DMBfan

So I'm one of those new guys that is about to buy my RX8 here with in the next week or so. I've been looking forward to this for a long time and can't wait to join the ranks. I'm planning on purchasing under the S-Plan from John Bommarito in ST. Louis. The salesman is trying to stick me with a $185 "Doc Fee" even though it says on the Ford Partner website that you can't be charged any dealer fees under the S-Plan. I called the guy on this and he said that he had a letter saying that he could charge me for this. Wondering if anyone has heard of any thing like this or is he feeding me a line of BS. They are also trying to charge me $495 for window tinting. Love how they try and get ya anywhere they can. Anywho if anyone else has had any experience with this that would be great.

dirtylittlepaws

i would take my business somewhere else.

CUE2's RX-8

I bought my 8 about 10 days ago. Never heard of the "S-Plan" nor the "Doc Fee", and I financed through a Mazda credit partner because they had cheaper rates than my bank! I paid the negotiated price of the car, plus the $300 in dealer prep (that is, dealer profit margin), and I was out the door. I had my windows tinted at a place in Denver, and he charged me $160 for 35% Johnson Window Films and labor.

Sounds like the dealer is trying to stick it to you . . . I would look elsewhere!

Cam

iTrader: (1)

He's BSing you. Print out the Partner site where it says he cant charge you, and if he still does not relent advise him youre going to report him/dealership to Ford and Mazda.

Ive bought a car under the x plan before, and will buy my 8 under the s plan, and have never had a dealer say this to me.

Actually, I would take my business elsewhere.

RX8by

"The salesman is trying to stick me with a $185 "Doc Fee" even though it says on the Ford Partner website that you can't be charged any dealer fees under the S-Plan."
Doc fees are normal (the cost to transfer the title, but $185 is excessive. In ILL they cannot charge any more then $63. The rest is pure Dealer profit. The window tinting is dealer profit. Just tell them you refuse to pay for it. I had a dealer once that tried to sell me a protection package. I refused to pay for it. I got it for free. They will try and charge you for anything just do not pay it and walk out the door. They will either call you back in or call you a couple of days later. When I see the add on Dealer sticker on the window I know the Dealer is a hard sell Dealer and problably not a good place to do business.

beachdog

It's BS. The S Plan does not allow it. Ford/Mazda comps the dealers for the processing cost and some additional holdback as well.

I used the S Plan and the dealer still couldn't resist bringing out the paperwork with their "normal" charge ($799) added on. Their explanation? It's preprinted on the form! My reaction was, OK, there are some blank lines on the form too. Use one of them to deduct it. Which they promptly did.

Just remember that the dealer's will use every opportunity to take back what has been negotiated away. They count on people not paying attention to the paperwork because they are too excited about driving off in their new car.

This was in today's newspaper:
CarMax surveyed 33,000 car shoppers.
33% of the purchasers did not pay close attention to the papers that they were signing. Here's how it breaks down:
25% said that they look at most of the documents but some they just sign
6% said they just sign them because they trust the dealership
2% said they don't pay attention at all.

Now, just think, even if 67% are paying close attention, how many of them will notice that the numbers aren't correct and how many will back off when the dealer gives them some lame explanation.

Eight hundred extra dollars (at my dealer) on probably almost every car they sell! There's a lot of motivation to sneak these charges onto the docs and to fight over them.

DMBfan

So just to update all those interested in purchasing under the S-Plan in the future that the dealer can now charge prep fees and the such. I called Mazda coustomer service and they even confirmed it. So i guess the guy wasnt really BSing me on the doc fee. I call them on the $500 for tinting and was told the car didnt even have window tinting on it. I tried faxing the salesman but he was off today so i got to the Sales manager. He was a nice guy and actually worked with me. Got the car (with the doc fee) for the S-Plan price i expected. Get to go pick up my new car on monday. Got the 6sp MT Titanium Gray with the Touring Package.

This is going to be fun.