seven-to-eight

Hi y'all,

Registered a few days ago, but have been a lurker here for quite some time.
I'm looking very hard at an '05 GT with appearance and spoiler at a "no haggle" used car dealer nearby ('8 in the hand is worth two over the internet). It's got 18k miles on it and looks like it hit the road in Feb '06 as a lease vehicle so just under 2/3 years of warranty remaining - a BIG factor for me. They want $19k, I would do it for $17k (they did have $21k on it when it first listed, but I guess they got a bit more real about it). They got it through an auction about 2 months ago.

So, how many of you have had experience haggling with "no haggle" dealers? I'm going to call 'em and make my offer and stick to it. I'm also curious as to what sort of margin they'd likely have on it, that is, at 17k they should be making something to keep us all happy. Any dealers want to chip in on that?

Also, it's running the OEM Dunlops. I've seen plenty of comments about the OEM Bridgestones, especially their poorer wet weather performance. What about the Dunlops? - I really don't want to have to shell out for new tires too soon. And yes I have searched, a bit.

I'll have to get a set of winter wheels and tires as this will be my DD and yes, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get better than 18mpg on my 19 mile commute , which is a mixture of 50 mph highway and cross town at 25-30mph (about 3:1) - the infamous potholed Rt 9 for those who know the Metrowest area of MA

I keep coming back to the RX-8 even when I consider what other cars a similar amount of dosh might buy me. Love the rotary concept - had a 1st gen RX-7 with a 13B in another time and another place.

cheers

Revvittupp

You are correct, $19k is far too much.
$17k is a reasonable number.

Dealers typically price cars with $3-5k in profit on day 1. They probably have int he range of $17k in it, if they put a signifcant ammount of reconditioning in it, otherwise less.

No haggle dealerships are usually no haggle if it benefits them. They will probably haggle on a car they've had in stock and have discounted already...

I've had the stock dunlops for a while, they are ok, but the combination of cold(below 50f) and wet is not fun. Besides that they are at least reasonable.

I very much so have affection for my car, the rotary concept and the driver/car/road interraction. That is the reason most of us can't stay away. The performance/fun/value quotient is pretty hard to beat as well.

alz0rz

iTrader: (41)

just to note on the mpg, i was hoping the same.. I knew it was low .. but boy was I surprised

seven-to-eight

Hi Alz0rz,

How surprised?

I saw one RX-8 on the EPA website that got 17.5mpg with it listed at 20%/80% highway/city. Conversely the one 350z, just as a random comparison you know, was at 22mpg for the opposite highway/city mix. For giggles I took aa look at some other vehicles because I thought it stange that only one each was listed for these most fascinating of cars. There were quite a few Odyssey minivans there and one was listed at 11mpg! I wonder how that was being driven!

Anyway, not trying to start a mpg thread,,,

So on another note, I stopped by a local Mazda dealer to look at their 40th Anniv - just to look mind you, and of course they spent an hour running numbers for me. Took $4700 off the msrp ($33884) without hesitation - $3000 of this is Mazda's rebate, and could give me 4.5% on a lease (36/42 month) - awful residual - about $13.5k at 42 months or 5% on a straight out finance.

The 40th Anniv looks sweet and this one had App package accents and strakes - all of which seem grossly overpriced IMHO.

cheers

seven-to-eight

Oh and I forgot to say that the leasing is done through a bank. Supposedly Mazda ain't leasing RX-8s at present. The $795 aquisition fee was a real put off.

alz0rz

iTrader: (41)

to put it bluntly, i haven't averaged over 16mpg since i've been in the city. (bought the car 2 weeks ago, drove it back from out of state and averaged ~18mpg)

i've done a few new things with this next tank of gas (k&n air filter, changing driving habit a bit, fresh oil change, cleaned plugs) to see if it helps things at all. i had the same train of thought as you.. i could live with 18mpg.. in fact that was the mindset.. however the last 2 tanks were 200 miles and 160 miles, respectively.

you've gotta pay to play.. so i'll live

/endmpgthreadhijack