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Deal of the Month
by Liz Kim
Want to find out more about the path of least resistance between you and a new car? Take a look at the Deal of the Month below:
February, 2000 - 2000 Mazda Protege
What's
in a name? A protege is defined as one under the tutelage, patronage, or
protection of one more powerful. It evokes images of de Medicis, serfs and
lords, the naive, taut, young Adonis sitting in rapt attention and invading
the fantasies of the extremely brilliant, utterly married but slightly neglected
economics professor, then one late night after her office hours…but I digress.
True to its nomenclature, the Protege may just be the perfect GLC (Great
Little Car) for those of us not yet entitled "Lord Protector" or "Mistress
Califia" - the offspring, the obedient nephew, or - oh, let's run with the
theme, the boy toy. It's sporty, fun, good-looking, and with the $1,000
customer rebate, this dalliance could cost less than a trip on the Concorde.
The ES model with the five-speed manual transmission, which we heartily recommend above the DX and LX models, is equipped with a 1.8-liter engine that produces 122 horsepower and 120 foot-pounds of torque; it'll zip you along quite handily on any city street. The precise steering and standard front and rear stabilizer bars will let you enjoy the spirited drive.
Cheapness doesn't mean it has to be ugly, either. Just look at Britney Spears. The Protege was completely redesigned last year, offering Euro-styling that will distinguish you from the others in the econo-car crowd. Niceties such as brushed aluminum wheels, chrome accents and crisp sheetmetal makes it look more sophisticated than it costs. The interior may be more bare bones, with frugal materials adorning the seats and trim, but the wise placement of the crucial cupholder is enough to forgive those transgressions. Mazda's OptiSpace technology ensures that maximum interior space is had inside a small exterior.
All Protege models come with a great stereo system with CD, but you'll have to shell out a few more bucks for the ES, which purchases air, power locks and windows, the cool wheels, and optional ABS and moonroof. Do it - ya gotta give the boy toy something to keep him from sticking out his pretty lower lip.
2000 Mazda Protege: $1000 Customer Rebate (Expires 2/29/00)
About the Deal of the Month
Buying a new car is a tedious process of preparation and negotiation. Though
much more time-consuming, preparedness is the least troublesome concern for most
people. An educated buyer knows about invoice costs, MSRP, desired options, available
interest rates -- all before visiting a dealership. It's the negotiation process
that makes us stay up nights tossing and turning. In the end, even the most well-rehearsed
buyers often wonder whether or not they really got a good, competitive deal on
their new car. The nightmare-inducing question is, "What if my neighbor down the
block paid less for the same make and model?"
Fortunately, the law of supply and demand is sometimes in our favor. When a car
is not selling well, for whatever reason, car dealers are more apt to let it go
without a fight. Make an offer on the right car, and you'll be surprised how easy
it can be to get a screaming deal.
So when are the cards stacked in your favor? Well, if you're not dead set on the
hottest new metal on the showroom floor, we've come up with some examples of cars
that dealers are willing to let go for a song. Sometimes manufacturers subsidize
incredibly low leases, sometimes they offer cutthroat financing rates, and sometimes
they offer customer- or dealer-incentive money to get the product out of the dealer's
hands and into yours. This doesn't mean that you can go into the negotiation process
unprepared. Negotiation is always required, though it helps to know in advance
when the dealer may be bluffing, and when to hold your cards.
©1999 Edmund Publications
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