Is Mazda going to do a preorder like Nissan is doing for the 350Z? I mean will you get to pick exactly what you want or do you get first pick of what they will be getting in? Also I have seen a few people saying they have already put deposits down, the two dealership I spoke with did not even offer this to me. Do I just need to shop around until I find one who will take a cash deposit so I will be one of the first? Thanks...........

You're telling me not one of you has any answers to my questions? What kind of forum is this?

Yes, I think you will be able to order and choose your color. I spoke with my local Mazda dealer yesterday. He said most all Mazda dealers will be receiving ONE RX8 sometime in July 2002. They have been instructed NOT to sell it but to use it to generate orders. That to me says, we can see/smell/touch/sit-in an RX8 then decided to purchase it. Considering the 8-9 month lead time from order to actually receiving the vehicle, I would think these could all be specific orders.

I for one fully expect to specify the car exactly as I want it (including color). I can't wait until July!!!

Thanks!!!!!

A pre order would be greatness.

Now the real question: will we be able to drive the dealer demo in july? And if someone walks in with enough cash, will they sell it?

THE REAL QUESTION:

How much BS is that dealership giving you? As far as I know, the new 6 is supposed to arrive late summer/early fall (Aug/Sept). And the RX-8 will be around in Feb/Mar 2003.

If one is here by July I'd be really really surprised. Espcially when you consider they haven't even started making them, its gonna be hard to make enough, and get them shipped within the next month.

July, I don't think so ;)

The dealer briefly mentioned a "cut away" when he was talking about this July-August car, but we got on to other topics and I forgot to ask him further details. I could certainly envision some sort of full size cut away model of the RX8. The specific purpose would be to generate interest and sales orders.

Even if it was a true pre-production car, I could see Corporate Mazda preventing the dealer from selling it, no matter how much money someone walked into the showroom with. Likely the dealership might not even own the car therefore they could not sell it. Corporate Mazda could be loning the car for advertising purposes and as a way to determine interest.

The dealer still stated that the cars won't start shipping until the March 03 timeframe.

I live in MA and I talked to a nearby dealer. He said he hasn't received any pre-orders yet.

I was wondering if anyone else has spoken to their Mazda dealer and been told about the Rx8 per dealer to arrive in late July. Personally, I think it makes sense. Mazda probably doesn't have their production facilities fully up to speed yet, so they can only crank out a few Rx8s. Ship these to dealers who use them to drum up orders which helps the production folks know what flavor of RX8s to produce and give them some idea of the production run size. This also gives them a big lead time to gear up production. I think Mazda is expecting this car to sell very well, so I suspect they are going to pour a lot of resources into building as many RX8s as they can.

I would just like to be one of the first on my block with one. If they are truely in the 26-30K range and built as well as Mazda can make them, then I think Mazda will be rejuvenated by this car. (The Mazda 6 will also sell well I think).

In the meantime, I'm still driving my 1981 RX7.

I preordered in Arlington, Tx. I get first yellow. Was told maybe October/November. Expect 2/2003 like R/T article. Now drive 2002 WRX, which is the best car I ever owned. Expect same from RX8.

I live in Marin County, Northern California and I spoke with the Mazda fleet manager at our dealer up here. They were not taking pre-orders, but they are keeping a list of interested buyers and they are supposed to receive new RX-8 information in July. He didn't mention anything about an actual vehicle.

I went to a MAzda dealer last night, he said the car was going to cost $40K!!!!! Are they that stupid at MAzda?? This car is targeted towards a younger generation who for the most part don't have that kind of money. Look at all the people interested in this car, i bet you they are mostly in their 20's!!! I guess they don't remember a car called the RX-7 or the Supra?? Yep, those cars sold really well!!! Nice going MAZDA!!!

i willnotpayacentoverthe suggested retail price. and i hope that the demand doesnt cause the price to go up. good old supply and demand. but I am getting one. Im already saving up my c-notes.

Originally posted by victor
I went to a MAzda dealer last night, he said the car was going to cost $40K!!!!! Are they that stupid at MAzda?? This car is targeted towards a younger generation who for the most part don't have that kind of money. Look at all the people interested in this car, i bet you they are mostly in their 20's!!! I guess they don't remember a car called the RX-7 or the Supra?? Yep, those cars sold really well!!! Nice going MAZDA!!!

First, what the dealer says it'll cost and what it will cost are two different things. First of all, since Mazda hasn't announced prices yet there's no way a dealer is going to give anyone the straight dope on the price. They were simply speculating. Second, place yourself in the salesman's shoes. If I were a salesman and someone came in whom I could clearly not expect a sale from within 6 months (if ever), I would do whatever I could to get rid of that person without being rude. By saying it would cost $40,000, he can simply say, "well, I guess you're not interested", and walk away. Third, I would suspect that the average age of people buying the RX-8 when it comes out would be closer to 45 than 25. Of course the main interest at this point is from younger people. That doesn't mean they will be able to afford it. Last, it's not "Nice going Mazda", it's "Nice going dealer". If you're complaining about the price gouging of the RX-8 (which may not even happen), Mazda has no control over that. The only people who have control over price gouging is the people buying the car. If no one will pay over MSRP, then no dealer will sell for over MSRP. Simple.

Rich, well said. I can't agree with you more.

Except... Well, I'm 24 and I will get an RX-8. I'm already saving for my down payment.

And I will NOT pay over MSRP.

Actually, I'm 25 and seriously considering an RX-8. However, both myself and my girlfriend are engineers, we've got no kids, and have no bad debt. Our only debt is on the mortgage, one car that we share, and a tiny amount in school loans. You and I are the abnormal ones, as I truly believe that the average person who gets this car will be much older. I won't go into the price gouging thing any more; I already gave 4 steps to ensure that you pay no more than MSRP here (http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=251&page).

I still hope that by the time I'm getting ready to buy there will be a new RX-7 out there. That's the real reason I'm excited about the 8. Until that happens or I break down and get an 8 I'll just pick up a used Miata to putt around in...

Originally posted by victor
I went to a MAzda dealer last night, he said the car was going to cost $40K!!!!! Are they that stupid at MAzda?? This car is targeted towards a younger generation who for the most part don't have that kind of money. Look at all the people interested in this car, i bet you they are mostly in their 20's!!! I guess they don't remember a car called the RX-7 or the Supra?? Yep, those cars sold really well!!! Nice going MAZDA!!!

I talked to them yesterday when i preordered mine they said decked out the max it would be is 30k