rotorian

Does anyone have any new info on our cars?
If you look through the other threads and posts you will see that the Americans are getting e-mail saying their cars are shipped.
One member who works for a dealer has been deciphering their VIN's with the order info.
Does anyone here have a VIN yet? Maybe we should try asking one of our dealers to do the same for us.

I called Mazda Canada customer relations this week, they were useless as usual. "The dealer has to speak to his Zone Rep to get the VIN, then they can update you" No cars are here yet (Duh) because the President doesn't have his yet"

A Mississauga dealer (Manager)said "it will be 2 months before the cars arrive, but you never know, they could just show up one day"

I asked him if he could check a print out or something, he said not on Japan built cars.

Jasper_the_2nd

I just got off the phone with my dealership. One of the sales guys said that 125 shipped out last week (tuesday I believe) and another ship was due to leave on thursday.

Sharky

What I'd like to know is why can't we be kept as informed as our South of the Border cousins. I realize we're a smaller bunch, but the complete lack of information is disconcerting. If I didn't have this forum to vent and keep informed, I might have cancelled my order by now... (I say might because dammit, I love this car!). Please somebody at Mazda throw me a frickin bone!

gord boyd

I'm one who did vote with my feet, but as Rotorian pointed out,
this means didley-squat to MCI. I just happen to think transparency, and caring for customers costs so little and means so much in terms of word-of-mouth.

For example, a weekly e-mail to Mazda dealers on logistics of 1st few shipments of RX-8's is not that difficult a task. If you knew they got that on say Thursday morning, you could call Thursday lunch.

Of coarse, direct e-mails, like the six promised to first US customers could also have been coordinated by a secretary.
No one could convince me otherwise.

One more thought. Mazda is selling hope with their zoom zoom theme, and the emotional appeal. Anticipation amongst you guys
is a by-product of this hope. Maybe Mazda Canada is a bit afraid
of what they've unleashed. But it is manageable! At the end of the day, you'll all be a bunch of happy puppies, (and I'll be rooting for you knowing what I do about the technical strengths
and marketing weaknesses). Althou' I've got another path,
you have you monitors watching and supporting. I've refrained here from promoting the Dell business model, but why not have e-mails of the president on down posted on Mazda Canada's website! What a scary thought! So I have not posted them.

FritzMan

Yeah, I hear your frustration. You would have thought that the news would become more and more frequent and with greater certainty as we approach the time when the cars have to be here.

My dealerships doesn't really know what's coming or when, but they figure sometime this month. WIth the waiting, I find myself now questioning my the option and color selection. I initially wanted to go with a red GT, but my wife really likes the Ti color (my second favorite), and I'm starting to second guess my GT selection. I'd like to have all the options except for leather which looks rather cheap and slippery in the pictures. I guess color and options will be sorted out once the car is seen in the flesh eh?

Gord96BRG

I just spoke with the Sales Manager at my dealer - he said they know almost nothing! He was told on Monday that the Canadian RX-8s are on the boat - but he hasn't been told how many cars he is actually going to get, much less any info about colours, models, options, etc...

Regards,
Gordon

TiRX8

I'm thinking early August or September after I spoke to my dealer.

JohnnyG

I had almost an identical experience when I bought a '91 Dodge Stealth not long after they were announced. I waited 4 months and in the meantime, nobody had a lick of information to give me until it was on a train to the dealership. Then they told me it was red instead of black. It turned out to be black anyway, but lacking the CD player I ordered!

Sounds like little has changed in over 10 years!

Jasper_the_2nd

I called te dealership again this morning. They were able to give me the serial number for my Silver GT, and confirmed it is on boat. They expect it in Vancouver by wednesday.

He said the first boat is all for eastern Canada, with a second boat (probably the one that was supposed to leave Japan last thursday) carrying the cars for the west. This is apparently so they can release them across Canada at the same time, since it will take a week or two to ship them across the country from Vancouver.

FritzMan

Edit: Sorry, I just figured you weren't on the west coast, but east coast.

Hmmm, I wonder how long to cross the country? Will call my dealership to see if their story is similar...

Jasper_the_2nd

Guess I wasn't clear.
I'm on the east coast.
The cars are all shipping into Vancouver, then getting shipped by rail across the country.
Mine should be in Vancouver by wednesday, but it will probably be a couple of weeks until it gets here.
That should give them enough time to get the cars from the second boat to western dealerships as well.

LiQuiDLaM

"All RX-8's for canada will be coming through the Fraser Wharves docks...first boat is due in June 17th... "

http://www.fraserwharves.com

Info courtesy of mpsport.net

FritzMan

Good find LiQuiDLaM.

So when can we expect reconaissance pictures?

Wing

Hot Damn! That's today! The 8's are coming!!

FritzMan

Hey Wing, did you pre-order an 8? I'm trying to get some firm info from Bank Street as to where I am on the list. I've only been reassured that once my spec comes in, I'll get a call. The question is if that spec is in their first allocation or not. I think they still don't know exactly what they're getting - which is a little weird considering that the cars on the boat should be allocated by now. I was also told that cars can sometimes sit at the port for a month before being released, although I'm sure there's significant pressure to expose these cars ASAP.

Wing

No, I didn't pre-order (I wish!)..... my lease on my current car ends June 1st 2004

It seems (with all the delays) it will even be difficult to get an RX-8 by then! I sure hope not as this is the car that is #1 on my list.

I'll take delivery early if need be, I'll just absorb the cost my lease for the rest of the year I don't really care

FritzMan

My lease (Protege ES GT) doesn't expire until Feb 2005. The plan was to bridge the gap from my FD to the RX-8. Fortunately, because the Protege is owned by Mazda Canada, it easier and less expensive to get out of it if I'm purchasing another Mazda.

RX8ater

Hi,

Just an FYI.

I decided to get my deposit back on the RX8. Couldn't wait any longer.

Just took delivery on my 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege in Titanium. Those who ordered the 8 in Titatnium will love it.

Yee haa

LiQuiDLaM

Congrats on the 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege!

It's officially June 17th here in BC, so expecting the boat to arrive here today! And then you'll most likely need to give them a few more days so they can inspect the vehicles and process through all the required procedures before loading them up for dealerships! There's a rumour going around that the first batch of 8s are gonna be railed to Eastern Canada! I'm not heading down to the port today but I think my sources will be and might recon some photos! If i do happen to get my hands on them, I'll see whether i can post 'em up here!

Doctorr

The 17th has came & went - any sightings at Fraser Wharf?

Wing

Today will be an easy day for me to remember, if the RX8's are here!

It's my b-day today, so I will forever remember when the 8's landed

Jasper_the_2nd

Gave the dealership another call.
He confirmed they were in port yesterday.
They're hopeful that they'll be showing as on rail by friday or monday.
And they're talking the first week of July for delivery.

So much for concentrating on work this afternoon......

LiQuiDLaM

Happy Birthday Wing!!

no one i know has gone down to the port, so no pix yet! everyone so busy lately, i'd drive down but i'm doing Provincials right now! :o

rotorian

The salesman at my dealer is calling me back shortly with my VIN!

It will be interesting to see if our American friends can decode it as we have seen them do for their cars.

I'll post the info soon as I get it!

Jasper_the_2nd

I'm interested in seeing another Canadian VIN.

Mine is JM1FE173X40100839.

This should be a silver GT 6 speed, no moonroof, no nav.