I liked that guy, they are usually snakes but this guy didn't push any of the dealer crap like window etching, ext war, etc.. I work in Doral and live in Hialeah so If you see a black 8 that's me :D

 

Went back to Eddie Accardi Mazda of Pompano today. They have been really umm consistent (persistent perhaps?) with keeping in touch with me. I visited them last week Friday, and then again with my mother on Sunday evening. Basically, I just wanted to show my mother how the car looks and why I love it myself. She was stoked to see the car in person and asked the salesguy about ordering an RX-8. Well, we went through the ordering process today and she put a deposit down for a Winning Blue AT with about as basic as she can get it.

Meanwhile, I was outside just looking at the other colors that I hadn't seen before (Brilliant Black, Titanium Grey, and Lightning Yellow) and this lady has just got done test driving the yellow RX-8. I asked her how she liked the car and she was pretty enthusiastic about it as she looked at the other RX-8s in the lot. I started talking to her about the cars and she seemed surprised that some 20 yr old knew alot more about these cars than some of the salesmen themselves. I let her know that it just comes from doing research online and particularly this forum.

Anyhow, after my mother put down a deposit and did all the preliminary paperworks for her order, I asked the salesman if there was a chance that maybe I could test drive an RX-8 6MT and just see how it feels. He gladly said yes and we were on our way. He took it for a spin to a side street about a mile or two away and then let me take over the pilot controls (I say that because it just feels like a cockpit for me like the FC did). Keep in mind, this was maybe the third chance I had to practice driving stick and the first time I took it out on a main highway (US1). I'm not going to be playing the fool and act all cool like an immature young adult might do when he gets his hands on the car he loves. Although, I was a little bit nervous I handled it pretty well. The car shifts effortlessly with the exception of a CHIRP from 1st to 2nd gear. That was totally unexpected but fun nonetheless. About the headroom, I'm 6'0 tall and had about 1-2 inches worth in the car with moonroof. Shoot, I don't think I even had that much in my FC Vert.

The ironic thing is, since I no longer have a car... My mother is giving me her Ford Windstar and getting herself an RX-8. Now, shouldn't it be the other way around? Ah well, I'm not complaining. She will be expecting the arrival of her RX-8 sometime in 8-12 weeks, which is fine because we're also moving to another place in the meantime. And then I'll also be moving out on my own in February of next year, so I can use the van to load up my junk.

 

Let me add that while the guys at Gunther are nice, they arent too well infomred with em at elast. Yesterday I got an email from Hugh Nemets that if I stopped by that same day and closed the deal and TOOK DELIVERY he could give me fleet pricing. SO I run over and guess what? No cars at ALL to even look at, best delivery dates on a yellow and red was 3-4 weeks, and a black was looking at 10 weeks. Drove to Acardi and signed the deal on a titankum gray with Sport package thats already in port and estimated delivery time of 2 weeks. I woulda taken the one they ahd on the showroom floor, but it had a moonroof (that I dont want) and about 3,000 in dealer "extras" such as exterior protectant, etc etc tec.

TO be fair to Gunther, they dont charge as much of a dealer fee, but with a 10 week delivery time, I just couldnt give them my business. Not to mention the fact that they lied to me on email twice.

 

Based on my personal experiences, I have been disappoitned with Gunther Mazda's service.

I've spent all summer long shopping for a Mazda 6s Sports package there because they have the lowest dealer fee, and a larger lot compared to other dealers. I spent countless hours on several trips, only to find it was all for nought. I was pressured left and right, negotiating on a car that DID NOT EVEN EXIST.

See, my salesman pressured me to close on my very first trip, guaranteeing that they would deliver my exact car (color/options) within 3 days. Each time I asked him to check the computers to locate the car, he stalled and gave me an excuse, only to shift the focus back on the price game. This charade went on for the next several weeks until finally I demanded to speak to the Sales Manager (who, btw, was not a nice man) to locate my car. He then informed me that this car was not available, and that production had haulted for the '04 models. I was angered, to say the least that they strung me along like this.

Marlin Mazda on the other hand, was truthful with me and let me know right away that the car was not available til 2004. "Meanwhile, why don't you consider the Rx-8?" said Bruce, the General Sales Manager.

Which brings me here. After a few brief visits and returned calls, I've reserved a Winning Blue Manual, scheduled to arrive end of August for MSRP. "Tito", as well as Herman are very friendly salesmen, and have never made me uncomfortable by coming off as pushy.

"We have never lost a sale because of price," claimed my Gunther salesman. Well, not only did they lose my business based on price, they lost me because of their dishonesty.

I'd say check out Marlin Mazda. They'll take care of you.

 

Now that I think about it, my initial experience with Gunther wasn't all that great. I stopped by there that one day as I had posted earlier and it took about 5 minutes before anyone came out... and this was when I had started to walk away and around the service area to see whose FC was in the garage. The saleslady approached my girlfriend and thus started the communication process. I tried to ask her about pre-orders and where they get their cars from but she kept changing the subject and even at one time started joking about blondes and brunettes. I didn't come to hear jokes, I came to see the RX-8. The lady then wanted my contact information and I abruptly told her no. They did make a point to say that they sell their cars at the right price, but it just seemed so cocky in the attitude. My mother didn't even like going there and that was 5 months ago when my sister's boyfriend went to pick up a Neon SXT at the Dodge Dealership nearby.

 

Oh no its you! :p

Don't worry Dave, I don't come to this forum too often and it looks like I won't be getting an RX-8 either. The entire HP number controversy has turned me off to the car.

 

I think that dealers have a lot to learn about customer service. The ONLY dealer that ever treated me like I was important and my satisfaction was the goal was Scanlon Lexus of Fort Myers. They were great. It was primarily the service mgr (now at BMW). The Mazda dealer in Fort Myers, FL is also Scanlon owned and service is connected with Lincoln. I would say that they are average for a dealer - WATCH EM LIKE A HAWK!

oh, and MAV, it still is a great car.