Diamond Mazda is a reputable and ethical dealer. Within... - sjohn154
Diamond Mazda is a reputable and ethical dealer. Within the Baton Rouge area, they are your best option for purchasing a Mazda vehicle. If you are looking to purchase a Mazda in the state of Louisiana, you should definitely consider this dealer.
I've broken this review into two parts: a pros/cons list, followed by a more detailed summary of my experience with this dealership.
Pros:
* My salesman, Kyle, didn't try to sell me the car; he let the car sell itself. He was confident in his product.
* Staff demonstrated a legitimate enthusiasm and knowledge of Mazda vehicles.
* Staff did not try to sell me dealer add-ons (e.g. pinstripes, mud protectors etc).
* No deceitful or manipulative sales tactics.
* Best selection in the Baton Rouge area; selection is competitive with major dealerships in the New Orleans area.
* Best pricing in the Baton Rouge area; pricing is competitive with major dealerships in the New Orleans area.
Cons:
* Dealer facility is not as upscale as others in the area.
A longer summary:
I bought my first new car from this dealership. I was 22 at the time of the
purchase, and I recently got my first driver's license. I did a substantial
amount of research before making a purchase.
I initially contacted the dealer (via email/phone) before I had decided on a
particular make or model. I told the sales person I was speaking with, Kyle,
that I wanted to come in and test drive two models.
When I arrived at the dealership, Kyle and I spoke briefly (3 to 5 minutes) and
then he took me to the first car we were going to test drive. We went on the
test drive of the second car immediately after the first test drive.
Unlike other salesmen on Airline Highway, Kyle made the wise decision to put me
on a quiet, urban road in addition to the larger roads in the area. When I told
Kyle that I wanted to park the car at the end of the test drive, he allowed me
too (other area dealers refused upon learning that I was a new driver). Also,
he didn't distract me by talking too much during the test drive.
Putting me, a new driver, on a quiet road and allowing me to park the cars
helped me feel confident with both vehicles despite my lack of driving
experience.
After the test drives, Kyle and I went into his office. I told him that I
wanted to see a sale price for one of the vehicles. I also asked for
information on financing through the dealership and leasing from the
dealership. He rapidly produced a printed quote with all the relevant
information.
I already knew (through Consumer Reports, TrueCar.com, etc) what the invoice
price was and what sort of prices I should expect in my area. I was confident
that the price was good and that I would likely have to travel to New Orleans
(or out of state) to get a better price.
After that, I left for the day. Within a few days, I had decided to purchase
one of the two models that I test drove. I solicited quotes from 8 other Mazda
dealerships in a 200 mile radius, and I came to the conclusion that Diamond Mazda
was likely the best option.
I called Kyle, and set up a second appointment. I came in, and met his sales
manager, Jeremy. We negotiated a bit during this meeting. I was looking for
the dealer to make concessions, but not on the sale price. The final price (with
tax + title + interest from financing) was within 50 dollars of the number I wanted.
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