Well, I test drove an RX-8 about 15 months ago and instantly fell in love. I had to wait it out with my current toyota to make it worth the move and here I am ready to buy.

Option 1.
Found the perfect '05 red + sports package at a local dealer they're offering
$500 below invoice
$1000 MAC rebate
$500 zoom-zoom rebate
$500 Gerber rebate)
The car has low mileage and I already have a deposit on it just in case, hard to find this combo up here.

Option 2.
Wait it out for the '06
S-Plan/invoice
$500 zoom-zoom
$500 Gerber
If it all flies this is an '06 but it's $1500 more money.

What do you guys think? Is the $1500 worth it over waiting? Is this '05 a good deal overall? I think sport package runs 26k - 2.5k total rebates = 23.5k. What's the reliability of the Gerber rebate? Did I need to sign up for some promotion I've missed? I simply went to http://www.irv-silverpop.com/mazda/gerber/, requested a coupon and emailed them to doublecheck, no answer yet.

Thanks in advance

 

if you're getting the manual, then there's no major mechanical difference, then the decision will depend on how long you plan to keep the car.

if you plan to keep the car 4+ years, then get the '05 and save the $1500 up front, otherwise get the '06 to get a better trade-in value

 

Good point.

I'm getting the MT, I'm aware of the unchanged specs. Also I'm planning on keeping this one a long time hopefully so you're right.

Dealer just called me and said the Gerber thing might've expired. Can someone confirm? That would just suck.

 

even if the gerber rebate is expired, tell them that you were planing on using it to buy the car....they wont lose you over 500 bucks!

 

Had a good start but now my new baby is getting further and further. There's a $200 handling and paperwork fee, how easy is to talk these dealers out of it? I havne't tried to just yet.

$500 Gerber looks like it can be obtained from Mazda OR Gerber itself, which way should I go? I'd rather have that in the bag before commiting but regardless I do have a 1k deposit on the car for now.

 

if they price you want to pay to the dealer is fair, then stick to your guns and tell them thats as much as you can pay