I'm about to get an RX-8 tomorrow and I had a few quick questions.

Firstly, I'll be 2 year leasing a new 2005 Mazda RX-8 + Grand Touring Package for $200/mo with $2,000 down. I was looking at the base model of the Pontiac G6 and that came out to $230/mo with $2,500 down for a 2 year lease. So F- them! The main reason I'm getting the 8 is because it's the cheapest car I could find that kicked ass.

I've never driven a stick before and was wondering if any of you first learned to drive a stick on your RX-8 and how it worked out for you. I'm smack in the middle between getting the MT or the AT. I know the MT has more HP than the AT, but MTs can be a pain. But for a sports car like the RX-8, most people seem to get the MT. I like the ATs because the car doesn't jerk when shifting gears. I will test drive the MT and find out for myself.

I know the mileage is about 14-15MPG average for most people which sucks. But with a cheap deal on a lease, I'll probably still come out ahead in the end. The reason they are leasing so cheap is because they are gas guzzlers. Premium gas guzzlers. :rant: Oh well.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

Buy MT! Seriously, with this car, it's not just a matter of the tranny, it's a matter of the engine.

This car's MT, I find, is a little harder to get a good hang of than your average MT car... For example, the revs fall faster (so you either need to shift faster, or catch the revs from falling too low with some gas), the gas pedal is more linear (which gives you more control in the end, but requires more of an accelerator push in the beginning to get it to rev). But don't let this scare you away.. if you've never driven MT before, you will not notice the gas pedal feel difference and you will easily get used to things just the way they are.

As far as jerkiness goes, it's not really an MT car thing, it's just a skill thing. If you buy this MT, I predict you'll get the basics down in the first two-three days of practice, then in a week or two, you'll be OK with it, then in a month or two you will be pretty decent with it, and then only another 3-4 months you will truly be smooth.

I had 2-3 hours total of MT experience when I bought my 8 less than two months ago. So while I didn't learn the stick from scratch on the 8, I pretty much learned everything after the basics in it. Less than two months later, I am already decently smooth on shifts; uphills are not a problem anymore. I let my roommate drive my 8 and I thought that he'd be driving jerky (like me), but he got in the car and after the first two-three corners, his shifts were buttery smooth. You would have a hard time telling that you were in an MT car with your eyes closed with my roommmate driving. So it's just a matter of time to get the smoothness down.

Plus the 8's gearbox is awesome and rowing through 6 gears is an awesome feeling. You get that extra feeling of control that I miss with automatics.

Get the MT, you won't regert it in the end!

(As further proof that smooth MT is in the driving, I was watching the British show "Fifth Gear" and one of the hosts complained, while driving a Maserati (or some other ungodly expensive car), that its automatic gearbox was not as smooth as "good old fashioned hands and feet" (i.e. the manual transmission).)

you should read the learning stick shift thread...

well u dont really have time to learn.. but you should have someobdy pick it up for you...
first 60 miles really matters for break in...

and if you're good.. shifting is smoother in manual...

Thank you SO MUCH for that post. You told me everything I wanted to hear.

After I posted that, I realized what my #1 fear was... REGRET. I'm terrified to get the MT and after a few weeks yelling "Noooooooooooooooo!!!" Like what have I done!!?!?! Basically worried I would HATE it.

It's my brother's Acura RSX Type-S, it's horrible when switching gears. I think it might be him. But he said any MT will have a good tug feeling when switching.

After reading about how "smooth" the RX-8 is, I thought that this car might have been an exception.

I'll lean more towards the MT then! Thank you for clearing up my fears. I feel less prone for regret now.

The main reason I'm worrying is because my Dad, he kept stressing how much of a pain sticks are, and I was buying into it. He's the only person I've seen who has discouraged the MT. I know the MT does take more work to drive but once you get the hang of it you will be glad you did.

Thanks again for the fast and very helpful reply.

EDIT: Read your edit Astral. Nice find.
EDIT: Gerael, I am having my Dad take it home, he's really good with a stick. BTW, I never found that shifting thread.

d00d, never mind the HP or anything about the 8 or anything. The simple truth is, regardless of vehicle: manual is just WAY MORE FUN. I drove automatic for 7 years until I decided to learn stick; since then I've never gone back and never will. The ONLY time I ever wished I had an automatic was one time when I was moving and rented the Giant Truck From Hell, which had a clutch so nasty you just about needed both feet to push it down. So if you ever have to rent a truck, get an automatic. Otherwise, manual is just *totally* better.

You will be able to do it after one good learning session. You will be starting to be comfortable with it after about 2 weeks of driving every day. After a year it will be second nature to you. Give yourself this gift which will stay with you the rest of your life.

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

I'm about to get an RX-8 tomorrow and I had a few quick questions.

Firstly, I'll be 2 year leasing a new 2005 Mazda RX-8 + Grand Touring Package for $200/mo with $2,000 down. I was looking at the base model of the Pontiac G6 and that came out to $230/mo with $2,500 down for a 2 year lease. So F- them! The main reason I'm getting the 8 is because it's the cheapest car I could find that kicked ass.

I've never driven a stick before and was wondering if any of you first learned to drive a stick on your RX-8 and how it worked out for you. I'm smack in the middle between getting the MT or the AT. I know the MT has more HP than the AT, but MTs can be a pain. But for a sports car like the RX-8, most people seem to get the MT. I like the ATs because the car doesn't jerk when shifting gears. I will test drive the MT and find out for myself.

I know the mileage is about 14-15MPG average for most people which sucks. But with a cheap deal on a lease, I'll probably still come out ahead in the end. The reason they are leasing so cheap is because they are gas guzzlers. Premium gas guzzlers. :rant: Oh well.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

the ? is where do you live??? are you stuck in traffiic all the time??? seems like all the people in cali get bad gas mileage. my guess is the spend a lot of time idling.

as to the mt. you will learn. it is not a big deal. the car can burn 87oct.

200 bucks a month, how many miles a year???????

beers

Hrm.. manual after you get used to it... CAN be smoother.. i didn't say it would be...

after you get used to it.. its only slightly annoying in traffic... but rx8 has a fairly light clutch.. so your leg won't get tired...

i really highly suggest you ahve somebody teach you manual first... and also drive it home for you... you dno't wanna jack up your clutch... also...

when upshifting... try to let up clutch quickly... letting it slip and the engine wind down slowly between gears is bad... wears out your clutch.... you should feel a gentle little bump... or none at all... but quick clutching will make your clutch last much longer... heh..

Hey REL_RX8,

Thank you SO MUCH for that post. You told me everything I wanted to hear.

After I posted that, I realized what my #1 fear was... REGRET. I'm terrified to get the MT and after a few weeks yelling "Noooooooooooooooo!!!" Like what have I done!!?!?! Basically worried I would HATE it.


YES YES YES! When I bought my automatic Protege 2.5 years ago (my first car ever), I was torn between auto and MT. I mean, it was my first car, I had a total of 400 90% highway miles behind my belt in an automatic (plus a passed road test). So my boss at the time cautioned me: "I know you're considering the automatic, but make sure you don't regret it."

And man, did I ever... I owned my automatic Protege for 2.5 years. In the first five months, I would say that I only somewhat regret getting an auto. After that and until about 1.5 years of ownership, I was saying that I only half-regret getting the auto. At about 1.5 years, I broke down and was regretting getting the auto 90% (10% non-regret still there as it did help me learn how to drive). At some point, I considered trading my Protege for another new one, but with a stick, but the money lost on the upside-down loan didn't justify it.

It's my brother's Acura RSX Type-S, it's horrible when switching gears. I think it might be him. But he said any MT will have a good tug feeling when switching.

It's your brother. :) Not to put your brother down, but if you accept the fact that all MTs have a "tug feeling" when switching, then you won't work towards improving your shifting to be tug-free.

I actually was pretty frustrated for the first three-four days of driving. My 2nd day of owning my brand new RX-8 (about 24 hours since purchase), I went on a Boston roads cruise with some Protege club members and the highway we wanted to take was all backed up. So we ended up driving through traffic-filled, crawling stop-and-go major streets of Boston on a Friday night. I had cars riding my bumper (on an uphill even!) and cabbies pulling out randomly and cars randomly stopping in their lanes and drunk pedestrians randomly crossing the roads. It was the most difficult driving I've ever done: I had to stay wicked concentrated to not stall the car and not buckle too much.

After that night, and for the first week or so, I wasn't sure whether I made the right choice with MT... I thought, heck, the automatic was so much easier, I should've just stayed with that. However, two weeks of driving and my confidence was back up to good levels. My confidence now is great. I ventured into Boston for the 2nd time since buying the RX-8 tonight and I felt much better zipping around town.

I found that once I was decent at uphill starts (no longer afraid of rolling back many feet), I acquired even more confidence.

Any feelings of "should've stayed with the auto" are now all but gone. This weekend I'm gonna be driving into NYC, so I'll probably be stuck in nasty traffic for a while, but I know I'll be fine.

The main reason I'm worrying is because my Dad, he kept stressing how much of a pain sticks are, and I was buying into it. He's the only person I've seen who has discouraged the MT. I know the MT does take more work to drive but once you get the hang of it you will be glad you did.

You nailed it. My parents also discouraged MT heavily, but they live in NYC and grew up driving only sticks (auto was a luxury). They still discourage MT and they couldn't believe for a while that I actually bought an MT car.

Thanks again for the fast and very helpful reply.

No problem, I am glad that you can make sense of my ramblings.

EDIT: Gerael, I am having my Dad take it home, he's really good with a stick.

Perfect! Get the car to a parking lot (make sure it's warmed up) and off practicing you go. Check out www.standardshift.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_transmission_driving_technique

when upshifting... try to let up clutch quickly... letting it slip and the engine wind down slowly between gears is bad... wears out your clutch.... you should feel a gentle little bump... or none at all... but quick clutching will make your clutch last much longer... heh..

Yah, one of the reasons I am smoother now is that I start letting up clutch quicker than I used to. My foot starts moving back a split second before the gear is in place.

Don't worry about wearing the clutch in the beginning. The clutch will last you way past the 2 years of leasing, even with the beating on it in the beginning.

aww... leasing? hes leasing?

thats like borrowing the princess for a few nights... you're supposed to marry the princess... yer not gonna get better... sigh..

well anyway...
heres the link to the learning stick thread..

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=73760&highlight=learning+stick

For a second there it looked like you were going AT, lol, good choice with the MT. You'll have fun with it and no regrets, honestly. It takes a couple days to grasp, and maybe several days to get moving in the city...the learning process is usually a pain, but it'll be worth it. I was in the same position of whether or not to get AT or MT...in my earlier stages of rx8 shopping I was sure I'd go AT, but decided to get the MT with extra horsepower, because if so many people do it, I knew I could. Again, shifting gears at high revs = joy.

Thanks a lot guys... for everything. The MT it is.

I live just north of Detroit in Michigan. Not a lot of stop and go where I am. Unless it's rush hour, which I usually never have to drive in.

Another concern was the snow. I will have to drive this in the winter, but don't have $1000 for winter tires. I can't get a winter car because my money will be gone in a couple hours.

If you want to the MT hp, in an AT, wait until the 06 models come out. But seriously, its not too hard to learn. Like one of the previous posters, I have a couple of hours experience learning to drive stick before I test drove and bought my 8. And that was about 6 months before I bought it. Once you get the basics down, its not to bad. It will be jerky for awhile, but you'll eventually get the hang of it. There were times I wanted to give up, because I was tired of it jerking, and stalling out. Now I don't even pay attention to what I'm doing. I shift like its a natural reaction. Don't even watch the rpms anymore, I can listen to the tone of the engine/exhaust and know when its time to shift. I can also listen to that same sound, and know how fast I'm going, so I rarely look at my speed. But seriously though, I don't think this is a car you should get in AT, unless you love the looks and don't plan on having any fun with it. But if you are like 90% of the people on this forum, and want to have some fun with the car, get the 6speed, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks Moostafa29.

My only concern is winter now... :-/

I read snow or seasonal tires are a must, for driving in ANY amount of snow.

Do the MTs drive better than ATs in snow? I hear the ATs have better traction, so I dunno.

And I'm not waiting for the 06s. The whole reason I'm getting the 05' is because they are trying to get rid of them for when the 06's come in. I don't think I'll be able to get a $200/mo. payment with $2000 down on an 06'.

EDIT: Well I'm off the the dealer now. :boink:
Hope all goes well. Thanks again for everything everyone. :flipoff:

Thanks a lot guys... for everything. The MT it is.

I live just north of Detroit in Michigan. Not a lot of stop and go where I am. Unless it's rush hour, which I usually never have to drive in.

Another concern was the snow. I will have to drive this in the winter, but don't have $1000 for winter tires. I can't get a winter car because my money will be gone in a couple hours.

Get a credit card and buy those winter tires :). Seriously though, you can't at all drive the car in the winter with the stock tires. Mine came with the Dunlops and they don't even have siping that most all-sesaon tires have (so they are essentially summer tires).

tirerack.com can have you running 215/55QR17 Dunlop Graspic DS-2s on Kazera KZ-V rims for $970 shipped.

Good deal. I'll look into them.

I'm off to the dealer now. :)

I read snow or seasonal tires are a must, for driving in ANY amount of snow.

Do the MTs drive better than ATs in snow? I hear the ATs have better traction, so I dunno.

MTs drive just as well in the snow as the ATs, there really isn't any difference in traction. What makes a difference is having DSC and TCS, which you do have in the Grand Touring package.

If you get snows for your 18" stock rims, you're looking at about $760 shipped. Then every season pay $100 for mount and balance at the Mazda dealership. So $860 to start, $960 in the spring.

If you just want to get thru the winter, if you can't get the snows, I think the cheapest option for you is to get the cheapest all-seasons that will fit on stock rims. Tirerack has Avon Tech M550 A/S for about $580 shipped. Pay $100 in the beginning for mount and balance, that's $680 to get you through the winter and $780 once you get back into the summer tires. But since the cost is spread out in time there, it may be easier to handle.

I learned on the 8. The car is great for people who cant drive stick. It took me only 600 miles to be proficient and confident. Its not hard at all. Go MT, there is no other way.

Haha, my brother is looking at a 350z now. (On the day I'm getting the 8) He's a competing little b****. Seems like he finds the RX-8 better than his Acura RSX Type-S, and doesn't want me to have a nicer car than his.

What an idiot. On the SAME day. Hope he isn't able to afford one. Cause I'd be jealous. :(

I would take a Z over an RX-8 in a heart beat.

Hope the Z handles in snow worse. I wish him the worst of luck if he gets it. :P

With all due respect, you should not let sibling rivarly get in the way. Tell your brother to learn to shift smoothly before he gets a Z. :)

I would assume the Z's harsher suspension would make it worse in snow, but I doubt there'd be much difference in handling. The 8 is quite lighter than the Z, which means you'll be able to stop faster in the snow (despite the extra weight biting into the snow better on the Z).

The Z is porky, at 3428lbs, whereas the 8 is 2950lbs, so you'll have the more refined car. The Z has to work overtime (harsh suspension) to handle similarly to the RX-8 (soft suspension).

The RX-8, with the rotary engine and no pistons, is a lot more unique.

Thanks, I feel better. But you can't beat the Z's performance and looks. It is one of the best looking cars I've seen, and the performance is fantastic. I think it's a lot more expensive to lease too.

I don't know about you guys, but I see more Zs on the road than RX-8s, which makes the RX-8 more unique. So that's a plus.

I had no idea the tiny Z weighed that much! The 300-hp anniversary edition on the Z does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, and the RX-8 does 5.9. 0.2 seconds sounds like nothing. He won't be getting the 300-hp either, it will be the very base model. I always thought the Z was super fast and could smoke an RX-8 by bus lengths.

Thanks.

You're right...there isn't much difference in performance, and one of the biggest variables is the skill of the driver.

Also...I think we can all agree the rx8 looks a lot sweeter. The Z reminds me of a soap box sometimes...not sure why.

Well I got my RX-8, and lovin it so far. The Grand Touring makes the car a LOT more enjoyable. The sun roof and the good sound system raise joy.

It looks like my brother is getting an RX-8 now, the 350z costs almost 3x more. Yes, the exact same model, but he wants a black one with the 2 tone red interier. I find this truely messed up. I won't let it ruin my RX-8 experience.

So far I've only stalled the car about 8 times and at about 1/2 hour of MT driving experience. Knowing that it I will forget it's an MT in about it in another week makes me happy.

So far so GOOD. :) Lovin everything about it. Looks like the car requires a lil bit more maintenence than your average car.

Anyways, thanks again for everyone's input. Excellent help.

it's a sports car, of course it requires more maintenance, it's part of the fun of owning such fun to drive car, think of it as part of the RX-8 experience

welcome to the club! :D:

I'm in the Detroit metro area, too.

I looked at a Z and passed. Cheap interior trim, and more importantly, an awfully stiff suspension, turned me off.

An awfully stiff suspension may be okay for the track or for smooth California roads, but not for Michigan, where our streets often resemble moonscapes.

The RX-8 drives like a Lexus by comparison to the Z in Michigan.

I'm not knocking the Z - just stating the obvious.

Don't forget the snow tires. You either need them, or need to park it for the season. Seriously.

Thank you for stressing that. I know how important they are but I have been brushing it off.

I need to take serious action. Thanks. :)

Don't forget to take a look in the for sale section of the forum for used snows and rims. You're only leasing for two years. A good set of used will be fine.

I would take a Z over an RX-8 in a heart beat

I'd take an 8 over a Z any day of the week... actually I did and so did most of us on here because they are the same price for the most part. I don't understand how the Z is 3x more than the 8 even in leasing sense.

And how the hell did you get it $2000 dp and $200 a month on a 6spd GT??????? Even after down that is only $283 a month. And your brother is getting a similar deal?? Are you talking UK pounds? What is your credit score and your money factor? :Freak_ani: I'm surprised no one else is surprised at these numbers.

So far so GOOD. :) Lovin everything about it. Looks like the car requires a lil bit more maintenence than your average car.

Anyways, thanks again for everyone's input. Excellent help.


i dont know how you figure that the maintenence it more than an average car. this is the lowest maintenence car i have ever owned. change oil every 5kmiles. rotate tires look at brakes. that is it till 30k miles. then they add replace brake fluid, good idea. and change oil in trans and diff. great time to go synthetic.

this car is cheap to maintan.

diy is your friend. enjoy the car.

beers

Congrats on the purchase!

Thanks. :)

Yeah, $2500 on the 2005 Mazda RX-8 Grand Touring. $2500 down (including new plate) with $200/month. It's not the Shinka but pretty damn close. It's basically fully loaded, heated leather seats, HID lights, 6 disc decent sound system, traction control, sun roof, power seats, ect.

I was actually suprised myself to not see more people saying "wow, that's an incredible deal!" Because it is an incredible deal. Leasing RX-8 is cheaper than leasing a Mazda 3 (Mazda's cheapest car) It is an amazing deal, and that's why I got it.

Which dealer did you go to? I'm sorry I didn't catch this thread sooner. I've visited all of the dealers around here (I'm also in Detroit), and have developed some strong preferences.

That is a killer deal. My father picked up a used 2005 a few months ago that I'll take off his hands when he's done with it, maybe next spring. He had a Z before. Both are second cars; his primary is a Lexus GS. He rarely drove the Z because the ride was so awful. With the RX-8 the Lexus rarely leaves the garage anymore.

I'm very interested in what you learn about driving this car around here in the winter. The main reason I let my dad go first is he lives in Virginia and I'm not quite ready to get two cars just for me. I have three kids, so the RX can't be my only car. Plan is to get the RX-8 in the spring, then a seven-seat something-or-other (most likely a used Ford Freestyle) a few months later.

Another question for people in Detroit, Minneapolis, or Cleveland currently shopping for an RX-8: The Mazda site says the $1,500+$1,000 rebates aren't available to people in these regions. Do they have a different program in these areas? Better or worse?

One thing about the Mazda Credit rebate. When I bought my Protege5 I financed with Mazda Credit to get a $250 rebate, then refinanced it ten days latter because the interest rate was about 1.5 percent above market. With the larger rebates they might require that you make a certain number of payments, but I strongly suspect that as soon as those are up it'll be worth your while to refinance the car.

Got it at Cook Mazda in Farmington Hills. :)

URGENT
Ok, I'm drove a few hundred feet with my ebrake up. OMG I have to be so much more careful. I feel like I just totally messed something up. I went up to 35MPH on the main road. After noticing gears not switching properly, I look down to see my ebrake up! :O
So I pulled over to the side of the road and put my emergency flashers on.

Just out of curiosity, how much damage do you think I have done? I know this is not an uncommon mistake made by people. The car has just under 100 miles on it now.

The RX-8 should have bells or alarms if you shift into 1st gear if the ebrake is up. Actually, all MTs should have this.

All I know is that this will NEVER happen again.

URGENTI look down to see my ebrake up! :O
So I pulled over to the side of the road and put my emergency flashers on.


^ Pretty funny dude.. So after you put the hazards on and put down the brake, did you turn off the hazards and drive off?

Seriously, you probably wore down your rear pads a miniscule amount because if your e-brake was all the way up you wouldn't go anywhere in a MT. Don't worry about it yougin. .

Mmmk... nice to know.

I still feel shakey from it. That was almost an hour ago now.

EDIT: I did just pull over to put the brake down. They I took off. :)

It gets a little easier every time you do it. Gotta habituate yourself to check for the red idiot light. Or to simply release the thing every time you start the car.

URGENT

The RX-8 should have bells or alarms if you shift into 1st gear if the ebrake is up. Actually, all MTs should have this.

All I know is that this will NEVER happen again.

Please come in Monday morning for your new position with the NHTSA (national highway traffic safety administration). We need more people like you to come up with more legislation to save ourselves from driver errors and omissions.

There was actually a time when all cars were MT and not one of them had a red warning light for the emergency brake.

Please come in Monday morning for your new position with the NHTSA (national highway traffic safety administration). We need more people like you to come up with more legislation to save ourselves from driver errors and omissions.
Sweet! How do I sign up? I'm willing to relocate. :shocking:

Please come in Monday morning for your new position with the NHTSA (national highway traffic safety administration). We need more people like you to come up with more legislation to save ourselves from driver errors and omissions.

There was actually a time when all cars were MT and not one of them had a red warning light for the emergency brake.

Not fair, he didn't say that cars should be *legislated* to have this.

As for driving off with the parking brake still on: don't lose any sleep over it. I've done that a number of times on a number of cars, and its never caused a problem. Obviously it's something you want to avoid doing, but don't stress over it.

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

Ok, thanks Krankor. Glad I learned my lesson in a less hazardous place, could have been on the freeway, ect.

Shinka huh. Beautiful. :)

What color you get, Rel?

Sunlight Silver. :)

I learned how to drive a MT on my 98 camaro (worst manual I ever drove).
Practice hardcore for 1-2 weeks. Then when you think u r semi comfrotable, drive in the middle of the worst traffic u can find. After that day you will be an ace...

Ok, thanks Krankor. Glad I learned my lesson in a less hazardous place, could have been on the freeway, ect.

Shinka huh. Beautiful. :)

Thanks! Man, I LOVE that black cherry! :score:

The silver's pretty sweet too, congrats!

Well I got my RX-8, and lovin it so far. The Grand Touring makes the car a LOT more enjoyable. The sun roof and the good sound system raise joy.

It looks like my brother is getting an RX-8 now, the 350z costs almost 3x more. Yes, the exact same model, but he wants a black one with the 2 tone red interier. I find this truely messed up. I won't let it ruin my RX-8 experience.

So far I've only stalled the car about 8 times and at about 1/2 hour of MT driving experience. Knowing that it I will forget it's an MT in about it in another week makes me happy.

So far so GOOD. :) Lovin everything about it. Looks like the car requires a lil bit more maintenence than your average car.

Anyways, thanks again for everyone's input. Excellent help.

Congratulations! Welcome to the family! The sunroof looks cool when opened. Gla you're enjoying it and here's to many happy miles in your new 8!

BTW, it will take you more than a week (more like a month or two) to forget that you're driving MT, but you got the right idea :) Just keep driving and practicing first starts and you'll be good. Let us know how you progress along...

URGENT
Ok, I'm drove a few hundred feet with my ebrake up. OMG I have to be so much more careful. I feel like I just totally messed something up. I went up to 35MPH on the main road. After noticing gears not switching properly, I look down to see my ebrake up! :O
So I pulled over to the side of the road and put my emergency flashers on.

Just out of curiosity, how much damage do you think I have done? I know this is not an uncommon mistake made by people. The car has just under 100 miles on it now.

The RX-8 should have bells or alarms if you shift into 1st gear if the ebrake is up. Actually, all MTs should have this.

All I know is that this will NEVER happen again.

Ha, that's funny! You'll be just fine.. Just a few hundred feet--- you wore a bunch of miles off your rear brakes, but not even all that much.

On my last car, I drove 8-10 miles with the ebrake up (not quite 100% up, but still 70-80% engaged) when I just got the car... I also got scared and all (heh, here's the thread I posted (http://www.mazda3club.com/showthread.php?t=26321) back then).. but the rear brakes lasted just as long as they were supposed to.

Actually, sometimes you do want to shift into 1st gear with the e-brake up. For example, when I'm starting up a steep hill and someone is riding my rear bumper (too close for my comfort) and I don't want to roll back at all, I pull up the e-brake, then stick it in 1st, release the normal brakes and start going. As I let out the clutch and give gas, the car wants to go forward and maybe starts creeping even. Then I let out the e-brake and let out the clutch. Bam, no roll-back uphill start. I wouldn't want alarm bells or whistles here.

Interesting. I was rolling back today myself before I street light. The car behind me was close and I was worrying, because I had to get going quick when that light turned green. You guessed it! The light turned green and I stalled. My problem is not giving enough gas to get going. So I'm in panic mode, only God knows why I revved it up to 6k RPM from stopped. I did eventually get going after a very jerky take off from 1st. I then pull into the restaurant, get out of my car, and all I can smell is the clutch burning.
So yeah, that experience kinda sucked.

So your saying to put the ebrake into the lowest level it goes when going uphill from stopped? Then put it back once you get going? Sounds like a good idea. It would be VERY minor wear because it would only be for a couple of seconds.

Rolling back has to be the biggest problem with MTs. Luckily there aren't really any hilly areas around here.

Umm...if you're on a steep incline, have the e-brake all the way up. What you do is, get into first gear. To start moving, step on the gas (you probably want to go up to 3-4k), put the ebrake down and instantly let off the clutch slowly. It takes a little practice.

If it's just an incline, I don't worry about the e-brake. You just have to get off the brakes and onto the gas quicker than usual.

It'll come naturally...I remember having the same embarrassments (I got my car mid-August). Stalling when you're first at the green light is just... :puke:

Yep... horrible feeling.

The incline I was on wasn't that bad, but enough to roll slowely backwards. Perhaps once I'm faster with starting in 1st, this won't be a problem. :)

I then pull into the restaurant, get out of my car, and all I can smell is the clutch burning.
So yeah, that experience kinda sucked.

Yep, that's gonna happen. Under-rev and then over-rev. One thing you will notice is that as you start engaging the clutch, the engine will become loaded and so you will have to keep giving it more gas. So it's kinda a "feedback" thing: if you feel the engine bog as the clutch is being let out, add more gas.

Raptor2k is right that you pull the e-brake all the way up (or for me, most of the way up, about 80%). I usually like to start letting go of the clutch and giving it gas while the e-brake is up, and only when I feel the clutch engaging, the car wanting to go, then I release the e-brake.

If you can find a parking lot with a big speed bump/hump, it's a good way to practice uphill. Practice first starts and getting your wheels halfway up on the bump. Then stop and attempt to start and go over the bump. Or any parking lot with a steeper incline helps. One thing that helped me there is that since I know that nobody's behind me in this parking lot, I can roll back 6 feet if I want to... so knowing that, I just took my time getting on the gas and off the clutch. So I'd roll back 2-3 feet initially, but I quickly narrowed it down to a foot or so through practice.

The full-on-parking-brake-on-a-hill is an excellent technique for a beginner; more experienced clutchers tend to use it only on extreme hills but while you're learning don't feel at all about doing it on any hill that's difficult for you. Let me state differently how to do it.

You put the brake on full, the clutch down, the shifter in 1st, your hand on the hand brake, ready to release it. Now, when you're set to go, you give it a little gas and clutch to the sweet-spot, where it's starting to engage-- the point at which you'd normally just be starting to move, except now you're not moving, instead the car is starting to strain against the brake. That's all you need, just a little bit of straining against the brake, and then you release the brake, and you're off. It's actually pretty easy. Just make sure you give it enough gas so that it doesn't stall against the brake, yet not too much, so you don't go FLYING away. :)

Don't worry too much about getting fast enough to not need this trick, that will come naturally with time. Again, it's something I still use on a steep hill.

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

Great information guys, appreciate it. :D

I really shouldn't have to worry about it, the only slopes around here are VERY minor. Nothing like a big hill.

Um,

I would look over that paperwork long a hard. A lease deal @ $200 a month seems to good to be true.. .and if it seems it, then it usually is. How many miles a year do you get?

BTW -- That would either make your negotiated price somewhere around the $13,000 mark or your residual somewhere around the $24,000 mark. Assuming a sticker of around $30k. Either way I can't see a $30k car selling for $13k or being worth $24k after two years... Something is wrong. Hopefully it won't come back on you..

Practice, practice, practice. You shouldn't need to use your e-brake on an incline unless your on snow or ice once you have enough experience. But knowing exactly what Detroit winters are like, you definitely need to get some different tires on before the first snowstorm. At least if you depend on your 8 to get around (ie. if you work for a living).
Otherwise, on bad days you can bum a ride from a friend or something if you are in school. Be careful out there, driving a stick requires more attention and awareness of what you are doing, especially when the weather conditions break down. So you have about a couple of months to get some good hours behind the wheel and prepare yourself. Good luck.

I'm not lying. The other dealer I went to gave me around $400 for the same lease, with 3,000 down.

I thought it was too good to be true too. I'm not unsure of myself, the whole reason I got it was because of the super good deal. I do believe most dealers will NOT lease for that cheap. Mine stated that they wanted to get rid of them because they were sitting on the lot for too long, and to rid them before the 06' models come out.

BTW it's a 12k/year. More than enough for me.

I am not saying you're lying.. I am saying read the paperwork again. So you're telling me that the dealer sold it to you for half price to get rid of it? Like I said, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Are you sure there is no balloon payment?

I am not saying you're lying.. I am saying read the paperwork again. So you're telling me that the dealer sold it to you for half price to get rid of it? Like I said, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Are you sure there is no balloon payment?

true. Unless your state has uniform lease disclosure laws, they can bury an awful lot into the fine print. Like turn-in fees based on market value - things like this would make you responsible for the difference between the stated residual and the actual value at the end of the lease (balloon). Hope that you have read all of the small print.

I don't know what else there is too it. I get everything all you other leasers get out there.

2 year lease, $2500 down, $200/month. Road side assistance, warranty, ect.

What could I be missing? :?

This kid has no idea about anything. Can't drive yet, knows nothing about financing, Maybe the 200/mo is what daddy says he has to pay. Hate to make fun of him but really has no clue about anything.

How much more clearer can I get?

$2500 down, $200/month. Period. What else is there too it? You think I'm leaving other expenses out of it?

BTW, I can drive. This just happens to be my first stick. I getting it down pretty damn good too.

Nice.. soon you'll be better than your brother. Then you can stick his "all manuals have a tug" back into his face :)

Heheh, yeah.

He's looking at an H3 or an S2000 now...

[QUOTE=REL_RX8]How much more clearer can I get?

$2500 down, $200/month. Period. What else is there too it? You think I'm leaving other expenses out of it?
QUOTE]

That's the front of the lease. What's it say on back? No dealer finance guy is going to tell you anything that you don't ask directly and then you better be prepared to translate the BS. A lease is a financial instrument that is so potentially dangerous to the customer that NY outlawed them because of the abuses that the dealers were inflicting on customers.

Maybe you got the one fabulous lease deal that was ever written but leases are like anything else in business. The numbers have to add up for the business. They don't put the numbers together because you're a nice guy and they like you unless the dealer is your dad.

By the way, all leases have expenses at the back end when you turn the car in. If they didn't get it from you up front they will get it from you later.

Hmmm... all I know is that my car payment is $200/month. Then I turn it in and it's all over.

You think they are going to hit me with a $5,000 return fee or something? Everything on the contract was in order. I'm getting nothing less than what you guys are.

As I said, they want to get rid of them!

Yes I can understand, the deal sounds too good to be true. Well it's true, and that's the whole reason I leased it in the first place!

Don't believe it all you want. All I know is that I couldn't be happier.

This kid has no idea about anything. Can't drive yet, knows nothing about financing, Maybe the 200/mo is what daddy says he has to pay. Hate to make fun of him but really has no clue about anything.

What are you talking about, you made fun of him with relish and zeal. It was nasty and uncalled for.

Rel,

All I am saying is pull the contract out. I work in manufacturing and we simply don't sell items for half price. It does not happen. It does not happen. I know you think you just pulled it off. But again. It does not happen. Either your dealer made a huge mistake, or you did. And I tend to think the dealer is a bit more experienced at making deals (ones that favor them no less) than you are. And keep in mind - the sales persons JOB is to convince you, that you got the best deal going. That's what makes for repeat business.

I have a lease, and I know (right now) that I have to pay $400 to return my car (lease termination fee -- EVERY LEASE HAS THEM), plus overage on mileage if any, and damage repair.

All we are saying is -- read the document again and hope your dealer made a mistake. (If you are not good with contracts, find someone who is.)

Good luck.

The cheapest lease deal I've seen on here is $1k down $299 a month, on a non-GT leftover 04' sold in 2005. Nobody even comes close to the deal REL is talking about.

I tell ya, I simply got lucky. The dealer *wanted* to get rid of them because they were NOT selling. I remember the poster on the wind sheild *MANAGER'S SPECIAL*

I can understand it's too hard to believe, and you are all probably upset that your paying double what I am for the same thing. Hell, I'm still shocked about the deal I got. The other dealer I went to wanted in the upper 300's for the same thing. I had to drive about 40 miles to this dealer but it was damn worth it.

I'll check the contract again and post ANY additional fees.

I already know that it's $0.15 for every mile I go over. And every mile I go under I get a $0.10 refund.

Hello, I have been reading these forums quite a lot lately because I am looking into leasing an RX-8 and was curious as to its many ups and downs.

That being said, I found this topic and have to vouch for this lease rate. I live in Minnesota and a dealer here is giving the exact same deal. $2000 down and $200 a month for 24 months - 12,000 miles a year.

I haven't looked into any hidden fees yet... but if I find anything I'll be sure to update everyone.

-- Jace'Rider

We are not hating on you, we actually salute you if you pulled off this deal. But we also want to make sure you weren't tricked.

And every mile I go under I get a $0.10 refund.

I've seen many leases and this clause ^ does not exist, but then again you may be breaking new ground.

Finally some alternative sources!

Thanks for your post Jace Rider. Are you sure that is the 2005 RX-8 GT?

Yeah, I am sure. Grand Touring Package is included.

The only thing holding me back at the moment is the whole winter tire deal and the 12,000 mile limitation... I live about 26 miles away from work and that puts me over the limit if I only drive to work and back.

Any idea how much more it would be to add a few more miles a year onto the lease?

No I don't. All I know is that I'll only be putting about 5-6k miles/ year. :-)

Anyways, you should definitely go for it. Your getting a lot of car for the money. See if you can get those miles extended.

You may want to consider a better fuel economy car. Most people get 15-17MPG in the city, and 21-24 on highway. This doesn't effect me too bad since I don't drive that much.

Never make quick decisions - only good ones........

Rel,

What was the cost of money, the agreement price and the residual value?

All I can say is that in all my years walking this planet I have never seen a car dealer, or any other retailer give something away at half price. Wal-mart doesn't even do it.

Dude -- I'd stop being so head strong and read the contract. As far as the guy saying he saw the same ad.... Dealers post ad's they can't meet all the time. They sell one off at that price (to a relative) and list the ad in the paper. Look at the fine print - they specify a VIN number to that ad.. Once that car is sold the deal is gone, but the ad runs long after that... Dude-- we're not hating on you and I believe you think you got that deal-- but I hate to say I'd bet money the contract has a differnt deal in it.

BTW -- for a dealer to give the car away that cheap, they didn't just "want to get rid of them". You don't take such a loss on something you "want to get rid of.." perhaps, "need to get rid of" in a dire straits sort of situation.

I see where the price was coming from now. There were BIG rebates. They knocked off nearly $10,000 off the sticker price, after all the rebates.

2005 RX-8 6-Speed
GRAND TOURING PKG M/T
MSRP: $31,645
After rebates: Approx $22,000
$2,400 down with $204/month. (First month covered)
12,000 miles/year = 24,000 miles for the 2 year lease

The Mazda Driver's Assurance Plan
- Our 48-month/50,000-mile "bumper-to-bumper", no-deductable limited warranty.
- 24-hour Emergency Roadside Assistance to take care of you if the unexpected happens on the road.
- Our free Mazda Service Transportation Solution, which in many cases can provide you with another vehicle to drive if your Mazda vehicle is in for a warranty repair.

There is also no return fees. The only fees at the end are the $0.10/mile I will be getting back.

Sorry, but something still isn't right. My negotiated price is in the $24k range.. My lease is still substailly higher. There are lease calculators online.. Go look at one.

I'm done convincing. There's no point, believe it or not I don't care. I got lucky no doubt.

I know the deal I got and couldn't be happier.

If anything other charges come up, I will post here immediately.

I don't want anymore discussion on the deal I got. Nobody is going to believe it anyway.

Yep.. You're the best!!

Trying to help dude. Not saying you didn't get a steal, just saying the chances are obscure. But you know better so why bother looking at that contract?

I see where the price was coming from now. There were BIG rebates. They knocked off nearly $10,000 off the sticker price, after all the rebates.

There is also no return fees. The only fees at the end are the $0.10/mile I will be getting back.

Friend, you are still looking at a deal that would have to be comparable to other $22k Japanese cars with good residuals like a Camry or an Accord. They advertise those all day long at $399 per month.

Have you read all of the fine print?

Please update us in 24 months.

You might not think so now but a betting man would make money that you will be upside-down big time. Car dealers are not your friend. The finance manager is your worst nightmare. I have a very close friend that was a finance manager for a major Toyota dealership. He earned over half a million dollars a year every year. They didn't give him all that money for nothing. They split the excess margin on every deal with him.

Hope things turn out well in the end.

Hey Rel, most guys/gals in here are probably concerned that you were somehow getting screwed in the deal, since as everyone here is agreeing upon, that is one hell of a deal that is "too good to be true" type. Point of the matter is, when you have the time, read through the agreement, or if you have a friend/associate that is familiar with lease plans, read that with them. Not sure how your state does leasing, but some requires that if you are uncertain about ANYTHING on the lease plan, you can go and ask them to translate so you won't be "surprised" at the end of the lease. Have it in writing when they tell you that at the end of the lease, you are expected to pay X amount of dollars, and then on top of that X amount more for mileage over, etc.

As for myself, I also went on a lease, and I'm paying $457/month on a 36-month lease with a car that cost $33K, and a residual of $16.5K at the end of the lease. Compared to your lease, it seems like I got screwed, but the way a lease work, this is standard pricing. The payment would of been lower if I was hardball enough to talk them down from selling it @33K to 30K..but..that is a lesson learn..so..best of luck, and take the suggestions made by concerned owners that thinks you somehow got whacked on this..hopefully, it isn't true..but..like someone said before, dealers are NOT your friends..

The deal that REL claims he got is for real in the metro Detroit area, folks, but I've only seen that price for a base 6 Speed Manual.

But, it's for S Plan qualifying plans only. So, one either has to work for Ford or Mazda, or a qualifying supplier of either.

REL - What dealer did you get it at, if you don't mind me asking?

It had to be one of six, right?

1) Sterling Mazda - Sterling Heights

2) Suburban Mazda - Troy

3) Sesi Mazda - Ypsilanti

4) Metro Mazda - Ferndale

5) Bill Cook - Farmington

6) Ralph Thayer Mazda - Livonia

Bill Cook - Farmington.

And yes I had the S-Plan.

All those other dealers you listed wanted in the upper 300's for the grand touring, except Cook Mazda. :cool:

Not to mention this is the best dealer I've ever been to. My dealer gave me no bullshit. Very straight forward which made everything go smooth.

I will keep you posted for the next 24 months.\

Your paying $457/month?! :O Ouch. I could have got the Shinka for that much.

Bill Cook - Farmington.

And yes I had the S-Plan.

All those other dealers you listed wanted in the upper 300's for the grand touring, except Cook Mazda. :cool:

Not to mention this is the best dealer I've ever been to. My dealer gave me no bullshit. Very straight forward which made everything go smooth.

I will keep you posted for the next 24 months.\

Your paying $457/month?! :O Ouch. I could have got the Shinka for that much.

Huh?


I'm not leasing. I bought mine under the S Plan.

Alright, I'll flaunt my ignorance. What's an "S-Plan"?

Alright, I'll flaunt my ignorance. What's an "S-Plan"?

S plan is the Ford employee/Mazdaemployee/Partner of Mazda price plan. Basically it is slightly under invoice without negotiating. I used S plan to buy at a time when the Mazda dealers were getting $7k premiums on the 8.

Even the S-Plan would not get him close to that.. Sorry -- Used RX-8's are selling for more than his lease company stands to make on that deal.

Why on earth would they sell thier top of the line car for less money than their cheapest model?? It simply doesn't happen.

BTW- A very good friend of mine owns a Mazda dealership.. I know a tad more than the other "concerned people" on this page..

(S-Plan is quite close to invoice if I recall correctly.)

Yeah, S Plan shouldn't shave off that much.

Maybe they did sell it cheaper than they should have.

The only guess I coulod have is you got "the one" in the ad, or the "bait" in the bait and switch.

This one actually wasn't in the ad.

I saw the ad for $299/month with $3,000 down for the BASE model at a different dealer. So I started calling around, assuming RX-8's had good lease deals.

The Cook Mazda dealer was very straight forward. No BS.

yea i got mine on the x-plan. S-plan is close to dealer cost, but not quite. X-plan was a few % higher than S. Personally I didn't care what plan I could use or no plan at all :) I just wanted this damn car so bad it didn't matter the cost!

But i was in the exact same boat. very little standard experience, scared shitless when I picked up the car because I had to drive it off the lot (didn't want to look like a loser :) So the first few months were jerky, no stalling, just unsmooth shifts.

But now after almost a year and a half of driving people can't tell when I shift, and I can not fathom why the hell I drove automatic for 8 years.. MT is so much better, the control, the feeling of the car its amazing. I didn't have time to read all the posts, but if you got MT, you made the right choice :)

Also you dont really have to look down when shifting, the RPM band is so friggin huge it's almost impossible to redline w/o knowing it unless your in first gear. But understandably during the break in phase you should keep the rpm below 6k, but that's still high up there as well.. Have fun with your new purchase, I know I still do everyday I drive :)


MrJynx

MrJynx

I thought X-Plan was for Ford vehicles and S-Plan was the Mazda version of the same. We buy Ford's on X and Mazda's on S.

MrJynx

I thought X-Plan was for Ford vehicles and S-Plan was the Mazda version of the same. We buy Ford's on X and Mazda's on S.

X-Plan is the pricing given to supplier's to Ford or other organizations that serve or deal with FoMoCo.

A-Plan is the pricing given to Ford employee's and their family members on Ford vehicles.

S-Plan is the pricing used for Ford employee's and their family members on Mazda vehicles. I think for Mazda, it is actually ever so slightly over invoice. A-Plan is slightly below invoice if I remember correctly.

And I agree, the numbers on that lease just don't seem to compute. I think it would be good education for all RX8 club members if REL could read over his lease to check for any hidden clauses or methods used to make the monthly payments look lower. :grouphug:

There are NO hidden clauses.

I'll confirm this when my 2 year lease is up, because I'm tired of trying to prove it right now.

"If it's too good to be true, it probably is." That is not 100% of the time. In my case I got very lucky.

As for now, I do not want to discuss the deal anymore, or I'll just tell everyone what they want to hear and let it be over with.

There are NO hidden clauses.

I'll confirm this when my 2 year lease is up, because I'm tired of trying to prove it right now.

"If it's too good to be true, it probably is." That is not 100% of the time. In my case I got very lucky.

As for now, I do not want to discuss the deal anymore, or I'll just tell everyone what they want to hear and let it be over with.

That's right! Just enjoy the car! :)

After reading a bunch of trash, I call BS on this thred and this kid. Who on earth would lease a car without knowing;

1. The negotiated price of the vehicle.
2. The residual value.
3. The money factor.

His answer to all of the above is, "I got lucky I guess."

BS!

Enjoy your car. Maybe you can cruise around with Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny.

BTW -- you keep saying you are tired or trying to "prove it". You haven't answered a single question with any specific answer.... Repeating how lucky you got is not proving anything..

Laughable..

Seriously after like 4 days you'll be fine and won't stall out at all.

S-Plan is the pricing used for Ford employee's and their family members on Mazda vehicles. I think for Mazda, it is actually ever so slightly over invoice. A-Plan is slightly below invoice if I remember correctly.

That is correct. I also got mine with the S-Plan, as I worked for Hertz at the time. I happened to work at a Ford dealership, so I spoke with them about their A-Plan.

Seriously after like 4 days you'll be fine and won't stall out at all.
Yeah, I been doing a lot better lately. No stalls lately, getting the hang of it. :)

Who on earth would lease a car without knowing;

1. The negotiated price of the vehicle.
2. The residual value.
3. The money factor.


America. That's why the car people *push* leases.

You REALLY have an over-inflated view of the American consumer if you think that most leasers could answer those questions. (I'm talking across all leasers, not just 8 leasers, who are clearly a more intelligent breed)

Mazda does stupid stuff when they want to get rid of a car. When I bought my loaded Protege5 two years ago--right before the Mazda3 came out--I paid $13,400 for a car with an MSRP of $18,985. People often ask more for a used car now than I paid new two years ago. Many, many people paid about $4,000 more just four months before I bought mine.

Mazda totally hosed them. Looks like Mazda is now hosing RX-8 owners who paid around full price. This sort of deal is even easier to do with a lease, since you just pay for the supposed depreciation and the cost of money. They take a few thousand off the top and pretend the residual will stay the same. Mazda Credit will take a hit two years from now, but, hey, that's two years from now. Whoever's responsible now will be in a different job by then anyway. Or at least they hope to be.

GM did the same thing with the Saab 9-2X. They went from 0 rebate to a $6,000 rebate overnight. For a month or so they were selling the turbo for under $20,000. Subaru could not have been happy.

As much as I benefited from it, I feel this is a very bad practice on the part of manufacturers. It upsets current owners and kills their resale value just to move a few leftover cars.

FWIW, last night I saw an independent commercial put out by Suburban Mazda in Troy that advertised $2,500 down, $249 for 24 mos (if I remember it correctly).

Of course, there was a bunch of small print at the bottom that I couldn't even read on my 57" TV. :suspect:

I am sure this was probably for base models out of existing dealer stock with perhaps a few qualifications required (ie. Ford-employee). Add tax too, and you are probably looking at closer to $300/mo.

Not as good as what REL got at Cook apparently. :confused:

Not even close. :-D

Laughable..
Maybe he got an incredible deal (and I tend to believe him, myself), and maybe he didn't, but you seem obsessed with proving he didn't.

With all due respect, why are you so obsessed with this issue? Let it go, man. It's not worth fighting over any more.

OK, but to the extent this point is valid, it's already been stated over. And over. Again.

(Enough said; I refuse to obsess about other people obsessing. :))

Hard 8. Like it's your business. But I am just trying to help (another) kid see a landmine coming before he hits it. But this kid (if he really has this car) is to stubborn to go read his contract.

$249 a month is common for the base AT. Been doing it since the rebates started.

Yeah, and I can see how he really wants your help.

But as you so politely suggest, I have better things to do with my time. Over and out.

Me too.. I am here for the humor at this point.. Like I said before >> BS

He has no car, therefor no contract to read, which explaines why hje can't answer a few simple questions.. If there was such a deal, no kid would qualify for the "perfect credit" required to get the money factor rating for this best deal.

I say impossible.

To save time and space, here are the next twenty posts in this thread:

:argue:

Mazda does stupid stuff when they want to get rid of a car. When I bought my loaded Protege5 two years ago--right before the Mazda3 came out--I paid $13,400 for a car with an MSRP of $18,985. People often ask more for a used car now than I paid new two years ago. Many, many people paid about $4,000 more just four months before I bought mine.

Mazda totally hosed them. Looks like Mazda is now hosing RX-8 owners who paid around full price. This sort of deal is even easier to do with a lease, since you just pay for the supposed depreciation and the cost of money. They take a few thousand off the top and pretend the residual will stay the same. Mazda Credit will take a hit two years from now, but, hey, that's two years from now. Whoever's responsible now will be in a different job by then anyway. Or at least they hope to be.

GM did the same thing with the Saab 9-2X. They went from 0 rebate to a $6,000 rebate overnight. For a month or so they were selling the turbo for under $20,000. Subaru could not have been happy.

As much as I benefited from it, I feel this is a very bad practice on the part of manufacturers. It upsets current owners and kills their resale value just to move a few leftover cars.

I bolded the part of your statement that is profoundly true, IMO.

I benefitted greatly from the heavy discounting on the '05 RX-8s.

I snagged a new MT with Sport Package for $22,200 plus TTL.

But you are ABSOLUTELY correct - Had I spent thousands more last year for the same model, I'd be pissed now. Pissed at Mazda.

I can guarantee that people have paid close to MSRP for the car I bought (more than $28k with destination). In fact, I know that people in Cali were paying MORE than MSRP back when the RX-8 was first released.

But that's not just a Mazda thing, as you've pointed out. I know people who bought those Saabarus (9-2Xs) for under $20k, and they stole them. They can drive them for a couple years, and probably sell them close to what they paid for them.

They have no right to be pissed at Mazda. They are in the business of selling cars, that's what they do. They set their prices in accordance with market conditions, that's what businesses do. Are you seriously suggesting that they say "Well gee, we can't move these cars at this price, but gosh, we don't want to upset the people who've already bought cars from us, so I guess we'll just have to eat the cars rather than lower the price." And does that actually *help* a current owner, if Mazda fails to sell cars at a high price rather than sells cars at a lower price? You've still bought the car you bought at the price you bought it for, and nothing is going to change that. It's just petty envy to let it bug you that somebody else got a better deal. If you wanna be pissed at someone, be pissed at yourself for not waiting until the price came down.

Nice post Krankor.

Back a couple years ago, the RX-8 was my dream car and wayyy out of my price range. Actually a little over a week ago I had no plan on getting one. I was leaning towards the pontiac g6, which I couldn't be happier not to get. When I found that I could get an RX-8 with the Grand Touring package for cheaper than a stripped down base model G6, I was quite happy. :)

Every time I get into my 8, I sit back and laugh at the truely unbelievable deal I got. Knowing that I'm sitting in a fully loaded version of my dream car for super cheap.

REL RX8 Still thinks he has an RX-8. Funny...

I got mine when they had only been out for a month. Sticker was $33k. - I paid $27k. (S-Plan - $2500) GT with Nav and almost every option. Best part. Didn't cost me a dime -- company paid for it. So it's not me that's mad.

Someone plz lock this thread.

Busted and not liking it!!!!!

Busted for not wanting this thread to continue. Nice one. :D:

heh, I get 1 year leases with unlimited mileage, and includes insurance and maintenance. :)

You must have went to the same dealer as I did! :D:

lol, all, get a life, if he can't answer obvious questions it is cause mommy and daddy bought it and just make him pay a certain amount. Let it go that he is an ignorant kid:) It's like beating a retarded kid for not understanding the basics.

Oooops. I made a big mistake!

I thought this was the Mazda 6 forums! :crying:

RX-8, 6, I can't tell the difference!

Well I guess I'd better go to the Mazda 6 forums then! Sorry for the misunderstanding people! My mistake.

:madfawk: :madfawk: :madfawk:
:boid:

:Kill1: :Kill2:

Wtf?!

Mods... Please change REL RX8 to FAK RX8.

Biggest joke ever.

"RX-8, 6, I can't tell the difference!"

incredible

lol, all, get a life, if he can't answer obvious questions it is cause mommy and daddy bought it and just make him pay a certain amount. Let it go that he is an ignorant kid:) It's like beating a retarded kid for not understanding the basics.

I call apophasis.

My recommendation to REL:

Step away from the keyboard. Lay low for a while and just enjoy reading threads for a while. Come back when ready (hopefully you are catching my drift). Some things are just better left unsaid.

Maybe he could buy a car in the mean time!! And maybe get a job so he could actually use the S-Plan - which is what he said he did this time. You know what? No job, no S-Plan. Unless Mazda is considering high school kids, partners now for some reason... Not sure though..

He should go to over to the Ferrari forum and pretend he owns one of those for a while!!

Is he serious about mistaking a Mazda 6 for a RX-8 ?

YOU WILL NEVER KNOW!

:Kill1:

I thought you may have just been trying to be sarcastic about mistaking the two because of some of the static you've gotten here (but not from me).

So do you have an rx8 or not?

I call apophasis.

wow. Klingon and English. I could care less about the Klingon but impressive use of English.

I thought you may have just been trying to be sarcastic about mistaking the two because of some of the static you've gotten here (but not from me).

That's what I thought, that's what I still think.

wow. Klingon and English. I could care less about the Klingon but impressive use of English.

Thank you. :)

Dude, you like the little icons don't you?

REL RX8-If you purchase an automatic, it would be the worst mistake of your "driving" life. A few years ago I was really into the late model Chevy Camaros, I decided to purchase a used one with an automatic transmission, I regret that decision every warm, sunny day! My first car in high school was a Ford Probe, 5-speed manual, which ironically enough was equipped with a Mazda engine. It was great, the amount of control the manual transmission gives you is wonderful and truly fulfilling! Fortunately for me I'm graduating from my University in 2 months and I'll finally be able to get "MY" RX-8, and it WILL be a manual transmission! I enjoyed my Camaro, but It would have been sweeter with a manual. Hopefully this thread reaches you in time, good luck and pick the manual. TRUST ME, after you learn how to drive the manual, YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT!

I can see you missed some posts. I already claimed I got the M/T.

View my vB Garage. :) (Click on my nick)

"Claimed"... I love it.. So you are admitting it is only a claim?

Dude -- sersiouly. what do you really drive? or Did your parents buy you an 8? You have no job so could not get the S-Plan or the best Money Factor which would give you any best deal available. it is impossible..

So what gives? What is the reasl story?

Had $3,000 saved up. Put $2,400 down. Simple as that.

My uncle works for Ford so that's how I got the S-Plan.

And my dad co-signed for me. But other than that, I'm making all the payments. Believe it or not, I don't care anymore. :)

I plan on getting a 2006 MT when I can finally order one.

btw, I really do get 1 year leases. :)

I plan on getting a 2006 MT when I can finally order one.
Sweet :D: