I am helping my gf getting a 05 RX8 auto.. i know the 06 are a lot better but its 4000 dollars more...

so my question is i remember seeing on the gauge a 1-4 when she test drove the car.. is this like first gear to fourth gear? does it do this to save gas and also most importantly can you turn it off to make it drive normal in the drive mode.

 

oh yah also, if your donwshifting into a gear which will put your rpm way too high 8000+ or whatever.. will it still let you do it? i guess this is a question regarding to its safety measures.

 

the 1-4 is the gear you are in.

this next bit is an assumption based off my fiancee's 05.5 jetta...(haven't driven or riden in a auto-8)

those numbers are always there, whether you are in full auto, or manu-matic (paddle shifting). on my fiancee's jetta, even in full auto, it will display which gear you are in, but its not really important. more of an issue for manu-matic operation so you can tell which gear you are in.

and from what i understand, the car won't let you downshift into an overrev situation.

 

Can your gf drive a manual?

The autos seem fun with the paddle shifters but she will be sacrificing quite a bit of power.
197 vs 238 with Manual.

Also, the 06 has an extra gear and 212 hp.

She can probably pick up an 05 manual for way less then the 06 auto. Just a thought...

 

Ya, so says "honest" Mazda.... We've all heard that song before!
If it ends up being 212 HP, I'll fart frogs out my ****!

 

two extra gears

 

if she definitely wants an automatic RX-8, get the 2006.... upgraded engine plus a SIX-SPEED automatic transmission should make for a major improvement in performance over the 04-05 auto RX-8's, which has an ANCIENT 4-speed automatic....

if she can't afford it now, i'd just wait for a bit until the prices start to come down, time is on your side in this situation my friend

 

i would go for a used auto rx8, IF she just likes the looks and dosnt care about performance... used auto rx8 can be bought for really cheap prices. why pay thousands more for the extra bit of performance if performance is not a big thing for her.

 

I agree with all your comments unforunatelly it is not my call. I told her that the 6 speed vs 4 speed a long would make a world of difference but she prefers luxury over performance.. i just got a quote on a 05 auto GT with appearance package and spoiler for like 25,500 no including taxes.. not the best deal but still that is over 7000 off msrp which vs an 06 would only be 2000-3000 at most.

our options are 05 with GT or 06 with sport. and the 06 will still come out to be more money.. so the choice is simple for her..

manual. i would not mind teaching her but shes one of those little asian girls.. and most of you know little asian girls can't drive. she just doe'snt have enough driving experience in my opinion.

I have been looking real hard for white/red 05 autos.. only a few left on the east coast.. the one we found for 25,500 has everything we want and a good price.. so i think we are pretty set on the car.

so its not 1-4 its just showing its gears.. arg i gotta say the car felt realy slow... her current car, acura 3.0 cl 97 feel much faster. 200 hp and 197 tq.

it don't matter for the comfort, 4 door, looks and feel/porice the rx8 is a very good bang for the buck.. if she wants to jump in a perf car she can ride in my turbo 350z.. which i am still waiting to get back from the shop..

 

25.5 for an '05 GT auto still seems too high...

 

I would very much recommend getting a 2006 somehow, someway. Keep in mind that when you try and sell this pig, you're not going to get as much for a 4-speed as you would a 6-speed. So, you might save some money now, but you'll lose that money later.

Just try and get her to wait until August or so. You will be able to get the 2006's for the same price as you're getting 2005's now. Try and explain it that she'll get even MORE luxury with the 06 as it has nicer leather, an advanced keyless entry and ignition system (coolest thing ever!), and some nicer inside trim accents.

 

hm how do you figure that? thats 7300 off MSRP.

 

go off of invoice price, not msrp.

Look at how close to invoice that is and take into account that the 06's are far superior (more gears, more hp).

Dealerships have to move these AT's ASAP to make room for the 06's.

 

If she prefers luxury over performance then why buy an RX-8? The RX-8 has a pretty nice interior but it's hardly luxurious.

 

Did i read "save gas" somewhere in this thread? HA!

RX-8 is a heavy drinker...

 

If you're going to go with the '05 auto, drive a hard bargain for it. It's hardly a seller's market for them at this point.

 

going off msrp and invoice are the same you just add about 10% to it. depends on the car but since this is strictly for RX8 i think everyone should know what the difference is between MSRP and invoice. but i am basically getting the car 500 under invoice.

she wants it for the looks and still have a nice luxury car.. shes too small to drive a full luxury car.

there is a 05 Auto in Nova.. msrp on that bad boy is like 38 probably.. its GT with all the options plus mazda speed products.. sad thing is that its an auto and was a demo so its got 4000 miles already on it.. i doubt they'll ever sell the car for the price they want it for =p

 

500 under invoice is CRAP for an '05, let alone an auto

you want at least 3000 UNDER invoice for a LAST YEAR's car...

 

hm... obvoiusly i would not mind lower.. but i looked at the other posts and from what i saw the were getting 7000-8000 off MSRP at most. a 3000 off invoice.. thats insane..

yoru talking about a 32800 MSRP with invoice of around 30000, with rebates and macs takes u down o 26000 and then another 500 off. 25500.. i don't see how this is a bad deal.. a 3000 off invoice would put it at 23500.. thats over 10k off msrp. which i think maybe 1 person has gotten the car at that price.

when i say 500 off invice. i mean strictly 500 off dealer invoice.

 

This is confusing. First you say "invoice of around 30000" then you later say "3000 off invoice would be 23500". You're saying invoice on a $32800 car is $26500?

 

Lodoss, you really need to look into that pricing! I just picked up an 05 manual and looked at an 05 auto at the same time. I paid 8k under MSRP for my 05, and about 5k under invoice. They were hoping I would take the auto too, this was the last manual 05 on the lot and they had at least 4 autos. This was in the DC area...

 

yah you got a good deal. 8000 off msrp.. mine is 7300 so its fairly close.. I would love to get an 06 auto for sure man. but i don't think she wants to wait.

the amont you can get off on the msrp also depends on the initial MSRP price.. the higher it is the more they can knock off..

I know i am not getting the best deal but this is the last one around my area.. and its a 4 hour drive. she only wants white/red with GT and pref with app and wing package which is exactly what this car is. there are no more 05 autos in those colors in VA, Wva, NC.

Price break down.

Car is MSRP 32800
Invoice on the car is 30000
with macs and rebates etc 4000 off = 26000
and then i am getting another 500 dollar soff of it.

so if you don't take into account the macs and rebates.. which every car has. i am getting 500 dollars off the invoice.

i don't see why you would put the macs and rebates into the "invoice price" as they are something on the side and has nothing to do with the price that you negotiate with the dealer.

so if you look at it your way then i am getting 4500 off invoice.

 

Which dealer are you referring to in the DC? do they have any red/white with GT package? I know there are a few around NOVA around but none in red/white with GT package. let me know man thanks.

 

All this is way more complicated than it needs to be. The MSRP means the same thing to everyone, everywhere so there's no reason whatsoever to split hairs about what "invoice price" really means. All anyone really wants to know is how much money the car can be purchased for from a dealer -- that's it.

If you can't get $6k-8k off MSRP, find another dealer. Good luck!

 

well thats what i said from the start, 7300 off MSRP and then someone said that its a bad deal..