In VA the taxes end up being 3.2%. 3% is VA DMV and .2% is Dealer's Business License Tax.

I ordered in January and picked up my car from the first shipment in Baltimore. Congressional Mazda on Rockville Pike was very good about it. Didn't even charge my credit card for a deposit, and stucik to MSRP, which was the right price for pre-orders. My salesman, Didier Milongo, is capable, honest and a nice guy. He greets me and talks about how things are going whenever I'm at the dealership.
The service people are friendly and try hard, although I don't think they are the best rotary experts around. They replaced my oil pan without complaint, and volunteered at the first oil change that they thought my oil pump was leaking, and replaced it on warranty.

I had a good buying experience with Congressional. I used the CarBargains service (www.carbargains.org). Congressional's bid was very competitive, and I was treated professionally and respectfully by everyone involved.

I bought from Congressional as well. I found the sales manager, the finance guy, and the technical staff to be solid.

I've had one warranty issue (one of the plastic circles in front of the dashboard display came direct from the factory - or the boat, as the case may be - complete with a two-inch long crack)... they ordered the part, installed it, looks good as can be now.

I was the second person to purchase an RX8 from Congressional back in July. The third was the sales manager. His car came in on the same truck as mine.

The sales manager was a nice guy and really kept the BS to a minimum. On the otherhand, the sales guys were generally clueless about the car, again this was back in July.

Over the six months between when I ordered the car and when I received it, the Mazda Sales Managers changed three times. Actually, there were only two Managers. The first one I dealt with left and then came back. This was a bit unnerving.

Overall, it was a good purchasing experience I had with them. One stupid minor irritation, I was buying a Red RX8 and I wanted new Maryland Agr. plates for the car (they match the car's color). Congressional refused to do the paperwork (one crappy simple form). I don't understand it since it would have been very simple for them to do.

Congressional glitch
 

K Worfman reminded me of a deficiency in Congressional's service. BTW, he said he was the seond to order, and on the first delivery truck. Mine was on the same truck; it was the first ordered. He also mentioned that one car was for the sales manager. When it arrived, the owner grabbed it, but later let the sales manager have it back.
Ccngressional did the paperwork for my DC tags, but didn't arrange for an essential part of the deal, the neighborhood parking permit. When I complained -- it meant an extra trip to DMV -- they said they had never done it, even though their agent was at DMV putting in the other papers. I urged them to change that policy. If you ask them before sealing the deal, they might be more likely to pay attention.

I just bought my RX-8 Wednesday from Gaithersburg Mazda, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. They were very helpful and accommodating from start to finish, even to the point of driving my trade-in down to Carmax for me when they couldn't match their offer for it. These guys went above and beyond, and I will definitely go back if I buy another Mazda. I worked with Telly Washington; ask for him and tell him Kevin sent you. Telly is no longer the internet sales guy there, though.

I also recommend talking to Judy Palmore, who is the internet sales associate at Rosenthal Mazda in Vienna. I never met her in person, but she responded to my quote request promptly with a few questions, followed by a good offer (28,200 for AT w/ GT package, including 2 years' oil changes but not freight).

Finally I bought from Browns Mazda in Alexandria, service was pretty good and they made a great offer on my trade in.
Don't mistake them with the sister store, Brown's in Fair Fax. They tried to push the sale and got upset when I walked out the door.
At Alexandria, I dealt with Chris the internet sales manager. I also exchanged emails with Judy at Rosenthal, she matched the offer I had and would have bought from her too.

I just had to share this. Today I got a check from Gaithersburg Mazda in the amount of $37.45 for - get this - "overpayment for tags"! And here I was expecting them to treat the "tag/title" fee as a non-negotiable profit boost like everybody else. These guys just keep giving me reasons to like doing business with them. Here's hoping the trend continues when I start going in for service.

Heh. I got the same thing from them a few weeks ago. I thought it was a fluke.

I got two checks from Rosenthal in Arlington. Mine was a refund of taxes or something for a total of $9. I thought it was a bit strange, and now I'm wondering if this is a trick of some sort. You know, overcharge you on fees up front, and then give a small refund check to make it look like they're fair and honest. I don't know that for sure, but it seems suspicious.

I purchased mine from Rich Morton in Pasadena. About three weeks after picking it up .... got a check for "excess tag and title fees"
Two visits for service so far .:) ... loaners ready to go each time.
Small dealership with folks who take care of the customer
Doug Morton was excellent.