Tron1

it seems funny but the RX-8 is not even on any parallel importers' PRE-ORDER list in my country Singapore.

But they have PRE-ORDERs for weeks before the actual arrival of the following vehicles:

- TOYOTA HARRIER (2003 FACELIFT)
- MISTUBISHI EVO 8 JDM spec
- TOYOTA WISH JDM model
- 2003 HONDA ACCORD JDM model (ACURA TSX for USA MARKET)
- MANY OTHERS...

Probably Mazda's market share in Singapore is too small, but i believe with the right pricing, it will be a hit in Singapore. Especially since its considered a "1.3L" engine car and our road tax is based on the car's capacity... bigger cc = higher road tax.

Sigh.... the wait is killing me!! i wish i can jus import one from Japan myself...

Fab 8

I've been told by a parallel importer that they will have the pricing and delivery info by mid April. Can barely wait for that!

Tried Mazda Motors, but they are clueless and the salesman didn't even bother help check.

Tron1

Same thing here, P.Is said that they will bring in the car... one of them evn quoted me at SGD$185,000 with COE!! SIAO!! they must think im born yesterday or something! At that price i can get the standard AUDI TT coupe man!!

Anyways, i told them that at that price level, the RX-8 will be dead evn before it reaches the showrooms; just like the RX-7 which is a good car but too expensive when first launched abroad.

I did my math basedon JPY prices for other cars that are sold in SPR and it believe the SIngapore price level for RX-8 will be around $125K to $140K with a very good margin for importers!

That is a more reasonable estimate i think!

With regards to Mazda motors Singapore (MMS), u shld not disturb the salesmen - they are like "freelance" fellas and cannot be bothered abt a car that is not evn launched yet. The ppl u shld contact are Mazda Motors' MARKETING Execs/management.

But so far the info is that they are still trying to determine the specs. of the Rx-8 which they will bring in.... i.e: think of LEXUS IS200 (AS200 Altezza) - lousy engine brought (153BHP) in by LEXUS SPR, P.I's bring in the more powerful RS200 Altezza (200BHP) with many options.... i hope this doesnt happen wit MMS cos i wld prefer purchasing the ROTARY from the agent.... very scared that the local workshops do not know how to maintain the RX-8's rotary......

cheers! :D

Fab 8

$185,000...
No way! I'm hoping it would be around $140k to $145k. Anyway, I found out that one of my friends know the boss of MM, so hopefully can get some info soon. Will post here if I hear anything

Agree with you on purchasing from the agent - I heard MM does not want to touch any PI cars, so if anything goes wrong with the rotary engine...

:D

Yuhki

???????
If my calcuation is correct, the SGD$185K is equal to about USD$ 103K.
With USD$ 103K, I can buy 3 RX-8s in Japan.
In Japan, USD$ 103K is the price level of Mersedez SL500, Jaguar XKR coupe.

Is the high price in SGP due to the tax ?

-----------------------------------------
Yuhki

Fab 8

Yup, car prices in Singapore are probably the highest in the world due to taxes Something like 165% tax and on top of that, we still need to get a "certificate of entitlement " which costs abt S$26,000 - we can only buy a car after we have successfully bidded for this certificate.

Imagine a Corolla costing US$42,000...

And here I am thinking that S$140,000 (US$78,000) for the RX 8 is reasonable!!! :D

Tron1

TO: Fab, Yuhki

tat PI who quoted me $185K was jus trying to pull a fast one on me... and to think that PI was one of the first (in Singapore) so called "self-import" your own car sort of company...

quite disappointing considering that self-import is supposed to save u "middle-man" commission/markup costs of around SGD$10K up to even SGD$30K depending of the type of car bought...

i jus think that the above formula of self-import doesnt really work as Singaporeans jus dun know much abt car mechanics (engine type, power, torque, build quality etc) in order for them to feel confident and "safe" abt importing cars that they cannot see!! So in this sense traditional P.I car showrooms with cars in stock are doing overall better sales then such self-import P.Is.... Not to mention of after sales service, warranty etc etc.... anyway i am getting off-track...

let me divert a little bit further, i know the RX-8 is a great and fun car. BUT i got the feeling that Mazda Motor Singapore is going to do the nasties to the official import RX-8. i.e: NO LSD, lower Horse power (Euro specs), NO DSC etc etc...

Im not an expert abt cars but just think of the new subaru WRX STI and so called 2003 lexus IS200 in Singapore, it really sucks!

The local facelifted WRX STI in SPR has lower HP, NO OPTITRON meters, NO ?water-cooled turbo? and the list goes on... The IS200 in Lexus showrooms is another heartache, great in looks but shitty in performance due to the low HP... they only insist on bringing in the 1G-FE engine tat only has 153HP - carrying a gross weight of 1800KG - u can only imagine how "sporty" and maneuvarable it CLAIMS to be!!

Y cant LEXUS bring in the 3S-GE officially?? 200HP does it more justice with a choice of the shiftmatic 5 speed auto... its always the case with the SPR market; i.e: Do ppl really need so much HP?? Our roads have so many lights, so many rules - modify your car a bit and u fail govt inspection tests etc... SO in the end all the official importers wld bring it BORING cars.....

But again, if the official importers werent so BORING, the P.Is in SPR wld nvr survive!

Anyway, this is the wrong forum to continue further. But i wldnt mind if u hav some comments!

Fab 8

Well I certainly hope that MM will do the car justice by bringing in the top spec version but like you, I'm not holding my breath.

Do people need so much HP? I guess not in Spore, but I think a very large factor in buying a high HP car is just the knowledge that your car can do 0-60 on below 6 seconds etc...

Actually, I was debating between getting an STi (JDM), Evo8 or the RX-8. At the end of the day, I figured that the RX-8 may be a more rewarding car to own - it may be slower but it definitely looks more special than the other two, interior and exterior wise.

So, I will continue to wait for the RX-8. Hopefully can get some news by this weekend.