So I had my car in today to get some things looked at.
1) Rust - There is rust in the rear driver’s side wheel well. Right away the service advisor tried to deny any coverage for this stating that a rock chip started it. I have issues with that response. It’s just so convenient for them. I mean really, have you ever heard of rocks getting in the wheel well? Besides, I still don’t think rust should be forming on this car in 3 years. It took 8 years fro this to turn up on my crappy Neon. They took pictures and said, we'll get back to you....didn't say when. I'm not really holding my breathe either.
2) The Wheel well plastic liner has popped out for the second time. The comment from the service advisor was, “hey, how did you get that to do that”? (you’ll see this is starting to be a common response)
3) The hex nut that holds the bolts for the right side of the license plate fell off. In the morning I explained to the S.A. that I was replacing the license plate frame because it was showing wear. When I removed the bolt the hex nut fell out into the back of the bumper. Having to somehow secure the plate for the time being I but a larger longer bolt through the hole to hold it in place. It is just pressure fit for now. Fast forward to the end of the day. I am told basically that they have to take the bumper off to fix it and that I shouldn’t have but that bolt in the hole because that made the nut fall off. Did I want to pay for the bumper to be pulled off to fix this? Excuse me; did you not listen to what I told you in the morning? It fell of o its own. Anyway I was running late to pick up the kids so I couldn’t argue. To add insult to this, they charged me $19.90 to “Re-attached license plate cover” What? You charged mw $20 dollars to tell me what I already knew and to use the same over sized bolt to hold the plate on. Unbelievable!!
4) I have been getting a bad smell from my car ever since the second engine change. Yup, I said second engine change. When the car is warmed up and you have the windows down there is a smell that I can best describe as gear oil. Its bad enough that you don’t want to have the windows down. So I complained about this when the engine was changed but at the time was told that maybe there is some excess oil on the engine or surrounding parts from the engine change….fair enough. Only…the smell has never gone away. I have a bout 20,000 kms since the engine change and it is still there. The said they took it for a test drive and couldn’t smell anything. I wonder if they rolled down the windows? Within 3-5 minutes of driving away from the dealership, there was that smell again. Anyway, they did a complete check for leaks and found nothing. What I found was a $200 charge on my bill for looking the car over for leaks! I flat out told them I would not pay for that.
5) So the best part is I had my car at the dealership at 7:30 and was told that it would be ready at 4:30. Fair enough. I had to pick up my kids from after school care at 5:30. I get to the dealer at 4:45. I find out that the paper work is not ready. It took the S.A 15 minutes to get the paper work done. Then another 15 minutes arguing about charges until I was too frustrated and too late picking up the kids to argue any more. Rest assured I’m going to make a big stink about this one. From my first engine change I have the contact info from a guy they flew in from Toronto to approve my engine swap the first time. I’m going to give him a call and start pushing buttons.
I feel like a manic depressive with this car. It’s so nice looking and so fun to drive yet the quality of my car has been a complete piece of ****.

2 engines
Air bags and air bag sensors
Both seat warmers
3 sets of brake pads
Numerous flashes
Leaking injector
Climate control replacement

This list goes on and on. I’m just so pissed off and at the end of my rope. Thank god I leased this car. I can’t wait when tat fight comes up upon returning the car. It will be interesting what they say about the rust then.



sorry for ranting - I'll keep you posted on what happens.


sorry for ranting - I'll keep you posted.

 

Damn, that's real bad luck you're having with the 8...My 2-yr lease is coming to an end this fall and for the most-part of my two years with the 8, it has been NEAR problem free...and it's going to be a very tough choice deciding to keep it or not...I'm afraid all the problems might start showing up after I decide to keep it

Sunridge service has been 'not bad' (not great either) for me...
-Gave me some hassle for brake squeel, gave me a lame reason for the squeel that was occurring, so I had to waste my time and make another appointment this time brining in a copy of the TSB (only needed to do it once, been fine since then)...got it done last summer
-I told them I have a rattle in sunroof, and they said they couldnt replicate it...and it started raining when I was picking up the 8, so I couldnt get them to go on a drive with me...when I got home, rain stopped and there was the rattle again...got them to look at it last summer, it's still not fixed, will try again with the sunroof tsb this time...
-Had my hand brake handle replaced twice under warranty...they were quite good with this...then again it's an easy job to do...
My most recent visit for summer tire rotation/balance...they put 34 psi in 3 of my tires...while one of them was at 28...starting to wonder if they even balanced the tire...seems like they missed a tire...


When is your lease up? What cars are you considering?

 

I believe there is a TSB about the sun-roof.


MY lease is up next year. I did a 4 years lease specificly because the 2004 was the first model year and that always worries me.



If I was to buy a new car today it would be either a G35 coupe or look at the new IS250/350. Those cars have been growing on my lately. MY limitation for a car it that it needs to seat 4 people.

 

 

wow, didn't know Kramer was that bad... good that I do not live or work near the south end of the city. When my first service comes, I'll likely go to either Sunridge (close to work) or North Hill (a little longer drive but have heard some things from others).

 

go to north hill

 

Yup, I saw the TSB awhile ago, but I just never had time to print it off and get them to do it...

G37 coupe!!!! That's out this August I think...

haha, that picture rocks....

 

Hey Rotten, sorry to hear about your problems. I guess you were dead on with '04 thing. Exactly the reason why I wanted to wait a year. (That and to save up money) Hope things are better for your next car. This RX-8 so far has been the best car ownership I've experienced yet.

 

Rotten, sorry to hear about the amount of troubles. Guess I'm lucky with my 04 --> the most that has ever happened to me is a little rattle of the passenger seat

Cloud7 --> go to NorthHill. The techs have been there for quite awhile (not much turnover), so you know it's not some noob doing the work for you. I've had a chat with some of the guys and a couple of them are rotor heads.

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles.
Dont give up on the car....out of the thousands of 8's out there, I think most are pretty good.....maybe you got a lemon.
Calgary owners are kinda stuck with bad service. I heard that all the dealerships in Calgary are owned by the same guy, and he has given Mazda Canada a lot of grief, and without spending an insane amount of money they cant do anything about him....until he screws-up.

 

Sorry to hear about your car. I think you should give it up. Who gives a **** that it is an RX-8. The majestic, nostalgic feeling every one has about this car is some what ridicules. It's just a car for crying out loud!!!! I personally have not had any quality issues with my 8, so that makes me content and pleased from my overall experience. I used to own a 1990 RX7, man, that car was a total piece of work! 2 engines and a tranny later. Glad I got rid of it. My point is, You expect a level of quality and reliability when purchasing a new vehicle, It doesn’t matter what model or make it is. When you have your own personal grief, It is just not worth the hassle. In my opinion, people who tie a cult-like attachment to a vehicle need to be checked in.

 

FYI, I believe the 3 Mazda dealerships in Calgary are owned by people in the same family, not the same owner though. North Hill was amazingly better than Kramer for my purchase, though I went to Kramer for my one flooded engine and they were fine. Nothing to argue about though.

 

Sorry to hear that Rotten. Having just relocated to Calgary, my experience has been with North Hill ...they have been great so far. As for the car itself, like you I am in the same boat (although mine has been near flawless, but I have an 2005), my lease is up next year. I love it, it looks great, but like others you wonder whether is worth keeping especially if you plan to go FI....the new G, or the new 330CI are my prefences right now