MarkW

Just called my dealer to ask if they have any update as I havent spoken with them for ages, and when they might have a car to drive?

They have no update and wont have a demo until late October, probably November.

Didnt seem interested in my call at all, and no information was forthcoming without me asking probing questions. Didnt even mention we would be getting letters soon etc.

When I mentioned that other dealers were getting access to cars over the next few weeks, I was told that was not the case and no one would have a car to view drive until late October earliest.

After that I just thought "why am I bothering with this" and called it a day.

That guy (didnt even give me his name) needs to go on a basic sales course. I wouldnt even mind if they were false and a bit "Swiss Tony" as long as they appear the slightest bit interested in talking to you.

I might even look at moving my order to a dealer who is interested in my custom.

Sorry for the rant, but that just pi$$ed me off. I'll get over it.

RobDickinson

I wouldnt blame you for moving dealers, some of them arnt bothered at all.


I once (at the height of the new car sales slump) walked into a ford garage to attempt to buy a new/used puma. After 30min I couldnt even find out the (book)price of a new puma

Told em where to go, drove 3 miles down the road and bought a focus instead (not from a ford dealer).

Now I know mazda dealers arnt goint to make much on a sale of an RX-8 , new car sales arnt profitable for them.

But they make HUGE profit on servicing and warenty work, and this they should at least make some effort to compete for.

c170673

Funny you should post this thread MarkW, I had an altogether different story form my dealer this morning.

I initially rang to enquire if they were getting the car for pre-orders to have a look at / drive (as our friends is Surrey are). He said that the cars have been released temporarily by Mazda UK and if the dealers want the cars they can have them on loan but they will have to pay for the transport costs themselves etc. The long and the short of it is that being out in the sticks (Devon) and having a fairly limited number of pre-orders (10) it is not cost effective for them to do this.

He then proceeded to tell me that they are picking their demonstrator up from Silverstone between the 12th and 14th September. He didn't know if they will be allowed to let people driev it before the official launch, or even have it in the showroom. But he did say when they get it he will give me a call and I can drop down there with the hevily pregnant wife and see if we can fit her in it (otherwise she will have to take the bus)

He also said that he expected my car to be here approx. 1 month after that.

Now I don't know how much truth there was in all of this but he did sound genuine and had got this direct from the manager of the dealership who had been to some meeting about the car recently.

This may tally with some other info I found from the NYK Lines website which says thier usual shipping time form Hiroshima to Sheerness is 25 days. Not 6 weeks as Mazda indicated in their letter.

Sorry for the long post.

Chris

cw007

I sympathise. I would even say most dealers have lost interest because they arent being updated by Mazda so whats the point there is no news to give. However i would say that if you are a "highly visible" dealer like Whites they may have more "pulling power" pardon the pun than most of the others.

My own dealer is almost subdued when i phone them.

morganrogers

I have not called my dealer for ages - Given up.

cw007 - Have you called them ref a demo car ? Seems other dealers are getting them and given that we are a) Close to London and b) have at least 30 pre-orders I would have thought they might... Let me know if you have called.

Morgan.

MarkW

To be honest the lack of/incorrect information is frustrating, but it was the basic disinterest and lack of courtesy that riled me.

I deal with a lot of sales people in my job and if I came accross someone like that professionally I would take my business elsewhere immediately.

jimbobjoe

what c170673 says fits in well with what my dealer (T W White) is doing.

They do have 2 cars this weekend for testdrives, but not for people who have preordered, only for potential new orderers. If they have had to pay out their own money to get the cars, then I can fully understand why they want to use them to generate additional sales primarily.

My dealer did say that as a preorderer I may get a drive after September 12th, which would fit in with them getting their demonstrator cars.


T W White did still mess up a bit as they also had me listed as a potential customer and so sent me an invite for a drive this weekend.

ChrisW

"You know, ordering a Mazda RX-8 is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman...."

On second thoughts, no it bloody well isn't. Not even a little bit.

www.ogmac.co.uk/sidcup/swisstony.htm

Goose

My dealer is as much in the dark as us, but to be fair to him he is keen to talk about the car and is doing the best he can with what little info he has.

To date he has phoned me several times, told me about the preview and booked me on it. When i heard about the dealers getting cars i called him yesterday. He said that he was writing letters right then to his customers letting them know they can book a test drive from 4th - 7th September. I booked a Saturday slot there and then!

He has promised to give me a call as soon as he get's any idea about delivery dates. Somehow though i suspect the Forum will have beaten him to the punch!

sixspeed

That would seem to work. When I spoke to Neil at T W Whites yesterday he booked me in for a test drive of Hi power and Low power RX-8s on the 13th September (Saturday). He didn't imply that this was their official demonstrator though, since he said they would have the cars and wouldb be offering testdrives only over that weekend (Fri 12th to Sun 14th).



-andy-

Jon H

Mark
You mention you are Midlands based but didnt give the dealer's name. Is this for fear of recrimination? I ordered mine through Coventry Mazda, who although not being a mine of information, have been helpful and courteous throughout and have always tried hard even when they don't have the answer! I would recommend them.

By the way their version of the current situation is as follows:
150 Dealer cars to arrive mid - end October.
240 / 232 / 228 (?) BHP cars to arrive mid- end November
192 BHP cars in December, and all open orders fulfilled by the end of this year!

Anyone else vouch for this?

JH

morganrogers

I hope you are wrong....

First 231PS cars should be here mid-end october (I mean customer cars)

AndyPearce

I agree with Morgan - if all of the first cars (dealer and customer) are already on the boat then I can't see why we shouldn't receive them at roughly the same time.