Gah this is turning out to be a headache for me. I'm 32 and this will be the first new car ive ever purchased and I'm terrified of getting hosed. Was wondering if you folks have some tips for a first time buyer. I started out looking at the 04's but have since discovered the dealers are not wanting to let go of them for much less than the 05's. So now I guess I'm looking at 05's and getting over what I originally thought I was going to have to shell out for one. I'm going for the six spd manual with rear spoiler and regular touring package. The grand touring package is just too far out of my leaque I feel. I've wrestled the first dealer I've dealt with down to $29,085 before tax and title but I have this little devil wispering in my ear "You're getting screwed!" So I guess what I'm asking is, What should I pay for an 05? Would I be better off searching for a used 04 8? Any tips for a new car buying noob? Thx

 

Go buy the Sunday paper and I guarantee you'll find a much better deal. Unless you are in the sticks that is...

Most dealers in the LA area are offering 5000+ off of all 04 8's. The 05's can be had about 500 over invoice. 29K for the Touring package hardly sounds like a deal.

-Chris

 

You shouldn't be paying more than dealer invoice - $3500 on 2004 RX-8s.

For the 2005, I'd expect $500 over dealer invoice to be fair.

 

Yeah the dealer (not my friend or yours) told me the 05s are going about $400 more than the 04s. So your deal isnt great. I've seen used one with 3,000 miles and with 28,000 miles on them and not much different from a new 04. I would deal big time right now for an 04. Try to get one made in 04. Dealers are dealers and you think you got the best deal and you planned for it, they always make something off the deal and there is a secret kickback from Mazda to the dealers too. Depends on how far the salesperson or sales manager will go to meet the monthly quota of sales. Try the last week of a month and your chances for a better deal might improve depending again on the dealer. Getting competition will help you too.

 

Strongly agreed. I invoked a bidding war between two Mazda dealers here in Atlanta to get the lowest price possible and it worked. Granted, I bought an auto (one of these days I'll learn how to drive a stick, dammit), but if one car salesman's statement to me is true that car sales in general are down (granted, he was a Honda dealer--unrelated visit to a car lot), these dealers should tend to bend over backwards to win your business. Plus, it would eat under their skin to know that they lost a sale to a competitor in the same market.

I know it's frustrating. Good luck.

 

Well for one.. the dealer can lose there lin.. if they dont give it to you for the sticker price.. they cant jack it up.. Or wait is that S plan.. They ahve to sell if for the price ?

 

http://www.costcoauto.com/

 

Thx for all the input guys. So $500 over invoice before tax and title is a good buy on an 05? Kinda ditched the 04 idea because they can't find one in black and this being my first NEW car I want it to be perfect. I think invoice after touring package is added in + the spoiler is like over $28000 on the 05 isn't it? So 29085 is pretty close eh? Sorry, told ya I'm a noob at this.

 

go to edmunds and price out an 8 with the options you want. edmunds have the msrp and invoice listed side by side. take that number and tell them to match it, walk if they refuse.

 

Ya the problem is Edmunds is giving me numbers on 04's, I didn't see any 05's.

 

They can't find a black in your area? They try out of state. The dealers all use the same fact sheets. I got mine out of state. There were two in the country with the options I wanted. You might do ok with an 05 later this week or next is my guess.

 

keep in mind a black car looks great but is difficult to keep it looking good. It shows every body inperfection to start with.

 

Yeah I kinda need to get in one this week. Rolled my Jeep over in the median in the rain 2 nights ago . So I took vacation but need to get a vehicle and back to work by monday. So this has all came about at once. Test drove 2 diff RX-8s this week and I really like them . Just trying to get through this w/o getting eaten alive.

 

Not a good situation to be in Ash. Don't tell a dealer that, they will run out the clock on you and attempt to take you. Don't let them know. Go to one of the internet buy sites right now. You should get a couple of quotes for the same options to compare apples to apples. Its your best bet. I would never take one dealer's bid to you. Its a wonder they let you get away from them without a deal with you signing. You should be able to get something tomorrow or Thursday. hang in the buddy. Make the best of what time you have off. I found the internet competition to be the best when others know you are seeking the best price. You might be better with an 05 then. Have you tried the internet yet?

 

ash. Go here right now to help you out with internet buying. http://www.carbuyingtips.com/car2.htm

 

You can always had a wing later on. So get working so you an zoom zoom zoom in a few days.

 

For an '05, I would expect to pay about $400-500 over invoice. Good luck.

 

Go to kbb.com. They have the 05 invoice price.

$500 over invoice would be a great deal. Personally, that sounds a little optimistic to me given that it's still 04. If I were a dealer, I'd hold onto my 05 inventory for the rush of customers who have been waiting for the 05 and will pay top dollar. Once I've squeezed that rush for every dime it's worth, then I'd start letting the 05's go for $500 over invoice, probably sometime around April. I'd have a strategy of making some extra profit early in the year to offset the very low profits I'd expect to make at the end of the year.

Honestly, I think you need to try harder on the 04. It doesn't wash that dealers aren't willing to sell 04's for much less than 05's. The invoice price difference between an 04 and 05 for the package and options you want is $360 ($27,874 for an 04 and $28,233 for an 05). We already know you can almost any color 04 at CarsDirect.com for invoice price. Let's assume you can get an 05 for $500 over invoice. This means at a minimum you would save $860 on an 04.

Most people who have bought within the past month or two have been able to get $500 to $2K below invoice for an 04. This means your savings on an 04 is anywhere from $1,360 to $2,860 compared to the same 05. So try harder. Good luck!

 

Ash: Don't forget to check the For Sale area on this forum. Scroll down at the main page and you'll find it. Some people are trying to get rid of their 8's for pretty good prices. Not sure where you're located geographically, but hope you find something.

 

I'm getting my '05 for $400 over from Rosenthal, and can get others the same price as well, so if you're in the DC area, PM me.

 

If you have some time, do some research prior to spending time in a dealer showroom. I recommend you search inventories on the web for any Mazda dealers within the area which you are looking at. Make a list of the cars that are equipped the way you want them, then start calling the dealers. Ask for the new car sales manager, tell them that you are ready to buy and that you are talking to different dealers in the area. Ask for their best price. Make sure that they know that if they give you the best deal, you will buy from them.

Then evaluate your results. Contact the dealer with the best deal and go buy your car.

I've used this approach for purchasing several cars and got some great deals.

 

He only has this week so he needs to be careful or he will get ripped off from a blood-sucking dealer. His best bet is competition today in his area and see what surfaces as a deal. He already has our comments so he should have enought ammo to get a fair deal. I bought an 04 three weeks ago $400 over invoice and I used competition and a broker to do it. The problem was the car and color I wanted was difficult to get and there were only two left in the country that had it. I had to get one out of state so there was not much room to move the car price down. Most dealers want to deal what is on their lot when they know new cars are coming in and they need the space unless they are a mega dealer and have room for the 05s coming in. It depends on the market in your state and time of the month for a good deal.

 

Just an update. Found a Brilliant black 04 GT with 14k miles for $26000. OMW to look at the car an possibly buy. I know its used but it lets me get into a loaded car w/o going over my budget. Thanx to all of you. You have been more than helpful.

 

Man Ash, that sounds too high a price for a used car a year old with 14,000 but if that is what you want then it makes you happy. Check the newspapers or something like Edmunds to see what a used one is going for in your area. You leasing it? If you are then you are better with an 05 since they deduct $2,500 off the car for leasing it.

 

The black has the GT pack so that's not too bad but used RX-8s are retaining their value pretty good then.