Not to gripe. But I was wondering why rx8 06 did not include mp3 support for the 6 disk changer? Every car in the last 5 years had mp3 support standard (almost all), even on the cheap'o cars like the focus and the scion. Out of all the things, gas milage, oil usages.... this bugs me the most as a heavy mp3 user. I guess I will need to upgrade the stero too to a $11,000 scion xB's 6disk mp3 sterio.

 

I'd settle for a line jack to plug in my ipod. Hell, my 2003 element has a jack right on the dashboard.

 

http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/5658.html

 

My 2000 focus had mp3 support, and it was $5500 (used).

 

There are multiple solutions for connecting iPod directly, or add aux-input jack, etc. Check the electronics section of RX8Club. I have the Dension unit installed on my 2004 RX-8 and works well with iPod, including steering-wheel controls. Got from www.mp3yourcar.com. Heckuva lot more convenient than burning disks.

 

The stock single CD player does not play MP3. However, before you do the $11,000 upgrade you may want to consider the stock Mazda MP3 player upgrade, which replaces the stock CD player, and I believe it plays both MP3 CDs and audio CDs.

Unfortunately the Mazda stock 6 CD changer upgrade only supports audio CDs.

 

I have a single cd player and it plays my mp3 cd's. Weird.

 

Where all the automakers are missing the boat is to make the CD players multi-format. MP3 on a CD is about 12 hours of music. All the mechanical stuff is the same, basicly a different ASIC and firmware would do it. Maybe $5 per unit.

 

It's obvious that Mazda didn't think through alot of things when they made this car.

 

Just keep in mind that the Mazda MP3 unit is a single disc player (although, depending on quality, you could easily burn 6 CD worth of music on the single disc).

 

my friend just bought a fully loaded mazda cx-7. it has a 6 disk player (located behind the touch screen navi) AND his 6-disk player plays mp3 files. So he one up's all of us since we're only able to get get either or.

 

The CD players for this car come in three versions. You can either have a stock single disc player, 6 disc changer (which cannot read MP3s), or a MP3 disc player (which can only load 1 CD).

I agree that the 6 disc changer should be an MP3 player, but they obviously didn't think about that back when they manufactured them a couple years ago. Having a 6 disc player that could play MP3s...that would be like having constant access to over 1050 MP3s. I agree that it would have been pretty nice.

But I have an aftermarket DVD player in my car now anyway. I still haven't created a DVD filled with MP3s yet, but I think I'd be able to stick every song I own on 1 friggin DVD and never have to worry about changing CDs ever again until I want to watch a DVD.

 

Wasn't Mazda the first to offer an MP3 audio system? They even named the model the Protege MP3 or something like that. Several years before the RX8. Since MP3 was offered as an upgraded CD player it's pretty obvious that Mazda was going for a price point and left a lot of things basic. Like the non-auto climate.

 

Wasn't there something about Mazda offering ipod support in all their cars soon?

 

http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/5658.html

 

2 words: satellite radio...

 

Not if you have an '04 head unit.

 

That is my biggest gripe about my RX-8; it doesn't play MP3's. Not only that, the CD player is integrated into the dash. That's like buying a new house and the living room has a built in 20-inch TV with a VCR. Why would you build a car that forces the owner to use obsolete technology?

 

hmmm, news to me... I've been playing mp3's in my RX-8 for 2.5 years now. ID3 tags even show up on the dash.

 

So, you have the MP3 capable CD, then?

 

yes. well worth the $200 I spent on it. Swapping out cd's every 15 songs was not fun.