RX-8 rarity in NJ
 

So I relocated to NJ from SoCal; my RX-8 was finally shipped to me a few weeks ago.

First, since I moved here a few months ago, I've only seen perhaps three RX-8s in Ft. Lee, NJ area and Manhattan. Have seen tons of 350Zs and G35 Coupes though.

What's interesting is that people here seem like they've never seen or heard of the RX-8. It draws stares, crowds, questions and a ton of positive attention...

Glad my car is pretty exclusive and rare here; however, there seems to be a lot of sales potential here that Mazda is not achieving...

While I don't get crowds gathering around or woman throwing panties I do get lots of stares and one kid said "cool car" as I drove by(he was with a bunch of kids skateboarding, extra cool points). I guess we should enjoy the exclusivity while we can because before long we will be seeing this car everywhere both because of the aggresive discounting that you can get and Mazda's sales goals which are pretty lofty. You do get a bit humbled when you go to a high volume dealer here in central NJ and see 50 or 60 cars on the lot. So enjoy your "celebrity" car while it lasts.

You can add one more to the list by the end of next week! :D Winning blue baby will be on the road!

Jeff

You're in Hamilton? Damn... I go to school at TCNJ in Ewing. I wanted to be the first one around here to have one :( Well enjoy your exclusivity while it lasts b/c by late August, I'll be back with my Black GT :cool:

Not a NJ story, but a quick story about the attention:

Last Saturday, beautiful day and very sunny. We decide to go pick-up lunch. We got the usual 'nice car' at the gas station (where we have set up residence! ha ha) and was then on our way to the drive-through. While we were driving approx. 4 miles on a (5) lane highway, we noticed a van that was virtually running over cars and going around others, just to keep up with us or to slow-up. He drove exactly beside us for a few miles and then noticed our turn signal. He decided his look was over and proceeded to hang halfway out of the window and yell "awesome car!" Jon yelled back thank you, and we just looked at each other and chuckled.

I love my car.

They are just as rare in the suburbs west of Milwaukee. To date I have only spotted 2 reds a few months ago and yesterday I saw a silver exit I-90 on my way home from work. There is a yellow and a silver sitting out in front of the local VW/Mazda dealer for the last 3 weeks gathering moss. Its such a shame. From what I read here in the forum I would have to drive to Chicago to see any RX-8s in numbers. To those that worry about the "Exclusive factor" of the 8, just spend a few days in the midwest.

Some chick boinked me on the spot ;)

Last Sunday I went to the movies with my 5-years old daughter. As we got back to the car after the movie, there is this family with three kids coming to their car which was parked right next to us. We are still sitting in the 8, windows rolled down, pondering where to go to get some ice cream when I hear the 7-years old boy saying to his mom, looking at the RX-8: "that's an awesome car!".

Heh... even little kids find the 8 cool.

But I agree with what flatso said: the rarity and exclusivity of the RX-8 likely won't last very long. We have a saying in my language that roughly translates to "every wonder lasts three days". It will certainly be the case for the RX-8 too.
Actually, I don't really mind that because then I will worry less by the attention the car draws and won't be that afraid to leave it parked when going somewhere...

EDIT: once again, this messed-up board logged me on as jonny... my real nick is Tamas :D
I guess I need to clear out the cookies and cache in my browser...

Yeah as much as I love the exclusivity, it would be good to see more numbers of the 8 out there. And as Jonny said, less worry.

But Mazda has so much ground to make up with all the other brands out there, that I wonder if it will ever happen.

As for TheColonel, I'll look forward to seeing your 8 on the road. BTW why August?

I don't see why it wouldn't. The car just isn't that popular. I rarely see any RX series Mazda, but I see a dozen BMWs on the way to work every day.

I was parked next to a Boxter they other day. This guy comes out of the building , tells me i have a great car, then gets in the boxter!

SimplyBlue,

I will hopefully be getting it by the end of next month, but school is out for summer after the beginning of May. We don't come back till August. Look forward to seeing ya on the road.

The Colonel

Ha "first one around here" i've had mine since october :)

Well technically we're two different zip codes :p

don't get smart with me im still close enough to walk over and kick ur ass :p :D

J/k

So do I get guaranteed 1-hour delivery if I buy your decals, Polak? :p

Any other 8s around the Mercer county area?

1 hour pffft the way i drive i could have them over there before you load the confirmation page.

I know of 3 others in the Mercer county area.

Join tri state rx8 club at
http://www.rx8tristateclub.com
If you want special club member discounts on vendor products.

Haha. I just ordered some btw. Are you going to get the brake light ones in NG?

I tend to drive all around NJ. I used to live in Plainsboro, so I know the area well. Occassionally when I am tired of the turnpike, I sometimes head over to 1 (obviously not during rush hour) just for a change in scenary. Good Luck and nice color - just don't come around my neighborhood. It's mine!:p

dag

If you see a titaniumwith (just since 2 weeks ago put on strakes and clear corners) in Manhattan parked around the east village- that is me. Have only seen very few in Manhattan- but A guy around the corner from on upper east side has one (though an AT)

Give it time. The dealerships all over NJ are PACKED with rx8s. The one I got mine from (Crystal Auto Mall in Greenbrook NJ) has like 60-70 of them in their lot at least. When I went to shop for mine, every dealer I looked at had tons of them. I drove by the other day and could not believe how many were lined up waiting to sell. Don't be fooled, this car has been produced on a wide scale, and they will be selling, and before too long they will be all over the place. I am sure they will be offering 0% financing and bwloe invoice on all of them before too long. This may be a rare car to see, but it's no where near a rare car.

Didn't realize you were so close Polak. When I get my 8, I'd like to see your Stage 1 in action, since I'm considering it. (though my g/f keeps telling me I should worry about buying the car first... why is she always painfully right about thigns... :( )

Yea they do have a lot at Chrystal and Open Road in Edison and Sansone in Woodbridge and Maxon Mazda in Union. How did you like your buying experience from Chrystal? They really gave me the hard sell after my test drive (salesman 101 school they must all go to) which I detest so I wound up buying elsewhere and getting it cheaper(which of course they said I would never do).

Crystal wasn't so bad, but the overall experience was horrific. I got it for 100 over invoice when all was said and done, and they had the exact one I wanted, so I got it there. You are right, the salesmen didnt know their ass from their elbow, but the good news was I got a no haggle quote over internet and I said don't bother calling me if price is not close to invoice. Their service department messed up my dealer install order and it took forever to get that worked out, then during recall they broke my damper on glovebox, and cost me another trip there. I'm finished with them. I do not like the NYC attitude of dealers in that area. I wanted to buy in PA, but dealers did not have the one I wanted and their price was higher. I will be sure to avoid them in future, but I gotta say they have good deals.

viggen, Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! exclusive club here in "Jersey". :D

You gotta love all the attention.

SIMplyBlue, live in Hamilton Sq., see you on the road!:cool: