Ultra, do you have a 3? Where in Ca are you?

 

1. Asking for a driver's license seems entirely reasonable. How else would they know you can legally drive a car? Sure they get some other info off of license - so does a car rental company, ...

2. Do NOT sit in a dealer room more than a few minutes haggling on price. Do the research, call around and decide how much you are willing to pay BEFORE you go in. Look at mazdausa.com and see exactly which cars with which options are available at the dealer. Write down the prices and options packages, and put the paper in your pocket. Do NOT show it to the dealer. Go in and take test ride, look around the lot, etc, etc.
If you see one you like, ask the dealer for his best price. If he comes close or below the number in your pocket ... ask him/her to write dow the bottom line price, including all dealer fees, etc, etc. If he doesn't add a bunch of BS - you might decide to buy it there and then - but if you have some doubts shop another dealer.
You can always come back.

If he's way over your price - tell him he's way high and walk out calmly. You're going to look elsewhere...

 

good advice

 

Still no luck with a 3. Most of the CA dealers that I called won't move on MSRP or are rude to me. I'm thinking of calling it quits and buying a Civic. HELP!

BTW, Tony from Redlands Mazda called me and demanded that I remove this thread. $100 says that he'll sign up for this club and we'll see a post soon.

 

Wow. Glad we went through our credit union. We payed like 200 over invoice and the price was preset. Dealers couldn't mess with any of it. IMO, next time find a way to get one of them. Very usefull.

 

FrankFrug... It's quite possible supply is tight now.. If you can wait till the 2005 cars start coming in November.... And also try carsdirect.com they will likely quote you a price below MSRP and stick to it.
When you go to pickup/pay for the car - just be firm and don't buy any extra dealer "services" or add-ons. Easiest way would probably be to get the exact amount that the carsdirect.com guy tells you as a certified check. Then you just show up with the check and no cash, no credit card - it's take it or leave it!

 

What other cars would you recommend in the 3's class?

 

If by class you mean price range - than the Corolla, Matrix (aka Pontiac Vibe), Civic.

If by small car with sporty, powerful yet comfortable and quiet ride under $20K - I don't know if there is one

I'm loving my Mazda3-Hatch-2.3L.

 

Matrix XR-S, Scion XB (loaded and with TRD supercharger for about the same price as a Mazda3), wait a year and buy the Audi A3 (if you can save up an extra five grand), Sentra SE-R spec 5 (cool car if you can live with a trunk instead of a hatch), Dodge SRT-4 (ditto but with a turbo), Focus SVT (if you can find one of the last ones new), Cobalt SS (Supercharged replacement for the Cavalier - only light years better), GTI (VR6 or 1.8L turbo - both are great), Subaru WRX, etc...

There are so many choices out there for good, affordable performance cars. The best thing to do is to drive all of the ones that interest you, and pick the best match.

 

Matrix - kinda like the Mazda3-Hatch in size and shape - but drive it! It doesn't feel like a comfortable car to me. I drove the non S model and power is really lacking - even compared to my old 93 Corolla! For the S they run the same engine block at a higher compression ratio (I think you have to fill it with premium gas.), maybe some other tricks, to squeeze a few more horses out of it. Try it and let us know.

Sentra? How is Nissan reliability these days? In the past I've found they cut corners and/or didn't properly field trial components - so in a few years you get some weird annoying problems problems.

Dodge or Chevy? Please... reliability?

Subaru WRX - what price with the turbo and other sport options? And do you really want the extra maintenance and expense of turbo and 4-wheel drive? If so - yes, consider this one.

 

Thanks for all of your advice. I'm going test driving tomorrow!

On another note, Tony from Redlands Mazda CALLED my house and threatened me. Even after the fact, I'm still having a nightmare experience at Redlands Mazda. Damn!

 

Why hasn't anyone mentioned the scion tc. It has the same amount of horses and the same zero to 60 as the 3. If you look stat to stat the two are pretty much the same. Including the fact that both come with 17 inch rims if you get the 3 hatchback, and as far as I know there was a supercharger or a turbocharger, one of the 2, that was coming out for the scion tc while the mazdaspeed 3 I think turned out to be the mazdaspeed 6. (just got an email from mazda about the 6). I personally chose the 3. It has a smoother stick but the scion is much more upgradable with dealer accessories as far as performance and looks. The best part is, none with void that precious warranty.

 

Actually, I was between the Tc & the 3 too. I choose the 3 because #1 I didnt have to wait, #2 I got a better deal #3 Although i WANTED a 2 door i'm planning on having a kid within the next few years so I will NEED a 4 door #4 I never got the chance to test drive a TC (yes I was trying to for 3 wks!) so it never got the chance to impress me...I think I made a good decision tho (its only been a month...so I hope so)

 

On the Tony problem,
First, if you haven't already, next time he calls calmly ask him to stop calling and then hang up.

If he persists, contact your local police. The guy would be nuts to harass you, jeopardize his business, and waste time on you when he could be selling (scamming?) someone else.

 

I called the Better Business Bureau on them and there is a pending case. I told Marlene, Tony, and Eric at Redlands, Mazda I would call the BBB and they laughed and said, " they won't come to Redlands!" Who's laughing now!