Has ANYONE received their 8 WITH the APPEARANCE PKG?
 

Has ANYONE received their 8 WITH the APPEARANCE PKG?

Please only Reply if "YES"

Post:
Date You Picked it up
Port of Entry
Dealer City, ST
Vin last 4 digits
Color and any other Port Options ordered

Re: Has ANYONE received their 8 WITH the APPEARANCE PKG?
 

Yup. Mine has the appearance package.
Date: 7/16/03
Port: Port Hueneme
Dealer: Cush Mazda, Escondido, CA
VIN: 1965
Color and options: Titanium. Also had cassette player (didn't ask for it nor do I want it), CD changer, spoiler and, uhhh, that's it.

Edit: Oh yeah, and the cargo net and rotary appearance. Thanks for reminding me Don....

The dealer still updates me on the car I ordered, as I have not requested the deposit back yet, and I am going to check it out when it gets here. They seem to think the port options (cargo net and rotary appearance package) held it up because another RX-8 that came in on the same boat has been received and delivered to the customer.

Yes my automatic rx-8 came into my dealership today.
7/17/03
New jersey port
Dealer: Wantagh Mazda, NY (if anyone wants it please let me know)
VIN:1095

rotary accent package, spoiler, appearence package.
My dealership told me that the rx-8 was the only one on the truck this morning. So i guess thats how they are solving the appearence package clearence. I will post pictures later in the day.

Come on Don. You know you aren't going to ask for the deposit back. You're going to see the car and it will be yours at first sight. :D

<sigh> You may be on to something here, Feak. How did you know?

I got a bit excited when I read about people here getting their cars and saying great things. So, I called the dealership to see if they had an RX-8 I could look at. They had a 6-speed blue one without any packages on it that was going out that evening, so I stopped out at lunchtime to check it out.

As soon as I saw it I was smitten. Sitting in it was even better! I really love it, especially the seats and interior, and the way it looks when you are next to it. I hope it drives as well, and by all reports, it does. I wouldn't trade in my Miata because I love it so, and I need the G35 for work, but the RX-8 can fit in the budget pretty easily even if I keep them both.

I know now one reason that probably made me bail on the Mini Cooper S- quality control. After having a horrendous BMW, I could not get the image of my Mini on a flatbed out of my head. When I think of Mazda, I think of my Miata and my first gen RX-7, both of which never put a wheel wrong. I feel better about paying $150 per month more for an RX-8. I just can't stand troublesome cars. I have also been on the waiting list (#1) at the dealership since the 1999 Tokyo Auto Show. I had dreamed of getting the car since then...

<begin rambling>
Another reason I bailed on the Mini, and may bail on the RX-8, is the economy and my job. I have a sales job with a great salary, but I am on quota and am under that quota right now, so you could say I am not safe. I am not used to this. (Being under quota.) But in terms of how I place corporately, I am mid-pack and less than 20% of the salespeople nationwide are at or over their quota right now as business in our marketplace is slow. And at a year in a business with very long sales cycles, I am still considered pretty new. My boss, a super guy, does not act like my job is in jeopardy- and my best friend in the place, an eleven year veteran, says I am fine and to get the car because I could die tomorrow. (Her mom died this week- drove the point home. :( ) And if things don't work out here, I get a job somewhere else! But I love the company and want to stay. As long as they see the effort I should be OK, and I am thinking about getting the RX-8 with the idea I will work even harder and bust my butt to the max if I get it! Things are bound to pick up eventually.

I guess with a Miata and a G35, and a funny economy, another car is not a "wise" move. But I don't have a wife, GF, or kids- plus I work hard at my job, and as a wedding photographer and a newspaper columnist on the side. I think having the RX-8 would make me really happy, and right now I need a pick-me-up!

<rambling concluded>

Great incentive! It'll be worth it.


Same here. So far, today has been the best day this year.

Re: Has ANYONE received their 8 WITH the APPEARANCE PKG?
 

Not many have, I do think the truck clearance may be an issue but to what degree?

There didn't appear to be any special consideration for unloading my car. It was on the top rack right in the middle. They unloaded it just like they unloaded the rest of the cars....

What I don't understand is why the hold up on our 8's with the Appearance Pkg. Poor planning Mazda!

It can't have LESS ground clearance than a Corvette. Chevy doesn’t seem to have any trouble getting the Corvettes to their dealers.

Mazda, if you are listening - use the same trucks that Chevy does with the Corvette. It is not rocket science.
Option - Let us pick them up from the Port.
Option - Don't install the Apperarance Pkg at the port, have the dealer install it.
Option - Advise us of the delay and give the option to cancel the option.

Why should those of us that bought even more product from Mazda be penalized. Deliver the Damn Cars!

Yeah, MR, I picked up my 8 from Barb today (she had to come in on her day off) I told her I heard the reason for the port delay was the appearance package not compatible with the truck. She said "nonsense, we just delivered one yesterday!" That was yours, so thanks for making me look dumb. ;) Still, you are one of the few so somehow you got lucky. See ya at the meet!

Maybe it's a problem with the trucks in FL???

I called my dealer and MNAO today on the delivery delay and my suspicion that there are loading issues with some carriers....

Both had the same reply.....insert nervous laugh..."that's the first time I've heard that one" they went on to say that they "have no control over which cars are released and when."

I found it interesting that neither the dealer or MNAO had an explination for my car showing "released from port" on 7/11, and now showing back "at port" today....

ordered:1/10
ti touring with appearance pkg and rear wing

whats up???

Mine was supposed be ready to be picked up today. The sales manager told me this afternoon that they have problems with the templates for the Appearance Package and the car is still at the port in JAX.

I don't want to wait past the end of the month. I ordered the appearance package- is it possible to tell them to cancel the package and put my car on the truck? (It is at port now.)

Yes. 7/18/03

"It can't have LESS ground clearance than a Corvette. Chevy doesn’t seem to have any trouble getting the Corvettes to their dealers.

Mazda, if you are listening - use the same trucks that Chevy does with the Corvette. It is not rocket science."

You've got THAT right! I ordered my 2001 Corvette from a Chevy dealership in Alabama (they had just received the car from the factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky) and the salesman took digital photos of the car being loaded onto a car carrier headed for California. There were no problems whatsoever.

I often look at my MX6 GT and think, "Dang, that car sits way too high."

I've seen pictures of the Mazdaspeed RX8 and think their body kit is great!

Ok, here's a question for everyone- my car isn't at port- somewhere on the water. We've suddenly decided we want the appearance package. Think if I call the dealer and ask nicely, there's a chance he can still have it put on at port?

Elara,
It can be done. The sooner you have them change it, the less hassle it will be. In rare circumstances the dealer can call the port AFTER the car has arrived to have options installed before shipment. But that takes a lot more effort and phones calls on their part. If the car is still floating, should just have to update the order on the computer.

If you put any stock in the theory that the appearance package is causing this delay in delivery of cars you might screw yourself on this. Can the appearance package be added by the dealer later? If so, and you really want to be cautious, you might think about taking delivery of the car then asking the dealer to add the package.

Elara,

TJRX8 received his silver, equipped with the appearance package about 3 days ago. LINK HERE.

His delivery didn't seem to be affected by this trucking "delay".

I believe it you called your dealer TODAY and have him add the Port options you want, there should be no problem. My dealer made the change to my order about 3 days after it sailed, (currently on the water), and my order got updated. Took about 1 week for the status to change, but it got done. My dealer assured me, the either the order status would get updated by computer, or if that didn't happen he would personally call the port to make sure that the order was correct. Your dealer should be able to do the same thing for you.

The worst case is that IF it is too late, then you can always have your dealer add it later.

Good luck!

What I have heard is that the AP cars can only ride on the back spots. Dunno, may be fictional..

OK, just called and left the sales guy a message (he's not in today) and told him we would like to add the appearance package and the spoiler (what the heck, the appearance package will look odd if it doesn't have the spoiler, and even though I'm not fond of spoilers, my husband LOVES the way it looks).

The reason I changed my mind about it was because I saw TJRX8's pictures and thought the car looked amazing with the appearance package. Last time I checked with Budaman (last Thursday) the car was still on water, so I'm hoping it'll be ok. And RX-8 Zoomster is right- I can always have the dealer install it after it gets here, if nothing else.

And, if it makes it a bit late, that's actually ok. I found out last week that I have to have knee surgery, and it's scheduled a week from Tuesday- I won't be able to drive anything (even and auto) for at least three weeks after, so it doesn't matter so much to me if it gets here a little later than planned. Though, I won't argue if it comes earlier and I have to get my husband to drive it off the lot.

Thanks guys- I appreciate the advice!

:D :D Glad you guys like the looks of my car! :D :D Mazda should give me a kickback on all the extra App. Pkg. they are selling now.

Notice in the pics mine was on the back of the truck. I wasn't there to ask the trucker if it was necessary.

Elara, good luck adding the A.P.!!!

I just checked- I have the Rotary Accent package, not the appearance package. <phew!> Any problems with the accent package?

No it won't be a problem. Not unless they crack your f & R bumpers installing it. :p

It's not that it overhangs the front like the air dam. It's only front and rear accent trim.