shaft

i receive the letter today and they said option one :return the car with a 100% refund or free service for 3 years or 80 000 km plus 500 $ cheque so i think the best thing to do is too take the 3 years plus 500$. for me .i take the 500$ and put on a chip or something to gain power .my dealer was a little bit desapointed for the 3 years service and i :D of him.so what you gone do ?

RX-Nut

Could you scan your Canada letter? I'm curious to see what Mazda Canada said..

agisd

congrats...he just got $1200 back.

If I decide to buy the Rx-8 I will ask for $1500 off. :D

canzoomer

Got my letter today.
It Offers me:
"I wish to accept Offer 1, free scheduled maintenance for the balance of the factory warranty (36 months of 80,000km) whichever comes first.

If you wish to discuss the option of having your 2004 Mazda RX-8 repurchased, please call Mazda Canada's Customer Relations Department."


I tried to reach the writer of the letter, Mr. Mike Benchimol, and was told he is away until after Sept. 15th.

I then punched zero, and reached a lady who told me I would get a call back from a "VP"

I DID get a self addressed stamped return envelope.

Rx8Mango

Got my letter too! Hehe 500 bux and Free Service for me!

Gord96BRG

I hope my letter arrived today - I need to send it back quick with the $500 and free service box checked! I'm at 7900km, that 8000km first service is approaching fast - I have to wait until the paperwork is done so that it's free! :D

Regards,
Gordon

73JPS

Hey Whoa Guys!!!

Can't we use "Schedule 2" for our maintenance (more frequent servicing)? Also, remember to take advantage of the time for the scheduled maintenance versus the kilometers if you don't put on enough km (obviously not the case for Gord!). Remember the service schedule says "Every ___ months or ____ km, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

Actually, having said all of this, I don't know if you'll actually get one more service in if you use "Schedule 2" or not: I'll have to count them up. Also, I notice that "Schedule 2" really does cater to the U.S. warranty: the cycle ends at 4 years, just like the warranty. I will confess it would be much more suitable if MazCan at least extended the free service for the full service cycle, as opposed to the end of the "factory" warranty.

Wing

Yeah not sure what's up with 8000km!

f1michel

i'm at 5300Kms.... thinking of having my 1st oil change this week. And i will not pay for it believe me !!

Gord96BRG

I have to double check my manual, but I'm almost positive that the owners manual specifies that Schedule 2 Severe Duty IS the service schedule for Canada! Again IIRC, that means the service is at 8000km intervals. (Now, I changed the oil myself at 1200 km before leaving on my road trip, but I want to get the floor mat problem registered, etc.)

Regards,
Gordon

canzoomer

I believe the manual states that for Canada we are supposed to use Schedule 2.
In either case first oil change at 8,000km seems like an awfully long time to me!
As for the length of warranty and this offer, I already posted and got flamed a long time ago for observing the fact that we only get 3 years as opposed to the USA 4 year warranty, and in the "free service" we also only get 3 years, even though i paid extra for a 4th year.

USA owners get 4 years of "free service" too!
Also we get $500 Canadian, and they get $500 US back from Mazda.

Wing

Yes and they get free loaners and a tankfull of gas GURANTEED after each service.

f1michel

tankfull after each service?? really?

Wing

Yup, read it in one of the posts last week. One guy complained it wasn't full. Apparently this was part of the purchase.

f1michel

If so that's good.

canzoomer

I talked to Mazda Canada today, got the call escalated to the manager for Customer Relations.
Posed a list of questions, he called me back with the answers, including the block heater:

1) What about the lack of block heater?
"Mazda Canada is aware of the problem. At this time we have no solution or plans to respond with. We will likely have something, but I can not tell you when. "

I suggested simply adding an inline circulating heater, such as is mentioned a few messages up. He said that he personally had used such a thing, but Mazda Canada has no policy, response, or stance on this. As it is included on my sales invoice I should take it up with my dealer.

2) What about the fact that the dealer gave me a brochure at time of ordering that lists the leather covered parking brake handle?
"That has been deleted in newer brochures"
I asked what that means. In less words than he used: "Tough"

3) The brochure lists a dashboard 12 volt outlet, AND it lists a cigarette lighter.
"Mazda Canada has included the cigarette lighter at no charge"
What about the fact the brochure lists both?
"The outlet referred to is the one with the cigarette lighter in it."

4) I am one of the owners with the problem with the oil light coming on sometimes:
"One should check oil level every time you buy gas"
I do, but it comes on when the oil is at 3/4 full..
"We expect to be issuing a service bulletin soon, perhaps in a couple of weeks. We will have to bring the parts needed into Canadian inventory"
What if I am going to the USA in about 2 weeks. Can they do the work down there for me?
"Yes, but you will want to contact them first with your VIN # so they can order in the part. You might want to make sure the dealer is not doing this for the first time on your car"
I asked him how this would be different from my dealer doing it for the first time?
He replied"If they do it here, at least you will not be stuck in the USA with no car."
I replied that this should be no problem as Mazda USA has a loaner program in place, unlike Mazda Canada.
He replied: " True, but Canada cars have a 5 year powertrain warranty"
I asked him that if this was the case, and if my engine fell apart after 4 years, would they offer me a $500 rebate?

Such glowing confidence they have in their service centres..

5) The brochure lists the headlights as being Xenon. On my car only the low beams are Xenon.
"All specifications are subject to change without notice"

Mazda Canada are incompetent slimeballs.
And the opnly way we are going to get enough pressure on them to act ethically is for the majority of us to refuse to take their bullshit.

It is too bad the majority of you reading this are so much in the honeymoon stage that you cannot see them for what they are.

TiRX8

I couldn't have said it better!! Way to stick it to those MAZCAN ******!!

Gord96BRG

What on earth is wrong with that? You assume that they are separately powered. Miata owners would not assume that - since the 97 model year, Miatas have had a power outlet with no lighter. The lighter is a separate item, just as the RX-8 brochure lists it. On many cars these days, a lighter is not included.

You're just going out of your way to look for extra little nit-picky problems, aren't you? The Xenon lights complaint, for example - if you wish to read the marketing material and make assumptions and ignore the technical specifications, go ahead - but you're only making yourself look worse, not Mazda. Unless a brochure specifically said "bi-xenon" headlights, I certainly wouldn't presume that both low and high beam systems were HID - and I'd look to the technical specifications for the real details. There are still very few cars on the market with xenon high beams, while low beam xenons are becoming quite common. Marketing people are marketing people, for better or worse. Never trust them.

Mazda isn't any worse than most of the manufacturers out there, with respect to their marketing materials and their technical specifications, especially in their market range. In terms of their product, they are providing better and more interesting vehicles. As for block heaters - try to buy a block heater for an Audi with the 2.7 twin-turbo engine, on the market since the 2000 model year. They still don't have one available. Does that make Audi Canada slimy? Not by a long shot. Name a manufacturer that you'd buy from for a replacement vehicle if you return the RX-8, and I guarantee that I could dig up far worse horror stories than those you've just listed.

"Mazcan ******"? Why, because the rebate is only $500 Cdn instead of $500 US, and the warranty period is a year shorter? What did you call them when you first did the exchange rate comparison of US and Cdn MSRP pricing and found that the RX-8 sells for several thousand dollars less here than in the US? Plainly put, Mazda Canada is making significantly less profit per RX-8 sold in Canada than MNAO is making per RX-8 sold in the US. We're getting a real deal on the RX-8 pricing as it is, relative to the US and certainly relative to the competition, whether the RX-8 has 247 or 238 HP. You guys have awfully short memories, it seems. Even if you compare the respective MSRPs minus the respective $500 credits, you'll find that we're still getting our cars for less. Poor, poor, ripped off Canadians. Whine, whine, whine.

Regards,
Gordon

f1michel

Gordon, do you know how different the GS and GT cars here are compared to the US version of these same cars? They pay more but do they get more except for an additionnal year of waranty? I read about the pressure sensor in the wheels... anything else?

Wing

I believe we get more.

The base model in the states comes with 16" wheels, and automatic, they have to pay more for the 6 speed.

They don't get the 9 speaker bose, nor do they get the 6 disc cd-changer. They don't get the headlight washers either.

They also get smaller brakes up front.


Only thing I think they get is the presure sensors.

f1michel

Basically they pay more for less and 4 year waranty... i'll stick with my Can. package

canzoomer

Oh, that's right, to qualify to buy an RX-8 I needed to own a Miata first. Sorry, I forgot about that,silly me!
Instead I just went to my dealer, looked at the brochure, discussed the details, and paid him money.
My bad.
You are right, of course.
Just because the brochures and ads claimed certain things, like 250HP, block heater, leather covered brake handle, 2 power outlets, Xenon headlights, does not mean I should actually get those, does it.
When they claim mileage figures that are total bullshit I should not be concerned, it is only money, after all.

I should have realized that it really meant: We will give you a car, and it will look cool, and you should be happy about that.

And when I buy a new car, and pay extra to extend the warranty, I should expect to be on hold for hours trying to find out about how to get flaws repaired, and watching forums like this so I can find out what fatal flaws I might have missed.
And when my dealer is not informed of them, and when the national sales organization is also totally in the dark, this is fine.
When they make me wait several weeks in the summer, when I could be driving this car with no block heater and summer-only tires, while they try and solve the reasons that they can't meet their claims, with NO WORD OF AN EXPLANATION, and then finally try to cover them up with lies, I should be thrilled.

Certainly. They have only been caught at the same fraudelent practice twice in 2 years. Most other makers do this more often. Right.

I have a friend with an Audi TT. It came with a block heater from his dealer. He bought it two years ago.

Unadulterated rubbish Gordon.

I bought a 6 speed, GT package. I just priced the same thing out on the USA site.
2004 RX-8 6 Speed Manual with leather.
$31,600*
RX-8 6 Speed Manual
PACKAGES & OPTIONS · EDIT
GRAND TOURING PKG M/T
IN-DASH 6-DISC CD CHANGER

$31,600 U.S. is $43,300 Canadian.
I paid $42,000
I did not get the wheel air pressure sensors which are standard in the US. These apparently cost $140 each.
I got one year less warranty. I paid an extra $595 Canadian for that. Even though I paid for it I was not offered the extra 12 months on the "free" service.

There IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE PRICE.

Even if there was, so what?
I did not dictate the price. I walked into a dealership, asked about the car, asked them "how much" and paid them a deposit.
When they reported it was in dock I paid the balance and went to buy my insurance and registration.
When it arrived a month late I made arrangements with the dealership to hold on to it for me, and went on my vacation and picked it up when I got back. The car I was supposed to get at the beginning of June. I did not get to drive it until the middle of August.

Did anyone at Mazda apologize that it was late? No.

When we pointed out that the power claim was false, did they apologize? No.
Instead they told us "However, the horsepower rating has not affected the RX-8's performance"

How did they make that claim? They ran some cars through a drag strip. I don't go to drag strips. I drive my car on the road.
I want them to take a Japan spec RX-8, and the car they delivered to me, put them both on a road course, and let's see which car ends up in front after a couple of laps.

Instead of apologizing they lied again, and claimed the engine makes 238HP.
You know that is a lie, I know it is a lie, and any other informed and intelligent person knows that is a lie.

When I did not get the block heater and the other trim items I was told I was getting they did not apologize. Instead they quoted the section in fine print on the brochure that says they can change the specs if and when they want.

Notice that this statement is in fine print?
You think that maybe thre is a REASON it is in fine print?
They should be embarassed that their lawyers make them do that.

Instead of wallowing in denial, start taking some positive action.
Call Mazda, tell them that you expect to get the car you paid for.

Don't abase yourself by being bought off with $500 and a few oil changes.
Don't lower yourself to their level by playing their dirty little game with them by their rules.
Tell them you expect them to show honour, integrity and respect for you , their customer, by providing you with the car they advertised. Tell them that you are a reasonable person, and that you can give them some time to work it out.
Also tell them you expect to see a letter, on Mazda letterhead, signed by a person in authority, APOLOGIZING for their errors, and detailing a plan to CORRECT them.

Everybody makes mistakes, that is inevitable.

It is how they deal with them that shows their character and nature.
If a person admits their mistakes, and takes positive steps to correct them, then they are honourable and trustworthy.
If they lie, weasel, deny, ignore and cheat, then they are scumbags.

If one associates with scumbags, and joins them in their behaviour, what does that make that person?

f1michel

Zoomer.... i surely would not have liked to see and read you if you had not loved the car !! :-P

Gord96BRG

It says two power outlets - you got two power outlets. You seem to have assumed that you'd get three?

Quote:

When they claim mileage figures that are total bullshit I should not be concerned, it is only money, after all.

They don't claim you will achieve those mileage figures - for the nearly 30 years that government mileage cycles have been generated and reported, they have always included the now-legendary disclaimer "Your Mileage May Vary". It's a test cycle, not on-the-road actual mileage, for comparative purposes. This isn't anything new or invented by Mazda - as I mentioned, EPA-style mileage ratings are almost 30 years old.

Quote:

I have a friend with an Audi TT. It came with a block heater from his dealer. He bought it two years ago.

Unless he has a one-off TT powered by the 2.7 twin-turbo engine rather than the 1.8T in every other TT, then that fact is no more relevant that me having a friend that bought a Mazda Protege with a block heater. What does a TT block heater have to do with the lack of availability of a 2.7T block heater? Nothing more than a Protege block heater has to do with the lack of availability of a Renesis block heater. Your point was...?

Quote:

When we pointed out that the power claim was false, did they apologize? No.
Instead they told us "However, the horsepower rating has not affected the RX-8's performance"

How did they make that claim? They ran some cars through a drag strip. I don't go to drag strips. I drive my car on the road.
I want them to take a Japan spec RX-8, and the car they delivered to me, put them both on a road course, and let's see which car ends up in front after a couple of laps.

Bwaahahaha! Yet in another thread just this morning, you're complaining that you got beat by a Golf 1.8T in a straight line. Why didn't you catch up to him and insist that he accompany you to a road course for a few laps? Drag strip or stop light - busted.

Quote:

Instead of apologizing they lied again, and claimed the engine makes 238HP.
You know that is a lie, I know it is a lie, and any other informed and intelligent person knows that is a lie.

I don't believe it's a lie, and from Vince (compaddict)'s two dyno tests, it is becoming obvious that the engine is making more power as it breaks in. I strongly suspect that there will be a bunch of people around this forum with egg on their faces when (not if) engines with nearer to 10K miles on them are achieving 200 rwhp. They certainly won't apologise for their mass hysteria, though.

Quote:

Notice that this statement is in fine print?
You think that maybe thre is a REASON it is in fine print?
They should be embarassed that their lawyers make them do that.

Oh come on, now that is rubbish. That disclaimer has existed on every brochure printed by every manufacturer for decades. You're going to blame Mazda for this? Nonsense. If you want to know the reason it's there, it's because litigation-happy Americans love to sue at the drop of a hat. They're the ones who should be embarrassed at the state of legal disclaimers these days.

I'm not in denial - I'm not looking at the automotive world through rose-tinted glasses, either. I'm perfectly delighted with the car I paid for, and fully believe it was worth every penny.

Quote:

Everybody makes mistakes, that is inevitable.

What is it - Mazda makes mistakes, or they lie and deceive? I think a cheque and free service is making amends for the mistake they made with the HP rating, and is a pretty good form of apology in and of itself.

Quote:

If one associates with scumbags, and joins them in their behaviour, what does that make that person?

I don't mind at all discussion and debate, but I'd suggest you think carefully before you start implying that those of us who don't choose to take exceptional issue with Mazda are all scumbags. I certainly resent the implication and also the implied attack on my honour and integrity.

Regards,
Gordon

rotorian

I agree with every comment that Gordon makes. Why is everyone so f***ing cynical and negative all the time?
From the comments you'd think that Mazda was out to "get us" as consumers.

Let's all grow up and enjoy our cars.

BTW I still haven't decided which option I'm going to take.
If I return the car, it's not because of the lower horsepower, it's because it will be a convenient way to dispose of it without a loss.

I don't want to drive it in the winter, and am debating whether I can afford another car and keep the 8 for the summer.