FritzMan

OK, so today's the day that cars are apparently supposed to appear. Given that the 23rd has also been mentioned in Southern Ontario deliveries it might be possible. Combined with the fact that Montreal has one, and the east coast is within a day or two, we should be seeing something possibly today. I called Carling (cars are all sold out apparently???) and Performance and nothing yet - but trucks usually appear late morning early afternoon. I didn't call Bank Street because I think I've harrased them enough and I wanted to give other Ottawa members a chance to do some leg work as well (Hawesbury/Pembroke/Argus/Bank Street).

Wing

I got a call from Hawkesbury! They are IN!!!!!

Can you believe, they actually called???

Wow!

EDIT: Assuming they come from Montreal, I would wager, that Performance would get them next, then hull, than bank st. then carling (if they are getting any).

I wonder if I should head over there and wait for the truck!

Wing

Sorry I got TOO excited, not in, but WILL be in tomorrow!

I will be heading to Hawkesbury most likely tomorrow after work to see them!

Unfortunately they are not open on the weekends in the summer.

This is odd, it makes sense for computer stores and such, but car dealers? In Canada? Shouldn't they be open ALL weekend? Do they not sell MORE cars in the summer?

Wing

Oh, the story changed.

Now it's, come on in, we will discuss price, if we make a deal then you can test drive the managers car!

BAH! I told him, I would be buying in 10 months, now he says.

"They only have 700 for canada for this year, if you wait till spring it will be too late"

Ummm HELLO! Spring is NEXT YEAR!

He is basically pressuring me. I won't buy with my current lease in hand, I don't want to lose that much money.

If Mazda is so stupid that they will not be releasing more cars in Canada in teh spring and will be waiting till next september than I'll just buy something else. I'm sure Mazda will not want to miss ANOTHER summer driving season would they???


P.S. Someone might take over my lease, if that happens, then I WILL buy right now.

FritzMan

Wing - Are they still sticking to delivery date of today though?

It's got to be soon if TO and Montreal have some. Hell, even NovaScotia is getting them... Oohhh, that's right! We're only the Nation's capital. So maybe a week or so after Newfoundland if it's not too much of a hassle eh Mazda?

Wing

Yes, he said I could go look at it today if I wished to.

But just look, I am not going to drive all the way to hawkesbury to "look" if i can test drive sure.

I might give Carling Mazda a call if they have one, I'll drive to carling.

FritzMan

Just got a call, Red GS @ Bank Street Mazda!!!

Jasper_the_2nd

I believe that was a shot. Yep, definately.

I'd be pissed but I just spent 2 hours driving my new Silver GT:D

FritzMan

All I can say is WOW!!! Beautiful car, what a magnet for attention. Red is darker than expected, not burgandy, but therre was some hint of wine color, very nice. Wheels and stance are just about perfect.

I closed the deal and decided to get it instead of the GT. She'll be ready for pickup tomorrow. Red GS was my original pick for the lightest (performance), cheapest RX-8. I do feel a twinge of guilt not getting the GT, as the extras are plentiful for only 3K but I was given no guarantees if or when a red GT without sunroof would appear, and I wasn't sure how I'd like the red interior especially for the long haul. Probably what convinced me to go for the GS was that my FD was a base as well, and I loved it.

Got to put 15km in a test drive. Here's the summary. By far, besides it's beauty, the best feature are the brakes. Man, they are wicked! The power down low was more than sufficient and up high, it built quickly but I limited myself to under 7K. Typical smooth rotary feel. Tranny was very short shifting and easy to use. Much easier than the RSX-S I previously tested in which I missed gears several times. Steering and handling as expected were great. Cloth seats were the grippiest I've ever tired, zero slipping around. Seats are supportive but not as bolstered as I expected - but it still held me perfectly in place. The "me up front and me in back" test (I'm 5'9) was comfortable and not as claustrophobic as I thought it would be. One of the sales guy, 6'4" fit in the back with me up front as well. Trunk was bigger than I thought it would be. AC did cycle a bit but no biggie for our climate. View out the front was really good. Sound system will be the best I ever had, but I'm not an music freak. Can this car ever stick! I tried several times to kick the *** out and no luck - I think the tires will stay.

Wing

WOAH! Fritzman, come on OVER! PLEASE PLEASE Can you come over with your car??? I want to see it, please visit me

I'll PM my phone # if you don't mind coming over!

I talked to Hawkesbury Mazda again, the guy said he got in 7, sold 4 today already. If I wanted my GT I would have to call him back FAST as they were going quick.

Today, fait called. Someone asked to take over my lease! They will come look at the car tomorrow.

The dealership is closed on saturday so at least they can't sell it then!

mac

Just called around, only Bank St has a red GS (or was that had one, way to go Fritzman) and Hawkesbury has a Tit (demo) on the lot. Argus has none, Performance has none and neither know when they are going to get them. Hawkesbury still has 3 cars available, 1 grey GT with Nav, a GS and an auto. Argus still don't know what they are getting and I didn't ask Performance.

Hey Wing did you call Carling? Good luck with getting out of the lease.

Wing

I called Carling and left a message. No response yet.

Sweet, I didn't ask the guy at Hawkesbury which colour the demo will be (demo / managers car). I really want to see that taupe leather.

The Tit GT with Moon & NAV is what I want minus the NAV. I can't really afford the extra $3k, I would rather put that into tires.

I was told they would trade it if they could find one without NAV.... apparently performance is getting one late august or early september.

If I do get out of my lease, I might bite the bullet if the GT with NAV is not sold yet.

Bulldog6670

My exact words FritzMan. WOW!!!

Congrats to you. My salesperson just called to let me know all of my accessories are installed. All that's left is clean-up, so I'll be driving off tomorrow morning also.

FritzMan

Jasper_the_2nd - He, he.. Still friends?

Wing - I'll be around tomorrow so I should be able to come by as I'll be driving around all day/night anyway.

More thoughts now that I've calmed down a bit and had a second visit (while they were inspecting my leased Protege). Shifter is very nice, no issue with the rotor shape. The car does indeed seem to run hot, AC was quickly needed with the windows up (although it was a hot muggy afternoon). Buffeting with the windows down is minimal. After idling for only 5 minutes, the hood was pretty damn hot! Steering wheel is very FD like, small and thick. Pedals were great for heel and toe and a very nice finish. Dash is very cool, too bad they didn't follow the blue/red lighting theme into the vent display above the radio. Radio display was a little confusing but I really didn't put any processing power into figuring it out. Clutch is light and picks up nicely, throttle response, while still not a lively as most 4 cylinders, is definitely better than my FD was. Exhaust note was almost a little too quiet, I can see a new cat-back coming in for the spring to increase the sporting experience. There was some minimal body roll (autoX maneovers though) but overall it was very well composed. Lots of space on the wheel for another 1" of width (ie:245). The 225s definitely tapered to the tread from the rim.

Things I didn't care for (and I'm being picky here guys) was the door arm rest design, the piano gloss finish on some of the panels, the seats do feel a little high and the bottom cushion can't really be tilted back (probably for comfort of rear passenger's feet). The fabic on the rear of the front seats could have been a little thicker and better quality. The front passenger foot well does intrude a bit.

Overall it is everything I hoped for and definitely worth the wait. I can't wait to put the miles on now!

Jasper_the_2nd

Fritzman - no prob.
Congrats on the car. I followed a red GS back from the autoport today (my dealer was bringing up the other car that came in).
I like the red a lot more than I thought I would. It isn't an brilliant arrest me red; it's nice and subdued.

My only problems with my car were all me: the clutch is way tighter than my 8 year old mx-3's; the throttle takes a bit to get used to when pulling away from a stop (but luckily it has traction control , and you really need to watch the revs when downshifting from 6th to 5th (at least when you end up in 3rd... )

250+ km today, should be well over 1000 by monday.

Wing

Fritzman, you have a PM!

Midnight Flyer

Way to go Fritz.

There is an autox on Sunday the 3rd set up by the Underground Miata club at the JDS parking lot off highway 16. Why not come out and show us what it can do. The day is usually reserved for Miata but I am sure many would like to see it run.

http://www.ottawamiata.net/future.htm

FritzMan

OOOPS, no deal.

Last night I was told that there was a problem with my leased car. I was ensured that everything was ok with the car (was 10,000 km under it's allocated mileage, mint condition), but they said they can't get enough $$$ from it to cover the RX-8. I told them them that it was their problem, not mine as they had twice confirmed our agreement as a deal. I hate to pay MSRP and all their others admin costs but I kept my mouth shut while getting the tally b/c I had agreed in advance to pay that. I can easily afford to cover the difference, but I'm very particular to keeping deals and self goals. I will not move.

I'm disappointed and a little embarrased to have promoted them - but honestly I'm hardly surprised given this industry and the fact that nothing is guaranteed until it is in possession. At least I got to take one out for a spin.

Good luck and have fun guys.

Wing

That bites! Basically they probably BS'ed you then figured you would bite anyways.

I wonder if I should contact them. Heck if I get my lease takeover today, I could drive a red gs home saturday? I really want the GT but I could save tons of money!

So Fritzman is it out on the lot or in the showroom?

mdmaclean

I have just returned from Performance Mazda. They had a blue GS 6speed arrive, and sold it this morning. I had a chance to sit in it and meet the new owner.

I found the seats comfortable, and the styling very striking. I am just waiting for my titianium GT....

Wing

Sweet! Did you tell the guy about the forum?

Man I called Carling yesterday and left a message, still no returned phone call!

mdmaclean

He did not seem that technical computer-wise, but was a car guy. It did motivate me to go to the bank and be ready with money... Monday could be my day.

Wing

I looked at the car that Fritzman drove. It has 19Km on it!

Anyway, it was AWESOME! LOVED IT! LOVED IT!

I don't care what I get now, just give me an RX-8!

GS/GT colour I don't care, must be 6spd though.

I got to start it, sounded sweet!

mac

Hi Fritzman,

So that was yours that I saw today at Bank. I got a call from Mike today saying that there was an 8 available. I met him the first time when I was looking at the 6. He didn't know much about the 8 then and he still doesn't know much about it now. But at least he's up front about it.

I think the reason that they backed out of your deal was because they now believe that they can sell all their cars at full MSRP without having to shell out top dollars for trade-ins. They (all the dealers) think that they have a feeding frenzy going on. Personnally I believe that it is the same people placing orders (requests) at all the dealers which make it seem like there is a lot of demand when in actual fact it's only a few people. Anyways, they don't have 6spd GT's available only auto's and GS's. But if you say you want a fully loaded GT, I think one will magically become available

I actually took a drive down to Hawkesbury to see the GT but the owner had already left for the day. They only had a silver GS demo on the lot. I believe that they have a GT available but it is fully loaded (Nav) (wonder if it's the same car as Bank), they have a couple of GS's and a GT auto that are still unspoken for (they just don't know when to expect them). It looks like there isn't much of a demand for auto's (and they are genuinely surprised ) and the GS's are also fairly easy to come by.

I suspect that they'll be getting new shipments in November/December regardless of "only 700" for 2003 if they do sell out by the end of August.

Even if they do, I think I'll wait until next March. No point in paying full MSRP just to drive it in winter. By then we should be seing plenty of supply and we won't have to pay top $$.

FritzMan

Mac, I'm 100% sure that's the case (getting top dollar for the car). Frankly, if I walked up today out of the blue, I would totally expect that attitude. What pev'd me was that twice I was told we had a deal months in advance of RX-8 arrival. I arranged that so I didn't have to go through what I had to today. I'm surprised they're willing to **** off a repeat customer (3rd car) for only a couple grand profit through someone else. Obviously they won't be getting my business again.

I like to take the positives out of incidents, and in this case I was able to confirm that I like the car, but not sure GS is what I want. I'm thinking more and more of ordering in the winter for a spring p/u of the *exact* spec that I'd like.