What exactly is “Free scheduled maintenance for the balance of the factory warranty”.
 

This statement better mean everything described on Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 in the owners manual, depending on your category. This statement better be non specific because they are going to do everything as described on these pages in an attempt to satisfy some pretty skeptical and frustrated customers. It better not be non specific, so as to give every dealer a way out of performing all of the specific tasks for free, as it states.

What I mean is, there are 21 entries with an “I” in the column. The legend for “I” says, Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary. This includes front and rear ball joints, steering operation and linkage, disk brakes, brake lines, hoses, and connections, coolant system, Fuel lines, hoses, and connections, drive belt, driveshaft dust boots, and a couple of other things. Are all of the “action verbs” described under “I” in the scheduled maintenance section of the owner’s manual going to be performed for free? I would say yes according to their general statement, but the key is would Mazda say yes.

We need to know in writing what they are signing up to, and exactly what we can expect for this option of their settlement. If it is not everything listed on these schedules, or if some of the scheduled maintenance is at our cost, they need to tell us. Otherwise I am going to expect brakes to be replaced at whatever mileage they go bad if it is less than 48 months or 50, 000 miles, that’s what “replace if necessary” means. I don't think I have ever owned a car that didn't need a brake job before 50,000 miles.

I think we should all insist on it being exactly what their statement says. “FREE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY”. All actions as defined on pages 8-4 and 8-5 of the Owners Manual. With all of the action defined to be at the 48 month point, being performed or accomplished on, or before the 48 month Warranty deadline. I believe this will make their offer worth much more than the $1000.00 that some have been estimating. If the letter is actually what has been posted on this Forum, this will truly be what they owe us, if we choose this option. Comments?

When you see what parts and labor will be for the 15, 30, 45 and 60k services, you'll realize it's actually a super deal. The RX-8 is not the cheapest Mazda to maintain or repair. ;)