My car has the 16 inch alloy wheels. I think I will drive over a curb and bend them all. Maybe then, I can take it to the dealer & get upgraded to 18 inch wheels.

 

What on earth are you on about. It's not as if the updated nav firmware was available when we bought the car as a cost option. These are just normal bug fixes.

I'd be willing to pay for the upgrade if Mazda would make it available.

 

The 16" v. 18" wheels is a poor comparison. I already coughed up 2Gs for the nav system when I bought the car. And there was no option for an advanced software at the time. Hell, it's not even an option now. It's an UPDATE of older obsolete software.

Where's the additional cost in upgrading all the older cars? This is just like the ECM software... before the M reflash was required when the car came in, you couldn't hardly get anyone to reflash the ECU without a serious problem. Time invovled: Negligible. Cost Involved: Negligible. I don't see why these software updates are like pulling teeth...

 

There is no reason why someone who bought their car 2 months before I bought mine, would have to use the outdated navi software. Both cars cost the same, and are the same model year.

 

I bought a Dell system in September 03.

I heard there are upgrades to the software already. Can anyone tell me how to delete the operating system so I can get it upgraded?

 

YOU ARE SO RIGHT

 

You have a valid point, but at the same time you assume Mazda has the ability to reprogram the NAV system the same way the PCMs are updated. Well, guess what, they DON'T. Maybe they sent out a few DVDs to repair sytems tnat had errors, but not every dealer has this update DVD. Also, this system is Panasonic as is the operating system. Being this is Panasonic's software, maybe Panasonic will not let Mazda have the sofware for distribution to dealers? Besides, I heard NAVTEQ will have the new MAP DVD soon & it will come with the operating system DVD update.

 

Go to www.microsoft.com and download it. It's supported. It's not as if you bought a machine with Win98 and were trying to upgrade to WinXP. The nav software is the same release, but updated. Same software, but with updates.

I know I routinely update my system and applications in between version releases. Do you?

 

I guess you know we are looking at this issue from opposite sides of the fence.

I just wonder how many people thought they had issues with the navi in the car before this thread came along.

"Breaking" your car to get a new fix just doesn't seem to be right.

IMHO

 

Good example, bad logic.

When you buy a new PC with the old OS that is about to be replaced by a new version, the maker offers the new one for free or at a substantial discount.

Software (drivers) for the hardware that the manufacturer makers are provided for free, and regular updates are also available via the maker's website. Although Japanese makes like NEC tend to have few if any updates.

The latest OS available for your Dell is XP... home edition or Professional. There are updates to it from microsoft, which Microsoft (the maker of the OS, NOT Dell) offers for free via automatic download.

The CORRECT analysis of the example given shows that it is standard practice to provide updates, however, Mazda somehow feels that they are exempt from this requirement...

 

I don't disagree with this sentiment. However, I do also believe it to be Mazda's responsibility to update all cars of the same model year... be it a minor software change, or a hardware change (isn't that called a recall...).

This is just a typical corporate lazyass attempt at cutting corners for "savings" but really saves little if any and in exchange inconveniences everyone and pisses off customers. Here is a good example of that... ketchup. Does it cost much? No. But every Japanese fast food restaurant except Wendy's, does not freely give it out. You always have to ask and they will always give you only one unless you request more. One McDonald's out in the country offered it freely in a basket for a little while, but eventually stopped. They used to offer free drink refills too. They stopped that one too. Just about no restaurant in Japan offers free refills on soft drinks... especially how Japanese seem to drink less than Americans (less than half it seems), why not? "Family restaurants" have found the value in offering a "drink bar" though...

The above examples are small things... not very costly things. They are things that can add just that little convenience to restaurant x versus y. Toyota realized this with their Lexus brand... that's why they're kicking the Europeans' ***. The little things count Mazda... GET TO WORK!

 

I'm starting to feel the same way, but hate to give up my current and possibly future rotaries!!

I've had rotaries, since 1984. They are great cars, but Mazda service has been very sketchy to very poor. That's why I had been taking my cars to Culver City and why I purchased from them. However, it turns out that their head Mazda mechanic is getting ready to retire and their entire support operation has fallen apart. I have since taken my car to Alhambra, near my work, and it's 1000% better (I hope my comments don't go to their heads!!), even better than what I found when Culver City was "good". Soon as Alhambra starts to goes "sour" I'll start looking elsewhere, maybe Cerritos?

It might be good if there were "regional" threads that listed dealers so owners could vote or rate their dealer experiences. Just hope I don't have to to drive over 50 miles to find a service dept that does the RX-8 justice. Hmm, now how far is Rosenthal's from L.A.?

 

I think thats a great idea! How bout it moderaters? Could we have a section to rate dealer service? Not really a bitch out forum, but rather, give the reason why you took your car in, and what kind of service you got from them.

Speaking for myself, there are 3 dealers in Indianapolis... I would gladly drive 20 miles further to get GOOD service, rather than keep dealing with the crap I am going through with my local dealer... HUBLER INDY YOU SUCK!

Most of us are still in our warranty period (i am assuming...even though im hitting the 17k mark...im starting to worry! =P )

I think they would really start to get the point.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/good-guy-bad-guy-74/

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Japan8
[B]I don't disagree with this sentiment. However, I do also believe it to be Mazda's responsibility to update all cars of the same model year... be it a minor software change, or a hardware change (isn't that called a recall...).


NO, it's not called a recall. Recalls are for safety or emissions compliance.

Soon, the audio system will have SAT radio capabilites. Is everyone going to sabotage their radios & demand the new radio with the SAT hardware???

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mazda Monkey
[B]Every take philosophy? My statement isn't wrong... it just isn't always right. so it CAN be a recall, it just isn't always a recall.

Sat radio capabilities is to be built-in on every radio? On the 2004 model? It's not a module like the CD changer, MP3, MD , or tape? I'm betting it is a module and it's not built-in on every radio and it's not available for the 2004 model year. IF so, then what does that have to do with what I said? I was talking about same model year vehicles. IF something new is offered in the 2005 model... Mazda has no responsibilty to upgrade squat for 2004 model year owners.

Beyond that, most people aren't really talking about getting a "free" hardware upgrade here... they are talking about software. Once it's been developed, it's free. It doesn't cost the maker anything other than the pitance to burn the disk. According to info presented Mazda didn't make it, they buy it from someone else. So it costs Mazda a certain amount. Maybe so, but the same nav system is or is not used across the whole mazda line? And that's how many cars sold a year? You're telling me that they can't negotiate a deal that will allow them to distribute software updates to the nav system? It seems like other companies have managed to do it... doesn't look impossible or too costly to me then.

 

Where did you hear this from?

 

My inside source.

 

I went to the dealer last Friday to pickk up my car. They still didn't have the a/c amplifier, and the nav system doesn't work. They said they had to order a whole new NAV unit.

They never popped the DVD out of the unit or they would have seen the message "System Software not installed. Load Upgrade CD".

All they did was get my car realy dirty.

 

Has anyone had any luck getting the GPS OS update in the DC Metro area? If so, which dealership had access to the update disc?

 

My dealer just told me that MAZDA is doing an investigation on the problems with the nav systems....

 

That appaers to be correct, yetsreday, I had to respond to a questionnaire the service rep read to me over the phone. He told me he was required to do this by MAZDA.

Questions were about how often I use the NAV system, questions about everyday use of the NAV system, how often I drive the car, at what were my beginning and ending destinations when the system failed.

I 'm not sure where they're going with all of this. Could just be collecting info to find out if there is a common problem.

Of course, they could just ask us!!

 

I wouldn't post your location or personal info in this thread in case they go hunting for people who have tampered with their systems..

 

I just got my new 2004-2005 map DVD through from Navtech. It came with an application update DVD.

I did the update and my version numbers have all changed, but no new functions

I'm in the UK and I'm wondering if the new functions are a US only thing. It does look good for you US people though, as Navtech will almost certainly provide the application update DVD when the US 2004-2005 map update bacomes available.

Lets hope it's the one that gives you the functions and that someone enterprising can sort out a copy of it.

 

In case you havent noticed, Navtech has changed their name from Navtech to Navteq. A quick check of their website at http://www.navteq.com/ shows that there are not any updates avaialable for the RX-8 yet.