Rambling Man

On November 21st I put in an order for a grand touring titanium 6 speed w/ accents, 6-disk changer, and black/chaparral interior. Paid $500 over invoice, so pretty pleased there. Problem is that the 6-week delivery date has morphed to “no later than end of March”. Got the standard salesman 101 line, “The color and interior you want is the hardest combo to come by.” But by the fact that they fired the fleet manager who I originally dealt with, it wouldn’t surprise me if they screwed up the order.

Told the new guy that after April 15th I’ll want my $500 deposit back as I will be awaiting the ‘05’s. Perhaps it’s time to beat ‘em out something....

Rotary Taz

You might want to give it until the March date to get upset if it doesn't arrive by then.

We ordered ours on October 24, Titanium/Chaparral, 6 spd, appearance, GT, etc, much the same as yours. Our build date was on December 15 and as of yesterday, the computer showed that it was on the boat, ETA to the dealer, the third week in February. So, all together, four months. About the same for your car would mean sometime around the third week in March, as you were told. Too, realize that several accessories are installed at the port and that takes time, as well as the boat ride - not everything goes on at the factory.

Enjoy it when it arrives, I know we will. And by the way, GREAT choice in the color selection. We think that it the most elegant combination.

Ernest

Rambling Man

Hey Taz, perhaps we were separated at birth.

stickman

I latched onto an order the dealer had made on 11/21/03 for a Titanium with Chapperal, 6 disc, appearance package, Grand Touring package, spare tire kit and spoiler. We had the vin for the car so I assume it had been built by then. Computer just showed it is on the boat, eta first week in February. Looks like a few of us are going to have a nice spring.

Rotary Taz

Another addition to the ranks of the BEST combination!! Way to go Stickman.

Who knows, perhaps we were Rambling Man.

Takashi 7

I think that the time frames your dealer told you are correct. Mine took about 3 months to come in. But the dealer initialy told me about 6 to 8 weeks.

JaySpec7

Just curious, are the RX-8's limited in your areas? I went browsing and test driving and have seen soooo many at different dealers around my area... They seem to have a variety of configurations... I gave them my specs and found 6 to choose from and to see all the other configurations... so many options... couldn't you get one from another dealer?

stickman

I'm originally from NY. When I visited my father this past Christmas i stopped at a couple of Mazda dealers and they definitely had much more inventory than Southeastern NC. I was kind of surprised that we couldn't find one from another dealer; but neither the dealer nor I could find one anywhere near here.

Takashi 7

To Jayspec7

Im not sure if your asking me or the orininal poster but at the time I checked with dealers as far as 100 miles and no one had the exact color and options that I wanted. Possibly because I did'nt want the rear spoiler with the options I chose. Even when I went to the dealer, he ran a search and had to order it.
I'm happy though. The car is Fantastic!

JaySpec7

Yeah... I've been chatting with some people and have heard that there are RX-8's everywhere in the Carolinas... even the dealerships had a couple of 8's always going out on test drives...

I guess lucky for us... I see an 8 maybe once every 2 - 3 weeks... One reason for me to get one... I'm still deciding myself, but the test drives where definitally fun!!

JaySpec7

Takashi 7

actually it was in regards to the original poster... the 8 is definitally fantastic.. it's just hard when you have a modded RX-7... the 8 has everything I want... it's just the missing turbos and HP for me... I'm just worried I'd regret it... I feel the regret already as the sale of my FD comes closer and closer...

but it's for my twin boys who are 9 months... so selling the FD is a done deal.. and not having the rotary sound will kill me... hence my research on the 8...


Jay

Takashi 7

I'm behind you on that Jay.

Family has to come first.

I'm still single with no kids. if I get married in a couple of years and have some kids I think the 8 will still be fine for a few years since it does have 4 seats.
I will most likely just get a second family vehicle then.

Sounds like your RX-7 is great and you really enjoy it.

Rambling Man

There are like a gazillion red ones here in California, and I could have had a black one at under invoice as an advertised lose leader. According to the dealer, the particular mix I want (see orginal post) is hard to come by, and the only one in the West is in Idaho....although a road trip is tempting, I'll just let it come to me in the next couple of weeks.

Besides, like a child, when you know it's coming you have a chance to get the nursery (garage) ready, order Zaino and microfibers.

boothguy

Uh.... hate to be the bearer of bad news RM, but a five minute search revealed that there are at least three cars within what I'd call a reasonable distance from you - assuming of course that you want the manual transmission and the rear wing, which you did not make clear in your post. Irvine Mazda has TWO in fact, and they're 30-some miles from you.

The deal you struck is right for this area and time of year, but it may mean that your local dealer is now unwilling to dealer-trade for that thin a profit margin. If it was me, I'd do this:

Start by going to Mazda USA's web site and use their highly useful Build & Buy/ Search Dealer Inventory tools to come up with the dealer and VIN information for the car(s) that meet your requirements.

Call the respective dealers to see if that particular VIN is actually on their lot (as opposed to siimply assigned to them but in transit somewhere between the factory and just up the road on a transporter).

Say the magic words every salesman loves to hear: "I'm a buyer today for this VIN at this price". You will already know this exact figure because you're a smart guy and you already looked it up on Edmunds.com. BTW, I do NOT recommend that you visit the dealership for this step. If you're on their turf, you're at least partially under their power.

Once you have your deal, go tell your local dealer the bad news and get your deposit refunded.

Then, drive over to the dealer who has the car you want, finalize the deal and drive home in your new TiGray GT with appearance, 6-CD and black/chaparral interior, grinning like a bandit the whole way.

The only real reason for enduring the order-and-wait scenario at this point in time is if you want some REALLY unusual combination of options: GT, auto with nav and appearance group minus the wing, say.

Have fun. It ain't that hard and moves your ownership experience up the calendar to, like, NOW.

Rambling Man

WTF. I'm down in Irvine all the time (although I don't want the rear spoiler). I'll take your suggestion and then if one is around I'll point out to my guy that he didn't do his homework. Grrrrrr

Rambling Man

Thanks boothguy for doing a little research on my behalf (seems typical of this helpful and friendly board). Gawd, I can't believe that Mr. internet savy here missed the check inventory function on the Mazdausa site. In defense of Wes, the Cerritos sales manager, none of the available ones exactly match my specs. But, had I known about "check inventory", perhaps I would have aftermarketed a 6-disk CD player (I hate the clutter that goes with not having) just to get it earlier. In the meanwhile, I'll keep checking what is out there, and if I go into Rx withdrawls, I'll bolt and buy. Besides, I need more time to think of a cool personalized plate.

boothguy

Well, shame on Wes for not asking you if you would consider anything else close to your ideal option package. You coulda been having fun in your car for the last eight weeks.

The way my deal worked out, the option combo I wanted wasn't on anyone's lot, although I could have taken ones with more than I really wanted. So I took a car with slightly less than I wanted (6GT mit Nav) and added the other stuff I wanted myself, including the 6CD, front airdam, rotary accents and whole bunch of other stuff my wife only knows about in general terms. The good news is, the money I saved on the deal has paid for the accessories I wanted, including Canzoomer's f/a/i module.

Fair warning: the factory 6CD is a licensed, practicing bi*ch to install. Have fun...

willhave8

boothguy - Maybe we were separated at birth. I just signed an "S" plan deal yesterday for a Titanium- Chapparel, 6MT, GT, Nav on the basis that 1) can have it by this saturday... and can add all the other goodies on my time. Particularly with all the great 'how to' stuff on this site.

Sooooooooooo if the 6CD is b$!#ch to install, did you take any pictures, notes etc. that you can share???

Buttttt the first option on my car will be wheels and winter tires which I am working on today.

Craig

boothguy

Craig:

A search on this site will yield you a lot of good info on the install, which together with the instrux that come with the hardware, should clarify things.

The three items I'd want you to know, which are sort of "hidden", are that
1. the retaining bolt for the audio unit only comes into view if you remove a metal bracket below the steering column that Mazda does not call out in the instructions.
2. fold a towel and lay it over the console in the general vicinity of the ashtray once you're ready to pull the audio unit, in order to avoid chewing up the console sides. You're going to be wrestling with the audio unit for a while.
3. the hardest part of the job is getting the electrical connectors loose. A flat-blade screwdriver to push on the locking tabs of the worst two finally did it for me.

Mazda publishes pretty good instructions that come packaged with every accessory they sell. Not perfect, but way better than a box with the part in it and you get to figure out how to graft it onto your car.

The key is to be patient, have a decent place to work and some tools, and to do it right the first time. This site has plenty of info from other folks that have done all these parts months ago.

willhave8

Thanks. This forum is awesome for the sharing of knowledge and experience. It has been a great help in my buying decision. I appreciate your suggestions and know that if I run into issues, I can always ask...

But back to the winter tires. As many of you know, the inventory is getting very low and even Tirerack is getting low. They have packages but I am unsure of the wheels they have.

Craig - off to search the site for more thoughts on 17 inch wheels.

Rambling Man

Wes, my Rx-8 associate called last night in the middle of my monthly poker game to inform me that it's "on the boat" and will be in my hot little hands maybe end of month; more likely very beginning of next. All is forgiven. And, "no", Wes said, "I do not have to kiss him on the lips."

Rambling Man

Got it. Could someone just hold me?