Ideas for Packages
 

Just my thoughts based on other car companies:

BASE ($26,000 or so we have been told):
High Intensity Discharge lights (YES!)
Power front windows/mirrors
Manual pop-out rear windows
Remote locking
Tilt/Telescope steering wheel (at least tilt)
Cloth seating and door panels (single colour)
Single CD player
6-speed manual
18" wheels/tyres
ABS

PREMIUM PACKAGE (probably add around $3000):
Leather seating and door panels (two-tone hopefully)
Power Seats with memory (adds weight)
Power rear pop-out windows
Cruise control
Multi-disc in-dash CD player
Better/more stereo speakers
Sunroof (adds more weight)
Heated seats?

SPORT PACKAGE (probably $1000 or more):
LSD
Traction Control - defeatable (maybe should be on BASE)
Dynamic Stability Control - defeatable
Different wheel design (still 18")?

NAVIGATION PACKAGE ($1500-$2000):
DVD-based Navigation with pop-up screen

AUTO PACKAGE (maybe $800 on top of BASE):
5 speed auto with tiptronic (paddles or wheel-buttons or stick)
16" wheels/tyres


This lets you buy a BASE+SPORT for perhaps $27k for maximum performance and minimal weight.

Or a BASE+PREMIUM+SPORT+NAV for $32k-$33k for those that want a loaded but speedy 6-speed vehicle (i.e. someone like me).


What do you think? I have never owned a Mazda so perhaps this is not how they would do it...

That seems reasonable, and in-line with how Mazda sets up their option packages. I posted a comparison between how the RX-8 packages could be and the Miata packages are, on this thread (see third post down): http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...2&pagenumber=2

Sounds good but I doubt if there will be two 18" wheel styles maybe just a chrome set if you want them, and you forgot to put fully adjustable tein coilovers with thicker antiroll bars and strut tower braces on the sport package list.:p

LSD should be standard on all packages.

Give me a Base model + sunroof and I'm happy! :cool:

uh, wouldn't the base have the dinkier spec engine??
i know the auto would, but doesn't the base manual have it too??

There is no evidence, only speculation, that the base model could come with a 190 HP engine. I think enough people have been saying that, that it has been adopted as "fact", but there is no concrete evidence, surprisingly enough.

whats this "Dynamic Stability Control - defeatable "

Is this new?

Its kind of like a mother-in-law if you get out of line it will straighten you out but it is defeatable because you can just flip a switch and turn it off but I don't suggest this on your mother-in-laws pushing her buttons is NOT a good thing!!

Kidding aside it is a yaw sensing system that can apply brake to any corner of the vehicle to help stabilize in a slippery or out of control situation.

Those would be my ideal packages as well, but I'd like to have the 6 cd changer standard, as it is in most japanese cars in this price range. Going with a single disc would be a strange german thing to do.

Personally, the sport and nav packages here would be absolutely perfect for me. Just enough with no excess--I would have no qualms about purchasing that configuration. :D

Good start, but the ending has an optioned out RX-8 at over $32,000.00. This is far above Mazda's target for the optioned out car, which is supposed to be less than $30,000.00.

Please don't tell me I'm wrong.

No, it's nothing more than an assumption by some people that some type of traction control will be available on the RX8.

---jps

Sorry but I think you are wrong. The most credible rumours suggest $31k loaded, but for many companies the Nav system seems to be above and beyond the 'loaded' price which is why I said $32k-$33k for loaded including NAV.


I agree that a Japanese company would make an in-dash 6-CD changer part of base spec (unlike German companies). I disagree that an expensive item like LSD (Torsen in this case?) would need to be basic equipment on a relatively cheap car (even a sports car) for the majority of drivers.

DSC and TC
 

DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) or VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) or VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) etc is a great anti-skid safety feature for people who might push the car beyond their ability (e.g. me) or beyond what the road conditions dictate (e.g. on snow). Typically it measures your steering wheel angle and compares against rotational behaviour of the car to detect an unwanted spin and then applies the brake to individual corners to stop the spin. There should be a button to switch it off to stop it over-riding your car-control techniques (if you know what you're doing) and for track use.

It is different from Traction Control which merely detects a drive wheel (left or right) that is spinning faster than the other (e.g. one wheel on grass, the other on tarmac) and decreases power to the wheels and eventually applies the brakes to control it. There MUST be a button to switch this off otherwise you can't have any fun throwing the back out.


There is no concrete evidence that DSC or even Traction Control will be on the car. However I suspect that at a minimum the latter option (TC) will be available on the vehicle as most of the powerful RWD cars seem to have this nowadays as a safety feature (many buyers may be used to FWD which doesn't 'misbehave' in this way).

UPDATED - More stuff in BASE model
 

News from Mazda VP at SevenStock (see other threads) suggest the LSD and BOSE stereo are both standard. I have updated the (potential) packages to reflect that:


BASE ($26,000 or so we have been told):
High Intensity Discharge lights (YES!)
Power front windows/mirrors
Manual pop-out rear windows
Remote locking
Tilt/Telescope steering wheel (at least tilt)
Cloth seating and door panels (single colour)
BOSE stereo with 6-CD in-dash
6-speed manual
Torsen LSD
18" wheels/tyres
ABS
Traction Control - defeatable

PREMIUM PACKAGE (probably add around $2500):
Leather seating and door panels (two-tone hopefully)
Power Seats with memory (adds weight)
Power rear pop-out windows
Cruise control
Sunroof (adds more weight)
Heated seats?

AUTO PACKAGE (maybe $800 on top of BASE):
5 speed auto with tiptronic (paddles or wheel-buttons or stick)
16" wheels/tyres

OTHER INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS:
NAV - DVD-based Navigation with pop-up screen ($1500-$2000)DSC - Dynamic Stability Control - defeatable ($400)



I got rid of the SPORT package as it seems to be basic equipment. I am shocked tha Mazda could build a car like this for $26k. The cost of the PREMIUM goes down a bit too as the BOSE is standard. I could live with a BASE+PREMIUM for $28.5k, or a fully loaded BASE+PREMIUM+NAV+DSC for $31k.

Again this is all just my ramblings - not real info.

I think you're earlier packages were more in-line with what Mazda offers (not that I mind seeing LSD as standard!) On the Miata you have to get the sport package to get LSD:
Base version : 15" alloy wheels, 5 speed manual, etc. Auto transmission IS available.
Sport package : 6-speed stick, 16" Alloy Wheels, 205/45R16 Tires, Sport Suspension including Bilstein Shocks, Strut Tower Bar, and LSD. Auto tranmission NOT available.
Leather package : Leather Interior, Nardi Leather Shift Knob, Tan Convertible Top, 6-speed manual, ABS, LSD (not available on AT models), BOSE audio sound system (includes AM/FM radio, CD, with 4 speakers and speed sensing auto volume control), foldable wind blocker with storage pocket, 16" Alloy Wheels, 205/45R16, Keyless Entry and Strut Tower Bar. Auto transmission IS available.

Ah, its all speculation now, but it sure is fun. :)

Yeah I just don't see LSD (or the BOSE stereo) in such a cheap base car....

...but that's what people are saying was told to them at SevenStock. If this is true how is Mazda making any money on the base car (even with some savings on the Renesis compared to a V6)?

Yes it is fun to speculate, but I'd prefer real info...

Exactly. I have no idea how Mazda is going to make any money on this car, speaking as an engineer. Some real info would be great!
Maybe Mazda doesn't plan on turning a profit with the '8 (although I doubt it). Until the RX-7 shows up, the RX-8 will be Mazda's image car, injecting some "zoom zoom" into the model range, and helping to build the companies image as a fun-to-drive car maker.

Makes me wonder if mazda makes any money on the MPS Protege, looking at just how much aftermarket equipment is on it for 20k. There is not a single option available for it.

You guys need to factor the savings of only having one part to put in one place. The more cars that roll down the line with the same options the cheaper it gets to produce. Since it appears that the stereo will be custom shaped exclusive to this car it is much easier to develop one higher end unit and slap it in every car than make a lower grade one (that when the magazines test a base car will definately comment on) that will really only be in 15-20% of cars because this is not a economy car, people will want the upgraded stereo.

A safe bet would be that they'll mimic the Z
 

I imagine the LSD will be standard on all models (like on the FD). Without one, it just take too much from such a nice chassis. Also like the FD, only the 255hp version will be offered in North America.

Personally, I think the base will have at least a single CD (frankly I don't care if it's Bose or not), HID, LSD, traction control, side and curtain airbags (although in Canada we get ripped off b/c they are not manditory by law - hence are ususally only offered in a loaded models). 16" rims will be very likely (as per some of the testing pics), which if they're anywhere near as nice and light as the FD's were, I'd be quite happy with that. 245/45/16 made for a perfect ratio of size/width and weight, although I'm sure the RX-8 will be spec'd with the usual 225s (again, like the FD).

Sport Package will include 18" rims, tower bars, stiffer tuning, beefier brakes?, skid control?, some kind of aero aids, quicker steering ratio?, and maybe even a tighter LSD.

Premium package will have leather power seats, 6 CD, HID (if not standard), 18" rims, auto temp control (if not stanadard), seat heaters, higher end stereo and maybe more speakers, and a sunroof.

If auto is offered, with will be available on the base or premium models only.

Sign me up for a red base please! :D

Sounds good, except for one thing...."Standard 18 x 8 wheels" according to Mazda VP.

Maybe we should make this thread "sticky" :
Sevenstock report

...so RotaryNews doesn't have to patrol the board correcting misinformation. :)
I believe what he says as he has some pretty good contacts.

Steve

Agreed - that's how Acura makes the TL/CL cheap yet loaded - all 'options' (except NAV) are standard, so tremendous economies of scale.

But for the RX-8 we are told that there are $5000 worth of options between base and loaded, so not everything can be on the base model.
Unless of course most 'options' are mandatory and the real price of the car is closer to $30k (unless you want to wait 3 months for a special order base model). This is what Lexus does...

It's in fact a very common strategy to have a cheap base price in a car with limited production so you can advertise how cheap it is. Nissan, for example, does that with the Sentra (the Sentra low-end XE model, as opposed to the ubiquitous GXE), the 350z (marketted as starting at something like $28k, but most of the models produced are higher-end ones costing significantly more), and the G35 Sedan (again marketted as from $27500 for the Luxury model, while almost all availability is in Luxury Leather models with extra options that run $31k or more.) And like you said, it's by no means just Nissan that's doing this.

-Patrick

If Mazda does effectively sell the RX-8 at $30k (i.e. loaded car) instead of at $26k it won't bother people like me who would always buy a loaded vehicle.

But it will annoy those that would prefer a lightweight basic vehicle (even if they can easily afford all the options), and it may put off those that have a limited budget. I hope Mazda doesn't make this mistake.

For example on the G35 forum I frequent there are many that think there is no way you can buy a base G35C for at least 6 months - everything is loaded while they are selling so well.