Price

[JasonH]

Dealer Invoice Price: $18,466
Suggested Retail Price: $19,980

Neither of those include the $520 destination. I think people overestimate the markup on most imports. Sure, Dodge or Ford can give you $5000 off just about anything you want, but you're not getting that off a Protege.

 

[naustin]

So. If I order an MSP today, how long would I expect to have to wait? Anybody talk to a dealer recently?

 

[Kaotik Importz]

There isn't that much mark up in ANY car in that price range! Even Ford's ect.....I work at a Ford dealership and frequently get to peek at the invoices, you'd be luck to see $1500-2000 markup on any car under $35,000. Get over that and yeah there is plenty of markup.

I'd expect to pay sticker for the vehicle. If you have a trade don't bother talking down off sticker, the more you talk off the sticker the less they show on the trade. Trust me I do this everyday!

I posted in another thread on how the dealer buys trades. You'd be supprised when a salesperson says "I can't do that" most of the time it is the truth. They buy the car below book, and use the markup to show you a decent trade. Once the profit is out that is it. Usually that is right around trade in book.

 

[JasonH]

I can get you as many Focuses as you'd like (non-SVT) for $5k under sticker. Heh.

 

[crayz_d]

Dealer Holdback.

I know a lower price can be had on a Protege. I have a friend here in Phoenix who bought a brand new Protege ES, loaded, about 3 months ago and the MSRP was $17,965. He walked out of the dealership, with the car, and his purchase price before down payment and trade-in of $16,000. It is not impossible. That same dealer told me how he had sold a MP5 the day before at $14,500. With the economy hurting dealers need to move cars to meet quotas and if they have to discount to do it then they will. They just need to sell right now. They will make more money on some and less money on others but they always make money on any car they sell because Mazdas have built in profit from HQ, dealer holdback. Most cars do.
Also check out incentives and rebates: Rebates & Incentives
You should also know about dealer holdback and what that can do for you: Dealer Holdback

 

[crayz_d]

If you check out that hold back article it talks about a hypothetical sale of a car that costs $20,500, go figure. Mazda has a 2% dealer holdback off of the base MSRP, which comes out to $410.00 the dealer makes right off the bat. Check out that article it is worth knowing.