Is there a specific list of 'port installed' options and 'dealer installed' options? Does the procedure go like this? . . my car is unloaded off the boat from Japan, then goes to a 'port options installation' place, then is shipped to my dealership, where 'dealer options' are installed.

For example, I would like the 'spare tire' option. I'm assuming this would be a 'port installed' option and, while visiting my dealership today, I was not aware of the addition of this option to my order when I made the request for the option.

(My car [6-speed, sport package, Sunlight Silver, black cloth] is due to arrive mid-August. I was somehow moved from being a member of the 3rd pre-order group to being in the 2nd pre-order group.)

Everything on my car was installed at port. Appearance pkg, rotary appearance package, spoiler, cargo net, cd changer...everything. I assume it would probably be the same for all first orders. You can get things installed at the dealership later, but I think pretty much everything that you ordered on the car will be installed at port.

When I visited my dealer earlier today, I was given one of the 'new' brochures . . the one that opens from the front and from the back (sort of clever). Anyway, relative to my question about 'port installation / dealer installation', I found the answer in the brochure.

There are "options", "dealer-installed accessories", and "accessories available through your Mazda dealer." Some options are "O's" (probably factory installed or port installed), some are "A's" (dealer-installed accessories), some are a combination ("O/A's"), and there are about 3 dozen accessories list that are available at the dealer.

I have answered my own questions. How empowering! By the way . . about fifteen minutes ago my salesman called to tell me the dealership had, literally, just received their first RX-8. Yellow with 6-speed. It's being prepped as I type. I'm leaving right after this post . . to see, up front and personal, my first real live RX-8.