Bad first experience at the dealership...

[DefinitiveCars]

Let me start this by saying that I dont have a mazda yet!

So I went to go test drive a Mazdaspeed 3 and the sales guy that came up to me was really rude. He first told me that I had to sign a credit app, just to drive the car. Then he proceeded to tell me that they do not discount them at all so they don’t want to put miles on the cars. The rude guy went on and on.

I coulden’t believe this guy. He lost my sale right there. So now Ill have to find a sane dealership to drive the car at. Anyone want to let me drive their ride, let me know...(drive)

Anyway, I have some time till I get it. About 3 months. So Im sure Ill find one to drive.

Not a good first experience though...

Definitive

[dread]

where are you located?

[DefinitiveCars]

Im from Camarillo, Ca.

You?

[dread]

Jersey, I was going to recommend a dealer. These cars are in even higher demand in CA than in the colder states, so the dealers think they can be A-holes. I am sure you can find a good dealership out there.

[tavarua88]

the only place that let me test drive it in the LA area was Star Mazda, which I ultimately went with. Everyone else gave me the same story you got. Not saying Star is great by any means, but if you want to give it a drive that might be the way to go.

[Loose]

They called me at home and told me one just came off the truck. I drove it that night. When I bought it it had 25 miles on it and 21 of them were mine.

[cpham53]

Yup, I tried to test drive a Speed3 and I had to be pretty damn sure I was going to buy it that day in order to test drive it.

[BuckDich]

I test drove a GT model with navigation first, I just drove onto the lot still wearing my dirty chef's whites from work. They let me test drive it. Went about 30 miles, hit 110 in it, the sales guy didn't car. Then I told him that if a Sport one came in to give me a call. No pressure there. BUT, then when the Sport model came in, they had me come down and look at it on the truck. When we got to the paperwork, they were pretty resistant on coming down. I ended up paying about $500 over msrp if they would throw in free tinting (i know, not a big cost to them). So, all-in-all, if they were a little looser, I might not have even bought the car. Hell, I was happy with my 92 Prelude. But contention and glory are 2 different things. (headbang)

[Damian]

Jersey, I was going to recommend a dealer. These cars are in even higher demand in CA than in the colder states, so the dealers think they can be A-holes. I am sure you can find a good dealership out there.

What dealer did you go to?

[Willspeed]

I got the first one in the hampton roads Area... I was called and said hey we have one just off the truck if you want to look at it. I said DONT CALL ANYONE else!!!

I was up there in 30mins and it had .2 miles yes .2!! I asked to drive it, plastic still covered everything and it didnt have a virginia state inspection so it wasnt even road legal. He gave me a little whine but I said no drive no buy!

He was like let me go talk to the manager and came back out with the keys.
He drove it off the lot then switched with me down the road... I drove the piss out of it and fell in love! My fiance liked the inside and liked the car.

They wanted 2gs over MSRP when we got back calling it fair market adjusted value and I laughed...then sorta got a little angry cause they said the same thing when I looked at the new civic si when it came out. I said I would buy it that night if they took the 2gs off and an extra 500 off for being military... he gave in and did it, I think just to be the first salesman to get rid of one at the dealership. So I bought it that night and they had it ready the next day. When I went to pick it up it had dealerstickers all over it and I made them take them off and told them Im not a rolling billboard for them unless they wanted to take more money off the car, which they didnt but were nice enough to take off the stickers.

Oh and it is a GT model minus the Navi.

[DefinitiveCars]

Nice story.

So I should expand on my story as it just got a little better.

So before I went to the dealership, I called in to see if they had one. So the sales guy I spoke with told me they did and to come down to drive it. When I got down there he was with a customer so he put me off on some other guy. This is the rude guy I dealt with.

I couldent believe the treatment I got. I called the guy to tell him that the other guy lost his sale! I also asked him if this was normal procedure and he said yes! But either way he said that what happened was not right and that I should make an appointment to see him and hell let me drive it.

So thats a little better...
Definitive

[CTGrey02]

In CT they don't seem to care. I test drove one in Hartford that the GM for the dealership was using for his car and then my wife test drove one at the dealership I ordered one from. The Hartford one had the CEL, (dealer tried telling me it was the gas cap, but I knew better) and the other dealerships was running perfectly.

[SwampAss]

They cared a lot at Bill Britt in Fredericksburg. I am in my early 30s, was there with my wife, and had driven a turbo charged car on the way there. The sales lady wanted to hop in the back. This would have stymied any talk with my wife in regard to the deal. I asked if it was ok if just her and I went. Finally, she relented. I drove 2 Mazdaspeed 6s and they didn't even care! I bought the first mazdaspeed3 my local dealer had.

[Adammazda06]

After working at a couple different dealerships, I have noticed alot of them do not like for customers to drive the limited production type vehicles. The Subaru dealer I worked for was by far the worse. They would'nt even take a Legacy Spec B off the showroom floor for a customer. They bought it, and then drove it. From experience, I have had a number 17-19 year olds just wanting a joy ride, but there is a huge difference between joy riders and a real buyer. Any real sales consultant can spot the difference.

[SwampAss]

that was kinda my point. I had been in there twice previously in the week. One to just ask questions and the 2nd time was to get an assessment on my trade. The sales lady had previously stated that everyone who submitted apps for the car was either too young to have enough credit or couldn't get insurance. I had a pre-approval letter from my credit union for 30k. I was about as serious as you can get. Still, she wanted to tag along. My wife would slap me long before the sales woman would have said anything. Trust me. (boobs)

[SwampAss]

Oh, and I didn't see this as bad per se, just over cautious.

[CTGrey02]

It's kinda hard not to blame them for being nazi's about it. The car has been reviewed as the best thing out and being limited production they need to keep the value up. No one wants to buy a new car thats been beat on the first 1000 miles by test drivers with no intention of buying the car, just wishes.

[SwampAss]

It's kinda hard not to blame them for being nazi's about it. The car has been reviewed as the best thing out and being limited production they need to keep the value up. No one wants to buy a new car thats been beat on the first 1000 miles by test drivers with no intention of buying the car, just wishes.


True, but they let some people drive it. It had 80 miles on it when I got in. I have a feeling it was already "dealer broken in" heh. Especially after they were all kinda grinning when I bought the car. They gave me that "we all slept with your girlfriend" look. (birthday)

[CTGrey02]

LOL. They wouldn't work with me on the price with em so I told em I wanted a new one off the boat. There's no point in getting a whore when you can pop that virgin cher..er..clutch yourself.

[SwampAss]

I'm totally cool with whores. I mean, why change now?

[bast525]

I got the first one in the hampton roads Area... I was called and said hey we have one just off the truck if you want to look at it. I said DONT CALL ANYONE else!!!

I was up there in 30mins and it had .2 miles yes .2!! I asked to drive it, plastic still covered everything and it didnt have a virginia state inspection so it wasnt even road legal. He gave me a little whine but I said no drive no buy!

He was like let me go talk to the manager and came back out with the keys.
He drove it off the lot then switched with me down the road... I drove the piss out of it and fell in love! My fiance liked the inside and liked the car.

They wanted 2gs over MSRP when we got back calling it fair market adjusted value and I laughed...then sorta got a little angry cause they said the same thing when I looked at the new civic si when it came out. I said I would buy it that night if they took the 2gs off and an extra 500 off for being military... he gave in and did it, I think just to be the first salesman to get rid of one at the dealership. So I bought it that night and they had it ready the next day. When I went to pick it up it had dealerstickers all over it and I made them take them off and told them Im not a rolling billboard for them unless they wanted to take more money off the car, which they didnt but were nice enough to take off the stickers.

Oh and it is a GT model minus the Navi.

What dealership? I bought mine at Casey Mazda. I think Hall Mazda in VAB was the first to get one? Yeah all the dealers around here were asking $2000 mark up on them, I got my GT for MSRP plus $15,500 for my SRT-4 trade which was well over the blue book trade value and about $1000 more than any other dealership would give me for it. Mine did have 78 miles on it when I picked it up :( which ticks me off because I'm a firm believer than the first 20 miles is the most critical part of the break in...

I remember when Hall Mazda was first getting them they werent' selling at all... but after a while they started selling and now it's like as soon as they get one it's gone within a day or two.

I also checked Priority Mazda and almost bought one from them but they were pricks.

[Willspeed]

What dealership? I bought mine at Casey Mazda. I think Hall Mazda in VAB was the first to get one? Yeah all the dealers around here were asking $2000 mark up on them, I got my GT for MSRP plus $15,500 for my SRT-4 trade which was well over the blue book trade value and about $1000 more than any other dealership would give me for it. Mine did have 78 miles on it when I picked it up :( which ticks me off because I'm a firm believer than the first 20 miles is the most critical part of the break in...

I remember when Hall Mazda was first getting them they werent' selling at all... but after a while they started selling and now it's like as soon as they get one it's gone within a day or two.

I also checked Priority Mazda and almost bought one from them but they were pricks.


Bought it at Casey myself.. Cosmic blue back in the November. I had a call from 3 dealerships that day... I guess they all got one in and Casey was the closest and had a blue one. I only wanted Blue or Silver.

[Mocoso]

If yer willing to drive up to Santa Clarita I can give you the sales guys name... I normally buy cars off the fleet managers mainly because I dont have to deal with the haggling crap and the rude pushy sales guys... the sales guy up here was professional enough and the price negotiated without issues that I found no need to find a fleet manager. Guy spent over an hour of his time going through the whole car lineup, letting me test fit the car seats, etc. without once asking me if I was ready to buy

On the test drive he did say they dont give MS3 test drives (or dont like to until customer has fully decided due to limited availability) and he was up front with it - but he let me test drive a MS6, a regular 3 and once I was set on the MS3 the actual MS3 itself before I signed. (in short if you show him you are serious and not just looking to kick the tires they will let you test drive it)

The sales guy asking you for a "credit report" before he lets you test drive is just working you.... thats an old car salesman trick... and any dealer that lets their sales people pull that shit doesnt deserve your business.