OK Gang:

Here are the days of supply of RX-8s by month. Most in the auto industry consider 60 days suppy to be normal. Clearly, a specialty car like the RX-8 will probably have slightly higher inventories, but the fire at the factory clearly had minimal affect. Big take away is to buy when inventories are high as Mazda will be willing to deal. I will try to keep this updated as I receive data.



1/2004 135 1/2005 142
2/2004 166 2/2005 169
3/2004 147 3/2005 119
4/2004 120
5/2004 115
6/2004 104
7/2004 113
8/2004 92
9/2004 83
10/2004 106
11/2004 103
12/2004 128

 

Good info.

Got a break down on the 04s VS the 05s? Some dealers have few/no 04s left, some have a lot (and 05s too).

I was reading in C&D the other day that GM is dropping the 390hp LS2 ('vette) motor into the SSR - the gupply looking truck/convertible thing. I think on 12/1/2004 they had a 300 day supply of them (gulp). No wonder the stock tanked - I bet they have that many days of more of the GTO as well.

Also I just read than even Honda is sucking non-SUV wind - they have had to put factory to dealer cash on Accords and Civics to try to move them - they have a 73 day supply of both of them.

Dennis

 

Unfortunately, I dont get a more detailed breakdown, but I suspect from anecdotal evidence (on line inventory at Connecticut dealers thru the Mazda website) that 2004s are about 20% of what is out there.

There is lots of inventory of lots of different cars out there. Clearly the announcement by GM yesterday about their shortfall in 2005 financial results (they changed their projection for '05 from $2 Billion of positive cash flow to $2B of negative cash flow) will likely be followed by announcements by other OEMs.

Be happy Mazda is part of Ford and is pretty much left alone to produce cars like the RX-8. Look how GM is essentially destroying Saab by taking the Saabyness out of them.

 

Here are some interesting JD Power Sales figures from February (YTD in parentheses):

3-series: 7,181 units (14,214)
Mini Cooper: 3,140 units (6,057)
Crossfire: 902 units (1,776)
Mustang: 14,050 units (24,335)
Corvette: 2,365 units (4,747)
GTO: 988 units (1,886) up over 60% vs. last year!
S2000: 542 units (863)
Tiburon: 1,250 units (2,174)
RX-8: 1,407 units (2,428) down about 25% vs. last year...
G35: 5,984 units (10,857)
350Z: 2,138 units (3,866)
Boxster: 543 units (1,011)
Impreza (incl. WRX & STi): 2,273 units (4,450)
Scion tC: 4,500 units (8,333)
Audi TT: 175 units (439) down almost 50% vs. last year
VW Golf & GTI: 870 units (1,691)

I was rather surprised by some of the numbers...

 

I know the mazda 3 is selling like hot cakes. I was hoping for a possible below invoice deal on one, and where I live it currently is not happening. VW Golf and GTI is expected, as production is basically over, with the new model anticipated in the fall.

 

I really like the Mazda 3 too. It would definitely be an ideal daily driver (hatchback version). I have a softspot for hatchbacks ever since I went through college with my '93 Civic Hatchback Si (red, just like my 8).

The only bad thing about the 3 is that it needs more horsepower... haha.

 

Drive one with a standard transmission...if you haven't already.

 

I've actually never driven the 3. It was just my pathetic attempt at humor.