Fynsie

Just wondering, as I sit salivating at my brilliant black 6 speed leather pack with full body kit, which I've now had for 21 hours and am more in love with than any woman of recent memory, how the RX8 rates Stateside as a"prestige" car.

Here (in Australia), our relatively weak dollar (buys 65 cents US) and the multi-layered taxes we get stuck with on new cars, mean that my car cost $71K on the road. In fact, one of the taxes I had to fund is called "luxury car tax" - 25% extra on any car over about $56K.

Average salaries here areabout AUS$45K to $50K, and things cost about the same in numerical dollar terms (eg a Big Mac is $2.75), so the price, coupled with the fact that Mazda Australia only got 400 cars in its initial allocation, means that it is a pretty special thing out here, and out of the reach of a lot of people who would love to have one if they could.

So far as I can see, my car would cost only US$30K or so Stateside. How does it rate over there as a "prestige" car? Is it fairly accessible to someone on an "average" sort of salary, or does it still have the exotic/prestige flavour it has over here despite the price difference?

If anyone has a moment to respond, I'd be really interested. In the meantime, I'm just off to sniff some leather.......

Ike

Not much of a prestige car, it's relatively unknown to the general public and Mazda has never, nor I doubt will ever be know as a prestigeous car brand. Even the RX-7 which was much more expensive was only considered prestigeous by people in the know, and pretigeous isn't quite the word for how car people looked at the RX-7.

Here in the states your average middle class family can afford the RX-8, as well as can most young people with a decent job.

Ike

Tweety-nator

I agree with Ike, Mazda is not known as a prestegious nameplate.

Here in the states, Mazda is known for sporty/fun cars as oppossed to prestige. People who buy Mazda look for cars that are fun to drive while not breaking your wallet.

As far as RWD sport cars, the RX-8 is cheaper than both the Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G35, its two direct competitors. Its a good value.

Congratulations and have fun with your new RX-8!

1stRX8

The RX-8 is prestigous to the high school Honda Civic owner who would do ANYTHING for an extra HP. Where I live - on a 10 minute drive I probably see (3) H2's, (3) Merc 500/600SL's, (1) 911Turbo, (1) M3, etc, etc, etc.... The RX-8 is a tad outclassed by those. I am still a very proud owner and would ONLY trade for the 911Turbo out of the cars listed above.

It is a very good value for sports cars for sure. The back seat was the only reason I could have it, I have 2 children.

lefuton

prestige in the US is a peculiar thing... in cities it would an Escalade or Merc AMG or something to that effect, in the midwest maybe more along the lines of a Ford F350 Diesel Dualie (actually this is pretty prestigious in my neck of the woods).

when most people ask me waht kind of car i have, i usually just say "a little mazda" and most people just go "oh" but a few have asked if it was a miata and i just smile =)

8_wannabe

I agree with the comments here that Mazda in the US will never be known as a "prestige" brand; they fill something of a niche market. On the other hand, the RX-8 brings its own mystique that seems to have a broad appeal. thus far, all who has seen my car have been "awed" by its styling, features and performance. It's earning its own way into the local conscienceness. However, outside of a few car enthusiastics, this new model is not yet known to the public. There has been no mass advertising yet. I have heard a big ad campaign will start in the fall with the new lineups on TV. Once people start seeing this car in the mass media, we should get a second wave of interest in our new cars.

BTW, this car has everything I would have asked for in a prestige brand: Styling inside and out, power, a quality look and feel, navigation, leather, all those creature comforts one would want. But I'm getting something intangible that no competitor can offer, namely the uniqueness of driving something really new and different. About 99% of those seeing me cruise by are seeing an 8 for the first time, and it should remain pretty rare for the foreseeable future. It turns heads and generates lots of positive discussions with total strangers. I am really enjoying this mystique factor, and to me the 8 offers all the prestige I could want. C'mon, beemers, Lexus, Jags, MB, etc. are just so overdone and dime-a-dozen, what really does offer prestige anymore? Maybe the topline of those makes (at twice the price of the 8 or more), or something really exotic and tempermental, which I'm totally not into.

Canada

I understand "prestige car" to mean a car that has a reputation, known in the general public, for high performance or luxury, extravagant cost, and rarity. As mentioned above, the RX-8 is not in that category. It is too early for it to have a reputation of any kind yet. When it becomes known, it is not likely to ever have "snob value". However, it is novel, unique, rare (for now), beautiful, ingenious, and therefore could certainly be called a "car of distinction".

Wankeler

Hehehe,

I my neck of the woods.... a John Deere Tractor is PRESITIOUS.

Wonder if they'll make a green/yellow RX-8. Then.... then I'd be riding on the high horse.

Peace

graphicguy

"I my neck of the woods.... a John Deere Tractor is PRESITIOUS.

Wonder if they'll make a green/yellow RX-8. Then.... then I'd be riding on the high horse."

That's funny......

I don't know that Mazda has the cachet that the BMW M series or the MB AMG has. But, I've had more than my share of Z4 and Boxter owners stop and quizz me on my car.

Elara

Most of the people that we've been stopped by are "prestige" owners as well. That must mean something, since the average Joe doesn't seem to know squat about the 8, but the BMW and Infiniti owners do.

And I'm going to disagree with a few people here- no, Mazda isn't known as a "prestige" brand, but the RX-7 was VERY well known and respected as a sub-exotic sports car and not just in the rotary community. And the 8 isn't exactly a cheap vehicle- it's more expensive than probably 90% of the cars out there. So while it's not on a BMW 5 series level, it is on a 3 series level, at least in my opinion (since we were also considering, and still are, a 330ci or a Z4), and it's not going to be the same generic everyman car like the Accord or Camry.

8_wannabe

I agree. It's mostly drivers of "prestige" sports cars that quiz me most openly about my 8. they seem to really appreciate what it's all about. Maybe a hint of envy??

f1michel

Your Australian $ and my Canadian $ is worth about the same, .72 US $ here and i'm amazaed at the cost of yours. My GS cost me 44 K $ with all taxes included . And i thought we were taxed like hell here. I'd say a GT like yours would be about 50 K Canadian here.

graphicguy

I think that most of the knowledgeable sports car fanatics do appreciate what the RX8 is all about, thus the people who are driving more expensive./exotic iron stopping to inquire about it.

Being a high performance car that happens not to use cylinders under the hood is bound to gather some curiosity seekers.