yeah i know and i meant to highlight it back then but did not. sorry about that

 

I know when I was looking for an 8, I could choose between the 05 and 06 model. Now on the website (12/15/05), you don't have a choice. When you go to build a car, you only have the 05 option to choose from. I guess they changed their web site since the post above was made.

Tim

 

dang i just noticed this too. the 2006 stuff must have been a leak they stopped

 

I may be late in this thread I don't feeling reading it all.

But it Mazda wants to not make a 2006 RX-8, thats fine by me. It will only make my car more rare and worth more.

 

Why don't you just BUY it at the end of your lease?

 

Two ways to do that.

One continue payments after lease is up or
Two refince the car and pay off the lease.

 

Your RX-8 will never be rare and worth more, it will depreciate just like every other car. It will depreciate even moreso than some other cars that sell more and are in higher demand such as the G35C.

 

My 2006 6-speed Manual, winning blue metallic, spoiler, navigation, appearance package, rotary accent package, 6-Disc CD, Grand touring, black leather, upgraded alarm (I think I remember everything!) is on order right now and I was informed it started production on December 14! It should be arriving the last week of January to first week of February, just in time to be my b-day present. The manuals are supposed to ready a little bit before the automatics. It is ordered, Mazda Headquarters says there was a holdup at the plant because the new Mazda 5 is built on the same line and there was a parts problem with it, but they are definitely coming out, just slightly behind their original schedule, which was that they were supposed to be here for Christmas. I gave a $500 deposit on my special order already, so if there is no car, I guess I got ripped off!!! Darn.

 

Also, forgot to mention it earlier, my dealer is a special MAZDASPEED dealer in the Portland, Oregon area (Ron Tonkin) and they had two RX-8's that they were supposed to be getting, had order numbers and everything already. They are getting a Galaxy Gray one in, and the second one, the Winning Blue Metallic, had its build slip changed to my specs and they put my name on it as a special order hold (presold basically) after I gave them the deposit. They were unable to change the specs on the one going to be Galaxy Gray because they said the spec slip had already gone out to print and was on its final build order to be started soon and could not be changed!!! This was November 22. Mine had about 48 hours left before it was to go to final build order. I was originally told by a representative at headquarters that they were supposed to have been built starting November 1 but was pushed back to December 1, and then I was told by the same representative, that my car went into production on December 14 (not sure if that was my car specifically or the 2006 in general). If you are not at a MAZDASPEED dealer that may by why they don't know when they are getting the cars, since they get them first. P.S. My dealer only has one 2005 left on the lot as of two weeks ago. Not an issue for them to try to get rid of one car. I talked to a sales rep to find out how the car was progressing but only got to leave a message since the person I needed wasn't there. Anyways, the person on the phone says they won't be able to check it until it is ready to be shipped, because by then they will have a VIN number and will be notified of the shipment.

 

Give this person the prize...

Yes there is an 06 RX-8 in production....

The delays are because the new MX-5 comes off the same line and sales of this new car are going FLAT OUT, like most new Mazda's around the world, Mazda Japan just can not keep up, they have recently employed even more production staff, however, they can not produce any more units (Numbers) without quality control problems.

Of course MNAO are clearing all 05 stock...

Apart from Dealer principals (owners) most in sales (retail) are kept in the dark for a good reason, they want salespersons to sell what they have in stock first.
A retail dealer is usually the last to know what is going on..

For those who don't know, Mazda are always upgrading/ improving parts during production, its just you dont physically notice the changes...go and ask a parts salesperson, they will tell you what is new or changed...car salespeople know NOTHING usually about the product until its on the showroom floor. Dealer Mechanics know little on whats new until its time to fix/repair.

Mazda when busy will also use the old supply/demand trick to create demand and interest, they did it with the Miata/Mx-5 with changes here and there and colors.
As we know Rotary engines are all hand built..
Yes sales of the 8 have slowed, but the sales pattern is pretty normal for a sports car, and don't forget the factory fire did not help sales/stocks...although the US just got a shipment in time.

 

Can someone please explain to me why you guys in the States still use this model year bullshit...sorry, but we here finished that 30 years ago!

So why dont you call a car made in 2005 a 2005 model, why call it a 2006.

Is it just a marketing (sales) tool, I know you have laws and regulations, but a car produced in Jan, feb, march 2006 is still a 2006 model not 2007.

So why not say it like it is.. if its made in November 2005 its still a 2005 model not 2006...

I can not see any point or benifit of calling it anything else....

HO HO HO To you ALL.....!!!

 

I can't believe that there is anywhere in the world that doesn't use 'model year'. Is it really that difficult for you to understand? It's a pretty simple concept. I'll use the WRX for example. This calendar year, 2005, there were 2 WRXs built, the MY2005 and the MY2006. There are pretty big differences between the two, including a completely different exterior and a different motor (went from a 2.0L to a 2.5L). You can't call both of them 2005s since they were both built in 2005. It only makes sense to make a difference between model years.

 

The model year is a point of reference at which a change is implemented. It could just as easily be called "Version 3". It is the beginning of a new model and that is what makes us all excited. Doesn't sound so difficult to understand to me.

 

You'll have to ask the manufacturers about that mate. They produce a new model with changes and then they pretty much release it whenever they like. In the US, that usually equates to late in the year preceeding the "model year". But, I guess when they started this practice many years ago it had to do with trying to get one up on the competition by beating them on the street by a few weeks or months with the new model. You know, it was probably a money thing. So it may have made some sense initially, but nowadays it's pretty stupid as you point out. At least that's my take on it having lived through the birth of this practice and seeing it "mature" over time.

 

I think the automotive model years here in the US does not equal calendar years and may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. A manufacturers year for accounting/financial (FY) purpose may be from June to May something like that. So the new year starts in June. so cars made after May 2005 are 2006 model year cars.

 

So lets not say it like it is shall we... if the 2 Subarus you are giving the example of were both made in 2005 they are still a 2005 Model,,,even if there are changes (facelift). USA and Canada as far as I can tell are the only countries that call it differently. To me it misrepresents the truth, if it built/made in 2005 then its a 2005 model....not 2006. So if any car manufacturer makes a brand new model car in say, June 2005 (call it a CX-8) and it goes on sale in the US in July/August, you call it a 2006 CX-8, why not call it a 2005 CX-8, the following year (without any physical changes) you then call those made in 2006 a 2006 CX-8 not a 2007.

Take a look at other manufactureres site around the world.

 

So if that is the case, what changes have occured in the RX-8 since 2003, 2004, 2005 really none.., the real updates are coming nexy year 2006, sorry your 2007 model year with the 6 port Auto, and 6 speed trans, and a few changes to colours.

Sure, get excited about a model change, but why not call it like it is...
The new 2006 RX-8 Auto with a 6 speed auto and more HP.

 

Thanks mate...from another old guy!

You said it like it is, as I said before is just a selling point, which IMO is false.
We ceased that practice here 30 years ago, because you can not sell/advertise something thats not true or misleading...
Cheers
HO HO HO

 

the other limting factor is that a model year may not cross over 2 Jan 1st. If a major change in design of either appearance or mechanics the designation must change and the designation must change if the current design crosses over a 2nd Jan 1st.

 

You may want to be careful abt making such ignorant statements. I've stayed in several cities across the globe and North America is the only place I know who uses model year.

Elsewhere, if I buy a 2004 RX8, I bought one that is made in 2004. If there is a facelift sometime within that year, we would say 2004 RX8 (new facelift) in advertisements. Or, car manufacturers would have given the new design a different designation, e.g. Type E, Type S, etc if it is a significant design change.

So does that mean we will have a new model every year even if there is no change whatsoever made to the existing design/appearance? That makes little sense other than to "force" car manufacturers to keep a small "improvement" in their pockets for use in the next year's model...

Guess it is one of those things I don't understand abt America... like how one can buy Sunday's paper on Saturday

 

no you can skip a model year. for instance this thread is about the possibility they might skip the 2006 designation. if they wait until after jan 1st 2006 to start building them for the US they could call them 2007 MY cars as long as they change the designation after Dec 31st 2007. But that limits them then to when they can do a skin change. if they built 2007s that long they would have to wait until Jan 1st 2008 or later to do the skin change and call them 2008 models.

 

Now that's funny, always wondered that myself!

 

Guess it is one of those things I don't understand abt America... like how one can buy Sunday's paper on Saturday [/QUOTE]

Or why you still use the term "Cell" phone, since mobile phones have not been cellular since/before phone networks went digital. "Cellular" construction was used in the old analog "brick" mobile phones....

 

Do you know what was the catalyst that started this formula for your "Model Year" protocol, decades ago.
Was it some sort of US supreme court owner/consumer litigation that made a ruling (law) now in stone.

Here, if you buy a brand new car the "models year' is what is on the manufacturers compliance plate on the cars fire wall (bulk head)...the date of manufacture.

 

Wheres the 06 already?