(takes a toke...)

Typical North American market changeover to the new "Model Year" varies a bit, but usually occurs generally in the Fall (Sep-Oct). You'll see production "switchover" to the new MY sometime during the Summer (Jul-Aug). The "next year's models" will then hit the showroom in Sep-Oct timeframe.

(another toke...)

Not sure where or why in the annals (smokes?) of automotive marketing history it came to be that way, but it's been that way over here in the US for decades...

Hey Gomez, were you unable to get a 2004 RX-8 until the calender hit January 1, 2004? And if there was a RX-8 on your continent before that date was it a 2003 model?

Jeez...you guys have been brainwashed. When I said 2004, I meant a car that was built in Jan 2004. Nov 2003 cars were the same spec, but they had 2003 build plates on them. Here, when a car is sold secondhand, people look at what year it is to evaluate it's value. A Jan 2004 car will normally sell for more (or be sold easier) than a Nov 2003 car. To answer your second question, the RX-8 was released here in Aug 2003, I believe. (And we call it a 2003 model, naturally.....'cos it was built in 2003 :D ).

Thanks for the clarification...I think! Now, was there any difference between the MY2003 and MY2004 RX-8's? Or MY2004 and MY2005 RX-8's?

The main change to RX-8's sold here since Aug 2003 is the introduction of a sunroof to the accessories list.....

Here in the US the build date has nothing to do with the model year of the vehicle. All vehicles have a 17 number/letter VIN code and the tenth letter or number is the year of the vehicle. No Exceptions. Remember back twelve years and folks thought that they had a 92 Rx7. Many where built in 92 but by the VIN they were all 93s.

Good to see that the 8 is back on track for MNAO monthly sales. 2500 p/m is the target needed for 30,000. Considering the Tribute is selling at 4000 p/m, the 8's numbers look pretty good for a niche car.

That 3 is on fire. Those sales numbers are close to the Chrysler 300C. Impressive.

I don't think there are any real substantive differences between any of the RX8s built to date, actually. Tweaks and such are really the only changes I'm aware of. I think some of the PCM programming is different for North America, compared to Japan and Europe, but not really certain. Yellow is no longer available in the States, but white is (or will eventually be) available. Yadda, yadda...

Interesting about the sunroof option. Here in the States, a sunroof is only available as a part of the "Touring" or "Grand Touring" packages -- not as a "stand alone" option. Is it similar in Oz or are options/accessories available "a la carte"?

In Australia we get two versions....Leather Pack includes:

Leather Seats (Power Drivers Seat)
Aluminium Pedals
Xenon Headlamps (with washers)
Bose
Front Foglamps (not rear)

Or the Poverty (Pov) Pack......cloth interior, none of the above.
Both come with 18's, DSC, Space Saver spare, Gnd Illum lights (puddle lights) and Climate Control Air.....we don't get Nav, TPMS, Homelink, Autodim mirror.

Man 238hp......Auto 189hp

$54,465 for the Pov Pac.....$60,100 for the leather. (6spd prices)
Auto approx $600 dearer. Sunroof $1600 option.

Gomez.