- In this report
- Overview
- Narrow your choices
- Check for incentives
- Find your trade-in value
- Take test drives
- Arrange your financing
- Get price quotes
- Dos and don’ts at the dealership
- How much can you save?
How much can you save?
This article appeared in 
The sticker price of this Mazda3 hatchback: $21,565, including MSRP and destination charge. But we think you could have paid only $18,600, based on our calculations in early August. You could have saved even more on the financing and by taking advantage of government incentives.
Save $1,500
This special customer cash rebate comes from the automaker, not the dealer. So you can negotiate for an even lower price.
+ Save $1,100 to $1,500
A prepared buyer could reasonably get this amount off the price by getting competitive bids.
+ Save $3,500 to $4,500
If your old car qualifies for the cash-for-clunkers program, you could get this credit (if the program is still available).
+ Save $200
If you buy a car in 2009, you can deduct state sales and excise taxes from your federal tax return if you meet the IRS criteria.
+ Save $650
With Mazda's special 2.9 percent low-interest financing, you could save this amount on a five-year loan, compared with the average bank rate.
= Total savings $6,950 to $8,350
on the vehicle price, financing, and sales tax.
