Hey Gang
Just wanted to let you know that Mazda has now included the RX8 in the College Grad Rebate program as of Sept.5. It will be $500 follows the same guidelines that have been in effect on other models.

The RX-8 has been a part of that program since its release to the US.

well tell that to my dealer Herc (hello btw) since the 8 is a 2004 and the paper they had said all 2003 cars and did not mention 2004 cars we didn't get it.

Budaman, if we have already taken possesion of the car without getting it in the first place, can we go back to the dealer and get the rebate now?

You should have dialed Mazda USA customer service infront of them.. they could have verified it right on the phone.

did that and the customer service person read word for word off the same thing the dealer had ergo not valid on a 2004 model. pissed me off but couldn't get anyone to say different at the time and budaman had mentioned that people weren't getting it.

On Rebate programs, Mazda Program Headquarter, the branch that handles paying all rebates, goes by the retail delivery date and what proigrams are effective on that date. Technically, they wouldn't pay you if you purchased prior to Sept.5, but with all the other stuff thats been going on it wouldn't hurt to send the forms in and maybe as a PR benefit they might pay you. Doubtful, but worth a shot. I haven't seen any posts so far that have shown that anyone has gotten a check from Mazda Program Headquarters for the College Grad rebate. I do know that the dealers haven't been paid any.

can you explain how the process works? I just tried calling the 1800 number from rebate page on the mazdausa site and they said not applicable to 2004 cars (yet).

I'm assuming the word hasn't yet spread in MNAO.

However, she did surmise that if there were to be changes then the rebate would be retroactive back to start of the program date. I may have confused this but budaman can you confirm this?

Since my dealer and the 1800 number still deny rebate for RX-8 as of today, and since budaman's post was fairly recent... I'm willing to wait the few weeks until the car actually gets here.

but if they continue to deny its existence, what steps should I take and whom should I contact?

thanks for you help btw

It just came out on the rebate schedules that were posted today. Should start showing up on the Mazda USA site in the next day or two. If your dealer has any doubts, have them check Dealerlink.

I bought my car 5th week of August and had an e-mail straight from MNAO stating the RX8 was included in the new grad rebate. i had no trouble at all getting $500 included in my down payment!

If you give up the car what about the discount?

can anyone post the form (or a link) that states that the rx-8 is eligible for the rebate. i've decided to return my rx-8 and buy a new one in a couple of months at a cheaper price. i'd like to go in with some firepower! thanks in advance.

I emailed Mazda and this was their response:

Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations. I appreciate
the opportunity to respond to you.

In regard to your inquiry, the College Graduate $500 rebate is good
towards the purchase of a new 2003 or 2004 Mazda vehicle, excluding the
2004 Mazda RX-8.

We appreciate your interest in Mazda. Zoom-Zoom!

If this atttachement works, it should clarify this subject once and for all.:)

thanks for the post... it should work wonders.

As far as 18006391000 is concerned the RX8 DOES NOT qualify for college grad. Even though the web sight does not specifically exclude the RX8 and states all 2004 vehicles are eligible. So I want some proof from someone other than an editable word doc. I spent 20 minutes arguing with Jerry from mazda (customer service supervisor) about this very point. I let him know I still had my buyback letter and was deciding what to do. Basically he could give a shit. So who's telling the truth?

I just went and talked to a dealer in Frederick, MD. They offered me the rebate on the RX-8 without issue, however I am wondering if the dealer is the one who has final say on this. I just earned my PhD but that is not an option listed on the acceptable graduates on the web site. Does this mean that the dealer is just telling me I would get the money but when I went to actually apply for it I would not receive the rebate? The same is true about the whole issue on the eligiblilty of the RX-8 for the rebate. It sounds like when you buy the car, you are given forms to fill out and then you are dealing with Mazda and not your dealership. I am afraid the dealer is telling me I will get something that I won't.

My dealership is still withholding the rebate form until I go back again with the proof.

Another long drive this weekend, I guess.

I got my rebate w/o a problem. They checked something on website and said it was good, and the rebate appeared on the sale stub as $500 more in down payment.

Sorry for the run on sentence, just got off work and is tired :P