Informed opinions: is this a good price quote?

[chioubryan@gmail.com]

Hi all,

I am going to be a first-time Mazda3 buyer, and, after doing much research and receiving several price quotes, would like to ask for your informed opinion about whether I am getting a good price.

Model:

New 2010 MAZDA3 s Grand Touring 5-Door manual (black mica exterior and black leather interior) with:
-technology package
-moonroof/6CD/Bose package

The pre-tax price quotes that I got from dealers so far (I live in northern California) are:

$22,762
$23,069
$23,712
$23,912
$24,000

As far as I know, the above quotes are all including:
-destination fee/delivery fee

but not including:
-DMV fee
-tax
-California tire fee
-documentation fee

Obviously I should be going for the dealer that is asking for $22,762. However, the True Market Value calculator from www.edmunds.com says that a dealer should have to pay $23,712 pre-tax (the "invoice" price) for this vehicle. This means that if the Edmunds calculator is right, that dealer would be losing money with the price quote they gave me. The dealer in question seems pretty legitimate/big: Fremont Mazda. I grilled Fremont about whether there are any hidden fees/any tinkering with the car over the phone, and there doesn't seem to be any. I have yet to physically go into Fremont.

Steps to reproduce the Edmunds True Market Value I mentioned:

1) Go to http://www.edmunds.com/new/2010/mazda/mazd...s.html?action=2

2) Check the "Moonroof, 6-CD & Bose Audio Package" and the "Technology Package"

3) Select "Black Mica" color

4) Enter zip code "94131," my zip code

5) Click TMV Pricing Report

What do you guys think about a pre-tax price of $22,762 for the Mazda3 I described above?

Thanks in advance for any help; feel free to ask me to clarify!

[Virgin1]

Hmmm? This post looks familiar.....
Already answered on MF.com

[chioubryan@gmail.com]

Yup, thanks Virgin1!

[nydoc]

They always get the price they want regardless of the quoted price. I have played this game too many times. They will get you on everything from document transfer fees, "car availability" charges, "trade in" price manipulations, even surcharges on verifying lien clearances for old trade ins. I was quoted a very low price for the Mazda 3 and drove 30 miles to get the car based on the quote. As I suspected, by the time the deal was done, I was paying exactly the same price as the dealer across from my office that intially seemed to be 3K more. The bottom line is, that its just not worth quibbling over the $1000 difference you think you might save when paying 26K for a car. Just enjoy the purchase and try not to feel taken advantage of!