3Rotor

I went to my local dealer to see about getting on the list. All I have to do is put down a $1000 (refundable) deposit. The problem is the dealer hasn't decided what the markup over sticker will be. They were talking anywhere between $3000 and $7000. What are you guys finding?

veloceracing

I dont know, but I pay five percent below sticker, but i'm a special case. IF an IF they are going to mark it up, wait a little while and when initial demand dies down, pick one up at a reasonable cost.

3Rotor

How does one become a special case? I would like to be one! Waiting defeats the purpose of wanting one now!

veloceracing

I have a family member that works for FoMoCo, (thats FOrd MOtor COmpany, JIC) and you get special pricing for being an employee. And since the dealership he is at sells Mazda i get the family pricing, (Thanks Dad) oh yeah and i goofed, i pay below invoice, not sticker.

JGard18

whatever they're asking, I won't pay it. I haven't been to my dealership yet, mainly because I don't want to appear too interested.

I vowed I will never pay MSRP or above on a car...and dammit, that ain't changing here!

Just like the WRX...right away, it was selling for about 1-3k over sticker...now it's selling for $300 over invoice...

let them settle, and all will be well

Jeff20B

Even if you can pay with cash, they dealer guy will still insist on going to the back room with his buddy to discuss how they can undercoat and scotchbrite the money out of you. I've seen it happen many a time.

nt5k

yeah you guys got the right idea.. just wait it out, its dumb to pay over msrp considering how much the value drops when u drive it out of there...

Jeff20B

Yeah, like a computer one week after you just bought it. Or make that a day, practically.

Jerome81

I would think that if you did a little searching you could find a dealership who would accept MSRP for the car.

We recently bought an Acura RSX Type S in late August, about 2 months after the car debuted. The local dealership here gave us the car for $700 over invoice, while the 5 other Acura dealerships within 1 days drive, including those in Portland, Seattle, and Boise, all wanted above MSRP. One dealer said he'd sell it at MSRP, but that's it. We walked out with a good feeling that we got a great deal on a car that at the time was a pretty hot item. Apparently in California they are still gouging the Type S's, while in the south and east you can get them for your typical $500 over invoice. Anyone paying over MSRP, especially now, is just nuts. But you can't blame the dealers, as long as people keep paying their asking prices, they don't have any incentive to lower their prices.

Bottom line, there are plenty of Mazda dealers out there who should sell you the car at MSRP when it arrives. You get a fair price, they make a profit, and they get a guaranteed sale. If they won't sell it for MSRP, walk, and that sale is lost for them.

3Rotor

I am definitely going to wait it out. I have a friend who works at a dealership in California. According to his GM, they are expecting to start negotiating (in a traditional sense) about two months following the debut. I asked about availability and he said there should be plenty to go around. That tells me that once the first shipment or two are gobbled up, there will be some, somewhere, just sitting on the lot.

Rexate

Actually I don't want one of the first RX8s, they probably have a lot of more of those little problems or recalls in a brand new car. Until all the little problems are fixed on the assembly line, usualy 2-3 months for most of the problems that pop up. I would wait 3-4 months after the car came out. Plus I won't be paying over MSRP or I'll walk and tell the dealer I'm going to buy a Z or Lancer EVO.

NOTA V6

The whole reason for putting my deposit down was I was guaranteed to pay no more than MSRP. Find another dealer.

NOTA V6

I will not accept a car that has rust proofing, scotch guard, or the dealer tag on it. Matter of fact, I don't even want them to prep the car. I can do it myself. I'll check the switches and washer sprayers myself too. "Call me when the truck is supposed to arrive" I told them so I can take the day to drink their coffee while I wait for it to arrive on the truck. :D

And if they happen to "forget"? I will take the next one, and they can sell the scam to someone else. My butt is to be the only one in the driver's seat, besides the lucky guy that pulls it off the line, and puts it on the truck, and the other lucky guy who pulls it off the truck.

veloceracing

I dont get rust proofing either, most the times they did it already :P

Jeff20B

Good idea NOTA V6! I hate that engine detailer coating. After a few years it flakes off of the engine parts and looks terrible. The engine bay would have been better off without it.

rotary8

talked to a dealer in gilroy, CA & they said $1000 deposit non-refundable. plus $5000 mark-up. that's real shady. other dealers didnt have any information on the car, said it would be out in spring 2003.

connie

NOTA V6

It would be cheaper to buy one out of state and have it trucked to your door. $5K over list. Hmph!

Rexate

These dealers charging 5k over retail can SUCK MY @#$%
I'll just wait a few months until they'll sell one to me at retail or below retail. I went to buy my Eclipse in sep 99, the dealer wanted 3k over retail, I laughed in his face and walked out. 5 weeks later I was driving an Eclipse that I bought from another dealer at $700 below retail (which was the best deal I could get at the time, now people are buying this car at $1000 under invoice as the best deal). So figure you should be able to get the RX8 at invoice for a fair price. Otherwise the dealer is just making money off you. Even if they sell the car at invoice they are still making at least $1500 or more in profits.

RX - 8

I'll wait too, i dont wnt what happened to the 93FD's to happen with the first batch of RX-8's that come off the line

NOTA V6

That's what warranties are for.

liondogs

I will wait until the screaming dies down before buying my RX-8. I see no reason to pay thousands over invoice just to be the first person on my block with one.

My brother in law paid about $5000 over invoice to get a PT cruiser off the lot right now instead of waiting. He just kicks himself now for doing it.

NOTA V6

If you find a good dealer, they will guarantee you a price no more than MSRP for your deposit. That's the whole reason for putting money down. Well, that and being guaranteed a car before the masses come in and jack the price through the ceiling for a year and a half like you say...

veloceracing

I pay 2% below dealer cost :p

RX - 8

yes that is what warranties are for, but if you plan on modding your car, than that wil lmost probably void the warranty. i dont plean on modding my 8 untill i have learned to drive it properly...but i am sure that will be within the 3 years of the warranty...thats why i would rather wait until the 2nd or 3rd batch of cars arrive to get mine

stinkfist

I'm not sure how mazda's are delivered but, I work at a Jag dealership and the PDI (pre-delivery inspection) Is a pretty big deal. It usually takes around 2 hours for each car to be fully inspected and preped. Everything has to be checked. Components have to be set up and programed. The protective coating has to be removed along with all of the plastic and paper covering the interior.
I'm not saying you shouldn't be there for it's arival, but there are probably some things that need to be done to the car that you don't know about.
Just letting you know that if they want to take the car into the shop before you recieve it, that they have good reason. It's also to cover their ***. If they let the car go and there is something wrong with it it becomes a liability. It is not uncommon for cars to come to a dealership with problems right off the truck.


Later,
Mike