Mazda admits power deficiency!

musicola · 08-22-2003, 04:39 PM

Just got a call from my dealer. Official Mazda word is 239 HP. Current owners and those who take delivery by Tuesday will get a $500 credit and free scheduled maintenance for the warranty period ("approx value $1260").

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rgonzal3 · 08-22-2003, 04:43 PM

$500 credit? Is this in the form of a gas card?

eccles · 08-22-2003, 04:46 PM

This just in:

Just got a phone call from budaman, who had just got off a conference call with MNAO. Apparently they are revising the RX-8 horsepower figures: the Manual is being revised down 3.6% to 238hp, and the Auto down 4.5% to 197hp.

Anyone who has already purchased an RX-8 will be receiving a letter from Mazda offering two alternatives:[list=1][*]Mazda will buy back the car. (He didn't have the full details - they'll be in the letter.)[*]Mazda will provide free scheduled servicing for the duration of the standard warranty plus a $500 debit card.[/list=1] Basically the same deal that they offered after the 2001 Miata was found to be down on power too. Owners will have 30 days to decide.

Personally, I'm amazed that they repeated such a basic blunder, but I know which of the options I'll be taking (and it ain't "return the car"

).

(budaman would have posted this himself but his 'net connection is down.)

compaddict · 08-22-2003, 04:48 PM

I'm thinking the buy-back works for me.

Vince

Wing · 08-22-2003, 04:49 PM

WOW! Let's assume for Canada they will IGNORE the issue, that's what Hyundai did in Canada!

Anyone know if in Canada the Miata owners were fixed up?

brothervoodoo · 08-22-2003, 04:52 PM

wow... I must admit interesting how they could have blundered again...

Anyways thanks for the news, I look foward to additional info as it comes out.

eccles · 08-22-2003, 04:53 PM

B'man also said that these deficits are within the "normally-allowable" tolerance of 5%, but because we're as (or more) fanatical as the Miata community, they decided to make the offer as a show of good faith.

IwantONE2 · 08-22-2003, 04:55 PM

not to be the ultimate pessimist, but isn't it possible the adjusted value is NOW whithin the 5% tolerance, so actual HP is even lower than 238?

:-)

RXhusker · 08-22-2003, 04:58 PM

Somebody want to calculate the value of the service package so we can figure out what we are really getting?

I know one thing -- I just made out like a bandit -- the car has more than enough power for me :D and I just got free service for 4 years and $500 -- SWEET

Lensman · 08-22-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IwantONE2
not to be the ultimate pessimist, but isn't it possible the adjusted value is NOW whithin the 5% tolerance, so actual HP is even lower than 238?

:-)

Considering the dyno results that would seem entirely likely. I'm very concerned that the UK cars (already down on power compared to the US) will be even lower than expected. We need to find out WHY the US engines were wrongly specced ASAP.

IwantONE2 · 08-22-2003, 04:59 PM

I must admit however, I'm relieved the issue is finally over. Now I just have to pray my car gets here by Tuesday so I can take advantage of the $500 and free maintenance.

Do you think I can be covered anyways since my first car got damaged before delivery? Probably not.

Genom · 08-22-2003, 04:59 PM

Welp, like I figured, free service. Too bad I already have that setup with my car. Wonder what will beoffered in that case? Maybe a nice chunky discount over the total....

Genom · 08-22-2003, 05:01 PM

They are it seems.

Wing · 08-22-2003, 05:05 PM

Hmmm did some research on the miata case, and it seems canadians also got the deal. But hell in the US you get $500 USD in Canada we get $500 CDN?? Ummm that's not right!

I guess time will tell.... do I give up the car and get something else or do I take the package.... hmmm

BRx8 · 08-22-2003, 05:05 PM

what kind of "service" is this? just oil changes and tune ups?

RX-Nut · 08-22-2003, 05:06 PM

Holy crap.. that's some news.

Any idea what happened? Maybe a why, or how?

Dang, I look forward to this letter. Honestly, I don't know what I would do. I really love the car, but I did pay some markup on it. But now the markup feels even more sting seeing as I didnt get "all" my ponies. With the mileage rant, lack of power rant, the car is really losing it's shine. If you really think about it, the mileage for this sort of HP numbers, isn't enticing..

daaaang.

ZoomZoomH · 08-22-2003, 05:07 PM

what I want to know is, does this mean the MSRP for the RX-8 will also be lowered, to compensate for the loss of rated power?????

I want my RX-8!!!! at a discount if possible!!!!!!!

ZoomZoomH · 08-22-2003, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RX-Nut
Holy crap.. that's some news.

Any idea what happened? Maybe a why, or how?

Dang, I look forward to this letter. Honestly, I don't know what I would do. I really love the car, but I did pay some markup on it. But now the markup feels even more sting seeing as I didnt get "all" my ponies.

daaaang.

one word: EMISSIONS

dang, I feel your pain

are you gonna return the car?

musicola · 08-22-2003, 05:09 PM

I didn't get all the details. It sounded like it was definitely a credit card of some sort, not cash back, so who knows.

A buy back for eight HP? Not likely. I wonder if it really IS just eight, though. :-)

pelucidor · 08-22-2003, 05:10 PM

I am at my dealership posting this - they phoned me with this 29 mins ago but I was traveling to their office to pick up plates. They had a conference call with Mazda which ended about 30 minutes ago.

RX-8 6MT is re-rated at 238HP by Mazda.
RX-8 4AT is re-rated at 197HP by Mazda.

All performance figures should be as good or better than the pre-production cars however - they stand by advertising of 0-60 in 5.9 secs.

Anyone who has bought the car (up to August 26th, or waiting on delivery) is offered the following:
1. Repurchase of vehicle - all costs included
2. $500 debit card and free maintenance for the warranty period (4 years and 50k miles).

Anyone in Houston can call RX8Seller (Richard Rives) at 713-932-6004 for more info.

Edited to change contact name at Jeff Haas Mazda (at their request) should you want more info...

rgonzal3 · 08-22-2003, 05:11 PM

do they think I'm going to return my car in for something else now
?....I'm pretty sure the people that took delivery of the 8 will keep them and accept Mazda's solution to their blunder. That's fine, the car performs well and I'm sure a turbo kit or some performance mods can help fix that hp issue.

red_rx8_red_int · 08-22-2003, 05:12 PM

one word: EMISSIONS[quote]

If it's emisions then there will be an after market remapping to regain the horses.

BRx8 · 08-22-2003, 05:14 PM

250 > 247 > 238...the Japanese are still rated at 250...obviously this is an emissions thing and the Renesis is still capable of 250...

after all the work i've done already i am not about to sell it back...that $500 and extra cash from the maintenance is going towards a supercharger

tribal azn2 · 08-22-2003, 05:14 PM

wtf... does everyone get the 5 bills?

Magic8 · 08-22-2003, 05:15 PM

For those who still want the RX-8 and don't mind the 9 hp deficiency, this can only help you make a better deal.

In Cincinnati there is already 35 6spd RX-8's with the GT package, I am willing to bet, after this announcement, that dealers will be just itching to offload their RX-8 inventory.

Heck there may be some nearly new RX-8 sold as used cars!

A black RX8 6spd with GT package under $30K, sounds good to me.

Magic8