Just received a copy of the internal "RX-8 Product and Comparison Guide" which itemizes all the significant items, options, packages, etc, and gives details that can be pointed out to the customer during a showroom walkaround.

Interestingly, it also identifies what Mazda considers to be the key competitors to the RX-8 - Audi TT Coupe, BMW 330Ci Coupe, Honda S2000, Infinity G35 Sport Coupe and Nissan 350Z - and includes detailed comparisons against all five.

It's a 338KB Word document and I've posted it here. Enjoy!

EDIT: updated the link

 

I'll start looking over this 54 page document tomorrow at work, thanks!

 

It's a lot of repetitious pages in that thing... I just skimmed it and I think 40 of the pages are just repeats :p

RX-8 vs BMW 330Ci
- Comment A

RX-8 vs Honda S2000
- Comment A

Lotta crap in there, so I didn't learn a thing

Good to have though... and some things about DELIVERY on the car are interesting.. otherwise nada

 

Yeah, a lot of it is thinly disguised propaganda, 'tis true, but I thought it was interesting to see the things that they want the sales folks to push.

I haven't read through it all yet myself, but I did find this bit interesting:

 

hmm, I'm not in my thirties, but I do work hard so I can play hard

besides the age discrepancy, it actually describes me pretty good

 

Interesting reading...One thing that stood out was in the section for giving a thorough delivery. There is a paragraph describing a cold-shutdown procedure. It closly resembles the procedure from the 2nd Gen RX-7 (which was due to a glitch in the fuel computer). In short, it says to allow the car to idle for 5 minutes, then rev to 3000 rpms, return to idle, and turn off the engine. Kinda odd.

Oh yeah, there was one more thing that caught my eye: repeated warnings to not use the navigation system while driving. LOL!:p

 

I like this one:

•Uses a glow-in-the-dark trunk release slide lever to reduce the chance of an individual becoming trapped inside the trunk.

People are always getting trapped inside my trunk now, this is really going to help out.

 

Those internal release handles are mandatory on all US vehicles these days. No more transporting kidnapees in the trunk.

 

Hey, and it's got a Valet Trunk Lockout System:

On the RX-8, a one-touch trunk-lid release button is integrated into the lower left-hand side of the instrument panel. A valet trunk lockout system provides for situations where customers must leave their vehicle with another person, such as a parking attendant, and want to prevent the trunk from being opened with the remote trunk-lid release. Show your customer the location of the trunk-lid release button and operation of the valet trunk lockout system:
• Move the trunk-lid release lockout switch in the glove compartment to the OFF position. The remote trunk-lid release button cannot be operated.
• Give the valet only the secondary key, which does not open the trunk.
• Move the trunk-lid release lockout switch to the ON position. The remote trunk-lid release button can again be operated.

 

I guess that prevents the valet from removing your suitcases, but since the reat seat passthrough can still be removed, it doesn't prevent access to smaller items in the trunk.

 

yeah, I wonder if the secondary key won't unlock the rear-seat passthrough as well ??? as I noticed it locks from inside the cabin.

 

I noticed one error in their comparisons with competitors - Mazda claims that the S2000 does not have Xenon lights, but every S2000 I've seen has them!

Regards,
Gordon

 

Ah, that would make sense. The pre-production model I sat in didn't have any means of locking that panel.

 

I never knew that that tire pressure monitoring uses a radio frequency to trip the "low presure" light.

 

If it didn't, then you'd have a wire coming off of each wheel.

 

you'd think they would use Bluetooth for something like that.

 

On people accessing the trunk from inside the car.

I thought the trunk Pass through was also lockable using a leaver in the trunk.

If this is in the passenger compartment then whats the point?

 

Why? More expensive and probably has higher battery consumption. Standard RF has been around for years and is very cheap. No need to use higher technology than necessary, unless you want to be able to hookup your laptop to the sensors and monitor the pressure in realtime.

Come to think of it, I wonder how long the battery lasts in each of those transmitters? And how would you know if the battery died (short of letting all of the air out to see if the light comes on)?

 

bluetooth power consumption is way low, but it's probably not the most optimal application for Bluetooth, it may be a bit too excessive.

getting a read-out on the Navigation system would be pretty sweet. I really think the nav should have been designed to spit out more information concerning the health of the car.
Even my 2002 Explorer has a little computer that tells you
trip time
remaining miles to empty
oil life
all fluid levels
digital compass
ambient temp.

maybe that kind of stuff will make it in the RX-9

 

It's nice to know that you are spending $2K on a nav system whose use is not recommended while driving!!

 

funny how it's not recommended for driving, yet it sits in the center of the dashboard. in your car.

it'll give the passenger something to do while feeling depresseed about being unable to drive my RX-8.

 

Most or all of these transmitters get their power by the wheel movement. As the wheel turns the censors is moved through earths magnetic field which generates voltage in a coil and powers the transmitter and pressure sensor. Excluding component failures it should last a long time.

 

a kinetic engergy converter? sweet!

 

It is not recommended to change the nav system settings or select a destination while in motion. The system is meant to be on while driving and give you voice commands to turn. Its a standard lawyer clause which says we told them not to walk and chew gum at the same time so we aren't liable for anything. If you haven't looked the demo on the US RX-8 sight from mazda has the same warning with a little more detail added.

Its also not recommended to dial / use cell phones or tune the radio while in motion. Those warnings have been around for years. When the car is moving you are supposed to drive the car and do nothing else. In the long run I'm supprised McDonalds doesn't have a disclaimer on bags and cups saying they don't recommend eating while driving (not withstanding putting a hot coffee cup between you legs).

 

on the not using the nav while driving front, after reading the bit on the website the language used there is very clear that they mean do not fiddle with the controls or attempt to put in new destinations while in motion. they suggest parking or pulling over in a safe place to input things. they do not mean to not listen to it or glance at the map to find your way.