TDI fades into regulatory oblivion; Enter Miata

[Tave]

Hmm, well as much fun as it might be to peel out a 30-footer when the mood strikes, about all it takes to make me happy is that little exit-wriggle that lets you know you're nipping at the limit.

It looks like Mazda's website has current pricing on the dealer inventories (showing lower pricing than the dealers' websites). They're advertising 26.2K for the Sport, 29.6K for the Club, and 31-31.2 for the GT. I assume there's some downward movement there given the season and the fact that the 2017 model will be arriving in a month or two, but I assume the relative pricing difference will hold: $3,400 to step up to the Club and about $5,000 for the top model.

If I can justify the price increase I'd be fine swinging either. Right now I'm trying to decide which is the best tradeoff for comfort: unheated cloth seats for our hot muggy summers, or heated leather for the mild but chilly winters. They've got some tan interiors available within a 100 mile radius but if I have them yank one from another dealer I'll be stuck with that model. Right now there's a pretty good availability of exterior colors on the GT at the dealerships I would physically buy at, but they are all black interiors.

[MrH]

Base clubs that MSRP for $29.6k can be had for closer to $26k.  When the 2017s hit, the value drops a few grand easily.  They've got 2017s sitting at port, and like 5 months of supply on hand.  They'll start getting desperate soon.

[Tave]

I'll be putting a good chunk down (1/3-1/2) but will likely finance the remainder through the dealer/Mazda. Think they'd be willing to negotiate?

I'd go through a bank but they seem to be offering worse rates than the manufacturers.

[MrH]

I'll be putting a good chunk down (1/3-1/2) but will likely finance the remainder through the dealer/Mazda. Think they'd be willing to negotiate?

I'd go through a bank but they seem to be offering worse rates than the manufacturers.

Go to your local credit union.  Get pre-approved at a competitive rate before even stepping in.  I use USAA for all my auto stuff, and refuse to even talk financing with the dealer until a final price is agreed upon.  It just gives them another avenue to try and weasel some more money from you.

[Tave]

Ugh, I might give it a shot. My coworker just went through his credit union to purchase his wife's new ride and his rate was noticeably worse than the last dealer rate I received. It was also for a CPO car, but I've seen the advertised rates of all the local depositories and it's all in-line.

There's probably a 50% chance I go through all that work only to come out a point-and-a-half or more worse with ~2K cash saved, which is essentially a wash over the life of the loan.

Back in the day when interests rates were always lower at the bank it made sense to go that route to also negotiate on top of it, but when manufacturers started offering 0-2% financing it's pretty tempting to just knock it out at the same place.

[MrH]

If $2k is considered a wash to you, go in without a loan   That's a free $2k in my mind.  That's nearly the price difference between a sport and a club for free.

[Tave]

If $2k is considered a wash to you, go in without a loan   That's a free $2k in my mind.  That's nearly the price difference between a sport and a club for free.

That's not quite what I'm saying. My down payment will be the same regardless of how much I borrow. That extra 2K, or whatever it would come out to be, will be borrowed money either way.

For example, there's an inflection point at which a 18K loan at a higher rate will cost you more to service than it saves you in principle compared to a 20K loan at a lower rate.

Even if it's not, there's a certain value in my time in terms of in not spending my week at or on the phone with the bank setting everything up that may or may not be worth a couple hundred bucks ammortized over 3-4 years.

[Tave]

I get what you're saying though it's the smarter way to buy just takes some more effort.

Think if I brought them 30K for a GT out-the-door they'd make it happen?

[Tave]

Tax title and fees will be $1000 to $1500, for reference.

[Cookie Monster]

You need to adjust your LSD so it doesn't lock up under engine braking.

I think it's 1.5 way so it locks up halfway under decel. A little bit of rotation is nice upon turn in.

I get what you're saying though it's the smarter way to buy just takes some more effort.

Think if I brought them 30K for a GT out-the-door they'd make it happen?

How many GTs do they have on the lot?

Also, FWIW on the NC, people hate the leather. It aged like shit and is pretty crappy in quality. I sold my cloth driver seat to a guy who was swapping his leather interior to a cloth one. I'm not sure how the ND is but that might be something to keep in mind.

[Tave]

I think it's 1.5 way so it locks up halfway under decel. A little bit of rotation is nice upon turn in.

How many GTs do they have on the lot?

Also, FWIW on the NC, people hate the leather. It aged like shit and is pretty crappy in quality. I sold my cloth driver seat to a guy who was swapping his leather interior to a cloth one. I'm not sure how the ND is but that might be something to keep in mind.

4 on the lot here, 4-6 in the next town over.

Almost all manuals too.

[12,000 RPM]

Is the Keffer up by me one of the places you're shopping? If so we might have to meet up bro

[Tave]

Is the Keffer up by me one of the places you're shopping? If so we might have to meet up bro

I bought my TDI from them! Unfortunately they're a little bit out of my range since I won't have a trade-in this time around. I thought about Uber'ing down there--checked out the inventory and they have some red Clubs--but I think I'll probably stick around WS/GSO.

[12,000 RPM]

WS/GSO?

[Tave]

Winston/Greensboro

[12,000 RPM]

I thought you were based out of CLT. Yea that changes things. Puts the difficulty of landing a Fiata in perspective as well.

[Tave]

Yeah we're a little outta the way, but plenty of Miatas in stick!

30K flat get it done? Anyone....Bueller?

Just remember I'm holding all y'all personally responsible if they turn me away and will track down your car and pee in the gas tank as recompense.

[Laconian]

Might be good to see what your upfront pricing options are. Does your work offer a X-plan discount plan? Are you a Costco member? With either of those, they just bring out a binder of fixed, Good Deal prices and you are entitled to them with no bullshit. They're a couple hundred dollars from The Best Possible Deal, but it's much less hassle.

[MrH]

Yeah we're a little outta the way, but plenty of Miatas in stick!

30K flat get it done? Anyone....Bueller?

Just remember I'm holding all y'all personally responsible if they turn me away and will track down your car and pee in the gas tank as recompense.

$30k to get what done?  You still haven't said what trim level you want

[Tave]

Might be good to see what your upfront pricing options are. Does your work offer a X-plan discount plan? Are you a Costco member? With either of those, they just bring out a binder of fixed, Good Deal prices and you are entitled to them with no bullshit. They're a couple hundred dollars from The Best Possible Deal, but it's much less hassle.

You sweet, summer child.

My work is an 70 year old office manager writing physical books with an honest-to-goodness typewriter. We aren't on anybody's plan.



Good point about Costco I'll have to check whether I'm covered on my parent's plan (guessing not).

[Tave]

$30k to get what done?  You still haven't said what trim level you want

Think if I brought them 30K for a GT out-the-door they'd make it happen?

[Laconian]

Email a Mazda dealer some towns over, tell them your terms, then start a bidding war for your business.

[Payman]

Better get it done before the King's 35% tariff takes effect.

[MrH]

Out the door includes tax title and everything?  I don't know what your state charges for all of that.  Sounds possible.

[Tave]

Out the door includes tax title and everything?

Yup, all-inclusive.

I don't know what your state charges for all of that.

It's a 3% sales tax earmarked for highway use, ~$150 to the DMV, and then whatever doc/admin fees the dealer tries to add onto it. I estimated earlier $1000-$1500 total.

Sounds possible.

It'd be ~$2500-3000 off the DSRP, which is currently crossed out on their website. They've got 6 MT Miatas on the lot that haven't moved in the 3 months I've been checking their inventory.

Too high? I don't want to play games with them, spend a bunch of time going back and forth with my bank, or screw with different dealers. I haven't mentioned yet but I'll have full-time access to someone else's car for two-weeks afterwards, so while I've got some room to play with, I'd prefer not to have to drive it for more than a couple days and this weekend.

[MrH]

$2500 off MSRP is cake. You can get that just through truecar. I'd want to do a lot better than that

[68_427]

I think Mike is saying paypal him $26k and he'll get you the Miata you want.  Mike is getting a hard-on just thinking about negotiating with the 20 dealers between you and him

[Rich]

I think Mike is saying paypal him $26k and he'll get you the Miata you want.  Mike is getting a hard-on just thinking about negotiating with the 20 dealers between you and him

[Lebowski]

Is there a Miata forum that has dealers present?  That's how I found the dealer I ordered the M3 from. When I ordered the C6 there were dealers on Corvette forum that had some pretty attractive prices as well.

[MrH]

Meh, I'm just weighing the cost of what I want to put into the S2k vs what a new ND costs.  Dealer desperation is going to hit full force in February when they're still sitting on 6 months of inventory of 2016s.

Is there a Miata forum that has dealers present?  That's how I found the dealer I ordered the M3 from. When I ordered the C6 there were dealers on Corvette forum that had some pretty attractive prices as well.

Not really.  The miata forum is largely old men with zero taste.