I am an enthusiast of Mazda. I owned a RX-7 and an M Edition Miata. I recently purchased a RX-8 from Val Strough Company in Oakland, California. However, I am afraid that the RX-8 is going to be my last Mazda vehicle. I enjoy driving the RX-8, so do not misunderstand that I am not satisfied with the car. It is just that I have many bad experiences with Val Strough Company, a Mazda authorized dealer. This is a long story, but bear with me.

On July 24th, 2003, Simon Tse, sales representative from Val Strough Company called and told me that the RX-8 has arrived. I test-drove the car and decided to buy a titanium grey RX-8. They did not have the RX-8 with that specific color in stock, they claimed that they have located one in another dealership and the dealership is willing to trade the vehicle with their silver color RX-8. They asked me to write them a check as deposit for the car, but they could not give the Vehicle Identification Number because they said that the dealership was closed (this is around 9:00 p.m.). I wrote Val Strough Company a check and left the dealership with a piece of handwritten contract by Simon. Simon said that he would give me a call in the next morning, but I did not receive a call until after I called him in the afternoon. He told me that the other dealership sold their titanium grey RX-8, but they could locate another one for me. Once again, he told me that he will call me by July 26. On July 26th, Simon did not call me, so I called him. He asked me to give him more time to locate the vehicle. Later that day, Simon called and said he located another titanium RX-8, but the vehicle was a little more experience with some extra accessories. At that time, he indicated that it was hard for him to trade the vehicle with the prize I was willing to pay. I ignored what he told me and decided only to pay a little extra for the accessories. However, Simon told me their Silver RX-8 was sold to another customer by another sales representative, so he could not use it to trade the titanium grey RX-8 for me. This went back and forth six to seven times until I was running out of patient and beginning to loose interest in buying the vehicle. Regardless, I called Simon up and agreed to raise my buying price. At the same time, I gave him a deadline to find the vehicle. Two days later, he finally found one and promised me that I could pick up the vehicle on August 7th. I thought the hassles would come to end. However, they broke their promise again. I did not have my car until the following day. I was quite dissatisfied when I picked up the car. Even worse, I realized they lost my wheel lock. Even though we took one from another RX-8 in the showroom, I decided to write a complain letter to Mazda. I changed my mind when Simon apologized and gave me a free oil change service.

On August 27th, 2003, I received a call from Ray Kwan, a customer service representative of Val Strough Company. He told me that Val Strough Company forgot to present a document to me to sign on the day I purchased the RX-8. He also offered me a full tank of gas if I am willing to drive up to the company to sign the paperwork. At first, I was thinking of driving up to the dealership because I was worried that I did not own the vehicle without signing the document. I asked him to provide more information about the content of paperwork. Then he explained that it is a disclaimer form issued by Mazda. This form indicated that I acknowledge Mazda’s missed assessment of the RX8’s horsepower from 247 to 238. When I asked him about the compensation, he only told me that Mazda would provide 4 years of free maintenance services and a $500 debit card. And he asked me again if I could drive up to Oakland and sign the paperwork later that day. Before we hanged up the phone, he told me that I need to sign the paperwork as soon as possible because the deadline was September 1st, 2003.

If you know the truth, does it sound like a fraud to you?

After I hanged up the phone, I did some research on my own and found that Mazda issued the lack of horsepower statement on August 27th, 2003. It is no way that Val Strough Company could present that document for my signature on the day that purchased the RX-8 (which was August 6th, 2003). Moreover, besides the 4 years of free maintenance services and a $500 debit card, Mazda also provided a buyback option of the RX-8. The customer representative did not told me about the buyback option at all. I also found that the deadline is October 1st, 2003 not September 1st, 2003. I have no idea what the dealer or Ray Kwan would lose if I did not sign the paperwork, but if I drove up to the dealer and signed the document on that day, I would lose the right to pick the buyback option.

I do not think this is the right way to do business. If Mazda continues to depend on this type of dishonest dealerships to sell your cars, sooner or later, Mazda is going to lose all their enthusiasts like me.

ChogokinRX-7

 

When I was looking for my base/sport red 6sp, I called ValStrough and every dealer in a 200 mile radius. Although I was quite certain that "my" car was not in norcal at the time, ValStrough enthsiastically assured me they could get me the car through a dealer trade. "We'll find your car, no problem!" I didn't buy it. It smacked of total B.S. just to get me to commit with them when they'd do no better than any other dealership.

I wound up driving south to San Luis Obispo, and driving back up Hwy1.

Oh, and don't sign the disclaimer. More B.S. Just wait to get the official letter from Mazda. But you knew that already.

If you go with the free service, btw, you don't have to go to ValStrough.