hi all, n00b h3r3
cheaper to order online or at dealer?
which is quicker?
consequences for either?
think i have a shot at getting one b4 august?
thx for tolerance
sux to any flamers

 

Don't think you can actually order online. You can just setup your options & workup a final config & resulting MSRP. Then it refers your order to your local dealer(s) who will take it from there the good ole fashion way.

I didn't actually do it myself, but I came up to where it sends your info to the dealer(s).

Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

think i could take deliveryon one befor late august?

 

You could if you were flexible on your color/options and take delivery of a vehicle the dealer has coming in before then, if there are any. Go to your local dealer and see what the earliest vehicles they have coming in are that aren't presold and pick one. If you aren't flexible and only want your vehicle with specific options and color, you might have trouble getting it by then (or even at all) unless you're really, really, REALLY lucky. If timeframe isn't necessarily an issue the dealers can still change the options and colors of later arriving vehicles.

 

im taking delivery on a base yellow me thinks
i dont need those heavy *** options anyways i plan on auto-xing it like my 7

 

I have purchased cars through carsdirect.com. It's a very pleasent experience compared to going through a dealer. You won't get the absolute lowest price like under invoice (dealer makes money from manufacturer kick backs), instead it will be couple of hundred dollars over invoice. Basically with most of the online car purchases you are going through a broker who's really too busy dole out bull ****. Make your selection online, wait couple of hours, a broker will call, tell you the exact price over the phone and it's a take it or leave it thing. The whole purchase will take less then 30 minutes.

I've seen the RX-8 on carsdirect.com, but since it's a hot car don't expect anything under MSRP. I'm getting pretty pissed off at my dealer (link) and I'm at the point where I feel they don't deserve my money, I may go the carsdirect.com route and just deal with the fact I won't be one of the first on my block.

The downside is you have to be pretty knowledgable of what you are purchasing. The broker doesn't care, doesn't offer a test drive, won't explain features to you. All he'll do is after you cut the check or arrange financing, he'll hand you the keys, point you to the car, and push you out the door.

I'll take the part of the test drive back. One time my wife and I showed up at the appointment time and the broker was late. Fifteen minutes later he shows up in a hawaiin shirt, shorts, and sandals. He goes to the key locker and tosses me the keys and told us to go take the car around the block. He went to his desk, and off we went for a test run. It was great not having a yabbering salesman in the car. We get back to his office, as we are cutting a check, he's fielding more sales. He says on bad day, he'll move about 10 cars a day, and on a good day about 100. He get's $100 per car he sells, must be nice.

<rant>Die oily salesman die!</rant>
I know there are good dealerships with good staff. I just haven't seen any myself...