Bargaining power with more MSP saturated dealers?

[Slipstream]

Sup fellas (and ladies), Mazda noob here. I'm currently looking for something to replace my '99 Cougar after I graduate college, and the MSP has really caught my attention. I've done a fair amount of research on these forums, and you all have been most helpful.

I'm curious, though... now that some of the dealers have really become saturated with MSPs (I visited one with 8 on the lot a week ago and was able to test drive a black MSP), have they been willing to negotiate much on price? Since it seems to be hit-and-miss on X/S Plan being applicable to this car, the price is nearing my limiit of affordability if sold at MSRP. If I can whittle them down to low $19k, I should be a go.

Also, I'm heavily debating this vs. a GTI 1.8T. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help.

 

[1sty]

The VWs are horrible now that ALL are made in Mexico. Worst reliabilty of any new car.
I think you should be able to talk a dealer down atleast a little.
There deffinitly is no longer a huge demand for these cars.

 

[Antoine]

Some thoughts

When I think VW now-a-days it makes me think of those designers selling out to Kmart and Target (aka Targais)...it's like taking the preconceived notion that all "German" cars are sophisticated and marketing it into a product that falls short of this notion. So what you have in the end is an ordinary product backed by sophisticated packaging and marketing.

The MSP isn't deceiving anyone...it is what it is...a well designed, well tuned...overall well balanced sport compact. No fancy ads, no BS marketing...what the MSP does have are its cousins out on speedvision kicking the ass of German cars that are actually sophisticated.

For every MSP or MP3 or even P5 out there.there are droves and droves of cookie cutter VWs.

I do have to say the v dub enthusiast community is off the hook! I mean look at the size of vwvortexand all the clubsaftermarket supportits like the Honda scenenot necessarily a good thing but size does help in many ways.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

The GTI I test drove felt like a rickety brick with a bad case of the shimmies and shakes. Very poor build quality and cheap feeling in every possible aspect.

 

[DistantTea]

You won't see too much barganing room with the MSP. Invoice is a paltry $1500 or so under the MSRP. Dealer proffit is fairly low on this vehicle. You can try to get the price down some, but I wouldn't count on it being easy.

As for the 1.8T... its an ok car. Its definately not a drivers car. I took a GTi 337 (the cream of the crop of the 1.8T golfs) down a country road to sort it out and just couldn't come to grips with the car. The interior was nice... but I wanted to be connected, not coddled. The tranny was nicer than the standard golf's 5 spd... and that isn't saying much. Too slushy and vague.

The good news is you can take any Golf 1.8T and run the APR Stage III kit on it. After the turbo upgrade, coilovers, LSD and brakes you'll have spent about $10k but have a 12 second sleeper car from hell.

The MSP will connect you with driving in every way. Look good doing it and has the best OEM stereo I've ever heard outside a lexus mark levinson system.

 

[twiztedjeckel]

The GTI I test drove felt like a rickety brick with a bad case of the shimmies and shakes. Very poor build quality and cheap feeling in every possible aspect.

just think, it was thrown together by somebody who probably wreaked of tequilla, couldn't speak a word of english and was shitting taco sauce. now thats what i want my car to come from.

check out this oh so very similar thread on the RX-7 forum

http://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=160693

 

[Slipstream]

just think, it was thrown together by somebody who probably wreaked of tequilla, couldn't speak a word of english and was shitting taco sauce. now thats what i want my car to come from.

That's quite a mental image you gave me.

I agree... Reliability is the big sticking point for VW. When I drove one, it was very comfortable, fairly quick... but I have to concur about the sloppy suspension and "disconnected" feel you get. It wasn't nearly as fun to drive as the MSP. But, like DistantTea said, that's almost outweighed by the mod potential from APR chipping the car. So I dunno. I'm also extremely anal about noises (creaks/rattles), so I'm kind of wary about the VW on that point too.

Is it pretty cut and dry about X-plan not being applicable? I mentioned it to the dealer yesterday (my second MSP test drive), and he said "Yeah, we take X-plan." Of course, this was while we were on the test drive and sitting at his desk, so there's no telling what he'll actually accept.

 

[BlackMSP]

rofl thats just gross..

 

[jroof]

I think it's also important to keep in mind that dealers had to pay upwards of $12k to become certified Mazdaspeed dealers. So with this first run of cars, dealers are going to be much more reluctant to negotiate on MSPs than on MSs in the future. And with the invoice only $1500 less than sticker, it'll be even less likely to get too much of a discount.

 

[Jay]

I went to one Mazda dealership and they marked up the MS $3000 my mouth dropped. But, hey good luck trying to get a MS under sticker price.

 

[2K3 MSP]

I had a dealership do that to me too...I went to Stockton Mazda and got the $20,500 price, but lost the car due to a down payment issue. I called Modesto(about 30 mins from Stockton) and they said they had one. I said can I get it for $22,000 out-the-door?? (that was close to what Stockton would give it to me for). He said "I don't know about that, but we can get it close..." So I took the hour long drive from my house, i walk in and the first thing I do is look at the sticker price...$23,500!! I told him about the one at stockton, and he basically called me a liar, saying there was no way Stockton even had one MSP, not to mention getting it for $20,500.

 

[Jay]

2K3 Mazdaspeed did you end up buying your MS from Modesto Mazda.

 

[2K3 MSP]

Hell no...I went back to Stockton Mazda that night, talked to the Sales Manager, and he traded a their Black MSP to another dealership for their Orange one. Pretty sweet, huh?? I signed the papers that night, and got it for $22,325 i think...tax, license, registration, everything included. Modesto would have ended up being over $26,500. I wanted to drive my MSP down to Modesto just to tell the guy to kiss my ass...

 

[1sty]

I just test drove an MSP today. Befor ethe drive I saw a market up ne to $24k but on the drive after some talk the sales guy said it was there more of a way to tell people how much demand is on the car and that The price would be near MSRP!

 

[DistantTea]

Quite a few dealers are trying to get over the amount for the orange cars. Even my dealership wanted $2k over msrp for mine... I've already bought three cars from them so I called bulls*** and got the car at sticker, plus some free accessories.

You just have to talk with the dealership to get a fair deal. Although some dealerships are just tools of the gouging devil in my opinion.

 

[Slipstream]

The strange thing with my experience was that this second dealership that I went to had a total of 3 on the lot. 2 had "AMV" additions of $1000, and one didn't. I asked the sales guy (transplant from the Mercury/Lincoln part of the dealership) what "AMV" stood for, and he didn't know. So I pointed to the 3rd one, and said "I'll take that one for a drive." This was also the guy who told me he'd honor the X-plan, so I'm not entirely sure how knowledgeable he really is.

The dealership I went to first (the one with 8 total) didn't have any of them marked down, and it seemed like the saleperson was ready to bargain with me. He asked numerous times "What can I do to get you in this car TODAY?" Unfortunately, my after-graduation job isn't exactly secure yet, so I had to decline. I just hope I don't lose that golden opportunity.

 

[BoOsTiN]

just think, it was thrown together by somebody who probably wreaked of tequilla, couldn't speak a word of english and was shitting taco sauce. now thats what i want my car to come from.


Are the racist remarks really neccessary?? :wtf:
Are there ANY mods in this joint??

 

[murdock_]

my bro has a 2002 GTI VR6.. its a very nice car, my MSP is a little nicer tho

 

[1sty]

just think, it was thrown together by somebody who probably wreaked of tequilla, couldn't speak a word of english and was shitting taco sauce. now thats what i want my car to come from.


Are the racist remarks really neccessary?? :wtf:
Are there ANY mods in this joint??

I totaly agree!
Will see about the mods

 

[LADY MSPD]

i would rather get a euro car than a domestic car, but i prefer a japan car cause japan has advaced technology, cheap parts, always reliable, and saves gas...