Mazda wants to see a profit on the new car side and not just the used car side. I remember Ford doing the same thing back in the day with the expedition when it first came out. Really depend on your demographics and who you were if it was going to be sold at A-plan. I know the supervisors got a-plan but the hourly did not for the first couple months.Dealerships do not get a chance to make a good profit like this on new cars very often maybe every few years so they do take advantage of it. But IMO if someone works for a company that builds the product they should recieve the discount. But can relate to what N2 is saying

 

The reason why the dealer deserves his $2000+ profit is because they dont make that much on everthing else. If they dont have a car that makes $$ why wouldn't they all start selling Fords and rake in the cash and belt out POS's? They need some type of incentive to stay in buisness or they will work for a company that offers them more profit potential. Same thing for salesman, a lot of good ones are lost to toyaota/ford because they pay better. Its gotta be a happy balance, and Mazda will raise the price next year so those who want a discount can haggle their way back to where we will have been 1 year before.

Kyle Lancaster--Double Agent Salesman

 

kyle, are you guys selling the rx-8 at MSRP, or over??

 

We should take a closer look at this. Do dealerships really make most of their money from new car sales. I always thought a majority of a dealerships profit came from the service and parts department. Most dealership's also sell used cars, which is by far more profitable than new car sales.

If I was buying a Mazda6 or Protege, the dealership would be lucky to get $1000+ profit on those cars. I ask again, why does he deserve $2000+ profit on the RX-8. Dealerships will get this profit in the end, but the emphasis here is on "deserve".
From reading the forum here, I noticed some dealerships dropping the ball on pre-sell orders, not calling customers giving them updates, price-gouging, and overall lack of customer service. So, do these dealerships "deserve" $2000.

It's a seller's market right now and the price of the RX-8 is being driven by what people are willing to pay for it. Right now, we are willing to pay MSRP. Once volume increases and the uniqueness of the RX-8 has gone away, deals will be made. If Mazda raises the MSRP on the RX-8 for 2005, I believe it would be a mistake. They're trying to gain marketshare and right now the RX-8 is priced perfectly. To raise it would be a step back.

 

I would first like to appoligize for putting the dealers name in my last post, it has been corrected by me already to "Double Agent Salesman"
We are not selling them for over MSRP. It took me months of fighting and some lost customers to lose their $5,000 over window approach to this car citing that it will cause the demise of my beloved rotary engine.
Most Mazda Protege5's and such are sold for $300 over and the Mazda 6's are sold the same unless they have a 5 speed or a sports package. We still get MSRP for every one of the 5 speed "S" models. They are only making 3% in this config so we are going to take advantage, it is called supply and demand. It is the same reason I was being charged $2.20 a gallon for 87 octane in San Diego a while back. Or why avacados cost $2 each in the winter. It is the way it goes, hey atleaste you didn't pay over window for an overhyped neon called the PT. I still meet people who paid 25-30 for "Tricked out"( read chrome 15's, SE badges, and gay woody look) PT's and want to trade them in.

 

I went ahead and changed my previous post where I quote the dealership. No worries.

Yes it is a supply and demand problem. Right now there is high demand and limited supply once the car hits showrooms, hence the MSRP prices. But why can't a dealer say, "hey, let's sell these at $500 below MSRP instead of doing what every other dealer is by selling them at MSRP", and place the emphasis on volume, customer loyalty, and overall satisfaction. RX-8 buyers may turn out to be future Mazda6 or Protege buyers down the road. I always hear about the importance of repeat business.

Bottom line is this car will be sold for MSRP and probably more later on. The MR2 and S2000 continue to be sold for over MSRP. If you can find a deal for MSRP, take it now. I'm very happy with the deal I got, I just wanted to find out if anyone else was able to get a price below MSRP.

 

the only problem i have with mazda dealers selling for more than MSRP is that mazda corporate is using the rx-8 and the 6 to bring the COMPANY back into the consumers mind as a great product... honda may have the luxury of selling the s2000 with 5K over sticker, cuz people are going to buy accords and civics regardless... mazda on the other hand, if bad word of mouth spreads, will hurt sales overall... this is not like oil, were a cartel is setting the prices and taking as much advantage of the market... mazda is counting on the rx-8 to bring up the company image, and we dont need freakin dealers taking advantage of a product for short term gain and acting like a$$es...

 

I believe their going to continue to hype this thing up a lot to stir interest and then only give a half dozen or so to each dealer per month to allow demand/price to remain higher than msrp. At least that's better then Toyota & the MR-2, they only supplied our local dealer with 1 per month.

 

You will get the car under MSRP if you dont preorder. Well around here I will. The mazda6 is doing horribly, being priced $2000 or less below MSRP. I think by fall I'll be able to get the car under MSRP.

 

Not so fast. Find out which Mazda6 is selling below MSRP. I bet it's the "i" model. Try finding a Mazda6 s with the manual trans and all the options. I bet it's selling closer to MSRP.

A majority of the people don't even know about the RX-8 yet, so you can say they're not in the market to buy one. Once it hits the streets and everybody sees it, I'm sure demand will go up as long as it does good. And since the initial delivery of the RX-8 has already been sold to pre-orders, the supply will be limited, therefore driving the price up on any RX-8 you can find in stock. Take a look at the S2000, MR2, and Mini Cooper S. You can't find one below MSRP.

Come on, a psuedo sports car that can seat 4 adults comfortably. Place your order now.

 

I just saw the first add for the RX-8 in the latest Sport Compact Car! Just flip open the cover, it's on the inside of the cover and the first page!

 

It's a Mazda! Of course it will sell below MSRP! Believe me, I would never pay MSRP for a Mazda product since all the profit over dealer invoice goes to the dealership. I've yet to find a decent Mazda dealership. They all suck in terms of customer service and forget about warranty claims. If you buy a Mazda, you'll have to depend on communities like this forum to fix any problems with the car!

I know this from experience owning a 10th Anniversary Edition Miata for the past 4 years. I was recently rear-ended on the freeway and I think I might step up to an RX-8 if the dealers don't scare me away. Mazda really needs to work on their dealership network.

All Mazdas end up discounted a few months after they come out. Even the Mazda Miata in 1989 sold for double it's MSRP when it first came out. But six months later, they were back to wheeling and dealing.

 

Amen brother.

Exactly, they really do and I doubt this car will be in very high demand immediately when it comes out because it does have the rotary and many people still use pist-on engines. Its also a sportscar and the sportscar market is small compared to the SUV market. Well I hope I can get my RX-8 :D.

 

I agree, this car will sell for less than MSRP. But if you want the first ones that hit the street then you'll have to pay MSRP or close to it.

Here's another twist. Do you think Mazda underpriced the RX-8 to help it get a foothold in the market. Look at the alternative vehicles coming out right now:
350Z - 30k with options
G35C - 30-32k with options
STi - 31k
Evo - 30k

The STi and Evo are selling with premiums, 1k-5k above sticker.

You can't really compare the RX-8 to the above cars, but some of the people buying the RX-8 have probably thought about or have test driven the above cars. So, by pricing the RX-8 lower than the rest of the competition, Mazda will be able to sell the RX-8.

Look at what you get in the RX-8. I think we're getting a pretty good deal at MSRP for the standard options avail on the 6 Speed model.

I may start another thread on this subject to see what everyone thinks.

 

I believe all throughout the development of the RX-8, from the RX-Evolv, Mazda has promised to price the car at well under $30k.

The problem that Mazda has to overcome is that their brand image is not as visible as Toyota and Honda. Nissan had a similar problem but their recent revival is a good attempt at bringing their brand-recognition back into the public eye. Subaru has a cult following in the US and they are a relatively small-volume car manufacturer compared to the others, so they are not directly in the marketing wars with Nissan, Toyota, Honda, etc. What I'm saying is, Mazda needs to compete with all of the other Japanese brands, but they need to sell more volume than Nissan and have better brand-recognition than Toyota. It's an uphill battle for Mazda. The only way to do that is to have a flagship car like the RX-8 and get as many as possible out on the streets. I think Mazda made a great pricing move and the RX-8 is priced just right. Anyone buying an RX-8 is taking a fair risk because it's a new type of car with an unconventional engine. Just look at the big flop Saturn had with their 3-door coupe. The RX-8 might become a revolutionary car and collector's item, or it might be a huge flop 10 years from now.

With that said, I just can't believe what a great deal a the 6MT w/sport package is at only $28,300 MSRP! If they were only available in white...

 

I saw the RX-8 (concept) at the 2000 San Diego car show. As a former RX-7 owner (an '80 and an '84 GSL-SE), I responded to a questionnaire asking what I would pay for an RX-8. I said up to 30k. My pick just fits in at 30k. As long as the RX-8 doesn't have the problems that the 3rd generation RX-7 had, it's good price. Yes, I would pay MSRP for it.

I doubt that demand it going to allow the dealerships to overprice it. People that can spend 30k or more on a car want SUV's over sedans. A loaded Tribute would probably make more sense... that is if I didn't have a love affair with the rotary.

 

i hope it's below msrp. up here in lost angeles i'm guessing not too much off first couple months but by late summer or early fall it should be all good.

 

S2000 is a bad example. They can easily be had for invoice in the Chicago area.

 

yeah that is BS. the sti's are out in hawaii and they're going out for MSRP. several people at i-club.com have already purchased them there.

 

STi's in Hawaii for MSRP?? Whoa. where in Hawaii would that be?

I'm wishing for my 8 at MSRP, but that's just wishing..

 

I spent a YEAR on my local dealers list, with $1000 down for my'8', then I get a call that the price has been announced, and quoted me around $2000 over list......
A quick trip to the big city to hear that 'this is the price' and 'we have decided not to discount them'!!!
The STONES on these guys!
I mentioned that I thought a year with a deposit on one might get me a 'full MSRP' price.....but nooooooo, take it or leave it!
I went home feeling thoroughly screwed, but within a week I heard (in this glorious forum!) of a dealer who had ordered two, one of which was still unsold......
Its 50 miles away, but I got it for list price. I feel the list price is a fair price, and have no problem with it. Just told the first dealer I was buying a'Z' and got my cash back. (Don't want any bad feelings, he has lost the sale, but he is still my local dealer!)
I may need him in a good mood one day!
S

 

Glad to see everyone is posting their experiences. I believe when the time comes to purchase and you're sitting at the dealer anything can happen. So when they say MSRP or no sale just hold out and I bet they will give a little, but not much. This should work unless you have already signed something saying you'll pay MSRP.
The dealer won't let a sale go for a couple of hundred dollar's. My guess is you could probably get $500 off. Right now I'm sitting at $27,500 (RX-8 MT/Sport Pkg) and a dealer fee of $594. When the car shows up I'm going to try my best to negotiate the dealer fee away.

Good luck to everyone and keep posting if you run into a good deal.

 

Hello, new to the forum and new to car buying in general.

I plan to put a deposit on a pre-order for the car below this coming Tuesday. Are you saying at time of delivery I can try to negotiate and if the deal falls thru I can get my deposit back so long as I have not signed something specifically to the contrary.

I was quoted MSRP only after he initially tried to stiff me an extra 2K. I told him that other dealers in the area were quoting MSRP, he quickly changed his tune and said fine to MSRP.

Thanks in advance for the car buying lesson.

 

Dealerships who try to sell Mazda's above msrp will get in big trouble with the Mazda Corporation. If you find out that one is trying to do that you should report it to the Mazda discrict rep.

 

j-apex rx:

There is no x or s p[lan pricing for the RX-8, at least not initiially. After the rush is over and things settle down, the plans may be introduced but you're looking at several months away.
If your dealer said he would get you X or s plan pricing, he has either been smoking the wrong stuff or he is willing to forfeit profit from his own pocket which he doesn't have to do with a high demand car. Sorry:o