I have some basic questions here:

I lease my car. If I put Mazdaspeed parts does that void my warranty and when my lease is done, because its Mazdaspeed parts do I need to return the car with the parts on for them to accept it or will it not matter.

Im not returning my car - no way - but if i choose to mod it will have to be with Mazdaspeed.

 

i called my dealership yesterday about putting a Racing Beat cat back exhaust on and they said it wouldn't void the whole warranty but it would void the exhaust warranty and any emissions concerns and that if any problem could be traced back to the new exhaust like a CEL, etc it would not be covered. as far as mazdaspeed i'm sure what their stance is on that.

 

I was once told that in order for the MazdaSpeed parts to not potentially void your warranty that they would have to be installed by a dealer, not yourself. I've never had it validated though. As for the end of lease return, you're usually asked to return the car with OEM parts only... but I have seen exceptions (like Dinan performance mods in a leased BMW).

 

You need to check your lease agreement fine details to make sure. Then call Mazda lease and ask them perhaps they will be truthful with you. I would certainly think only OEM parts should be on the car as well as new tires for the turn in. DO NOT buy it from them unless you exceed the allowable mileage or you want the MS parts on it so bad. The residual value at end of lease that they put on a lease is most of the time way above the value of the car depending on how many months the lease is set for. Your best bet would be to buy a used RX-8 the same year as your lease rather than buy it. A dealer will not want to sell a car with speed parts on it or there is a remote chance someone would want to buy a souped up car. If you can afford the MS parts why did you lease the car? Oh I know. the $2,500 discount is why. Keep in mind when you return the lease car it has to have new tires on it and no dings whatsoever or they will charge you for the repairs although they will not repair themselves. They just pocket the money. Not sure the carpet will hold up in an RX. It looks and feels like it will show a heel rub mark or wear out in certain sections around the drivers area. You will have to repair the damaged carpet as well. On a lease car I would certainly keep the OEM parts in a safe place all nice and clean and put them on right before you hand back the car. Keep in mind the dealer or Mazda really does not want the car back. They want you to buy it from them so they can make a few more thousands off you. Been there and done that.

 

Well, I go through cars one every two years, so I made sense for me, I got $3500 incentive. My last 4 cars (in 6 years mind you) I lost more on them b/c I was upsidedown. I usually paid more than the monthly statement so as not to be too upside down. Finally I was like, you know what, I'm not going to loose money anymore. If I like the car then I'll renegotiate the price at the end of the lease and buy it if I really want it. Otherwise I'll walk away from it. I have carpet protectors so my heels wont damage it. When I sold my MB the dealer that tookit thought it had never been driven it was so clean.

 

Sounds like you will be ok then with your RX. Yes try to get out of being upside down. Its another way for them to rip some more out of you. It happens to lots of folks including me. I am upside down because I traded in an 04 Pontiac Grand AM I had for 5 months. Long story but this GM car lost 50% of its value the very minute I started it up and drove it off the lot. Course I tried my best to put down as much as I could get together so the hurt would not be too steep. Still I am very glad to be in an RX-8

 

Hey Tayninh,

Why would you have to have brand new tires on the car at the end of the lease if they are not worn out?I have a 24 month lease(my first)and no where in my agreement does it say I need to have new tires on it.I did however get a clear plastic film in the shape of a football from Mazda that has different areas on it showing how big an allowable scratch,dent,ding,rip in upholstery,and minimum tire tread depth if I remember right.I am just asking because I doubt my car will need tires at the end of the lease,and wouldn't want to spend that kind of dough if I choose to return the car.Is this on all leases or just Mazda leases?I would think the tires on this car should last longer than 24K miles,but what do I know I have only had it 2 months.Thanks for the input.

 

I would say it depends on which tires you received... if you have the Bridgestone Potenzas I would be really suprised if you have much tread left after 24k miles, but a lot of the depends on your driving style (They didn't last long on the Miatas either). I fully expect to need to summer tires after 2 years... If you have the Dunlops, I can't comment as I haven't experienced them.

BTW, very cool you have a REPU!

 

Call the Mazda Lease Manager and ask him what is the allowable tread depth for leased cars that are turned in. He should tell you. I think 11/32" is a new tire tread depth. My cars tires had 6,000 miles on it and the tread depth was 7/32". They would have charged me. My sales person had a few Mazda leased cars and she said she always put new tires on the car when she handed it back in. I have met several people that did not know this fact and were burned when they turned their vehicle in. Look at your lease fine print about turning in the car and what is allowable for wear and tear. Some say while others do not. I read this from a computer program I bought off the internet that helps you understand a lease and what are the pitfalls as well as tell you how to compute if your lease deal is a good one. Your lease nor did mine tell you what is needed when you turn in a lease. It depends on the company. Hope this helps you. The best thing to do is call the lease manager and ask him or her what tread depth is allowable on the tires when you turn it in.

 

Well I have a leased rx-8 (48 month @15kmi/year) and have been debating putting aftermarket parts on. I went down to the dealer and was told that Any parts they carry and install will be covered under warranty. This includes parts that are NOT mazdaspeed. For example my dealer carries both the MS exhaust and Borla and will cover both equally. I do know that you should hold on to the OEM parts and make sure you keep them in good condition...you might have to switch them out at the end of the lease if and when you turn the car in.

As far as loosing money on a lease...I beg to differ. I am driving the 8 because of the deal I got. I love the car but would have been willing to walk away and look elsewhere. I have the 6 speed with the GT pkg and a few other goodies...and with my down pymt, monthly payments and residual, I will have paid about the same on the car as I would have if I had financed it for 5 years. The added bonus is that if at the end of those 4 years I dont want the car anymore (I heard rumors about the supra coming back around then ) I can turn it in on and walk away and use the residual to put down on the next car.