Ok, just to to get things straight, i went into the mazda dealer this past Saturday in the Chicago area, and you can still order a 2006 rx-8. There is a long waiting time for them, however. When I went to order mine they told me it would take till about September, but I was able to tell them what I wanted on it, and they called in an order to change one that they had already ordered, so will be getting it in 4 to 6 weeks. Will post pics and info when i get it if anyone is interested. It is Brilliant black gt with black/chaparral leather, navigation, bose six disc, appearance package, fender strakes, rear spoiler, rotary accent package, and of course 6-speed manual.

 

man, everyone goes for all the heavy options... i had to look hard to find my base model with no options...

 

I *love* my options!

 

Did you have to order this? Most dealers will trade inventories with one another. There may have been another dealer somewhere that already had this and it could be shipped to your dealer. I guess it's cooler to get a car custom built, but I don't think that's the only way to get the options you want.

 

I actually did this for my car. Got all the options I wanted. I love this car, but I can't imagine waiting until Sept for any Mazda. There is probably a shorter wait time if you ordered a CLS65 AMG.

 

I had my dealer do a search for the car with all the options I wanted and nothing came up. Yes, if I waited a few more weeks there may be a few that start showing up so then the dealer could just get it from another dealer, but I only have to wait 4 to 6 weeks this way, so why take a chance? If I didn't just have the dealer call in some changes to a car they already ordered but wasn't built yet, I may have had to wait till September. Besides, this way there won't be anyone who has test driven the car. People beat on the cars they test drive usually, and with only a few miles on the car, thats not exactly a good thing.

 

Cool, i'm in chi too...what dealer? The 2006's are just starting to hit the lots here

And, how'd you do on price?

 

I went to the dealer in Oak Lawn, approximately 95th and Harlem ave. The price is still to be determined. They told me since the car is not actually built yet, they can't give an exact price. I'm not worried about it because I am getting it through the S-Plan for working at ups. It will save me about $4,000 off the msrp.

 

Awesome, did they have an 06 Gray with shinka package in yet? I work in alsip, been looking for a Blk/Blk 06 for awhile. Last i heard from them, they had a gray 06 coming in any day. I haven't dealt with the oak lawn guys much...were they ******, or did they seem easy-going?

 

They didn't have any 06s on the lot as of yesterday. They are expecting them to hit within the next couple weeks. They told me some 06s have come in in naperville, but I haven't checked it out. When I talked to this one guy there, Tom, I didn't like him cause he kept trying to push me into an 05, but I talked to a guy named Charles, and he was really easy going and easy to talk to without any pressure. Now, they don't have any more 05s left on the lot, so pretty much there won't be any pressure no matter who you talk to. By the way, where do you work in alsip, I live in Worth and my girlfriend lives in Alsip?

 

I ordered mine about 3 weeks ago, and I was told it would be 8-12 weeks - they did the same thing by changing an order that was yet to be built. I don't have a VIN number yet. Mine is the 6-spd AT, and I heard a rumor that the first group of 06's to be built are MTs, so that might be why the wait is longer. It is very interesting that if you had not changed an existing order that you may of had to wait until Sept - I would think that would be a 2007.

 

I ordered my 2006 Shinka Copper Red in February. Was originally told should be available late April. Has been pushed back to late May now.