What fun have I missed ?
 

After months of agonising over whether or not pre-order before getting the chance to see one in the flesh (let alone drive one), I made the plunge on the 5th ... I've gone for the lower power version in blue. Why the lower power version ? Better low end torque ...

Anywho, found this site a couple of days ago & have been catching up with what's been going on ... I've seen talk about certain free stuff for pre-orderers ? Have I missed this ?

My dealer seems to know less about what's going on that I do. He says the first chance the public will have to see a car is when the first batch arrive "late October" & my car won't be in the country until "most likely February". He was adamant that there is only one '8 in the country at the moment, "a red one", and it's only for press junkets. Ho hum.

I really am quite desperate to see one in the flesh, even if it is the blue Japanese pre-prod model - any hints ?

Oh, I also got a speculative insurance quote off my current insurer, Eagle Star - £552 (full no claims) - sound reasonable ?

Thanks,
Ian.

Greetings. There was a rather good book given to the first 1000 pre-orderers and allegedly we're due to receive a framed print soon and I assume that once again that's for the 1st 1000 people. I assume that you will get the Pro-Drive day though, has anyone mentioned that at your dealership?

what have you missed?

well a lot of ups and downs over the last 6 or 7 months - unfortunately probably more downs than ups! recently though the british mags seem to be backing the rx8 over the competition. recent downsides - the states reporting lack of power at the rear wheels.

there are a stack (10+) of cars in the uk - so the dealer is confused.

quote seems about right - but then i dont know your age, town and license situation - there's a thread on insurance somewhere - Egg seemed quite good I recall.

i'll have to disagree with lensman - i thought the prodrive day was just for the first 1000 pre-orders.

anyway great decision!

Ah: I think you're right. I forgot.

I would like to qualify that remark to read: "Lack of dyno support for mazda claimed 247 hp."

As an owner in the colonies with more than 1,000 miles , using my ultra sensative "bummeter" there is absolutely no lack of power above 5k rpms. There is far more than is legal to use here already. If there is any missing, you may only notice it on the german autobahn.

yep of course your right Puppy1 - if the car still performs as expected it dont stop the fun - the problem is just 'contractual'

Thanks folks - looks like I've missed out on the goodies then :(

The dealer doesn't seem to know very much at all - he said the best he could do was to let me know when the first batch arrived (late October he thought) & he'd let me take a look at them before they were collected by their lucky new owners, assuming I can get down there quick enough ... he's been told that they won't be getting their demo car until (probably) late November/early December.

Happy to be here !
Ian.

Ian

Am in same boat as you! Have recently ordered but have got more info from forum than from dealer!!

To be honest have not actually contacted dealer yet to let them know I have ordered but will be v interesting to see what they say about delivery.

When I talked to them last week (trying to find out more info!!)they were talking about October and December deliveries & stated that if I ordered now I would def have car by Xmas.

Cheers

Rich

I just ordered my RX-8 today. Velocity red with Sat Nav and red leather. The lady on the RX-8 helpline reckoned I would have it by December whereas the dealer told me I would be lucky if it arrived before February. I think the Prodrive day is available for all buyers. http://www.mazdarx8.co.uk/news/archi...ls.asp?id=1804

James

James - welcome to the forums. I'm sure as you read through some of the threads you will find it is not unsual for either Mazda UK or their dealers not to know what is going on. If I were to pick a source to be more confident with it would be the lady on the helpline as the dealers know even less than us!

Prodrive day should be for all buyers.

Way it read it didnt mention pre-order at all.

AFIK the book hasnt been officialy mentioned to me, they arrived week before I pre-ordered and I assume I'm in the 1st 1000.

Picture was mentioned in a letter to pre-orderers.

Actualy, I havnt even had my welcome pack yet, and my dealer knows nothing about them or who gets the books (only that they turn up at the dealership).

Welcome James,

Good to see you and all the other new members joining. The Europe forum seems to be growing quite rapidly now :)

Mark

James - you could be right.

I was going by:

'You will also get regular exclusive information and updates on the status of your orders and there will be a special programme of events for the first to pre-order. '

on the pre-order part of the website

I also read the pro-drive offer as being to all buyers.

When they first announced it it seemed to be a preorder thing, but the website doesn't describe it as so.

So when IS pro-drive day???

After we take delivery of our cars we can book a day. We have to use our own cars though which is a nuisance.

GREAT!! New car + race track + 1 driver cacking his pants!!!!!!!

A nuisance? It's downright scary. I love the idea of the Pro-Drive day, I do NOT love the idea of doing it in my brand spanking new car.

Plus, how do we even stand for insurance doing that in our own cars? You can't just take your car on a race track normally on your road insurance.

You dont have insurance.
It is at your own risk - (like any track day).

There are companies that offer special policies for this sort of thing , but it is not cheap.

We have discussed this at some length before -
Track days is not a dangerous environment for crashing your car - in my experience the rules are pretty strict. It is not a race.
Anyone overtaking without permission from overtakee , or trying to pass on the wrong side , or driving beyond their ability will be removed.

It is not such a big deal.

Personally , the only aspect that I would not be happy with is taking a couple of thousand miles of my spangly new expensive tyres ! !

Lest not forget that this day can be taken next summer or whenever you would like it. This means the car will have a few thou under its belt.

If of course some a scardy cats, then a Mazda bod will come to your house and take you on the public highway.:D

AnilS.

If it comes with RE040's then I dont care about scrubbing a few tho miles of them.

I wont drive my new £22k car on track without some form of cover, should be £100-150 for the day.

[/rant mode on]

Track cover isn't wallet busting.. I think around £100 can get cover up to £11000. That's for £11000 worth of work/repairs. I'd be very surprised if you managed to damage your car at all under instruction at a track, let alone £11000 worth!

And with the day being given to you free, £100 for the extra piece of mind for having one-to-one instruction in your car, on a private track, from a Prodrive instructor is bl**dy good value. Oh, and you don't get any of this with your TT, 350Z, Celica, BMW, Boxster.... even RX-8 buyers in the rest of world don't get this!

It's not mandatory either. You're not being *FORCED* to take your car on a track uninsured, or likewise forced to pay for the extra insurance.


SO QUIT MOANING!!!

(and give me your day if you don't want it so I can twice as much fun in my car) :)


[/rant over]



-andy-

It's not about being scaredy cats, my father was a professional racing driver and I've dabbled with that along with internal review work for a rather large sports car manufacturer and freelance sports car reviews, so I'm happy behind a wheel.

It's not about mileage under the bonnet, though the more there before it gets thrashed the better.

It's not about being able to drive on track, but just not being covered.



This should have been thought through long ago, personally I love the idea of Pro-drive sessions in the car, but only if it was done properly with Mazda provided cars and full insurance cover. When it comes to being able to go to a Pro-drive session, but having to use your own car and sort your own insurance if you want it I would rather have had the value of that session knocked off the car and I could organise it myself if I felt like it at a later date.

Seriously, most people love the idea of the Pro-drive sessions, but I can't help but feel I'm not the only one who doesn't want to do it in *my* car.

Then don't do it? Sell your day (which I'm sure you might well be able to) and get on the phone to lastminute.com, red letter days, or the Brands Hatch group etc and book a day of fast driving and instruction in somebody else's car.

I understand the "fear" of using your own car, but you''re not being forced to. You don't *have* to do it.

And as for leaving the day and having the £500 or so knocked off the car. I doubt Mazda paid the full £500 for each and every customer. And besides which, the car represents rediculously good value already. I don't think the RX-8 needs dropping in price any more than it already is. It already undercuts the opposition by several thousand (on equally equipped cars).

I doubt very much the day would be offered if Mazda had to supply the cars, and insure them. The cost would be too high. Also, if they did include the price of the Pro-drive day in the price of the car, which I very much doubt, then this would only serve to put the price of the car up, and the number of potential customers down.


-andy-

If Mazda supply the cars , there would be a MUCH higher chance of an accident.

Fact is, you will treat your car with more respect than a supplied car. Thus it will be safer for all.
Really dont see why Mazda should supply the cars - it is not unreasonable to ask people to use their vehicles.

It is free - I think everyone needs to make their own choice. i.e. if you dont want to do it or are not happy with the risks , then dont do it. (or just come along to meet other drivers and learn a bit about the car).

Morgan.

PS - Although the pre-prod cars destined for the crusher could be employed I would have thought....