[Bombadil]

I just ran a comparison of "list" and "street" prices using Edmunds. Car were:

3s Hatchback with:
2.3L
4sp Auto
Moonroof
6 CD changer
ABS/SAB/SAC

6s Sedan with:
3.0L V-6
5sp Auto
Moonroof
6 CD Changer
SAB/SAC

Using list prices, the 6s was at $24,415 vs $20,005. So the 6s list at $4,410 higher than the 3s Hatch.

But with discounts and the current $1,000 rebate on the 6s, the typical street prices were shown as $22,058 for the 6s vs $19,749 for 3s. Or a difference of just $2,300.

The other way to look at it is that while the 3s is getting a $256 discount, the 6s has a $2,357 discount.

That's not much of a difference, especially given that the 6s gets a V-6 and a 5-speed sportshift. Those two options alone would normally cost over $2,000.

This gives one some reason to think waiting for the 3s price to come down, may be a good strategy.

 

[dinu01]

Wait for the 3's prices to come down. I would also wait on the 6 until the "staining" issue is resolved 100%. I LOVE the 6 though, so don't kill the messenger. It's a great car!

 

[Kazbaeden]

What's the staining issue?

 

[dinu01]

This: http://www.4doorzoom.1hwy.com/mazda6/problems/rust_gallery.html

 

[Bombadil]

At this point I have yet to see any evidence that the "staining"/"rust" issue plagues the 2004 version of the Mazda6. All the prices I posted were from the 2004.

With a difference of only $2,300, it's hard to buy a 3s over a 6s. It is also a sign that sales of the 6 must not be going well, especially with the rebate now being extended to the 6 cyl models.

OTOH, if the 3s drops another $1,000 over the next few months, it sure looks like a solid buy.

 

[Spammy56]

Actually the reports are saying that the 6 sales are in a pattern of doubling from each month before, it is really selling well now. Good news travels slowly, the 626 was such a lackluster car that people stopped even thinking about a mid-size Mazda. Also the rebates were always for the 4 and 6 cylinders, it was just never extended to cars with the very popular Sport package.

 

[Bombadil]

That's good news about the 6. Last I heard, which was a couple of months ago, was that sales were well under Mazda projections in the US.

 

[Spammy56]

Nope, I believe sales are really starting to take off, one car magazine even said that sales were now rocketing. Although, there is still no question that the Camry and Accord are selling better here in the US. Ironically the 6 is one of the best selling cars in Europe, selling much more than the Camry and I believe more than the Accord. Mazda actually has more market share in Europe than does Honda.

 

[mz6zoomzoom]

It does? I thought I read somewhere that the only place that Mazda came close to Honda or Toyota was Protege sales in Quebec. I could be wrong, though.

And please put your location in your profile, Spammy

 

[Bombadil]

Here's a good article on world-wide Mazda sales. It doesn't support that sales in the U.S. are strong.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/031106/autos_japan_mazda_2.html

 

[Spammy56]

Yeah, can't remember where I read it, I will try to find it. Said that Honda sales in Europe were about 220,000, Mazda 250,000 and Toyota like 850,000. Mazda is VERY popular in Germany, I believe it is the best selling Japanese make in Germany. I got those hose figures about the 6 from multiple US car magz and the actual Mazda website.

 

[dinu01]

Mazda will soon (in a year or two) be the #1 Japanese carmaker in sales in Europe. It consistently wins awards and the Germans like them, while even the Britts are getting there (they TOUGHEST car critics by far).

In Canada the Protege was #3 in sales and #1 in Quebec for the last few years.

The US is still stuck on ignorance, bigger is better (highway cars not fun to drive cars), and Buy American only (for some folks), so obviously Mazdas aren't doing that well.

 

[Haris]

Well replying to poster,

The price is probably that $2-3K difference, but when you think about it, your gonna have to pay more on MZ6 than on MZ3. Maintanance, gas, insurrance, etc. Of course if money is not an issue at all, then MZ6 is a better deal.

 

[cds2060]

But with discounts and the current $1,000 rebate on the 6s, the typical street prices were shown as $22,058 for the 6s vs $19,749 for 3s. Or a difference of just $2,300.

The other way to look at it is that while the 3s is getting a $256 discount, the 6s has a $2,357 discount.

Where is the discount and rebate comes from? Please further explain. It's only for the US and not Canada, isn't it?

 

[Bombadil]

I got it from the Edmunds site. I believe the default location for their prices is the U.S., although some of the rebates may be valid for Canada too.

 

[Absinthe]

I dun think they're gonna lower the price of MZ3 pretty soon. They still need to sell the P5s.
And the salesman told me the same thing. Even if I plan to buy MZ3 in a year, the price is most likely gonna be the same. Maybe $200 off, he said.

 

[cds2060]

Anyone knows if the 03 protege price had dropped since the MZ3 arrived?

I was compairing the pricing/features btw a MZ3, Corolla CE, 03 protege, or a sentra. I went to a dealer a while ago before the MZ3 arrived, and I was looking for a protege with a/c and AT. That's the only 2 things i want for the car, and the dealer said it's only available if I get the LX model with the package, which price about $21XXX. A Corolla CE (AT, A/C, PM, etc.) priced at about $19400, and a sentra (AT, A/C, PM, PL, cruise con., etc) priced about $19900. For sure MZ3 is my first choice if price wasn't an issue.

Was the dealer honest? any comment to the car comparison? and any experience to share for making your car purchases?

 

[dinu01]

Go to mazda.ca and price an LX the way you want it.

You can also get an SE but that has the 1.6L engine. Better stick to the LX.

Take that price, including taxes and interest and multiply it by 0.95 - Under no circumstance pay anything more than that # for a model that's on its way out !!!! Ideally you should pay about 0.93 (93%) of the price on the website.

 

[Bombadil]

I dun think they're gonna lower the price of MZ3 pretty soon. They still need to sell the P5s.
And the salesman told me the same thing. Even if I plan to buy MZ3 in a year, the price is most likely gonna be the same. Maybe $200 off, he said.

Which is pretty much the same thing the dealers said about the MZ6 when it came out.

Not many dealers are going to say that you should wait because the price will drop $500 in a few months. You might go off and buy a Subaru while you are waiting.

 

[Bombadil]

I checked out prices on Edmunds for a 2003 P5 ... Wow! What discounts. I picked a few options and the list price came to $19,075 with an invoice of $17,732.

Edmunds reports that this can be had for a price of $17,607 (below invoice) and that is BEFORE $2,500 in incentives. Bringing the final price down to $15,107, a discount of $3,932. The $2,500 incentive is good until 12/01 in the U.S.A.