After reading through lots of parts of this forum, it seems like lots of deatails/rumors are coming from dealers. I know that I've gotten lots of misinformation from dealers. By comparing what our dealers are telling us, maybe we'll get a better idea of what's really going on.

Here is what I've heard from dealers in Dallas:
There is no waiting list.

There is a waiting list.

$15,000 deposit now won't promise you a car in the first batch, or at sticker.

They're not going to pre-sell the RX-8, just put it on the floor, and sell it to someone who pays way over sticker. If that doesn't work, then they'll mark it up JUST $10,000 over sticker.

The larger dealers will be getting 2-3 in the first shipment. If you are at the top of the list, they will request your color/features arrangement and you will get one of the first 2-3 for sticker.

This is my favorite: They're going to mass produce the RX-8 and there won't be much of a demand. It will be no problem getting one early and there is no way they're selling them over sticker. It's going to be a family sedan! (I refused to talk to this guy any more).

Generally, the sales staff doesn't seem to have a clue about the cars that they will be selling, and only some clue about the cars they are selling.

Does anyone have a more reliable source inside a dealer?

I think the guy that said there was going to be low demand because of mass production was right.

Its true, mazda will make as many as they can sell. The car isn't going to sell for more than sticker unless you are an idiot buyer and have to have the first one. Even the new 350z isn't going for more than the sticker price. Very few cars demand that kind of price treatment, this isn't one of them.

I don't think its a family sedan but I think it will draw some of those buyers from the true family sedans.

Thanks for the information. One thing to keep in mind is that dealers are very bad places to get pre-production information. If there is anything real, the car mags are usually the best place to get that information because they've not only got the contacts but also have to ensure that they maintain their journalistic integrity. A car magazine that gets that kind of information wrong pisses off way more people (readers and manufacturers), and is therefore more likely to get it right, or at least write what level of uncertainty there is. I'm not a dealer hater, as so many people are, but I do think that information from them is extremely suspect at this stage.

With that said, I do think it's great to compile that information here. It's a heck of a lot better than nothing.

Where did you go in Dallas? I'll ask my sources. I have to friends that work for a dealer. I'll get back to you later.

The people I had the longest conversations with were a guy in internet sales on the phone, a very new salesperson who quoted her manager (in person) and some other salesman on the phone. Each of them had very different information.

I'm interested in knowing if anyone has got an agreement from the dealer on price yet (i.e., at sticker, some set cost below or above sticker, etc). I've been the first on my local dealer's list since January 2001 and they still won't take a deposit or give me an answer on what they want for price (above, below, at, etc).

I think there will be plenty of cars produced....though I'd be willing to bet the first 3-4 months at least are pre-sold.

Originally posted by KillerNSX
I'm interested in knowing if anyone has got an agreement from the dealer on price yet (i.e., at sticker, some set cost below or above sticker, etc). I've been the first on my local dealer's list since January 2001 and they still won't take a deposit or give me an answer on what they want for price (above, below, at, etc).

I think there will be plenty of cars produced....though I'd be willing to bet the first 3-4 months at least are pre-sold.

That's a bad sign if your dealer is willing to put you on a waiting list, but not accept a deposit. In all likelihood, they'll offer you you the car at whatever the market dictates (marked up probably) and give you rights of first refusal. If you pass, it's no big deal to them, because they'll just move down the list until they find someone desparate enough to pay their asking price.

I'd look for a different dealer if I were you.