muttley laugh
so stupid to be negative about a customers vehicle, and then their tactics always....like there is no proper ways to be succesful in sales without talking crap 

I can't get past you making your son drive a used car 

James, perhaps I could offer a little advice. I'm a used car dealer in upstate NY. Here's my suggestion. Ask around to friends, family, coworkers regarding a good experience with a local dealer. Don't call, but actually go there and sit down with the boss. Tell him exactly what you want down mileage and a few reasonable colors. Let him know it's a cash deal, no trade. You want a car with a clean history (carfax) and that you have a time period of a few weeks to finalize the deal.
Every dealer gets their inventory from auctions. They all have the ability to search before hand a see what's available for that weeks auction. If you give me a mileage range, I'll give you a reasonable price range based on your area.

Hey James, I've got a beat-up, old Toyota Camry that's pretty much not worth fixing. I'm guessing it's worth between $800 and $1,300.  It's not a Mazda 3, but it's also a Japanese make and I have no problem taking the $6,000 you're budgeting. 

BobF
I can't get past you making your son drive a used car 

It will be good for him! :) He had a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee that he was driving the last two years. We let his sister drive it now - it's like a tank. 
 
We didn't think he'd need one at college and we figured it would be good for him to not have one and bum rides a bit. He's coming home most weekends and I'm driving him at least one way, so suddenly a car looks good. :)
 
When he graduates and gets a great job (he's thinking law) he can buy himself something nice and shiny! :D

Randy P
James, perhaps I could offer a little advice. I'm a used car dealer in upstate NY. Here's my suggestion. Ask around to friends, family, coworkers regarding a good experience with a local dealer. Don't call, but actually go there and sit down with the boss. Tell him exactly what you want down mileage and a few reasonable colors. Let him know it's a cash deal, no trade. You want a car with a clean history (carfax) and that you have a time period of a few weeks to finalize the deal.
Every dealer gets their inventory from auctions. They all have the ability to search before hand a see what's available for that weeks auction. If you give me a mileage range, I'll give you a reasonable price range based on your area.

Randy, that's the best advice I've gotten yet! I think I'll do that when my son is home so that he can be part of the experience.
 
thank you! :)
 
PS: I'm thinking 100-125k on mileage seems about right...

jamesg1213

smallstonefan
I guess I am super-sensitive to poor service since I spend so much time taking care of my clients, and creating a culture in my company to take care of clients.
 
Or I'm getting curmudgidy!
 
nah.... :)

Well, if you were being generous, look at it from the sales rep's point of view. He doesn't have a Mazda 3. Can't blame him for trying to sell a Mazda 5 to you, that's what they do. Plus, he needs the commission.

I can blame him because he specifically asked me if I was open to other vehicles and I specifically told him no. If he didn't ask, then I'd say he was being a good sales rep. :)

smallstonefan

Randy P
James, perhaps I could offer a little advice. I'm a used car dealer in upstate NY. Here's my suggestion. Ask around to friends, family, coworkers regarding a good experience with a local dealer. Don't call, but actually go there and sit down with the boss. Tell him exactly what you want down mileage and a few reasonable colors. Let him know it's a cash deal, no trade. You want a car with a clean history (carfax) and that you have a time period of a few weeks to finalize the deal.
Every dealer gets their inventory from auctions. They all have the ability to search before hand a see what's available for that weeks auction. If you give me a mileage range, I'll give you a reasonable price range based on your area.

Randy, that's the best advice I've gotten yet! I think I'll do that when my son is home so that he can be part of the experience.
 
thank you! :)
 
PS: I'm thinking 100-125k on mileage seems about right...

James, An 06 Mazda 3i with 70 to 80k miles should only be around $5500 to $6000 retail. Higher miles will be a bit less. That's for an automatic with ac.

sweet! That fits with my initial research but is actually a little lower than what Edmund's and others were saying, so this is very good to know. My son actually wants a stick if we can find one. 
 
Thanks again Randy!!!

Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book (KBB) aren't really reliable sources. Use NADA. It's what banks use when determining loan values. Much more reliable info.