Test drove a 08 MS3

[Dumb Azz Kracka]

I'm about to get me my MS3 after a long wait for the right moment. I'm going for the Sport trim and the MSRP in my area for the ones I'm looking at are $22,975, with no mods or upgrades. I'm curious with everybody's experience..especially recent buyers preferably in my area how much below MSRP you were able to get.

Any help would be appreciated.

DAK

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I was quoted $20,900 for a Sport, but I wanted a GT and got the GT for $23.6, which was $1,300 off MSRP.

 

[MikeHTally]

The dealer I got mine from was offering a $500 rebate IF I financed it. The rate was good (1.9 or maybe even 0.9), but I don't like to finance cars. I just wrote 'em a check. It came to about $800 off MSRP, plus a couple of perks.

 

[Dumb Azz Kracka]

The dealer I got mine from was offering a $500 rebate IF I financed it. The rate was good (1.9 or maybe even 0.9), but I don't like to finance cars. I just wrote 'em a check. It came to about $800 off MSRP, plus a couple of perks.

Thats really odd. I've never heard of any rebate offers or low financing for the MS3. I've been offered some pretty low prices...$20,999 for the 8.5 MS3 Sport is the lowest so far....but I've never heard of any incentives at all for the car.

DAK

 

[JimsSpeed3]

I just bought my 08 Speed 3 Sport for invoice, which was $21,840, MSRP was $23,340. My credit uinion had the best rate at 4.75% so I went with that. The dealer paid off my trade in which was an 07 Hatchback 3 Sport. KBB said it's trade in value was within $100 of what I owed, the dealer paid it off and I 100% financed the car, no down payment. It was pretty painless, I hate to haggle and won't do it.
Jim

 

[mrjoshyman]

invoice papers mean nothing, they are just as contrived as the sticker on the window. Car dealers are always 1 step ahead, and the factory will continue to play ball.

the numbers on their invoice sheets were quite consistent with the invoice numbers you can get off the web....

 

[Super Unique]

the numbers on their invoice sheets were quite consistent with the invoice numbers you can get off the web....

There is MSRP, this is the price they would love to pop you for, any many people pay it. Then there is "invoice" price which many years ago really was what the dealer paid, now it means little to nothing. Since the advent of invoice price knowledge by consumers there is an entire system of dealer holdbacks and factory incentives, including bonus money for moving cars quickly, larger discounts when cars are sitting a while so the dealer can lower the price and move them quicker. Then there are monthly sales thresh holds for bigger holdback, vs less discount for not meeting sales goals. This doesn't even take into account the line of credit the dealer may have to secure their inventory. It's way more complicated than just invoice vs MSRP. Once their current systems are figured out, they will roll out something new to keep buyers in the dark. Any dealer who whines about not making $ on a deal is 100% bullshitting you. If they agree to a deal, they are making more than $100 like they want you to believe.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Mazda dealer holdback is 2% of base MSRP. So, theoretically, if they sell at invoice of say $23,000 and base MSRP is $24,800, the dealer will get 2% of $24.8k or $496 from Mazda for selling the car. This doesn't include any other types of bonuses they may have going, like Super mentioned. Another thing worth mentioning is that when Mazda or any other manufacturer offers an incentive, like rebates or cash back, for example, this comes from the manufacturer to the dealer and allows the dealer to sell at a cheaper price, so if MSRP is $25k and you got $2,000 cash back, the dealer is getting that $2,000 for the car. The manufacturer is paying the dealer to move the car so that new inventory can be sold.

 

[irnbru83]

There is MSRP, this is the price they would love to pop you for, any many people pay it. Then there is "invoice" price which many years ago really was what the dealer paid, now it means little to nothing. Since the advent of invoice price knowledge by consumers there is an entire system of dealer holdbacks and factory incentives, including bonus money for moving cars quickly, larger discounts when cars are sitting a while so the dealer can lower the price and move them quicker. Then there are monthly sales thresh holds for bigger holdback, vs less discount for not meeting sales goals. This doesn't even take into account the line of credit the dealer may have to secure their inventory. It's way more complicated than just invoice vs MSRP. Once their current systems are figured out, they will roll out something new to keep buyers in the dark. Any dealer who whines about not making $ on a deal is 100% bullshitting you. If they agree to a deal, they are making more than $100 like they want you to believe.

When the salesman uses the "I'm only making $100 on this sale" line (which I have heard on both the cars my wife and I bought in the last 18 months), just call him/her a liar. Gets things rolling much easier.

Never reveal any of the information that you know either. Hopefully after reading these boards, you will understand that Invoice pricing means nothing anymore and you will fight your way down to at most, invoice price. It's just important to never let on that you know their tricks. They will just pull out even more tricks to compensate.

Just as an example, never mention you want to trade-in your car until AFTER you have the price you want for the new car. Then tell the guy that you want to get your trade-in valued. At this point, you have a slight advantage in the negotiations. The salesman already knows you want the new car, and if they are smart, they will grasp that the sale will only happen now if he gives you a decent trade-in.

If you tell him upfront about your trade-in, he will leverage the trade-in offer against the final cost of the vehicle. This takes away some of your negotiating power and will give the salesman the opportunity to APPEAR to give you a good deal when they are really just shafting you at one end or the other of the trade-in.

 

[djthom]

It's super hard to not mention the trade in when they ask you flat out "do you have a trade in?"
can i lie at this point? not being a wise arse just wondering if you have a good suggestion on dodging the subject...

 

[happy and angry]

"I think I have a private sale lined up."

"I'm thinking of giving this car to my girlfriend/boyfriend."

"I'm looking at this car as a second vehicle."

And then after the price is more or less agreed on, "I've looked at my finances, and can't really afford a second vehicle. What can I get on trade in?" Or "The private sale fell through, guy ended up wanting something smaller/bigger/slower/faster."

So basically, yes, lie, just don't insult their intelligence when you do it. "No, I don't have a trade in" changing to "Actually, let's trade this in!" at the end of the deal might just piss them off.

 

[irnbru83]

I've pissed off a few car salesmen recently, but at the end of the day, they are not your friend and they are definitely NOT on your side. They are in the business of making you pay as much as possible for a product. That alone makes them untrustworthy. Even the "good guys" who aren't going to try and totally nail you are still going to do SOMETHING to make money off you.

The worst are the Finance guys. They are typically ex-car salesmen who were particularly successful, so they get this easy job which often pays more money. First thing to remember: YOU CAN SHOP AROUND FOR YOUR EXTENDED WARRANTY!!!! For the love of whatever you call Holy, you do not need to buy the extended warranty from this chump. You can shop all the dealerships AFTER you buy your car to get the extended warranty. If you do want to buy it from Mr. Assface, make sure you haggle the hell out of him. Demand the Gold plan for the Silver plan price... crap like that. He will budge a lot because this is all cash in the bank for him. Of course, they will make it seem like it's hard for them to pull off, but just know, it's not.

I still haven't got any extended plan and I have 7k miles on my car now... it is not a big deal.

As for the other crap like Lo-jack and VIN-etching, get it done yourself aftermarket and save some money. You can do your own VIN-etching for cheap. I never get Lo-jack just because if some assclown steals my car and trashes it, I don't want it back. My personal opinion.

 

[djthom]

"I think I have a private sale lined up."

"I'm thinking of giving this car to my girlfriend/boyfriend."

"I'm looking at this car as a second vehicle."

And then after the price is more or less agreed on, "I've looked at my finances, and can't really afford a second vehicle. What can I get on trade in?" Or "The private sale fell through, guy ended up wanting something smaller/bigger/slower/faster."

So basically, yes, lie, just don't insult their intelligence when you do it. "No, I don't have a trade in" changing to "Actually, let's trade this in!" at the end of the deal might just piss them off.

Oh so Jedi Mind Trick(lol2) Got it!(2thumbs)

Thanks!