Based on those charts, so far this year every model from Mazda (except the Mazda3, Mazda6, and Tribute) is selling poorly compared to last year. So with half the year gone, the RX-8 is 35% below where it was at the first half of 2004. But can you really be that surprised when Mazda made next to nothing in changes for the 2005 model? I really hope they have something new in store for the RX-8 in 2006, otherwise I predict sales will be even worse next year.

 

If the 8 can manage to somehow make it on to one more Car&Driver's 10 best list, it just might keep sales going or even boost it.

However, I'm afraid they won't make the list unless they up the performance or provide some other kind of upgrade for 2006. We shall see I guess.

 

a lot of car sales are down this year due to oil prices too, dont forget that.

and when you have a car that takes 91+ octane (here its on average 11cents more per litre, which runs it close to 1$/litre) people shy away. the costs involved in running that kind of vehicle scares people.

 

Even with the cheap lease deal AND $2k in MAC lease assistance that is BARELY above the April 2005 and May 2005 numbers (a little over 1k each of those months). I guess folks that say "the numbers will pick up once warm weather arrives" will have to give up on that line.

Too quirky a car for most folks - and lack of ads. I never ONCE saw a "$299 a month" lease ad during the month of June. I knew about it due to checking the MazdaUSA web page.

My friend also made a comment to me the other day - with all the cheap finance deals, rebates, leases, "employee prices" that have been going on for so long - at some point the majority of the folks will have a pretty new car and will not be in the market for another. Add in that even the "worst" new car now will last for years and maybe there are just too many cars for too few buyers?

BTW, one of the 1,217 is MINE - thank you very much :D

Dennis

 

I think one of the bigger deterrents for people considering an 8 is oil consumption. This issue has been totally overblown and poorly explained by most of the car magazines. I've had several people on the street say they love the car and considered buying one but would never buy a new car with an "oil consumption problem". People relate cars burning oil to a worn out or defective engine. Mazda should do something so that you don't need to add oil between scheduled oil changes. A reservoir, larger oil pan, whatever. My .02.

Paul

 

Unfortunately providing the average joe with a newly released car that uses up reasonable amounts of petrol for its 1.3 liter capacity , burns oil and needs to be topped up around the 2000 km mark iniatially RELEASING it poorly tuned , with some buyers needing to spend extra on a set of winter tyres .

Then having issues with overstating the power figures, the constant concern of flooding and having to concede to a buy back from desatisfied buyers together with poor mazda service and support and with increase in petrol prices have caused this 35 % decrease in sales figures .

Mazda has tried to rectify some of the problems however too little too late .

B...Free
michael

 

Sounds like your a little bitter Lock & Load.

Changing tires to S03's or Bridgestone 750's on new cars would help Mazda.
Flooding issues fixed.
When the super charger comes out power problems will be solved unless the competition keeps upping the any.

Any Bets on the table?

 

Sounds pretty assertive. You are 100% sure that's the cause of the decline?

It's easy for the jaded or the negative to ***ume all that, but seeing as those aren't new 'issues' and seeing as just three months ago the 8 had one of its highest-selling months since its intro, simple logic shoots down those theories.

A lot of dealers (around here) just started getting new 8's now that the plant is up and running. The supply of what they had is pretty old and relatively limited. Not everyone wants a car like this, one that's been ragged out on test drives by some dumb *** kid out joy riding. That or maybe they want one fresh off the truck, or with certain options.

 

posted this in another thread, but it seems relevant here as well, and this thread is viewed more:

http://www.automobear.com/index_home_content.html

Look under sports/GT. Note the Mustang under mainstream coupes (many of which sold being V-6 rentals from what I understand).

 

Not bitter at all just being realistic :D , Mazda indirectly contributed to its own problems by allowing the small issues to become large ones .

Plainly the decline cannot be totally attributed to my earlier comments but i would say those issues were a large part in the sales decline .
To spend 4 years releasing a car and then having weak starter battery issues , flooding etc is not on .

The inferior 4 speed Automatic Transmission also added to the RX8'S WOES .
Yes it initially created extra sales but at what cost to the car , every magazine i have read basically tells people to stay away from the 4 speed Automatic .


I am one of the lucky ones i have had none of the above problems but if i did have i wouldnt be HAPPY

B...Free
michael