I am considering buying an RX-8, but there is not a local dealer. So, I would have to buy one from a town 60-90 miles away.

My questions are:
Should I be worried about not having local maintenance and repair?

Does all of the maintenance have to be done by a Mazda shop?

 

Repairs have to be done by an authorized Mazda service center. Normal maintenance like oil changes can be done by any one.

 

Maintenance should be a concern for you. I needed to return to the dealership the first night I brought the car home for a freak problem in November. I waited six days for one hour of mechanic's time in January due to holidays/week ends. There are five or six dealerships within 50 miles of my home, and as far as I can tell none of them offer any Saturday hours for rotary engine work. Give it careful thought... the Roadside Assistance program is pretty good and if you have the kind of schedule where you can be flexible, it may work out fine.

 

I'm lucky that the dealer is just a few miles away and right next to my place of employment. Having had the car since last August, I've had to return to the dealer twice for service.

 

My local Jiffy Lube had the right oil, but not the filter. I guess you could bring them one. It doesn't look too hard to DIY though.

I just take it to the dealer, there seems to always be something else they can look at while they are doing the oil change.

 

I'd say your bigger concern is that you live in Kansas, 60-90 miles from anything. Just kidding, dude! No flames...

 

The good thing is I have a conference in Kansas City or Wichita 4 times per year, so the scheduled maintenance could be done at a authorized repair shop. The unplanned stuff would be the only problem.

Greg

 

The only reasons to go to the dealer are oilchanges and schedule maintenance. just make sure the recalls and L-reflash is done before you take delivery.

If there's a closer dealer of another make and brand vehicel I would definately take that into consideration before buying the 8. 60 miles is a long drive.

Or move closer to a Mazda dealer.

 

Man - sounds like a pain in the ***, but since Mazda should give you a loner car, then it may be alright

 

I decided to buy an 8. I pick it up in the morning - they had to get it from another dealer. They had 20 of them, but I wanted a Titanium Grey, automatic, with the GT package and solid black leather seats.

The roadside assistance will pay to haul it to the closest Mazda dealer if something happens. For normal maintenance, I will just drop it off when I am in town - and they provide a loaner car while they are working on it. Hopefully it won't be that big of a problem.

I can't wait to pick it up tomorrow.

Greg

 

Great, where there is a will there is a way. Your gonna love your 8. They're made for fun.