zeblien

Hello!

I am a new car buyer and after quite a bit of research, the rx8 feels like the best fit except for one thing: I read that the air conditioner sucks. Im in the middle of the desert right now and the car I have doesnt cool well either, so I was hoping the upgrade would be cooler as well as cooler .

Buying.
Using mazda.com
Here is the configuration I liked:

TOURING PACKAGE A/T$3,775
APPEARANCE PACKAGE$1,100
ROTARY ACCENT PACKAGE$159
ALARM SHOCK SENSOR UPGRADE$60
DOOR EDGE GUARDS$75FENDER STRAKES TRIM$260
IN-DASH 6-DISC CD CHANGER$500
REAR WING SPOILER$360

Total is $33,284.
There is $3000 in rebates right now, and I am paying $8000 down which brings the total price on debt $22,284. This is still high for me at this time. Realisticly how much lower can I bring this total down to? Also, any advice I need to take into consideration before I start the process?


Thanks for your time guys! great site great car.

zeblien

Actualy, If I go with the GT, its 34,099, but again, i still need it down to 20,000.
I guess I need to fight the get it now idea and just save up for another 6 months or so.

Although leather seats are sticky at 100 degrees w/no humidity except a sweating body. Cloth is what I would prefer at this point.

RX26b

Not sure how you're getting $3000 in rebates. I've been reading about $1500 cash back plus another $500 if financed through MAC.

As far as going from $22,2xx to $20,000 that may or may not be do-able a few months from now. Of course with the supply of 06s not even coming close to 04s and 05s, the car you want could very easily not be on the lot when the incentives are high enough to where you want. It's your call.

unpocoloco

Well, there's only so much you can do. But I suggest double-checking if you really want some of the items on your list, if you're trying to get the price down. For instance, I am glad my car does NOT have the appearance package! $1100 to me. Also, $500 for a CD changer? You can get an aftermarket for cheaper - or get an AuxMod (do a google search) for an easy way to get ANY input such as your mp3 player directly into the stereo. Fender strakes can be bought cheaper elsewhere. Etc. Etc. You could probably shave off close to 2 grand right there.

The other option is buy used with low miles!

1stgen8

iTrader: (1)

How far are you willing to drive? The dealer where I got my brand new 05 GT a few months ago had 2 06 GT's with cloth seats starting in the $26k range. I'm sure they were GT's cause they had sunroof, spoiler, sides, 18" wheels, etc....just cloth seats. They would not budge on the price so I went with the only 05 they had left (with leather) for $24,800 out the door. The dlrship was Malloy Mazda in Woodbridge Va. Cant say they would still have them but it might be worth a try if you don't mind traveling to get what you want.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

I have a 2005 RX-8 and the A/C works fine. I live in the Phoenix area and temps in the 110's is not uncommon. I sit on the freeway for long periods of time just inching along and have no complaints. The only trouble I have had is when the Dealer over charged it one time thinking it was low on R134a. This is the second 2005 we have owned and no trouble with the A/C system.

hoosier

Mazda is going from 4yr 50k warranty to 3yr 36mo warranty for 2007. I got offered 3K off MSRP after just looking at one. Geiko insurance offers 7yr 100K insurance for roughly 6 bucks a month, for me anyway. I think it covers powertrain and electrical (except audio, nav, things like that) but I have not looked into it yet. I had not even heard of it until I called to check on insurance rates, which will be about $20 a month higher from my 03 Passat. Passat to RX-8, you can say I am excited. By the way, I am going for the cloth. I have had a couple of cars with leather now and find them uncomfortable on hot days. You could say my black on black Passat did not keep up on hot days either, even with tint.

zeblien

My mazda dealer has 15 06's in stock. I havent seen realy what the apperance package looks like but I wouldnt be able to mod the car myself, so I figure adding it later + labor would cost the same. As for the stereo, i have had bad luck with people liking my $100 max stereo more then I did, and removing it, so i want to stay away from aftermarket to make it harder to remove. I am also planing to build in a deadbolt lock under the passenger seat. I had a friend install one on his truck and it prevented theft once. But I am goin down friday to physicaly look at the car and the different setups.

Is there any down side to ordering a build instead of buying a car off the lot?

Also, there were 3 rebates, a $1500, $1000, $500. I dont remember the title of those rebates.

zeblien

Also, i have been reading posts were some people recomend the 2005 over the 2006. What are the differences? Since I want an AT, doesnt the 2005 only support the 3 speed and not the newer 6 speed transmission. Also, I have been reading about insurance rates and the rates I have been quoted seem high. I am 22 with a perfect record driving for 7 years. The best rate I can get in New Mexico is $250, and thats if I play the 6month lump.

Other questions I hope someone can help me out with if you guys dont mind!

I have only driven a standard once 6 years ago and dont know anyone with one to show me again. Should I go with the manual and re-learn? Or is the automatic with shifting abilitys fine? The hp drop doesnt bother me i dont think.

Also, this is a stupid question cause it isnt that kind of car... but .... I want to camp every now and then where the roads are a bit un paven. Will this car be ok driving slow on that kind of dirt road? .... LOL I think i will like driving this car soo much i might get a 2nd job delivering pizzas!! And i plan to replace the Mazda insignias with some funny old car, so when people ask what kind of car that is.... i can tell them its a VW super beatle.


Thanks guys! and if you can think of anything a first time car buyer, and sports car driver needs to know please share !!!!

zeblien

boo! going in for a test drive and was hoping someone would see my posts before then! Hark! Evil non posters.

lol Prolly in wrong section, my fault

Winfree

I have driven stick for over 30 years - all different kinds - and still keep an old 323 stick around. I tried an RX-8 04 (silver) and hated the way it clutched. I could have gotten it (used) for a good price and it had very low milage - but just hated the clutch and got a new 05 automatic instead... Yes it has 3 low speeds and one fat bat out of Christmas 4th gear that can be a whole lot of fun!

Now it's a very odd kind of automatic because it you throw the shifter to one side, it suddenly becomes a clutchless stick shift, and you can run it up and down by hand just like a regular stick only you don't have to worry about what your feet are doing - they just run the break at the best times - or you can get a little crazy and start using the little thumb paddles on your steering wheel to play games on the twisties ( nice tight little road curves) and shift up and down as happily as if you had good sense.

In automatic, you can get onto a freeway, and accellerate with all necessary speed, and it was a saving grace when we tried to get from the Treasure Island offramp into traffic on the San Francisco Bridge (continuous traffic, hi speed, no ramp to speak of, no holes in traffic and glass littered around to show where the last car had died). I saw regular piston cars turn white while 8 after 8 both automatic and stick spurted out of harms way!

Try driving both - but unless you are taking it to the track you may find that the automatic 05 is a pure comfort to drive! You might find yourself going a little faster than you should (using up unnecessary gas) and out running punk kids! As Mom (age 94) puts it: "Don't you rev your engine at me, young man, I've got an 8!"