What did you pay?

[BAC5.2]

What should I edxpect tp pay for a 2007 Mazdaspeed3? I'm looking for a Silver one with the Grand Touring package (and possibly Nav). I think MSRP is around $25,000 or so (sans NAV).

Is there any advantage to the 2008 model year that should lead me to purchase an 08? Were there any changes from 2007?

Thanks!

[gsrtype1]

fully loaded with nav should be just over 27,000 witout ttl

[BAC5.2]

But that's MSRP. I'm not a fool, and I'm not going to pay sticker price.

[speed3shon]

Your in luck... i bought a ms3, gt, with nav... no other "options"

sticker price was 26,400. i payed $24,751+ttl supposedly "dealer invoice" but there may have been some rebates they were holding onto in selling me the car for invoice. They knew I was S plan, and a 3rd time mazda buyer, 2nd from that particular dealer.

26,051 out the door, in NC.

[Puckpimp71]

There's no rebates on the car and Mazda isn't even giving a break to most dealer employees that want a car for themselves, otherwise I'd be all over it. Depending on the market you're in, some dealers are still getting more than MSRP. If you want a good deal, run an Edmunds on the car, search local inventory on Mazdausa.com and pick a car that the dealer has in stock if you're open to color etc.... confirm an OTD price via e-mail with the dealer so it's in writing and show up ready to buy. It's really not that hard to buy a car.

[BAC5.2]

I used to work at a Nissan dealership in sales, and I know how much of a rip-off dealers are.

If I end up getting an MS3, I expect to pay just below dealer invoice. I should be able to pull a few strings at the mazda branch of the dealership I worked at.

Now I'm struggling with insurance. Insurance on an MS3 is going to be triple what I'm paying now!

[camrycev6]

I paid $200 below MSRP for my new sport model.

[BAC5.2]

Your pretty close to me, what dealer did you go with?

I test drove at Congressional in Rockville, but I can't STAND their service department.

[SwampAss]

But that's MSRP. I'm not a fool, and I'm not going to pay sticker price.


haha. I was lucky to pay MSRP. THey were going for several thousand over sticker when I bought mine

[Abaddon]

haha. I was lucky to pay MSRP. THey were going for several thousand over sticker when I bought mine


(iagree)

[BAC5.2]

No kidding? That's bull. I'm not afraid to walk away from the table, but that's really good to know.

I got one dealer, in writing, to agree to sticker. At least that's a fall back.

Insurance is the killer though. I've got 1 point on my license, and the cost of insurance is WAY outrageous. Over $2300 a year! I pay $800 a year now.

[CTGrey02]

I paid MSRP as well, they wouldn't budge on pricing, and I went to 3 different dealers.

[SwampAss]

No kidding? That's bull. I'm not afraid to walk away from the table, but that's really good to know.

I got one dealer, in writing, to agree to sticker. At least that's a fall back.

Insurance is the killer though. I've got 1 point on my license, and the cost of insurance is WAY outrageous. Over $2300 a year! I pay $800 a year now.


My dealer was having trouble selling the speed3. Lots of interest in my area, but no one had the money/credit/insurability. I was one of the few who did. They were going to trade the car to another dealer for two other cars they could sell in this area. I literally bought my car the day it was going on the truck to leave. That may sound like a line from a salesman, but when I went to look at the car the day before I bought it, it was on a truck.

[bushrat]

Make sure you get quotes from multiple companies on insurance. Many don't consider the MS3 a separate vehicle from the regular 3, and don't charge a different rate. Last I checked, GEICO was one. There are many more out there as well. I think Esurance doesn't have a separate listing for the ms3 either.

[camrycev6]

Your pretty close to me, what dealer did you go with?

I test drove at Congressional in Rockville, but I can't STAND their service department.

Heritage Mazda in Bel Air.

[camrycev6]

Make sure you get quotes from multiple companies on insurance. Many don't consider the MS3 a separate vehicle from the regular 3, and don't charge a different rate. Last I checked, GEICO was one. There are many more out there as well. I think Esurance doesn't have a separate listing for the ms3 either.

It took my insurance company 3 months to catch the difference. (MetLife) My insurance when up $300 / 6 months when they did.

[mcb]

thats why i pay my insurance in 1 payment at the beginning of the year... They even sometime charge less since they dont have to worry about late/non payment.

[knowledge007]

Walked out for 25,000 flat. Paid cash for ttl. Financed the 25.

[camrycev6]

thats why i pay my insurance in 1 payment at the beginning of the year... They even sometime charge less since they dont have to worry about late/non payment.

I do that too, but it doesn't matter. They can send an adjustment to your policy at any time. (I looked up the law on that one.) You do, however, increase your odds that they won't revisit your policy when you pay it all off at once.

[SwampAss]

I do that too, but it doesn't matter. They can send an adjustment to your policy at any time. (I looked up the law on that one.) You do, however, increase your odds that they won't revisit your policy when you pay it all off at once.


I am not sure that's true after the policy is bound. The only changes that can be made AFTER the bound date are ones you call in to adjust. They are forced to carry the bound rate until renewal. I used to underwrite for Va, NC, WV, OH, PA (tort hell!) MD, and DC.

[TheDutchGun]

I am not sure that's true after the policy is bound. The only changes that can be made AFTER the bound date are ones you call in to adjust. They are forced to carry the bound rate until renewal. I used to underwrite for Va, NC, WV, OH, PA (tort hell!) MD, and DC.

Once your policy is bound, it's a contract. They only way your insurance will change mid-term is if you make changes. Companies can't send you random increases just because they made a mistake. They can however raise your rates at renewal. (I underwrite in Ontario)

Here in Ontario, the MS3 is not much higher at all than a regular 3. That may have something to do with the fact that there are only 250 of them in the country. They don't have enough real world info on the car to determine statistically how often it gets in accidents or is stolen.

[camrycev6]

I am not sure that's true after the policy is bound. The only changes that can be made AFTER the bound date are ones you call in to adjust. They are forced to carry the bound rate until renewal. I used to underwrite for Va, NC, WV, OH, PA (tort hell!) MD, and DC.

Well I can tell you it is true for Metlife because it happened to me. They has my car listed as a Mazda 3s, even though they had the correct VIN. When the system finally caught it, they sent me an adjustment to my policy. (I had already paid for the year.) I was billed for the difference.

[Champloo]

I got mine for MSRP but I had the dealer pay for window tinting and the full 3M coating which would've cost about $1200. They also threw in a few other options like the auto-dimming mirror, etc. I knew it would be easier to get option-type stuff out of them than to get the price lowered. They were one of the few dealers that I called that wasn't charging over MSRP. When I got mine most of the Speed3s were getting bought before they even hit the showroom. I bought mine before it even got on the boat in Japan and had to wait about a month. It doubled my insurance with esurance (they look up the vin and rate on that even if they don't list the model). Bottom line: it was all worth it!

[SwampAss]

Once your policy is bound, it's a contract. They only way your insurance will change mid-term is if you make changes. Companies can't send you random increases just because they made a mistake. They can however raise your rates at renewal. (I underwrite in Ontario)

Here in Ontario, the MS3 is not much higher at all than a regular 3. That may have something to do with the fact that there are only 250 of them in the country. They don't have enough real world info on the car to determine statistically how often it gets in accidents or is stolen.



A similar story:

I was rating a policy in 1999 for a Hayabusa 1300. I knew what the bike was, the system did not. I referred to the underwriting guide and found I was to rate it for a similar model in regard to displacement. I can't remember exactly what I rated it similar to, but his 1 year premium was something like $300 full coverage on a 194mph motorcycle. I bet he flipped when he saw the deal. Luck of the draw, I also did his renewal. No additional violations or claims and his premium went up $900.
Not a happy camper.

[gru]

GEICO = the best

$160 a month in PA for non-minium coverage. Perfect driving record though ;)

And yes, they do NOT distingush MS3 from the other 3's.

[knowledge007]

When I had gotten my MS3, I had to wait on the phone for over 30 minutes so progressive could rate the car since they had never heard of the vehicle.

[camrycev6]

I was paying $96 a month for full coverage, $250 ded., on what they thought was a 2.3 liter 3s model. Of course, it went up to about $146 / month now. I have one little item on my record that won't come off for another 3.5 years....

[blkMs3th]

I payed sticker for my sport. While doing the paper work they sold another one, and the sales guy said a 3rd ws sold that morning.

they were not overly receptive to my haggling, neeless to say. This is in the sf bay area.

[camrycev6]

That is the story I keep hearing from most everyone. If you paid anything less than sticker, then you got a good deal. If you paid close to invoice, consider yourself extremely lucky. Either you know someone at the dealership, or you should have went to Vegas on the same day....

[dkswim]

well I just picked up my car yesterday MSRP was 26,870 I payed 24,400. I negoiatited my price over the phone. Im a firm beliveer in consumer reports sure glad I spent the 12 dollers on that.

[camrycev6]

A MS3 GT I take it? What options did you get?

[dkswim]

MS3 GT, sunlight silver, Aluminum fuel door $100, Sirius Sat $430, Wheel locks $40, Nav Sys $1750

[camrycev6]

You must know someone there, or the dealer lost his / her mind! The car's TMV (True Market Value) for Columbus, GA is $26,254. Here is what I find more insane... the invoice on your car is $25,061! So you paid $24,400 which is a $661 dollar loss for your dealer. Maybe that was the first time your dealer ever got his / her hands on an MS3 and thought it was just like a regular 3. (No offense to 3 owners...I had one.) Considering the outstanding sales, reviews, and rarity of the MS3, there isn't a dealer in the country that should be selling them at invoice, much less taking a loss.

You just won the equivalent of a car lottery! I bet your dealer isn't selling them anymore like that. If they are, I will buy five and sell them here for a huge profit!!!

[dkswim]

well i think the dealer knows what they had i know the car i bought was on the lot for over 3 weeks. dealer holdbacks and the company i work for gets discouts with mazda. but basicly i called up asked to talk to sales manager and asked if car was on lot and told him ill pay 24,000 ill pick it up the ext dy you hve option to get me fianced if rate is good but i got beter rate thew my credit union and now im a prowd owner of a MAZDASPEED 3

[dkswim]

the dealer had sold aother one 2 days before and a couple of the sales guys owned or made one but its amazing what consumer reports and staying in the drivers seat will do.

[Puckpimp71]

I'd love to see the PO on that one, supposedly Mazda's not paying out on S-Plans for that car.

[speed3shon]

I got S-plan pricing on mine...

then i got even better than that for a navigation mixup...

[Krazee]

Bought the 04 hatchback 5 speed in mid 05, fully loaded: leather NAV with all the goodies for around $19000

[camrycev6]

well i think the dealer knows what they had i know the car i bought was on the lot for over 3 weeks. dealer holdbacks and the company i work for gets discouts with mazda. but basicly i called up asked to talk to sales manager and asked if car was on lot and told him ill pay 24,000 ill pick it up the ext dy you hve option to get me fianced if rate is good but i got beter rate thew my credit union and now im a prowd owner of a MAZDASPEED 3

The rate isn't really that big of deal here. That happens all the time. I am just amazed at what they were willing to sell the car for. I am willing to say you got a better deal than probably 99% of the MS3 owners on this site. If someone got a better deal (on a Sport or GT) I would love to hear about! It will just make me a little more jealous, but I just want to see how you pulled it off.

[Gle8]

GEICO = the best

$160 a month in PA for non-minium coverage. Perfect driving record though ;)

And yes, they do NOT distingush MS3 from the other 3's.

Actually, when I called around everyone (including geico) rated my msp3 higher than the wrx I had my current policy on. I can't imagine a regular 3 would be rated higher than a wrx, so they must differentiate. I ended up getting the best deal (184/m) with travelers. Keep in mind I totaled a bmw less than 3 years ago, other than that my record is clean.

[dkswim]

wrx = awd "safety feature" acident avoidance