kukubird

Hi guys,

I haven't posted much since my registration as I don't own an 8 yet, but I visit frequently browse the boards due to the wealth of information available. Apologies if the following issues have already been raised in a previous thread.

I think after 6months of ground work, I have finally convinced my wife to let me get one!!! Nothing is final yet, but she seems to have more or less accepted the fact that sooner or later I will get one, and probably sooner is a better idea so she won't have to hear me repeat attraction I have to the 8 every time we see one.

Anyway, I will be going away for a couple of weeks at the end of the year, and when I get back, I think I will start looking for good deals on new 8s.

A couple of questions.
-Can I assume that 2005 models are already updated with the latest G flash?
-I assume that I will be able to spot a 2005 model from the new key fobs?
-Is it safe to assume that all retractable key fobs can only be found in 2005 models?

I hope the 8 is worth unlimited massages, "every sunday day off for mum-dad and bubs day", unlimited baby baths.....I'm sure it is .

kiwimeat

Not quite sure what you mean by 2005 model. Do you mean specification or plate date? The 2005 spec has been around since August.

My car has the latest flash according to the pre-delivery information I got from the dealer.

I took delivery on my RX-8 last Friday. It is an October 2004 production, plated Nov 2004 car. It has the new key fob with retractable key. I think the new key has been available on new deliveries since late August.

There is plenty of advice and info from myself and other forum members including CMAC & Chauman who have taken delivery of RX-8's very recently.

Mazda have already taken the 5% import tariff reduction into account with their showroom pricing. We all worked around the very low $60K mark.

BTW 6 months of ground work is amateur status - I waged a three year campaign from seeing the concept Evolve model through to 18 months of mostly saving before my wife kindly agreed to an early purchase (orignally due Jan/Feb next year).

Good luck with the car shopping.

ps Not owing an RX-8 didn't stop me from posting regularly Owning one is more likely to inhibit posting as you will be driving it!

CMac

Retractable key is kinda cool. Only thing is you'll keep playing with it.

New colour as well, so if you have been hanging for a strato blue rx8 your prayers have been answered.

Mine has the latest flash as well. Had to get the service manager on the phone to confirm this with them during the handover.

kukubird

i'm actually after the cloth trim....do u think i should be looking at 57 58k for a good deal or less?

EZZY

it will def. be less for cloth trim......
let us know which state you are at, maybe we can recommend a couple of good dealerships

kiwimeat

You can drive the Leather Pack away for very low 60K's so give that the Cloth RRP is $6K below Leather it would be reasonable to expect the drive away on a Cloth to be $55K or below.

I would expect that dealers have more room to move on Leather Pack's so that may have to be borne in mind. Here in Brisbane dealers also have stock of Leather Packs in their showrooms - Eagers Mazda have 3 LP's ready drive away with $63K stickers in their showroom.

kukubird

I'm in Perth Ezzy . From memory Yanje mentioned that he was treated pretty well at Parkland. My personal experience with the guys at Wood Bros has been terrible. So I am inclined not to go near them again.

Thx for all the tips kiwi appreciate it.

It's great to hear that I could be looking at 55 driveaway for a cloth trim. I also know that the stamp duty in WA is more than the other states :/.

Also, what 5% reduction is expected in 2005? I heard something about that too....but am unsure about the details.

DMRH

Since its still 2004. I would have thought a 2005 model will have a production date of JAN-2005 or later.

We aren't going to get into that stupid American system where they call a car built in Mar-2003 a 2004 model are we..............???

Gomez

No, it's just that the dealers are lowering prices in anticipation of the lowering of import tariffs for 2005. They know sales will be dead in late 2004 if they don't match the prices now.

Gomez

Oh, and the cars currently being sold here now have the retractable key and new colour palette a'la yankee 2005 models...

timbo

Does anyone know if you can get a retractable key upgrade for older models?

kukubird

Sorry for the confusion regarding the model year. It is to my understanding that cars are produced to a certain specification and this may change during the course of the model run. This may or may not occur at january of each year, i don't know . I was not referring to the production date, but rather the specification level, which i "assumed" was differentiated with calendar years. With the introduction of the stratos blue and the retractable key fob for the US spec 2005 model, I thought us aussies might be looking at similar naming.

I also was under the impression that since 2004 was essentially the first run of 8s, any little problems (such as rom flashes, the mythical flooding issues) might be ironed out with the cars that are produced from now onwards. I just did not want to be paying for unsold stock that has been around in the yard for a while, unless I got a really super deal.

There is some discussion on the key fob on the main discussion boards:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=42115

timbo

Thanks, kukubird... talk about things I should be aware of! (Note to self: search is your friend) :p

Jambos

Yeah
$300 supply, coded and cut to suit your existing key, One only.