[InlineSix]

Yeah, everything is expensive in Hawaii…or living on any island, for that matter. It seems like a tough and annoying existence to always be paying extra for everything.

 

[PhEVuser]

Yes, it is bad but that is nothing new especially for the last 30+ years. Everything needs to be shipped or flown in. Grocery shopping can be especially traumatic if you live in a place that gets goods trucked in or has other transportation means. I guess the minor exception to the rule is that Amazon prime will ship with no cost per item but it's built in to the prime membership which I think now is $180/yr.

I recently ordered a solar pool cover for $125 from Home Depot that was shipped at no extra cost in about 4 days to Hawaii. A similar pool cover I bought years ago for about $225 from a pool supply store. This was my surprise of the week.

Also for my island there is only one Mazda dealership. If I don't want to work with them I have to go with a competitor brand, most of which have very high markups or no cars to sell and very long wait times. Are you seeing a pattern here? Last time I bought a new car was 2012. Hoping that my 2024 Mazda will be with me for a few decades.

 

[cwatters0]

Quick update… our PHEV premium was delivered to the dealership and we went to sign papers on the purchase today. Was able to haggle $1500 below MSRP. We live in the northeast so discounts are available at some locations.

Who was the dealer? I'm in NY but willing to travel a little bit. Thanks

 

[Sbrohinsky]

Who was the dealer? I'm in NY but willing to travel a little bit. Thanks

We bought from Ira Mazda in Boston suburbs. Got the price by showing them advertised discounts at 495 Mazda in Lowell (who I believe are still showing discounts on the website). Happy to provide a salesman reference if you like.

 

[cwatters0]

Thanks. I’ll keep you in mind as I get closer to pulling the trigger

 

[PhEVuser]

That's helpful to know some dealerships are willing to work with customers. Sharing the contacts are a big help for shoppers that don't mind some travel. Shipping cars can be a hassle but at least you have some options. It's still mostly a buyer's market.

 

[PhEVuser]

Maybe there is some hope in the coming months. Inventory seems OK for Mazda. More new SUVs are coming for model year 2024 between now and the fall. Competition is heating up a bit.
Will be interesting to track how things go and maybe prices will soften for the better. About time.

 

[Rich]

Balise Mazda is Springfield, Ma is a one price dealership that is discounting CX-90's

 

[PhEVuser]

I'm beginning to hear that in my area the used car market is softening up and prices are falling. This means that we might see some price drops for new cars if inventory stays up.

 

[mazdaspeed2018]

South Florida, the first price offer from the dealer was 14K over MSRP! I countered with MSRP. I think we ended up 4K over MSRP and they gave us 1K more on my trade-in. They also gave me a bit on a break on adding crossbars, hitch, wiring harness.

55.5K MSRP on a Premium Red CX-90 PHEV
3.6K sales tax
1.5K add-ons
2K other stuff

Would have paid about 63K and paid 66K.

They kind of had me when I insisted on the Soul Red, nobody in the state had one, and they had one coming in just a few days. They kept talking about their supposedly LONG list of people waiting to buy them.

I just bought one in south Florida. I had no idea that dealers were doing this. My original intention was to get a Tahoe RST, but I saw all the complaints about the engine and transmission I decided against it. Then I settled on getting a Blazer for the time being. Was going to used, and saw a Nissan commercial. So I thought, let me look at what they have. I went to the Nissan place to drive a Pathfinder, which is kinda close to the Tahoe. It was fine, but they didn't have the model I wanted. Went next door to Mazda. Had no idea what they had. Saw the CX90 and drove it. I was highly impressed. Then I drove the Blazer RS. It was ok, but nothing compared to the 90.

I left needing to think on it for a few days on what to do. The sales guy warned me of the markups and even sent me some pics of the markups on the vehicle sticker. I searched online, found this group and this thread, and started my negotiation back. I let him know that I've never paid sticker or over for a vehicle...always under. I went in and talked to him and quickly got the main guy I guess. I told him I don't do sticker or over. I have other options available. I don't need the 90. I'm ok with a used Blazer. However, if he wanted me to put money down I'd do it, but the deal has to be right. I'm flexible on my path here. He came back with 700 over for the turbo S. So I did the deal at that price.

Afterwards, talking to the salesman again he asked me when I thought this craziness would end with the sticker adjustments, and I said there's no reason for it to end. At first it was the chip shortage, but now those things have ramped up again to some degree. I think there's a shortage of inventory, because that's the way all manufacturers want it. They save money by shutting down plants, laying off people, and making as many vehicles that's required to barely meet demand. They're trying to find that balance. There's no reason for this to stop. Basic supply and demand.

 

[PhEVuser]

Thank you mazdaspeed2018 for your experience. Bottomline, if the dealership wants to work with you they will. Keep asking for a reasonable deal. Those dealerships that are holding out for high markups will have to decide if that strategy works for them in their marketplace. In my area it is very common for some dealerships to have $4000-5000 markups on all SUVs and sometimes worse. Many have low or NO inventory and 4-6 month wait times to get anything in.

Buyers have to keep these dealerships honest and refuse to pay those high prices. Shop widely and find a dealership that will offer you MSRP and even do better which is less common but has been reported on this forum. Overall you did well.

It is a good sign if they have an inventory that is not selling like hot cakes (yet), if Mazda is keeping up with shipping cars then they need to sell more and get more marketshare.

 

[hongrn]

I just got my CX-90 Turbo Premium Plus 2 weeks ago, at $2,000 below MSRP. I live in Orange County, CA. I went through Costco and TrueCar, and indicated my preference of color and trim level. I got texts and emails from 6 different dealerships, some willing to give me another $200 off any quote. The Costco price was $1,500 off MSRP, so we did OK in the end.

 

[PhEVuser]

Wow, You're lucky to have dealerships willing to work with the Costco auto buying program. Almost none of the dealers across the brands will work with Costco and comply with their rules. I did buy several cars using Costco in the past and it always was the most in demand cars were not part of the program, just the common models and it was a set price which was OK.

So, Yes you did really well compared to the rest of us. Again, I think inventory can be good as Mazda is making and shipping CX-90s, not so sure about demand yet as it is early for 2024 model cars.

 

[Rich]

It's outrageous to see dealerships gouging people over sticker. I get it if its something special like a Corvette or something but not a Mazda. Balise Mazda in Springfield, Mass is below MSRP. No buying clubs required or haggling. One price dealership with all prices and details online.

 

[PhEVuser]

It's not outrageous but something that is present in various markets. I'm in Hawaii. All CX-90s are marked up, if the dealership could sell them all with $8000 above MSRP or more they would and on every CX-90 is a sales summary that shows that. If a buyer is OK with that then it is a deal. If the buyer wants to negotiate and lower total price then they can try. There is only one Mazda Dealership on Oahu with two locations. You can choose Mazda or something else. KIA and Hyundai have dealership markups of $5000 and $6000 on all SUVs with no KIAs in stock and some Hyundais in stock. Toyota has sold out of all hybrid SUVs for the next two years, no waitlist until 2025, no used Toyota modern hybrids. Honda Pilots are marked up $4000.

On the bright side sales are picking up for the CX-90 as I see my dealership is moving them with new ones arriving on a regular basis and some sales for existing inventory including PHEVs.
Turbo S is in short supply as is Select Turbo base model. Middle trims and base Turbo seem the most plentiful so those might sell for closer to MSRP.

I did contact California Mazda dealerships and some said they do not sell out of state but I did find one that said they would. Shipping is about $2500 and they would sell at MSRP.

 

[cx90mc]

Eastern TN, I got someone for you if interested. I was below MSRP although they are asking for ADMs.