tallguylehigh

Hello fellow Jerseyites-

Went to my local dealership over here in Wayne and asked for information about pre-ordering the RX-8. They are only getting 4 cars in the initial allocation, three of which are taken. As for the deposit required, a $5000 non refundable deposit and $10,000 over MSRP I have two questions-

First off, should I report this dealership to Mazda USA for gouging the rotary faithful?

And secondly, those of you who have placed your orders, was it at MSRP, what kind of deposit was it and where did you place it? I want this car, but am not going to be ridiculous about it.

revhappy

That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. They are trying to rip you off and should be reported IMMEDIATELY!

Thanks for the heads up, I'll be sure to avoid them in the future.

Toadman

Mazda Customer Assistance 1-800-222-5500. Report 'em.

Hercules

Yes, report them.

tallguylehigh

How about the question about a good place to put in an order in NJ?

revhappy

I'm not sure, but I'd avoid any Bob Ciusuli (spelling??) dealers.

9000RPMan

I do not know about the current pricing, but on the day they introduced the 2nd gen RX-7, my father bought a GXL from Maple Shade Mazda in Maple Shade NJ. Even though other dealers were getting a few grand over sticker, they would only charge my father MSRP. They also did not make him purchase "dealer installed options". There was a wait, as all the cars through the next 2 months were already sold, but they guaranteed MSRP. After that, I bought my 2nd gen (used from them), then my 91 Miata (new). Both times I received a discount. I would call them. They also have a Maple Shade Mazda in Turnersville NJ, so check there too.

Hercules

I put my deposit in Edison... but the deposit isn't refundable. I got a call from another dealer asking for $2000 non-refundable as well...

Call up Open Road Mazda and see if you can negotiate the refundability of it... I know I'm getting the car so it really doesn't matter too much and I put it on my Amex card so worse comes to worse I'll dispute it

rtryboi

I went by Wayne Mazda just to see if they had any brochures/info on the 8. A salesman asks if I wanted to order one and I kindly told him no thanks, because I ordered it somewhere else and I knew that Wayne Mazda would not offer me MSRP. Then the guy goes on to say that there no way that I would actually receive the car on time from other dealers because they would sell my car to someone else and delay my order. Now, I know Wayne Mazda is a piece of sh#$ dealership, but could a Mazda dealership actually do that?... sell my car to someone else and give me a car that's shipped later on?

tallguylehigh

Something about that dealership really pisses me off. The thing that worries me more is that it is the dealer closest to me and I have to figure where to take my car for servicing. As for whether or not they can do that, basically look upon it as a dealership bad-mouthing another dealership. They have no clue what dealer you ordered from and therefore have no frame of reference. If I told you how many lies I was told in that place it would make your head spin.

As for your car, I don't know about your dealership, but mine gave me a recipt with the order number and the car and my deposit. If they want to sell me another car it had better me wayyy below MSRP or they can be ready for a lawsuit. If you made a deposit it is your car.

Bottom line, don't listen to Wayne Mazda. I reported them to Mazda about my escapade and got secure closure from the guy I talked to, his name was Brian. He seemed really interested and concerned over the matter. If you want the same tingly feeling then you should do the same. Enough complaints will either force them to change their tactics, or they wont get any cars. :D

*packs up soaps box and moves on...*

rtryboi

Thanks... almost thought no one would reply. I put down my deposit and got a receipt too, but didn't ask for an order number. My dealer called me and told me that he placed my order on January 13, so I'm going to call him today and see if he can get me my order number. I think I'll feel comfortable once I get the VIN#.

Unfortunately, Wayne Mazda is REALLY close to me too as I live in Wayne! But East Coast Mazda (where I put my order in) isn't too far either, maybe a 15-20 minute drive, so it shouldn't be too bad.

I almost feel like standing outside Wayne Mazda to warn people getting 8's not to get ripped off here. I think I just may put in a complaint too.

tallguylehigh

I know what you mean about living close, I live in Montclair.

As for standing outside and warning people about not buying an 8 there, I wouldnt fear. When I went in to talk to someone about an 8, it was on Saturday at noon and there wasn't a soul in sight.

Plus complaining to Mazda will put a stranglehold on their funds and future car allocations. Mazda is concerned about dealers gouging RX-8's and my warning them about these dealers they may not even be able to sell them anymore.

autogold

Your dealer should be able to give you a order number and you will be able to have Mazda Customer assistance keep you updated so you don't need to relie on dealer if you don't trust them. I ordered mine (GT 6spd) from Maple Shade Mazda Turnersville NJ for MSRP. They have been great in updateing me and gave me my Vin# a few weeks ago and said it would only change should someone infront of me cancel and I would have the option to move up. They will take your order over phone if you know what you want, via credit card deposit so you would really only have to go out of your way to pick it up, which is a time you shouldn't mind the long drive home anyway. 856-875-0200 ask for Chuck he has been great.

craig

*well whoops, how I missed this advertisement I don't know. My apologies everyone. Removed as of now -Elara*

Hercules

Craig you've found this site too late and the damage has been done. Sadly dealers are not allowed to advertise here either and it would do you no good, because your poor business practices have already proven themselves regardless of what you'd say many weeks after the launch of the car.

I hope that your dealer and its shady practices does not get any business from those looking for an RX-8. If you want to gouge when the car first comes out that's great, but don't expect any loyal fans after the car comes out and everybody starts making regular margins on it, that you are suddenly going to be back in our good graces.

Shame on you.

tallguylehigh

To all RX-8 lovers-

I doubt some of you remember me, I was extremely active on this site around the first half of the year. I still check in continually because of the kindness of the members and the overabundance of information inside here.

And I will tell you, that the above comment, which may be true now, was most definately not the case when I approached Wayne of Mazda about preordering a Mazda RX-8 at the start of the year. The way that they treated me (23, male, serious customer) was truly appalling, and when I heard of the price gouging that they were requiring, I immediately left.

Now I am not saying that that is the case now, I was merely stating that that is what I was greeted with during the pre-order period. I ended up pre-ordering my car in PA where I was given a fair deal and every single person in the dealership shook my hand and congratulated me. THATS that dealership I want.

On another topic, any of the dealerships in NJ recommended in this thread were extremely fair and kind, I suggest seeking their care. Wayne Mazda seemed as though they didnt care for my business, and they approached me as a punk kid. The reason I went with PA was because they had my car exactly as I wanted it.

So Craig, I applaud you addressing the situation, but by no means was my account inaccurate, in fact it was exactly true and I stand by it wholeheartedly.

Sincerely-
tallguy


P.S.- Thanks Herc for the back up.

rtryboi

i completely agree with tallguy and herc. not sure what their behavior is now, but back in JANUARY when i went in to pre-order, it only took 5 minutes to realize these guys are sleezeballs.

personally, i don't care what prices wayne mazda is offering now. the bitter taste that they left in my mouth of the ridiculous 10k over sticker and threats that other dealers will not have my car in time was enough for me to keep away for a LONG TIME. please, if anyone is interested in an RX-8, there are other dealers around with much more integrity... ramsey, east coast, open road. go there. the only thing wayne mazda is getting from me is bad word of mouth.

on top of that, they told me i could only get it fully loaded and wouldn't even let me customize the car... which is exactly what the pre-order program was supposed to be about!!! ridiculous.

oh yeah, and the claim about them being the largest dealer in the area is a crock. what they mean by "largest" is square footage. doesn't mean jack about the volume of business they do. and the way these guys do business, they better need all the square footage they can get because their cars are going to start piling up with no one buying from them! do i sound bitter? you better believe it.

wayne mazda, the damage is already done. hopefully you will reap the full measure of the shady business practice you've sown. and oh yeah, my rx-8 came in july 21 from another dealership EXACTLY the way i wanted it at MSRP.

downshift

LOL. Finally there's some justice over crooked dealers. Whose word are people going to take on an internet car forum? The members or the sales manager of that so called dealership who doesn't know where the caps lock key is? Biggest dealership in the area? So that's where the arrogance came from? I'm glad car forums like this existed at this day and age. I'm loving every minute of it spent reading this thread

tallguylehigh

I am just finding this hihlarious and deliciously ironic. Hihlarious because the sales manager has finally stumbled across this site and that he probably spilled his coffee when he saw a nice little thread about his dealership. I don't know if we will hear from him again, but the fact that he is the sales manager from the dealership in question and he has 1 post doesnt make him biased at all.

The delicious irony is that this thread has lied relatively dormant for some time. But in his hope to "fix" the situation, he has just brought the thread back into the spotlight again.

I love it!

R8N8SIS

wayne mazda sucks!! i bought mine from open road mazda....

WankelNY

Hey, rotorheads.

I'm in Bloomfield, and I've been dropping in to all the area dealers as well mainly because I'm completely **** about buying EXACTLY what I want: "hmmmm... blue looks great at dusk, but too "bling-bling" in the sunlight"... I'm sure you know the drill. Of course, I've been paying careful attention to your posts, and have enjoyed them.

I appreciate the similarity of your situations with mine... Wayne is definitely the closest to me, too, so I want to be very careful who I choose before eliminating them. I must say, though, that I was treated as professionally (if not more) than at East Coast, Crystal, DCH, or White Plains. (Yes, I have a lot of free time on Saturdays to check around). They're hesitant on test drives, but I respect that... if it were potentially my car, I wouldn't want someone redlining at 5 miles! I did test drive there when they realized that I was a rabid fanatic, and I've been in a downward spiral that will only end in a purchase from then.

I confronted Kevin, the owner, about this post. He swore up and down that he never tried to gouge anyone. I certianly tend to agree with tallguylehigh, but this could have come from an individual salesperson. My assumption would be that tallguy & rtryboi were the unfortunate victims of ageism (as I was at 17 buying a Plymouth Laser Turbo). OK, my dad bought it for me at the time, but he certianly got more courtesy than I did when I went in alone. I know how this is, and it sucks.

East Coast has been very courteous to you, enough to recommend, but I know through one of their sales guys that ACOSTARACING (the kick-*** 3-rotor RX-8 guys) paid QUITE a bit over MSRP to get an early one from them. I can't really blame a guy for trying to make a buck, especially if we're talking about one of the first models in the area.

Although a bit cocky, they stuck to the typical Mazda dedication to MSRP and nothing but, even before I mentioned this thread to them. Apparently, they found it, though! God bless the internet, and all you fellow rotor freaks. Let's keep 'em honest! I'm going to keep looking around, but I'll keep you guys posted as to what kind of offers I get in the area, now that a tiny bit of the furor has died down. (I got an offer for MSRP + free spare kit in Englewood Cliffs, btw... might have gotten an accent package + trunk net thrown in, too).

Bottom line is, with all due respect to you guys, the service is what will count most for me, assuming I'm happy with my deal. The dealership does have some pretty impressive service bays... does anyone know anyone that actually HAS bought a car there? I'll have to check into the customer sastisfaction thing. Those of you who had RX-7's know that an experienced service guy is VERY important for these here Wankels.

Thanks, chaps. Sorry for the monster reply... I want to be sure, though. BTW, tallguy: did you go to Lehigh? It was my second choice in Mech. Engineering (went to Villanova & Stevens Tech... probably should have done Lehigh!)

tallguylehigh

Thanks for the long post, and if that is now the case over at Wayne Mazda, I couldn't be happier with the reversal of tactics.

I'd like to think that I had something to do with that, but the fact that they are treating people with the respect anyone should treat a customer, I am pleased.

However, in an effort to keep my original post as correct as possible, it was not an individual salesman that only offered the "gouged" RX-8's. Suspecting that very thing, I called the dealership later and asked to speak to the sales manager. He told me the same thing that the salesman did. Just wanted to say that, but if they have changed, fine by me.

And yes, I did attend Lehigh University. Although it seems oh so long ago (1 year) :D Don't regret not gonig to Lehigh... if the classes dont kill ya, the stairs will! :D

WankelNY

That is a shame, tallguy. Thanks for replying back.

Yeah... I would have felt much better if at least somebody there said, "Yeah... I remember that, and it was only for one of the first deliveries, and someone else offered me $XXXXX for it" or even "Yeah... it was this kid... yada, yada,yada...". I didn't speak to the sales mgr, though.

RTRYBOI, where in PA did you get yours? That's a hike, eh?

Looking forward to linking up with y'all in the area sometime (once I bite the bullet).

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

What happened to you??? Haven't seen you around in a long time, I was actually getting a bit worried.

did you actually get your car? When I picked mine up at the dealer they said I was the first to pick up a RX8... and I noticed a silver 6-speed was sitting in the lot.

tallguylehigh

Hey pr0ber, whats happenin?

Yeah, I have been Guy Ingognito lately on this forum. I have been poking around but haven't been speaking up much.

As for the RX-8, alas, I did not get it. But that does not mean I won't get it. I got a case of cold feet at the very last second and decided to wait on the purchase for a little bit. I have been thinking extensively about a next car. s2000? maybe, TSX? maybe still. But there is something in the back of my mind that makes me want the RX-8. Maybe if there is a NJ meet sometime I could go and pick the brains of some of the owners.

Anyway, that is all. You all done with Lehigh? (Thought I remembered something about you going there). If so, how are ya liking the real world? Always curious to see how fellow Lehigh alum is doing. Where did you land? Hit me with a PM. Lata


-tallguy