Went to the dealership today. The newbie sales guy let it slip that if I didn't buy the car, it was going to go to auction (been on the lot 45 days).

Its a '04 GT, immaculate, 38k mi., 6MT, w/ appearance, leather, xenon, sunroof, brand new tires, clean carfax. It was listed at $16,300, I was able to bargain $16,500 with 8y/100k drivetrain warranty (which I'm seriously reconsidering now), and $2000 trade-in on my POS '00 Eclipse GT (128k mi., body damage, and is lacking factory exhaust, incl. any catalytic converters)

Assuming the RX-8 is headed for auction, what's it likely to fetch? I'm looking to name a price above what he'd get at auction, so it's at least to his benefit to sell to me rather than auction.

It's located in a suburb of Baltimore.

 

Not sure about your areas going rate but I would think offer him $12K.

Take care,

Brian

 

You can't find a used RX-8 at a South Florida Mazda dealer. They sell almost immeditely and a 2004 averages 12 to 14 thou depending on condition and mileage.

 

Are they trying to SELL you that warranty with the car? I am a little confused. That warranty is factory....they shouldn't be negotiating price based on that....I'd say 14k take it.

 

That's the whole issue- until joining this forum, I didn't realize there was an engine warranty already, and they were trying to 'throw in' an aftermarket powertrain warranty as a bargaining chip. (The aftermarket warranty did cover trans, and engine electrical, not that it really matters)

I called them back and offered them $15,500, no warranty as a final offer. Seems to be consistent with prices here. The only cheaper cars listed with lower mileage are base models.

 

10-12k

 

well since i have been to car auctions and haul auction cars the norm for an auction car is 60 cents on the dollar is what most cars go for... people get them CHEAP!

 

Yeah, most cases auto auctions, ESPECIALLY for an RX8 won't be that expensive. I'd say wait and find it at the auction and save lots of money on it.

 

Not the auctions around here. People overpay at auctions around here. Values have gone UP the last 6 months or so. That said, that car wouldn't do 12k at a local auction.

 

Im talking dealer auctions though, a Normal person cannot get into these auctions, you have to have a dealer liscenese or a pass if you haul cars for that auction lot

 

i'd pay 14k tops. it has brand new tires, thats a plus. dont buy any aftermarket warranty. and as you now know, that 8 year/100k powertrain warranty is factory.

 

And I hate to tell you, most 3rd party extended warrranties aren't worth the paper their printed on. You pretty much have to buy the most expensive warranty to get anything covered....and even then, you'll probably hear, "oh, that's a normal wear and tear item...it's not covered" OR, that part was due for service, it's not covered. what a rip

 

I go to up to three dealer auctions per week in the greater Baltimore area. BWI on Tuesday, Adessa on Wednesday and Bel Air on Thursday, though someone looking for good money on an 8 would be wise to sell it at Mannheim on Friday.

 

i have a dealer friend and he tells me that a 04 is about 10K give or take at an auction

 

Have to agree, with posters, 14k tops, 10k-11k bottom
but I would not touch a 04, remember too many possible bugs
go with an 05 or higher

resell price on an 8 is way low, as you will find out later when you try to sell

One can get into the dealer auctions. Just find the local little paper, not the regular newspaper. There are many small lot dealers that will take you to an auction,. If you buy, you pay them a fee, ie about 150 bucks or so, if you do not buy then u do not pay anything but I would give them a 20 or so...for their time.
they are already going to the auction, you are just tagging along.
I have been to many auctions like that but never found my car
found my 8 on ebay from a small dealer about 120 miles from my home.

Gook luck

 

By the way, the aboive is illegal and can get ones license taken away. Be careful how you speak if you do go to an auction.

 

and no need to stay away from an '04. just like any car, make sure you get it looked at and do your homework on which flashes and warranty items should have been taken care of.

 

Its also illegal to go the speed we do in our 8s but we still do it!
Some where I read that illegal was a sick bird.ill eagle.
the above is done all the time by many small car dealers, they even advertise that they will take you. Wonder why their license has not been taken away after all its been going on for at least 10 years that I know off.

Again, since the 04 was the first year the 8 was introduced, I would stay away from an 04 but to each his own.
I would not buy any car the first year its introduced...too many possible bugs.
that being said..good luck..if at an auction, one can not do much research on it
they do not really give you that much time to look at it
heck at one auction, they have 8 lanes going at the same time. cars/trucks zipping by one has to be fast.

 

I bought my car at Mannheim, they had 22 or 23 lanes that day... but I had plenty of time to check the car out, afterall, I Knew to show up over an hour before hte sale started, when all fo the cars are parked in the parking lot, listed online a few days before by auction slot... BY the time it came through the line I already new all about it. I even knew that the rear bumper cover I could tell was repainted showed up on a carfax... I knew the inservice date...

BTW, I ddin't say don't go to the auction with a small dealer, I said be careful how you talk. BIG dealers hate when retail customers are at the sale as they can pay much more for a car knowing they won't have to advertise the car, clean it up, etc.