Am I Getting Ripped off? Demo Car Purchase 2014 Mazda 2

LWillow and lace on 23/01/2015 - 16:59

Hi guys,
First post, please be nice :) My 2006 Toyota Yaris is getting a bit old so I was looking into getting a new light car.
I was looking at the Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 and Polo and after reading another post by an Ozbargainer in the same situation, thought I would look at getting the runout 5 door manual hatch Mazda 2 2014 model, as it is still made in Japan.

I live in WA, and I have found a demo model pretty similar to this at a local dealership
http://www.carsales.com.au/demo/details/Mazda-2-2014/AGC-AD-…

Difference is it had 350km on the odometer. Dealer threw in free mats, full tank of petrol. It has about 8 months of registration on it still. Negotiations are at $14 000.

What do you guys think, should I bite?

TIA!

Automotive

Comments

  • Jesmond on 23/01/2015 - 17:25

    What's not to like about that? Sounds like a good deal. I have a Mazda 323 from 2003 and haven't had a single problem with it. I still use it today and I drive a lot. Can't beat the Japanese at automobiles. What's worrying you about it? Price around Vs new models and see if it's worth it. Where are today's Mazda 2s made? I like the design of Volkswagen so I would also entertain a Polo or Golf if I were to buy a new car in the small car range.

  • boonanza on 23/01/2015 - 17:55

    Looks like decent deal. $1500 cheaper than new Mazdas make excellent cars and whatever you decide you will be happy:)

  • pennae on 23/01/2015 - 18:03

    New manual Mazda is 16990 on the road with no negotiating - you could probably get it cheaper. The newer model has a more economical engine compared to the previous one. For 2.5K difference I would (and did) go for the new model - especially if it is 2015 compliance.

    However, the old model is bigger on the inside. If you're going to have tall ppl in the back at all, the new one will be a tight(er) squeeze!

    14K is a good deal - it depends if you have the $ to "upgrade".

    Oh and the old model has space in the dash for a UBD. I thought that was quaint. Or "retro". However you want to look at it ;)

    • modsec802 on 23/01/2015 - 20:36

      The entry level 2015 model (Neo) also has a number of downsides to the 2014 entry level model (Neo Sport):
      * Made in Thailand (old was made in Japan)
      * No cruise control - standard on old
      * Steel wheels (hubcaps) over alloys on old model

      It does have a six speed manual over a five speed in the old but the amount of highway driving done in a 1.5 litre car is small and fifth gear is sufficient.

  • thejew on 23/01/2015 - 18:27

    2014 Mazda 2, what sub model?

  • Willow and lace on 23/01/2015 - 19:24

    It was the Neo Sports model

  • Willow and lace on 23/01/2015 - 19:29

    Thanks for all your responses! There was an Ozbargainer that managed to get pretty much the same car, with only 80km on the odo - negotiated down to $14 500 drive away in September in QLD last year, and several months later, with the new model out, I just wondered if I can bargain it down, realistically. The sales guy says the taxes etc are more, being WA though.

    • modsec802 on 23/01/2015 - 20:32

      That was me and it actually was a brand new car in the end for $14,500 driveaway, full 12 month rego, full tank fuel, genuine bluetooth and genuine Mazda mats.

      Exact same colour as mine also.

    • modsec802 on 23/01/2015 - 20:41

      To answer your actual question, considering the new model is out, you're getting less rego, and the kms, I would offer 13,500 and go to 14,000 max

      • pennae on 24/01/2015 - 09:51

        They were giving $500 in Myer vouchers with each car sale just after Christmas. You might be able to at least get those!

  • rambutann on 23/01/2015 - 20:11
    +8

    I would just keep the Yaris if I were you lol

  • Willow and lace on 24/01/2015 - 10:11

    Juiced Pixels: that was a really useful review, thanks for posting it! It steered me into looking into 2014 Mazda Neos, which I otherwise wouldn't have bothered looking at.

    I did start my negotiations at $13500, but the sales guy refused to even give the offer to his manager, so I offered $500 more and left. Got a text back from the sales guy saying he was confident he could get it over the line, but then his manager called me back and said it was the last one in stock and he wanted $14500, to which I declined.

    It's getting a bit difficult to find the run out Neo, the other car I liked (due to all the added features) was the 2015 model Honda Jazz VTi (manual). The lowest I could negotiate a new Jazz down to was $16 000, driveaway with tank of petrol, floor mats, 12 month rego though.

    • modsec802 on 24/01/2015 - 10:17

      I really liked the drive of the polo, but it was a promo price of 15,990 drive-away and I really wanted to spend about 14k, and I still had some concerns about reliability being a VW and also South African built, and a few things like requirement for PULP and a more technically complex (and more likely to break-down) engine.
      I wasn't that impressed with the Jazz. The reversing camera was a nice touch, but found it a bit 'tacky' inside. The sales guy at Honda was extremely pushy/aggressive so that was a massive turn off.

      • pennae on 24/01/2015 - 16:12

        I came to the same conclusions! I also looked at the Kia Rio (7yrs warranty!) but it just felt "tinny" compared to the Mazda. And the salesperson was toooo pushy.

  • Willow and lace on 24/01/2015 - 20:48

    Personally I'm not a fan of Polo's car design. I didn't get to test drive one though, they didn't have any manuals left at my local dealer, apparently they were going like hot cakes!

    Just got a bunch of missed calls and a text from the dealer saying they have "good news" and to call them back ASAP. Must have offered too much :(

  • boonanza on 28/01/2015 - 19:09

    How did you go?

  • Willow and lace on 30/01/2015 - 14:37

    Actually it was a bit dodgy. After the offer was declined by the manager, and considering it a bit more, I felt like I'd offered too much for a 2014 Neo, and plus it appears we'll need to be moving soon so best not to get a new car. The dealership kept calling me, and I was working so I didn't pick up, until yesterday. They texted me and said congrats, the car is ready for delivery. I called them back and the sales guy tried to convince me that the manager hadn't declined the offer and said the contract of offer was valid for a few weeks, so they had the right to accept it at a later date. They had already included the car in their monthly sales quota, which enabled them to get a sales bonus. I got upset and said he'd talk to his manager and call me back.

    • boonanza on 04/02/2015 - 17:54

      That does sound Dodgy… Car Salesmen are definitely bottom feeders I hope you get a new car soon:)

    • spackbace on 11/02/2015 - 21:01

      A week later, and how'd you go? I'm actually a car salesperson from Perth :) And yes, that sounds dodgy as hell and stupid as hell!

      • tonyjzx on 12/02/2015 - 21:29

        old model

        pass

  • branners on 14/02/2015 - 13:56

    Ignore "Made in Thailand", there is no particular reason to think it is better to get a car that is Made in Japan than elsewhere in Asia.
    Thai-built cars are usually made to exactly the same design as ones made in other factories but the Thai factories are, generally, newer. That means newer and better robots and better quality control.
    Ford's new SUV, the Everest, is made in Thailand (to a design from Australia) and it will reset the bar for medium to large SUVs. Going to be a bunch of miffed Territory owners out there…
    Over the next decade there will be similar comments about cars made in India and, in Honda's case, China. They have a new mega factory up near the Mongolian border and while it will generally be making cars for the Chinese market, it may lead to "Chinese" Civics and the like being sent here. Quality will still be good.
    In this case, hold off a bit if you can. Cars brought in recently may be cheaper due to the impact of FTAs with Japan and Korea, so there may be a price drop or, more likely, upgrades to accessories etc.

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