cardinal35

I have a deal sealed with a local dealer, but I am waiting (rather impatiently) for Mazda to talk about what they are doing with the vehicles they purchased back due to the hp problem.

couple questions
1. would you guys buy one that was bought back? ( I can only imagine how hard these cars were driven before being turned in)

2. Do you think eventual re-sale value is hurt due to being titled three times at that point?

Has anybody heard for sure what Mazda is doing with these cars?

Gord96BRG

Mazda in the US has said that bought-back RX-8s are classed the same as lemon-law buy-backs, and they will NOT be resold to the general public. Apparently, they are being offered for purchase to Mazda employees only. Mazda Canada, on the other hand, did put the few buy-back cars on the dealer's used car lots.

Regards,
Gordon

cardinal35

I thought so. My best friend has a relative that works in California for Mazda and I am waiting to hear whether or not she can buy one for me. Am I still right to maybe stay away from these cars because they may have been abused before turn in?

How much of a discount do you think would warrant consideration? The deal I am getting for a new Titanium Grey GT, moonroof, rotary package, cd changer, bose, spare tire, etc for 29,600 + TTLF. I wonder how much cheaper the used ones might be that Mazda has. Are they even worth considering if the relative can buy one for me?

rgonzal3

If I turned mine back in, I would have drove the crap out of that thing. ...why not, Mazda was willing to buy back (no questions) if the car still looked presentable (no dents etc.), but unfortunately you can't see what was done to the engine...
you can try buying one of those, but there lies your dilema...who knows, you MIGHT get lucky.

cardinal35

I think you are right. My only hope could be this. I wonder if you can get the original owner from the title and get a hold of them to see why they turned it back in and if they drove the hell out of it prior to turn in. If I confirmed that it was turned in because of affordability, etc. than I might consider it.

Omicron

That doesn't strike me as a very good deal... that's still at least $1000 OVER dealer invoice, and only about a $1300 discount off MSRP. Some 8's are being had at or below dealer invoice. Just FYI.

Sin

Exactly

8_wannabe

maybe; maybe not. I recall the discussion at the time those turning their cars in were deathly afraid of scratching them and then being liable for the damage. Many were treating them with kid gloves at the end. but, as you say, who knows if you'll get lucky or not...

madsenj37

They are going to become product demos ... if they make it into teh hands of Mazda employees it will be to show them off and demo them.

cardinal35

The person working on this for me has located the car that I want and it was turned in in early November. She is still trying to get an answer on the mileage and what the price will be. I am just going to have to judge based on the price if it is low enough to warrant taking a used one vs. the new one.

cardinal35

29,600 was the S plan price for the vehicle. I think the sticker is 32,600. FYI.

bureau13

S plan pricing is below dealer invoice I think...at least it has been for the cars I'm looking at. Hmmm...

jds

cardinal35

all I know is I gave the vin # to my contact at Mazda and she came back with S-plan price of 29,600. It is a 6spd, grey titanium Grand Touring, spoiler, 6cd, black leather, rotary package, spare tire kit, pretty much everything but appearance package. The dealer is kind of dragging their feet on the invoice amount. Do you know what the invoice amount should be on the vehicle or do you know a way to find out? I have asked for it, but they dont seem real willing to part with the info. I also am looking at a used one that was bought back under the HP controversy. Still waiting on a price or mileage. How can you tell from the vin # when the car was manufactured?

I have heard others on the board say to try to get models built in October or later. Is there a way to check that without calling the dealer. I wish I could easily switch dealers but the next closest one is about 70 miles away and this dealer has the one I want.

hondas2k

cardinal35, I see an invoice of $29,736 and MSRP of $32,589 with
1GT MT Grand Touring Package
CDC In-Dash 6-Disc CD Changer
STR Spare Tire Kit
RSW Rear Wing Spoiler
2RP Rotary Accent Package

Kirk

cardinal35

so in your opinion, is this a pretty good deal?

1fine8

I turned my car in on Tuesday. It was not driven any harder the month before it was returned than when it was new. Just remember because it was turned in for horsepower issues does not mean there were not problems on why the owner decided to return it. Mine was in the shop 5 times for an a/c problem that could not/was not repaired. I kept being told a repair fix was in the works and I got tired of being used as a trouble shooter experiment.
If interest in a buy back car ask for a copy of all repair or warranty work and claims. Also get feedback from several dealers on how they view a car with a branded title labeled as a buy back. I would guess some would refuse to accept one as a trade-in when you got ready to buy another car. Only then would I negotiate on a price.

commentator

Hey, 1Fine8, I am curious, how come you are just turning yours in? Did it take that long to get the deal done? The deadline was October 1st. wasn't it?

My brother lives in Ohio and he tells me one dealer there has over 40 brand new 8s on the lot. I don't know why anyone would want to purchase a returned car. When I turned mine in it was getting a whopping 12.5 miles per gallon and air conditioner that blew hot and cold.

My advice to anyone really wanting one would be to buy a new one. Might as well have your own problems rather than someone elses.

carnut

Good point. I also think that MazdaUSA did not want to flood the market with used 8's so early in the game, possibly hurting new car sales and depressing values.

SDFLY

Hey Commentator,

"When I turned mine in...." Did you get another one? Just curious.

cardinal35

The person working on this for me works in lemon dept for Mazda in California. She has assured me that if I would choose to go with a turned in 8, I would get full disclosure on the vehicle history. Also full warranty, and I am fairly certain that a previous reply on this subject is incorrect because she is certain that the title on these vehicles will not be "branded."

I still think I am leaning towards a new one. I was just curious to see if they will "dump" these vehicles at a really low price. If so, it might warrant consideration. If they are not significantly cheaper, then I am going for the new one.

Does anyone know how to tell from the VIN # when the car was built?

cardinal35

would you care to expand? dont go where? The used one?

1fine8

Like I said talk to several different car dealers and get their opinion on a "buy back" or a "lemon law" car and see how it affects the resale. I imagine there is a discloser form that must be signed by both seller and buyer so there is written verification that the buyer had notice of the problem vehicle and a requirement that each subsequent seller must provide written notice to a buyer of the cars past. Ask them also if a seller of the car "tries to pull the wool" over a buyer and does not disclose this information what the penalty is. Ask Mazda what happens when you mistate horsepower by 6-10 hp.

I did submit my repurchase request by October 1. It took several back and forth conversations and faxes with prices for accessories, tag fees, and such before prices were agreed upon. Then Mazda kept getting a 20 day payoff from the loan company. And I kept making payments that messed up their figures. Mazda did not seem to want the car back in any rush and I knew they were going to refund me at some time. I had already started the "lemon law" return process before the repurchase letter was sent out.

Charles Cope

May be a shot in the dark, but if you go to the forum's search page and enter the last five digits of the VIN, you may be able to find out if the car belonged to someone active on the forum. We've shared VIN numbers in various threads, its worth a shot!

1fine8

Has anyone bought a buyback car? What were the good and bad points?

Tirminyl

Holy old thread.