msrecant

The only way you can return your RX-8 now would be under your state's Lemon Law. Check it out and you might be able to make it work for you.

The "buy back" was because the horsepower on the original window sticker was overstated as 247 when the vehicle officially had 238. The offer was made to anyone who pre-ordered or purchased an RX-8 before August 26, 2003. Basically these are people who were led to believe the car would be delivered with 247 HP. The offer had two options:

1. Mazda would buy back the vehicle and pay all your cost including downpayment, mazda accessories or services (undercoating, etc), sales tax, lease, finance charge and other fees. They would not reimburse any non-Mazda after-market changes or if you rolled money you owed on your previous car into the new loan. Also you had to pay for any unusual damage to the vehicle. You had until October 1, 2003 to inform Mazda you wanted the buy back.

2. You could sign a waiver releasing Mazda from legal liability for the horsepower mis-statement and receive a $500 debit card and free scheduled maintenance for the 48Kmiles/48month warranty period of your car. This included everything on Schedule 1 or 2 in the owners manual (estimated value $1,300).

I believe anyone buying a car with a 247 HP window sticker after August 26th had to sign an acknowledgement of the mis-statement and, eventually, they changed the window stickers.

Rotarian_SC

If it makes you feel better your milage doesn't really count for much when compared to the vehicles overall price. You can use regular and save a bunch of money as well. It takes about 7 years for gas milage to pay off the $2,000 difference in sticker price between a hybrid and non hybrid. Since you probably won't be able to get your car Lemoned it would probably be cheaper if you just kept it instead of trading for something else.

msrecant

Over 100,000 miles a 13 mpg car will cost about $4,000 more than a 20 mpg car at $1.50 per gallon. That is about $800 per year for 5 years which isn't exactly peanuts.

However, it also assumes you can get the same performance in a car that gives you 20 mpg, which I am not sure that you can.

8inVegas

i'm returning it on wednesday, if they like it or not. it's just so ******* inconvenient, i'm supposed to enjoy my car, but i've had nothing but problems with it. As msrecant said, the Lemon law could help. they have already done two reflashes in six month, so if they would do one more, that would be three tries to fix something. But either way, i'm returning it. i'm just gonna go up to the GM and tell him all the problems that i've had with it, that i'm tired of showing up every couple of weeks to get something fixed again, and that there is no way in hell that i'm going to leave with that car. if he doesn't want to, i'm simply going to tell him that he doesn't have an option and that i will have my lawyer down in less than an hour. what do you guys think?

HELAS

Hey everyone. As some of you might already know, I have a 1 month old 2005 '8 with only 2600kms. I have already had it in to Mazda twice (this morning included) to have my check engine light looked at with the same conclution. It is a flash program glitch. The oil temp. govener, at 73 degrees thinks the car is over heateng and triggers the check engine light. Apparentley, Mazda Canada does not have a flash fix and basically told me that there is nothing that they can do about it because this problem occours in about 4% of all RX-8's. Im having a hard time beleiving this outcome. If anyone is or has been in this boat before, PLEASE let me know about your solution, if any. Thanx -Alex

RX4+30Years=RX8

And in my case at 9 mpg as it is now the difference is 6111 gallons. Premium here costs about !.88, but for the sake of discussion since it might go down(haha) if it costs 1.80 a gallon, the difference is $11,000.00 or $2,200 per year or $183 per month or $45 per week or over $6 a day.

So what would happen to that $11K if I were not burning it up in my 8? It would be invested and since I have averaged 46% in my 401K for the last 5 years, I would be safe to assume that I can make at least 30% on that money over 5 years which is $10,353 for a total of $21,353.00 that this 9 mpg 8 is reaally costing me over 5 years .vs. a 20 mpg 8 and that is something to be concerned about because we are talking 2/3 the cost of just buying a replacement.

Paul_in_DC

Dammit man you're scaring me. I just got mine a couple weeks ago and no problems (yet - knock on veneer). I have noticed that my gas mileage has dropped steadily, but I tentatively attribute that to a heavy foot. But I seriously doubt that there's nothing they can do about the problem you described. Keep nagging them and good luck.

jsh1120

Alex,

Not a simple solution, but have you tried contacting a dealer in the US? From what I recall, the abortive CEL problem was the reason that the "M Flash" was halted in early November '04 (at least here in the US). A few weeks later, Mazda provided an updated version of the software and restarted the M flash procedure, claiming, I believe, to have resolved the problem.

Given that you've had your RX-8 for about a month, it could be that your car has the faulty software. Obviously, Mazda should be providing the same fix in both Canada and the US, but given the bureaucratic nature of this sort of thing and potential differences in pollution regs, it may be that the fix provided for the US may not be available (yet) in Canada.

Don't know if your problem could be resolved by having your PCM flashed in the US, or even if that is legal, but you might try inquiring.

Rotarian_SC

You don't need premium for an 8, take that down to 1.50 and you're at about $9k compared to a car which gets 20mpg. If I were you I would try and drive my 8 as hard as I could, redlining it a couple shifts each time you take it out. Also don't let it idle, and don't rev over 4-5k until it is warm. See how this fixes your gas milage, and if it doesn't and you are convinced to bring it in might as well have some fun with it beforehand.

Your 401k is not right because you are assuming that you dump all the money in at the start instead of at each year when you would save it, and you also are not accounting for inflation.

8inVegas

well guys, i'm supposed to go to the nissan dealership tonite. i owe just a little under
30 G's for my 8, and i told the guy over the phone that i wouldn't even consider buying a 350Z UNLESS they pay my entire rx-8 off. and the guy was like sure, we can do that. so i will go down there tonite and let you guys know, if that doesn't work out, i have to go to plan b and go to the mazda dealership tomorrow and raise all hell until they take the car back. i've never had this much fun owning a car, bt never had this many problems with a new vehicle. i don't know if both dealerships (nissan and mazda) are gonna try to **** with me because i'm only 20, but i don't let them play me for a sucker.what do you guys think? any advice on how to negotiate for both, getting the car paid off by nissan or on returning the car? what would be a better option? let me know soon guys, time is ticking. tick, tock, tick, tock

RX8-TX

Any dealer will try to **** with you. The best and only piece of adivse is, if you are not 100% convinced about an offer, walk away, relax, think about it and counter-attack on a later day. NEVER EVER let a dealer hold you for more than 30 minutes during negotiation.

HELAS

Guys, thanks for the input. Paul, if this problem comes up with your '8, which i really hope it doesent, let me know and i'll let u in as to what i did. jsh1120, I think in the end if nothing comes up then i will try to talk to someone in the states. Thanks again for the advise guys, keep 'em comming. -Alex

8inVegas

thanks guys, anybody else? i mean i've already been to the dealerships before (other ones) and they are trying to add negative equity into the new car. i dont play that, either pay it entirely off, or no deal.

Go48

Guess I'm missing something here. You owe $30K on the RX8 and the dealer is going to pay it off? Then you're going to buy a new 350Z for another $30-35K? So, that means they will finance the total cost of the deal, $60-65K, on a car that only costs 30-35K? Or do you think the Nissan dealer is going to just give eat the $30K you owe on the 8? None of this computes.

8inVegas

i plan on trading the rx-8 in, but what most dealerships will say is that i owe more than it's worth. so, what i will tell them is in order for me to buy the Z, they need to pay off the entire amount on the rx-8 to the bank when i trade it in. do you know what i mean? i don't want to have any negative equity, or as they say, be upside down.

RX4+30Years=RX8

Well, Mazda says to use premium, the owner's manual says to use premium, the darn gas door says to use Premium. I have only used premium in the car. And if I did drop it down to regular gas, the price of regular here on a good day is $1.65 or better for name brand gas so I don't know where you get $1.50.

The 401K number does account for putting it in once a month along with my other funds and the numbers I mentioned are adjusted for inflation.

Either way, I have driven the car hard and like a baby and it makes no difference in the mileage at all. Actually, driving it very hard (that beep means shift...right) does make it go up a couple of tenths.

RX8-TX

You are missing something. They are most likely going to take the 8 as a tradein. They will substract the trade in value from the loan payoff amount. Which will leave our 8inVegas fella' upside down. Meaning, the difference between the payoff and tradein will go towards the Nissan car he wants to buy. The difference may be close to 5-6K dollars (maybe more) against him.

That's what happens with cars. That's why its always good to give a sizeable downpayment (if financially capable) to not end up belly up.

8inVegas

i want them to pay off the entire car, they did that when i had my previous car (03 accord). i owed 23000 and they wanted t o give me 17000. and i told them that the only way i will buy the rx-8 is like this. pay off the accord, entire amount so i don't owe anything. i put 0 down on the accord and did the same thing when i bought the rx-8. i actually plan on doing the same thing today. have them pay off the rx-8, 0 down and we'll negotiate the price on the 350Z. it is possible, so i hope that nissan will play ball, if not, i will return the rx-8 to mazda because of all the problems i've been havin.

8inVegas

when we went in to buy the rx-8, i told them that i am willing to pay 550 bucks a month and NOT A PENNY MORE. my payments are 550 a month, so it is definently possible.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

there is a new tsb out with reflashes for the US/Canada and a seperate one for california for 2005 models

pkwa

I have been reading this thread for a couple of days and as I was driving around today, I figured the people complaining about their RX-8 probably are used to driving something like a Camry, Accord or Subaru and they are not used to a vehicle with character. If that is your background and what you are looking for, this RX-8 is not the vehicle for you.
This car has idiosyncrasies, it is a rotary powered sports car. What do you expect?
Do not get me wrong, I had the CEL lamp come on a couple of times, but that was fixed and that is all the problems I have had. I drive with the beep telling me to shift and I get 17 mpg.
This is the most civil car I have ever owned.
I get the technology of a Ferrari or a Porsche with the cost of a Honda, What is not to love?
Yes there are a few things I would change, it really needs more torque and I wish it had automatic headlights and fold down rear seats, but other than that it is ideal.
But then again my other “car” is a Ducati 998

So I guess it comes down to if you can’t handle a real car, go back to your Camry or accord or Taurus or whatever….

8inVegas

...or 350Z

RX8-TX

Trust me...it's going to have its kinks and trade-offs as well.

RX4+30Years=RX8

I really do wish I still had my RX-4. It had a 13B NA Rotery with no electronics. Yes that car also had problems and I went through 3 engines, but I love the rotery engine and that experience is what I was wanting from my 8.

For the record, I have never owned a Camry, Accord or Subaru. Allthough I have driven a 74 Subaru Brat in the snow once. That car had character as well. You know, the old itty bitty 4WD PU/car combo with the two rear facing seats in the bed.

I have owned other real cars with character, like my 72 Pantera that kept giving me headaches because I hit my head on the A piller because of the slope every time I got in. Lots of real leather there, even around the dash that enclosed the 0-200 mph speedo, 185 of those mhp that I personally observed.

There was my 76 Trans Am with the 455 SD 4-speed that was so finicky starting from a stand still that as soon as the clutch was completely released, the rear wheels would spin. I really liked that "real" shaker hood scoop.

Then there was a factory sleeper that I special ordered, a 78 Plymouth Fury 4-door sedan complete with the A36 police package and the last 440 interceptor they built. Ever seen a factory, unmodified 4-door sedan when you turn the wheels and stomp the gas dance around in circles with one front tire staying in place and both real tires boiling. That car was a real beast to drive. It would go 160 (on the calibrated and certified speedo and still have half the pedal to go) and the faster you went, the harder the front end squated from the wedge shape of the car. In turns and corners it was a beast to actually get it to make a turn, but I raced 16 modified Vettes and 15 stock Vettes at an autocross in Galveston once and my time beat all the stock Vettes and one of the modified.

Other cars with character include my 83 Delorean (a real dog as far as acceleration goes, but it had the Cool factor down, a 73 MG-B, a 92 Porsche and others.

What do I have now, a RX8 and a F150 pickup. Which would I like to have back? All of those mentioned, especially the RX4. That car would cruise at 100+ and get 22 mpg. Of all the above vehicles, which had the worst mileage? The RX8. The good news is that I believe that some day, hopefully soon, they will get the mileage problem on my RX8 fixed.

Don't confuse me with anyone that doesn't know what a real car is. I have owned everything from a rotery to a 4 banger to a couple 8 cylinder cars with too much HP to be very drivable in anything but a straight line.

I do agree aboout the torque, headlights and fold down rear seats.

An8inLAS

Just out of curiosity which dealer are you going to in Las Vegas? I have been taking mine to Courtesy on Sahara and found them more than willing to address all my concerns with great success.