I went to the MazdaUSA web site to check my dealer's inventory and sure enough, my car was listed. Then I went and printed out the window sticker and noticed two serious errors.

First was the listing in "Exterior" It shows "HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS" Every brochure, the web site, etc., says the Sport Package includes HID headlights. Elsewhere, Xenon healights are shown in the listing. What gives with that?

Next, in the "Engine & Mechanical" section there in no mention of DSC, but it is in all the literature. Also, in this section is "1.3L ROTARY ENGINE WITH 247HP"

I know about all the caveats in the literature, but this seems more than a little duplicitous.

 

I noticed the same two things in my printout. I think it's probably a mistake in the facsimile window sticker rather than the spec literature.

 

window stickers always list standard equipment and then will show all options/packages on the right side with prices. The DSC is not standard either it should be listed under GT/Sport package as a feature.

 

I hope you are right. All of the options I ordered are listed, so it's not like they left something off. I'm really curious and wonder if the few that have received their cars found anything amiss?

 

This was at the bottom of the VIN readout IBFUBAR2000 got for me:

Accessories DT1 - FAUX LEATHER DOOR TRIM FLM - CARPET FLOOR MATS
FL2 - FOG LAMPS FOL - PORTFOLIO
HL1 - XENON HEADLIGHTS HM1 - HEATED MIRRORS
LS1 - LEATHER SEATING SURFACES MC2 - AUTO DAY/NIGHT MIRROR W/HOMELI
MR1 - MOONROOF NV1 - NAVIGATION SYSTEM
PW4 - HEATED SEATS PW6 - PWR SEATS/6 WAY DRVR/LUMBAR
RA3 - PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM TC2 - DSC WITH TRACTION CONTROL
WLK - WHEEL LOCKS 1GT - GRAND TOURING PKG M/T

 

I went and checked what Ibufar sent me:
CDC - IN-DASH 6-DISC CD CHANGER DT1 - FAUX LEATHER DOOR TRIM
FLM - CARPET FLOOR MATS FL2 - FOG LAMPS
FOL - PORTFOLIO HL1 - XENON HEADLIGHTS
HM1 - HEATED MIRRORS LS1 - LEATHER SEATING SURFACES
MC2 - AUTO DAY/NIGHT MIRROR W/HOMELI MR1 - MOONROOF
NV1 - NAVIGATION SYSTEM PW4 - HEATED SEATS
PW6 - PWR SEATS/6 WAY DRVR/LUMBAR RA3 - PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
TC2 - DSC WITH TRACTION CONTROL WLK - WHEEL LOCKS
1GT - GRAND TOURING PKG M/T 2RP - ROTARY ACCENT PACKAGE

So, this is correct...I hope. But it still doesn't answer 247 HP!

 

I'm not quite sure what your concern is. It's been well established for quite some time now that the "official" HP for the US manual model is 247 HP, not 250 HP.

 

I have seen this on the Forum but not seen it elsewhere "officially" I have sales literature for the sales staff "Mazda Fuel", without any exceptions, and it clearly states 250HP as do all of the mag tests of pre-production cars. I know the brochures have an asterisk *, but no where else do I find it. It seems a little strange for them to provide cars for testing and continue to allow the printing of 250HP in Automobile, Car & Driver, Road & Track, etc.

 

It's been 247 for at least a few months now.

You have to remember that most magazines have a lead time of at least three or four months before the issues hit the stands and back in March Mazda was thinking they'd be able to hit 250 HP too...

 

It is a world car. It all comes down to the definition of "horsepower"

250 PS (German horsepower) = 247 HP (American Horsepower)

In Japan all cars are listed in KW (killowatts) but when the convert to horsepower they use the German horsepower number known as Pferdestärken or PS for short.

Therefore 250 does equal 247 depending on what horses you use.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

Yea! Well this wasn't three months ago.

"2004 Mazda RX-8
'We don't want to look like anything else out there'

By Ron Amadon, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 1:02 AM ET July 12, 2003 ..."

"The so-called Renesis rotary cranks out 250 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. You can rev it to 9,000 and it will sound nothing but sweet. The real power doesn't really kick in until about 3,500 but from there on up it will more than please a rev-happy owner."
...

The whole thing is at: http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6473

 

250 german horses 247 us horses
________
Second-generation chevrolet camaro

 

actually all his numbers only had 2 significant digits. scientifically he's correct with the 250.:D

 

It's 3 horsepower. What difference does it make? I'm sure you'll enjoy the car.

 

It is listed at 247hp on the mazda site. Go take a look

 

its also 247 hp in the BOOK.

 

here will this help!! :D

 

now you have 250!

 

now that was a goodone fubar,yu da man!:D

 

So the conclusion is American horses are bigger and stronger than German horses? Or maybe they use donkeys instead of horses in Germany.:D

 

Ok. But that's not the point. Anyway, I don't really give a hoot about 3 HP. I'm fully aware that Mazdas, not just RX-8s, are not about HP. My Miata is a classic example of the balance Mazda seeks to instill in their cars. Even though low on HP, I can get better times in autox than some 'vettes, Mustangs, and yes, even some poorly driven Porsches. I even seen well-driven, kuhmo shod, stock Miatas beat S2000s and 350zs, among a wide variety of other cars. So "balance" is the real concern, but...

I'm sure I'll be more than pleased with my RX-8 once it arrives. I just want it to be as represented. While not a drag racer, there are such things as bragging rights! How many people will ever drive this car 145-150 mph? Damn few I'm sure, but it's nice to know it could do it. As for me, I'll probably never see more than 135...that's about my limit for even a clear straight road.:D

 

I too have noticed that the magazine ads have stated 250HP. However, the latest Autoweek ad this week has been changed to 247. I suspect Mazda is somewhat gunshy on this issue after the Miata incident.