ASH8

Understand, I really did not want a sunroof, had no option, although my head does not hit the sunroof, they are a mini roof, more to go wrong and can leak when they get old...as I said did not want it, plus I think it slightly weakens the structural integrity of the chassis.

Leave the spoiler on, just remove the bloody awful side skirts, god they are ugly and look like they are meant for some other model car.

mdr

I want the suspension rims and body kit on the GT but not the seats.
I guess I could buy a Lux and you a GT and we could switch the Bod kits.
But then I would have to find someone else to get the wheels from. LOL

Revolver

There's a business opportunity in there somewhere...

Don't worry - I'm sure if things get really tough in the car trade a dealer somewhere will do it for you...

mdr

You would think so, but after my experience last week I have decided Mazda must be doing really well and does not need any more business.

I took my car in for it's last service before warranty expired to get it all checked out. Waiting for the wife to pick me up I walked over the sales lot and started looking at the SII models and prices.
All had drive away prices on them so they were trying to deal somewhat.
I walked around for about 15 minutes then opened the door on the GT and sat down in it.
Salesman walks out and says "May I help you?" I said "Just dropped my 8 off at the service center for a service and thought I would come over and check out the new models since my warranty is expiring next month."
Salesman: " OK well let us know if you need any help" and walked back inside.

Now maybe it is just me being from a pushy American background and all but when I sold cars way back when, that would have said to me this guy wants to buy a car. Get him a test drive in a GT and while he is testing it call the service dept to find out what kind of nic his car is in and start working on a deal.

I guess they are not that hungry here yet.

Revolver

That is pretty pathetic, even for an Aussie saleman...was it lunchtime?

I sometimes think Australian businesses make money despite themselves...

timbo

The only thing wrong with this story is unintentionally mistaking this person for a salesman. He's not -- he's an idiot and a loser

Great reason to call the DP, and set yourself up a good deal -- organ grinder vs monkey etc

ASH8

Hang ON,

when the salesman asked "may I help you" Very polite actually, I consider you were lucky to get any approach in the first instance...

Anyway, what were your first words, when he said may I help you, YES or NO.

Was it.... May I help you..... "Yes, Just dropped my 8 off"....OR
May I help you....."NO, Just dropped my 8 off".

Frankly, if I Just dropped my 8 off and were just looking around I would not want to be pestered by any salesperson.

But, if I acknowledged that I wanted help, that would be a totally different story, and he was not interested I would be pissed.

Please don't get me wrong, I do understand what you mean, but body language or lack of it works both ways.

timbo

Well, Monte says he walked around for about 15 mins beforehand.

What more positive body language he could possibly have given?

ASH8

yeah, pretty poor I guess.

mdr

It was probably I just dropped off my 8 and looking at new ones.

Either way if sales are down by 20% and car dealers are willing to deal on almost anything to push stock you would think a salesman would have tired a little harder.
Cause to be honest if he had of started talking and come up with a deal to take mine and put me in a new one for around the same payments as my current I would have probably drove out of there with a new one.

In other words I could have been sold but I was not buying.
If you understand what I am saying.
I think in this day and time the order takers need to step aside and let the salesman take over.

enforcer

Think of the up side, if the salesman did come up and try to screw you over he'd do it big time...and he'd be laughing all the way to the bank by now. Some can be pretty slick....

mdr

Naw I don't worry too much about getting screwed.
I have sold cars and my best mate is the general manager of a dealership here on the coast (he just doesn't sell Mazda, but he looks over all my deals before I make them and tells me where the money is.) so I am pretty tuned to what a car salesman can do and can't do and what the little games they try and play.

ASH8

GUYS...CHECK THIS OUT, BTW I AM NOT YELLING AT YOU GUYS OK, I AM YELLING OUT TO VENT!!!!

I WANTED A WORKSHOP MANUAL FOR MY RX-8, YOU CAN GET THEM FOR 2004 IN PAPER BACK FROM THE US FOR ABOUT $109.00 US.

I WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA, HUH, BUT DEALERS HAVE IT ON CD.

SO, I CONTACTED JOHN READ AT MAZDA AUSTRALIA..

YES , THEY CAN GET ME ONE, IN CD FORMAT 'It is encrypted and must be installed on a single Windows based PC.'

GUESS THE PRICE....

$1155.00

This is the US Paper back one for $109


WHAT BLOODY DRUGS ARE THEY ON...BLOODY UNBELIEVABLE.

erx8s

Ash sent you a PM

Cheers
Michael

takahashi

Welcome to the our stealership..

Revolver

C'mon Ash, you don't really think MA wants to encourage you to work on your own car, do you?

Only MA's highly skilled, comprehensively trained, expert technicians have the considerable ability it takes to do such difficult and complex work...

ASH8

Whatever happened to the good old days,

I used to stock and sell Mazda workshop Manuals, and they were made just like the ones they sell in the US in 2008, and are printed for the Mazda Factory in Japan.

No, it is because some Gonzo at MA decided to "outsource" all sidelines...like manuals, like brochures, like Mazda Clothing. Introducing another Middle,
middle, Man.

So Mazda Australia want their 300% mark up from cost price which makes a list price to then on sell to their Mazda dealers who make a meagre 45% if they are lucky on Genuine Mazda Parts.

There is no justification for an electronically made CD to be so expensive when the same (apart from LHD) information can be freely purchased from the US for 80% less.

ASH8

I don't need any welcoming Taka, I know exactly what goes on.

As far as parts goes it ain't the dealers who do the ripping off...believe me.

enforcer

THIS IS A BLOODY JOKE....I CANNOT BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD FALL FOR THIS TRAP BUT THEY WOULD. I RESENT THE FACT THAT MAZDA WOULD RIP OFF UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER. SHAME MAZDA......

DMRH

Speaking of series-II's, dealers & pricing..............

Was at McGrath Mazda checking out a nice 6AT version Series-II.

Trying to do a deal on the pricing when the DP came in & asked me "What would it take to get you to sign today"

DMRH response. "Sell it to me for the same price the USA & Japanese market pay".

After asking me what price was that (surely he's not that dumb) & telling him around $30k he blurted out this amazing response.

"Those markets get subsidised cars"............

Walked out a few moments later.

REgards

ASH8

Subsidised CARS!!!!


Mazda Australia sets the price for their non susidised cars....

Interesting if you want to do a deal on a new Aussie rx-8, dealers are getting huge 'silent' rebates (subsidisation) from MA to shift RX-8's, but it ain't $25,000.00.

thisllub

According to Edmunds the invoice price on the RX-8 is 29538.
+ 10% import duty = 32491
+ 10% gst = 35741

At 1 Aud=70 cents US the final price = 51058.
Remember this still has a margin for the US dealer.

Just be thankful you don't like BMW.

The 33k 328 becomes a 61k 323 here.
Would you like a little reaming with your luxury tax sir?

If we could get an M3 on the same equation as the RX-8 it would cost $94207.
Even with LCT it should only be $112k.

Running the calculation in reverse assuming the $157000 rrp and I get the ex-tax price of $106920
At 70 cents to the US dollar BMW Australia make $20344 on top of the retail price of the M3 in the USA.
Unbelievable.

ASH8

So who was making all that extra profit when our Aussie dollar was in the high 80's to high 90 cent range for the past 4 years?

ASH8

Yeah, we Australian motoring public have to be very "thankful" for what we pay.

Why is it that a VE Holden SS Commodore is about $56K, when the same car in the USA (Pontiac G8) Sold for $27K US, with more loaded extras.

Before our dollar dropped 33 cents..

I guess Aussies are 'subsidising' the US market.

ASH8

BTW, I can get the LHD 2009 RX-8 Workshop Manual from the USA for $180.00 US shipped, bugga about our weak dollar.

Still much better than the $1155.00 that Mazda Australia wants.