Launch Day - Breakfast
 

Some information was transferred by phone. As I write, Boowana is still getting pictures and information at the stand. He was looking at getting some shots of the third (black) RX8. He will get some pictures to us a little later this morning, but expect the full layout sometime this evening/tonight.

But first, the stuff that was announced:

-The cars are scheduled to arrive in the beginning of June (maybe late May)

-Starting Jan. 8th, buyers can pre-order online (I guess that's one way to keep dealers from charging more than MSRP).

-Price for the base automatic transmission car will be $25,180 U.S.

-Price for the base 6 spd car will be $26,680 U.S.

-Price for a fully loaded (except NAV) vehicle will be around $30,000 U.S.

-Expect NAV to be available on shortly after the initial cars are made, costing appox. $1700 U.S., making the everything under the sun car cost below $32,000 U.S.

-Warranty is 4yr/50k miles, 5 yr corrosion, 4 yr roadside 24/365 in the U.S. and Canada. And for all 2004 Mazda vehicles, appropriate loaners will be available for any warranty work.

-There was no mention of HP/TQ, but that has been about as well kept of a secret as the warranty and release dates.

---jps

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D

any idea *how* long after the initial release will the NAV system be available? I've read elsewhere something like Sept - but I'd hate to wait that long!

Thanks!

The phrase that I keep hearing is "Nav will probably not be available in the first batch". What the heck a "batch" consists of, I don't know. But they aren't promising any time frame right now.

So take a seat next to those of us who are waiting for the MPS RX8.

---jps

well sc@*w nav then i want one sooner than september and i can always buy a map. it doesn't have the cool factor but i can always get nav in a few years when i trade fo the mps8 ;)

Even if the NAV system isn't that important, the good thing about getting it built in is the screen that goes with it. I don't know if it's the same as my Acura MDX, but you can modify Acura's NAV to accept a video input. I've seen screen shots of it playing wide screen movies and it seems pretty cool.

But for Acura at least, you can't get one installed if you didn't get the NAV ordered with the car. And I'm not an expert enough to do all that myself, so I'd rather get the NAV built in now.

MPS RX-8
 

Any word on the MPS version. I need to know if it is going to be worth waiting for.

Schills

I want them to come out of nowhere and give us >200 torque

Pricing news: GREAT
4/50 warranty news: GREAT
4 year roadside assistance news: GREAT
Loaner car news: GREAT
Late NAV availability: Why of why oh why....

The car is actually cheap enough that I can consider NAV for the first time in my life, but can I wait until Sep or even later (2nd allocation is due September)...

Weight, weight, weight... when are they gonna tell us what the freakin' WEIGHT is already!!! :mad:

And about the whole nav thing, come on, you could buy a pretty awesome laptop for $1,700, and get some kind of GPS hookup for it. Or, you could get a GPS-equipped Pocket PC for about $500 which could easily go anywhere, not just in a car. IMHO a little screen that you can only use in your car just isn't worth that much...

Yeah, I've thought about the pocket pc type (even have a webpad that could be used) and aftermarket NAV systems, but I doubt they would provide as clean an integration into the car. Like how would you mount a pocket pc that you could use while potentially driving. I have the NAV in my 2001 MDX and it's great. Screen is in the right place and audible directions play over the slightly muted sound system. Plus, my assumption with the pocket pc type is that you've got to predownload any maps/directions you want to use.

Most importantly, I'm fortunate enough that at MSRP, 32k with all the goodies is within my budget, so I'd rather get the cleanest look as possible. Since I'm like #3 on my dealer's waiting list, I could definitely get first allocation in June so I just hate having to wait till September.

Just my opinion and maybe I've been living in a cave, but since when has NAV become a major selling point or deal-breaker like cupholders? On rental cars I can see the option, but it just seem like gee-whiz technology that will become obsolete in the next generation of Navs, leaving the owner with the equivalent of an 8-track player. They should make it an accessory, not a factory-installed option, imho. Maybe pre-install a GPS receiver antenna in the back glass with a plug-in data port in the dash.

NAV and laptops
 

I have two laptops and a PDA (Toshiba e740), all running MS Streets and Trips (the PDA can handle a city at a time). However I would hate to spoil the look of the car's interior with wires hanging everywhere and a GPS stuck to the windscreen (and a console mounted holder for the PDA etc).

A nicely integrated DVD based NAV (preferably with some voice recognition like the new Accord EX) would be much nicer.

I would prefer if NAV was an option from the car manufacturer (like leather interior or heated seats) rather than forcing users to get an aftermarket one. An aftermarket NAV may not easily integrate into the cars speaker system (for overriding stereo to give directions) or have a pillar/visor mounted microphone for voice recognition, let alone a well integrated GPS antenna. The car manuafacturer could probably prewire for this kind of thing at minimal cost.

Re: NAV and laptops
 

My thoughts exactly!

I use two GPS setups, one is laptop based for real long trips(anything over 7 hours for me) the other is PDA based. As I do a lot of traveling for business and pleasure, GPS navigation has been a gift from the heavens. The laptop sofware has voice recognition and works quite well and with the PDA I was able to plot a 6 1/2 hour drive from RI to Jackman, ME. Both solutions work great and have saved me a lot of time. I usually end up loading a bunch of mp3s on the laptop and connect the headphone jack of the laptop into the car radio so that I can hear tmy tunes and the navigational information. All this being said a decent integrated solution for the RX-8 would still appeal to me, especially if it is of the DVD variety with that 3d view.

Everything under the sun car cost below $32,000 (US)
 

I'm also glad that NAV is under $2000 ;)

I hope I can wait ...

I hope I can wait ...

I hope I can wait ...

:D :D :D :D

Hey does anyone know if the NAV will also be able to play DVD movies (to keep the little ones in the back seat entertained on those long trips)?

My dealer just called and said that NAV is available for my build-to-order first allocation vehicle due June-August.

I have asked them to recheck this info and will know more tomorrow morning.

Must have webcast (drool) quickly b4 i die

I would assume the Navigation system will be just that, with no DVD or anything- there are some areas like Virginia that have laws against having any kind of television where the driver can see it. But as for places like Canada and Europe, who knows...

That "little" screen is still at least twice as big as what you'd get on a PDA, and I'd like to know where you'd put the laptop when you have a passenger. And how easy it is to use the laptop when you're suppoda be driving.

Then you have to worry about battery power or connections, and then put everything away when you park (unless you want to leave it out to tempt someone to steal it).

If it's not what you want, then fine. But it does have many advantages (startup time, within good range w/o blocking the view, etc.) over any of the portable solutions.

---jps

Those dogs!
 

my dealership said to come back in march to put down a pre-order deposit, that low down dog better a been right......i need nav, BADLY
________
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So when they say "base 6 speed" does that mean that only the automatics come detuned, and the manuals all have 250hp, or does it mean that there is a manual with the detuned automatic engine + a manual with the 250hp engine?

I'm just curious for what price you can expect all the go fast parts. For instance, if you could get yourself into a 250hp 6 speed for $27,000 that'd be a KILLER deal.

I'm just hoping it isn't that you have to pay the $30,000 for everything but nav in order to get the high output motor.

As we've said on other threads, all 6 spds in the North America come with the 250 hp engine, and the bigger wheels/brakes.

In other words, you get your KILLER DEAL (Yea, Baby!).

---jps

I cannot believe the deal the RX-8 is. I was happy enough to learn that the 250-hp version would be coming in at $26,680, but with the sport wheels and brakes??!!:eek: :eek: I think I have officially become giddy.