timbo

Well done...and I was almost going to commend you on being a enlightened realist, until I saw the last part

Revolver

When this car was released it was relatively good value given the performance and other features when compared to what else was out there on the market. Indeed, many motoring journos thought it was a steal in the $50K's compared to what people were paying for other Jap performance cars like the S2000 and 350Z.

The real difference is that the market has moved on but the RX8 hasn't. Most of the people who wanted one now have one and there is now a trickle of demand instead of a flood.

When you add that to the strong AUS$, Mazda passing on tariff reductions and people thinking more about fuel consumption generally when buying a new car, it only figures that there had to be a drop in the new car price and therefore resale too.

It's a niche Japanese vehicle. Get used to it.

Personally, there's still nothing else out there remotely close to the price that does what I need it to and looks as good. Still a no-brainer to keep mine.

capncrunch

Fortunately I was lucky enough to sell mine just before they reduced prices and had the "run out" deals on the 06 models. Most of us bought this car with out hearts, not with our heads, but even so once it does come time to sell you really don't expect to have the same level of depreciation as a commodore/falcon. Mazda reducing their prices (such that now the MPS6 is dearer than the 8) and the runout pricing hasn't helped.

What irks me though is the cost of vehicles generally in this country. Converting the price of the base model 8 in Japan works out at about $25k in our money. Obviously this is a retail price in japan and Mazda Australia would be paying a fair bit less than that, you would assume. Apart from import tariffs (10% ?), what else do they have to pay?

it's not just Mazda, either. BMW (take a look at the price of the M5 in the UK, for example), Nissan (350Z in Japan is from about AU$35k) all do the same thing. Question is, why? Is it just simply because they can?

DMRH

Yes my friend. Its because they can. Mazda do around an 6-10% mark up on the M2 + M3 + M6 + MPV compared to Japanese retail pricing. Then hit the "Greedy button" on the RX-8 with its 100% mark-up (2003). Although since then you can get leather packs at $49k without too much haggling these days that brings the margin down a bit.

Its an Aussie thing too as the domestic pricing on the 350Z or BMW's Jaguars etc are all reasonable until they come down under then everyone gets crazy on the profitering of them.

How about any fool that buys the current Toyota Soarer. Last I checked, Toyota sold it for $60k in Japan. Toyota Oz import it, slap on a Lexus badge then sell them for $160k. I just shake my head in disbelief when ever I see one on the roads.

Cromax

That's not really all that good ... but we can't do anything about it so it's futile complaining.

Perhaps this is a good point to mention this though: next time you buy a car, make sure you can get them to give you a guaranteed buyback for the balloon/residual if you're leasing or hire purchasing. In today's market it's a bit more beneficial.

Revolver

I think Mazda also has to pay duty and other taxes (e.g. GST) beside the tariff.

There is also a dealer network in a far flung, sparsely populated country to support and the cost of shipping, etc.

Not saying they're not going the gouge but there are a number of add-ons you need to consider.

Basically, it's all supply and demand. Porsche is one of the worst with cynical pricing (see Cayman) but people still pay it because, to quote another mark-up merchant, they 'just want one'.

Cars are toys, not investments, unless you get into serious collecting (i.e. not driving). They will cost you money from the time you sign on the dotted line, so there's not too much to be gained by agonising over issues like resale, etc.

I suppose resale for some models is better than others on a percentage of new price comparison but if that is your primary motivation when buying a performance car, you're a stranger person than me.

enforcer

...couldn't have put the point across any better!

Black-8

Speaking of which, Mazda6's price has been slashed as well. The classic (lowest) variant is now gone, so the sport variant becomes the lowest variant.

price wise:
Sports: $28,990 (replacing the old Classic $31,980)
Classic Sports: $39,990 (replacing the old Luxury Sports $40,955)

The turbocharged diesel wagon is $35,205 (similar level to Sports).

Looks like it's catching up on the other models... waiting for the MPS to go down muahahaha :D

Revolver

Bit confused by that (since I own one). The Ltd is the entry level model (or was). The Classic is the mid-ranger and then the Luxury is at the top. There's never been a Sports designation (unless they've just introduced it to move some more metal).

They've probably dropped prices because the new 6 is due to be shown at the Tokyo show in October and will be on sale here next year. They did something similar with the Tribute before the CX-7 went on sale.

Revolver

Well, there you go...

http://www.mazda.com.au/mazda6/prices.aspx?id=92

Black-8

I got it from one of the article in carsguide (or carsales, can't remember). well, pretty much spot on, except for $1,000 difference in base model LOL

ASH8

Well..
Just to get on my horse again....

So now the Aussie is 84cent, the yen 104.00 to the Aussie...

When are we going to see REAL price Reductions on ALL Fully Imported Japanese cars.....not just a piddly $1000.00.

Remember 2003 the Aussie was 0.57cents and the Yen 60.

I recall in the 70's when Japanese cars were cheap...like they are in America...

Bob Hawke floats the dollar and the prices doubled, and they never have come down since.

Today there is only a 16% difference in Yen value between the US and Australia.
US car duty and taxes (GST/VAT) are very similar to us.

We complain about the price of Fuel/Petrol....and accept the absurdly high prices we pay for the hardware..

Cromax

Umm ... ok, I'm going to say this without sounding like a pompous windbag. The Australian Dollar needed to be floated to improve its strength in terms of trade, thinking of it for your own personal gain is something that is one eyed and really really gets on my nerve, as if it wasn't floated in 1983, what would Australia do for income?

Quit whinging. At the end of the day, who cares?

timbo

It's a bit more complex than relative exchange rates. Australian port costs are among the most expensive in the world, and volumes into Australia are pretty low. Then you have to get the cars to dealers around the country...

Quite aside from that, I have just returned from 3wks in Europe and the UK. Stunned to see the RX-8 being heavily advertised in the UK at 0% finance. Only saw one 8 in London, and none in Europe. It's a specialty car, and the other thing that appears to be affecting it is its emissions figures, which are still high in this increasingly greenhouse gas conscious world. But how I would have loved stillto have had mine on some of those European roads!

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

Simple - they needed to drop the price so they could slot the new supercharged MS8 in at 60k ....

Cromax

Or you could live in Japan for 12 months and send one over as a private import?