Mazdaspeed test drives
jerseymazda
Member Posts: 7
Hi folks:
I've had some terrible luck with Mazda dealers. I own a 2006 Mazda3 hatch, and I really want to buy a Mazdaspeed3. I just want to be sure before I trade in my 3 (which I love) that the suspension tuning and road manners of the Mazdaspeed3 will be to my liking. I live in central NJ and I can't find a single dealer who will let me test drive one of these things. I'm astounded. The car is worth some $23K, and I can't get a test drive! Especially given that I already own a Mazda, this is ridiculous. Has anyone else had this experience? The sales managers and MazdaUSA don't seem too concerned about this, but I'm livid. I make more than enough to afford this car, and I'm seriously considering getting rid of my 3 and buying an Audi A3 instead. Anyone have any advice?
Thanks
I've had some terrible luck with Mazda dealers. I own a 2006 Mazda3 hatch, and I really want to buy a Mazdaspeed3. I just want to be sure before I trade in my 3 (which I love) that the suspension tuning and road manners of the Mazdaspeed3 will be to my liking. I live in central NJ and I can't find a single dealer who will let me test drive one of these things. I'm astounded. The car is worth some $23K, and I can't get a test drive! Especially given that I already own a Mazda, this is ridiculous. Has anyone else had this experience? The sales managers and MazdaUSA don't seem too concerned about this, but I'm livid. I make more than enough to afford this car, and I'm seriously considering getting rid of my 3 and buying an Audi A3 instead. Anyone have any advice?
Thanks
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Good luck.....just got a bulletin from mazda stating that the speed3 will not be eligible for any special purchase plans like S/X plan. This even applies to Mazda corp employees....in all the years that I have been with Mazda I have never seen this type of restrictions.
Huh? How do you figure? What's magic about invoice? Since the dealer isn't making any more than his holdback, you consider this 'no markup'? What about the factory? What if their total cost(labor/materials/parts/etc.) in a car was $10k but the invoice to the dealer was $20k? Would you consider THIS to be 'no markup'?
The selling price is the selling price. I'm not going to get wrapped up in what the invoice, or the holdback, or the MSRP, or the dealer's ADM is. Personally, I don't care. When I decide to buy a car, I'll decide what I think it's worth, to me. If I can reach an agreement with a dealer to sell me that car at that price, terrific. If not, I buy elsewhere. If no dealer will sell me that car at that price, then I buy something else.
I've turned down offers to buy cars at 'invoice' because TO ME they weren't worth it. And I've bought cars over MSRP because TO ME it was worth it.
"If VW dealers are selling 5dr GTI's for under MSRP, you should definitely be able to get a Mazadaspeed 3 under MSRP."
Repeat after me:
Supply and Demand.....supply and demand....supply and demand....
See, if supply exceeds demand, you can work deals (ie. 5dr GTI's under MSRP).
However, if demand exceeds supply (which is the CURRENT scenario regarding the Speed3), don't expect any deals.
Will this hold true 3-6 months from now? I have no idea. But simply stating that JUST BECAUSE 5dr GTI's are under MSRP, therefore Speed3's should also be under MSRP is insinuating that the supply/demand situations for both cars is the same. It isn't.
Is the Speed3 WORTH more that Invoice? Worth more that MSRP? I have no idea, I haven't driven one. BUT, if the car lives up to the initial reviews I've read, then I would have NO PROBLEM paying MSRP or even something over that GIVEN CURRENT SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
If you can work a deal TERRIFIC. Just don't go into it EXPECTING a great deal.
Another trap I think folks fall into is saying "well, I can get a GTI/Civic Si for $1k off of MSRP but the dealers are demanded full MSRP for a Speed3. So the GTI/Civic Si is a better deal."
What they SHOULD do is compare the various cars AT the actual selling price to figure out which is a better 'deal' for them.
The flip side of the coin is dealer's saying that SIX MONTHS FROM NOW that demand will STILL far outstrip supply so there's no point in waiting in anticipation of a 'better' deal at a later date. A good example of this is some discussions I've had with dealers in the Shelby GT500 thread. These guys are asking (and apparently getting) $20k and more ADM on new GT500s.
That's cool, I've no problem with that. The car is hot RIGHT NOW and obviously the supply is limited. But don't insult my intelligence that the SAME demand will still be there 6-months/year from now, particularly when they anticipate building more than 8k units this year and another 8k units next. That's 16000 units of a car with a $45k MSRP. Somehow I sincerely DOUBT that they'll still be getting huge ADM by this point next year.
Same with the Speed3. If I just HAD to buy one in the next month or so, I'd have no problem with MSRP+. But ALL 'hot' cars cool off.
You still get what you pay for, and I think Mazdas are well-built cars - I've had a few, and Ford could learn a lot from there Corporate philosophy.
So, I had no problem putting a deposit @ MSRP on the Speed3. It'll be a great ride for many years...
On another note, does anyone have pics of what the "Cosmis Blue Mica" looks like - I went with it, having not seen it yet.
rorr, thanks for the great feedback....
Sure... I worked with Tustin Mazda (in Tustin, Ca.). They were easy to work with, and had a good relationship with the Mazda HQ a few miles away. The day we got to test-drive the Speed3 (pre-production), they had a Mazda Corporate Product Specialist on hand to show us the new Miata hard-top, and the new CX-9 as well.
I went down to a dealer this weekend and I also choose to go with the cosmic blue mica and after picking the color I was curious to see what it acctually looks like and I came upon a picture of the car in that color on
http://cars.about.com/od/mazda/ig/2007-Mazda-Mazdaspeed3/2007-Mazdaspeed-3-front- -view.htm
I am very happy with the way this color looks and it's a plus that it's only avalible on the speed3
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=116119#3
The pictures along the side can be enlarged.
There was another website with multiple in-town shots, but I did not save that link.
You tend to slide around more on leather surfaces compared to cloth. From a performance standpoint, it is better for the seat to hold the driver securely in place - the side bolsters help do this; cloth upholstery does it as well.
I haven't seen one in person so I'm only going by what I can see in published photos.
The Speed6 engine is amazing compared to the 2.0L WRX. More torque in all situations, much easier to drive. I can't compare to the 2.5L Subaru, but based on the Speed6, the Speed3 would be a great car on the backroads if the chassis is up to snuff, and it sounds like it is....
The Edmunds review mentioned the brakes, and I have to say, the same brakes on the Speed6 are absolutely awesome.
Does anyone know the production numbers for the Speed6? They're discounted heavily on the Florida west coast.
Is there little chance of paying only $500 over invoice?
Should I worry about NOT being able to find an MS3 in February (assuming they start arriving soon)?
I can't speak for your area...but I won't have one show up that isnt sold until next year. It's the best pre-selling speed for us so far. If you think you want one and demand is high in your area...speak to your local dealer and ask them if you can put a deposit down on an incoming unit. they can show you online exactly which car is getting your name. Also make sure they put on the buyers order "subject to test drive and customer approval"....that way if the car isnt what you expect you can get out of the deal... this is how we write pre-sales.
To give you a perspective on volume...5000 is a tiny number of cars. Mazda sells around 275K cars in the US. Ford sells 800,000 pick ups per year.
Nice try.
You're only looking at one side of the equation (supply). Even if Mazda made the exact same number of Speed3s as Speed6s, you can't expect discounts based purely on supply.
You also have to consider demand.
If they only brought in (for example - I've no idea what the real number is) 2500 Speed6s, yet there was only market demand for 1500 (@ MSRP), then the remaining units will get discounted.
But if they brought in 25,000 Speed3s, but there was a market for 40,000 @ MSRP, then don't expect discounts.
In other words, you CAN'T go by the discounts on Speed6s to expect the same on Speed3s. Different cars, for different markets, with (obviously) different levels of demand. Whether on not the demand will stay high, I have no idea. But I know that ALL the major publications that essentially panned the Speed6 are falling all over themselves regarding the Speed3. And you need to remember that most of the competition for the Speed6 offers an automatic tranny which may have hurt the Speed6. So consider that when trying to gauge when the demand will peter out on the Speed3.
If you think the Speed6 is such a bargain at $22k, buy a Speed6. I'm sure your local dealer would love you for it.
Personally, I won't be in the market for a new car for at least a year (maybe longer) so if the Speed3 is still around, hopefully by that time supply will have more than caught up with demand (or Mazda will see fit to build the Kabura.......c'mon Mazda, DO IT!).
That is exactly what I did. Took my Mazda3S in for an oil change at the dealer; went out on the lot to look at the new CX7; saw a nice MS6 with a great price, and bought it. Living in the mountains, AWD is a very attractive feature. My wife likes the ride of the MS6 better than our 3. And I really think that the lack of an auto tranny has been a major drawback for the MS6. I've been driving a MT for many years, but a 6-speed manual takes a committed MT fan to enjoy it.
I got this from Mazda Corporate....
"For the 2006 model year we produced 6,863 MAZDASPEED6's. For 2007 we
are projecting building anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 units".
Not much more than the Speed3, but obviously, not selling well overall. They're discounted $8k+ here in So Cal...
What kind of pricing are others getting? I plan to drive the car then make an offer of $1000 below msrp and no dealer fees. I'll settle on $500 off and no fees but not a penny more. They can find some other sucker now and I'll buy one at invoice in 6 months.
Yep. They sure can.
I hope you find what you want in 6 months.
Not really any new information, but the author mentions a Mazda cold-air intake that will boost power by 30 HP. Close to 300 HP and it doesn't void the warranty!
Greg
With that attitude, you may never get one. A dealer MUST charge dealer fee's to everyone, with no accept ions. If they waive the fee's for you, they have to refund everyone who paid those fee's in the dealerships entire existence. Unless, they discount the vehicle in the amount of the fees. I cannot see that happening.
Personally, if you offered me $1000 off MSRP, I would tell you to "have a nice day". And I would not settle for $500 off, and no fees. That would only be $436 ($1000 off)over invoice($936 over invoice with $500 off). You are dreaming if you think you are going to get that kind of deal. It's tough to get a 2006 MX-5 for that type of discount!
To me, it sounds like your good relationship with this dealer is about to turn sour once you make your crazy offer.
Call me greedy, shady, or whatever you want. This is business, and I am here to make money. We are capitalists, aren't we?
The offer isn't crazy, it's quite fair. This is America, I'll make my offer and the very worst he can say is no. I likely won't counter offer (unless he did previously) and my feelings won't be hurt if we can't make a deal. And I have no doubt that these cars will sell at invoice or very close to it within 3 months of hitting the dealerships.
People, it's a nice car but it isn't the holy grail.
If you believe this, then why make an offer now when they are brand new and getting a 'deal' will be harder? Why not just wait the 3 months?
I didn't hear about any shipment that made it to dealerships yet. Sounds like false advertisement to me...
Tell me more...which model did you get? How does the shifter feel?
The things that scare me a little are 1) shifter -- I read one or two semi-critical comments (you too, mrser?), and 2) no sunroof -- not sure if that will bother me. Plus I hate to wait.
I've debated just getting a regular 3 hatchback (Grand Touring, loaded). Can get sunroof, get it soon, and it gets 33mpg (feels more in the "responsible citizen" zone carbon emissions-wise). But the MS3 just sounds like a lot more fun to drive...
Glad to see some live feedback finally coming in (msp3owner, etc). Anyone else had a chance to drive one yet and get firsthand experience -- esp. vs non-speed3? Also, any feedback on the interior (cloth+leather combo), and how it sits on the goofy vs cool spectrum?
ps: I have old protege and have looked at many cars, from A3 to passat to bimmers to tsx. This one looks like good value, quite practical (for my needs), and enjoyable enough to drive every day.