As stated in the UK article, only 13k to 15k production will reach the U.S. shores. I thought that the RX-8 was going to produced in larger values than this. If these numbers are the case I would expect to find some price gouging similar to the 350z. As I believe they were going to bring 20k of it a year to the US. This is a good thing for those with a deposit for MSRP. But it pretty much kills the possibility of the S plan for the 8. On another note, the resale value of the RX-8 will be higher. For me this means that if the RX-7 comes back I can either sell or trade my 8 in for a higher value.

 

This is exactly what my dealer has been telling me since last April, the rx8 will be a tough ticket to get.

So ladies, I wouldn’t be waiting for the end of the model year to save a few dollars on a brand new first year model.

 

Hopefully the residual value of the car will be HIGH, so my lease will wind up being cheaper.

Because if you know leasing, you know that you are just paying depreciation over the 3 years plus interest. If the car depreciates less over 3 years then you wind up paying less on the lease. The interest rate, or money factor is where they can get you, and you need all that information ahead of time. I will probably just call some banks and get quotes on getting the lease done through them, and hopefully Mazda finance will cave and give me those same rates. Makes life easier.

 

Hercules, Since you are obviously leasing I thought you might want to know I have heard that a lot of banks are really getting burnt on leases due to the slow economy, they can't take return vehicles and re-sell for what they had originally anticipated. Due to this increased risk they are really shying away from offering outstanding lease rates. So you may want to really weigh out financing options before you make a solid decision.

 

You didn't read the Wall Street Journal today.

I figured they'd do something drastic after election day :D I think I'll be fine on the leasing, don't worry

 

Prodding the economy with lowering prime interest rate does not mean the economy is turning around. I watch the stock market everyday and it has a direct but indirect effect on my job, the market may surge immediately but will not sustain any upward trend from this alone.

 

*nod* but at this point there's no harm in hoping for the best

Think positive! I have to, because I need a J-O-B when I graduate (May), so the RX-8 is entirely dependant on my having a job. I've put a deposit down but it's refundable if I don't find work. But I have good experience and I hope I won't have as much problems as my friends have had in the past

 

i am an executive recruiter, and talking to CFO and CEO's out there, this latest prime interest rate cut will not help out the economy much.. lowering any more would definitely endanger the economy.. there is still lot of doubt in the future of the economy, and that uncertainty has kept a lot of companies, especially the big firms with good jobs going a bit of a hiring freeze, and laying off people.. this has caused companies to treat the job market as a buyers market, trying to get people that are a little overly qualified for the position, but will take less money since they are laid off, or about to... this year has been bad for new grads, and next year might as well, unless you graduated from a top 20 school with great internships and connections.. you better start taht job hunt early

 

How bout recruiting me :D

I do Windows 2000 Networking stuff Fun fun!

 

Hercules, you can come work for me; I have five people that do that sort of thing here. The only thing is that you’d have to learn to speak Canuck eh.

But don’t let BlueAdept hear what you’re planning to do, that will really **** him off badly. He really hates Microsoft with a passion! I can picture it in my head now; he is preparing to post a 5,000-word essay as to why Microsoft sucks. Hehehe... :D

 

Hey I do W2K stuff too! MCSE.. any openings eh?

 

It sounds like I could open a Job Fair here on the forum.

Unfortunately, I do not foresee any opportunities here in the foreseeable future.

 

On the original topic, I think that article is a little suspect- Mazda told Advertising Age this week that they were hoping to sell between 75,000-80,000 Mazda6s in North America in the first 12 months its out. If they're going to have that many Mazda6s, I'd think that while there will be fewer RX-8s than Mazda6s, there will still be a good deal more than 15,000 of them running around the US. 15k just seems like a very small production number for anything unless its a special edition- didn't they only make something like 10k Honda S2000s the first year because they were a "limited edition?"

And on a side note, Advertising Age also reported "The next product on the horizon will be its all-new RX-8 sports car due in mid 2003..." so perhaps we will be waiting till May or June for it to appear after all.

 

ooh good find elara. where is thid "advertising age"article. was it an interview with someone?

 

Advertising Age is a advertising industry magazine, and as I work in an advertising department, I see it every week. I'll make a copy at work tomorrow and bring it home to post here. It's an article about how Mazda plans to market the Mazda6- I was hoping they'd have it online, but they are pretty selective about what goes online, apparently, and it's not there. The website is adage.com if you want to keep checking and see if they post it.

 

The S2000 production was supposedly 12k worldwide, 5k north america. 15k isn't that small a number for a niche car. Subaru only sells about that many Imprezas in north america each year, for example. It means they're planning to sell 1 of their specialty rotary coupe-esque things for each 5 bread & butter sedans. Sounds about right to me. Comparatively, in 1999 Honda was selling about 40 Accords (30 civics) per every Prelude.

 

I'm nitpicking because I'm bored. According to U.S. Car Sales for Oct. and YTD:

Honda S2000 = 684(Oct), 8481(YTD)
Subaru Impreza = 3075(Oct), 32661(YTD)

 

What exactly are you nitpicking?

 

Oh, I'm just nitpicking the production numbers from your post.

 

Autoexpress said that Mazda "hopes to sell a third of its annual 40,000 production" in the US.

The annual production may be a little higher though. Lear corporation was chosen to be the "total systems integrater" for the interior of the Rx-8 and is managing 6 other suppliers to do this.

A previous release from Lear estimated production volume at 70,000 - 80,000 vehicles per year. Of course this info is almost a year old now.

Brian

 

I just got back from the South Florida International Auto Show and the Mazda Rep. confirmed that the RX-8 debut will be at the Detroit Auto Show. However, he did say that the numbers for the RX-8 in the USA will be between 20,000 to 25,000 brought into the US. He also said that Mazda is planning on comming out with 8 different models based on the RX-8. He also said that they were able to cut the weight to around 2750. He said that Mazda won't officially release any info. till the Detroit Show. The RX-8 will be available when the X-Men movie is released.

 

here is something i posted in september about an article from wards auto it says rx8 production of about 60,000 per year based on making 5,000 per month:
"After more than a half-decade's absence, Mazda's rotary engine — and its equally famous sports car that surrounds it — is staged for yet another comeback (see sidebar, next page). Only this time, Mazda expects to produce the car's Renesis (name derived from “rotary” and “genesis”) rotary engine for around $2,000, a key to avoiding the escalating-cost mistakes that led to Mazda's withdrawal of the rotary from the U.S. market.

Predicated on monthly output of 5,000 units, the company says, amazingly, that Renesis' cost is slightly less than it would pay for a standard V-6 engine. By implication, Mazda plans to produce 60,000 RX-8s annually, though management declines to disclose sales targets."
here is the link to the full article originally posted by patrickb


http://waw.wardsauto.com/ar/auto_rotary_redux/index.htm

 

For the Cancuks: Some guys from our club are considering a one day trip to the Detroit show. Taking the bus, $50 for the trip and entrance to the show. Anyone interested?

 

I am very interested, please keep me posted.

I’m assuming that is $50.00 Canadian. :D

 

I am just amazed at how many different production numbers come up. Just goes to show you how the press lies to the public. I guess it comes down to making up a piece of information for them is better than having non at all.

I'll be in Detroit for the unveiling, or hopeful unveiling. Should be interesting, group of us from the design center at our work are carpooling up.