I was able to go to the Lemans/GT races at Mazda Raceway/Laguna Seca and spoke with some of the people at the Mazdaspeed tent, where they showcased the new Mazdaspeed Protege and Mazda 6, both awsome cars by the way. I spoke with the guy that was heading Seven Stock 5 and he told me that they would NOT be bringing the RX-8 to that event. He also told me that the car would BE PRICED STARTING AT AROUND 25K and would go up to around 32K, and that the car should be out in MARCH.

 

now that would be nice. It would certainly be a huge bang for the buck at 25k if it kept the 250hp Renesis and a 6-speed. But I have to be honest, I don't know if they can have a car that powerful for only 25k. Then again I said the same thing about the base 350z. I hope what that guy said was true!

 

At this point everything is speculation.

However, I don't want to pay more than 31k for this car, loaded. I will however, be getting the 6 speed, every option except for nav, because Nav sucks, and I'd rather keep my 1400-2000 bucks.

 

I don't care for any option except Xenons, NAV, Manual, CD changer. (Changer should be standard) Don't care for power seats, sunroof, leather, heated seats, etc.

I'm addicted to my nav system in my 325i and I use it quite often to get around the city. Makes my friends look stupid when they say, "I think the road is around here" after driving around in circles for 10 minutes, and then I punch up the correct location on the nav while everyone glares at him/her.

I really don't want to pay much more than minimum, but if I get nav, I'll probably have to load up on some useless packages. (Like the 350Z) My ideal price would be 27k, and I'd probably not be willing to spend much more without some lengthy decision making.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by coMplX
[B]I spoke with the guy that was heading Seven Stock 5 and he told me that they would NOT be bringing the RX-8 to that event. ]

 

If the loaded price can be kept under $32,000.00 it will be reasonably priced and therefore more appealable to the general public.

 

If you really want navigation, get a lightweight GPS navigation system from best buy or something. They relatively cheap and compact, and alot nicer/accurate than CD/DVD based navigation systems.

 

When it's the difference between having a handheld that I would have to have batteries for and/or have a separate cigarette socket, and have to find a way to mount somewhere, and have to put away everytime I get out of the car (or risk having someone pull a crash and dash and rip it off), or having one integrated in the dash, where it will normally be easier to read and control, and where it will not become a projectile in an accident, then I would rather have the in-dash unit.

It's like the difference between having a portable CD player plugged into your cassette player, and having an indash CD player.

---jps

 

You could always jack the Never Lost nav system from a Hertz rental :D

kidding aside, there are some nice aftermarket nav systems available, and if you travel in your car alot to unfamiliar areas, a nav system is a must have item.

Certainly, a fully integrated one is nice. I have seen the one in the G35 (pop-up) and MINI (fixed screen) upclose - I'm really nice to my neighbors. There are pics of a system in the new Mazda 6 as well that pops up from the dash. I would certainly prefer a satellite based system that can be hidden in the dash when not in use. Satellite based would not require updates to CD-ROMS, and pop-up would prevent the screen from getting dirty.

 

The pop-up would also keep it from unfriendly eyes too.

Another reason why I want it is because it does integrate a screen in the car. That way, I have the option of replacing it with an aftermarket stereo controlled by a touchscreen, without having a screen in front of the A/C vents, controls, or anything else in the dash, like an aftermarket screen does in most cars today.

What I'm trying to say that an interior designed with that screen in mind opens a lot more options for us gadget hounds...

---jps