Doesn anybody happen to know what the S-Plan price is on a new RX-8 R3? I'm interested in getting one, but only if it's a good deal. The S-Plan price for other Mazda's I've looked in to wasn't any better than I could negotiate anyway.

I'm asking becasue the nearest one to me is over an hour away and I don't want to call up the dealer and ask them what it is. I'd rather walk in knowing what it is.

Thanks.

PS - if you're not familiar with what the S-Plan price is, it's the "Special" price for new vehicles Mazda gives to racers who turn in results. For more details, visit the Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development web site.

 

OR

For Ford/Mazda employees

S-Plan pricing is kinda bullshit if u ask me, cuz MOST OF THE TIME you can get the same if not lower prices by negotiation

 

For 2008, the S-Plan price is the same as invoice price so I would think it would be the same for 2009.

 

Well that's disappointing to hear. If that's true, then there's nothing "special" about the S-Plan price at all. A deal BELOW invoice can usually be worked out on such cars. If this is true, then I may also be back to considering non-Mazda alternatives, such as the BMW 335i... also seats 4, has 4 doors, is rear wheel drive, and is faster!

Past Mazda's in our family:
1979 RX-7 GS
1982 RX-7 GSL
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE
1985 RX-7 GSL-SE
1986 RX-7 SE
1987 RX-7 T-II
1990 RX-7 Convertible
1991 Miata
1993 RX-7 Touring
2003 6si

Current Mazda's in our family:

 

That's one sexy list of RX7's!

 

Mazda also gives S-plan pricing for those of us who work for AT&T, and X-plan for Ford vehicles...wheeeee. No Land Rovers though

 

I doubt many dealers will even honor S-Plan on the R3 anyways. I doubt you can negotiate an invoice deal on said car either. You will have a MUCH harder time getting such a deal on a 335i...

 

i looked online, and ford has not yet published the price list for 2009 rx-8 under s-plan.

right now, only 2008 is there.

 

All incentives still apply so you can also subtract that from the S-Plan price. That's how I bought my 2007. If I recall correctly, back then it was $2500 dealer incentive and an additional $500 discount if you used Mazda North American Credit. One of the easiest transactions ever both for myself and the dealership. I think it was like ~$22.5k or something for my new 07 before tax, tag, and title last year. The dealership even knew that I was going to refinance with a credit union fro a better rate but they don't really care.

 

FYI, there are no incentives or special finance rates for '09 RX-8s like there is on the '08. I'd rather have the '09 with all it's little improvements than save a bunch on an '08. I think most notable is the improved suspension geometry and revised front cross member. Along with the Bilstein shocks and 19" wheels, revised gearing for quicker acceleration, etc., the '09 R3 seems like a bargain. Heck, some '08s are priced higher than the '09 R3. I've already negotiated a price below MSRP, and the manager is considering S-Plan price, but I won't know until tomorrow. As for the BMW 335i, I can get it for just about invoice (thousands below MSRP), but it's still a lot more expensive than the RX-8 ($32K vs. $44K).

 

You do realize that SPlan pricing is on the invoice right?

It's better for the dealer to give you SPlan then give you the same deal without you filling out the paperwork. If I'm not mistaken there is a factory to dealer incentive of 1.5% of invoice less freight given to the dealer for every SPlan purchase, which is liek 16% of the profit in the car...

 

Wow, seems like you were a big fan of the SA/FB!

 

and 3M and Sprint

when I was with 3M, S plan was normally 5-7% off of invoice. No rebates, no factory finance deals, no dealer incentive cash, no holdback fees.

Again as covered above most of the time you can negotiate that rather than have to deal with the S plan issues.

 

Sorry , But there is no S-Plan on the R3 .

 

Yes, I know the S-Plan price is on the invoice... so is the E-Plan price (Employee price). The S-Plan used to be LOWER than invoice, but not by any specific percentage. It was per vehicle, depending on model, trim level, and installed options. Also, the S-Plan price was in conjuntion to any incentives (still is), soyou could usually choose between cash-back or a low finance rate. When I bought my wife's 6, I paid $5000 below MSRP (about $800 below invoice).

In any case, if I can't get a good deal on the RX-8 R3, I'll pass and get the 335i sedan, which can be had for a good deal, at least by BMW standards (deals on beemers are at an all-time best). The beemer may cost 25% more, but it's 50% more car

 

It's actually 37.5% more money and maybe 30% more car by my estimate, so the value is questionable.

 

as an owner of both, (an 06 RX-8 and a 07 335i coupe) I would have to radically disagree with you.

The RX-8 is a much better sports car.

The BMW is a better Luxury coupe. It feels every lbs of its 500 lbs more than an '8.

Driving the two, there is only one of them that puts a smile on my face every time I drive it; and it is rotary powered.

the 3 series is a good car for the wife... and for the $20k more money it is not even a 25% better car.

And let me get this straight... If you don't get employee pricing on a RX-8, and save a couple Thou, then you are gonna spend another $15-$20,000 on a different car instead... hmmm that sounds smart.

 

read the fine print in the S-Plan buying info, and they even give u a worksheet with a sample factory invoice on how to calculate the price u can expect to pay there is a more precise % calculation that you can do to convert X-Plan (ford) to S-Plan (mazda). yes, the S-plan price is also on the invoice. but, the idea is that u will not get to see the vehicle invoice until the car is physically delivered and at the dealer.

so, the % calculation formula is the best way to ensure the dealer doesn't try to screw u with "paper" fees & so forth ahead of time. you'll already be excited the day of delivery with a million things going on. doing the worksheet ahead of time ensures that u know exactly what the price should be and what variances show up on delivery day.

when i bought my car, i did my calculation at home and brought my notes with me to the dealer on pickup day. and, the price difference was literally like 39 cents or so off.

in a nutshell, S-plan basically works out very close to fleet pricing- ie what u'd pay if u bought thru carsdirect.com minus the $500+ destination fee. approximately.

 

Well, here's the scoop. It's not so much about the money as it is what I get for it. I want a car that can haul the family during the week and take to the track on the weekends and stay reliable.

I've driven both the RX-8 and the 335i sedan on the track extensively and have been much more impressed with the 335i. The 8 feels more like a sportscar, yes, but I can turn faster laps in the beemer. I can buy a Dinan chip and upgrade the suspension all for under $4000 and it would feel sportier and be even faster. The beemer's overall package and quality make it the higher percentage. It's more expensive, but I think for what you get, it's a better value. That's why I don't want to pay sticker for an '09 R3... I just don't feel it's worth it. It's not a $32K car. But I think the 335i with the sport suspension is worth all of the $44K price. We're all entitled to out opinions.

 

...yea, but why screw up a good list of Mazdas. Putting that car in your sig would be like adding a Banjo to the symphony.