Zonker04

I'm dying to get an RX-8 and I'm just waiting for some insurance money (long story) before I do it. Winning Blue Sport for me. The two dealers around here (Central Valley CA) have had a bunch of GTs on the lot for weeks now--it's been really slow and they're withdrawing all their mark-ups. No Sport Packages to be had locally, though.

Yesterday I called the local dealer's internet sales rep and he said yeah, it's been dead, but in the last week suddenly it's really picked up--they're selling one or two a day sometimes. I checked their inventory on-line and sure enough, they have a bunch more RX-8s on order, so maybe he's actually telling the truth. (I need to go back there and see what's on the lot now.)

So ... my question ... As of Oct. 1 2003, are RX-8 sales (finally) picking up? Or (as I hope) are they still slow?

P.S. I'm bummed that the car registration tripled today. I wish I had bought sooner. Maybe our new(?) governer will rescind the tax ... retroactively?

P00Man

the sales lulled for a while once all the pre-orders had been fulfilled. after that, no one really knew about the car so they werent flying off the lots. Mazda has started advertising a good amount since like, the 29th (really picked up) so people know about the car and want it (naturally!)
________
NEVADA DISPENSARIES

Conundrum

iTrader: (1)

yeah, I saw it on the news. the sales for most car dealerships in CA has picked up a little bit for last week and up to 9/30, at least more people are doing their car shopping and hoping to purchase before 9/30, but after today it might going to die down a little bit.

The whole reason for the increase and decrease is all because of the stupid car registration tripled.

I'm going to wait after Oct. 7 see who's going to be in office, then re-consider purchasing RX-8.

asparapani

Simple. The sales of cars overall driop during the winter months. That's everywhere and is not relative to snow or freezing temps. People buy cars in the spring mostly.

NEWireless

Dealerships in Massachusetts are already advertising discounts ($2,000 off) and lease specials ($299/mo).

Many GTs still on the lot where I bought my sport a month ago.

rotary-tt

Hmmm, $299/mo ? Is that without a ending balloon payment? If so maybe I'll finally get one (and be able to afford to keep my '93 RX-7)

RodsterinFL

according to the car industry news ALL SALES are down. There is a lot about to happen in the car market. Chrysler is debuting a BUNCH of new models in 2004. Mistsubishi sales are down 30%!
Considering that fact, the RX 8 has done pretty well. I hope the best for Mazda. They seem to be upscaling.

Here is a link to info on sales thru September 30th. There were 5,656 RX 8's sold in the US. Not too bad for 2.5 months huh? I think though that their goal is about 15,000 every 3 months but I do not know if that is worldwide or just North America.
(based on the 60,000 year production goal)

http://www.miatanet.com/news/sales.html

Zonker04

Thanks for all the replies, which pretty much answer my question. I am going to have to look out around here for a sweet deal like that $299/month lease. Assuming the rest of the lease terms are OK that could be a great way to go. I also understand that Mazda is offering some great financing deals right now, but I don't think the RX-8 is part of the offer.

graphicguy

Careful with leases...you may find the car discounted but the dealer makes up for it (as well as the lease financial institution) with disposal fees (you pay them to take the car back at the end of the lease), lease initiation fees (paying them for the privilege of leasing the car), unknown residuals and money factors. In the end, after you add everything in, you really paid MSRP for the car.

I've tried to chase down some of the $x,xxx deals off of MSRP on the RX8. Either the cars don't exist, or hidden fees bring it right back to MSRP once you get into the showroom.

RX8 sales started strong in the midwest and are now even stronger with the advertising kicking in. You're lucky to find one you can even get your hands on at each dealer. They're still selling everyone that they get. Most are ordered cars which do come in bunches (and show up on the dealer inventory list even though they're already sold).

Zonker04

All valuable advice; thanks. I have a car broker here in town whom I may ask to hunt down my Blue Sport for me. I'm not sure what his commission is, but a lot of my friends have been very pleased with his work; I think he gets some pretty good deals for them and he can get cars from all over the state. Also, the local dealer's internet salesman told me that he sells all the cars for MSRP. Truth be told, if I could get my car for $500 off MSRP or even just MSRP if need be, I'd be pretty happy. My credit union has loans for 2.7%, so I should do pretty well, I think.

Reeko

I used the local dealer's internet sales to buy a Blue 6sp GT with Nav last week.

Sticker was 33,100, I got it for 32K. Seems like a good deal. This was the day before the add campaign started on TV. They had about 8 on the lot. I know that a couple more left this week. I plan to check on my way by tonight to see how many are left.

graphicguy

Not meaning to sound "preachy", but I've probably bought 25 new cars (and almost as many used ones) for myself and my family over time.

The one thing everyone seems to focus on is how much they trimmed from MSRP, or how much they paid over invoice. While that's all good, the real money is made on the "back end". Leases, loan fees, tag fees, advertising fees, exhorbitant tag transfer fees (anything above $50), extended warranties, "SUPERSHINE" paint protection, fees for this, fees for that. Some are legitimate....some are pure dealer profit.

I paid slightly below MSRP for my RX8 (and I do mean slightly), but I paid cash with tag transfer fees and taxes added in. If you see anything other than those, then the dealer figured out a way to get you to the MSRP (and above).

These are "hot" cars in the market right now. Deals off of MSRP aren't easy to come by (if at all possible).

Dealers will look for your "hot buttons". If your button is "give me money off MSRP, the dealer will usually comply, but make it up somewhere else. If your hot button in the price of your trade-in, they'll oblige if you're reasonable, but if you have high expectations on your trade, again they'll find a way to make up that money.

Not underhanded. There are just many ways for the dealer to give you what you want without them losing the margin they expect from the RX8.

Reeko

Maybe so,
But I paid 32K (vs 33,100 sticker). Fees were only ..
$62 License Fee (Set by State).
$50 Title and Registraion Processing Fee.
No Tax in Oregon.

Total 32,112.

So, I think I made off extremely well.

Zonker04

Thanks, GGuy. My situation is pretty simple, I think: There is the 6-speed car itself, the Sport Package, and a destination fee of $550 (I think). There is sales tax. There is registration (which just tripled here in CA). I am not aware of any other fees here.

Assuming I go with a loan, I have a great credit union that charges 2.7% interest. I have no trade in, and I plan to put about $5,500-6,500 in cash down on the car. So I'm not sure where else the dealer can sneak in any extras. I do not plan to buy any accessories, or an extended warranty (unless they offer me a truly sweet deal on it and it's a real OEM warranty that's worthwhile) or rustproofing or anything else. It should be just the car, the tax, the registration, and the destination fee.

I will walk out on them if they try to pad the deal with anything else. We went through this on our Odyssey and I'm pleased to say that is precisely how the deal went down; exactly what I describe above. No BS, no hidden fees, nothing. I'm pretty determined to approach it this way.

I am very interested in all these excellent replies; please keep them coming. I need to stay on my toes lest I get ripped off. Thanks.

And -- wow -- no sales tax on cars in Oregon, huh? That's amazing. I doubt I could get away with buying the car up there, could I?

Yhippa

I too am waiting for the market value on these things go down. There are no less than 8 of them sitting on my local dealership's lot. It is only a matter of time...

downshift

Do you know which dealerships? The $2000 discount might be from the Quincy dealership. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a test car.

NEWireless

The ad I saw in Sunday's Globe for the $2k discount and $299 lease was at IRA in Danvers.

I don't know what they have on the lot though.

I bought my Silver Sport at 128 Mazda, and they still have 8 on the lot.

graphicguy

If you can get deals, that's great.

Around where I live, these are the hottest cars on the road. Dealers can't keep them on the lot (if they have any on the lot at all).

We don't have a state tax on the cars, either (Ohio). We do have County taxes on car sales, though that differs from county to county.

Maybe I should move to one of the Western states where taxes are nill.

As an example of dealer profits, a neighbor bought a new Corvette a few years ago. This was the year they brought out the C5. Dealer had 5 or 6 on the lot, but knew what the market was for them. This was when the dealers were still getting over MSRP for them. He was really proud of the deal he got at the time which was $1,000 off MSRP. I was "oggling" his new car and he offered the terms of the deal to me. While he did get $1,000 off MSRP, his trade-in was valued by the dealer at about $1,200 under wholesale value (what they sell them for at the auctions). Plus, he paid a $250 tag transfer fee ($35 tag transfer fee in OH at the time). Plus, they charged him $500 for rustproofing the car (even though it's made of fiberglass).

Point being, there are a lot of ways to make a profit once the MSRP negotiations are finished, not just "I got $x,xxx off of MSRP".

RodsterinFL

It is obvious that there is a difference. The dealer here now has 9 sitting across the front of the dealership and 3 in the garage area. They keep selling out or trading out of the blue. He currently has mostly black and silver. He has 2 green ones too. I was the first one sold here. Good news is that I am seeing other 8's on the road now - silver, titanium, red and blue.

I paid MSRP $31,495

Blue GT w/Spare

Alvidrez

Greenfield Mazda in Greenfield, Wisconson is advertising RX-8s for only $500.00 over invoice on ebay motors. Check it out.

graphicguy

Took a look at the car. It's got over 500 miles on it!

RobDickinson

Well, if they bothered suppluing cars in the Uk like thay said in July we'd have some sales.

Next month I hope....

This realy annoys me, We wait 4 months longer than we should so you US lot can have cars sitting on dealers lots for $$$+ on RRP.

graphicguy

UK cars are coming. Not a lot of discounting going on in the States once you take a closer look at the details behind some of these "deals".

Well worth the wait, however.

If it makes you feel any better, I went by the local Mini dealer yesterday. They've got about 20 of them on their lot if you want one of those.

RobDickinson

Eeew no thanks!

Cheap , nasty, unreliable badly built german owned crap.

How they came top of that brand value poll the other day amazed me. The OLD mini was a shed, fun to drive, but awful to own. The new mini isnt much better and not quite as much fun to drive. (built in the same place btw).

I'll wait out my last few weeks and colect my RX-8. For some they'll have preordered 12 months before getting the car, not to long to wait is it? .

graphicguy

The "bloom is off the rose" here in the States regarding the Cooper.

There are bad things now coming to light about the build quality and the reliability of the Mini.

Not something we're used to hearing about BMW brands.