As some/many of your are aware - import duties on cars will be lowered from 15% to 10% in January 2004.

Already some new cars prices are being cut to pre-empt the price drop. For instance the new Honda Odessey has had its base price cut by $7000 this week - whilst this is obviously more than 5% Honda acknowledges the forthcoming duty price drop as a key factor in their decision (it also left Mitsubishi looking stupid with their MPV starting at $45K).

So what does it mean for RX-8 prices?

As a definite future buyer I am obviously hoping for a big a drop as possible.
Obviously for existing owners they are reluctant to see their resale value decline further.

Anyone have any more information or comments?

 

The 8 has just came out not long ago, I would be surprised if they would lower the price by any substantial margins. However, Mazda Australia might use small unnoticible gradual changes in the price. It will be upsetting for existing customers to have their car resale value drop so much in 1 year.

 

Prices may drop on cars that are not as popular 5% only equates to $3-4 thousand dollars on the RX8 .

How many seconhand RX8 are for sale at any one time , demand and lack of supply will keep good re-sale values for the RX8 ESPECIALLY IN YELLOW .

Saving a few thousand dollars on a car is not going to give you a better retirement fund at the end of your working life .

Enjoyment versus better deal at a later stage , i choose enjoyment anytime .

cheers
michael

 

kiwimeat

Any drop in price on the RX8 in 2005 will most likely be ofset by higher interest rates which are well overdue andwill be on the rise in the next few months .

cheers
michael

 

With the same car in Japan only costing $38k, Mazda's history says they will not lower the price. Get ready for price increases people.

Thats whats in Mazda's history.

Eg. The series-6 RX-7 was released in 92 at $73k, just a couple of years later & it was up to $89k.

With the same RX-7 costing around $50k in Japan at the time, Mazda Australia shot themselves in the foot yet again & where left wondering why annual sales in Australia where less than monthly sales in Japan where the price was actually realistic

 

A price increase would be acceptable......to me anyway:D

I don't suppose Kiwimeat or DMRH relish the idea though........
I'm amazed that the RX-7 sold at all at those prices, esp in 1994 dollars. DMRH has a good point though. Mazda are happy with the sales numbers they are currently achieving........maybe they won't reduce the price. The buyers of these cars are well cashed up, look at how many optioned up Leather Packs are out there.

Gomez.

 

Time for more import parts guys... better to have 0 import tax anyway :D

 

My betting is that they will drop the pov pack, and offer leather for a *slightly* lower price

 

....then yellow pov pac prices will skyrocket on the secondhand market:D

 

Yeah - the lightweight sports model :D

 

....and green pov pac's would be priceless!

 

Mazda has already got a problem in not being recognised as a prestige brand , and by making the TOP of the range RX8 in the pov pack , and in automatic they have done themselves an injustice IMHO.

YES THEY HAVE CREATED MORE SALES IN OFFERING THE POV PACK AND THE AUTOMATIC , HOWEVER THEY HAVE CHEAPENED THE RX8 IMHO .

Unfortunately the pov pack looses that upmarket feel in most cars , especially in a sporty ride like the rx8 .

No offence ment to pov pack owners and to automatic owners , however this is my honest opinion .

cheers
michael

 

I would have bought a Leather Pack.......if it didn't have leather.......

Gomez.

 

Compare with Mazda Japan... Mazda Australia have improve the car...

At least all manual have high power engine...

Compare with Japan you have RX-8 normal, type E and type S.

You have people driving in Japan with 147kW 4 port Renesis with 16 inch wheel --- :suck:

Lucky we have the Type S minus (minus the double oil cooler and minus 7 kW)

 

I would have been interested in the Zenon/Bose/Pedal pack, without the leather, and without the fugly washers. If the "Pov Pac" had smaller wheels and smaller brakes, and missed out on some of the piano black stuff, then I would have had to consider getting the dearer one, but thankfully there was not a performance penalty.

So I opted for the light weight one. :D