TJRX8

Tampa, FL (Brandon Mazda) at MSRP.

I am pretty sure that dealer gave you a line of crap. According to the E-Mail I received from Mazda last week, they are starting build in April. Shipments should start arriving in July.

laferle

Suburban Mazda in Troy, MI. Not a penny over MSRP and no forced packages or options.

Fëakhelek

From Mazda's "Pre-Sell FAQ" (Accessed from the "Build & Order" page at mazdausa.com):

I would also trust email directly from Mazda although there have even been some discrepencies between emails people have posted (on other questions like the CD changer).

PUR NRG

What do you consider a big deposit? I put $1k down with them, which seems pretty normal.
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M43

JTek_55

I would say that any more than $1000 is not necessary. I only put down $500 which is refundable.

said7

What is that package... Scotch guard, armor all, and a wax job.

In the state of today's economy it would be foolish to pay anything over MSRP.

deks

They wanted $3k from me, although I think if I had either contested it or could actually have gone down there, it might have been less. I was rather busy at the time and could only do it over the phone, plus I wanted a spot in their first allocation, so I think they wanted to make sure I was serious. It was refundable and it's not like I won't kick out the money later so I didn't care too much - I suppose I could earn some interest or whatever on $2k, but it wasn't really worth fighting over.

P00Man

damnit ive gotta go freking pre-order. Im def on the list, but i gotta freking order, what do you guys think my chances are of gettign a spot (in the First Batch) this late in the game?

I live in NJ, and when i went, NOBODY was interested in the rx-8, so i think i hsould be fine, with my particular dealer.
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Extreme Vaporizer

P00Man

DAMN! that was my 100th post, and i didnt even say anything worth while.....
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Voyeur german

DrKillJoY

it is a "warranty" that covers the paint / interior against fading. cracks , peeling whatever .etc (i haven't read the fine print) that they replace it free of charge... for 5 yrs I beleive... opposed to the 3/36,000 that Mazda will offer, which I assume will be limited liability anyhow...

i can see if i can get a copy of the "package" to post.. in the South Texas climate i am sure its worth it

Fëakhelek

3/36?? Try 4 years/50,000 miles. Personally I think the warranty ROCKS. 24hr Roadside assistance. It's nice to know that you are under warranty for the duration of your payments. Sucks to be paying for a car and have to pay for repairs yourself. Go to www.mazdausa.com/rx-8 and print a window sticker for warranty info, etc.

RX-8 Zoomster

Greetings Everyone,

I've been lurking on this board for a few weeks since my wife put down a deposit. Thought it was a good time to post my first forum message.

Mine was bought at MSRP, $2000 refundable down payment at Ferman in Tampa, FL. Since I decide against the Infiniti G35 coupe, and was sure this was the car I wanted, I didn't mind putting down so much. Plus the dealer was very willing and thrilled to sell at MSRP, especially when my wife told him we'll pay the balance in cash. :D


Cheers from Qatar,
Mark

__________________
2004 RX-8
Velocity Red
Black/Red Leather
6SP/Grand Touring

khoney

$500, $1000, $3000... does it really make a difference? Are these dealers actually cashing your checks? Mine needed a check just to be able to assign the car to me, but he isn't cashing it. Might as well be 5 grand! It doesn't even have to be 'money down' at delivery.

For those of you in South Texas, I highly recommend World Car Mazda in San Antonio.

MaRX8

If you pay that extra $300 dollars, your paying over MSRP. That paint/interior package should be standard. They just put stuff on the sheet so that you might just ignore it and pay it. The only things that should be on there are Tax, Title and License Fees.
If they say they have to put it on there. It's just Bull$hit, make sure you scratch it off before you make your final purchase, and don't be afraid to walk out. They hate that, and the salesman usally gets ripped by his manager if a customer walks out. I'm sure they will be on the phone shortly begging you to come back to the dealership. Don't let them threaten you with, well I'm sure I can sell this to someone else. Because it's much easier and quicker for them to sell to you. Your ready, and if they call you on your bluff. There is always another dealership, or car. Just don't get attached that you won't walk away. If they know your in love with the car, and just have to have it. They will try to get every extra cent out of you.

MaRX8

Yep, I put a $1000 down and they cashed my check like there was no tomorrow.

kittychester

i spoke to MAZDA and they told me that MAZDA was discouraging additional dealer markups and requested me to provide me the dealers name--I am not sure what they will do with the information

mjgc0

You are welcome to send them the name of the dealer on my first post in this thread. I won't lose any sleep if he gets his hands smacked.

I can't believe the arrogance that they have thinking that the public will just throw in a few extra thousand becasue there are no RX-8s on the road yet. I don't want the car to project an image; I want it because of practicality and new technology, not exclusivity. There will of course be a few people with money to burn that can fork out the extra thousands without a second thought but I am not one of them and am soured on the whole dealer scene and this is why. Why can't Saturn's brand of salesmanship catch on? Too bad Saturn doesn't have any exciting cars, (in my opinion).

Someone should take a poll to see if anyone on this board is willing to pay thousands for exclusivity rights.

pelucidor

I preordered at this dealership (Jeff Haas Mazda in Hosuton). Yes they added a $300 charge for the paint protection option which I was told about and agreed to (in the euphoria of car buying) and immediately forgot about. A few weeks later I checked the invoice and wondered about the real value of this option to me (i.e. is it a scam). I called the salesperson and said I don't want to have the paint protection package and they replied "no problem - it will be removed when I buy the car". So I would call it a 'recommended' option as opposed to a 'forced' option by that dealership (which I am very happy with BTW).

Is this paint protection and leather sealant package worth $300 or is it just a scam? Should I get it or not - I could get the car detailed several times for that money...

JTek_55

No. Absolutely do NOT buy it. They don't even do anything extra for that money. Think about it, how would you know if they sealed the leather or the paint? You don't. It's just a scam that they are hoping you don't notice/care about. It is pure profit right off the top plain and simple.

MrWigggles

I have the brochure at home and it is more than a simple wax job and it does cover your car for five years. I have the exact language at home and it is pretty robust and fair in the stated coverage. Jeff Hass is the only President's Club and Full-circle service dealership. Jeff Hass won't sacrifice their status over poor warranty service. I'm confident that the $300 service and warranty aren't meaningless.

And, I usually can't stand any dealer add-ons but this was reasonable and I accepted it. Yes it is a high profit item but there is a big difference between $5000 over sticker with nothing to show for it and a $300 dollar paint and interior treatment that does have a nice warranty.

I was actually in-line to get a G35 coupe, but the dealer add some meaningless junk in and it turned me off. I cancelled and walked out.

Jeff Hass was reasonable so I am getting an RX-8 instead and I'm glad I waited.

-Mr. Wigggles

Elara

I have to agree with everyone who says not to let them charge the $300- it's like the $300 window etching and undercoating spray stuff. Just because they're a reputable dealership doesn't mean they're not going to try to get a little extra profit. For that matter, the processing fee that they're probably charging you(since Texas does allow them, unlike other states) is all dealer profit too. It doesn't cost $99-$199 just for the business office to process paperwork, I promise you. Mazda doesn't make such crappy cars that the paint/leather should need a warranty over top of whatever the 48 month/50k mile warranty covers. With normal cleaning/waxing, you're probably going to get the same results as whatever they're going to do. So of course they're offering a warranty, as they probably know nothing would ever happen, or at least very rarely, that would make it necessary for them to pay for repairs. I would think long and hard before letting them add that one there.

Oh course, I can't see the actual warranty information you're talking about, and I haven't looked at what the standard Mazda warranty covers, so it is entirely possible that I'm wrong. And if I am wrong and it's a legitimate option, please don't flame me, just point me in the direction of whatever this stuff is so I can request it too.

Toadman

Back in the days I used to do PDI(Pre-Delivery Inspections) detail, and add accessories like mudguards and pin-striping(gag) to cars for Honda. You CAN do it yourself but the stuff does work, and most dealers will include the empty treatment bottles if asked, and you can smell and see it. Put a drop of water on a seat and see if it runs off. I don't know if they still undercoat the wheel wells and floorpans anymore, but it does deaden road noise. We used a product called Thermoguard for paint sealing, interior stain-proofing, and undercoating, but I don't see them on the web. Ask them to apply the "scotchguard" to the floormats in addition to the floor carpeting if you get the protection package. Floormats are usually the last option installed before delivery.

Elara

OK, so maybe I was wrong. I just don't trust dealers, I guess! Thanks for setting me straight Toadman

Toadman

You're not wrong at all. Vehicle Protection Packages ARE a dealer profit option, but not as much as accessories or extended warranties.
You can always DIY with Autozone or industrial stuff, but it's very unlikely you'll get the dealer to reimburse or clean/replace stained upholstery or paint contamination if you don't purchase the option and use stuff like Scotchguard/Turtlewax paint sealer etc., especially when something that can be questionably attributed to a factory defect similar to the 93 RX-7 "thin paint-chipping" issue in early production arises. It's not mandatory whatsoever, but the odds are in your favor if such a defect arises under the factory or DEALER protection package warranty period. Read the fine print on the package if you opted for it for warranty info. If you are uncomfortable with the added expense, say nay.

That's also applicable to all mods that may violate emissions standards or void the factory warranty. Maddening, huh? Be smart, check your emotions in at the showroom door, and read the fine print on everything. If you're satisifed by all means go for it and take delivery of a bitchin' car.

zoom44

hey elara as far as window etching goes it might be a good idea. i saw a program on discover recently about recovering stolen vehicles. they were able to find most of the parts from one vehicle, that had been stripped and strewn about a junkyard, back to its owner because of VIN number etching on all of the glass. the chop shop had removed 90% of the vin #'s elsewhere on the car but had not gone to the trouble of replacing all of the windows. they also tracked one that they found that had been stolen, sold at an auction to a dealer and then sold as a used vehicle to an unknowing customer. because of the vin etched glass they were able to trace the owner who it was stolen from and return it to them. so it does help, if your vehicle is ever stolen, in the recovery and prosecution of the chop shops and thieves.