Satellite Radio option from Mazda Soon
 

I was down at my local dealership having one of the parts guys look up some stuff for me. While looking on the computer under RX-8 accessories there was listed "Satellite Radio". When he click on it it brought up a page that said "Underconstuction", and when he typed in the part # it was an ???Install price???


Can any of you with inside contacts or our trusty vendors (Mazda South, Trussville, or Rosenthal) help dig deep and shed some light on the ETA or any info for that matter.

Yep, they're coming out with a Sirrius option for several models including the 8. Estimated retail price approx $400. Unfortuantely, it appears that the satellite receiver has been customized for the Mazda OEM stereo receivers. It doesn't appear that it can be removed from the car and integrated into a home stereo system or boom box.

-Source MedCenter Mazda

The Mazda Sat module is already available for 05' Tribute, MPV and Miata. It is not available for 04' RX-8.

MedCenter told me Mazda is planning on having it available for the 8 this fall and it will be available for '04 8's.

I thought all the Mazdas used the same stuff? Couldnt you buy the tribute sirrus radio and install it in the 8?

Even if it is available I dont think I would be interested. Not for 400 bucks.
Price aside it is for the 8 only and cant be removed.
Better deal = casette deck (or overload aux in solution)for aux in hack, seperate sat radio.
Less money, same end result, plus you can disconnect and use it in home.
No brainer.
Silly mazda, permanent radios are for kids. Make it removeable too and people will buy it.

With luck those people that want to add it to the stock head unit will be able to do it as "easily" as installing the MP3 or CD changer modules.

The SAT module (MAZDA # 0000-81-G01) plugs in the back of HU like a trunk changer would. It is available for radios w/SAT buton on the faceplate. It is a hide away unit mounted in car not removable.

So the Mazda desgined Sirius Radio Module will NOT be going into the front of the Head Unit in the modular bay for the cassette/mini-disc player? I was wanting to buy a mini-disc player but I'm not going to if the SAT module will have to go in that slot.

That makes perfect sense not to make it available for the 04 RX8.
Why would Mazda want to make more money from existing customers?
It is much better for them to let the aftermarket companies make money.
Honest to Christ the Japanese make far better cars than Americans but they still make some very stupid marketing decisions like the Americans.
The Japanese make certain models for the americans, so maybe the americans do the marketing decisions for the Japanese?
That would explain the good cars/what were they thinking senario.

It is my understanding that the SIRIUS SAT will be retrofitted for the '04 RX-8. So, you will be able to get it as an option.

The spec's and model number for 05' RX-8 radio are different from 04' (SAT button added). I hooked up a SAT kit to 04' and the radio does not recognize it. A retrofit would require new micro software for the radio and I would think that will not happen.

But if cost wasn't a consideration would it be possible to buy a new head unit as well and have it work? Or is there semi-major wiring from console to trunk?
________
FIX PS3

If cost was not a factor, a upgrade head unit would install into a 04'.

Hmmm. Got a part number and/or price on the '05 head unit then?

Hmmm, the cost of the imovable sat radio, plus the cost of a head unit?
I dont know what the total cost would be but i can guess that an aftermarket radio with the pending aux in solution, with a lifetime subscription to Sirrus would be in the same ballpark.
Granted a total integrated factory system is tempting. But then again so is a portable, cheaper, and lifetime subbed system.

Price no, part number yes. (I dont have it handy right now,but I could post it tomorrow)

You can also get a second subscription for almost half price and then you don't have to deal with the "Oh crap I forgot the SAT head unit in the car" syndrome.

Wow I didn't know that Mazda released the '05 RX-8 stuff already, considering the car isn't even out yet. :D is the part number for the SAT unit for the RX-8 the same as it is for the Tribute/MPV/Miata???


edit: sorry for sounding like a smartass, I'm just really wanting to get to the bottom of this. I hate dead ends!!!!

05' radio part# FE05 66 DSX(Bose) FE04 66 DSX(Non Bose)
The SAT module is the same for all car models.

With SIRIUS, one can listen on their PC for free. My wife has XM and she listens to SIRIUS via my subscription @ work. I also can listen at the same time as her on my PC. She's pissed at XM for not offering the option.

I wrote Mazda recently to see what was going with the satellite radio, here what there response was:

"Dear Stephan,

Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations. I appreciate
the opportunity to respond to you.

At this time there is not a satellite radio option from Mazda available
for current RX8 owners. However, I am pleased you took the time to
bring your suggestion regarding adding the satellite radio as an option
for the RX8 to our attention. Consumer feedback is always very
important to Mazda. Certainly, we want to offer exciting vehicles, and
comments such as yours help us to achieve that goal.

Rest assured I have documented your suggestion for our corporate
record. These records are continuously being reviewed by our Product
Planning Department in an effort to provide only the highest quality
products to our customers.

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda. It has been my pleasure to
assist you. Please feel free to reply to this message with any further
questions or comments.

"

So I guess we have to wait if this part is coming out and is able to be retrofitted to exisiting RX-8's. I really would like to have a nicely integrated unit direct from the factoriy so that I don't have to deal with a FM transmitter or adding special connectors and modifications.