Here's my situation: I have 3 dealers within a 30 mile radius, but there's only 1 car with the options/color I want. That car has a manufacture date of June and 160 miles. I don't necessarily NEED the car right now - I can wait for another shipment. It'd sure be fun though :D So, my concerns are:

1. What slipstreamed improvements am I going to miss out on? Better mileage with the newer VINs seems to be speculative at best, but I'm wondering what other "little things" there are. Improvement in center console heat? Is the cycling AC improved/different in newer VINs? Will I have the oil pan problem?

2. Should I be worried about the 160 miles? According to the salesguy, the car was a dealer transfer, so some of those miles were driving dealer to dealer, but I figure that 80-120 miles are test drive miles based on the locations of other dealers. My first inclination is to be OK with the miles, but only if I feel like I get a better than average deal on the car. (Not sure if the salesguy necessarily sees it that way).

3. The dealer with this car isn't the closest one to my home, so I'd probably be taking it to the closer dealer for oil changes, warranty service, etc. Is this (having service done at other than the selling dealer) frowned on? Will the closer dealer treat me like a second class citizen or is my money still as good as the next guy's?

4. Anything else I'm not considering?

Thanks in advance for any opinions/insight.

 

unless youre getting a spectacular deal, i'd wait...who knows what was done to that car during those 160 miles of test driving

 

With all the things that transpire out there, I think it is BETTER to wait. Reasons being that with all the (small) problems they are having, not cool enough AC, some engine problems, and whatnot that you can read around this forum, Mazda should be pulling their hairs trying to fix up little details as much as possible without telling us. It's their pride, the RX8, they always want to show confidence with their car, but behind the scene they would do anything to avoid anyone saying negative things about it.

Well, they test drive with the salesman beside, although some might stall the car a couple times, but no one has taken it to 9000rpm or do a couple donuts. I just dont see that happen with test drives, unless the salesman is doing it.

3rd, I bought my car at 33.1k. Standard MSRP with no markup. I got GT package with Nav system. I was happy. But after 2-3 months later, with the same price, I know some people got also the GT package, nav system, AND those appearance package (spoiler, aireoflares, etc...) and ... just more of little things that usually costs 1-2k more if I get it now.

I recommend you wait. I would, if I was not desperate for a car (as I really needed to something to commute).

 

Er..
When I went for 2 test drives (different dealers).
The first one, the salesman told us to redline it. Happy to comply...but the car only had 30 miles.

Next test drive, the guy threw us the keys and just said "dont go crazy". You can bet your *** we redlined that car, came back and almost bought it. But then switched it from black to a titanium grey one.

So I know of at least 3 RX8s that were redlined with less than 50 miles on the odo of each. And you can bet your *** there are plenty more.

 

yep including the one with 160 miles on it that you're interested in.

 

The good and bad of this particular dealer is that on 2 occasions, without me even asking, they handed me the keys and let me test drive. The salesman didn't even suggest coming with me.

Is pushing the engine to redline early on harder on a rotary engine than any other? What problems might it cause?

 

the only one im interested in is this one:
http://gallery.thevboard.com/users/L...e/DSC00150.jpg
And its in my friends driveway with much more than 160mi.
But it only came with 12 miles...right of the truck..

 

oops i got your post confused with dirkp. my bad.

 

I tested with the salesman as passenger, and I did hit the redline twice (ar at least the 8500 chime). The 9000rpm redline is a major selling point and I wanted to see it in action. Salesman didn't comment on it other than saying something to the effect of "revs great, huh?"

 

Personally, I'd wait for one fresh off the transport. If for no other reason - better piece of mind, because you would know how it was broken in.

Now if you plan on selling it before the warranty period, that is another consideration.

 

Yeah, don't get that one. Get one ordered and make yourself perfectly clear when you tell that salesman that NO ONE is to drive it off the lot BUT YOU! NO ONE should be able to COME CLOSE TO IT but mazda employees that are assigned to work on it, ESPECIALLY THE GENERAL PUBLIC! And you want to be called within the hour that it arrives, so you can arrange for pickup right after they go thru the motions of prep and final inspection.

I did that and my salesman completely understood. He didn't even take it for the gas fill-up until I got there and the three of us (my wife too) went, with me driving. He insisted, after I made that point perfectly clear to him and said he is the same way with his cars.

Do that and you won't regret the wait.

 

i agree with racer 8

 

Interesting. Which state are you from? I bought my car from John Hine Mazda in San Diego, CA. Well, at least, I do know that my car has not been test driven, or .... extensively test driven. I paid deposit for a blue one, it came in a week, and I came in the store the night after it came in. I didn't memorize the miles driven on the car at the time, however. They already have a red RX8 for people to test drive, so I doubt they touched my car.

One bad part is that I had to drive 40 miles freeway home from the dealer. The salesman told me to vary the rpm on the first 500 miles. Somehow, I didn't do it too well. Not used to the RX engine. Anyone think this would be bad on the engine in the long run?