Thanks for all the information. I was actually at the dealer today and discovered that they have a 5.9% rate available through Mazda and that is quite a bit better than any other place I have investigated.
Leasing wouldn't work for me at all. I put 400+ miles on my car each and every week and that's if I do nothing but go to work and back. Then there is the fact that I like to run cars into the ground. I plan on keeping this car for a long time.
Yes, financing is always in the business favor but that's why they exist. The only way around that would be to pay cash for the car.
About used vehicles. I can find the car I am looking at on the used market but from what I've found I would only save around $2,000 if I bought a used (2004) model and that does not have features such as side curtain air bags and other little things that have only been added for the current model year. That is from a private seller too. Depreciation varies by make and model. This car is not depreciating quickly.
The car, by the way, is the Mazda 3 four door. It is definetely the most fun to drive car I have ever driven. It's quite an upgrade from my 1990 Civic with no A/C (major factor
) or any other options.