this option made me sick
 

I was going thru the dealer inventory for what rx-8's they had available (galpin mazda) and i noticed two things under the "dealer installed options" category. The first being lojack, which is a gr8 option. However, i cringed when i saw the next option which was the back-up alert. If this is what i think it is, then i would seriously not get this car at this dealership or at least make them take it out before i bought one. Look, this car is supposed to convey elements of speed and style and have nothing in common with that of a truck. the last thing i need on this car is the "beep beep" as i put the car in reverse. Apparently someone at Galpin thought Mazda goes beep beep instead of zoom zoom

someone know what back-up alert could also mean?

Take a look at some of the photos from Eastmoon, or even look on Ebay. These are tiny sensors that install into small holes in your bumper. When reversing (or parallel parking, for example), they give you some kind of warning IN THE CABIN of proximity to another object (such as another car). They are actually becoming quite popular.

i have no problems with the sensor if it is INISDE the cabin but Galpin has a tendecy to put alot of back up alert sensors on most of their cars that makes the sound OUTSIDE of the car

i used to have the sound outside with my explorer but i love the sound and its usefulness inside of our navigator

outside beeper things like that should be for things that are DIFFICULT to maneuver! Not a sports car!!! Especially an RX8!!! What's up with that?!?:confused:

I've seen these on the Navigator, and they're kinda neat.

In that case, it was four little TRIANGLE-shaped :) thingies along the bottom of the back bumper. They looked like those red night reflectors. Probably 3/4 inch across.

We were backing up near a big iron post, and it beeped to let us know we were within a few inches of it. cool.

beeping warnings
 

Actually there are two options available. One is an inside warning proximity sensor, settable to ranges of 30/40/60cmin front, and 30/40/60/100cm at rear and sides.
Easy Parking Assistant

Here is a picture of the bumper sensors:
http://www.rx-8.mazda.co.jp/estimate...mei_roman=rx-8

Part # F151V7280

Here is a picture of the inside controls for it:
You get a beeping noise inside when you approach an object inside the distance you set.
http://www.rx-8.mazda.co.jp/estimate...mei_roman=rx-8

The other is an outside beep backup warning tone.
Part # F151V7380

These are the pictures from the Mazda Japan accessories pages.

Sit in the 8. Can you tell exactly where the back of the car is?

Yes, these things are learned with time, but if you very rarely parallel park they can be quite handy when you do have to...

good point but better to learn than look like a soccer mom/dad that can't tough it out. I think...

I thought it was a RoadRunner that goes "beep beep". Or is it "meep meep".

You know, right after something bad happens to Wiley Coyote.:D

I would normally say the same thing too, but a while back I backed into some giant decorative concrete pot in the parking lot at my kid's school. It was in my blind spot and too low to see out the rear window. I was looking for parked cars behind me. Imagine my surprise when the car jolted to a halt! I went 17 years without doing something like that, but it CAN happen if you don't survey what's behind you before you get in the car.

The RX-8 will be even more susceptible to that type of incident given its poorer rear and side visibility. I wouldn't discount the system so quickly - accidents do happen.

Ouch! I had a similar incident a couple of months ago while vacationing in NJ. Full Service gas stations! I had to pee, so I started to reverse(!) away from the pump while turning (parking was aft), and banged against that concrete post they have to keep people from crashing into the pumps. First time I've ever done anything THAT stupid...:p

Alrighty, I got my first chance to sit behind the wheel of an 8 today. It was FANTASTIC and i will be ordering my 8 soon. Anyways, in reference to the back-up alert, I asked the dealer to clarify the situation.

He said it made the noise outside like a truck does. Ewww. It wasnt an inside sensor thing. I was hoping it was just like our navigator and it really is an awesome feature just in case you cant see something. But it is in fact an outside beeping thing that can be heard as you back up on the 8. However, he did say that they can remove that option (thank golly)!

oh, one little side note as i test drove my 8.....when the dealer was driving, he really got into a "bad ass driver attitude" swerving in and out of lanes and we even got into a road rage argument with another motorist which i thought was hilarious cuz my dealer was cussing like a sailor, lol!! Then when it was my turn, i instantly became empowered with this "bad ass driver" attitude hahah minus the road rage part. All good!!

I decided to take the LoJack option. Has anyone had any experience/opinion on LoJack and if it's effective in any real way?
Or did I just blow $500? :)

I also went into Galpin Mazda the other day and the saleswoman mentioned that all the 8's have LoJack installed. Is this an option we have to pay for that's included in the price? Can we elect to have it taken out?

Anyway, I posted this on another thread, but as of two days ago, Galpin had 15 to 20 uncommitted cars in port from the first allocation waiting to be purchased by anyone willing to put in a down-payment. I saw the list and there are various colors and options. They are selling them all at MSRP, no discount, no mark-up.

Sweet drive and the cloth seats are fantastic! I don't recall putting it in reverse so I can't speak to the beeping.

We have all our current cars purchased/leased at galpin and 3 of them have Lojack. I'd say it was definitely worth getting it. It gives security and peace of mind knowing that if it were to get stolen, it would be easily tracked. Besides, this car is going to get alot of attention, both good and bad. Some idiot will want to steal this car and it is much better to have this option installed giving you the consumer a high guarantee that you will get your car back.

there was a story where this car had lojack -> got stolen -> traced to the ship on the long beach harbor where hundreds of other stolen cars were being shipped overseas.

but im sure that if you really dont want that option on there, you can ask them to uninstal it. but it is def worht the money. Of course i can't really speak from experience since none of our cars have ever gotten stolen for me to actually call up lojack and track the car, but we are happy knowing that it is installed.

First off, I would never buy a car with dealer-installed options that I didn't ask for. When a dealer puts custom rims, teflon coat, alarms, Lojack, etc. even before the car is sold that tells me they generally believe their customers are chumps who will buy anything like we have no choice. It totally rubs me the wrong way and I'll look for another dealer who is more attuned to treating customers as individuals. Rant complete.

As for Lojack, doesn't the 8 has an engine immobiler? I believe each key has a microchip that "talks" to the engine. Absent the key, you just can't hotwire the car. So, if I trust myself not to leave the key in the ignition I don't see how the car can be stolen. As far as I know, Lojack works well but I don't know that it's really necessary for the 8.

It is definately a price gouge. Atleast they are giving you something for the extra $ -- better than rust-proofing or undercoating etc. However, totally useless in an RX8 because of exactly what 8-wanabe said.

Great point. I was not completely aware of the engine immobilizer. Knowing that there is this option in this car, I wouldnt opt for the lojack but if it is installed, i wouldnt care either way. You can never be too careful these days.

i suppose if you are a crafty enough thief, you would just break in the car, put it in neutral, and have your connections that work in the towing industry, tow the car away. Once they tow it away, they can take all their time with whatever they want to do with your car. Point being, that you no longer have possession of your car. Now if you did have lojack in it, you would still be able to have a means to find your car. Just my thoughts on that.

But yes, i wouldnt really care either way. Safe to have the engine immobilizer in there but i think it would be safer to also have the lojack.

I agree and went in with that mindset exactly. I hate when they say you "need" this undercoating etc. when you know you don't.

I guess I should have clarified a little. They didn't put it on as a "white sticker" option and then tell me I had to pay for it. They offered it up as an option to me. At first I wasn't going to go for it, but after a second thought decided that it could be prudent to have on the car. In a city like Atlanta, to me, it would seem every bit of security/recovery of the car is helpful. So I told them to put it on.