MarkW

Not a wind up this one... :D

Just been reading this weeks Autocar saying there wont be any discounts available on any of the new coupe/convertibles due out this year.....................................apart from maybe the RX8.

350Z only 450 cars all sold. Not sure when next batch will be available. Deposits may get sold at a premium (Good news for Lensman!)

Crossfire only 600 cars, some left but will be gone soon and supply will be limited as most going to US.

RX8 a sizeable amount of the 3500 allocated for 2003 are still available and discounts from dealers may be available nearer the time.

BMW Z4. Some still available but supply limited so demand will be strong even though it is unlikely anyone will make a profit.

It seems that supply is exceeding demand for the RX8 and I dont really see how this is good for Mazda.

If all cars were sold this is good publicity for Mazda and waiting lists create desirabilty. Its also good for customers as residuals stay high.

At this rate those of us who have pre-ordered and may end up paying full list price may be a bit cheesed off when Joe public can walk into a dealers in August, get a discount and pick up a car in just a few weeks.

Have Mazda got this one wrong?

Lensman

Interesting. I win AND lose because if (as I expect) I end up with an RX-8 then potentially there are bad side-effects of this. Mazda has virtually bet the company on this car and will be in difficulties if it doesn't sell as hoped. That would have knock on effects for after sales support. Worst case scenario (and unlikely) if Mazda start shutting down dealerships to cut costs then where are the servicing and warranty repairs to be done? Would Ford honour Mazda's guarantee if the latter went under? However, it's early days and as yet the RX-8 hasn't really hit the public conciousness unlike the 350Z. The Z has been promoted all year and has appeared on at least one mainstream TV show (5th Gear) whereas the RX-8 is invisible. I've thought for a while that Mazda was overly optimistic about potential sales. This is a niche product (despite the back doors and seats). It'll never sell like a BMW 3-Series or a Mondeo because it's not that kind of product. This goes back to the 'They should have produced a full on RX-7A' argument which I agree with. Mazda would be in a better position of they had a full on two seat uber-quick rotary sports car to sell. They would sell just as many and all they intended to make whilst adding much to their image. The RX-8 is a great car (hell, I ordered one) but it's not a company saver. I still believe that sales will pick up when the RX-8 is seen on the road and (favourably?) reviewed on 'Driven', '5th Gear' and against the odds 'Top Gear'. Clarkson will no doubt savage it for compromising it's sporting pretensions and the 'Formula Woman' connection (watch it happen!).

rael

Good point guys. I did read somewhere on this site that the 3500 allocated was the the 12 months commencing with the first sales in 2003, not for the remaing 2003 months only but I am not sure how that one concluded.

Looks like the Z and Crossfire are trying to create a specialised market for their cars whilst Mazga are banging out the RX8 relatively cheap and plentiful. But I bet our dealers will not discuss a discount, they will quote a long waiting list.

I think its worth £100 to have a look.

rael

Simon

I thought 3,500 sounded like an awful lot. Then I looked at actual sales for 2002.

There were approx. 2.5 million new cars registered in the UK in 2002. This includes 7,500 Smart cars, 2,700 Protons and 4,100 Daihatsus. And 400,000 Fords.

3,500 RX-8s sounds very plausible. Mazda's total sales in 2002 were 27,700 (up 97% on 2001).

By comparison, 450 cars is an extremely small drop in a large ocean. Probably just a token allocation for 2003 given that are not launched until quite late in the year.

See here for stats.

RobDickinson

The 350Z numbers ae just for this calander year, it isnt launched till late on so if sounds like not many.

They've been selling bucket loads in US (which is why its launch is delayed here) and this gives (nissan)dealers something to chat the customer up with - "Ah sold em all this year, long waiting queues etc etc". Had a friend who went to a local nissan garage and the overall impression was put £2k down NOW or never see one, kinda overdone but gets the customer panicking and also creates the impression of a saught after motor with decent resale residuals. Theres going to be plenty of 350z's around in 2004 I bet.

I also think you'll see many more 350z's on the roads by the end of 04 than RX8's for several reasons, and I'm happy with that. least I wont see 1000's every day like I do with my focus atm.

Simon

Agree entirely - well said.

It seems Nissan are just a bit more sophisiticated with their PR. Pity some motoring journalists fall for this stuff.

MarkW

I hear what you are saying guys, but remain to be convinced.

The 3500 for Mazda was implied as this year only, which is effectively 5 months.

If thats true it equates to 8400 for a full year, 700 month, or around 31 cars a day which seems quite a lot to me for a car which will never be a mainstream product.

Compared with the SMMT stats for 2002, Subaru only sold 8173 cars, Alfa 11,713, Porsche 5624 and Lotus 1305

I will be very happy if someone proves this to be wrong.

morganrogers

Virgincars advertising RX8 for ~£21K.

RobDickinson

Where? cant find it aywhere.

jimbobjoe

Where ?

Can't find any mazda other than an MX5 on their website.

MarkW

Cant find it on Virgin, but a 240ps RX8 is on the lex site for £21,815 a saving of £185.

http://www.lexfreechoice.co.uk/freec...line_quote.htm

3 years 10k miles non maintenance:

£1000 deposit and £394.86 per month

Final payment £11,600, which means they are expecting fairly high residuals as that is over 50% of list price.

jimbobjoe

Saving £185 !!!!
Bargain.:p

RichardJ

I've got that £185 saving beat..................

My dealer gave me £200 off.:D