New Car Checklist
 

Well it looks like my MX-6's days are numbered and I'll be getting a new RX-8 sooner than expected. I've been reading the posts about the various issues and thought it would be a good idea to consolidate all the info into a single list to go over with the dealer/service manager before taking delivery of a new RX-8. A few to start out with would be the oil pan issue (is that a recall or not?), ECU updates (REV L), Recalls and TSB's, as well as things like hotter plugs, stronger battery etc. If people could start contributing specifics I'll keep editing this first post into an organized list.

I'd suggest you do a search for answers on all of those issues.

Here's a link to TSBs on the Rosenthal Mazda site so you can see first hand the bulletins and recalls issued on the RX8.

-Eric

I guess those two links cover most of the issues. Has anyone purchasing recently had any trouble getting the dealer to take care of all these items?

My dealer refused to change the oil pan unless they had a test light come on during a test drive by them. I told him there is no way a mechanic is going to drive my car 70 mph for a hour to make the light come on. If that light ever comes on I will call and have the car towed to the dealer. I don't care if it is 2000 miles away and foot the bill to them. I really don't under stand these dealers they don't want the service? When I brought my car in for the oil and recalls he said it was slow pick a date. Mazda must really be beating them up about the TSB's. He put down in my service sheet that i complained about the light. It better not go off again.

Sorry Master Fuol I just saw my post and the cookie monster got me. The post was under your name.This form does have this problem. I had to log off and relog in.

A couple thngs here.

First of all, TSBs are not recalls, so the official manufacturer position on them is "if the customer complains about this, here's how you fix it." This means not all TSBs are automatically performed on every car.

However, the dealer should perform the TSB if you complain, though admittedly many dealers are of the "we have to experience the problem to do the work" variety.

One reason for this? Dealers are not compensated well for warranty work. The manufacturer tells the dealer what they will be paid for doing the work, not vice-versa. Thus if your dealer's labor rate is $90/hour but Mazda only compensates them at the rate of $70/hour, that dealer is going to be very reluctant to perform any more warranty repairs than they have to.

Is this incredibly short-sighted on the part of the dealer and a detriment to good customer service? Heck yeah, but since when has that stopped a car dealer from doing the wrong thing from a consumer's point of view?

That's why I never take my car to a dealer for none warranty work. They lose $200 on warranty work and $2000 on non-warranty work. If they make $10.00 on a repair it's better then nothing. All I can say is when the light comes on the s*it hits the fan. Me and the service manager will have the you fix it or else talk. I Had that talk with a Zone manger for GM in 1979 when I walked in His office and finally threw the keys at him. I will never buy another GM product even if it was the best product in the world (no chance that will happen).

Just buy the car and enjoy it!

The "problems" discussed ad naseum on this board are greatly overhyped, and nothing that the warranty won't take care of. And you're not really seeing a representative sample of what the real numbers are on this board - 99% of us have never experienced flooding, or had a problem with the oil pan, or a CEL, or... whatever. You get the idea. If you try to go in with a "100 item check list" you'll just scare yourself out of buying the car. Not to mention pissing your dealership off. It's just not worth it - this is an AWESOME car.

Not dissin ya man, this is a good idea. But no one will sum everything up for you in just one thread - if you really want this, you'll have to search it out yourself.

Just my 2 cents, hope it helps.