What did you pay for your CX-5?

[DG_1234]

I think what Ninja Matt was asking initially was (if you were comfortable with it) to tell what the actual selling price of your 25 CX-5 PP as that is more helpful to others.

I disagree because for a trade--in-preowned-for-a-new-vehicle transaction the dealer can raise or lower the sales price, raise or lower the trade-in-value for the vehicle they are receiving etc...to meet the buyers target OTD price.
The last time I bought a car without at the same time trading one in to the dealer was a 2019 Miata Club model with an MSRP of $31,500. For that transaction I paid the $31,500 as an out the door price, so I guess my "discount" was the dealer covering my 8.5% city tax and whatever other taxes or fees are owed.

 

[Ninja_Matt]

Yes, I want to clarify that I have no intent to scrutinize or criticize anyone here. My hope is that my feedback and some insight into the dealer/industry perspective on numbers help other users who may be looking in this thread for help on getting a good deal on their own Mazdas. Many people have no clue what to do or how to understand the deal itself. Hopefully, I can load up everyone's tool belts a bit!

While we are a forum sponsor and my company offers a paid service to cut all the effort out and take a shortcut straight to the best deals, technically anyone has the ability to get similar deals to what we have to offer with enough effort, patience, luck and flexibility (such as going far out of your geographical region to find a more competitive market). We offer convenience and peace of mind, but I also strongly believe in being a good community member, if I can empower people to do it themselves and garner similar results, then I consider that a success.

My door is always open if anyone wants free advice or wants a review on a deal/quote.

 

[Ninja_Matt]

I disagree because for a trade--in-preowned-for-a-new-vehicle transaction the dealer can raise or lower the sales price, raise or lower the trade-in-value for the vehicle they are receiving etc...to meet the buyers target OTD price.
The last time I bought a car without at the same time trading one in to the dealer was a 2019 Miata Club model with an MSRP of $31,500. For that transaction I paid the $31,500 as an out the door price, so I guess my "discount" was the dealer covering my 8.5% city tax and whatever other taxes or fees are owed.

I want to refrain from any type of debating, however, I think you may be conflating a couple of aspects here. You are absolutely correct that a dealer can show whatever numbers they want between the two values, but there are real numbers behind them and with some background knowledge you can get a good idea of what that deal really is. To @chickdr point, this thread helps others gauge pricing in the market for these vehicles and what others are paying for them. Just because a dealer does a great job at hiding the math, doesn't mean it's useless to figure out what the real numbers are. Especially if you have someone available like myself that may be able to cut through some of the smoke and mirrors.

At the end of the day, you got a good deal on your car which is what matters most.

 

[PaulZooms]

I want to refrain from any type of debating, however, I think you may be conflating a couple of aspects here. You are absolutely correct that a dealer can show whatever numbers they want between the two values, but there are real numbers behind them and with some background knowledge you can get a good idea of what that deal really is. To @chickdr point, this thread helps others gauge pricing in the market for these vehicles and what others are paying for them. Just because a dealer does a great job at hiding the math, doesn't mean it's useless to figure out what the real numbers are. Especially if you have someone available like myself that may be able to cut through some of the smoke and mirrors.

At the end of the day, you got a good deal on your car which is what matters most.

I never discuss my trade in with the dealer until AFTER I’ve established a satisfactory deal. That way I know what I’m really paying. Then I have them appraise my trade in to see what they are really offering for it. I also get other offers for the old ride to keep the dealer honest. If they won’t match a higher offer, then someone else will get it.

OTD price is the most important number for the buyer. For others seeking to understand pricing for similar vehicles, sales price for the car is the most meaningful number. (I.e., cost excluding tax, title, D&H, fees, add-ons, and other charges are not relevant to someone in another state/market.)

Here’s the detailed breakdown from my most recent shopping analysis. Feel free to use this format if you want others here to fully understand your deal.

 

[chickdr]

I never discuss my trade in with the dealer until AFTER I’ve established a satisfactory deal. That way I know what I’m really paying. Then I have them appraise my trade in to see what they are really offering for it. I also get other offers for the old ride to keep the dealer honest. If they won’t match a higher offer, then someone else will get it.

OTD price is the most important number for the buyer. For others seeking to understand pricing for similar vehicles, sales price for the car is the most meaningful number. (I.e., cost excluding tax, title, D&H, fees, add-ons, and other charges are not relevant to someone in another state/market.)

Here’s the detailed breakdown from my most recent shopping analysis. Feel free to use this format if you want others here to fully understand your deal.

Exactly what I was saying above. We need to see the numbers on the contract to get a better idea. OTD price for buyer A is not really a meaningful number, especially with a trade-in, as
there are so many variables in such a transaction. When I bought my Nissan Frontier in 2020, the selling price was $26,500 and the MSRP was $32,265. Knowing the dealer would discount $5,765 was a useful tool for others to use when buying a Frontier in my area...

 

[DG_1234]

Exactly what I was saying above. We need to see the numbers on the contract to get a better idea. OTD price for buyer A is not really a meaningful number, especially with a trade-in, as
there are so many variables in such a transaction. When I bought my Nissan Frontier in 2020, the selling price was $26,500 and the MSRP was $32,265. Knowing the dealer would discount $5,765 was a useful tool for others to use when buying a Frontier in my area...

Suppose the dealer marked the sale price for the new 2025 Premium Plus as $32K including taxes and fees, and the trade-in value for my 2021 GT W/PP as $15K, leaving me a balance due of $17K.
Is that helpful information?

 

[DG_1234]

I never discuss my trade in with the dealer until AFTER I’ve established a satisfactory deal. That way I know what I’m really paying. Then I have them appraise my trade in to see what they are really offering for it. I also get other offers for the old ride to keep the dealer honest. If they won’t match a higher offer, then someone else will get it.

If the dealer's sale price is satisfactory but your trade-in value is not you end up buying the vehicle and then selling your old vehicle elsewhere?

 

[PaulZooms]

If the dealer's sale price is satisfactory but your trade-in value is not you end up buying the vehicle and then selling your old vehicle elsewhere?

Yes, from wherever the offer is best. For older cars under $10k, I’ll sell them myself on Craig’s List for even more than the best dealer offer.

 

[chickdr]

Suppose the dealer marked the sale price for the new 2025 Premium Plus as $32K including taxes and fees, and the trade-in value for my 2021 GT W/PP as $15K, leaving me a balance due of $17K.
Is that helpful information?

Again, it's somewhat helpful, but even more so if you list what the selling price is BEFORE taxes and fees, as they will vary from dealer to dealer.

 

[DG_1234]

Again, it's somewhat helpful, but even more so if you list what the selling price is BEFORE taxes and fees, as they will vary from dealer to dealer.

$29,018 before taxes and fees.

 

[chickdr]

You did well IMHO. 29k for a 35k MSRP (at least as I don't know if your car has options on top of the base price) CX-5 is a good deal.

 

[dunhillmc]

$29,018 before taxes and fees.

I have a hard time believing that any dealer would discount a 2025 CX5 by $7k, esp when the markup is only about $1k. Even if they held a couple grand on the trade that deal still doesn't make sense

 

[Ninja_Matt]

I have a hard time believing that any dealer would discount a 2025 CX5 by $7k, esp when the markup is only about $1k. Even if they held a couple grand on the trade that deal still doesn't make sense

Likewise, the absolute deepest we have ever seen is around 13-14% off a CX-5 and we are talking special pricing during special timing at the largest Mazda dealers in the US (arguably the world from a unit/dealer perspective).

Now this goes back to DG's original point about moving numbers around, if that is the genuine discount, the dealer absolutely showed more of a discount on the car and less on the trade and moved money around as such.

Suppose the dealer marked the sale price for the new 2025 Premium Plus as $32K including taxes and fees, and the trade-in value for my 2021 GT W/PP as $15K, leaving me a balance due of $17K.
Is that helpful information?

The additional context of $32k prior to trade-in and $15k for trade is very telling here as one can reasonably surmise that the dealer hooked the trade significantly and moved it to discount. Research will show the trade was likely worth closer to the $20k area, which helps make sense of $7k off MSRP. They could also be considering rebates applied in that $7k, which does not count as a dealer discount. Again, many variables are at play that we simply don't know and don't really need to pry for. At the end of the day, they got a solid deal, the methodology is not one I would personally recommend, but it worked out fine in this case.

On a final note for any readers who come across this, 20% off a CX5 is not a realistic dealer discount target, however 5%-6% is a fair discount (pre-incentive). 7%-8% is a Very good deal. 9%-10% is a phenomenal, but rare, deal. Anything north of that is getting into very circumstantial territory and I would not walk on a 7%-8% discount deal from a local, trustworthy dealer with the hopes of a unicorn coming along (but doesn't mean you can't shoot for the stars when you start your shopping!).

 

[Gus75]

What are you folks paying for your new CX-5's, in relation to MSRP?

I assume demand is far outreaching supply at the moment, and am curious what that's doing to the price.

I ask, primarily, because I have a fairly urgent need for a new vehicle, would like it to be the CX-5, but hate the idea of paying at, or above, MSRP

thanks!

Several of my friends purchased Signature CX-5 turbo with 3k below MSRP and got few oil changes and all weather floor mats. There is no shortage of Mazda cars right now. The lots are full of them.

 

[ekmazdaguy]

Several of my friends purchased Signature CX-5 turbo with 3k below MSRP and got few oil changes and all weather floor mats. There is no shortage of Mazda cars right now. The lots are full of them.

There is an app CarGurus that I used when shopping around. Dealers seem to advertise pre-Negotiation discounts of up to $1000 on this app (for the Mazda I was looking for). The app also shows you how long the car has been on the lot, and the price change history. It also provides an indication of whether the price listed is high, or low, or within range.

I also used the app to check inventory levels. Within 50 miles of my location, until about 2 weeks back, there were about 100 to 110, 2025 Mazda Cx 5 premium plus models listed on this app. Now, this number has shot up, close to 160. It does speak to rising inventory levels as more 2025s roll in.

Hope this can help prospective buyers gauge their negotiating ability as they make the purchase.

 

[Ninja_Matt]

There is an app CarGurus that I used when shopping around. Dealers seem to advertise pre-Negotiation discounts of up to $1000 on this app (for the Mazda I was looking for). The app also shows you how long the car has been on the lot, and the price change history. It also provides an indication of whether the price listed is high, or low, or within range.

I also used the app to check inventory levels. Within 50 miles of my location, until about 2 weeks back, there were about 100 to 110, 2025 Mazda Cx 5 premium plus models listed on this app. Now, this number has shot up, close to 160. It does speak to rising inventory levels as more 2025s roll in.

Hope this can help prospective buyers gauge their negotiating ability as they make the purchase.

We are a tech company as well and do in-house development of our platform and tools, I wonder if people would find value in us indexing our sales data and providing public valuation on what discounts our clients are securing on average.

The only problem with platforms like Cargurus is they are typically in bed with the manufacturer to some degree and manufacturers, such as Mazda, have ad standards where online pricing is controlled to both maintain a level playing field for competing dealers, but also to hold up consumer price perspective. For example, Mazda dealers are contractually obligated to advertise their cars no lower than invoice - dealer cash incentives, thus limiting the scope of listing and sales data, IMO.

 

[chickdr]

We are a tech company as well and do in-house development of our platform and tools, I wonder if people would find value in us indexing our sales data and providing public valuation on what discounts our clients are securing on average.

The only problem with platforms like Cargurus is they are typically in bed with the manufacturer to some degree and manufacturers, such as Mazda, have ad standards where online pricing is controlled to both maintain a level playing field for competing dealers, but also to hold up consumer price perspective. For example, Mazda dealers are contractually obligated to advertise their cars no lower than invoice - dealer cash incentives, thus limiting the scope of listing and sales data, IMO.

Now that is some excellent info. I assume this does not preclude the dealer from going lower in person, they just can't advertise the price.

I had an absolutely terrible experience at a local Nissan dealer last week. I went there with a friend as she needed a sub 20k car. This dealer was local to me and happened to have a brand new Sentra SV listed for 19,450 on their website. We went to see the car after I confirmed it was still in stock (the website stated they only had one at this 20% off price) and the car was in fact in stock, but the window sticker had tons of dealer add on's which inflated the price to well over 20k. When I asked why they would advertise the car at a price of 19,450 and then tell me it was several thousand more, I was given the run around saying it was a Nissan corporate policy and all dealers do this. I explained I had bought a 2020 Frontier from another dealership and when I bought the truck, it was for exactly the price listed on the website. Ended up across the street and bought a used Corolla instead. Here is an example of another car they have in stock with a sub 20k website price which does not show all the ad on's which are on all their cars. It would be so easy to just list the actual price rather than a bait and switch deal. https://www.nissanmall.com/inventory/new-2024-nissan-sentra-sv-fwd-4d-sedan-3n1ab8cv3ry313005/

 

[Ninja_Matt]

Now that is some excellent info. I assume this does not preclude the dealer from going lower in person, they just can't advertise the price.

I had an absolutely terrible experience at a local Nissan dealer last week. I went there with a friend as she needed a sub 20k car. This dealer was local to me and happened to have a brand new Sentra SV listed for 19,450 on their website. We went to see the car after I confirmed it was still in stock (the website stated they only had one at this 20% off price) and the car was in fact in stock, but the window sticker had tons of dealer add on's which inflated the price to well over 20k. When I asked why they would advertise the car at a price of 19,450 and then tell me it was several thousand more, I was given the run around saying it was a Nissan corporate policy and all dealers do this. I explained I had bought a 2020 Frontier from another dealership and when I bought the truck, it was for exactly the price listed on the website. Ended up across the street and bought a used Corolla instead. Here is an example of another car they have in stock with a sub 20k website price which does not show all the ad on's which are on all their cars. It would be so easy to just list the actual price rather than a bait and switch deal. https://www.nissanmall.com/inventory/new-2024-nissan-sentra-sv-fwd-4d-sedan-3n1ab8cv3ry313005/

Nissan dealers are notoriously shady in general. There are exceptions, but walk into 10 of each brand dealer and I guarantee you Nissan tops the list of bad experiences (for those savvy enough to notice, at least). Many operate as subprime credit fronts and prey on unwitting consumers with junk fees and jammed finance products. Mitsubishi as well, just less prevalent. Hyundai and Kia also fell into this category, although things have improved a lot in recent years as their products have been elevated and dealers were no longer forced to use these tactics.

I am not familiar with each manufacturer's ad standards, but I'm sure given Nissan's reputation and current outlook, they are quite loose. I think most reputable brands however are obliged in similar ways to Mazda. We actually had BMW NA reach out to us once for advertising loaner-car deals too cheap on Leasehackr, turns out their corporate side watches closely to how their products are being discounted and advertised, even in online forums.

This is part of the reason our dealer network remains anonymous until a client retains our service, they aren't allowed to advertise with the discounts we advertise with, so we must shield them so they aren't considered specific dealer offers. This is also why I feel we have an edge over a service like TrueCar, they play by the pricing rules, and we walk that line instead

 

[chickdr]

Well, I guess I got lucky! I will use the dealer I did in the past if I need to buy another Nissan. There really were no issues in my Frontier deal. It was exactly what they had listed online. It was just before covid hit so maybe they are different now.

 

[goldwing2000]

Just pulled the trigger on a new 2024 Carbon AWD with red leather, roof rack, AW mats and cargo tray and window tint (I know, I know...).
Marked down due to about 4 small hail dings, with loyalty incentive and military bonus, out the door for $32.6k (with 6.25% Texas sales tax).
Picking it up Saturday.

It's replacing my OG 2004 Mazda3 that I bought new and currently has 346,000+ miles on it.