slatec

Hi there! How's everyone doing?

I've been lurking here for a while now. Doing my research on the car...

Anyways, I finally went for a test drive today. Went to the Mazda dealership in Port Moody... Is it ok to name names? :D I believe there's only one in Port Moody.

Test drove an automatic 2005 GS. Before the flame war starts, my intention is to buy a 6-speed GT if I'm going to buy one. And I'm gonna learn stick real soon. This is my first test drive. So give me a break please~

The car handles good. Sticks to the road. Gas and brake have good solid feel to it. Not featherly feel. I can really feel the surface of the road... as numerous people have described. I wasn't disappointed. During the test drive, I asked whether it's a 4-speed auto or not. (I know it's 4-speed... just testing~) He said he thinks it's a 5-speed auto... Well... I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he seems to mainly sell 6-speed's. But that raised a little alarm bell.

Anyways... the main point isn't about the test drive. But more about the sales person that I dealt with.

Before we got into the car for the test drive, we waited on the front lot for the vehicle. There's a black 2004 6-speed GT with roof with a sold sign on it. So I asked him how much it was sold for. He said it's a lease. The owner of the dealership drove it. It has about 10k on it. It's loaded (no nav though). It even has the side strakes. He said it's sold for 38000 plus tax. I'm a little shocked. Either it's holding value real well... or he's BS-ing me.

After the test drive, I told the guy that I will make a decision in about 6 months time. Really... this is my first test drive of any car. And I'm weighing my options. Yet he phoned me after dinner tonight saying that there's a trade-in. It's a 2004 grey 6-speed GT with roof. It's got about 5000 clicks. He's offering 36000 plus tax. Is that BS? I've read posts by BlueFrenzy and others about getting it all in for around 40000-ish. That has given me hope and a price point to look for. But I think 36000 is a little too much as an asking price.


So do you guys have any experience with the said dealership in Port Moody? in terms of both the sales department and the service department...


One more thing that irks me a little is that they ask for my driver license to make a photocopy before I can test drive... in case I get a ticket... saying that it's the policy. I've read that they could use it to run a credit check. Is there any way that I can protect myself while having a test drive?


In the coming months, I guess I will check out other Mazda dealerships and other cars...


Have a good night!

WarpFactor

Hi there,
I bought my 2004 GT from those guys. I didn't test drive the car from there though. I test drove one at another dealership. When it was time for me to buy, I called around asking the sales manager for their 'best' price. Port Moody came back with the lowest price of all the dealerships I phoned. As a side note, dig this - some dealerships weren't even interested in talking because they didn't have my particular car (Red GT) in stock! Werd!!! P.M. didn't have it in stock either, but I knew there were a couple on Annacis Island.

So yes, I bought from P.M. but I ddn't deal with any sales people. That $38K price is BS for a used car. I paid just a bit over $38K for a brand new one.

As for photocopying your license, I had that done at other dealerships too, so I don't think it's too unusual.

As for the service department, I think they're okay. They're not very 'with it' as far as knowledge that's attainable on this board, but they're not a-holes either. They're friendly and they haven't screwed up - yet. I've only had an oil change done, and a flash upgrade, so not a lot of experience with service issues.

essentialspeed

hey we bought ours from kieswetter in kichener...ours was a last minute hand back.
we got ours with 3000kms for 36,995.00 plus taxes.
which i thought it was a steal,because this was christmas of 2003 whne none had them yet.
Now its turboed and they still love me there:^)

RX4life

oki HERES THE DEAL With the black RX8 there... ithe GREY RX8.. was mine!!MUWHAHAH..it had a SOLD on it itooo...

basically the black car was never registered wit h MZDA Canada apparently.. or some beureacratic *****... the owner was really clever.. he bought the car never registered it under mazda canada.. and drove it for 10K km... and then put it up for sale as a BRAND NEW CAR!.. along i come trotting into the dealership.. looking at the grey one and the black one...and they quoted me a highr price for the black one...40K$$

the grey one i later bought was the mangers car.. and had only 3K on it.. but it was considered used!!!.. i was mad and thought they were trying to trick me or some thing...

i let them now that the a customer aint gonna pay 40K for a MORE USED CAR???!! wheres the logic in that...

bottom line is .. i paid 37500 for the GREY RX8 with 3000km on it.. with no appearance package.. only sunroof...but they gave me a good value for my trade was above the market value.. and i got all these benefits i cant disclose.. unless you pm me...

BTW talk to BEN.. and mention my name.. ***** ( PM me).. hell treat you good.. i dealt with him for like amonth... reallly cool guy..

WarpFactor

I hope that $37K you paid included taxes. Otherwise, I don't think that's a great price for a used car.

TopGear

I started serious car shopping in early Dec, went to the PM dealership between Christmas and New Years - took the black one with 11K for a test drive and was told it was driven by the owner of the dealership but that it was not registered so it was a "new" car. The car had a couple of minor problems that I told them about - lots of condensation in both tail lights and the heated seat did not work on the driver's side. The grey one was there at the time as well, being sold as a used car.

They were friendly to deal with, I did not try to negotiate a deal so cannot comment on their approach. At the time they were asking very close to new prices. You should be able to do much better now - I think that Mazda Canada has a fairly large rebates on new '04's - I read somewhere on this forum that it is $4,000 total.

If you would like a new '04 you might also try phoning dealerships in Alberta directly - I called a couple in Edmonton and they gave me a very good price on a new '04 over the phone that was far better than what I was seeing in Vancouver. They might still have them as Edmonton has been a deep freeze for the last couple of months. I decided to go for an '05 and ended up buying from Signature Mazda in Richmond.

Good luck with your purchase.