toxin440

Hello all,


Graduated college 5 months ago and got a good paying (although nerve racking job) And am seriously going to go buy an 8 in the coming month or so. My questions is: Out of the Dallas/Fort Worth & Houston Areas, what mazda dealerships would you reccommend? (i kinda live in both places so im back and forth in those areas)

I'm looking for peoples experiences with actually BUYING the car, and also what kinda service department they have. Ive been reading here quite a while and ive heard some horror stories about people taking their 8's in and getting the runaround by offical dealerships.

Any and all advice is helpful, also another random Q, im looking at getting a 6speed manual 240HP Black RX8, with the GT package, invoice is said to be about 32K.... being this is the end of the year, the 06's are coming, and dealerships want to move these cars anyway, what is a realisitc price i "should" be able to talk them down to? I was hoping to pay about 30K even for a 6MT, leather, moonroof, Bose System, spoiler, RX8.

Thanks! the more replies the better!

dazygirl415

Welcome Toxin!

In Oct '04, I bought my '04 8 from Freeman Mazda and it was the easiest car buying experience I've ever had (granted, there's only been 2 :o ). They're also known in the area for having excellent service. We contacted their internet sales rep, Wayne (who is the best guy to work with) and he guaranteed me $4k below MSRP via email. We went to the dealership, picked out the 8 I wanted, and kept negotiating. Your goal should be invoice. Take a look at how long the car has been on the lot. The dealership makes money if they sell a car that has been on their lot for less than 90 days. After that, they have to pay to keep it.

If I remember correctly, I walked away at just over invoice and the following came with my 8: 6MT, GT, appearance pkg, rotary accent pkg, no spoiler, no spare tire kit.

My recommendations:
1) Go to www.edmunds.com, under "tips & advice" and read about what they have to say. You'll learn a lot and it will be invaluable during your car buying experience.
2) Know the RX-8 very well. I don't think Wayne would do it do you, but some car salesmen will blow smoke up your heiny about the car and your only defense is knowledge.
3) IMO, do not buy anything from the dealership that you can buy aftermarket. For example, the spoiler. You can find it cheaper online, install it yourself, and it will be at least the same quality. It also makes it easier down the road if you choose a different style spoiler than OEM.

That's all I can think of now. Hope it helps. Good luck finding your 8!!

toxin440

thanks for the input!

Wow, 4K under invoice? Thats very good to hear, I was hoping to just be able to negotiate for 1K off the MSRP, this is great news


Thanks
Jeff

dazygirl415

Let me clarify: we got to $4k under MSRP on the phone and then further negotiated to near invoice in person.

Research on Kelly Blue Book and cars.com to see what they're going for too.

You're welcome!!

bluesunlion

For purchasing, I'd do Classic Mazda in Denton. David Preston is the Internet manager, and offers 500 over invoice right off the bat. That's good if you're looking at an 06 whenever they drop. You can also work the new college graduate deal for an extra 500 from mazda, that's what we did using my husband's credentials.
Probably be able to work an invoice deal right off the bat on an 05 once the 06s are out.
Sales@classicofdenton.com is the email. Tell him Rachel Nichols sent you.

I don't know anything about their service department, though.
I get mine serviced at Town North in Richardson, as do many 8-clubbers on this side of town.


One place to NOT get your service done in DFW: Eldorado Mazda in McKinney.
I've had a few nightmares with them.

RotrDoc

I bought my car in October 03 from World Car in San Antonio and was quite satisfied with them, but they're outside your territory. I now spend 80% of my time in Gulfport, MS, but take my car back to Houston for service at Jeff Haas Mazda. I know nothing about their sales operation, but am very impressed with the Service Dept (Allan Hempel, among others).

1. They offered me the free engine swap in April under Mazda's high-mileage special program.
2. They're very proactive about identifying pending TSBs, recalls.
3. They've done just about any warranty work I've asked for without quibbling.
4. If you have them do the periodic maintenance, oil changes are free.
5. They refer intelligently for services (like paint/body) outside their shop.

Good luck with your buying experience. And welcome to the club. You'll love your 8.

Str8cold

I would recommend saving yourself quite a bit of money and buy a used RX8 since nothing has changed in the 2004/2005 models except for color and a new key which can be purchased for the 2004 model. As far as dealerships go for purchasing I bought mine at Town North and got a very good deal on it, as for getting it serviced I would highly recommend FREEMAN mazda over everyone else in DFW. You should show up to one of the meets.

toxin440

thanks for some incredible info guys (and gals) :D

and yeah when i get my 8, i'd love to come to a meet

shelleys_man_06

Hello toxin440. Congrats on graduating college. I have another year of hell at Cougar High until I'm free i.e. I get kicked out after I get my diploma.

Anyway, I was able to get my RX-8 in Houston from Joe Myers Mazda, zero down. My salesperson's name is Jason Wilkes. He's a really nice guy, and he was able to hook me up in just a few hours.

The service department there is pretty good. During one of the first recalls, they offered a free rental car from Hertz, and when a homeless guy decided to place a concrete rock through my windshield, they once again hooked me up, but this time with a Prius for about a week. The service managers are friendly and the techs are easy to talk to. Very friendly service IMO.

Good luck with purchasing your RX-8. I'll tell you what: the car gets better every mile.

aRX7-7-8

Another strong recommendation for Wayne Sharp, the internet sales manager at Freeman Mazda in Irving, TX. I did all of my negotiations with Wayne via email, and he faxed me their inventory to pick out a specific car. In September of 2004, the deal was dealer invoice (cost) MINUS $650. I don't know what it is now, but it was no hassle the whole way. I showed up at the dealer and signed papers for a while and was done.

BigOLundh

iTrader: (1)

I would wait one month and see what Mazda Releases at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Mazdaspeed 8, Yes? No? Maybe????

toxin440

Yeah i have to wait a month (well i dont really) but im going to wait till i get another 2 weeks worth of wages in my pocket so i can plunk down $10,000 on the car.

Thats cool to some who got it for zero down, but i *HATE* owing people money and want to get the ****** paid off ASAP. Besides working, i gotta look into a few things (financing at my Regions bank, or financing with Mazda)

Mmmmm, by the end of *THIS* month im hoping to be rolling in one.

Besides too, gotta go and test drive the bastard... and a few other cars, Z350, G35c, MustangGT... JUST to see what they are like.

But i do have my heart set on the 8 so far

unpocoloco

I don't know if I'd like to buy used...cuz part of the fun is knowing that YOU and ONLY YOU have driven the car (minus a couple test drives, I guess). So you know exactly how it was broken in, and everything.
I got my '05 in February this year. However, if I had to do it again, I'd have bought a new (but as yet unsold) '04. That's my advice - for the amount of $$$ difference between the model years, and the fact that absolutely nothing changed this year, I'd go with the '05. Take the thousands and put it into a nice stereo system or something!
What color?

grapes

You mean you go with an 04 right, not an 05!!

unpocoloco

Well, no, really. At this point getting on '04 means definitely getting it used. I'm saying that we're almost at the point where they are selling '06s. I wouldn't get an '06 for the premium. I'd get a new '05. Yeah, it is nice to say "I got a brand new '06" ... but far nicer to have the said stereo system. And since once you get this baby you're never going to get rid of it (right?), resale doesn't really have much of an impact anyhow.

unpocoloco

hmm, although if you don't mind getting used, I'm sure you can get some crazy fantastic deals on '04s!!
Sad for our resale Good for you!

toxin440

I agree -- I'm not interested in the 06's, its a nice feeling to have the latest and greatest, but im not going to pay an extra 3K or something for some "special" paint job.

I'll be happy with a NEW 05.

Color: BLACK baby :D


hard to keep looking clean i know, BUT after an investment like this ill be happy as hell to wash it in this 105 degree Texas heat every 7 days

1fine8

I bought a new NC fron Ingram Park in San Antonio Friday. The salesman was Juan Leon. He was their top salesman with many awards on this office wall. Everything was negotiated and done by phone. He met us at the airport also. He could not have been a better salesman. I was at first scared to buy a car out of state 750 miles from home.

After purchasing the car we went to the zoom zoom event in Dallas.
Now I have two zoom zoom $500.00 discount coupons that I will not be using. Does anybody need them? I also have a extra Gerber $500.00 certificate in my wifes name. I am not sure if anyone else can use it though.

Don't forget if you live in the hurricane disaster areas Mazda will give you a $750.00 rebate.

Mazda sure does want to sell some cars.