Seems there's a new kid on the block.

Star Mazda.
6239 S Orange Blossom Tr. Orlando, FL
(866) 859-0989


Anyone dealt with them yet?
I've had it with the incompetent dealership I purchased my 8 from. Cory Fairbanks isn't exactly convenient for me. I thought about ckecking out their service dept. when my next oil change comes due. Just thought I'd throw this out there for anyone else interested.

 

Hmmm.. Is that the old Classic South location? Or are they brand new? Lemme know what happens. I'd ck them out if they're good.

 

Not sure honey. I just started seeing their commercials a few weeks ago on TV and heard a few on the radio. It says it's a NEW dealership. I'll check 'em out and report back here. I like Fairbanks but their just too far from me.

 

WOW - that was weird. I just finished reading this thread and had nothing to say, so I went back to watching TV. Within 2 or 3 channel changes I flipped past an RX8 and went back quickly and saw that commercial for Star Mazda! It couldn't have been 10 seconds after I finished reading the thread.

I'd go check the place out, but OBT scares me. I don't want syphilis...

 

Ok so Classic Mazda Subaru/South lists it's location at the same address I listed above. So yes it appears to be the same location. Maybe they just changed names.

 

If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger.

South OBT's not too bad during the day. Late at night is a different story.

 

i think it might have moved to the old subaru location.

interesting.

beers

 

yea they just switched locations... that dealership sucks... I hate their service department

 

Is it under new ownership or same owners just different names?

 

I just drove past there tonight and didn't even notice. Maybe they haven't even changed the signs yet.

Mazda USA now shows Fairbanks, Classic East and Star. Maybe Mazda finally took away their franchise. They were a real sleazy operation.

Who's gonna be the first to find out if they are any good? Not sure if I would ever leave my car for any work. The lot is so small they jam the cars together and then there's the neighborhood.

 

Thanks for the "heads-up" guys.
Well the second dealership you listed in your post are the ones I've had several "issues" with in the past. Fairbanks is great but not convenient for me. But when it comes right down to it I'd rather drive a little futher for quality work.

 

Drive a little further, eh?

Head to Ed Howard in Sarasota - they're awesome! They've got some rotorheads there and always treat me well (yes, ME, a 21 year old punk kid!)

 

it's still the same service department... they just switched buildings it use to be mazda had the front showroom and subaru in the back... and they shared a serice dept... now mazda isin the back and subaru is in the front... still same crappy service dept

 

YES! Star is what used to be the Old Classis South over on the trail. That is where I got my 8, my wife's Tribute and my former ride, a WRX. They were either sold or bought out by another dealer and they are going to fix the place up and make a better service department and stand alone dealerships for Mazda and Subaru. I have never had a problem with them with any of my vehicles, although the 8 has never been back since I picked it up.

 

I drove my 8 off of the lot the weekend they opened for business, and they didn't even have computers set up yet. I basically drove away without signing anything (800 mile test drive ) and came back like four weeks later to officially buy the car. It took them another month after that to finally get everything processed with MAC, which was a pain because I wanted to pay the car off right away and not accrue interest. This shouldn't happen now that they have their crap together.

They were good, although they did waste my time trying to squeeze a few extra dollars out of me, but what dealership doesn't?

After I bought it, I asked them for this 20" x 40" painting of the blue 8 from the RX-8 info brochure they had up on the wall. It's part of some promotional package dealerships buy to hang up in show-rooms. They promised they would order me one (I knew they were full of ****, but I held them to it anyway). They didn't order me one, but they gave me the one they had hanging up. Anyway, I attached a pic of it next to my daughter (for scale and added cuteness effect).

If you do go there, talk to Ray. I had been to a couple of mazda dealerships to test drive before, and he's the first sales rep that actually knew what the !@$$ he was talking about.

Oh, another thing, they recently sent me a box of fruit with some Hershey's Kisses and other assorted candies... nice touch, except that the postman required that we pay for the shipping. Kind of cheap to buy someone a gift and then make them pay for shipping, but maybe that's just me. Regardless though, it was a nice gesture.