Just thought I'd share....

There are three packages, the Sport Package, Touring Package, and the Grand Touring Package (which includes both the Sport and Touring as well as other goodies).

The way I configured mine was in Winning Blue Metallic Paint, with Leather seats and the Grand Touring Package. Essentially it was everything EXCEPT the navigation (which is a HUGE $2000 option! :( )

It came out to $31,100 including destination. I figure take off a $500 graduate rebate and I'm in the 30k ballpark I wanted to be at!

The site looks great, lots of features, check it out!

Congrats, Herc! I just submitted mine, too: I wasn't thrilled that leather is only available with the grand touring package, as I wasn't really interested in a moonroof, heated and powered stuff. In the end, I just went and ordered the car I've always seen in my head:

Velocity Red MC, red interior (Grand Touring) = $31,100.

I passed on NAV, too, since I'd probably never really use it much. I wonder how much they'll charge us for a spare tire? Heh heh...

Darn! If only there were a way to order the Homelink and other stuff without getting the Grand Touring Package with the moonroof. :mad:

Hey Herc-

I just graduated college too! Do you know that if we order the car online, can we still get the $500 rebate for being a college grad? Unfortunately I can't swing the 30K price that you can (I can but it would be tough), damn New Jersey insurance :D

I did the whole deal (Nav included) - $33,100. Since I own my own business, I will be leasing this as my daily driver. How sweet it will be to be back into a rotary on a daily basis. I went with the Red Mica and Red and Black Interior (getting close to 40, you know an "old guy"). I wish they would have offered a Black and Grey Leather, then I would have went for that sweet looking Titanium. Oh well, there will be something else at the end of my lease, maybe the Mazdaspeed version, a vert, who knows. I am pumped!! I hope that I get my car in June, but the NAV may have just put me into September - we will see.

$3,900 option package required to get leather?

I just went from a buyer to a waiter. If I could get a car with leather under $30k, I was going to do it... I figured leather would be a $1,500 option, so with a $1,000 moonroof I'd be at a little under $30k.

A $2,700 option package to get the moonroof puts me off, too. What is wrong with a-la-carte? I don't want homelink or Bose, and I don't like Xenons...

Maybe a test drive will convince me, but I'll be holding off... looking forward to continued discussions on this board, and hearing what you guys think of your cars!

Grrrrrr.

I hate these option packages.

I dont want heated seats and mirrors (i live in Florida)
I dont want the Bose stereo either (rather go aftermarket)
but i have to get that crap just to get leather.


man this sucks!

Can someone please post the link to the site!

Thanks

http://www2.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/rx8/index.jsp

Have Fun!

Am I just being a wuss, or does anyone else feel a little nervous about commiting to spend 30k on a car you've never actually seen in person or driven? I really want this car, but I wish I could test drive it first. I just don't want to have to wait until 2004 to get one because I ordered in May or June.

Site is here: http://www.mazdarx-8.com

I'm also going with the whole deal as well for 33,100:

6 spd manual
titanium grey (red if not for the insurance and higher ticket factor!)
black leather
grand touring package
NAV system

I don't like having to get ALL the options of the grand touring (can do without the heated mirrors and seats and bose system), but I want the leather and electronic seats. I'm also a little disappointed that there was absolutely no info on the NAV system.

But now comes the challenge of seeing if my dealer (who has my $1k deposit) will charge over MSRP....

Am I just being a wuss, or does anyone else feel a little nervous about commiting to spend 30k on a car you've never actually seen in person or driven? I really want this car, but I wish I could test drive it first. I just don't want to have to wait until 2004 to get one because I ordered in May or June.

You are not being a wuss. You are being smart. I did not care for the 350Z when I test drove it. Visibility is poor, oddly feels heavier than my four door G35. If I had pre-ordered one, I would have felt pretty stupid when I refused delivery after doing a verification drive!

I doubt you will have to wait until 2004. In October Nissan dealers were acting like the 350Z was unobtanium... now they have 2 or 3 on the showroom floor available for sale.

Not the most ideal scenario, but this could be an excellent option for those wanting leather without all the other stuff. And there are a lot of providers for this service that do an excellent job.

As for my lot in life, I will opt for it all minus the NAV. Bun warmers and heated mirrors are nice to have in Ohio in the winter. Moonroof is a definite, as are the Xenons. While not thrilled with the cost of it all ($33,100), it seems reasonable. But that price is certainly makes the G35 coupe a very likely cross-shop candidate.

I really like the change provided by the 2 tone interior. If it were available in cloth, I'd take that. I likely won't preorder one though. I have to drive it first. But my deposit will be ready.

Hmmm, $31k for the Grand Touring is a really great deal for all the stuff you get. Only thing is, I don't really want all of that crap.

Does it really save that much money to have these stupid packages? I mean, Dell can build me the exact custom computer I want, why can't Mazda build me the car I want?

I really wish Mazda would throw us a bone here and at least offer some of the more common options (like leather) a la carte.

wish the titanuim with red looked better. I was really hoping for silver inserts too.

I'm going with Sunlight Silver/red inserts $33,100. I'll take mine with all the fixin's:D

It said even if you do it online you still have to contact your dealer, so I'm going to swing by there at lunch and do it all in person.

As they say, "patience is a virtue." I'm thinking the metalic blue with cloth seats and nav. But I'm undecided between the sports or touring package. I'm going to have to wait until I can see the car in person and hear if the Bose sound system is worth the extra money (and save your Bose flames, I've read enough about how much people don't like them). Alas, it looks like no car for me until October or so.

So far I have determined my color and the interior of my car. Unlike the majority of people, I will be sticking with the cloth seats in the car- the contrast between the cloth and leather insert is the closest thing to a silver and black combo they gave us. As for the color, I fell in love with the titanium color- not too flashy, dont have to always keep it clean, plus like boowana said, the lighter colors really shows off the nice front end of the 8.

My only decision now lies in the options packages. I guess I will have to see if the Bose is really worth it, and if it isnt that great, whether or not a moonroof is worth the extra money. Homelink and an auto dimming mirror is basically worthless to me. With all the cubbies in the RX-8 there will be plenty of space for a garage door opener somewhere :D

Remember that they will get more. Dealers have 2 systems for cars, orders and arrivals.

Orders are just what you think. I walk in and say I want to order a car. They have 15 slots for orders, I just took one of them.

The other thing they have are arrivals. They are "extras" that just show up (well not really but thats kinda what its like.) They dont have any real option on what will be in them, but the parent companies think very highly of those cars selling quickly so the dealerships want them gone QUICK. (normally selling them quickly gets them more order spots.)

If mazda is making 5k rx8s this year, 3000-4000 will be orders, and another thousand will just show up at the dealers. They will have a base set of options and boring colors, but are easy to sell, and provide availability for perspective purchasers who dont need an exact color/options package choice.

So there ARE ways to get the cars even without orders.

Scot

BTW I agree, the options packages they have are aweful. I have to have heated seats. Couldn't care about most of the rest of the options, nor the leather. Being forced to spend 3k on options I dont want just to get heated seats is not something I will do. If you have ever used heated seats on a cold day after being outside for a few hours you would understand!!!


Oh and that 5k figure is totally made up, I have no idea how many will be produced.

Originally posted by gmui
titanium grey (red if not for the insurance and higher ticket factor!)
Did I understand that? :confused: You have to pay more for a red car? What colours cost more and what are the reasons for that?

No, I think all the colors are the same from what I can tell on their website. I've just always heard that a red car cost more for insurance (though someone posted that that was a myth) and that statistically, red cars get ticketed by cops much more frequently. If I'm always worried about getting a ticket, what fun is it?

But I think cost of the car is the same for any of the colors.

Originally posted by m477
Hmmm, $31k for the Grand Touring is a really great deal for all the stuff you get. Only thing is, I don't really want all of that crap.

Does it really save that much money to have these stupid packages? I mean, Dell can build me the exact custom computer I want, why can't Mazda build me the car I want?

I really wish Mazda would throw us a bone here and at least offer some of the more common options (like leather) a la carte.

Mazda (and any other car manufacturer) can absolutely do total a la carte production, but would you be willing to pay more for the options? Option packages make it *much* easier to build cars in groups without the people on the line needing to stop and read instructions for their station for *each* car. I think this is why (along with profit of course!) most car makers do the packages.

Nissan did the same thing with the pre-orders. I went to the Nissan dealer last month to test-drive the 350Z. They had 8 on the lot to choose from. The dealer was willing to negotiate with the price. I could of bought the 350Z for under MSRP. So I think you will be able to do the same with the RX-8.
The 350Z is a nice car but - too small, no room to put anything and the ride was hard. Need to drive a car before I buy. If the RX-8 rides like it looks - SOLD!

Originally posted by red_base 95
As for my lot in life, I will opt for it all minus the NAV. Bun warmers and heated mirrors are nice to have in Ohio in the winter. Moonroof is a definite, as are the Xenons. While not thrilled with the cost of it all ($33,100), it seems reasonable. But that price is certainly makes the G35 coupe a very likely cross-shop candidate.
WITHOUT nav would make it $31,100, not $33,100. A similarly-equipped G35 coupe is $35k btw.

Edit: Also, a similarly equipped 350Z is $34k (but this still doesn't include a sunroof). IMHO, Mazda did a good job of undercutting the competition.

Originally posted by B-Nez
Congrats, Herc! I just submitted mine, too: I wasn't thrilled that leather is only available with the grand touring package, as I wasn't really interested in a moonroof, heated and powered stuff. In the end, I just went and ordered the car I've always seen in my head:

Velocity Red MC, red interior (Grand Touring) = $31,100.

I passed on NAV, too, since I'd probably never really use it much. I wonder how much they'll charge us for a spare tire? Heh heh...

well i was up with bnez and herc early this morning as they will both attest to and when the site finally came up it was like 1:15. and of course i was on the dial up at home with my old netscape which was not fully supported ( i hear ya blueaddept) so i didnt work weel an then my comp locked up so i went to bed. (no herc i didn't end up throwing the computer out the window but it was a close call;) )
anyway long story short, i got up early today and came to work to do it. its titanium with the touring package for me. i said i was staying under $30,000 and i couldn't justify the extra for heated seats and mirrors and leather. in philly the heated stuff wqould be nice but out here in portland it wont get used enough. oh no nav for me like i said before i aint waiting 'til september i have waited too long (3 friggin' years!!) already!

Ordered my GT in titanium & brown. I know the brown leather doesn't look that great, but after seeing the red last night in person, I know I don't want that.

I figured I have to have the 2 tone leather as that is as much a part of the 8's magic as the suicide doors.

I'm hoping the brown leather will age well like an old baseball glove.

Originally posted by Fëakhelek
Am I just being a wuss, or does anyone else feel a little nervous about commiting to spend 30k on a car you've never actually seen in person or driven? I really want this car, but I wish I could test drive it first. I just don't want to have to wait until 2004 to get one because I ordered in May or June.

Like Don said, you aren't being a wuss. Although I am a huge RX-8 proponent, I wouldn't order one without a test drive to see if I liked it (although kudos to those who have the guts to do so, don't let me discourage you!)
Which is one reason I never ever considered pre-ordering the Mazdaspeed Protege as I knew (or thought I knew) all would be pre-bought by the time they were released. It didn't appeal to me that I couldn't even drive the car before plunking down $27k (Canadian). But then I did get to drive one, found a few that aren't spoken for, and the rest is history.
As long as you don't mind not getting the first one off the end of the line, hold out and wait until they hit the dealers. Then take one for a spin and see if you like it (and I'm sure you will).

I was told by my mazda dealer that if I ordered one and did not like it when it came in I did not have to take it. He said he would have no problem selling it to someone else as long as the package is not a specialty order of some sort.

So I plan on ordering, test driving and then paying.

Originally posted by fritts
I was told by my mazda dealer that if I ordered one and did not like it when it came in I did not have to take it. He said he would have no problem selling it to someone else as long as the package is not a specialty order of some sort.

So I plan on ordering, test driving and then paying.

With only three packages, transmissions, and colors as option, I don't think you can get too "special" with the car ;)

Originally posted by SinGin
Darn! If only there were a way to order the Homelink and other stuff without getting the Grand Touring Package with the moonroof. :mad: I guess I must've missed something somewhere...WTF is homelink?

Originally posted by CiscoGuy
Mazda (and any other car manufacturer) can absolutely do total a la carte production, but would you be willing to pay more for the options? Option packages make it *much* easier to build cars in groups without the people on the line needing to stop and read instructions for their station for *each* car. I think this is why (along with profit of course!) most car makers do the packages.
You gotta be kidding. I'm smart and intelligent enough to actually read through an option list, I don't need Mazda or anyone trying to "make it easier" for me.. what kind of catering to the lowest common denominator is that? The only reason they are doing it because it's easier to produce and they make more money. I absolutely HATE when I have to buy 4 other things in a car just to get a moonroof or heated seats! :mad: Grrr...

My $23K Prelude came with heated mirrors,seats, moonroof. I still want these on the 8 but I don't want the leather or nav or the BOSE stereo .. Maybe I'm being greedy but for $27K there should be more standard features like the moonroof or heated seats/mirrors. Especially in Canada.

I think he meant easier for the people/machines on the assembly line. It's definitely not easier on the consumer.

Lumping everything into 3 packages kinda irk me too. I want the leather but I dislike the moonroof and Bose. Heated seats?! I'm in Florida for god sake!

m477 - thanks for catching my error. $31K for my spec is very reasonable.

I know that I am eligible for S-plan pricing, but I wonder if that will be available on this car. It was available on the Mazda6 right at introduction and would have shaved @ $2k off the final price.

Originally posted by red_base 95
I know that I am eligible for S-plan pricing, but I wonder if that will be available on this car.Me too. Let me know what you find out, and I'll do likewise.

Originally posted by Good Duck
Lumping everything into 3 packages kinda irk me too. I want the leather but I dislike the moonroof and Bose. Heated seats?! I'm in Florida for god sake!
Exactly! What the hell do you need heated seats for? :confused: I know streamlining production helps with the bottom line and (hopefully) lowers the price of the car but common.. Give us some more choices. :mad:

I guess I must've missed something somewhere...WTF is homelink?

Homelink is TF a universal system for garage door openers, etc.

These packages are BS unlike most people here, I dont want a fully loaded car. But in order to get leather I HAVE to get a fully loaded car. That is such BS. All I want are Leather seats and upgraded audio...

My order is in. Sunlight Silver/Black leather/Grand Touring, MSRP. Salesman tried (halfheartedly) to get $1000 over, I called a second dealer, problem solved.

Steven

Originally posted by sburkett
My order is in. Sunlight Silver/Black leather/Grand Touring, MSRP. Salesman tried (halfheartedly) to get $1000 over, I called a second dealer, problem solved.
Did you have to "re-order" online or was the new dealer able to just pickup the existing online order?

My order's in: 6-speed with Sport package. Still undecided about the color - ordered the blue, but may switch to yellow or titanium.

I've asked the new car manager to find out if the blue and yellow are actually new, or if they're just new names for existing colors. I'd really like to see the blue in the "flesh", and I'm concerned that the yellow may wind up being more like the nasty mustard mica they used on the 2002SE Miata than the gorgeous Vivid Yellow on my wife's 2002 internet-ordered Miata.

$27,780 including delivery fee here in Texas. No markup. No deposit. And no leather or heated gewgaws for me. :cool:

Originally posted by eccles
Me too. Let me know what you find out, and I'll do likewise. Spoke with the folks at Mazda South. No S-plan pricing on this puppy until January '04. Figures. :(

Originally posted by eccles
My order's in: 6-speed with Sport package. Still undecided about the color - ordered the blue, but may switch to yellow or titanium.

I've asked the new car manager to find out if the blue and yellow are actually new, or if they're just new names for existing colors. I'd really like to see the blue in the "flesh", and I'm concerned that the yellow may wind up being more like the nasty mustard mica they used on the 2002SE Miata than the gorgeous Vivid Yellow on my wife's 2002 internet-ordered Miata.

$27,780 including delivery fee here in Texas. No markup. No deposit. And no leather or heated gewgaws for me. :cool: Same here, except I went fully loaded minus the navigation. I ordered blue but I do want to see it "in the flesh" on a brochure... they usually have the actual paint samples so you know what it will look like. Judging from the Mazda6 blue, and the picture of the blue taken in the other forum, it doesn't look anything like the picture they show on the site (and I hope that is the case).

I'd like a deeper, darker blue that's reminsicent of the Mazda6's blue. If it winds up being a sky blue I'll just order it black. I'm not sure that I'd get the red interior but it does seem appealing :)

$27,780 including delivery fee here in Texas. No markup. No deposit. And no leather or heated gewgaws for me

By my calculations, an RX-8 with the sport package is $28,300, if you said there is no S-plan, how did you get that car for almost $600 cheaper than the price on the site? :confused:

I knew mazda would pull this crap have to get all this other shite just to get the one option you want. Having these packages does nothing but let them make more money off you. I guess I will wait until I can get a deal

Originally posted by tallguylehigh
By my calculations, an RX-8 with the sport package is $28,300, if you said there is no S-plan, how did you get that car for almost $600 cheaper than the price on the site? :confused: That was the price on the site. See for yourself. (http://www2.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/rx8_displayEmailedConfig.action?mailedId=104204820 7171)

But you're right - if I go back in and price the same car again, it comes out at $28,300. It seems that the saved configuration doesn't include the delivery fee. Guess I'll keep that printout somewhere safe!

meh, im gonna wait until the dealer cant sell anymore or has some left over with some options I like. Possibly get it for under msrp. :)

Got my order in.

Tit Silver/BL with Brown/ Loaded to the gills $33,100.

I debaded over the NAV. I do not want to wait another 1-2 months. But, my wife is the voice of reason. "you want this car for a long time. Get what you want and wait the 1-2 more months"

My only complaint in Mazda dealers suck. But then again... I do not know if I have met a good deal in my 33 yrs yet.

Called my dealer (not anwering email). Of course the salesman has left the sales manager has left. Good thing I have a copy of my #1 deposit.

Roachman

Originally posted by tallguylehigh
Hey Herc-

I just graduated college too! Do you know that if we order the car online, can we still get the $500 rebate for being a college grad? Unfortunately I can't swing the 30K price that you can (I can but it would be tough), damn New Jersey insurance :D

Well I ordered mine today. A couple observations, some vary from dealer to dealer some will remain constant.

My dealer sold it to me at msrp. He said mazda is 'requiring' dealerships to do so, but that a lot of the dealerships in my area (DC) just do what they want anyway. He said for online orders, they don't really do anything, they just get an email saying you are interested in buying one. He said if I were to have filled one of those out, all that would have happened is I would have gotten a phone call saying to come into the dealership. Thats where all the paperwork happens. Buying an rx-8 isn't like buying from www.amazon.com.

About the $500 college rebate. Corp. Mazda reports to the dealers what incentives are allowed and should be applicable to each individual vehicle. What incentives will be available with the rx8 will not be seen until much closer to delivery date. He said the ONLY incentive available on the Mazda 6 now is the college grad rebate and there is no reason not to expect it to be applicable to the RX8. YEAH. Save $500.

my setup would be the base 6 speed w/ the sports package (HID, DSC, fog lamps)

stickers at $28,300, the 'driver's option' IMO ;)

I'll upgrade the speakers through aftermarket if I deem the stock stereo to suck beyond anything that has ever sucked before :D

pmacwill, which MD dealer did you order from? I would also like to avoid the hassle and only pay sticker.

no grad rebates for me though.. :(

i wonder if they have 'newly enrolled student' rebate (gonna try to get in grad school in fall) :D

Originally posted by ZoomZoomH
my setup would be the base 6 speed w/ the sports package (HID, DSC, fog lamps)

stickers at $28,300, the 'driver's option' IMO ;)

I'll upgrade the speakers through aftermarket if I deem the stock stereo to suck beyond anything that has ever sucked before :D I think it's going to be good.

If you read the press release, they have a whole page dedicated to how the sound is set up in the car, and the innovations that came with it.

If it were simply a no highs, no lows, must be Bose setup, then it wouldn't even be included, or just mentioned "Bose stereo optional". Putting information about how it was designed and how the materials in the magnets (wow?) are better than those in traditional magnets says something... hopefully it's something good.

I was pretty pleased with the Mazda6 Bose system, and I run 1200 watts with 10 speakers in my car (using infiniti speakers thruout and Polk Audio subs), and while it's not that level, it's definately easy to appreciate from other cars.

So in order to get the premium audio system I'd have to shell out for the Touring Package which includes several things I do not want (sunroof, traction control, HomeLink).

If I were in the market right now I suppose I'd be looking for a base 6-speed model, with the hope that the basic sound system is easily upgradeable.

No Bose without the sunroof... bah.

All those complaining about packages, remember this is the preliminary setup. If the 6 gives any indication, we were all complaining about how we had to get a fully loaded 4 cyl just to get the ABS/Side Airbags as an option. Just maybe 2-3 weeks into production, guess what? Thats right, Mazda made the ABS/Side Airbags a stand alone option for those who want safety but can't afford the other $4000+ for the other options.

Lastly I'm surprised to see only a couple are going for the 6speed bare bones model. Myself, I'm going for the sport. I LOVE Xenon lights (they turn night into day) and DSC is nice. To be honest, I"ve never been a huge fan of leather, and all that other junk that comes with the leather package is stuff that is nice, but not something I"m paying $3000 for just so I can sit on a dead cow. To a much lesser extent, all that stuff adds weight too.

I know I'd be a happy pup with a $28,000 RX-8. Maybe the only thing I wish I could get was the BOSE stereo in the sport package. Oh well, I can't get one of these cars for at least a year, so who knows what'll happen between now and then.

I'll take mine in Titanium Grey baby!

forgot to mention my color of choice.....

blue, winning blue, of course ;)

all i have to say is that at least mazda doesn't charge extra for metallic paint like bmw does... those bastards

Originally posted by MazdaMan182
all i have to say is that at least mazda doesn't charge extra for metallic paint like bmw does... those bastards

Mazda $105.00
BMW $800.00 :eek:

I visited the dealer today, (Morrie’s, good folks so far) and put in my order. He didn’t have any answers to the hard questions anyone here has, such as curb weight, acceleration, (both models) and fuel economy, and didn’t even have real paint samples. I’m wondering; is it possible the automatic has better fuel economy?

I figured, part of the reason I would want the 6-speed is for bragging rights, (yeah, it’s got a carbon fiber driveshaft, 250 HP, revs to 9-grand, auxiliary intake port, blah blah blah…) but I know with my WRX, I have to work it hard to get the power, and I don’t have the chance or inclination to do that all the time anyway.


After much agonizing and scenerio building, I decided to go with the paddlematic tranny and its less powerful engine. Although I would enjoy driving a 6-speed some of the time, (as I understand, Mazda gearboxes and clutches are mighty nice) the reality is, it’s will be my daily driver, and much too often, my forward progress is hampered by traffic. So it’s the old shuffle routine. Let out clutch, move along in first. Get going too fast for first and hit second. Immediately be forced to hit brakes. Second gear too high. Double clutch and back into first. First gear ratio just a little low. Dammit! And so on.

Anyway, I chose Winning Blue, and the sport package. For $27,500 (they’re charging MSRP) compared to the 6-speed’s $27,200, I thought it offered a lot (ok, except for ultimate straight-line performance!) because it includes DSC and traction control, xenon lights, and fog lights. (an $1100 package on the manual) It really kinda’ pisses me off the sunroof isn’t available as a stand-alone package though; I refuse to waste all that extra money to get the Bose and Homelink.

I can only hope the power and acceleration of the auto is reasonable, (compared to the manual) and I’ll step aside and let the bottle rockets like the WRX, Evo, and others fight it out. I’ve also got my FB in the warmer months if I feel like stirring a shift lever.

In a (giant) nutshell, that’s my story. Now the wait!

Originally posted by roachman
Got my order in.

Tit Silver/BL with Brown/ Loaded to the gills $33,100.

I debaded over the NAV. I do not want to wait another 1-2 months. But, my wife is the voice of reason. "you want this car for a long time. Get what you want and wait the 1-2 more months"

Roachman

Ditto. I'm not sure I'll even use the nav much, but I plan on keeping this car for at least a decade, so I might as well go for it. Don't have an 'official' order placed yet, but I think I found the right dealership anyway. The first one I went to said they'd have them in March, so I knew they were blowin' smoke up my tailpipe (one great thing about this forum - you know more than the dealrships, so you can find out who to trust). They were also giving me the old 'fair market value' routine. Second dealership I tried is a Gold Club member, so I figure they're better to deal with. They also provide a 10yr/125,000 mile powertrain warranty for no extra charge.