starbucks

Man, am I frustrated. I have no idea how some of you are getting close to invoice. Here's my brief effort to purchase a MT/Tit/Touring package 8 the past two weeks at something less than msrp:

I requested internet quotes from dealers in the LA area: All I received were responses asking me to call their internet sales manager. I was informed that they would need to talk to me to meet my specific needs when I requested specific price quotes for Tit/MT with the Touring pkg, no other options. How much more specific can that be?

This afternoon I decided to visit a local dealer and see what kind of deal I could negotiate.

It didn't start out well when the salesperson told me he'd only been there for two weeks. He had very minimal knowledge about the car and differences between the various option packages -- he didn't even know what the traction control was nor that the GT had leather seats and the Touring package didn't.

During the test drive he commented that I really liked to rev the car. Uh, I got close to 7k twice, once getting on the fwy and once at a stop light when I was the first car. However, I did make several runs up to 6k on the open road.

Anyway, the best part was getting down to sales price. I was willng to pay $1k over invoice, but back in the office, the sales person (SP) brought me their initial price: $31,150 +tl. Hmm, msrp is $30k for MT/Touring.

It took me a minute to confirm they didn't think I wanted the GT. I countered with 27, 600 which is invoice. SP came back with the offer sheet scribbled in large letters: "NO WAY...CUSTOMER OFFER IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!!...$30,982 +tl." I made another offer of $28k, but was told the sales manager would not counter.

After talking to the SP about what I thought was reasonable because I didn't get the feeling the 8's were flying off their lot, I could tell I was going to be there all afternoon and maybe all night if I hoped to get anywhere near 29k. I told him if they changed their minds, he had my phone number.

I really fell in love with the 8 during the test drive and decided if I could just get a reasonable price, I would be in one in a sec. If I keep getting the runaround or can't find a decent deal locally, I will go with a no hassle Acura TL deal at $1800 off msrp. A capable car that I will be satisfied with but it's definitely not an 8 which I would be in love with.

Any comments on what I may be doing wrong would be appreciated. I would also love to hear from anyone in the LA area who was successful purchasing significantly below msrp without the S-Plan or knowing the dealership owner.

OBryanRX8

i work for a toyota dealership and used to be in sales, i recommend going to edmunds.com and printing off a copy of the rx8 with all options it will give u msrp and invoice on all options take it with you and asked to speak to sales manager directly and tell him what your willing to do. if you cant get any results ask for either the general manager or mazdas 800 number and report the dealership for lack in customer satisfaction and service


GOOD LUCK!!!

P.S. i have a contact at a local dealership in lexington kentucky if you can not get any results from your local dealer.

starbucks

Thanks for for the referal, Obryan, but I live on the west coast

OBryanRX8

the dealership i work for will ship cars to your door im sure the mazda dealer here locally will do the same for 350-500.00 which if you get a good enough deal thats chump change they can fiqure into the purchase.

Riccio

You can try Todey Mazda up in Oxnard - about 40/50 miles north of LA County - where I bought mine.

That weekend, they had big 4000 rebates on 4 RX8's, including the one I bought - tit/MT, GT, 6 Disc CD, appearance pkg, which had a MSRP of 32,289. Went in the dealership, and bought the car for $28,289 - plus $1200 upcharge for chrome wheels, which they installed at my office.

Salesman I worked with was Tony Corona.
Phone is (805) 893-3355

Completely satisfied with the process - good luck to you!

Edit: This happened mid-January 2004 - and, this is the end of February - so, they should be willing to write similar deals now - but, still good luck finding a good deal on the one you want, you will not be sorry!

starbucks

Thanks for the responses. Looks like there is hope here in LA. I finally received an internet quote: 30,355 msrp for $28,500, tit/mt/touring/spoiler. I'm still undecided about the spoiler without the appearance package. Otherwise I'd counter offer.

I'm not sure what's going to happen but a friend who's an Acura salesman. He's going to ask his wife tp help work a deal from the Mazda dealer she works at. Mazdausa lists the exact tit/touring pkg/black seats config I want where she works. Not sure what he gets out of it, but I have my fingers crossed. Perhaps she'll get a referral fee? She's not in sales.

For what it's worth, I test drove the TL yesterday and it was everything I expected: nice package, lots of little technical gadgets, quiet firm ride, handled like a sporty sedan. It's a car I could live with. However, the 8 is a car I could sleep with. :P