Help Needed: Can't Get Better than 6% Discount on New / near-New Car (Mazda 3 / Astra RS)

Lenigma48 on 27/03/2018 - 18:13
Last edited 27/03/2018 - 18:20 by 1 other user

Hey all,

I thought my over-researching days were over - anyone who relates with XKCD's "Shopping Teams" knows the pain: link

I'm in VIC, deciding between a 2018 Mazda 3 Neo Sport or 2017 Astra RS. Both drive well (the RS had an edge) but main concern is resale value/buy price (this is OzBargain after all).

After negotiating with several dealerships and novated leasing companies (fleet discount), the best drive-away I can do is $22000 drive away on the Mazda or $19k on a 2017 Astra (8000km, 26 months factory warranty left). 6% discount-ish.

For the 2nd most popular car in Australia (excellent resale value + high demand = we don't need to negotiate with you) and a used car ("there's not much of a profit in used cars, can't negotiate price..") I understand I won't be getting 20% off.

I'm not in a rush, not fussed on colour, not racing or driving heaps. What are people paying for entry-level Mazda 3s or 2017 Astras?

Suggestions? Tips? Heckles? First 80k car for investment purpose reference wins a prize.

Automotive

Comments

  • pennypincher98 on 27/03/2018 - 18:22
    +2

    First 80k car for investment purpose reference wins a prize.

    LOL challenge accepted.
    Would that be an AMG or an Audi you were thinking of? I agree AMG are better if you wish to wash your car, but the Audi has a lasting impression if you are an Investment Analyst. However, if you can get the AMG - why not? Just don't live out of your means and you should be all good :) And remember looks first, safety last.

    Btw, a used car is a fast depreciating asset. A new car is a faster depreciating asset. Since you have made up your mind to get either a 2017 or 2018 car, you aren't going to get a great discount unless you just happen on a listing of someone selling cheap (which you should be suspicious of) - an older car (even by two years or so) has a slower depreciation rate as the main depreciation has already happened.

    Tip: if you are going for the Holden, ensure they are actually going to be around in future years. A report I read was going off past sales and doesn't look all that good for Holden atm. However, they can pull themselves back.

  • enigma48 on 27/03/2018 - 18:39

    Looks first, safety last - finally someone who understands me!

    Completely agree re depreciation. I’m all across the Redbook/carsales/other research, looks like Mazda 3s lode about 8-11% per year. No one knows with Astras, too new. Holden are culling many models next year. They’ve been heavily discounted ($30k last year, $19 now - so major depreciation already has happened but who knows)

    Thanks for the tips.

    • CMH on 27/03/2018 - 19:33

      Yeah, picked one up because its a lot of car for the price. Why pay an extra 6k for a corolla that's less-specced?

  • justaperson on 27/03/2018 - 18:48
    +1

    First of all if resale is a concern and you don't plan on keeping the car for 10+ years, cross the Astra off your list. Poor reliability from previous cars carrying the Astra nameplate don't translate well into good resale on the new models. However good it may be it does carry a certain stigma around the nameplate of general unreliability. Furthermore from personal experience I tried to sell an 18 month old Holden Cruze last year and I couldn't give that thing away (ended up getting 11k for a late 2015 vehicle with 26000km on it in early 2017). With the Mazda 3 you may have to call interstate at getting something for a better price. With vehicles in stock you generally have the edge as they're paying interest on the car so the quicker they get rid of it, the better. Look to rural dealerships (as they sell less cars) to see if you can get a better deal as well.

    • enigma48 on 27/03/2018 - 20:22

      Great ideas - thanks!

  • atris17 on 27/03/2018 - 19:23

    Depreciation is the enemy

    Consider an older model if possible?

    Got my Hyundai i30 2014 Model, 40,000km for $14k, when I bought it at around the tail end of 2016

  • Fake News on 27/03/2018 - 19:45
    +2

    This thread on Whirlpool is great - http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2582484
    And there's a speadsheet where people list the price they paid and what model/transmission/extras they've negotiated.

    Good luck! We've got a 2004 Maxx and 2010 SP25 and love them, and my mum got a 2017 Maxx in a run out deal at the end of January this year. The 3s are fantastic cars, so reliable and fun to drive.

    • smuggler on 27/03/2018 - 19:57
      -1

      They're also a chick's car

      • Fake News on 27/03/2018 - 19:59
        +2

        I didn't realise your masculinity was solely based on how big your V8 is…

        • smuggler on 27/03/2018 - 20:01

          No, it's based on how small my V12 is.

          If you saw my Lexus and corolla, you'd probably be wet just witnessing its reliability.

        • Fake News on 27/03/2018 - 20:11

          @smuggler:

          Corollas are just an appliance and a Lexus is a fancy Toyota. Give me a Jaguar E Type of an Aston Martin any day.

        • smuggler on 27/03/2018 - 20:12
          -2

          @gina:

          Oh cringe. Jags are for old married white men who like to flirt with young girls

          ASton Martins are too expensive.

          Corollas are the smart person's car. While you're getting your poorly made engine serviced, the corolla is doing what a car should do.

        • Fake News on 27/03/2018 - 20:16

          @smuggler:

          Much more exciting than a Corolla though…
          (Or a Mazda3, sigh. Unfortunately the mortgage is more of a priority these days than a expensive car. )

        • Oz8argain on 28/03/2018 - 11:55

          It's not about the size, it's how you use it. Sometimes V8 can't even compete with a turbo 4

    • enigma48 on 27/03/2018 - 20:24

      Wow, that looks like gold - thanks heaps! Any idea how much of a discount off list your mum got on the Maxx? (It was probably part of the 17 clearance so I won’t get it but worth a try)

      • Fake News on 27/03/2018 - 20:43

        Just spoke to her and it was 23k for a manual with about 1200 of extras. Not the most amazing price, but she wanted a specific colour and needed it quickly as they had sold the other car!

  • pegaxs on 27/03/2018 - 20:51
    +1

    Heckle: lol @ Astra. How did that re-badged Daewoo even make the list? How is that even considered in the same league as a Mazda.

    Reason: If you are looking for a better deal, go in close to the end of the month, not the start. Go for a demo car, preferably one that is due for a change up. Look for older plated cars, ie: 2017 run out models. And for God’s sake, have a look at a few other makers. Have a look at Kia, Hyundai and Toyota. You will regret buying the Daewoo in a few years from now, if Holden still exists, that is. If you are not in a rush, go in with a figure in mind (be reasonable, 20% off is a big ask on a $25k car), tell them you are there to buy today and walk out if they aren’t even close.

    Facts: There are MASSIVE margins on used cars. Ever traded a car in? Ever gotten anywhere close to what they sell it back to people? They will offer you $9,000 for a car and put it back on their lot for $15,000. Used cars is where lots of the cream comes from. New cars there is little room to negotiate unless the manufacturer is offering an incentive to move a particular model (ie: run out/overstock)

    Have you considered the AMG A200… I’ve heard it has all the bells and whistles… but you’ll need to paint your own brake calipers and find someone else to wash it. Hardest part is deciding what you store in your new investment…

    • jason101 on 27/03/2018 - 21:16

      I'm not a car buff but I always thought the Astra was an Opel based GM model?

      • enigma48 on 27/03/2018 - 21:59

        Yep, it’s new. Holden pushed huge numbers of demos in December last year to fake good sales numbers and it was briefly the #1 small car in AU. The car is pretty solid, test drove about 10 different cars and it was in my top 3. Pricing is excellent right now. Now all I need is a crystal ball to see if I’ll be able to sell it in the future (outlook: not good)

        • enigma48 on 27/03/2018 - 21:59

          New Opel based model that is (the hatch anyway)

        • CMH on 27/03/2018 - 22:13

          Yeah, resale atm doesn't look great. Saying so there might be 2016 models out there where bad resale goes in your favor.

      • pegaxs on 27/03/2018 - 22:51
        -1

        The new Astra, depending on what variant you get, will either be made in Poland, UK, or the old GM Daewoo plant in South Korea. None of these places are renowned for churning out quality cars.

        Resale value will be dismally poor at best. Holden vehicles at this end of the range have never been known to hold value particularly well. I can’t see this model being any different…

  • enigma48 on 27/03/2018 - 23:19

    Thanks all. I’ll assume the worst: the Astra won’t sell well (eg I’m seeing 40% drops in 2 years for the Cruze.. mind you I’m getting the RS with 1 year and 35% already discounted. Hmm.) and I may need to sell in 1-2 years, which definitely pushes me to the Mazda. I’ll ring around rural and interstate dealerships looking for an end of month/quarter deal.

    I’d still love to hear others’ “10% off list, new mazda 3 neo” (new or used or other models) experiences so please share your negotiating luck/story below if you have any to share. I’ll be checking the whirlpool thread soon.

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