Spoke with a dealer last night and he insists there are no changes from the 05 AT to the 06 AT. That being said, what I've read on this site leads me to believe he is WRONG. Assuming the AT does go to a 6-speed with a 15 HP boost, will that make enough difference performance-wise for me to consider paying 4-6 grand extra for the 06. I have to buy an AT, so this issue will decide whether I buy now or wait til my BMW lease expires next spring. The salesman told me I got get a new '05 for 5 grand off the sticker price right now. Will that offer get better or worse once the 06's show up on the lots? I am terrible when it comes to making deals on cars. Any thoughts? And is negotiating a set of snow tires (I live in Ohio) into the deal even worth discussing? See what I mean - I need all the help I can get! Thanks!

 

wait for your BMW lease to expire, by next spring there will be '06 automatics on the lot, and you can check for yourself if they are indeed the higher power, 6 speed version. DO NOT rush anything, time is on your side.

plus by spring '06, dealer will be discounting '06s as well :D

patience is a great virtue in this situation, young grasshopper :p

 

Lol. I went to the dealer yesterday and saw some older lady taking out a brilliant black 8 to test drive with her husband and the sales rep stayed behind. I try to start a conversation with the rep:

"So they are test driving an auto 8..," says I.

"Yeah that's an RX-8 sports car they are test driving." the sales guy says.

"Um.. ok. Pause. (Isn't that what I just said?). Do you they have any clue there is a 6-speed auto coming out?"

Oblivious - "What car do you drive?"

I point to that 8 in the distance that a service guy was warming up. "Same car MT in Tit Grey"

"Oh an RX8. Some people like the 6 speed"

"But isn't that a 4 speed auto in that car?"

Here is where it gets silly- "Oh yea but there are no changes coming up for the 2006s"

"Aren't they coming out with a 6-speed auto trans and a 212 hp motor opposed to 197?"

The guy just walks away from me and goes inside the dealership. I chuckle and wait for the service guy to pull up my car. Eh... I guess you had to be there.

Bottom line: do your homework beforehand because some of the sales guys are just plain idiots and it cannot hurt if you know more than them. And most importantly, wait for the 2006 if you are getting auto!

 

That doesn't sound like too big a deal really. This could very well just be getting the car at invoice instead of MSRP and the MAC rebate ($1000 for financing or $2000 for leasing). Most Mazda dealers have been selling them for invoice for quite a while.

 

GET THE MANUAL TRANNYYYYYYY MODELLLLLLL....autos are very weak, they dont take advantage of the rotarys power