orders taken at paris auto show?
 

this was posted on the UK forum:
"And the RX-8 can be ordered right now ! Over twenty ordered in Paris at that day ! Huge success i think ...
29000€ for the 194 hp type
35000€ for the 240 hp type
delivery : june 2003 "

can anyone think of a way to confirm this? maybe they are just taking deposits like here but i wonder if they are actual pre-orders.
edit:that is $28,596 and $34,513 USD at todays exchange rate

Orders? I dunno. I think they'd take deposits though...

june?!?!?!!?!? NO!!!!!!!!!!:(

in europe!!!

I want one now!! :(

If I buy one there,does that mean that I have to drive in French?

That's the second time I've seen a conversion rate of well over the 32k mark we believed the RX-8 would max out at (the other thread was that swiss franc conversion from the spec sheet). I'm trying to take these prices with a grain of salt, but it is starting to worry me a bit. I'm still hoping to get a RX-8 with sport package (maybe sunroof, too) for somewhere around 28k. Maybe I'm being too optimistic :( .

Cars in Europe are waaaay more expensive than in the US and Canada. Don't rely on conversion rates, they are a poor indicator of price. Hell, the same thing can be said for car prices between the US and Canada. Our cars are much cheaper than yours even with the lousy exchange rate. :D
Conversion rates don't mean a thing.
[Jamican] Don't worry 'bout a ting, mon. [/Jamican]

I think that if the VP of Mazda says it's goign to max at 31k, then it will.

Keep in mind, Mazda has a LOT of competition in the states and with their so-so reputation (aside to us rotary lovers) they need a car that's going to first, get them a foothold in the market, and secondly, be good enough over the others to buy.

Undercutting the other cars and offering a car with superior performance are good ways of getting themselves into the market, especially if they get good reviews from the car magazines.

I'm near certain that minus the navigation, I should come in right under 30k for my car (I want everything BUT the navi, that storage area up top is useful to me!). Since the automatic version is rated at less than the regular Renesis (and I'll leave speculation on the exact number out of it), the slushbox will probably be cheaper on the price spectrum.

Mazda's being smart, and not going to milk buyers for paying too much. Keep in mind that this car is SLOWER than most of the other 'performance cars'. Not to me, if the dash to 60 is done in 6 flat I'm a happy camper. However, since AMERICA is one of the ONLY countries that looks at 0-60 times as a sign of whether the car is good or not, Mazda needs to make the right decisions in pricing this car. I think the announced prices will hit their targets. I don't intend on paying over 30k for this car anyways. I can wait a bit if I really must, though I'd prefer not to.

Delivery Dates
 

I just received an e-mail, in response to a mouse click for more info on the Mazda web site, from a local Mazda dealer here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
In it, he stated that he would have the RX-8 in January and he was taking deposits. Nothing more, no prices, no offers of info, nothing. Turned me off to them immediately, but I will be shopping other Mazda dealers come January.

You guys made some good points and if the VP of Mazda says so, I'll take his (or yours, in this case) word for it. Still, Mazda has to make a profit on the car. I questioned this a while ago: While Mazda has the need to undercut its competition with a good performance to dollar ratio, the RX-8 does not share its engine or platform with any other cars (yet) like Honda or Nissan does. That may change in the future with a new RX-7 and Miata, but for now I wonder how Mazda plans on offsetting reasearch and production costs of the RX-8 to turn a good profit.

Like everything, I think the RX-8 is an investment for the future of Mazda.

First, Mazda has spent less R&D money than ANY of its competitors, like Nissan, Honda, Toyota, etc... The engineers who worked on the RX-8 and 6 worked a lot on their OWN TIME. That takes some real determination and drive on their parts.

The past of Mazda has always been gloomy compared to its competitors, aside from in the category of the Miata. Mazda and Ford know that unless they make an investment of capital, ingenuity, and uniqueness (ala the Renesis), the future of their company is in the toilet. I think we as early buyers will have better luck because many people shy away from Mazda just because it's not a Honda or a Toyota, the names that are tried and tested by everyone. Mazda has a niche and now needs to expand on that, because a niche is not something a huge car company can stay in. The introduction of the 6 with better braking than German cars, and better handling than near every FWD car in its class makes for a GREAT opening shot. The RX-8 is going to be another good hit. And hopefully with those two good setups, Mazda has the foundation to build themselves a strong 'game' by delivering constantly good 'shots' at every car they produce.

What I'd like to see next is the Mazda5 (A Miata), the Mazda3 (Protege), all re-worked with stiffer chassis and suspension, better handling, more power, and GOOD prices. Mazda's well on their way.. at least I hope.

Re: Delivery Dates
 

Hey Navy, let the rest of us DFWers know which dealer that is, please.

Thanks!

---jps

WalkMarines ;)

You forgot to mention the Mazdaspeed Protege (or base model for that matter), which has been recieving great reviews from most of the major publications that have driven it or are comparing it to others in that class---including some of the big guns from Honda and Toyota. I think Mazda's future looks very bright.

Provided they go all out in design, quality, and price, I don't see they could go wrong. However, when they start doing things like making a car that is just, good enough for a particular market segment, I think they will lose their ability to stay in the market with the bigger companies.

DFW Area Mazda Dealer with a non Customer oriented attitude
 

Sputnik,
You asked which DFW area dealer saw me as just another piece of meat, it was Hliey Mazda on Rt 20 in Arlington. Too many car dealerships on that piece of road to hope to find an honest customer oriented one.

Hiley is where I am on the list (May 02) for the first yellow RX8. I have bought 2 MPVs from them. Like them. They told me they would be getting back with me in November about the car. I think they know what they are talking about. MSRP. No deposit required. I trust them.

Re: DFW Area Mazda Dealer with a non Customer oriented attitude
 

Oooh... Some of the Miata folk have "talked about" that place. Thanks Navy!

---jps

Hiley Mazda
 

Brownchiro,
Congratulations. You must have reached someone other than the "Internet Sales" guy. He made no promises other than the fact that he would take a deposit for a January "expected" arrival.

If it truly is the first one they get, every salesman or sales/service dept manager is going to want to take it out for a drive, and they most likely won’t follow break-in procedures and limit RPM. I’d think you’d be entitled to MSRP or some other incentive at least. If you take delivery with less than 30 miles on the odometer I’d be very surprised. Pre-delivery inspection and detailing does not require a road test.

I am on the list for the first yellow RX8, not the first car. He had said in May that there were 3 others ahead of me for red RX8s. I am sure it was the internet guy I spoke with and met in May. I did not feel pressured or given wrong information. They said they had no information in May; other than making a list. I suppose now they may be taking deposits. I had placed deposits on 2000 GLX turbo beetle and 2002 WRX. The deposits only went against the price of the cars (MSRP). I had a deposit with Hiley for a 2000 Beetle, but another dealer received it first (one in down town Ft. Worth); so Hiley gave the deposit back, no problems. With the trouble I had with that beetle, I wished I had gotten it from Hiley instead. Neither of my deposit cars had any miles on it other than taking it off the truck. I was even able to get my WRX still in wraps (white plastic on the hood and roof, plastic on seats, etc).