I don't own an RX-8 (yet), but my g/f does. I spend way too much time on rx8club.com, so it's not surprising that I'm 'drinking the kool-aid'.

I stopped by a dealer on the way home today, really just to window-shop. They have a yellow/6speed/touring, which fits what I'm looking for. The sales creature comes out and starts with the hard-sell approach. I try to give him the minimum of encouragement, and not let on how much I know about the vehicle.

The car is absolutely scary. It's filthy, swirl-marked, scuffed inside, seats dirty, missing the plastic 'Renesis' engine cover altogether, no sign of stickers indicating the recalls have been done, doesn't pass the brake-pedal test for L-or-higer software, no obvious signs of *any* of the other TSBs having been done, build date is September 2003. Didn't see how many miles were on it, and didn't really care to look at it that long. Mind you, this is "new", not a pre-owned!

I should have run away screaming, but he threw out some numbers that intrigued me. I thought I could play his game and call BS on him later, but (to shorten the story) after he talked with somebody in an office (manager? finance guy?) he came back with the following offer: Sale price of the vehicle, with unspecified incentives, including an incentive from Mazda for them to get it off the lot because they've had it for more than 45 days: $23,470.00 No, that's not a typo, twenty-three four seventy. With $3400.00 down (yeah, right...) they would give me a lease of $195/month for 24 months, with a residual of $19,800.00. This offer is valid until Tuesday, but of course he has 3 other people interested it in as well....

The best part is that he GAVE ME THE WRITE-UP SHEET, with both the sale price and the lease/finance offer on it. Usually they don't do this because they don't want you shopping it to other dealers (which I'm promptly going to do :D).

I'm not interested in this particular car (looks like a nightmare waiting to happen) and I'm never going back to that dealer (I gave them bogus contact info, anyway). That place made my skin crawl. However.... how likely is it that I can use the 23k price for leverage at a better dealer on a better car?

Edit: Let me phrase that better - has anyone successfully shopped a heavily-incentived quote to a different dealer?

 

That's a good question. Let us know the outcome! :0

Seriously, take your info to any other dealer. Once they know you know, they pretty my give in. And there have been others that have posted close lease rates of late. Good luck.

 

If you can still find a yellow somewhere else, give it a try.

 

My guess in this instance is no way. They let you walk away with the deal sheet because they know what a **** hole car this is and if you shop it around the other dealership will call and say WTF how can you give this guy this price, followed by an explaination as to why they want to unload this car so badly. And soon after disappointment.

It will get you some leeway, but not to that tune. Good luck, and hurry there are not many Yellows left out there.

 

Are there any other options on car? What is the invoice price of that car? See how far below invoice they offered the car for, then you can get a quick idea if it's even worth trying. If they offered car for lets say 3k below invoice, then the sheet will do you little good. I'd imagine any dealer you go to will be dumbfounded by the price if it is that far below invoice, and quickly pick up on why you got that offer. The deals are super on rx8s right now, so you'll get a deal regardless. You might as well try it anyway, but don't get your hopes up. Let us know how it turns out.

 

Hopefully it gives you some leeway, but I seriously doubt it. Other dealers will most likely be suspicious as to the reason why it was so heavily discounted. But hey, stranger things have happened...give it a shot.

On the other hand, you may not want to **** off a dealership that you may want to deal with later. Might be a good idea to try one out of the area.

Oh...and make sure you don't get desperate and go for that yellow 8. Sounds like trouble.