Raevik

I'm confused.

Why in the world does the exact same car with nothing more than a few suspension changes garner an addition 6000-9000 more dollars??

I mean, huh?

It's not like it has a tuned-up FI solution. It doesn't produce any extra power. It's exactly the same car, with a ton of money wrapped up in appearance options and sway bars.

Go look at a full MS kit, and tally the performance parts with the appearance parts.

Why wasn't the car made with the MS options in the first place (or at least as a factory option that wouldn't cost 7k)...I think the vast majority of people would agree the MS variant looks superior.

Aside from the obvious price gouging, why release the car without it and then charge a fortune for the parts??

I don't get it. I don't understand why people buy into it and lust for it, and I certainly don't understand why Mazda didn't make the car that way in the first place.

JERCS

Easy : $$$$

mysql101

I wonder what the demand would be if they didn't name it Mazda Speed, instead calling it Mazda Slow.

Sue Esponte

1) A MazdaSpeed RX8 is not currently available in the U.S.

2) An appearance kit and subtle suspension tweaks from the true MazdaSpeed version are available through Mazda dealers.

3) Some people are selling versions of the standard RX8 with certain MazdaSpeed parts as a "MazdaSpeed Rx8s"...they aren't.

4) The true MazdaSpeed RX8 does have more hp although not much more than the stock base car. It does accelerate and handle much differently than the standard RX8.

5) Not sure where you're getting the $6-9K data from (especially since the car isn't available here) but if you're talking about MSRP on the PARTS/labor for installing then you're talking about a different animal. If you went to a BMW parts department and tried to buy each part of an M3 to build it yourself you'd wind up with a car that cost double that of a showroom vehicle. That's all people are selling here in the U.S...mocked up versions that aren't even the real thing.

No one knows when the real MazdaSpeed RX8 will be shipped to the U.S (if ever)...although I emplore Mazda: if you ship it, buyers will come...and what the pricing will be if and when that day comes? Pure guestimates and conjecture. No one has a clue....except Mazda's accountants.

-Eric

WinningBlue

Isn't the "big upgrade" a lighter flywheel?

Sue Esponte

Oh, and "why not sell it like that in the first place"?

Umm...ever hear of a manufacturer selling a "sports package"?

Some people don't want it that way. Others are willing to pay an arm and a leg for it. For some, the add'l cost of the parts would drive the base car out of their price range. It's all about the Benjamins...I'll take an RX8 and check every option box, thankyouverymuch.

-Eric

randyrx8

You are correct have you priced the 8 in canada OUCH! I was quoted $38K US dollars for the one I paid $29K for.

Gas isnt s good example, as gas costs basically the same Everywhere, the difference is govement inposed taxes in an attempt to effect demand.

Gord96BRG

Nope, you have your conversion factors screwed up somewhere. Last summer, after dollar conversions, an RX-8 was cheaper in Canada than the US by several thousand dollars. Since the US dollar has weakened over the winter, the prices are nearly equivalent. For example, a Canadian RX-8 GT with moonroof has an MSRP of $40,500 Canadian - at current exchange rate of 1.31 $CDN = $1 US, that's $30,916 US (at last summer's exchange rates of 1.6:1, that same RX-8 only cost $25,312 US!!). There is no possible way to get a Canadian RX-8 to cost anywhere near $38K US.

Regards,
Gordon

djmano

the mazdaspeed b-spec rx8 is built to shave lap times more than be a HP monster. its built upon the principles of aerodynamics and footwork. the full MS kit is made to be functionally aerodynamic. the rear wing, contrary to most aftermarket wings actually does serve a purpose....its generates added downforce to keep the car glued to the road. jdm parts are always going to be expensive. im glad that rosenthal and trussville mazda are authorized dealers or else we'd be getting SCREWED on the prices. (check out some of the prices from non-authorized vendors )

TRD, Mugen, Nismo are all the same kinda deal. i kinda favor mugen because they are the engineering brains behind honda's f1 team.

randyrx8

The Msrp's are simular, but when I was In Endmonton and talked to a dealer there that quoted me 49.000 foe a GT, without nav, spoiler, or sunroof(optional in CA on GT). I was shocked. There were no MSRP stickers on the window, is that normal in canada?
This was FEB/march I used a .76 rate at the time and came up with 37240, this about the same as mine I paied 29000 for mine had SR,CD changer, and spoiler, that one had Leather instead but no SR spoiler or CD changer. these basicaly offset each other from a cost standpoint.



I think the difference is competition, they were demanding money over MSRP, you can buy them all over the US for Invoice or invoice + 1-2%, or better I am told lately.


I could have just seen a bad dealer, but they claimed to be the best deal in town with one price sales techniques.

The other thing i found shoking was a guy was in there and wanted to test drive it and they told him they didnt allow you to drive it until after you purchased it. Is that normal in Canada?

mysql101

They may be the best deal in town for themselves. One price isn't a good deal unless the price is good.

Over here, it depends. Some dealers will let you test drive any car, but that generally isn't a good thing because would you want to buy a car 20 people have run into the ground already? The good dealerships have a single car used for test driving purposes.

Kev_UK

You guys think you got it bad? if you guys are paying $29,000 US for and RX8, wake up and smell the roses, coz that equate to just over £16000. But you can bet your asses that we pay a hell of alot more than that. Over here we pay £20,000 for a used '04 base spec model, thats around $35,000. so people are paying £25,000 (about $45,000 US) for a new model. and fuel over here is at an all time high aswell. Think you got it bad because you can't stretch to the mazda speed extras?

Spare a though for us Brits.

Sue Esponte

Now you see why declared our independence from the Queen? ;-)

-Eric

Japan8

Typical American ignorance...

Things in Tokyo are expensive. Things in Silicon Valley or NYC are expensive. The prices aren't so far apart...many times the same.

Tokyo isn't all of Japan and neither is NYC all the US. Just like that, the cost of living in Japan.... even 1-2 hours away by car is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

Consumer electronics is the worst example you could use. The Japanese consumer electronics business cycle is *EXCEPTIONALLY* short. So Japan tends to stand 2-3 model years (at least) ahead of the US. This gap also gives them the chance to work the bugs out before shipping to the "big" market.

60% of the cost of gasoline in Japan is tax. You pay a yearly tax based on weight and engine displacement (fuel consumption) and you pay again at the pump. Even then, I heard that gas in Japan is still cheaper than Europe. And it's 107-ish JPY a liter... 3.5-4 L = 1 gallon... that's $3.75... not over $5 dollars.

The Mazdaspeed RX-8 is priced at 3,600,000 JPY whereas the Type S model is 2,750,000. You cannot assemble the full car from ordering parts. A. Not all parts are available... PCM/EDU tune, high flow cat., upgraded VFAD...

Kev_UK

Nah, she's got nothing to do with it. I blame Tony Blair, but then i'd like to blame him for everything that's wrong with my country.

Apparently a guy thru something at him in the House of Commons today, he missed, but you can't blame him for trying.

mysql101

If my math is right:

The MS version in japan costs 23.7% more than the type S model.

I'm not sure what the type S refers to, but in order to get an idea of what the real MS version costs in USD, I'll say it's close to loaded, at 31k. That would put the MS ver at just over $38,000

randyrx8

The joys of tarrifs and a socialist goverment.

DisneyDestroyer

Yeesh, better check your figures.

I just paid $2.59 for gas two days ago. Considering the national average is just barely over $2.00, that's a 20% increase. Not quite "basically the same".

For reference, European gas prices (once you do the liter and Euro conversions) are in the neighborhood of $4.00 - $5.00 per gallon.

Japan8

Type S is the high power unit 6 spd manual. 2,750,000 JPY is the base price.

MS RX-8 price of 3,600,000... not fully loaded... no leather or anything (in Japan there is no sunroof at all). I'm not sure if it even has any options though.

So that's $27k (MSRP) for a sports package RX-8 and raise it the 23.7% and we're looking at about $36k... non-turbo. Imagine the price WITH a turbo... $40k and up...

randyrx8

I copied this from a boston gloge article.

"
The reason for the higher prices in Europe is taxes. When currency and measurements are converted, the $5.38 that Britons were paying for gas last week included $4.16 in taxes. Rates are similar throughout Europe.
"

Tha gas cost's $1.22/gallon. Thats about the same as it is in the US before taxes. Todays price is $1.37, plus TAX,

CA is a little different as some idiot goverment official mandadted a "special formula" Gas for CA. This add's about $.10 /gallon in ideal condiditions, as well as the higher potential for supply/demand imbalances cause tempory spikes. CA tax is also about $0.10/gallon higher that the natiopal average.

Gasoline is a Commodity, Its cost varies little from place to place.

Now what the final retailer will charge is up to what people will pay.

Doctorr

RandyGuy, let me guess, this dealer in Edmonton, the one who was 'the best in town' and had a 'one price, no hassle deal price'....
................that was Jarman Mazda, right?

They had my deposit for ten months, then told me I would have to pay $2400 OVER LIST to get my car! "That's our 'one price, no haggle deal'!"

I would never set foot in there again, I just keep telling my story on the 'net.......over and over!

I got a fair deal at another dealer, with no BS, no gouging.
There is nothing wrong with the pricing in Canada, except a few dealers who need to wake up.
.
.
.
doc

randyrx8

added............................................. ..........................................
I Just checked with my Edmonton friends they said it was Jarmen.



.................................................. ............................................
I don't remenber the name but it was accrossed from Wholesale sports. We went there and saw the dealer accrossed the street so we walked over to show them my new car.

It was near "12505-97th Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5G 1Z8"