[imported_Zoomin 3]

I went back to my dealer last night and my sales rep said that he could not locate a 5-door with the ABS/SAB/SAC package only (I already knew that much by using this site) in the color I want. However, he said that the ABS package could be bundled with either the Moonroof & 6-CD Package OR the Xenon & TPMS Package.

I know about the moonroof thing, but the xenon and ABS only is news to me. I thought that the xenon would be cool to have and possibly save me money on xenon-like bulbs in the longer run (not to mention the cool factor of adjustment). Is this guy going to try and force the moonroof package on me next (since he knows that I definitely don't want it) or is he just misinformed?

I will be getting a the S plan pricing since my dad works for a ford partner. Will I be able to negotiate this price lower (especially if I get all the options listed above including the moonroof I don't want)? I really don't want to pay over $18000 and the invoice on the Xenon and ABS packages is $18,024 on edmunds.com.

Also, I'm looking to dump my car on the dealer for trade-in value and also get the grad rebate since I will graduate in June. My current car is a 1990 Toyota Camry LE and is barely running. The exhaust has a hole, the timing is now off, the hinges on one rear door are about to fall off due to rust, the power locks have failed and the windows are sketchy. I assume salvage is all it's worth, but my dad thinks I should clean the thing to get more money. How much (or little) should I expect? I was thinking $500-650. Anything will help me cover the increase on insurance I'm facing with my awful driving record.

My family's independent insurance agent could not get a cleer quote for the 3 because it is so new. He based the quotes he got off the 6 and just told me it would be less. Anyone else having these problems? How will the crash test rating (which everything I've sounds optimistic) going to effect the rates since insurance companines are pessimistic by nature?

P.S. My dad is forcing me to get a new car because he thinks my camry will not make much loger (days or weeks at best). So he has offered to put a downpayment and pay monthly until june on the 3.

 

[DJ Spencer]

No, that is an actual package. I tried for a fully loaded, and they couldn't get the price low enough (damn first week release pricing!). So we went round and round with other cars. Some with only ABS, others with only the moonroof, I got ABS and moonroof with mine.

But I did come across one that was lights and abs. only one though.

I'd say skip the lights and take the moonroof - one is less expensive than the other in the long run, and 6-disc in dash is far more better than TPMS.

 

[imported_Zoomin 3]

The 6-disc doesn't bother me since I will be the AUX-in module to hook up my MP3 Jukebox.

 

[DJ Spencer]

There's an aux in?

 

[imported_Zoomin 3]

From what I hear the rx-8, 6 and 3 use the same modular audio system. there is and expansion slot to add a chager or minidisc unit on the HU. some rx-8 guys are working on it and it will allow multiple inputs. I will put my Archos multimedia in either the center console or the little change collestor thing. Sorry but I can't find the link but someone has mentioned it in the electronics forum here.

 

[LeeLee]

Your invoice price is off. You included the cost for the sports package, which is standard on the 5-door. The actual invoice is $17603. The ABS, moonroof, and xenon packages are not dependant on each other. However, Mazda is making very few cars with ABS only, much to my dismay.

But I was able to buy an ABS, moonroof, and xenon equipped car for $18,250, before rebates, so don't be afraid to ask for a price below invoice.

As for insurance, I am with Geico and they had the 3 in their database.

As for your car, no dealer or even CarMax will give you any decent amount of money. If the dealer gives you $200, they are taking it out somewhere else. On a car that old with that many problems, they can't really sell it on a used-car lot, so you are probably correct that salvage is the only thing you can expect. However, this is not to say that you can't just list it in the paper and try to get $500 from someone for it.

 

[imported_Zoomin 3]

Thanks Lee. That explains why all the prices on MyMazda are lower than of the MSRP's I have fro medmunds.com I just assumed that edmunds split it at up and deducted the sport package from the base msrp.