that's a great idea for a weekend trip.

 

not exactly my first choice, but whenever a manufacturer gives you freebies at thrashing their cars around on any type of track- i'm there. (free t-shirt, chocolate chip cookies and snacks too- so what the heck right?)

so, this was the Volvo c60 driving (auto-x) event this weekend at Santa Anita, Arcadia. pretty fun, and lines weren't too bad, so i got to get in a couple runs...

that said, the volvo c60 is a plush, comfortable luxury sedan that's "kind of" sporty. i have no idea how they get off saying that it's a luxury sport, cuz it has a lotta feedback problems. for one, there is an immediate very noticeable acceleration lag coming out of the turns. dunno if it has anything to do with the all-wheel drive, but it was hella annoying. almost like a persistent dead air space on the throttle... almost every car i tried there yesterday had this- in varying degrees. and, on the time trial car it was the worst, and i really puked like heck. so, needless to say- my time really sucked.

on the longer course- which was the funner one- it was still very prevalent as well. but, overall, the car is just heavy and you really feel the weight being thrown around- tho the body roll is surprisingly better than expected.

my last run of the day i pushed it a bit harder and drifted nicely on the last big hairpin and basically took out an entire row of cones... they closed the track after me, but it was almost closing time anyways. xP well, i'm pretty sure it was the tires of that car- cuz they looked kinda bald to me and that car just didn't grip as well from the get go.

but, anyhoo... for the target demo of that car- ie middle-class families who don't auto-x, i'm sure it would suit them just fine. but, sports car the volvo is not... but, we all knew that already. it has THE most comfortable seats though for a lux sedan tho...

i wish more car companies would do these kinda events.

 

Attn: Keith!
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...+reimbursement

 

Detrich...and you didnt tell any of us? Was it by invite only?

So what about the trip?

 

it was invite + walk in... i wasn't sure if you guys would've wanted to trek all the way up to my neck of the woods just to do a few laps... <lol> i know for sure case, cesar, and keith wouldn't- since they autocross every month at the speedway already... next time i'll remember to mention it tho, so u can decide...

 

I would have gone.


Keith: do you have your clutch invoice handy? I'm curios to see what the labor rate was for them installing a clutch pedal. (total time and cost)

 

Ja post it I would love to take any car on da track.

 

Lucky7 does it for $300 for an FC and you can trust them with your car. I bet the labor rate is the same for an RX-8 but who knows.

 

^that sounds about right.

So my car was has this miss fireing issue (so says cesar) and it usually only happenes on HOT days but it happened yesterday on the way to San Diego. And now this time the engine light came on. Now the car is out of warrenty so i am guessing it might be better to go to a rotary shop? to get it checked out. When i started out this morning the light was still on. According to the manual I am supposed to take it in and stop driving it if possible (not really possible at the moment). Any suggestions?

 

loren: did the CEL ever flash or it just came on and stayed solid?
Step 1: get the code read. Does Cesar have a code reader?

 

I did keep my invoice, and the busted clutch pedal as I knew this would eventually end up as a recall or reimbursement. Was glad to hear that news from Loren last night. I didn't have any letters from Mazda in my mail last night...and I still need to check that thread Loren....I think I'll go check it now.

As for cost, I think it ended up being around 450 total. I'll see if I can remember to get the invoice tonight and post the numbers back later.

 

loren> u can't be out of warranty, because the engine is 8 years 100,000 miles... the dealer has to check it out under that warranty i think... dont they?

 

nope.
Loren is outside of his standard bumper to bumper / power train warranty and the 8 years / 100,000 mile is strictly for the engine.
misfires are ignition related so it wouldn't necessarily qualify.

 

wow, jorge... spoken like a mazda service manager...

well, if it were me i'd play dumb and say the check engine light is on and don't say anything else... they can't charge u for diagnosing it if it's a "possible" engine problem can they?

i found this too http://projects.latimes.com/nhtsa/

 

yes, they can charge you a diagnostic fee and they will.
IF the light is found to be caused by a failed motor (or related code) then they will reimburse you. If not, you've already paid for it...

I should be a Mazda Service Manager, I know way more then most of those guys but somehow I get the feeling that the pay isn't all that great...

 

No it just stayed on. Per the manual a flashing code is "pull over right now". Some cars they change colors. Yes Cesar does have a reader, i will see if he is busy...but doesnt Sears read codes for free?

 

Forget the manual.
Have Cesar read it and let us know what it says

 

Here are the results from the invoice for my clutch replacement:

Parts: 244.98
Labor: 190.00
Tax: 18.99

Total: 434.98

Labor was listed as "78469 Clutch pedal bracket has broken 2.0 replaced clutch pedal."

 

^ Whoa thats cheap labor. Where was this at?

 

well the code/light went off when i pulled my car in the garage but it should still be registered right?

 

Keith> Mazda just mailed out clutch replacement reimbursement forms. I got mine in the mail 2 days ago...

Basically, it says if you have a cracked or worn clutch pedal, they'll fix it for free. And, if you've replaced one out of pocket, submit the form along with a copy of the invoices and they'll reimburse.

Dunno if it applies if you already sold the car tho... =(

 

who says he needs to tell them he sold the car?

 

^it should and i believe it does?

 

it should absolutely, 100% cover Keith.
bottom line:

a part that has now been declared defective on 2004 - 2008 RX-8's did in fact fail while the vehicle was owned by Keith
Keith then had to pay for the repairs out of his pocket.
Now those repairs will be covered under the warranty.

Regardless of who owns the car NOW, that part failed while the vehicle was in his posession and the person who incurred the expense has the right to ask for reimbursement.

 

I have not yet received a notice from Mazda...and even though our household owned 2 RX8s, we own neither one of them now, and most likely, the notices will go to the current owners.

But, thankfully, I am the one with the invoice, and the one with the broken part.

I printed out the forms which were posted in the other thread that Loren linked to...and have filled out the forms to be mailed when I get home tonight.

We'll see what type of response I get.

I am not concerned that I'll get the reimbursement, but I am worried about 95 dollars of the cost...this is why.

I went in 500 miles prior to the pedal snapping because the clutch pedal was squeeking very loudly, and it was becoming nearly impossible for me to shift gears. Even pressing the pedal all the way to floor didn't ensure that the clutch was fully disengaging...and often I was having to be very cautious with my shifts.

Went in with that complaint, and they charged me 95 dollars to work on the adjustment rod to try to resolve the complaint of difficult shifts and pedal sqeek.

Went in 500 miles later when the pedal had actually snapped off and they gave me a 95 dollar discount on the pedal replacement.

...so it looks at though I only spent 340 bucks on the pedal replacement, when I actually spent 95 additional dollars to put a "band aid" on a failed part...which snapped 500 miles later.