AceFreely

You guys make me feel much better. I was beggining to think there was something wrong with my wife. Sounds like several people have had simliar issues.

*Dennis*
Reading your post made my laugh as well. I can definately relate.

There most be some sort of mechanism/gene/hormone in the brain of a women that is activated upon marriage. Seems like whatever makes a man happy causes a wife to be upset.

As far as the car is concerned, I am still trying to work a better deal. They are going to send me a cost breakdown today. I will calculate their profit and try to get it down to where they are still making some money, just not much ($200 seems fair, for me to "take it off of their hands").

The wife, I'll keep working on her. Like I said, at worst I'll have to wait until the end of summer (and miss the prime time driving season, but theres always next year, ugh).

-Ace

dwynne

What I would do:

Get a copy of the window sticker on the car you want (take a picture or just write down each item).

Compare those figures to the amounts shown on the 04 invoice sheet that was posted. Make note of any differences in the prices from MSRP on the sheet to the sticker (if anything the sticker will be higher).

Total up the dealer cost from the sheet for each item, don't forget to include the destination charge (MSRP and invoice have the same destination charge). Adjust any item's dealer cost based on the the first step (e.g. if base price is $100 higher, than make dealer cost $100 higher).

Now you have a good handle on the dealer cost for that car with those options on it. Take off the $4,000 in dealer money. That is dealer cost, they keep all the hold back. Optionally take off 2% of the base MSRP - this cost and you get all the holdback. That should be your "magic number". Somewhere between that number and (invoice - $4,000) is probably OK, but this time of year closer to the magic number would be expected.

If the dealer has a really high doc fee (on the Accord I just leased for my wife it was $298) you need to allow for that - and cut down to where they get no hold back. If they have no doc fee or a small one ($50-100) you can be more generous with them.

Once you get the dealer to your number, then you use your college grad, owner loyalty, and/or Gerber rebates to drop the price more.

Don't be afraid to call around to other area dealers and see what they have and see what they will do for a similar car (and be sure to have them include any dealer fees in their best price). You may be able to drive a little and get a better deal.

Dennis

AceFreely

*Dennis
That is good advice that I will definately follow.

-Ace

dwynne

Too bad the inventory search at MazdaUSA does not work for 04 8s now

BTW, I think I know your brother "I.P."

Dennis

AceFreely

Well, good deal or not is irrelevant at this point. My wife and I had it out last night over the potential purchase of the car. I was given an ultimatum, buy car now and get divorce or wait until March '06 and I have the green light to purchase. Looks like I am officially whipped. I won't be joining the ownership club until early next year.
-Ace

snizzle

Whoa, that's quite an ultimatum... sorry to hear that but maybe by that time they'll have more info on a Mazdaspeed version

Zofran

Or...You could get the car now and since your wife would leave, you wouldn't have to worry about her being mad

Rotario

Bwahahahahahaha! D

Good one, Zofran.

AceFreely

Zofran,
That's great! Sometimes I wish I could do that. But when I look at the bigger picture, I figure a car is not worth as much as my family... Funny to think about though ;-)

-Ace

Rotario

Ace,

What?!?!?! A family can always be replaced. But the '8? That's another deal altogether. D

Bill

PS: For those that are humoristically challenged, please see the smileys () above.

snizzle

but it's an 8?!?!?!??! I'd agree about any other car :D