Hi. I am writing this message in the waiting lounge of Mazda Gallery, Norwood, MA. Half an hour ago, I signed everything and am waiting for my new Mazda5 cleaned. (thumb)
Initially, I used a paid service from carbargains.org, but couldn't get a great deal through them--everyone in the greater Boston area were offering at invoice or $ 100-$ 200 more than invoice. As far as I could research, there's no special financing, no incentives, no factory-to-dealer incentives, with Mazda5, as in Mazda3. Just no, no, no.
Perplexed, I decided to do the bargain myself, and I think I get a decent deal, especially because they gave a fair deal to my trade-in.
* Base Invoice for Sport (Carbon Gray): $ 16,326
+ Automatic: $ 810
+ Destinaton: $ 560
+ Boston Assessement Fee: $ 218 (regional ad. association fee - it's a legit.)
= $ 17,914 (basically at invoice)
- College Rebate: $ 500 (they had one for current students!)
- Trade-in: $ 3,320 (99 Pontiac Grand Am at 75K miles - they initially offered $ 2,500, but I insisted and could get a KKB "fair" trade-in price. Quick Mazda estimated it at $ 2,300, and Edmunds TMV at $ 2,400.)
+ $ 704.7 (5% tax based on $ 14,094)
+ $ 65 (tax and titles)
+ $ 198 doc fee
* Total out the door price is $ 15061.7
* Charged $ 5,061.7 to my credit card (their maximum was $ 2,000, but I told them this will be a dealbreaker.)
* Financed $ 10,000, since the dealership begged for it - I will make three monthly payments, and will just pay it off. (additional $ 150 for finance charge.)
I could have scored a slightly better deal at Wellesley Mazda, as their final offer was $ 400 below invoice. But they are charging more for doc fee ($ 250), and I doubt they will offer a fair price for my '99 Grand Am.
Certainly, it is not a "deal of the month" or "deal of the year," but I am happy with my purchase!
Initially, I used a paid service from carbargains.org, but couldn't get a great deal through them--everyone in the greater Boston area were offering at invoice or $ 100-$ 200 more than invoice. As far as I could research, there's no special financing, no incentives, no factory-to-dealer incentives, with Mazda5, as in Mazda3. Just no, no, no.
Perplexed, I decided to do the bargain myself, and I think I get a decent deal, especially because they gave a fair deal to my trade-in.
* Base Invoice for Sport (Carbon Gray): $ 16,326
+ Automatic: $ 810
+ Destinaton: $ 560
+ Boston Assessement Fee: $ 218 (regional ad. association fee - it's a legit.)
= $ 17,914 (basically at invoice)
- College Rebate: $ 500 (they had one for current students!)
- Trade-in: $ 3,320 (99 Pontiac Grand Am at 75K miles - they initially offered $ 2,500, but I insisted and could get a KKB "fair" trade-in price. Quick Mazda estimated it at $ 2,300, and Edmunds TMV at $ 2,400.)
+ $ 704.7 (5% tax based on $ 14,094)
+ $ 65 (tax and titles)
+ $ 198 doc fee
* Total out the door price is $ 15061.7
* Charged $ 5,061.7 to my credit card (their maximum was $ 2,000, but I told them this will be a dealbreaker.)
* Financed $ 10,000, since the dealership begged for it - I will make three monthly payments, and will just pay it off. (additional $ 150 for finance charge.)
I could have scored a slightly better deal at Wellesley Mazda, as their final offer was $ 400 below invoice. But they are charging more for doc fee ($ 250), and I doubt they will offer a fair price for my '99 Grand Am.
Certainly, it is not a "deal of the month" or "deal of the year," but I am happy with my purchase!
