Rated 7
Buying a 2011 Mazda Mazda3, and saving $1000 off of MSRP.
I chose the vehicle based on recommendations and consumer reports. I was specifically looking for a hatchback that was large enough to be comfortable for a tall person like myself, comfortable for long drives, good on fuel consumption, good capacity for transporting large items and a great drive. It also had mostly all the features I was looking for as a standard issue in the GS model - which is the one I decided on.
I chose the dealer based on the recommendation from Car Cost Canada. On reflection, I really should have gone to a different dealership as this one was actually not the closest one to me even though it is in the same location as I am. Also, the particular dealership was in the middle of massive renovations, so appearance-wise it was a disaster. A very uncomfortable environment to negotiate in. The salesperson offered great information, but unfortunately was still quite pushy even though he was aware I used the services of Car Cost Canada. I used the wholesale price report, subtracted any added incentives the dealership or manufacturer was given and added the minimal 3% commission (since the quick sale of a car after just 2 hours interacting with the customer, for an end of the year model only warrants a minimal commission). It was quite simple, however I still disliked the fact that negotiations were still involved, and I was given pushy sales techniques such as: "This offer is only good if you buy the car today" (it was 8:55pm and the dealership closed at 9pm).
Joanna from London, ON
reported on Wednesday, September 14, 2011