weeks like a US built mazda.

z71bill

Not trying to slam you - really -

How much was your deposit?

If it was a few hundred $ you may be better off going to another dealer and negotiating a better deal. Getting $1,000 off MSRP is as easy as asking for it. At this point in the year you should be between $0 and $500 over invoice - and this should include all the fees except TT&L.

So unless you put down a very large deposit you would be better off even if you lost your deposit.

Second - go into the dealership and tell the manager you want the deposit back. If they have not already ordered your car they are not holding up their end of the agreement.

mattinla

mzcat, here in LA good luck paying so little over invoice. I hunted and hunted and hunted.. sure if I wanted a base model or a sedan, there were some better deals... but around here finding one nicely equipped is not easy, and they are not dealing. The shipment mine came in this week, was completely pre sold by my dealer.

Another dealer said I could order up until June, and that their deliveries had been running under two months. Maybe because we are closer to the port and pre-delivery lot? The car I picked up yesterday was ordered by someone else in late March. The dealer found them another one they were willing to take, and I got their special order.

It's hard to find lava.. and frankly I don't think having it driven 100 miles makes much of a difference. I've had a dealer drive a found car over 200 miles in the past. They usually do a swap.. so a tech drives one there and takes yours back. 100 miles, or even 200, hardly puts it in used car territory.

tonytouch

I am moving from Boston to Atlanta this summer for school, and I am interested in buying a M3 when I get down there. My preference is to do an internet deal with one of the ATL dealerships right now, and then just pick it up when I move down there.
Any tips on negotiating over email? Is it the same thing as doing it in person?
Also, should I tell him the exact options & color I want? Does my bargaining clout decrease when he knows I want one specific car?

thanks!

mazda6s

Rich - Can you update us when the changes for 2005 become available?

audia8q

I sure will...I expect to be able to order 2005's in the next month or so...for october/november arrival.

howac

We've been waiting for our special-order Mazda3 since early January. It still hasn't arrived yet. Since you mentioned that the 2005s will be available in October/November, I'm wondering whether it would be wiser to change our order to a 2005 model. I don't expect too many changes from 2004 to 2005, but it might be a good idea just to be sure that we can take advantage of any updates. Any thoughts?

audia8q

That is a decision for you to make, not me....but if you ordered a car that the dealer may not normally stock, you will hurt his allocation by switching.....allocation is based on sales and days in inventory.

Have you spoken to your dealer to see what the status is??? Do they have a vin#...Did you order leather? we had some leather orders pushed back two months...but our normal order time has been 5 months....if your on the west coast the order time is apx 3 weeks less.

FYI....dealers must "earn" the cars they sell, so if they don't have enough earnings the factory won't build their ordered cars until they do...with a high demand car like the MZ3 this plays a huge role in how long the orders. take.

jal1

Bought a sunlight silver 5-door in the Portland, OR, area from Royal Moore Mazda. Dealt with the Internet sales manager. Good experience, no surprises. Happy with the car so far--definitely loads of fun on twisty roads.

Mazda3 5-door with 5-speed manual, ABS/SAB/SAC, Xenon/TPMS, moonroof/6 CD, leather and navigation.

$20,580 + 218 (title, registration) $20,798

howac

Thanks for your reply. I know this is a decision that we have to make. It was more like a thinking out loud kind of thing :-)

Last time I contacted the dealer (in early May), the salesperson informed me that the car would show up in the 3rd week of May. Well, that has come and gone... and still no word. We are in CA and ordered a fully loaded (including leather, but no navi) 5-speed hatchback. So the leather could account for part of the delay. We did get our VIN in late March and I have a feeling that the car is almost here. Maybe the waiting has gotten to me after almost 5 months (they originally said 6 to 8 weeks). Haha!

It's unfortunate that most dealers either don't know or don't offer the kind of insight that you share with us here. What you have explained makes a lot of sense. I guess I just have to be patient. Thanks again!

z71bill

I would never be able to wait 5 months for a new car to be delivered. Last time I ordered a vehicle dealer promised 8 weeks - it came in 7 weeks and 3 days - but those 7 weeks and 3 days felt like 7 months and 3 weeks.

I just hope you got a good deal - to make it worth the wait.

howac

Waiting 5 months for a car is tough. But come to think of it, had we known that it would take 5 months, we might still have waited for it anyway. There aren't too many alternatives that fit our criteria, plus we aren't in a big hurry anyway. Assuming that there are no significant reliability issues, the Mazda3 should be worth it.

I will make sure I give the AC a good test before we sign any papers, though. Hopefully we won't run into the problems that you have mentioned before. Good luck with your AC!

$c-money$

i need help on how to get a mazda3 s at invoice or below. my brother is going to finance for me (good credit not the best)and we're not gonna put anything down. my cousin owns a 99 protege and i was wondering how to get the customer loyalty discount. Also, what options in the s are really necessary? your help will be greatly appreciated.

chris

audia8q

the easiest way to get a mazda3 at invoice or below is to buy a mazda dealership.

modock

I just bought a 3s sedan in Titanium Grey with no additional options. I paid 2% over invoice plus $359. So it came out to about 675 over invoice. But I spent a total of about an hour at the dealership not including all the financing and show time. I paid almost exactly what the Edumnds TMV is.

It was not the greatest of deals but I was not looking for that. I just wanted a decent price without having to spend all day at the dealership. I also got the College grad rebate and the $250 coupon. So all said and done I paid less than 16K. If any one is in the Denver area and looking for a Mazda and wants a decent deal with no hassle go to Sill-Tehar at Wadsworth and the turnpike.

Corey

npaladin2000

The only other way is to steal one.

jal1

It probably is possible. The deal I wrote about in post #457 is $200 over invoice since the invoice is $20,380. The TMV price, by the way, is listed as $21,772. I wasn't able to use any of the incentives like the $500 college grad cash so if someone could, the car could be had for $300 under invoice.

mnedmundguy

I had never even *heard* of A/S/X plan before.

I claimed an unallocated but on order 3 "S" 5 door tonight.
$17908 out the door before TTL. ( $ 50 high but I don't care)

Manual, ABS, Moonroof/6cd

No college or loyalty credit (darn)

MSRP was $19254
TMV was $18852

Fair deal, yes? Not bad, not outstanding.
ETA 4 weeks.

So thanks to Edmunds and to you folks for making an informed decision and a fair price.

saintirish

I'm going to buy a Mazda 3s (loaded with all options and navigation system) on Monday. Does anyone have any buying tips for me (I know about the college discount, and I am buying a mazda $250 off coupon from ebay)?

What are some "extras" that you have been able to get in negotiating with your dealer? (i.e. oil changes, free tank of gas, etc.)

Also, does anyone who already has the navigation system think that it is worth buying? Anyone been able to modify the system to play DVDs too?

nomorevolvo

Don't know if this was good or bad deal, anyhow,
one 2004 Mazda 3 Sport GT, manual, sunroof, a/c,$24347, plus 15% taxes = $28000.00 out the door, plates and all, including 6/160 Mazda xtended warranty

frogpond

I noticed people have been talking about an "s-plan" for financing. What is it?? My wife and I have only gone to one dealership down here to look for a 3Hatch, New London Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda. The experience while starting out good ended up getting worse and worse. They tried to hit us up, with extreme high pressure, for VIN Etching, Conveyence fees, extended warrenty, etc. Then they reported our credit scores wrong a violation of the FTC's Fair Credit Reporting Act. Then when we tried to get our deposit back they gave us a hard time and tried to get us to do the deal by shuffling us around for twenty minutes from finance manger to finance manager and asking for more money down. Then they withheld 350.00 until it 'cleared' through thier bank. AAARRggg!! We are willing to drive to be treated right!! Anyone know of a GOOD dealership in CT, RI and/or MA??!

audia8q

s-plan is for employees of supplier companies who do business with Ford or their divisions....But, you may find that not many dealers in your area are interested in an s-plan sale on the MZ3.

Since the dealers know they can sell the car at or near MSRP to the next guy who comes in the showroom, there isnt much incentive to sell the car at the s-plan price and make no money.

How did the dealer report your credit score? what does that mean?

npaladin2000

Don't know any there, except to stay away from Colonial Mazda in Danbury. I ended up going in the opposite direction, to Middletown, NY.

phantomiii

Got my red 3s manual with moonroof and 6disc changer for $125 over invoice, no fee's of ANY kind. Invoice was 16,620, I had a $1000 rebate offered from ford/lincoln/merc/mazada that could be used on any new car of the above. (Got it for leasing a vechicle that just was turned in...as an incentive to buy again). So got my 3s for 15,745.

Got to say I'm really happy except for the fact that the previous day, I got him to offer it at invoice price with no fee of any kind, then I tried to get him to throw a free spoiler in. No Go and I walked out. Next day my wife demanded I go get that car for her. He wouldn't honor the invoice price this time, he wanted an additioniol $250, I said no way, and we agree'd on $125 over invoice much to my dismay. 3.9 finacing at 60 months.

I never deal with sales crew working the lot, I go right to the sales manager and work with him(or her). Anyways, wife is happy = me is happy. She loves the car and I feel I got a pretty good deal. Out the door price including TT&L would be $16,768.

frogpond

Where did you get that deal??!! It seems around here dealers are not willing to negotiate. Other parts of the country seem better than here, supply and demand I guess. I'll stay away from Danbury..Thanks.