Smileynh

It's lunch time and I want to go for a drive. This waiting for my car back sux.

I got a Ford Focus rental..

What'd you get?

Only good thing is maybe I'll get my car back with new plugs, again.

CrowBoy66

I got a Dodge Stratus for 2 days...was glad to have my RX8 back. Didn't need an engine but did need front brakes which cost $330...no free gas or CX7 rental...but they did wash it

L8APEX

Mine was painless. Easier than all the warranty work I had done, didn't even get harassed about all my mods either. Which they usually did in the past. I got the full tank of gas, asked them not to wash it, and got a Mazda6 GT for the better part of 2 days. I was really glad to get the 8 back, but it could not have been a better way to make sure I don't need a new engine.

gribblet

Was treated very well by the dealership, no new engine (yeah!), a new loaded MPV van for the day, car wash and an almost empty tank filled. They also fixed the sunglass holder that wouldn't open.

1.3L

The recall for my '04 RX-8 went great. I made an appointment, dropped the car off at 7:45am and then my dealer gave me a ride to work. My car was done by 10:00am and I had it back in the parking lot by 11:00.

Work required: 2 new spark plugs, PCM flash, battery inspection, brake inspection, tire inspection. Car runs like a champ!

1.3L

RotarySpirit

I'm sorry you got a Focus. I'm not sure why you didn't get a CX-7. I just scheduled my recall appointment yesterday and the dealership actually explained to me what was going to happen: free tank of gas, wash car, vacuum car, do recall check, and I get to drive a CX-7 around. The representative actually told me, "This is what Mazda wants to happen. They want you to drive the CX-7 for a day so I can't schedule an appointment for you until next Monday when I have an available CX-7."

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

Good for you folks... I got a Taurus as the rental (shudder) and no gas. Certain dealerships are clearly handling the recall by the recommendation from Mazda, others skimp on those. I wonder if they actually bill Mazda for the gas when in reality they don't fill up the tank...

RotarySpirit

In all likelihood, they probably are cheating the customer for some gain on their part. I think it would be good for those with bad experiences to tell Mazda about the dealerships that aren't taking proper care of their customers. The representative I talked to from Munday Mazda here in Houston explicitly said, "This is what Mazda wants to happen.." and proceeded down the list of items that I mentioned in my previous post.

I suppose there is the chance that it is only a recommendation by Mazda and the dealers aren't obligated to provide any of the extra service but I find that less likely.

L8APEX

Mine did balk at the loaner at first, because I am out of warranty, but once I showed them the letter from Mazda, they gave me one of their loaners. id on't care that it was a 6 not a CX-7, I hate Suv's.

CosmosMpower

I'm borderline annoyed, I called and made an appt. They told me there was no one in line and to bring it in. I took it in 10 am yesterday, spent 1 hr to get a crappy Jeep grand cherokee gas guzzler SUV that drives like crap. They didn't finish it yesterday even though it's a 2 hour job and today I haven't heard from them yet. Probably not gonna get it back till tomorrow at best.

CosmosMpower

Probably so, 80 bucks a pop for every RX8 that comes in that they don't refill and wash. Mazda corporate is being generous and trying to make customers happy but some dealers are ruining it.

My dealer didn't even know about the free gas thing till I pointed out the interal PDF from Mazda North America to the dealers stating the fill up/wash. He said he'd comply after I showed him the letter.

danhilde

Dang, I better read my recall letter more closely next time. Didn't know about any free gas or rental. Is that what the recall letter said? Once I got my work done, I through that paperwork out.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

The recall letter didn't say you will get free gas. It was just something Mazda asked the dealers to do, along with the car wash and possibly giving the RX-8 owners a CX-7. It was not a requirement for the dealer.
Getting a rental/loaner should be normal when going in for a recall.

NoTears316

I got a CX-7...

CTrx8

iTrader: (2)

i know everyone is expecting a CX-7 and in an ideal world, we would all get one. only dealers that participate in the MCode program supply a CX-7. i still have to get mine done but am not holding my breath that there are any MCode dealers here in the CT area.

GULAMAN

Got my recall done this week at Tracy Mazda, same place I bought the car.
-no offer of a loaner. when I asked, they said 'our loaner is already out' and offered to send me to the rental place offsite. I said no thanks and just asked for a ride home, as long as they promised to have my car done that day.
-No free tank of gas (wish I knew to ask! I didn't)
-no interior vacuum or car wash offered (I would've accepted)

but the work took only one day, they repalced 2 spark plugs, did the vacuum test, & ECM flash. they also responded to my squeaky brakes complaint by replacing the front pads.
So all things considered, even tho I didn't get all the spiffs, my car is healthy and that's probably most important.

Cobalt_RX

I just dropped her off this morning and picked up my shiny 06'......TAURUS! lol I made a joke about it and they offered to let me pay additional money to up grade. I go pick her up in the morning so I'm hoping for some free gas since it take about an hour to get there. A car wash would be great, but I guess we'll see. I might call before I go so they can wash her up. I do have to say getting the CX-7 would have been ideal since my g/f is looking at buying a Murano and this might have pursuaded her to the Mazda lot. Oh well, their loss.

corners

I got a CX-7 too. My recall experience was great, because I had them replace my squeaky clutch pedal simultanously. It gave me a loaner car where I wasn't going to get one just for the clutch work. They had my car for two days, gassed and washed it, and buffed out a scuff mark too. (The scuff was there when I bought it though)

The CX-7 was nice but I hate the interior. The ergonomics are terrible and the step in the dash is ugly.

Smileynh

Almost killed myself several times driving home. It seems the 8 has slightly more power then a ford focus.

I did get the free tank of gas(I was delighted), wash(it'd rained the day before), no plugs(got them already at 6k) and the engine is fine. They also replaced my center dash and speaker because of an odd rattle.

It sure was nice to get my car back though.

Paul_in_DC

I haven't done the recall yet... but for rental stories, this is my contribution.

Cobalt_RX

I amazingly did get the free tank of gas and offer for a wash. I say offer b/c due to the hurricane like rainstorm, I didn't see the point.

acc3d

Those of you who got CX-7s are lucky! While my engine is being replaced I'm stuck with a Kia Optima rental. I've been driving it for over a week and it makes me want to cry. I hate having anyone see me getting in or out of it, the V6 engine is pitiful, and gas mileage is only slightly better than my 8. I just hope my 8 runs well after a such complicated repair procedure.

30,000 miles on my 8, and I experienced shuddering at idle, hard starts, and loss of power at high altitudes. Regardless I still can't wait to be driving it again. No car has ever made me so happy. The rotary sound alone is worth it.

typej

What's the recall on? I have 04 Rx-8 but I haven't gotten a recall notice. Instead I got a letter saying mazda extended powertrain warranty on 04,05 and some 06 RX-8s for 5 years and 60,000 miles (whichever come first)...

Should I ask and make an appointment for this recall work? I want to drive CX-7

northerner

In Canada we haven't received a recall letter yet. The only thing that scares me is the ECM flash, I don't want it. Is it mandatory to get the flash? My engine runs just the way that I want it to. It's great on gas, I get about 340 miles and sometimes more per tank, hardly burns any oil, starts very well, I don't want to change any of that. I refused the flash when we got the heat shield recall, can I do the same here or does the flash actually improves the engine performance etc.?