mac

I have to say that my experience at Hawkesbury was very positive. The salesman was somewhat knowledgeable of the 8. No pressure tactics, he got someone to look over my Teg for trade-in value so that if he did find my car, we could do this over the phone. He has a very interesting viewpoint of the various crap that some dealerships slap on in order to inflate the price (ie paint hardener, scotchguard etc).

As I mentioned in another thread, I'm still undecided about colour. Currently the Titanium is ahead because I think the chaparal leather will look luxurious compared to the black in the Winning Blue. I would drive down to Toronto to see the two side by side (maybe show up at a meet).:D

Wing

Mac, did you talk to Steven at Hawkesbury? That is who I was dealing with and he seemed very helpfull.

mac

I spoke to Steven on the phone (he did seem very helpfull), but the rep I met there was Richard. BTW it is a surprisingly large dealership for such a small town. I was expecting 2 or 3 sales staff but there were at least 7 sales offices, large lot and lots of cars in stock. They also have 2 demos. So if they feel that you are serious about getting your car there and they believe that they can get you one, they will let you do a test drive (otherwise why have 2 demo's... oh yeah, the owner takes one home :o

Wing

Mac, yes Steven told me if I was ready to buy that I could take the owners car out for a drive.

They do fleet sales and apparently sell more cars than any of the Ottawa dealers. They ARE the biggest around.

He said I can't just go and test drive if I am not going to buy until june next year, which bites because basically I've test drove everything I have on my list. I wanted to try the RX8, if I don't like it, it's off my list. Although I'm 99.99999% sure I would want it after the drive anyways

As long as the ride is not as rough as the 350Z

mac

Yeah, Bank street is claiming the second largest in Canada. I wonder if someone in the know could list the top dealerships in Canada in terms of sales. Somehow I would be very surprised to see either of these dealerships in the top 5. But you never know, I could be wrong , it wouldn't be the first time :D :p However, I don't think this is one of them.

FritzMan

Wow, just when I thought it couldn't get worse it did... So I spent most of the day calling around trying to get an 8 since Bank Street screwed me out of one last week... After realising that only 5 red GTs with no moonroofs were shipped to Ontario, I decided to look for my next preferred color, silver. I spoke to Steve at Hawkesbury and they've got a silver GS, only "100 km or so".

So I make the 1 hr journey with my wife and kid to look at the car. First of all, there's 785km on the car (was driven from Toronto). Ooops, slight understatement. The car had a spoiler on it and simply put, was stunning. Previously I kind of thought silver blended too much with the background, and spoilers were for airplanes, but this car looked awesome!!! My new favorite spec. I also had a chance to look at the GT package in a black auto. The leather is quite nice and more firm than the cloth. The tan is different, but not as out of place as I expect (being respectful to potential buyers here). On the silver GS, the cloth was better than I recalled from my previous experience. I decided to see what Hawkesbury wanted for their GS.

OK, a GS should be $36,500 plus $575 for the spoiler (give or take a few hunderd). Just before Bank Street screwed me, I did get a full legitamate price of just under $44K including all taxes and fees for a GS. Hawkesbury will probably want $44.5 for the silver with spoiler and no price break for the demo-like mileage of 800km. I figured I'll loose $2K on the Protege so the total should be $46,500. They offer $46,725, not bad I thought, they're close. Then I realise that it's the final price for the RX-8 only. WTF?!?! Difference on Protege is extra (they offered $11.5K on a 2001 loaded GT-ES with only 44K mileage - like they're going to sell it afterwards for that little!).

Looking at their breakdown I see that they accidentally charged $39,600 for the GS (not including spoiler or taxes/fees). They must have misread the price list for a GT. NOPE. "I know the GS is $36.5, but that is the price today, take it or leave it. I've got 10+ guys waiting for this car." Uhhh, do you know it's illegal to ask for more than MSRP on cars in Ontario? "I don't have to sell it to you." - the 18 year old acting manager says. You're right about one thing jerk, you're not going to sell it to me.

To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. I'll try another day of searching and then I'll resort to my next plan of ordering a silver GT, no moonroof, and spoiler for a Decemeber delivery. That should give me ample time to sell the Protege lease for a reasonable amount.

Gord96BRG

You have that quote in writing still? Do everyone a favour, and fax a copy to Mazda Canada. Maybe also your local consumer protection agency, or the auto dealers association. If it's illegal, who could you report it to?

Mazda Canada takes an extremely hard line with their dealers trying to sell illegally for over MSRP. This guy would be in deep **** if Mazda Canada hears about it - so let them hear about it, and fax them the proof.

Best of luck,
Gordon

mac

I hear yah about the lowball on trade-ins. Argus offered me around $10k for a car that sells on the street for $16-17k!!! Like I'm going to sell it to them for that price. BTW they have a Silver GT but it's an automatic.

So, looks like they are another place that say one thing but things change when crunch time comes. When I called they said they had a Titanium (it was the silver, ditto from Argus btw - they don't seem to bother to look at the colour).

I would stay away from the Hawkesbury demo, a drive to Toronto from Ottawa is 900km return add another 150km to Hawkesbury. This is probably all local mileage. The sales guys aren't babying it when they take turns test driving it (one was bragging at how it sounded/felt at 7,500. But ask them if you can do a test drive, yes but only if you got your check in hand. BTW, the GT is used by the owner as a personal car, even though it's declared as a demo.

I suspect that Argus will try the same technique if they get my titanium GT before end of August. If they can't get one by then, I'll wait until next spring or I might just get fed up with all the BS and get something else instead

Wing

700+ KM! Already! Sheesh.

I can't believe they would screw you that badly on price! Yeah they have 10+ people waiting for this car..... must be why they keep calling me!

Seriously, I get an e-mail or phone call everyday from Hawkesbury Mazda asking if I have sealed my deal on my lease takeover so they can sell me a car.

Well I am not going to pay more than MSRP that's for sure! I'm sure they have others on their list, but I don't believe they have 10+ people really ready to buy!

They also told me the only GT I could get would be auto.... probably because that is all they have. What the heck was mazda thinking on this one? GT auto? I guess they figure more money = more luxury market = old geezers in autos

FritzMan

Looks like the GT was sold last night. A lady in her 40's with a cane/limp checked it out. I remember thinking how the car is perfect for enthusiats in that kind of situation. The paddle shifters were pretty neat. I wonder what Hawkesbury was charging for that real GT. A price equal to a ficticious GZ? The puppy was loaded with NAV and roof so I'll bet it wasn't cheap.

Speaking of auto, North Bay Mazda is only getting 2 RX-8 and both are auto. What a waste.

I try to take the positives from all situations and at least I'm 100% sure of the spec I want now, and I want 0 mileage on it. I also had a chance to make sure my wife liked the car and to confirm if my son's booster seat would fit (it does, but putting the seat belt on with the car seat in place is a little difficult with limited room between it and the drivetrain tunnel). I'll tell you one thing, they weren't lying about the scarcity of these cars. Many dealerships have sold their second/third allotment already.

One more thing about Hawesbury altering the truth. They keep saying no more cars now until this time next year (pressure tactic?). I don't know if that's their own decision, but other dealerships confirmed that shipments for custom orders will continue throughout the winter/spring.

Wing

Fritzman, that's what hawkesbury told me as well, no more cars till the 05 model year sept 2004.

I think it's bull.

That sucks they sold the GT, I wanted to take a look at it.

You know what though. The Black GT with Moon and Nav, was originally a Titanium when I talked to them!

Apparently now it is coming in a few more weeks. There are more cars coming, that is what Steven told me at hawkesbury. At least soon.

I might just cool my jets, and order a car in January for a May/June delivery. 6 months should be plenty of time for an order and build / delivery of my exact spec.

FritzMan

Wing, I've got a picture of the black GT. Let me know if you want it emailed or something (I don't have a site to host it).

I'm in the process of getting an official breakdown of the car from Hawkesbury. So far, just a yahoo email address with the same numbers as yesterday. Car (silver GS) is 39,700, spoiler 575, admin 199, gas tax 75, air tax 100, for a total of $46,746.35 (can you tax a tax ie: 15% on gas tax)? There's no freight/PDI listed which is probably embedded into the car cost but it's still too high though. I'm approaching Steve with the angle that I've been burned before from Bank Street and so I'd like the quote to be on official Hawesbury letterhead complete with VIN if possible so there's no confusion when I go through the hassle of certifying the cheque. Obviously I'm not buying the car, but I'd like Mazda Canada to be crystal clear of what's going on when I eventually forward Hawkesbury's quote to them... :D

Wing

Fritzman, that is HILLARIOUS!

So you are the guy possibly buying the car by "noon" ?


Steven e-mailed me just a few moments ago. Said that he thinks the silver GS will be sold by noon. But if I gave him a $3000.00 deposit via credit card (right now) It would be MINE!

I told him no thanks, I'll hold off. I also mentioned that I heard his car was $39??

We'll see what he replies.

Sounds like they are trying to screw us around.

Is the red GS still at Bank St? I actually really liked the red. If my lease guy calls me back today with a yes we will take the car, I think I will just call Bank St. and say, I'll buy it.

But this is all happening in my dreams! I think I'll be buying next year

FritzMan

Wow, Steve is quite the wheeler and dealer. So while he said he's too busy to get me official breakdown right away, he has time to email you?!?! I was also told that someone is coming to look at the car for 10:30.

I'm sure Steve is quite up to speed. A yahoo email breakdown of the car with no VIN, and jockeying several buyers to pick up the car. I wouldn't be surprised he's reading this forum as well.

"Frank" sez hi.

Wing

Fritzman, just to let you know your car according to the black book is $11,100 to $12,600 you would never get $12,600 $11,500 is a good offer.

I know it sucks, because my tiburon sells for $16,500 approx in the auto trader. Yet, for trade-in I would only get $10,000!!

If I bought it out, it would cost me $17000 after taxes. So then I could sell it for $15,000 but still be out $2000. Or I could pay off my lease $3000 left over.

Best $$$ for me is to pay out my lease and use the car for the next 9 months, or find someone to takeover the lease.

I could roll the $3000 back into another car, but it's just wasting more cash on an already depreciating asset!

If say they would give me $1000 rebate on the car and roll in $2000 for the new car, I might do that to step into an RX-8. But $3000k is killing me.

FritzMan

Wing - are Steve's emails via a yahoo account?

Yeah, the thing is that the advertised Auto trader prices don't always reflect actual purchase price once a deal is done. Still, they could have offered $12,600 considering the car have only 44,000 km for a 2001 and they're selling a forty thousand dollar car.

My main plan now is to order from a dealership which has done an impressive amount of leg work for me in the last day or two (there's a chance they might find my spec somewhere in Canada still). That way I can settle down, not drive my wife crazy with constant RX-8 paranoia, and concentrate on my job for a change. The car should be in for December which I'll store in my garage and I'll keep the the Protege for the rest of the winter at least. By spring if I can't still find a buyer, at least I'll have less than $3500 left in payments so my maximum loss will be minimized. I'm sure someone will be willing to grab the Protege by spring.

Update - I've been contact by Steve @ Hawesbury indicating that they don't want to send official letterhead due to concerns of me shopping around their price. LOL!!! I told Steve that everyone else has to charge MSRP, so it's already a given that the price will be beat. I think they're nervous of having the quote get shown alright, just to the wrong guys (Mazda Canada).

Well, apparently someone is looking at the car now - good luck to them I guess (meaning hopefully they'll see the scam). I have a feeling I haven't heard the last from Steve. Whatever, I've wasted enough time on this.

Wing

Yes it is a yahoo account. When I first spoke to steve he seemed genuine now he is seeming like a well.... yahoo!

FritzMan

Well, knowing that I wasn't going to get anymore incriminating evidence from Hawkesbury, I contacted Mazda. The lady was polite but I was left a little discouraged at how nonchalant she was about the whole thing (she had fielded my earlier call last week about Bank Street screwing me so she remembered my issue and was happy to hear that I was still looking into RX-8s). I just received a voice message stating that the district manager has been informed and will address the matter with Hawesbury in the very near future.

As much as one can expect I guess.

Wing

Well someone will notice it if they do sell it over MSRP, it will be in the books. Of course if they don't get audited it will be missed. But maybe bringing the issue up will provide them with a reason to do so.

Although, if they are one of the top dealers, Mazda probably won't care!

Although the BBB might??

EDIT: Actually I just thought about this. Steve asked me for a $3000 deposit (and then it's mine!) Yes this is how they will hide it. Charge $3000 to you then, write up the invoice as MSRP.

GRRR

broose

My dealer explained to me early on that it is illiegal to sell a new car for more than MRSP. Dealers will however bring in a vehicle, put some km's on it so it can be classified as "used". They are allowed to sell a used car for whatever they want.

Many dealers might play this game. Perhaps plate it to the owner of the dealership, let him drive it around for a bit and when supply becomes even more scarce, market it at whatever the market will bear. They'll play the "this car is available right now" card as opposed to waiting a number of months for a new one. There might be more funny business like this as time progresses.

Wing

Interesting, apparently I should have called Cornwall mazda EARLIER!

I called and was told that they have an auto GT in the showroom. They got 3, 3 freaking cars in cornwall!

Anyway, they have another one, a red GT coming in a couple of weeks, that is also sold, but you never know it could fall through they said.

She also told me that if you wanted a car, they will begin taking orders in December for an early spring (April/May) delivery in 2004.

Yet they don't know how many they will be allowed to order. They already have a few names on a list.

WankelWannabe

And one of these cars was a preorder for a person in Calgary!

I've heard Sudbury is only getting one car and it's already sold so I guess I won't even get a chance to look at one in real life.