Test drove a 2016 CX5 Grand Touring tonight and really liked it. I'm not sure, however, about the deal I was offered. I asked about the $500 customer loyalty and the 0% financing. The $500 was there, but I was only given options for 3.9% for 60 months and 4.9% for 72 months. And although I planned to put $22,700 down on it (insurance settlement after totaling my 2014 CX5), it seemed the salesman only wanted me to put $10,000 down initially and finance the remaining $10k or whatever. He wanted me to at least make 6 payments before paying it off because that's where they get the money for the initial discount. Here is the deal:

MSRP: $32,110
Discount: $1,422
-------------------------------
Sale Price: $30,688

Rebate: $500
Trade-in: 0
------------------------------
Difference: $30,188

State/Local tax: $1811.28
TTL fee: $308.15

Total Price: $32,307.43

I don't understand why I can't just plunk down $22,700 and then finance the rest? I'd have lower payments, that's for sure. He seemed to say that Mazda has a minimum loan balance or something like that. I just feel like it's a bit fishy number crunching. Can anyone who deals in numbers help me with this?

FWIW, I rolled my 2014 trying to avoid a deer and walked away virtually unscathed. This is a very safe car! The right wheels fell into a drainage ditch that I couldn't see and the nose must have planted and I rolled. I only rolled once and landed on my tires at least. All doors and back hatch were jammed shut except the driver's door. Lucky me.

 

After corresponding via email to a couple other dealers within a 2 hour radius, it sounds like I can put the full $22,700 down and finance the rest for 36 months a 0%. Local dealer will be unhappy, but he should have dealt with me on the level from the get-go and not played financing games. Now it's down to who can sweeten the deal. :-D