halfon

I went to my local dealer to put a deposit on the RX-8. She told me that I was the seventh person on her list but that nobody there knew anything about the car. "There is no information out there".

She told me that she read the article by Kenzie in the Toronto Star of January 18, 2003 (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...path=News/News) but that she did not understand a word.

To me this is very unsettling since I would have expected that as a salesperson in a dealership she would have had the initiative to look for information on a car she was selling instead of waiting to be spoon fed the information by Mazda after the car show in Toronto.

My best experience about technical knowledge was at the Mercedes dealership in Burlington. The salesman, a german, knew all the technical and engineering details to the last screw. At the end I did not buy the car but I was, and still am, impressed by his knowledge. I was expecting nothing less from the Mazda dealer and i am very disappointed.

I expect that after the first rush of persons buying the RX-8 because of their interest, then the salespeople at Mazda would actually have to sell the car on its merits and this implies knowledge of the car, its engine and performance, not only that it looks good.

My question to the forum is what is your experience with the technical knowledge of the salespeople you dealt with ?

ZoomZoom

The salesman that I am personally dealing with is extremely knowledgeable; he is a true automotive enthusiast (enjoys any good car) and writes car reviews. I wouldn't surprise me if he is a member of our forum.

I do not believe that the Mazda sales people are any less technically knowledgeable that their competition - I do not consider Mercedes their competition. Just take a look at any of the 350Z forums to prove my point, their salesman were just as clueless about the Z prior to its official launch. Many today argue that they still are!

I do however believe that the entire automotive industry should address is issue; it would be in their own best interest.

Quick_lude

Most salesman are there just to push cars out the door imo.. when I leased my Prelude I knew a lot more about it than the salesman did... A car salesman with technical knowledge and passion for the cars he/she sells is a dying breed..

ZoomZoom

I have to agree with you on that one.

Mazdaspeedgirl

Any salesperson who has been trained properly KNOWS that product knowledge is the key to be successful. She needs to do a LOT of research, instead of sitting pretty in her spare time. I have sold cars before. This I know. :p

Heavenscent

Hi ZoomZoom and fellow mates,

Which Mazda did you go by to place the deposit? Also, is the MSRP price guranteed upon the arrival of vehicle?

Appreciate the info....I am still deciding on the colours...any idea how many RX8s will hit the GTA area?

Greetings!
Heavenscent

DYT

I was at the dealership last week to test drive the Mazda 6. Me and the salesman started talking and apparently the 6 is doing very well. Anyway, I asked him about the Rx-8 and he said since they are a joint Mazda Suburu dealership, no one is going to buy the Rx-8 when the Sti is coming out, and the only thing that might save it is the suicide doors. I wanted to smack this guy upside the head!! I don't expect the salesperson know that much, but at least have a semi-positive attitude about the cars you are trying to sell! Please Mazda, make sure these fools know at least what the hell a rotary engine is.

Heavenscent

Right on...I hope that the salesman can tell me more about the RX8 than me. With all these information acessible here 24/7, I think we can just strap on the seat belts and ask the salesman to hang on tight The rest is all auto-pilot....


Heavenscent

ZoomZoom

I assume that you meant what Mazda (dealership) did I place my deposit with; I am on the waiting list with Westowne Mazda in Etobicoke. I gave them a $500.00 deposit which is fully refundable should I change my mind about the car. As far as price goes they guarantee MSRP. I have no idea as to how may cars will make it into the GTA but apparently Canada will be getting 700 cars and my dealership claims that they will be getting three.

I hope this helps.

chinx

i'm sorry, but i believe that most car salesmen don't know jack about what they're selling. it's probably better off not asking them anything, or teaching them yourself about the car they're selling that you're buying. usually i feel insulted or upset when i talk to a sales about a car i like, 'cuz a showroom brochure is usually more knowledgeable, and they would even give me false info (unintentionally, of course). it can't be helped, their job is to sell lots of cars. there are some knowledgeable ones out there, and when i meet them they're great 'cuz they really take me for a good ride about the car

chinx

a nice thing i saw, though, is i think mazda is doing more to educate their dealers. when i went to check out the mazda6, the sales told me mazda made all of them attend a track course in the 6 at its introduction. so all of them thrashed around the mazda6 on track and in autocross before the car came out, so they all knew (and insisted) how well the car handled. and it does handle real nicely. hopefully they'll do that w/ the 8 when production cars get to our shoure before they went on sale. traditionally i don't think mazda is very good at PR and its dealerships, though, even though they have great cars. as for the one who went to the mazda/subaru dealer, i hope the 8 thrash STi's ugly behind

Quick_lude

The ironic thing is that any Internet savvy salesman could have tons of info just be reading this site for a few hours and making notes.. Thus he/she would be able to impress potential buyers and make a sale.. I would say perhaps two or three nights of studying here and a rotary engine site is all a salesperson would need... Oh well..