I think that's great in todays market. You can drive away without that "I bent over for the dealership" feeling. I'm guessing the roof rails are listed on the original Monroney sticker , so included in the MSRP - not something he's throwing in. The Admin fee (doc fee) is what it is. Others will tell you it's BS but it is usually the same at all area dealers. Edge guards and tint do have a value, probably about $300 - $400 depending on the quality. - I have to say you did good.
My new Signature just got so San Diego last week. This is not the best "financial" or rational thing to do, but here's my deal.....
2021 Signature $39,600 MSRP
Loyalty rebate <$500>
Net Price $39,100
Total DOC & Fees $767
2020 Signature <37,875> TRADE-IN
========================
NET DIFFERENCE DUE $1,992
Side note: No formal contract yet, just left a deposit, but I'm not holding my breath because I can't see how the dealer can make money on this deal so we'll see next week if it holds up.
Report back on whether the deal sticks when the time comes.
I wouldn't say necessarily it's a bad financial decision. A lot depends on how long you plan to keep it. If you trade it in three years it will be a year newer with fewer miles. You should get most if not all of it back in what will be a normalized market. If you trade in 10 years that difference will all but dissolve.
10 years or more is my target which makes me step back from looking into a deal. However, If a PCM TSB had not resolved my constantly annoying lugging issue I would have looked into getting a similar deal and not necessarily a Mazda. If the trade was giving you issues that would be a meaningful factor.
You didn't mention sales tax on the $1,992 unless you included it the doc and fees figure. It wouldn't be more than a hundred or two so not a biggie if that's added to the equation.
Anyway, in the mean time before the next trade, you get an extra year or two of warranty depending when you bought the trade. Time to next routine services gets reset for some nominal savings. You're one year forward in the generation which generally means fewer problems though that's no guarantee. You get the next gen infotainment with the 10" screen plus whatever other minor stuff was added in 2021. And there's that refreshed new car smell (priceless!
).
It does make one wonder about the dealer economics given the trade value. The best I can figure, as hard as it is to believe, they intend to mark it up to near or at original MSRP. Who's paying that for a used car about to turn two years old? It must be happening with economic reports saying used car prices are up 40% this year. Maybe it just comes down to the fact the average age of cars on the road in the US is now up to 12 years. Some folks just need a car because the old one is troubled or died. And there's your trade, sitting on the lot, ready to go, manufacturer certified, while a new one requires a wait. They also have other potential profit prongs in selling the trade--financing, extended warranties, life and disability insurance, dealer installed options, junk add-ons--even if you don't buy that stuff.
Still, the dealer economics cannot be good. As
@dunhillmc pointed out, fewer deals means less profit.