At 3:15pm today, my dealer called and told me that my RX-8 has made it on the "On Water" report. He said that based on his experience with Miata's coming from the same port to expect delivery within the next 3-4 weeks.

one dealer i contacted today also said that those vehivcles are now showing up on their inventory reports. if you are not sure if your car is on the water have the dealer check his inventory reports.

My dealer's report shows my car and five others "on water" with EST arrival of July Week 3.:D

Week 3 of july!!! Are those 1st allocation cars or 2nd allocation? Or non-preorder cars?

I had to supress my laughter when my dealer told me that based on a 28 May build date, they estimate another 10 days for delivery, and my car will arrive June 10th! I want some of whatever he's smoking :D

That is interesting that we are being told the third week of July whether we are on the west coast or east. If it only takes 10 days for the ship to get from Japan to the west coast, why would it take 6 weeks to get anywhere in the U.S.?

my dealer is so stupid... i really hope that my car is "on water"
i have one of the cars in the first shipment (to my dealer, which is hopefully first allocation), so it should be.
________
FIX PS3 (http://fixps3.info/)

Originally posted by jdj1971
Week 3 of july!!! Are those 1st allocation cars or 2nd allocation? Or non-preorder cars?

My car was a 2nd allocation pre-order. However, it was bumped up by Mazda to first allocation in place of 'dealer ordered' cars. His non pre-orders in first allocation still do not have VIN#.

The estimated July 3rd week is to the Dealer's door. First, it is supposed to take 30 days for ship to get to the East Coast. (So that would make port call around 29 JUN.) Next, they have to add emmissions gear and port options. Third, the cars then have to be trucked to dealerships. Unless there is some sort of glitch, I would figure these two steps may only require 2 weeks. Either way we are fairly on-track with the Mid-July delivery Mazda put out to the dealers in the email I posted here. (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=46857&highlight=email#post46857)

Ahh. I see. I didn't realize you were on the east cost. I'm smack in the middle of the country (ark) so I'm HOPING that mine will come in on the west coast. My dealer is still telling me end of june.

Originally posted by jdj1971
I'm smack in the middle of the country (ark)

As in 'Arkansas'? What part? I'm originally from NW Arkansas.

Well, I am still hoping for the 3-4 week delivery timeframe when compared with the Miata. Either way, I ordered NO port options so I would guess that they only have to install the emissions equipment you speak of and then send it on its way. It also doesn't hurt being only 1.5 hours from Jacksonville.

Originally posted by TreknMazda


As in 'Arkansas'? What part? I'm originally from NW Arkansas.

Little Rock. Went to school in fayetteville though.

My salesman has been giving me vague and optimistic build / arrival dates, which were contridicting the dates on this board, so I never believed him. I finally gave up on him and emailed rx8orders@mazdausa.com. I mailed them on Saturday, and suprisingly they replied at 2pm today.

I ordered my car on 02/13/2003, but they had an RX-8 just like I wanted unspoken for on the first allocation. So the dealer put my name and email on the order. Rx8orders said that my name wasn't on the pre-order system even though my salesman said he'd do it. But the rx8orders guy called my dealer's sales manager and informed him to do so :) This is really confusing since I got the book but my name is not on the system.

Well, I just called the sales manager (not my clueless salesman), and he pulled up the inventory. All of those bad experiences just disappeared when he told me the good news, "ON WATER" (!) Estimated Arrival is 3rd week of July.

To sum up:
VIN JM1FE173740101155
Lightning Yellow GT 6spd NAV
First Allocation
ON WATER
Arrives: 3rd week of July

Finally!!! My car is on its way!

Originally posted by Pam
That is interesting that we are being told the third week of July whether we are on the west coast or east. If it only takes 10 days for the ship to get from Japan to the west coast, why would it take 6 weeks to get anywhere in the U.S.?

waiting for paint to dry
vessel scheulding congestion (out bound from japan)
customs broker not doing their job
rail congestion
and of course, dealer general stupidity

i've seen schedule up to 90 days from factory to dealership

My dealer says: "Your vehicle's status is showing On Water- June 30th. When it hits port they will add all of the accessories then ship it on.
It is looking like the first RX8's aren't going to hit the dealerships until mid-July."

Does anyone know if "on-water June 30" means that it goes on the boat on June 30, or that it is on the boat now and will be at port June 30?

What I don't understand about the Mid-July delivery is... why would it take only 3-4 weeks to get a Miata and 4-6 weeks to get an RX-8. I mean they are both produded in Hiroshima. This is even more true if NO port options are to be installed. Any thoughts?

I was told port installed options don't really hold a car up. The car has to spend time in port anyway. Also they aren't going to load a truck up with 2-3 cars that may not have any port options and then a couple days later put 2-3 more on another truck. So they will wait until they have enough "ready" cars that go to the same area.

Anyway I have had a VIN since the 23rd and still no updates as of yet. I also don't have the dang book either.

ETD 6/30
ETA 7/9-10

Originally posted by Pam
If it only takes 10 days for the ship to get from Japan to the west coast, why would it take 6 weeks to get anywhere in the U.S.?

Unions. Remember the dock workers strike in California a year or so ago, backed up everything imported into the US West Coast ports by weeks? Damn unions. They unload the ships, move the cars to storage lots, then eventually load the cars for transport. Depending on port options installation, customs paperwork, arranging ready cars according to common destinations, loading rail cars, it's pretty normal for cars to spend anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 weeks in port. THEN you've got rail transport to local freight terminals, then more Unions unloading into local storage lots, then grouping cars for truck transport to local dealer destinations. Add another week minimum!

Regards,
Gordon

All of this is well and good but that still does not explain how a Miata coming from the same port arrives in 3-4 weeks to the dealer and an RX-8 will take 4-6 weeks. Luckily, my car only has to make a pit stop on the West Coast and then continue on to Jacksonville, FL.

Anyway, a watched pot never boils. We'll get them when we get them.

Originally posted by RotorBoy
All of this is well and good but that still does not explain how a Miata coming from the same port arrives in 3-4 weeks to the dealer and an RX-8 will take 4-6 weeks. Luckily, my car only has to make a pit stop on the West Coast and then continue on to Jacksonville, FL.

The Miata that takes 3-4 weeks may have already been in country. Since the car has an on-going production schedule, the cars show up every so often. And would have nearly every concievable color/factory option combination. And the dealers can check the inventory of any other dealer to locate a specific match. In the case of the RX-8, this IS all of them, for now;) So we are experiencing the REAL WORLD shipping/transportation time. And if you are on the East Coast your car probably will not be stopping in California. It will take the scenic route through the Panama Canal. At least that's the route for Northeast deliveries. I would think Southeast is the same.

Comparing the delivery times of Miatas to RX-8s is like...
comparing pistons to rotaries:D (Sorry, it just came to me an I had to say it:p)

Originally posted by RotorBoy
What I don't understand about the Mid-July delivery is... why would it take only 3-4 weeks to get a Miata and 4-6 weeks to get an RX-8. I mean they are both produded in Hiroshima. This is even more true if NO port options are to be installed. Any thoughts?

It could be related to customs. The Miata's have been entering the country for sale for many years but the RX-8 is entering for the first time. Their maybe a more rigourous inspection of the RX-8 for a little while. Its just a guess.

north east delivery will come thru LA or seatle

the logistics of the vessel coming thru LA and then rail thru the US is cheaper

Baltimal/NY/norfolk has strike going on against one particular steamship company.
just for reference, it takes the vessel 10 days from Jap to LA, and 35-45 days to pass the panama canal. not to mantion the congestion in panama and peak season of shipping had begun.

trust me, i deal with it everyday 3-4 wks delivery time after the vessel arrives is GOOD

6-8 wks delivery is normal

it will not be hold up by customs, all emission related testing was done about a month before mass production arrival. the emission test for EPA/DOT/CARB is certified with "specs" MAZDA submit the specs of the rotary and the government does their calculation to approve. All customs has to do when the units arrive is to submit which vin is coming into the US, and it's all eletronics, total process takes about 24 hours

i'll find out what's the procedures for "port install option" are. but i've always think of it as BS for delay and to jack up the price

i work for one of the maufacture but i don't do Auto, i do logistics of other products

How could it possibly be cheaper to rail them from the West coast than ship them from Jacksonville??

distribution net work and all in rate with the steam ship lines

big volume discount

you know the destination charge we pay? that's proabably 3/4 of what mazda pays to ship the car to you nearest dealership

So my car is coming into Jacksonville and those in the North East are coming into the West Coast? doubt it.

come on dude
we are not just talking about your car

not just the 8 either

personally i wouldn't expect them to ship anything directly by water to the east coast, not even TX

it'll come into the west coast, then rail to the diff distribution warehouse/yard and then truck to the dealership

TerranceT... I hate to tell you but that is what the port of Jacksonville is for. I know most dealers are pretty slack on the information that they know but I can guarantee you that at least Mazda's that are imported from Japan do come to the port of Jacksonville for the East Coast.

BTW.. I have confirmed this from an outside source who works for companies that deal with cargo transportation. He deals with companies like P&O Ned Lloyd, SeaLand, etc. It is not uncommon for these goods to come through the Panama Canal. Also, items enter the port at Jacksonville because of the lower cost than those ports out West. Any way, my .02.

So, if they east coast deliveries arrive via boat through Panama - how long - can we assume a separate ship will head to the west coast, and another will bypass the west coast -bound ship's stop in HA and head directly to FL?

Originally posted by RotorBoy
... Also, items enter the port at Jacksonville because of the lower cost than those ports out West. Any way, my .02.

So the enormous cost of traveling the panama canal, and the fuel cost to take the ship an extra 2000+ miles, and the cost of insuring a transport for an extra 2-4 weeks is cheaper than off loading in CA?? Oh yeah, i thought automakers pulled out of Jacksonville port (can't remember why). My friend in Jax told me BMW pulled out a while ago.

BMW IS FROM EUROPE......grrrr...

sigh
i'll shut up
i guess it's easier to believe the salesman than some faceless dude off the internet

Originally posted by TerenceT
BMW IS FROM EUROPE......grrrr...

sigh
i'll shut up
i guess it's easier to believe the salesman than some faceless dude off the internet

I get the distinct impression they feel you don't know what your talking about TT. I say ask the person that hasn't been able to correctly answer any of your questions in the first place!?:D

I'm one of the lucky few that live in Jacksonville, Florida. Tom Bush Mazda which is probably only 15 minutes from the port has notified me that my car was built on 5/29. The estimated date that I'll be able to drive my car off the dealership lot is the first week of July. This estimate includes port installed options 1. Front Air Dam, 2. Splash Guards, 3. Navigation, and 4. Rear Wing Spoiler. All port installed options have been confirmed except for the aluminum gas door, which will be put on later.

Navigation is installed at the factory.

For what it's worth, I spoke to my dealer yesterday and he said he thought the boat would be coming into Point Mugu, and that it usually takes about 3wks from the time the boat leaves Japan to arrive at the port. Then it takes about another week to get from the port to the dealer (time to do whatever checks and port installed options they need to do there), so he's predicting the beginning of July for me.

It's actually starting to feel like it's getting close now! :)

Originally posted by PlanMan
I'm one of the lucky few that live in Jacksonville, Florida. Tom Bush Mazda which is probably only 15 minutes from the port has notified me that my car was built on 5/29. The estimated date that I'll be able to drive my car off the dealership lot is the first week of July. This estimate includes port installed options 1. Front Air Dam, 2. Splash Guards, 3. Navigation, and 4. Rear Wing Spoiler. All port installed options have been confirmed except for the aluminum gas door, which will be put on later.

Do you have your vin yet or at least the last 4 digits. If so can you post them. I have a Red GT that is coming to SC through the Jax port. My dealer looked up and one car with a build of May 23 is listed On Water but my car built on the 26 is not listed on water. I am curious if yours is before or after mine?

Thanks,

Some people in this thread seem to doubt that any import cars, the Miata, or the RX-8 utilize Jacksonville, FL as their port of entry. Particularly this is directed to TerranceT and Farsyde but there may be others. While in all honesty this is 100% irrelevant, as the RX-8 will get here when it gets here. There is nothing at this point that any of us can do to speed up delivery.

First of all, your friend might be right Farsyde. I can tell you that SOME BMW's (& Mercedes-Benz) being exported from the USA are shipped out from the Savannah, GA port. I see them all of the time on the lot waiting to be loaded. The BMW's come from their South Carolina production facility while the Mercedes-Benz M-class SUV comes from Vance, Alabama. Concerning the Jacksonville port, I can assure you that they do accept imported automobiles. The Talleyrand Marine Terminal accepted 615,030 vehicles in FY2002.

It is a fact that some Miatas come from Hiroshima on a ship to Jacksonville. I cannot tell you what states are serviced from Jacksonville, but I feel it safe to say that Florida, Georiga, and South Carolina would be. While some think that this might cost more than dropping all cars from Japan in L.A. or California or wherever on the West Coast and then shipping them by rail, I have to disagree. The economies of scale that can be acheived by keeping all of the vehicles together far outweighs breaking them up into smaller units for distribution. Even when considering fuel (fuel that would have to be used by the trains), the 2000+ miles (miles that have to be crossed either way you slice it), and the cost of insurance, I still feel that shipping is the preferred and fastest method. Remember, insurance has to be bought either way. Arguably insurance on rail might be cheaper due to spreading the risk. However, there seem to be many more rail incidents versus shipping incidents so this would definately be debateable.

I am an avid car enthusiast. I kick tires all of the time and have NEVER seen a port of entry certification on a vehicle, while living on the East Coast, that has a West Coast port as its entry. I am not saying that it doesn't happen but I just haven't seen it. OH and my 2003 4Runner is made in Japan. I have the window sticker. It says quote, "Port/Plant: Jacksonville, FL."

The bottom line is simply that we all want our RX-8, and the sooner the better!!!!

RotorBoy is right. In fact, the port in Jacksonville "JAXPORT" is #1 in the nation in terms of automobile handling. In 2002, they handled a record number of vehicles 615,000. Check out jaxport.com all of the statistics are there. I remember years ago when BMW decided to move its port of entry due to a supposed acid rain problem, but it appears they are in the minority. I know Ford, DaimlerChrysler, GM, Isuzu, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Suzuki, Toyota, Volvo, Kia and Daewoo all come into Jaxport. School busses, ambulances and used cars and trucks are also included in the count.

Vehicles moving through JAXPORT include imports and exports, as well as passenger cars and trucks brought here to be “processed” by one of four automobile processors: American Port Services (AMPORTS), Distribution and Auto Services (D.A.S.), Southeast Toyota Distributors, Inc., and Mercedes-Benz U.S.A. Inc. The first three are JAXPORT tenants, while Mercedes-Benz has its own facility in Jacksonville.

Processing involves cleaning, inspecting and adding equipment to the vehicles such as luggage racks, sound systems, sunroofs, air conditioning, specialty wheels and leather interiors. The processors prepare U.S.-made vehicles for export to Europe, the Middle East, South America and Puerto Rico, and arrange for vehicles from countries such as Korea, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Belgium and Sweden to be delivered to dealerships throughout the Southeastern United States – including Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas – and as far west as New Mexico.

For much of the 1990s, Jacksonville was the nation’s second busiest vehicle port, consistently finishing just behind the Port of New York/New Jersey – until 2001.

By the way, most of this was cut and pasted from the Jaxport site to save you all some time. I hope it's helpful.

I emailed Staci, my customer service rep, at RX8orders asking
1) What about the emails we should have received for build, complete and on ship?
2) Where do those ships go for the east coast and what shipping company so we can look up the schedule?

Here is the reply:
I apologize that you have not yet received the confirmation e-mails you were expecting. I have documented your concern in our corporate files. Additionally, the ships can come into either the East or West coast and depending on where the vehicles need to be shipped to, can go by rail or truck. We have 8 ports, and at this point cannot determine where the vehicle will go. Your dealership should be able to tell you as the vehicle gets closer to the U.S. Lastly, we cannot release the shipping lines information due to security reasons.

So on the shipping question (ship, rail, whatever) I guess everybody is right, but not all the time and due to security concerns we get to continue the debate until the ships dock... somewhere:p

well i stand corrected. Just watched a shpeal on TV about the panama canal. You know they are extending the thing from the current Panamac standard of 110ft to over 300ft. I can't even imagine the lagistics of that.

I do remember acid rain being the reason BMW pulled out. Thanks for the info guys.

Originally posted by TerenceT
BMW IS FROM EUROPE......grrrr...
sigh
i'll shut up
i guess it's easier to believe the salesman than some faceless dude off the internet

I guess so. Makes sense to me.

Originally posted by RotorBoy
Some people in this thread seem to doubt that any import cars, the Miata, or the RX-8 utilize Jacksonville, FL as their port of entry

I asked my dealer not long after I ordered where they get their cars from. He said all of theirs come through Jaxport. I don't know what other ports Mazda uses but for Greenville SC the car would normally come through Jaxport. With the RX-8 that is up in the air since their are a few cars coming to a lot of dealers at one time. They may consolidate and bring more cars to one port and distribute by ground transport.

At this point it does not matter to me because the car will arrive when it arrives. Their is nothing I or anybody else can do to speed the process up. As of today my car didn't show On Water. I was the first and only preorder in the first group for my dealer and other cars on his inventory show On Water. The car was supposed to be built on May 26. I don't know where it is at this point, the status is unchanged. I wonder when the next shipment is scheduled to depart Japan.

other cars as in other Mazda models, or as in other RX-8s they have coming in? I feel sure yours is on the way...

i thought people here are more open minded

Mazda has 8 distribution plan, one of them is in JAX, your dealer's parent plan is JAX, it makes perfect sense for him to say the 8 comes from JAX, does it mean it was imported thru JAX? i say no.

the reason you cannot get a vin is because the import invoice hasn't processed yet or it very well might not have been produced/shipped yet. As my company does logistics, all vechiels were batched in a particular invoice for a particular distribution center, eg: invoice that starts with 101 is for california DC and 102 is for say Seattle's warehouse. If your car is produced, it would appear in an invoice within 3 days, usually by the 5th day, Mazada corporate will see what's coming (invoice wise). they'll also be notified probably electronically due to volume what's on that invoice, namely how many, engine and frame number, product code. At this time, the dealer still do'nt know jack. in fact, they won't know until it arrives at its particular DC, sorted and ready to be deliver.

i import from japan/china, south america and europe, only south american freight uses the Canal. we have two port of entry in the west coast, LGB and Seattle/Kent, WA. all products destined for the east coast/midwest/south east passes thru west coast. and Yes, I have logistics studies to prove that.

i am not denying JAXport and NYC have auto import, of course they do, unless Mercedes and BMW likes to use the Canal to ship to west coast. Yes they are expending the canal because ... of congestion. the only reason why shipment goes thru the canal is 1) not time sensative 2) ocean freight price 3) port strike 4)bulk that cannot be ship via rail.

Also, manufacture usualy have a garanteed delivery date, at least we do, you order 4 months ahead and dealer can expect the goods by the end of 4 months. when one of you strolled into the dealership with a brief case full of money and dealer has no car, who do you think they yell at? Corporate logistics people. Then people like me with give the dealer plenty of excuses :D Dealer adds their and tell you about security concern

:D good luck, ya'all, thank god i am not working for Mazda, but then again, i would be able to look up my own VIN LOL

Originally posted by RotorBoy
Some people in this thread seem to doubt that any import cars, the Miata, or the RX-8 utilize Jacksonville, FL as their port of entry. Particularly this is directed to TerranceT and Farsyde but there may be others.


How about a little friendly wager RotorBoy?

If the car's build in the first week of June (not the salesman yapping but confirmed built date) gets here by end of June or even 1st week of July. You win and i'll buy you a die cast RX8 (when it comes out)

if it comes in afterwards, you buy me one?

anyway, accident at sea does happend, you don't hear about it doesn't mean no incident, case in point, 9 months or less ago, Wallenus Willhemsen line lost a vessel of Volvo (i have picture to prove that), 3-4 months ago, my company lost 15 containers due to a white squawl bronsided the vessel from Japan destine for west coast.
;)

Just got back from my dealer, who, said my RX-8 was On Water but ETA was July WK 4.

When asked about ports, he said their cars come into port at Tacoma (WA) where they are then sent to downtown Detroit for port-installation before delivery. For all I know he could be full of it, but he mentioned having to return a 6 to port for some reason and it entailed driving 20 minutes to downtown Detroit.

JTDWAB:
You asked for my VIN number. Here it is. Let me know what you find out. JM1FE173340101797.

HAHA.. Well honesly, I really have no desire to own a die cast model of the car. The key they are getting in Japan on the other hand I would give my left arm for. :D

Really, my argument is not about when the car would get here. As I said in my last post, the car will get here when it gets here. Nothing we do or don't do will change that. I simply was contradicting your point that suggest East Coast 8's will arrive out West and get railed across the U.S. I can drive all over Savannah and take photographs of window stickers of imported Japanese cars showing Jacksonville, FL as the port of entry. Why would the RX-8 be any different. It's not like they filled a transport ship with ONLY RX-8's or even Mazdas. There will be various vehicles on the ship to fill it up. As I pointed out, my 2003 4Runner had a port of entry listed as Jacksonville. I think it all comes back to economies of scale.

Understand that I am not trying to be obtuse.

I can tell that you truly do work in logistics; however, a very good friend of mine does also. I spoke with him and he explained that the average time it takes a ship to travel from port in Japan to J'ville going through Panama Canal is 25 days. While I realize that it takes time to unload the ship and then do whatever has to be done to prepare vehicles for transport to individual dealers, I cannot see this taking too much time. I know that shippers want to expedite shipment to prevent storage fees. Also, cargo sitting on a ship while at port for any length of time has to be costly.

That being said, if I get my 8 and the window sticker says LA, WA, etc. I will eat crow. Please note that you likely won't see me online for a LONG TIME after the 8 gets here.

The bottom line is all we can do is wait. I frankly don't care if my 8 travels to the States via the Space Shuttle as long as I get it.

Originally posted by RotorBoy
I frankly don't care if my 8 travels to the States via the Space Shuttle as long as I get it.

How many pieces would you like it in?
Oops...sorry bad joke...

Originally posted by dreamgetter1

How many pieces would you like it in?
Oops...sorry bad joke...

It would have been funny if you quoted the part where he said he "would eat crow". You know, breast or thigh...

LOL:D :D

Russel?http://music.site.kz/newsarc/images/russel_crow.jpg

or Sheryl?http://www.celebrity-exchange.com/celebs/photos35/sheryl-crow-5.jpg

Sheryl must be very happy of that picture, she rarely looks that good.

I'll take the female version please..:D ;)

LoL.. guess I better be more careful next time! :D

I got the word from my dealer today that my car's status has changed to "On Water." He has been checking it daily for me. Best thing that's happened to me this week! I have no idea when it will be here (he is hoping within 30 days), but at least it is officially on the way!! I'm hoping he is right and that I'll be one of the first since my dealer is the closest dealer to the Port of Tacoma. We all have to have dreams - that is one of mine:)

I got the word from my dealer today that my car's status has changed to "On Water." He has been checking it daily for me.

3Rotor, what allocation are you in? 1st, 2nd, or 3rd?

Definitely 1st allocation, and I believe I am the first forum member on the west coast to report an "On Water" status. This goes back to what I was told by Mazda and my subsequent theory. About two weeks ago, I was told by one of the rx8orders reps that there was a boat leaving Japan on 30 May and a boat leaving on 31 May. Then Tuesday (6/3/03) a bunch of people from the east coast get their status changed to On Water. 48 hours later, I have my status changed. I am thinking that the boat that left Japan on the 30th is bound for a port that will ultimately deliver vehicles to the east coast and the boat that left on the 31st is carrying the west coast cars - just a theory, but I sleep better at night.

I agree with your theory. The previous furthest west that I have noted with 'on water' status has been Ann Arbor Michigan. Do you have your VIN? I've added you to my list but having your VIN and build date would help with the date sequencing.

All of that is in a folder on my desk at work. I can tell you that at the end of the VIN is 000774. EST Build Date was 5/19/03.

Originally posted by pmacwill
Sheryl must be very happy of that picture, she rarely looks that good.

BUUUUUUUUURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D :D :D :D :D :D

My dealer also told me that my car (first preorder) is "on the water." He said that even though the delivery shows 3rd week of July, often times only a couple of weeks goes by and they just show up on the truck. Therefore, it could be here by 4th of July!

My dealer is in Augusta, GA.

Originally posted by Kurt Bob
My dealer also told me that my car (first preorder) is "on the water." He said that even though the delivery shows 3rd week of July, often times only a couple of weeks goes by and they just show up on the truck. Therefore, it could be here by 4th of July!

My dealer is in Augusta, GA.

What are the last 4 digits of your VIN?

Thanks

Originally posted by Kurt Bob
My dealer also told me that my car (first preorder) is "on the water." He said that even though the delivery shows 3rd week of July, often times only a couple of weeks goes by and they just show up on the truck. Therefore, it could be here by 4th of July!

wow. Happy Birthday USA, Happy Birthday rx-8. Doesn't get much better than that. :cool:

Hmmm... we've been told that the European RX-8's have been delayed by 2 months so I probably won't get mine until September...

Does anyone on here have any idea how long it'll take to get a ship to the UK??? I'd like to know when I should start bugging the dealer again.

I live only a few miles from the Port of Tacoma and I know where the Mazdas come into. Many are visible from the street or an area that overlooks the "yard" where they are stored. I will be visiting there every few days in the coming weeks and will let you know if and when I spot our RX-8s. I'll take some pictures if that is possible, as well. I am fairly confident that the ship bound for Tacoma left Japan on the 31st of May (was told that by a RX-8 orders rep about two weeks ago and the fact that many of us had the On Water status this week makes me pretty certain he was right). Also, my local dealer (and I have been dealing with the owner directly) told me that the ship only takes 10 days to get here. So I am thinking that the ship may arrive at port on Wednesday or Thursday of this coming week.

Here's a link for the port of Tacoma

Link (http://www.portoftacoma.com/vessellist.cfm?CFID=125789&CFTOKEN=42403792)

Autos coming in all week, I wonder which one it is...hmmmm

D-san

Originally posted by 3Rotor
I will be visiting there every few days in the coming weeks and will let you know if and when I spot our RX-8s. I'll take some pictures if that is possible, as well.

Plz be careful. Security and the police are now on the look out for anything remotely suspicious -especially at ports & industrial areas. You wouldn't want to be mistaken for a terrorist.

Found a website, simply JAXPORT.com. Click on arriving vessels and you will see all that is coming into Blount Island (cars arrive here). Today it has only up until June 9th. Presumably, tomorrow they will list the next week's schedule. Look out for the Mazda ship! I am assuming the other ports have similar websites. Check out your own like Port of Tacoma already did.

I found the shipping schedule. The Port of Tacoma is a busy place! There is a ship carrying autos arriving everyday this week beginning today. In fact a Roll-on Roll-off ship from Japan carrying autos arrives today! Most of them are from Japanese based shipping lines. I'll keep my eye open and I'll be careful. I am not planning any covert operations, I prefer the direct approach and subscribe to the theory that "suger gets you further than vinegar!"

Okay, so does anyone know which shipping line(s) is servicing the RX-8?

Originally posted by B-Nez
Okay, so does anyone know which shipping line(s) is servicing the RX-8?

i'll just call it the "Rotary X-press"

I am just guessing, but I think they will be arriving either today on the K-Line Vessel Diamond Highway or on Friday on the K-Line Vessel Princess Arrow. However, according to K-Line's site, it only takes 8 days to make the journey from Japan. Again, based upon earlier information I received from Mazda - the ship my car is on was to leave on the 31st - so my bet is on the DIAMOND HIGHWAY. I am going to try to go down there today to see what I can find out.

O.K. I am back from my recon of the Port. The Diamond Highway was unloading while I was there. Unfortunately, it appears that the ship is full of Mitsubishis. I asked one of the drivers if there were any Mazdas on the ship and he said no. I also asked one of the security guards if the ships usually contained one car brand. He says that 95% of the time, they unload cars only into one manfacturers yard. The area is very wide open and it is extremely easy to see the ships unloading. Additionally, the Mazda yards all border public access roads. I will be checking throughout the week to see what I can see.

I realize that there are only going to be a limited number of RX-8 on the ship as most of these ships hold in excess of 3000 cars. What else does Mazda build in Japan for export to the U.S.?

It's kinda cool that you are keeping tabs on this. I live in St. Louis and my car is on the ship bound for the Tacoma port. It would be awesome to see some pics of my car coming off of the ship this week!!

Does anybody know if they are trucked directly to the dealerships or railed to somewhere else from Tacoma to this part of the country to be trucked the rest of the way?

Do they do the port installed options right there in Tacoma at the manufacturer's yard?

I'm pretty sure they'll be trucking a majority of them to facilities outside of Tacoma. I know that, for example, mine will end up in a facility in downtown Detroit for port installation, even though it arrives via boat to Tacoma.

My VIN ends in 1393.

What else does Mazda build in Japan for export to the U.S.?Miata, MPV, Protege, Protege5, few if any Millenias though(discontinued).

Well, I know what I will be doing daily starting on Tuesday - going down to the port. There are 6 to 8 ships carrying autos or RO-RO ( Roll on, Roll off) coming in from Tuesday until Friday - nothing ver the weekend next weekend. There is a building in one of the Mazda yards that looks as though it may be where they would install the "PORT INSTALLED OPTIONS." I will probably wander down there on Monday and see if I can make any friends. Perhaps I can find something out. My dealer told me that the Port is where they would install the options, then truck them throughout a multi-state area. On the list that ibufar2000 was running, all I could find was POE (Port of Entry) and IP (Internal or Installation Port) listing Tacoma as both - I couldn't find a Tacoma POE and another city listed as the IP - so I think if it is coming into Tacoma, it is having Port oprions installed in that building. At Port Hueneme it is different. There are listings for both a Port Hueneme POE and Port Hueneme IP as well as a different IP such as:
POE PH - PORT HUENEME, CA. IP DA - PORT MIDLOTHIAN, TX.

3Rotor: Nope, my POE is Tacoma but the installation port is in MI...
POE PH - TACOMA, WA. IP DA - WOODHAVEN, MI.

Well then, the mystering is unravaling.. IP must be where they will be adding the accessories. Hmmmm, I wonder what I could do (or get them) to get the workers to install my options first?:) Anyone else POE Tacoma IP Tacoma have any ideas / requests???