First of all... Hello, been lurking around here for a few days and finally started my journey to the RX-8.....I'm thinking in 6 months I'll get it so I may bug some of you with questions. :D And on to todays first day shopping for the car...

So I go around to some dealerships in my area today to test drive some RX-8's....they wouldn't let me take it out alone, they didn't want me to drive it more then about 5 miles total, couldn't keep it for about an hour and get a feel for it, and the sales guy wouldn't let me keep the radio blasting so I know how that performs...

Seriously....I'm spending more on a car then some people make in a year and I can't take it around town to really get to get a good feel for it?!?!?! Not to mention the fact that the sales douche is trying to give a pitch about "Here we have the RX-8, yada yada" while pointing at an F'N Protege!! Douchebag.

Not only do the sales people know less then the 3 year old kid picking his nose while his dad picks up the new mini van next to me, but Mazda has some policy that you can't test drive the car more then a certain distance/time?!?

So they sent me home with some brochures and flyers, plenty of business cards, and a feeling of being unfullfilled without the RX-8.... Hello again to all and off I am to drool at the brochures. :D

 

And now for a little bit about the drive itself. Took out the Automatic.....not sure how that happened, wanted the Manual but such as it is. So the first thing that made me WoW was the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Saweet. Used those in this curving neighborhood behind the dealship and on the turnpike.

There is so much damn traffic around where I live I couldn't open it up. That is why I wanted it longer then 5 minutes. Wanted to drive it out to the mountains... I digress...

Loved the moonroof. Sound system ruled, with some Black Eyed Peas booming through the Bose. Smooth and Supple leather is a must. Dig the back bucket seats and center console, crucial. Bright red is so pretty but think I might go with a little more conservative Titanium Gray. I had frictionless orgasims when taking the corners and drooled my way throught the straights. All in all I loved the car and don't think I'll ever get good rest again until its in my garage.

 

Most dealers around here (Texas) have demo 8's....they will never sell them so they let you spend alot more time with them and put more miles on, etc....you might call around and find a dealer that has a demo, but you might want to do it closer to the time you are ready to purchase....last thing a car salesman wants to hear is that your not ready to buy right away

 

You really have to show some potential to buy it in order to get respect and service unfortunately. Too many ppl just want to test drive it for fun. I test drove the 6 a few months back and took it for a 30 min drive.

Go with someone, maybe even parents, to show that you are serious. Never walk in with baggy clothes and flip flops, or something like that.

When I bought my RX-7, the sales person wanted to talk price before the test drive. I pretty much told him I drove 50 mi to see this car and he drove it out of the showroom for me afterwards.

 

The fact of it is. How many dreamers have walked into their doors wanting to "test drive" it.

Out of 300 drives lets say, they make 3 sales. thats 297 people taking them for a ride and personally i dont blame them.

Flash the cash and get the rewards. Sales people are interested in now not 6 months.

thats my 0.2

 

The salesperson picked up on the fact that that you're "thinking" you'll get it in "six months". In the next six months you could...lose your job, have twins and get a minivan, etc. You're not serious about buying so they're not serious about selling. I don't blame them either. You're window shopping but expect the high roller red carpet.

 

I hope i am not off topic
what if i drive an 8 into the 350z dealer, what kind of dealer service would i get?

 

Well I don't know about Nissan but today we took in my wife's expedition for 30k mile service and I was driving the 8 so we could leave the truck there for the morning and the sales guys all came out drooling over the car then started talking to my wife about a new expedition or navigator....WANTED her to take it for a test drive so we took out a brand spanking new navigator for about half an hour...kids, car seats and even the Nemo DVD for them to watch...then when we came back the guy was all wanting us to take it over night....had written up a trade in slip on our expedition....all this and we never even said we were interested in buying one...just that we had thought about how nice some of the new features were and how they'd be cool to have....so i'd say Nissan would at least talk to ya nicely! But you'd probably get that treatment driving up in any nice vehicle...go try it and report back here :D

 

Same here... try to look for my wife's car in my RX-8 and what the service we are getting. They even offer wine! But plenty - I mean more than the number than would normally annoy me after the drives though....

I would go and bring my dad to test drive the new 5 series

 

I went into a mAzda Dealership with my corolla, no one came to talk to me (especially being a student and all).

A week later I drive in with my dad in his CLK500, and they all surround the car drooling over it. Now they talk to me. Not their fault but salespeople just erk me.

 

It's a long-standing joke in the midwest about the unassuming-looking guy in the dirty old jeans who is ignored by all the salesmen except the new kid who sells the man a car on the spot when he pulls the cash out of his pocket. Some of these conservative old farmers just don't dress to impress, but they know how to handle their money. As alphapenguin points out, salespeople judge potential customers on not-always-reliable characteristics!

 

A few years ago I bought a Eunos 30X... When I asked for a test drive the salesman tossed me the keys and said "see you in 1/2 hour"!
That gave me a real oppurtunity to find out what the car could do, and ultimatly clinched my decision to buy the Eunos over several other cars.
Would be nice if I could do that with the 8... but it seems that the dealers are not having to work to hard to close the deal, so the will only let you drive it around the block. Mind you that is a good comment on how good the car is! It sells itself

 

Most dealers aren't going to toss the keys to a "young man" and allow him to take an extended test drive on mountain roads with the stereo blaring. Imagine the miles a car would rack up if everyone that walked in off the street was allowed an extended, unsupervised test drive.

When I bought my Volvo, the salesman gave us the keys and let my wife and I take a test drive alone. We were gone for about 20 minutes, but I didn't abuse the car. I had been in the dealership several times before and he knew I was serious about buying. I also got an unsupervised test drive in a 350z, but it had 9,000 miles on it because it was a "dealer car." Because it was fully broken in, I gave it a substantial thrashing!!!

 

About two weeks ago I came in the the mazda dealership in my friend's lexus gs300. All i got was a 5 min test drive around the block and quoted my $499/month for a 3 year lease with 5000 down. I came back yesterday with my father and his 2003BMW 745Li and got a 15min test drive without the sales rep in the car and quoted me $341/month for a 3 year lease with 5000down! I had two different sales reps though.

 

Wow, i didn't know you can test drive a car unsupervised. Everytime i test drive a car the salesperson always tagged along. I went with a friend to a mitsubishi dealer cause he wanted to check out the Evo and they didn't even pay attention to us, probably cause we were wearing shorts. There were 2 sales person roaming around just looking for customers, i guess we didn't look like potential customers. we went inside and asked to speak with a sales person and the sales person we got we can tell felt that he was just wasting his time with us. So we walked out. So went to another dealer and i was driving this time (my friend who drove the other time had a civic) and brought my bmw ... and they were so much more attentive this time. Friend and I were just talking how that, these sales people are so judgemental.

 

Well, from my perspective (also in sales, but in software), if a car salesman is not interested in developing a releationship with a prospective buyer, they are going to have a very poor career in sales. Sure, everyone looks for the quick sale and low hanging fruit, but sales is not just about sales. It is about building relationships and trust. I will not buy anything significant, ESPECIALLY a car, from someone if they do not take the time to understand my needs, interests, concerns, and purchasing timeframe. I do not mind a sales rep pushing me to buy, that is their job, but there is definitely a skill and art involved. Once the prospect is comfortable and trusts you, that is when you move in for the sell...not a second sooner.

So to all those sales reps out there who blow off people "test driving" and saying they will be in the market in 6 months...you just lowered your percentage of making a sale. Shortsightedness is the achilles heel of most poor salespeople. That and not listening.

Happy Rotoring,

Kurt G.

 

About a month ago, I went to a Mazda dealer down the street to test drive a RX8. They had at least a dozen sitting on the lot and the salesman with smelly breath told me he didn't have a car to let me test drive. He said I had to agree to buy it first then I can drive it. Huh?? I see ads and commericals about "go down to your nearest Mazda for a test drive!", and this is what I get? The same crap happened to me for a Subaru Sti. It makes no sense. I can walk into a Mercedes showroom and get a test drive, but not Mazda or Subaru??

 

I have to disagree with you there. The last time I bought a car, the salesman was a complete *******, and acted like a butthead the whole time. But I bought from him because I was able to work him to the lowest price. Granted, it's not in the salesman's best interest to be an *******, because a lot of customers are emotional and respond better to a nice guy, but as a customer, why wouldn't you go where you get the best price, regardless of how nice the guy is?

 

typical "stealership" mentality unfortunately. #1 - you're a customer. Mazda dealerships are a dime a dozen. If the schmuck doesn't treat you well, use the door. Your best negotiating tool There's another one within 25 miles probably. #2 - sales people judge you the first glance they get. Sorry, reality 101. Yes, T-shirts and bluejeans do occasionally write the check on the spot for a new car (me, previously) but that's the exception. Appearence is important, kinda. Personally, I was in shorts, Birkenstocks, T-shirt and a baseball cap on my last test drive. 60 seconds of face to face BS time, dude throws me the keys, says have fun and that was with a 330i. OK, being 39 has a few advantages! :p

 

I had a totally different experience. We stopped by the Mazda dealership one Saturday in November on a lark. I'd been stuck behind a blue RX8 on Hwy 183 in Austin quite a bit and was looking for a new commuter car and thought, why not take a look.

I and the BF got out of our car (Ford Focus ZX3) and asked to speak with the Fleet Salesperson (always, always, always ask for Fleet Sales). At the local dealership, they're "Internet" Salespeople. We introduced ourselves and asked to look, I doubted they were going to let me take it for a drive since I wasn't buying "soon" (March is the target). I'd read up on the car (though hadn't found this forum, yet) and let the salesman (I didn't see any saleswomen at this dealer that day) talk. He didn't misspeak or tell any blatant lies. Then he offered me a test drive (Blue 6MT, 1SP configuration). The bf declined as he didn't want to fold all 6'7" in the back seat. I started it and drove it off the lot. We took some back roads (legally marked 70 MPH, I approached 100 the car was so smooth) and were gone for about half an hour. I discussed with him I'd be buying on the S-plan (thanks Sis for marrying that guy) but was undecided between the MT and AT (I'm settled on the MT).

In truth, if I'd had my minimum 50% down in hand that day, I'd have driven it home.

Oddly, they haven't contacted me since even though I gave them my business card. I guess I should stop by tomorrow and chat with them...

For the record we were dressed typically for rural Texas (jeans, short sleeve dress shirt, boots) and yes, being of a certain age helps.

 

I went in with my son and stood around looking stupid. A nice little girl asked if she could help me. I told her I wanted to drive a MT and AT, my terms for me allowing her to go on the test drive were simple. We were not going around the block, I had to drive in traffic and on the Interstate. I have gone back with my Bride for the same drill with the same little girl. Because she took the time with me I'm buying an 8 from her. I pick the color today. I'm using the S-Plan to buy. Go4It is now Went4It.

 

Just curious but what in the hell is an S-Plan?

 

The s plan is a purchase agreement between Ford or Mazda and usually a company where the buying person works that sets the amount a car can be bought. Dealers do not have to accept the plan on select vehicles like th RX8, or any other if they are not inclined. It only works if both parties agree to all terms.

 

Not true.

According to my brother-in-law (Ford Corporate Ops), if the dealer participates in the plans (A, X, S, etc) then they are "required" to accept any valid purchaser with that plan. Very large dealers are typically required to participate (eg Roger Beasley Mazda in Austin) and may not refuse to sell without serious consequences from the mfr. Now, not all vehicles are on the plan. The RX-8 wasn't immediately available on the S-plan for example. It is now available and a valid purchaser could cause a world of stink if a dealer refused.

 

Go cause the stink because a dealer will make money on select cars and not really care about teeing off an s plan buyer. Go look at some of these guys bragging about buying at or under invoices. Dealers need to make a profit just like Home Depot or Wal mart......go give them stupid offers and go home empty. All a dealer has to say is the car is sold. All that aside, the dealer has more discretion than your in-law revealed.