neomicro,

Say it is not so. I paid my car in cash also.

I am only on step one. I called in my
vin number. I am waiting for the letter
I can send back to them.

Could we just make a appointment with
DMV requesting a title?

 

Since my title has not even been processed yet, there is nothing the DMV can do for me. If you are in California, you are going to have the same delay with your title. I'm not sure about other locations.

 

Damn that bites!

I am located in Belmont, CA.

Sean
04 rx8
94 rx7
73 rx2

 

What dealer did you buy your car from?

Is it the dealers that are holding this up?


I bought mine from Menlo Mazda (located
in Redwood City).


Sean

 

Bought mine from Val Strough Mazda in Oakland, CA. It is not the dealer it is the DMV. They are backlogged processing new titles and I was informed it takes 90-120 days to get the title after the dealer submits it to the DMV.

 

There's not a chance in Hades that I'll return this car. I haven't had it long enough to determine the gas mileage, and my commute is 54 miles one-way; but I'm way too in love with the car to let something like that get in the way.

Heck, my wife's not perfect either; but I married her. (I of course have no discernable flaws. :p )

 

Why on earth would somebody be selling their RX8 on E-Bay cheap if they can return it to Mazda for a full refund?

Where's the e-bay link? Something doesn't sound right.

 

This sort of argument from our cousins across the pond irks the hell out of me.

Do they teach students ANYTHING about comparative economics over there? Comparative Vs. Absolute advantages? Do I really have to bring up the fact that the U.S. economy is "different" then the economies of western Europe? How about I tit for tat and complain about how much we have to pay for perscription drugs and health care in gengeral relative to those in the U.K.

 

Amen brother! I was going to reply also but decided my long rantings weren't productive.

I do want to say that part of being American is the right to **** and moan about what ever we want, oh yeah and throw tea in the harbor while we are at it.

 

Decision made...I am opting for the buyback for the reason listed below.

* My particular RX-8 averages 12-14 mpg (50% city/50% freeway). Whether I pamper the car or drive it hard I am averaging 12-14 mpg with 3,000 miles on it. I find this unacceptable when the advertised mpg is 18 & 25. The dealer cannot find anything wrong with the car. My gut sense is that mine, with a production date of 06/05, could be one of the few ones with no explanation of the horrible gas mileage (why others are getting over 18mpg leads me to believe something is strange with mine).

Don't get me wrong guys, I love the way the RX-8 drives and I could care less for the 10 horsepower loss (yes, I have the auto). Since I have another car, I decided to give mine back and maybe take a chance to get a new one and hope the mpg is within the range of 18-25. I will make the decision on a new car in a month or so.

Anyway, for those of you that will keep your RX-8 enjoy it because it is one of the best handling and best looking cars on the road. I hope to join you all again in a month or so

 

Just sent my letter this a.m. that I'll take the $500 + free maintenance. I love this car and it is the highlight of my day when I drive it.

 

Ditto. And my first ever Mazda.

 

just got back from a nearly 2000 mile road trip down into california and back up the coast. there is no way in hell i am giving this car back. i am going to figure out the gas mileage tonite and do a full write up soon but i got i am guessing between 20 and 22 mpg driving around 50 -85 most of the time. the air worked great, we were never uncomfortable in the car(except when my wife would occasionally feel a little sick from me driving so fast thru the curves on HWY 1), easily handled every curvey, bumpy, straight and hilly road encountered and got looks from everyone we passed(which was everyone) on the road and got many compliments and questions from everyone when we stopped. and damn the cruise control is amazing! set at any mph even in 6th gear it never dropped even 1mph even on the steepest inclines. the car is simply amazing and they can have it back when the pry my cold dead fingers from the steering wheel!! :D

 

My second letter came today.

I called DMV and they said they had already started the process
on Sept 4 ( i bought the car 8/1) and that I should receive my
title and registration between sept 14 and oct 14. I asked if they
was anyway I could speed this up. She said since it has already
started Sac has everthing now.

I left vmail with the Mazda rep. I hope they will be understanding.


Sean

 

How did you get yours issued so quickly, that is barely 45 days. What I am told by my dealer is that is takes 90-120 days to get the title from the State of California.

 

Update, well actually not much. I called back to the number I was given and found that they have not changed their position. The woman still insists I need the title in order for her to go ahead with the buyback even though I do not have this yet and she knows I cannot get it. I asked her if there was someone else I could talk to and she told be know, she was the one handling the buyback. I also discovered today that the company I am calling is not even Mazda, but an independent company that Mazda has hired to handle the buy back.
I called back to the other number (the one on the original letter from Mazda), and after the long hold talked to the representatives there and they informed me that it was the Mazda Consumer Compliance Department that was handling the buy back. I then asked for a number and was told they do not have an outside line that I can call in on. I received this response from two different people telling me there was no number to call directly into Mazda Consumer Compliance.
End result after spending over an hour on the phone, I have been told again we will check into this and call you back, but again no call back.
I am beginning to feel that the buy back offer is a sham. At least from the information I am getting from this independent firm that was hired to handle the claim. I do not even know the company name only that if I dial the number, and hit the extension I am supposed to I always get voice mail. If I hit 0 I get an operator for the "resolution hotline", no business name given but the operator and the representative handling the claim both confirm that they are not attached to Mazda but an independent company.
To recap:
In regards to the title, they tell me I have to have it because they have to follow the guidlines that Mazda set forward. Even though she knows I cannot get it. When I ask who in Mazda I can speak to about this, they tell me I have to deal with them as they are handling this so there is no one elso to call. When I call back into the original 800 number they do not know anything about the buybacks or who is actually handling it other than they seem to think it is the Comsumer Compliance Department (the one no one has a number for). The only thing they do is send out the form for those opting for the buyback. End result to this point is although I selected the buyback, I cannot seem to get Mazda or this independent company to cooperate to make this happen.
Sorry to be so long winded on this, but I am hitting a stone wall with this and would really like to hear from others who have selected buyback and how it is working for them.

 

Compared to you, things have gone pretty well for me so far.

I decided today was the day to call and go with the repurchase option. So, this morning, I tried to call but was on hold for about 20 minutes and had to get going. Then, about noon at work, I put the number on speaker phone and finally got through a little over an hour later.

They faxed me the form and lucklily I have everything I need. Sales contract, loan agreement, registration, and lienholder info. So, I'm sending it all off tomorrow morning. I will definitely get delivery confirmation for it at the post office.

I'll report back after I get my call which is supposed to happen within 5 days after they receive the info.

 

I'm new to this forum. I recently purchased my rx8 two weeks and then got the letter about the horsepower lost. Been debating about the buy back option, but not quite sure. That car can really handle around curves. My friends get scared when they ride with me when I hit those corners hard, but the car keeps in line. I'll most likely keep the car and take option 2. My parents were telling me maybe I should go with option 1 and get a mazdaspeed protege, yea right. NOT. Anyone know of any aftermarket performance parts coming to get that horsepower back and then some. Let me know.

 

I did not even bother with the dealer. I
called DMV ( 800-777-0133). (have your
vin # ready). I had to call
it about 10 times before I got through.
You may find they have already started
your paper work also. The bad news for
us is, it still might be too late. Maybe the dealer is right. There is nothing to say
that I will get my title between sept 14 to
Oct 14.

I left a message with Clarita yesterday, of course no call back today.

Maybe it is time we go to the News people???? We only have a few weeks
left. There are not giving us a whole
of choice.

 

I am going to be returning my car because:
1. A gas guzler
2. Requires 91 Octane $$$
3. Very hot in the cabin and the air conditioner leaves a lot to be desired.
4. I now would prefer an automatic
5. Not too crazy about the console running all the way to the end of the rear seats.
6 HP issue is not my priority
7. Oil engine light goes off and on at high speed ( I know, needs a new oil pan)

I'M a women driving a silver RX-8, 6 speed, moon roof, touring package

 

Bad comparason. You are 4 times more likely to die in a British hospital than you are in a US hospital. That fact was published in a leading British newspaper yesterday. For example, hygene is poor and over 1000 people/year die just from infections they've picked up while in hospital! Given the choice I'm sure many people would rather come to the US for treatment if money and distance were no object. (No offence to British docs and nurses reading this, I know you're totally pushed to the limit, God bless you).

Back to the point about MPG. You're right that it needs to be compared relatively to the local economy. The best way I can think of doing that is to compare the percentage of the average weekly salary that a full tank of fuel costs. e.g. the average sallary in the UK is £24k. That's £461/week or $731. Tank capacity is 61 litres and a litre costs £0.78. That's £47 ($75) for a whole tank or 10.3% of the average weekly sallary before tax. Tax is about 25% (income tax and national insurance).

Out of curiosity can someone work out the US percentage please? Whatever the outcome, MPG is a bigger issue in the UK, not just because of the extra cost in fuel, but pollution is a big concern in the UK (even though we are not as poluting as the US). I guess this is yet another discussion in itself and probably off topic too. BTW, I'm loving this forum, especially getting news and views from people all over the world. Peace.

 

Seems like you have your reasons pretty laid out. Do you have the reasons for buying the car in the first place?

1. No sport car get great gas mileage. Yes is one is bad. But If this is your number 1 reason, you might need to think about a different kind of car.

2. It required 91 octane before you bought it so that should not be a factor now. And many of the threads are stating that 87 octane is working better than 91.

3. It being very hot is a good enough reason to trade it in.

4. If you just spent over 25 thousand on a car you should kind of know what you want in the car auto or man trans.

5. Did you sit in it before you bought it, the console has not changed.

6. If the hp is not a priority issue, then it is not one of your reasons for returning the car.

7. I oil issue has a fix. Understanding you are spending over 25000 on a new model car means realizing somethings will have to been detected and fixed. We humans are not flawless.

So in summary the car is to hot, and you changed your preferences about what you liked in the car. I your case It may be a good idea to turn and try to find something more to your likening.

 

seems like the frustration for some is the fact that the dealer they bought at outright ripped them off. Anyone who pays over MSRP at best is just a plain idiot. There were and still are dealers out there that are taking orders at MSRP! Mine did from the very start. Lastly anyone moaning over a slight hp drop just doesnt get it! The car is special regardless. My 94 has the same hp and is turbo, only 2 seats, cooling problems, recalls etc. I still love it but, this (the8) was worth the wait. Get it back to the dealer asap you dont deserve it!:p

 

I decided to sell my RX-8 back to Mazda and buying a VW Touareg instead. Although I love to drive the car and have not experienced the severe low gas mileage and poorly operating air conditioning commonly mentioned, the persistent oil light was of some concern. My primary fear is that the the bottom of the resale market is going to drop out on this car. The VW dealer where I am getting my Touareg is also a Mazda dealer. (It's not where I bought my RX-8). Although he did not share my bleack predication concerning diminishing resale value, he stated that so far 2 of the 4 purchasers of RX-8s from his dealership were selling them back to Mazda. This is before September 15! One already turned in the car and it is parked in the back of the dealership. I suspect that many of us will be selling the cars back and this is the reason for my prediction of a glut of low mileage used RX-8s on the market. I may well get back into an RX-8 in the future, but I predict it will be at substantially less than the price I paid for this one.

 

From a source that I trust implicity and from a person who makes a living buying and selling high end used vehicles (and thus spends a lot of time at auctions), I don't think resale is going to be an issue.

According to him, he's seen a few used RX8s at auctions that have already been repossessed by financial institutions. How that happened is a mystery to both he and I, but the theory is the dealerships got financial approval on the cars with people of marginal creditworthiness. So, they didn't mess around when they missed to first couple of payments.

Anyway, these cars all had less than 1,000 miles on them. All were still being AUCTIONED, at or near MSRP minus a few hundred for "used" status. That's always a good sign.

Also, the last I looked, less than 1% of qualified RX8 owners are opting for the buyback. So, that will translate into about 300 cars being bought back by Mazda.

The VW is a way different car than the RX8. Did you really want a sports car to begin with?

Lastly, these cars aren't going into the mainstream used car market. They are being sold to Mazda employees (who most certainly will get a good deal on them).

Add that to the fact that there is still a scarcity of RX8s on dealers' lots, I don't think there is much of a chance of the market colapsing on them regarding new sales or re-sales.