Took my first test drive nearly a year ago to the day. Previously owned a 94 Dodge Colt wagon (Mitsu Expo). I would have been first in line to buy one a year ago, but was disappointed to find out that the Cdn base models did not have side airbags, even as an option. I have never been one to get options like spoilers, side sills, foglamps or Sunroofs, so when Mazda Canada makes you buy a GT model with all the options I don't want, and still charges you for A/C, talk about insulting. Out the door, would have cost me $31,000 CDN. I have been waiting, hoping that more stock would come, so that I could pay less that MSRP, but that never materialized, cars would come in and sell in less than a week. It never dawned on me to go to the States to buy a car, I didn't think it was even an option, until I ran into a forum where they discussed the steps needed, seemed do-able to me. I figured if I got a Sport, with no options, I could land it in my driveway for $26,700 CND after all the taxes, duties and fees, a $4300 savings. I went to the nearest US dealer, but he wouldn't have any for 2 weeks. On Saturday, call the dealer, he says the salesman no longer works there, and then tells me that Mazda US does not let Non-US residents to import cars into Canada for some reason. That afternoon, we are near a Mazda dealership, so I decide to stop by to see if they have any Touring/Auto/A/C in stock, I am ready to finally buy ! I see a 5 on the lot, I ask the salesman about it, he tells me it is a 5 Sport, with no options at all, with 3700 miles on it, brought in from the States, I'm not kidding. I'm all smiles at this point, until he tells me the price.... around $29,500 out the door. To make a long story short, I go back home, arm myself with all the research and spreadsheets I have done the past two weeks, and go back to the dealership. Final tally, after 20 minutes, two offers, and one counter-offer later, $27,200 CDN, I'm now a happy owner of a optionless, Grey Sport (with side airbags !)
Saved $3800 CDN !
- Thread starter bbchili
- Start date
was98strat
Member
bbchili said:
You have to be kidding me. I bought a new GT w Air for 27,600 CAD (Toronto) out the door, not 31,000. How did you get to 31 thousand??? Of course I'm still waiting, should have it in a week or 2. Me thinks the dealer ripped you a bit. You should have been able to get out the door in a GS for less than 27,000. I only upgraded to the GT to get the airbags and moonroof. Invoice on a base GS is not even 20,000. Most dealers in Toronto Are selling for aroung 500-1000 above delaer invoice (still less than MSRP)
Pierre
was98strat
Member
FYI, a Base GS with AC should only set you back $25,857.75 CAD taxes and freight in (at MSRP )
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was98strat
Member
Zoom5Zoom said:
Here's the vreak down of the invoice
base vehicle $24000 (GT 5MT ACC platinum silver Paint fee)
Dealer discount $ 1082
Total $22918
PDI $ 475
Total Sale Price $23393
Freight $ 915
AC tax $ 100
Gas guzzler tax $ 75 (no joking!!)
Vehicle branding$ 275
Total Vehicle Price $24758
Trade in $ 700 (don't ask)
total less trade in $24058
PST $ 1924.64
GST $ 1684.06
License fee $ 10
Total Purchase Price $27676.70 = 1 brand new M5 GT MTX w ACC!!
was98strat said:
That's a great price you got. Here BC, the 5's are in such short supply that they have to get product shipped from the states (that's how mine got here), and deallers are not willing to budge from the MSRP too much, supply and demand ! I feel I got a good deal because all I really wanted was a 5 with Auto, side airbags and A/C, and that's what I got. I wasn't willing to spend and extra 2 or 3 grand for the GT model and still have to pay for the A/C.
Zoom5Zoom said:
Because my car wasn't brand new, the bill of sale just says 23,859.65CDN for the vehicle price, didn't have to pay the used car "registration" (395$), Air Care fee ($48), tire or A/C levy (120$), or anything else, PST and GST were 1670.18 each, total 27,200. That's it.
was98strat said:
I calculated the GS with AC and auto msrp to be 22,095CDN, add $1390 freight and PDI, PST and GST and you are up to $26772CDN. Add up all the nickel and dimes the dealers charge and the gov't levies and the price creeps up to close to 28,000CDN. Your mileage may vary depending on how good of a deal you can negotiate. Like I said, the 5's are flying off the lots here on the West coast, so there is very little room for negotiation. The only disadvantage of getting the US Sport model compared to the CDN GS model is that you don't get rain sensing wipers, that's it I believe. The advantage of the US model is that you get standard side and curtain air bags, cruise, 17" wheels (not even avail as options on CDN GS), and you can get a sunroof, or 6CD changer if you want those options.
was98strat
Member
bbchili said:
Ah that's the difference... You said a base vehicle!! Auto Trans is an option that adds $1000 to the sticker. Having said that we have no supply here in the TO area, but I was still able to get about $1000 below MSRP.
It took me 2 weeks of looking to find a 5 to test drive in the Toronto area, so our supply is not better.
Having said that, if you need Auto, then You should still be able to get a GT for around 28700 (my price plus 1000)
the 17 inch wheels aren't all they're cracked up to be. When I test drove my 5, I found a dealer with 2 5's in stock. (only one in Toronto at the time) a GT and GS. The ride quality on the GS with 16 wheels is MUCH better than the GT. A bit softer while retaining the sporty feel!
Or course it goes without saying that the research stage involves usgin a service like carcostcanada.com to find out the Invoice price. Alway negotiate from a power position (and mention carcostcanda.com, and bring the printouts with you to the dealer)
was98strat
Member
ansatzjp said:
I think it's a combination of Strong demand and a smaller market. By market share Mazda has better penetration in Canada than the US, but the US gets more units . The make up of car sales in Canada is different than the US, nearly 50% of all cars sold in canada fit into the "compact" class. 3 out of 4 cars sold in Canada have a 4 banger engine. This I think is mostly due to gas prices. We're paying $1.05 a litre ( nearly $4 a gallon) and taxes we're paying! loan interest on cars/homes is not deductable so we carry the full burden.
With stupid taxes on cars (like a $75 gas guzzler tax on the Mazda 5, and the enviromental A/C tax of $100 even though manufacturers use R-134a an enviromentally friendly refridgerant) It's a slight dis encentive to purchase a new car.
The 5 has definitely been an unexpected hit in Canada.
was98strat said:
To make sure everyone's comparing apples to apples: as far as I can tell from the posts here, the $28700 CDN price estimate above includes a $700 CDN trade-in. So, the real price estimate (without trade-in) is $29400 CDN. This is about $2200 CDN more than bbchili payed for the US Sport model, assuming bbchili's price did not include a trade-in.
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was98strat
Member
smaria said:
it was 27600 With the trade in so it would be 28300 Without the trade in. The point I was trying to make was a Canadian GT new with 0 miles on it was only a 1000 more to get a new car with all the extra features. To save $1000 he gave up many miles on his warranty, moonroof, tire wear, side sills, karikuri tray, power doors, fog lamps, etc. he gave up a lot for $1000 in savings
My point was a Base GT as the original poster stated can be had for substanially less than the 31k that he said. and the price difference gives you a substantial upgrade in features
was98strat said:
My original point was not that I was able to save $3800 dollars that someone else would not be able to do, but that I saved $3800 over what I would have paid for a fully loaded GT, which is what I would have purchased had I not gotten this deal. All I wanted was a Mazda5 with side airbags, Auto, and AC. Something that a Canadian GS model would not be able to provide, and Mazda USA refuses to sell me a car directly,so I had very few options. To me, items like spoilers, sills, larger rims, 2 extra speakers, fold out tray, sunroof, power doors have little value to me (it may hurt my resale, but I plan to keep the car for 10-12 years like my previous car). For others, all these items may seem like a bargain for the amount of money I was able to save, everyone has their own tastes. I ended up getting exactly the car I wanted, just like you are going to get exactly the car you wanted, at a price we are both comfortable paying.
