I babelfished the interesting japanese article
http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200212/18/newcar01/index.html
using http://babel.altavista.com/
babel obviously needs some work.
Interesting however (besides the awesome pics), the last paragraph


"It is the price which becomes lastly matter of concern, but it may be able to expect rather. With as many as 250 horsepower versions, with expenses included it is settled within 3000000 Yen! This is my secret expectation."
(Shigeru Yoneda)

converstion 3M yen = 24,815.97 USD
if he meant the price of a loaded 250 HP version wasn't to exceed the 3M mark (meaning less than 4M)
3999999 yen = 33,089.59 USD

Either way, sign me up. Most current article (12/18) with mention of price.

Does anyone know say, how much a Japanese car usually costs vs the US version. would a 3M yen car really cost 24,800 in the US or is there a mark up/mark down?

sorry to be the voice of doom, but prices from japan CAN be completely unindicative of the price here, and there are a few reasons:
1) Japan is in a deep, and long recession. Their price level is through the roof, unlike in N. America
2) That is the Japanese domestic price, and does not include costs like importation
3) That cost does not factor in trade barriers like tarriffs, or import quotas (i've got no idea of what US/Japanese trade relations are like)
4) The demand for the car in the US is completely different from the demand in Japan, and that difference will also make a difference in the price.

That said, this window you've come up with seems to be the one everyone has said the car will be inside from the beginning, so no surprises. $7k US is a really, really big margin of error anyways ;). good observation though, way to keep the eyes peeled!!

btw: there is no reason to assume the price relation ship on the same cars in the US and Japanese market have a linear relationship... without being a statistician or economist who studies exactly that, or someone with the intrest to read the data or conclusion of a study, there's not a good chance anyone here will know...

Yeah, Japenese cars are cheaper to buy in Japan (most of the time).:(

im expecting a 26,000 base price, if i see higher ill be surprised.

I have a feeling you'll be surprised then. I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I'm planning on spending at least $30k fully loaded. All things considered though, I think that's a very reasonable price....

yeah 30k fully loaded but i mean base. If they are competing with 350Z they may have a 26k base because Z's here start at 26k base manual.

im expecting(hoping) low to mid 30s. if its too cheap then everyone and there uncles are gonna be drivin one. gotta maintain exclusivity

im expecting(hoping) low to mid 30s. if its too cheap then everyone and there uncles are gonna be drivin one. gotta maintain exclusivity

Yeah, I hope it has a really high price too. Then all those wannabes who thought that they could get an RX-8 for 26K will be separated from the real owners. Then those buyers will go to their nissan dealership... and buy 350z's... and, uh... oh!... cause the RX-8 to sell poorly. Yeah thats the ticket! Then no more RX-7, and maybe even no more rotary. Yeah, yeah, that sounds like an awesome plan!!

:o

Sorry for the sarcasm, but I kind of take offense to people who want to see the RX-8 with a high MSRP just so they can have an exclusive car.

Mazda needs this car to sell, and it needs it to sell well. It's competitor, for better or worse if the 350z, and they need the base price to be at that magical range. Even if it is just to humor us, they need a good number to draw people into a Mazda dealership.

Agreed tallguylehigh. I'd hope that anybody who really wanted an RX-8 could have one. Elitism is for the insecure.... :o Besides, if you truly want an elite car, get a freakin' Bentley. $30k doesn't make things very elite anymore.

And true, if this car doesn't sell well (very well), the chances of many of us winding up with our true dream car (a new RX-7) are very slim.

Didn't some Mazda VP claim a base price of about $26k at SS5?

$30k for a car is not expensive at all in 2003. Consider that in the late 80s, a naturally aspirated FC cost about $20k, which if you adjust for inflation comes out to $30k.

Similarly, a Turbo II would cost close to $40k in 2003 dollars.

Compare this to the RX-8, which will out-accelerate, out-brake, out-handle, and out-last a TII. And if that wasn't enough, it will get better fuel economy and emmissions, have way more usable space, and be more rigid but still weigh less.

This, my friends, is called progress. The RX-8 is a pretty damn good deal IMHO.

from all the things I've read, all the specuation I've heard,
it seems like you will be able to get a low-power automatic with cloth interior and very little extra for about 26,500-27k
high power manual starting around 30,500-31k, and a fully loaded with nav, premium, every bell and whistle for 34,500-35k
right along the lines with the Z, like they have been saying all along.

Good info Pmacwill,

Does anyone here know what the prices are for the Mazda6 (Atenza?) in Japan? It would be interesting to look at the difference in prices between the Japan models and the US ones.

Hopefully, that would give us a general idea of what to expect.

Brian

Pmacwill-

Yeah, thanks for the info. I still kind of find it weird that the automatic will be in the base model, since the 350z comes with a manual base, but with all the work Mazda has put into this car I think they may have a better idea about what they are doing than we do.

I just need confirmation on something here. All this speculation has been around for so long its being transformed into fact- and that ain't right. Mazda, a bone please? :cool:

All I can say is how close is NAIAS?

Originally posted by tallguylehigh


Yeah, I hope it has a really high price too. Then all those wannabes who thought that they could get an RX-8 for 26K will be separated from the real owners. Then those buyers will go to their nissan dealership... and buy 350z's... and, uh... oh!... cause the RX-8 to sell poorly. Yeah thats the ticket! Then no more RX-7, and maybe even no more rotary. Yeah, yeah, that sounds like an awesome plan!!

:o

Sorry for the sarcasm, but I kind of take offense to people who want to see the RX-8 with a high MSRP just so they can have an exclusive car.

Mazda needs this car to sell, and it needs it to sell well. It's competitor, for better or worse if the 350z, and they need the base price to be at that magical range. Even if it is just to humor us, they need a good number to draw people into a Mazda dealership.


this is a limited production car, only 10,000? its going to sell and sell out real fast. u dont have to worry about mazda and the rotary, its here to stay

Originally posted by tribal azn
this is a limited production car, only 10,000? its going to sell and sell out real fast. u dont have to worry about mazda and the rotary, its here to stay

From one of the Subcontractors of the Rx-8:

"Production volume is estimated at
approximately 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles a year."

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/11-30-2000/0001376568

Later estimates that were posted here were a "little" lower. I think I read something like 50,000? I'm not sure what the sources were for the 50,000 number though.

Originally posted by RotorMotor
And true, if this car doesn't sell well (very well), the chances of many of us winding up with our true dream car (a new RX-7) are very slim.

Either way, RX-8 is like a dream car to me cuz it has everything I could ever ask for. Also, personally i dont think i can indulge in a pure sports cars anyways (for various reasons).

Of course, i dont speak for every one.

Actually, i'm fairly confident the base price will be close to 26k, but what i am worried about is the packaging. what if they force us to have certain items just to get say, the sports package? An unlimited number of scenarios can be imagined, but the point is that the actual price many of us will be geting may be much higher than the 26K base. True, u could just get base for 26K, but there may not be a base car lying around anywhere. From what i heard, you can't even get some cars base anymore.

Originally posted by chenpin

Actually, i'm fairly confident the base price will be close to 26k, but what i am worried about is the packaging. what if they force us to have certain items just to get say, the sports package?

Go to Mazda's web site and practice designing your own Mazda 6. It will drive you crazy! Either you get everything except for mudflaps and a cargo net, or you get nothing.

Ex: To get the sunroof, you must get leather, to get leather you must order the sport package, to get the sport package, you must order the sunroof. It goes round and round.

I found myself so frustrated. I know the way they package stuff that the only way my RX-8 will come is with everything. All because I want stick. I don't even want/need the 250 hp or large wheels.

The only thing separate will probably be the navi, but only if you bought everything else.

I know exactly what you are worrying about, because it seems to be happening to the Mazda 6 at this time. Cars are either being sold at bone stock or completely loaded.

Also, does anybody know how many RX-8's are coming here, I heard a really high number (40,000), and if thats the case, whats the percentage of automatic models?

here is some info regarding production from awhile ago:
After more than a half-decade's absence, Mazda's rotary engine — and its equally famous sports car that surrounds it — is staged for yet another comeback (see sidebar, next page). Only this time, Mazda expects to produce the car's Renesis (name derived from “rotary” and “genesis”) rotary engine for around $2,000, a key to avoiding the escalating-cost mistakes that led to Mazda's withdrawal of the rotary from the U.S. market.

Predicated on monthly output of 5,000 units, the company says, amazingly, that Renesis' cost is slightly less than it would pay for a standard V-6 engine. By implication, Mazda plans to produce 60,000 RX-8s annually, though management declines to disclose sales targets."
here is the link to the full article originally posted by patrickb


http://waw.wardsauto.com/ar/auto_rotary_redux/index.htm

Originally posted by Buger


"Production volume is estimated at
approximately 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles a year"

Do we know how many of these are coming to the US?

There was also an article a while back that mentioned 20,000 annually. I don't think any of the mags know for sure, Mazda probably doesn't even know till they see what kind of demand there will be for the 8.

Also I hope that the RX-8 will be somewhat rare like in the 20,000 range so that resell will stay higher that way I won't get raped when I sell the 8 off for a new 7. Plus I don't want the 8 to become a mustang, where everywhere I go I see 15 parked in a lot.

Originally posted by fritts


Also I hope that the RX-8 will be somewhat rare like in the 20,000 range so that resell will stay higher that way I won't get raped when I sell the 8 off for a new 7. Plus I don't want the 8 to become a mustang, where everywhere I go I see 15 parked in a lot.

exactly that was what i was trying to say. i hope its like the s2000 in terms of exclusivity, i only see one once in a while. i heard when it first came out, there were markups as high as 10gs.

Originally posted by Buger


From one of the Subcontractors of the Rx-8:

"Production volume is estimated at
approximately 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles a year."

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/11-30-2000/0001376568

Later estimates that were posted here were a "little" lower. I think I read something like 50,000? I'm not sure what the sources were for the 50,000 number though.

i think those r world wide numbers. what precent of those r coming to the U.S?

exactly that was what i was trying to say

I/we know that is what you are trying to say, I am saying however that that is not what Mazda wants or is looking for with the RX-8.

In no way will the RX-8 ever reach the popularity of a Mustang, so check that off your worry list- not enough people have faith in the rotary.

Also, I would really like to know why you want the RX-8 to be so expensive? Other than exclusivity, which will not be a problem, what other benefits do you gain? What benefits does Mazda gain is the better question.

I am 22 and looking for a new car. Sure enough there are a lot of new cars coming out directed at my age group. The RX-8 is one of those cars. I believe this was even the subject of a poll where a "single without kids" won, not to mention the age demographic where my demographic "22-25" (guessing) won again. To put it plainly, we do not buy 32K cars. So if Mazda is gearing the RX-8 towards me, and I'm looking for a car, and I won't buy a car costing way too much, has Mazda really done its homework right?

Just simply observations, but why would you, tribal azn, want to alienate the target audience for the RX-8? :confused:

Originally posted by tallguylehigh


I/we know that is what you are trying to say, I am saying however that that is not what Mazda wants or is looking for with the RX-8.

In no way will the RX-8 ever reach the popularity of a Mustang, so check that off your worry list- not enough people have faith in the rotary.

Also, I would really like to know why you want the RX-8 to be so expensive? Other than exclusivity, which will not be a problem, what other benefits do you gain? What benefits does Mazda gain is the better question.

I am 22 and looking for a new car. Sure enough there are a lot of new cars coming out directed at my age group. The RX-8 is one of those cars. I believe this was even the subject of a poll where a "single without kids" won, not to mention the age demographic where my demographic "22-25" (guessing) won again. To put it plainly, we do not buy 32K cars. So if Mazda is gearing the RX-8 towards me, and I'm looking for a car, and I won't buy a car costing way too much, has Mazda really done its homework right?

Just simply observations, but why would you, tribal azn, want to alienate the target audience for the RX-8? :confused:

i guess u have a point.

i just dont want my rx-8 to be "just another car"

Originally posted by tribal azn
im expecting(hoping) low to mid 30s. if its too cheap then everyone and there uncles are gonna be drivin one. gotta maintain exclusivity
Um, right... dude, open your eyes, what makes you think that you can buy exclusivity for $35k?

There's $40k vettes, boxters, 3-series, and SUVs on every street corner everywhere I go. The only way for any car under $75k to be exclusive is for it to be such a POS that noone wants to buy it...

Originally posted by m477

Um, right... dude, open your eyes, what makes you think that you can buy exclusivity for $35k?

There's $40k vettes, boxters, 3-series, and SUVs on every street corner everywhere I go. The only way for any car under $75k to be exclusive is for it to be such a POS that noone wants to buy it...

s2000's r pretty exclusive

Originally posted by tribal azn

s2000's r pretty exclusive
Are you kidding?

The stook USED TO be exclusive when it first came out, but that was only because Honda severly limited production. It had nothing to do with the price.

These days though, I see plenty of them.

Again, any car under $70k or so that I can think of, I see plenty of them, and this is just in the Midwest...

Originally posted by m477

Are you kidding?

The stook USED TO be exclusive when it first came out, but that was only because Honda severly limited production. It had nothing to do with the price.

These days though, I see plenty of them.

Again, any car under $70k or so that I can think of, I see plenty of them, and this is just in the Midwest...

Actually I dont really see as many s2ks as boxers or z3s even though the s2k is cheaper than either and i'm in LA. although in this case, i am guessing it is because of the s2k's image as a luxury-less car so to speak and b/c of brand image. other than this i dont have a clue y peps would rather get a z3 than a s2k. s2k is a good deal imo.

not a lot of people purchase mazdas so dont think it will be another mustang.

As an owner of an S2000, I can say that I see many more Boxsters, Z3s and even more TTs than S2000s. Also, even after 3 years of ownership, I still get people coming up to me to ask what it is, as well as compliment me on a god car, if they do know what it is.

good car, not god car, sorry hahahahaha

Originally posted by tallguylehigh
I know exactly what you are worrying about, because it seems to be happening to the Mazda 6 at this time. Cars are either being sold at bone stock or completely loaded. Can't you order the car your own way? I know you can do this with Toyotas, although it can be hard to sometimes. In the old days you could get whatever options you wanted on the car pretty easily, from what I gather. No silly packages that make you buy something you don't want in order to get something you do.

I just want an RX-8 with the 6spd, cloth seats, no sunroof, LSD, cruise and power everything. Hoping that's a base model right there. Oh and the rear lip spoiler looks good. :)

BryanH-

It seems that most, if not all of the Japanese car companies are doing this more and more now. In order to get something, you need something else, which requires something else, and round and round we go.

The car you described may in fact be pretty close to the base car (banking on the fact that the stick will be offered in base). The rear spoiler might be tough as there is talk that it might be associated with some package encompassing foglights, heated seats, etc. But of course this is all speculation.

My worries lie in me wanting a sunroof. I can just see the avalanche of options and dollars when I want that one thing. To put it in perspective, to get a sunroof on the 6, you need BOSE and leather. So a sunroof soon becomes a $3000 option. :eek:

Anyway, best of luck.

The "8" will need to be accessible by most people or it is not going to fair very well. This is not the same kind of car as an S2K or RX-7. People (like myself) will be using it for basic transportation and don't need it to be "exclusive". I have stayed away from the S2K for one simple reason. Dealer mark up. Everyone has a right to choose whether or not to pay a high price for a car. I am willing to pay a fair price for what I want but to push up the price of the RX-8 just so that you won't see it everywhere will cause us not to see a new RX-7 at anytime in the future.

I don't think we will need to worry about seeing the RX-8 on every corner. This car will not be for the average consumer. That said I am looking forward to a time when the RX-8 meets start happening. It will be great to get together with other owners!

Well my Uncle says that Mazda is targeting around 25,000 first year. To see how well it gets taken in by us Americans. If it is well recevied then expect about 50,000 a year starting in 06 and up by that time the RX7 well be beside it for about 3 to 5 grand more.
Since he worked as a supervisor for Ford he has access to websights that noone else can get I'll post more when it becomes available plus I'm going to talk to Mazda at the Cleveland show to know exactly whats up. Peace and Happy holidays.:D

basically ill be needing the manual 6spd, leather seats, ABS, side and front air bags, and thats basically it.

Originally posted by InBlackPlease
People (like myself) will be using it for basic transportation and don't need it to be "exclusive".

uh if u want "basic transportation" then get a civic. the rx-8 is not for plp who want "basic transportation"

Originally posted by tribal azn


uh if u want "basic transportation" then get a civic. the rx-8 is not for plp who want "basic transportation"

Mazda site don't you mean Protoge;)

Originally posted by tribal azn
uh if u want "basic transportation" then get a civic. the rx-8 is not for plp who want "basic transportation"
I think he meant that this car will be used as a main daily driver, not a sunny weekend only car.
For those that want "exclusivity" may I ask why? What is the big deal if Mazda sells 60,000 of them.. That is quite a snobish attitude imo.. Personally if the car is great I could care less how many they sell.. the more the better.. it means lower prices, more aftermarket support, etc.. If you want that exclusivity get a Porsche I guess.. their prices are jacked up high enough that you will achieve that goal.. while not necessairly getting your moneys worth. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Quick_lude

I think he meant that this car will be used as a main daily driver, not a sunny weekend only car.
For those that want "exclusivity" may I ask why? What is the big deal if Mazda sells 60,000 of them.. That is quite a snobish attitude imo.. Personally if the car is great I could care less how many they sell.. the more the better.. it means lower prices, more aftermarket support, etc.. If you want that exclusivity get a Porsche I guess.. their prices are jacked up high enough that you will achieve that goal.. while not necessairly getting your moneys worth. :rolleyes:

That is exactly what I meant. :)

tribal azn

I don't believe I said that the 8 is going to be basic transportation for everyone. I just meant that it will be my daily driver (for now). But hey thanks for the suggestion of a Civic. I hadn't thought of that.....

Originally posted by Buger
Good info Pmacwill,

Does anyone here know what the prices are for the Mazda6 (Atenza?) in Japan? It would be interesting to look at the difference in prices between the Japan models and the US ones.

Hopefully, that would give us a general idea of what to expect.

Brian

I did a little digging and found the Atenza (Mazda6) prices in Japan below:

SEDAN (4-door) 4-cylinder 2300DOHC "MZR" 23E
Base - ..................... 2,100,000 yen
Luxury Package - ...... 2,360,000 yen

From the Mazdausa site, the prices for the two models in the US are:

Mazda6i - ................ $19,050
Mazda6s - ............... $21,620

Looking at the difference between the US prices and the Japanese prices may give us an idea how the Japanese prices correlate to the US prices.

2,100,000 / 19,050 = 110.2
2,360,000 / 21,620 = 109.2

From the article at http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200212/18/newcar01/index.html
: "With as many as 250 horsepower versions, with expenses included it is settled within 3000000 Yen! This is my secret expectation." (Shigeru Yoneda)

250 horsepower version rx-8 = 3,000,000 / 109 = $27,523.00?!?!

:eek: :eek: Let it be true. :) Add a few thousand for nav and whatever other options aren't included and the pricing would seem to match what Mazda NA execs have told us at Sevenstock.

Brian

Originally posted by Buger


I did a little digging and found the Atenza (Mazda6) prices in Japan below:

SEDAN (4-door) 4-cylinder 2300DOHC "MZR" 23E
Base - ..................... 2,100,000 yen
Luxury Package - ...... 2,360,000 yen

From the Mazdausa site, the prices for the two models in the US are:

Mazda6i - ................ $19,050
Mazda6s - ............... $21,620

Looking at the difference between the US prices and the Japanese prices may give us an idea how the Japanese prices correlate to the US prices.

2,100,000 / 19,050 = 110.2
2,360,000 / 21,620 = 109.2

From the article at http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200212/18/newcar01/index.html
: "With as many as 250 horsepower versions, with expenses included it is settled within 3000000 Yen! This is my secret expectation." (Shigeru Yoneda)

250 horsepower version rx-8 = 3,000,000 / 109 = $27,523.00?!?!

:eek: :eek: Let it be true. :) Add a few thousand for nav and whatever other options aren't included and the pricing would seem to match what Mazda NA execs have told us at Sevenstock.

Brian *nod*

The general feedback from Mazda was given a $31,000 FULLY LOADED MSRP for the RX-8, so if that includes navigation the RX-8 will be a great car for the money. If they go beyond 32k then I would have serious doubts at looking at the car, only because then I'm past the limit I want to spend, and also because I don't know if I can justify the 33k+ that they would want.

31 grand loaded in my mind is the perfect number; I'd probably even get the navigation just to have it... I might even use it! :)

Buger-

Awesome post. I was thinking about writing a post like that, but I am glad someone beat me to it, one less thing I have to do. :D

The thing I enjoy the most about the post is that it is logical. So many times and in so many posts, people vaguely refer to markups, or importation charges and other confusing, convaluded references to numbers which lead me to be skeptical. This, however, is probably the closest thing to concrete evidence that we can derive at this point.

One quick comment though about the conversion between the RX-8 and the 6 is in the navigation system. Last time I checked, a navigation system was not available on the 6, so the conversion rate for that might be a little thrown off kilter. As for the rest of the information... a 250-hp RX-8 for 27K, yes please :cool:

Thanks Tallguylehigh,

I too was hoping that someone would do "the digging" :)

I don't think the nav system is part of the Japanese luxury trim so the absence of it as a US option shouldn't factor in to the comparison to the trim prices. Perhaps somebody here has info on what the 2 Japanese trims include as options?

Brian

What about the fact that the 6 is built in NA and the RX-8 will be built in Japan? WOuld that affect the price conversion?

Originally posted by tallguylehigh

The thing I enjoy the most about the post is that it is logical. So many times and in so many posts, people vaguely refer to markups, or importation charges and other confusing, convaluded references to numbers which lead me to be skeptical. This, however, is probably the closest thing to concrete evidence that we can derive at this point.


I think buger's 'logical' work is more deceiving if anything. It seems you either don't understand or are denying the fact that mark ups, tariffs and import tax exists - not to mention that the japanese market is totally different from the american or canadian market.

Car price comparisons are weak and totally meaningless way to make conclusions.

I'm for exclusivity.

Originally posted by Immi


I think buger's 'logical' work is more deceiving if anything. It seems you either don't understand or are denying the fact that mark ups, tariffs and import tax exists - not to mention that the japanese market is totally different from the american or canadian market.

Car price comparisons are weak and totally meaningless way to make conclusions.

I'm for exclusivity. Then I guess you're also for Mazda to get out of the sports car business too.

I think buger's 'logical' work is more deceiving if anything. It seems you either don't understand or are denying the fact that mark ups, tariffs and import tax exists - not to mention that the japanese market is totally different from the american or canadian market.

Believe me, I understand the presence of markups, tariffs and import taxes, but how is a tariff or an import tax different between the Mazda 6 and the RX-8? Mark ups I understand, but as for the others, each is one unit, so would have the same effect on tariffs and import taxes, eh?

I also said that this is still an approximation, I know it might be different, but you cannot be so naive to think that it will be different.

As for the exclusivity issue- *sigh* ok you go ahead thinking that, I am through with that argument. Like someone once said along these lines, you either dont understand or are denying the importance of sales the RX-8 has on all future products. :o

Oh, that stings eh??!! (Sorry, had to throw in the Simpsons reference, no scorpions though :D )

Originally posted by tallguylehigh


Believe me, I understand the presence of markups, tariffs and import taxes, but how is a tariff or an import tax different between the Mazda 6 and the RX-8? Mark ups I understand, but as for the others, each is one unit, so would have the same effect on tariffs and import taxes, eh?

I also said that this is still an approximation, I know it might be different, but you cannot be so naive to think that it will be different.

As for the exclusivity issue- *sigh* ok you go ahead thinking that, I am through with that argument. Like someone once said along these lines, you either dont understand or are denying the importance of sales the RX-8 has on all future products. :o

Oh, that stings eh??!! (Sorry, had to throw in the Simpsons reference, no scorpions though :D )

who said i want an rx7???? rx8 only for me

Very true point Immi, sorry for the confusion.

To rephrase it to suit your situation and not change the comment, if you want a rotary product in the future, the RX-8 needs to sell very well. If it does not, the rotary will die. Hell, Mazda was barely able to get this project approved by big brother Ford. So if this car fails to reach enough consumers, Ford will never allow another rotary car again, and the one distinction that Mazda has will fade away, leaving a shell of what Mazda was its beloved rotary. :(

Originally posted by WankelWannabe
What about the fact that the 6 is built in NA and the RX-8 will be built in Japan? WOuld that affect the price conversion?
Hi WankelWannabe,

Good point. I was looking for a comparison of another Mazda import to compare with the rx-8 and completely forgot that the AutoAlliance plant in Michigan will be producing most (if not all?) of the Mazda6s for US consumption. It's still hard for me to think of the Mazda6 as a domestic. :)

Originally posted by Immi
Car price comparisons are weak and totally meaningless way to make conclusions. [/B]
Hi Immi,

If the US Mazda6 was to be imported from Japan, the price comparisons would be very meaningful since they would take into account markups, tariffs, import taxes, etc.

Since some of the Mazda6s will be produced in the US, the comparison isn't quite as meaningful but it still does correlate with what Mazda has told us at Sevenstock.

Do you really think that starting prices for the rx-8 of say 25,995 and 27995 are unrealistic?

Brian

Buger, keep in mind that the 6 is being produced in a union shop, causing the price of labor to actually be higher than if it were produced in the sun belt where union labor is not a requirement. That's why Honda makes cheap cars that are produced in the states like the Civic and such, becuase their plants are in the sun belt and stay away from the pricey union labor.

The RX-8 I'm not sure about, but if you think about labor costs saved by staying in Japan then add import taxes and such, it should be about even if not a *tad* more expensive from Japan.

So your MSRP prices as quoted are probably pretty right on, specially since at SevenStock these were the prices that were mentioned anyhow.

I'd guess 26,000-27,000 base because first mazda is not known for incredibly expensive cars. Second, the mazda RX-8 has to compete with the 350Z, the G35 Coupe, WRX, and the new Lancer Evo VIII. Right now, the RX-8 has lower acceleration than these cars, which will lower the price. But we havent seen the finished product. This is all speculation though :).

From Dan Mazzella's (rotarynews) interview of Tommy Matano (lead designer for Mazda, "father of the miata") after last year's NAIAS:

"Well, one thing we have to keep in mind is $30,000. I think that is a barrier that we don't want to cross. "

Let's hope this is still accurate. :)