THSCC Forums

I have my sites squarely set on a new Mazda3 as my next car, but I want to know what Mazda dealer in the area is the best. For those that have bought a new or used car from a Mazda dealer, which one did you use, and what are your thoughts.

I've done some shopping and observing, as have my fellow Mazda club members. We seem to think that Al Smith is the lowest pressure dealer.

I walked in there a few weeks ago to look at the RX-8. No salesman hassled us. They just let us look at the car, and we poked and prodded away without being asked for a deposit (which is what Millenium Mazda wanted...)

If you know what you want, the "house sales" or internet sales is the best way to go. Alternately, you can fax dealers in the area (and out of the area) for quotes on exactly what you want.

Go read up edmunds.com....invaluable advice there.

Regards,
Ashraf Farrag
THSCC Track Events Technical Director
Vice President Mazda Sports Car Club of NC (www.msccnc.org)

Millenium Mazda is possibly the worst car dealer in the world. If you can think of all the bad car dealer stereotypes rolled into one that is what it's like. Of course I only went there once about 6 months ago so YMMV

My experience with them is this. When I was looking for a used Protege, they had a 2000 ES model with 50Kmiles, on autotrader online with no price. So I called them and asked for a price, the salesman quoted me a price of $8,900. The average wholesale for that car was around 7K and retail was 9.5K so that seemed reasonable so I want there over lunch to check it out.

When I get there they are having a big sale and the car I called about is priced at $13,900. Yes 5K more than the guy quoted me on the phone. I know it's the same car because I printed out the Autotrader Ad with the Stock #. So a sales guy comes up and he give me the creeps but he's like lets take it for a test drive. So we do and when we come back I tell him the price I was told on the phone. He says that must have been a mistake and demands that I tell him who quoted me that price. I don't remember who I talked to so the salesmen starts giving me attitude because I should have written that down.

I'm about to walk away when the sales manager walks up and starts trying to smooth things over. So now I have both the sales guy and a sales manager are working me over with a line about how the car is worth much more than $8,900 and they could never sell it for that low. Keep in mind that you can walk over to the new lot and buy the 2003 verision of this car for 14.5K. So I tell them well I guess I'm not going to buy it then and start to walk away. At this point the salesman is like well "you don't have to be an asshole about it". Yes this is a direct quote, someone who is wanting to sell me something just called me an asshole to my face. I couldn't believe it. I was so surprised a laughed that them.

Then even after this they are still trying to sell me the car. I'm getting into my car and they are almost clinging to my leg saying "come on what can I do to make you stay" and "what will it take for us to sell you the car"

I finally close the door and drive away feeling like I need a shower. Yuck!!

But to answer your question Capitol Mazda seems OK but I have heard that Al Smith is the better Mazda dealer in the area.

I have been really happy with the *parts* department at Crossroads (I think that's the name) Mazda, next to the movie theater in Cary.

Last week I went in looking for info on the Mazda6 wagon. One guy I talked to had a clue, the other one didn't. However, the clueless one let me go thrash a Mazda6 sedan, then when we got back he said, "want to drive an RX-8?". That car is GOOOOOOD.

So, obviously, they get a big thumbs-up from me.

I gotta say, though, my "experience" the following day at Leith VW was far more pleasureable. No slimy salespeople there, that I encountered anyways.

What is it about the "type" of people who usually end up being car salesman, anyways?

_________________
Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Ok so in the local area it seems like Al Smith, or Capital Mazda(at crossroads). I will be looking into edmunds.com for information as well. Thanks guys. BTW Mike I hope the mazda forum was helpful. If you find any more good dealers in the state let me know.

Steven, we've had excellent service and purchasing experiences from Al Smith Mazda...first class service, especially. A co-worker had a bad experience with Capital Mazda service, but I've never had any work done there.

Jamie Palmer

Steven,

I bought both of my Miatas from al Smith. They were great and if they sold Fords I would have bought my Mustang from them also.

2 thumbs up for Al Smith.

unlimited thumbs down for Millenium Mazda. They were a bunch of arses when we went looking for a minivan a couple of years ago. I agree with Shawn, they should have showers there so you can get the salesman slime off of you.

Thanks for all the help. AI am pacing my order in a few weeks, and will keep this stuff in mind.

The previous owner of our '96M Miata used Al Smith for service. This guy was pretty anal about the car (he used a car cover *inside* his garage and refrigerated his Zymol) and raved about Al Smith's Service department. The Service history was well documented and by the book, I never found any evidence of shoddy work. I took the car to Al Smith for a NC Inspection last year and walked around the parking lot while I waited. Talked to a couple of sales guys, they seemed OK.
I'd definitely go the Internet and/or bid fax route. Worked well for me a couple of times. Edmunds is good too, especially if they have incentives or rebates or your car. Seems that most dealer profit on the sale is in the holdback. I'm sure Service contributes the balance.
Frank