Well, im within a week or two of buying an RX8.

Black 6speed GT with apperance. Thats all.

I calculated MSRP and Invoice from edumnds...here they are:

MSRP:
car-26680
apperance-970
TOTAL=31650

Invoice:
car-24659
apperance-775
TOTAL=28875

So I'm looking for a price as close the invoice as I can. I don't qualify for S-plan, so this is my only option.

In your opinion, what should I ask for? 29300? 29,600? 30,000? more?

Please advise....thank you!

 

Yeah, if you can get it for $500 to $1000 above invoice, I think that's a fair deal.

 

I usually offer an "out the door" price that includes everything - taxes, doc fees, license, etc.

Basically I take the invoice price and add the tax and about $100 license and doc fees - and I then subtract any customer rebates.

That is what I offer. I go no higher than $500 - $600 over that. If they won't take that offer, their competition will.

That gives them $500 to $600 PLUS any dealer hold-backs (or a few other things it's called) PLUS any dealer incentives. I've had to go to their competition only three times in order to get "my deal" and I've been buying cars almost annually since 1981.

Stick to your guns and you will always come out ahead because they really do want to sell a car more than you want to buy one. Good luck.

 

I think I will ask for 29,500 (plus tax and other fees) no more than that.

For a Black 6Speed GT + Appearance.

if they disagree, i will find another dealership, no rush for me

 

Looks like you're in the Los Angeles area just like me. I bought mine in late October. It will be almost impossible to find one with Appearance Package but no Rear Spoiler. I have gone to over 10 dealerships and have only seen ONE car that way! Dealerships virtually always order the two packages together. The only other way is to preorder your car, which might be a 1 to 2 month wait.

You forgot to add in the retail MSRP and invoice prices for the (1) Grand Touring package and (2) Appearance Package. You also have to add the Destination charge ($520 flat charge).

MSRP INVOICE
Base car 26680 24659
GT package 3900 3355
Appearance 970 775
Destination 520 520

Total 30070 29309


Here's my advice. Forget about S Plan. You don't need it. DO NOT talk to a salesperson. Talk directly on the PHONE (don't waste your time with emails) with the fleet/internet sales manager. Larger dealerships may have a separate individual for fleet and internet, respectively. In this case, it does not matter whom you speak with. These managers make their living on the phone/computer selling in great volume. Their commision does not come from each car at a time. Their focus is only on selling large numbers and they can earn $200,000 a year that way, far far more than a salesperson can make. They do not bother with the 4 square work sheet and they don't even have to get off their asses to go back and forth from the sales manager's office for approval on the numbers. In fact, they not only determine price, they also determine interest rate (so you don't have to deal with the hassle of a finance manager). Everything is done at the same time in virtually ONE step.


Several places will agree (after your inquiry, of course) to $500 over invoice on the PHONE, no hassle. Three that I called agreed to between $100 and $250 over invoice on the PHONE after being pushed.


TuPak, at this time and in our region of the US, I have no doubt you will (should) get your RX8 at ZERO to $100 over invoice, if you do things the right way.


Interest rate is a separate issue, though. But you're on top of that, right?

 

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I'm on top of interest rate, no problem.

You're right about the apperance package with no wing. It's hard to find. I'll probably have to do a trunk swap or just remove it on my own, not a big deal.

I think you're right, I will talk directly to the fleet manager and make a price right on the phone, makes things easier. Please check your PM, I have a couple of questions. Thanks.

 

$500 over invoice is what I worked out with the fleet/internet director. In fact the biggest round and round was over my trade value (expected it though). I negotiated the price for the RX first and then siad "let's set that aside now that it's agreed to" and move on to my trade. It's coming out lower than KBB trade recommendation like I had originally wanted (about $1000), but it's still several thousand over what is left on the note and that makes it worth my while (still above wholesale as well).

Best of all, I have yet to speak with them on the phone. The dealership is about 100 miles away (Claremont, NE side of LA), and I've done every bit of the work by email. This gives me time to choose my wording very carefully and do additional research if necessary to bolster my point or refute anything they may try to push on me. I do have to agree that going through the Internet/Fleet guy is great as they tend to be pretty up front with you considering that just like shift_zoom8 said they're dealing in volume and not trying to wear down someone for hours in a showroom sales cubicle.

The negotiating is done and now all I'm waiting on is for him to find the config I'm looking for and make the dealer trade.

 

It's true Toreno at Claremont Mazda refuses to go below 500 over invoice, but that doesn't mean several other dealerships in the area won't.

With Claremont, you HAVE to inspect each car closely. I'm serious. They don't have a real prep area for the Mazdas at this time. They're washing cars out in the front lot! I have found a few cars with dents on the outside and large scratches on the inside.

Claremont is the ONLY car dealership of any brand that I've ever seen that does not lock doors at night. LOL. I am totally serious. I've gone at midnight, passing from car to car, sitting in them. Something is not quite right at that dealership. The Ford half of the dealership doesn't seem to be neglected like that.

 

shift_zoom8 (or anyone),

How does one go about finding out who the fleet/Internet sales manager is? Do you just call the dealer and ask the receptionist for the "fleet manager"? Do you fill out a quote request on Edmunds.com or similar and use that to get the name?

I talked with a salesman and he wouldn't give me a reasonable deal (I offered about $800 over invoice - seems fair and in line with other dealers in my area), so I'm interested in trying this approach (only 1 dealer in my area has the specs I'd like on the lot).

 

Yeah, he was pretty up front about $500 over, but it more than made up for the fact that no other dealer would offer me better than $8k for my trade ('96 3000GT SL) which is well under suggested KBB trade. After some protracted back and forth email negotiating he offered $9500. I'm quite happy with that as it saves me the trouble of selling it myself. I'd have just sold it outright before now and skipped all of the back-and-forth, but my wife and I both drive in opposite directions every day and have completely incompatible work schedules.

All-in-all, I can live with it. Thanks for the heads-up about their prep. I'll DEFINITELY make sure to give everything the eye before departing...

Fortunately, the config I'm looking for isn't avail on their lot and will have to be brought in. :D

 

S3/P3/E2, I see now, you have the trade-in to consider.

dirkp, just call and ask the receptionist.