Here's what you get if you accept the free maintenance offer.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ocs/ad_47.html

 

Thanks for posting that. It was quite helpful.

Does anyone know if the maintenance program includes a loaner car from the dealer?

 

nice information thanks.

 

very good info
thanks

 

That is very interesting, because the I asked the dealer what mileage for the first oil change and Mazda recommend 3,000 miles for the RX8 and Mazda speed. I guess the free maintance is only Half maintance. I called to see when I would get my $500 and they said I bought my car on Thursday 8/28 instead the real date 8/26 the last day to buy. They gave me a new 800 number to call special for the RX8 800-662-6779. I had it on hold tuesday for 2 1/2 hours until I got sick of the message. I left my phone number no response.

 

That has 2 interesting points that I am not sure what to make of it.

1) It says that is is only for Mazda OWNERS. IT adds that Mazda Corporation Leases are not applicable.

Now, I am technically not leasing through Mazda but through another bank. But does this mean I am not eligible because I do not OWN the car, but leasing it? This is not what my dealer told me.

2) It looks as if the free services are oil changes ONLY. What about REAL maintenance services, like tune-ups, air filters, etc.? Oil changes ONLY on their schedule means they would be saving me a whopping $200 over the course of 4 years. I hope this isn't the case.

 

1) No idea. Call the 800 number and ask.

2) You didn't read the maintenance schedule very thoroughly. Air filter & spark plugs are covered at 30 months/37,500 miles on Schedule A and 28 months/35,000 miles on Schedule B. There's also two brake & transmission fluid replacements and at least one coolant flush/replace in there.

 

Not to be a smartass, but it's exactly what the manual says for each service. You know. That little book with a cartoony blue rx-8 on the cover that came with the car and is full of all sorts of neat info?

 

If I had my car yet, I'm sure that I would find lots of great info in the little cartoony book of which you speak, but as things stand now, the only way that I can see getting the little cartoony book without the delivery of my car, would be to fly to Northern Cuba, smash in the window of your car, and read yours. Therefore, I am very happy to have this info published on this lovely forum becasue flying to Cuba is a pain in the ***.

 

Or you can head on over to Mazda's website and download the Owner's manual. :p

 

That's harder than flying to Cuba :D

 

Now here is the main question...

Is ANYONE going to follow schedule 1?

I vote for schedule 2 and more frequent maintenance

 

I will probably take Mazda up on the 30K and 60K maintenance. All oil changes will be done by yours truly. To me, it's not worth the risk to leave it at a dealership for a day just for an oil change.

 

I know most people schedule oil changes by mileage (e.g. every 5000 miles under Schedule 2), but is anyone planning to do oil changes based on the number of months (I'm assuming age of the car?).

I have a very short commute and don't expect to put on more than 6-7000 miles per year. Can I opt for a free oil change every 4 months rather than every 5000 miles? And once you pick either months or mileage, are you locked in for that in determining your next oil changes?

Otherwise, if I just go by mileage, I'll be getting far fewer oil changes and may not even hit some of the other free services.

Thanks,
Gary

 

I don't think you will take them up on the 60K maintenance. That is outside the timeframe unless you happen to only go about 8000 miles/ year. In which case, the 48 mo service will work out for you.

 

I would just go with Schedule 2 using the month method. Unless you drive an insane amount of mileage. That way you get good routine maintance, and you'll get everything that's on the list. The dealer doesn't care, they get paid either way, and they would rather you bring it in more often, because that's more money for them.

 

I managed to get a free oil change at 3000, by calling mazda and requiring why since august I have nothing regarding free maint or the 500 dd.