I called this morning and got the buy-back from faxed to me. The delay for California DMV to send the title is a little scary. I tried calling them four times and got disconnected after hearing all their menu options, etc.

Of possible interest, I asked the MNAO guy if I could change my mind about selling the car back (after submitting paperwork) if some news on a correction (o fHP and MPG issue) was announced. He said he thought it was likely. He added that someone who opted for the $500 called back a couple days after submitting their paperwork and wanted to change their mind and sell the car back--no such luck!

Also, did anyone see the thread "Oil's Not Well..." from the UK-based magazine. It actually quoted a number of US cars that qualified for the buyback. Not that it's important, but I though it interesting to see the number somewhere around 3,500. I would like to see an updated survey on the forum here to see what people (now a month or so after Mazda's admission) are opting to do.

 

YES, I am returning the car. I finally recieved the paperwork today , filled it out, sent the necessary copies/info, and it's on its way. The letter states that I should hear from someone within 5 days after they recieve the paperwork. In a way I feel relieved and want to move forward.
RX-8, silver, 6 speed, touring package. lilhondi

 

The 3,500 number was the total number of cars sold in July/August before the cut-off date. They are ALL eligible. A company polled something like 1,500 owners randomly two weeks ago, and something like 93 of them said they were considering the buyback.

 

It seems like everyday something new pops up with regards to this car and posters at this site. I feel good about my decision; the car goes back.

 

I sent in my form, and Mazda Canada received it on Tuesday.

I called them this morning to ask about the time to turn this around.
They told me:

1) A person there does a lien search. This takes about a week.

2) That person is supposed to contact me by phone once that is done, to confirm some details.

3) I will receive a call to bring the car to the dealer after that for inspection, and if approved to give me the cheque.

He tells me the turnaround time is probably three weeks.

 

I have everything ready to send in except the registration. The dealership says they need some form from Jacksonville, FL (my car was a dealer trade). Hopefully it will get sorted out before the deadline. I'm getting very nervous.

 

I spoke to someone at Mazda and he informed me that if you are going to go for the buy back, you need to respond with the form by October 1st. He said that the deadline only has to do with our response time in sending in the form. I am reading the form as I am typing this post and it states that our documents are to be received no later than October 1, 2003. This is the only deadline I see. I hope this will take away some of the stress.
lilhondi ...... Silver RX-8, 6 speed, touring package

 

Be careful lilhondi about what pops up. Several things popping up are coming from non-owners like on MSN auto reviews.

 

After unsuccessfully reaching Cal DMV by phone, I went and stood in line. It took me an hour and 45 minutes...we should recall the governor! Anyway, I learned my plates were mailed a week ago and my title was mailed yesterday (9/11), exactly 45 days after I purchased the car (7/27).

Good luck Neo and others in getting yours in time.

 

I'm confused.. if you have a loan, dont you NOT get the title until paid for? Meaning just your bank gets it?

 

I work for a auto lender and we hold titles till car is paided off we only give a copy of title for regrestration purposes if necessary

 

This message is for silver 8.... I purchased my car 7-20-03 and my California registration arrived yesterday, 9-11-03.
lilhondi RX-8 Silver, 6 speed, touring PKG.

 

That works out to be about 54 days or 41 working days. I bought my car on 8/1. So, maybe I will get my titlte on 9/29 or 9/30.
That is a little too close for me.

Thanks for the update.

 

On the horn with MNAO as I type this. About 15 minutes waiting so far. Mazda stands true to form with the customer service I've seen from them so far.

After thinking it over for a few weeks, and seeing no improvement in the 13 MPG I've been seeing, my mind is made up. She's going back. I will miss alot about this car, and I will follow this forum in hopes of seeing the newer 8s that are rolling out getting better MPG performance on a consistent basis. If that happens, I will simply buy another one. I'm betting the problem is already identified and has been quietly resolved back in Hiroshima. But, it could take a while for anecdotal evidence to support this.

I just feel sorry for the person who ends up buying my car - even if it is at a discount. It will be a rude awakening evey 200 miles the pump. I envision a small group of a few hundred 8s floating around with this problem. Those unfortunate enough to get stuck with one of these problem 8s will more and more be deemed "heavy foots" or some other unfounded stereotype.

Good luck to all with their respective situations. I remain a believer in the potential of the Wankel motor & hope to have a more bug-free RX-8 in future.

 

This post is for astrlsrfr: I think you are doing the right thing. I am doing the same and am looking forward to moving on. This car has been kind of a nightmare . The gas mileage is horrible. Good luck to you, lilhondi

 

To lihondi and astrlsrfr...

I doing the same thing... my last tank gave me 12.51mpg (my car has more than 2000miles)...

I'm gone a miss my 8... love the feeling of driving it, but it's to much fuel for to little power!

Just like you, I'll follow the forum, and hope that in the future the 8s get better mpg; also, maybe next year 8s will have a "real" a/c with climate control and "cold air"!

In the mean time, I'll get myself a used "saturn" for the winter... I'm sad... but I must be reasonable... Mazda, please fix the power, Mazda, please fix the MPG... and I'll be back... because in two months I had my 8, I've learned why people loved the 7...

 

Hi All: It seems like I am spending too much time at the gas pump. 91 Octane and the cost is outrageous. I now have over 2000 miles on my RX-8 and the MPG is still very poor. This is another reason for returning the car. I am now looking aroumnd for another car because Mazda will be in contact with me shortly with instructions to drop off the car. I now know why people say, don't buy a car the first year it comes out. lilhondi Silver RX-8 6 speed, touring PKG

 

wow,im disappinted to hear so many people are returning their 8's.

 

this thread is for those returning the car, thats why you are hearing so much of it

 

downplay.. downplay..

I love the guys on these threads who swear they love everything about their cars..

And hang out on the thread from guys who are returning it.

Obsessed?

He IS right though, if you want the other side look at:
http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9437

 

Last I checked, it was about 2% of affected owners are returning their cars. That figures out to be around 60 units are being sent back to Mazda. To me, that's not a lot. I know that some are returning theirs not because of problems, but because of higher insurance rates, they suddenly had a change of financial/job circumstances, etc.

 

I've even read a couple of postings in which the owner was returning their car and planned to turn around and buy another with different options or color. Now that, IMHO, is an abuse of Mazda's offer.
Live with your own mistakes, forgive those of others.

 

At least in Canada, the people who have not yet had their cars delivered have recently received a new variation of the letter from Mazda.

Here is the text:

Dear Customer:

Thank you for placing an order for a 2004 Mazda RX-8. You'll soon have a chance to experience everything the car has to offer -power, space and style -and I hope you'll find it to be one of the world's truly great sports cars.

Because we're always looking for ongoing improvement in the vehicles we produce, we have continued testing and analysis of mass-production RX-8 engines. Through this testing, we have determined that the vehicle is making approximately four-percent less horsepower than we had originally calculated. As a result, the published horsepower rating of North American-specification vehicles will change from 247 to 238 horsepower, and from 207 to 197 horsepower for automatic-transmission vehicles.

However, the revised horsepower rating has not affected the RX-8's performance. Acceleration testing of production cars has shown similar performance to pre-production cars, which were tested by independent enthusiast magazines, returning 0-60mph times in the low six-second range and mid-14-second quarter-mile times.

While four-percent is a very small difference in peak output, it is nevertheless not the number we originally published. Therefore, to ensure your complete satisfaction with Mazda and the RX-8, we're offering you two options:

. Free factory scheduled maintenance for the balance of the new vehicle comprehensive warranty (36 months/80,000 kilometres) AND a $500 cheque.

-OR-

. A full refund of the deposit you placed for the purchase of your 2004 Mazda RX-8

You have until October I, 2003 or prior to delivery of your RX-8, to respond on the attached form with your selection. We value you as a Mazda customer and if you have any concerns we invite you to call our Customer Relations Department at Mazda,Canada Inc.

Sincerely
Mike Benchimol
President
MazdaCanadaInc.

------------8<---------------------8<----------------8<----------------


PRE-SELL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This acknowledges the undersigned's agreement to accept the Offer marked below. The undersigned has been informed by Mazda-Canada Inc. about the change in horsepower rating and accepts the Offer as full and complete resolution of any claim he/she may have against MCI and any of its authorized dealers.

_ I wish to accept Offer 1, free scheduled maintenance for the balance of the factory warranty (total of 36 months/80,000 kilometres, whichever comes first). This offer is only for the original purchaser and is not transferable. In addition, I will receive a $500 cheque. I understand that the maintenance will be registered against my vehicle and my cheque will be processed once the dealer reports to Mazda that I have taken delivery of my 2004 RX-8

_ If you wish to discuss the option of having the deposit you placed for a 2004 Mazda RX-8 refunded, please contact your selling dealer.

There are some interesting points here.

1) The letter does give a deadline for the return of the form. It does NOT give any deadline for when you have to take delivery.
In the case of one individual I spoke with, he still has a deposit at the dealer, registered before the August 26th cutoff date, he has now received this letter, and he is checking the offer box and sending it in. He is in no hurry to take delivery, and there is nothing compelling the dealer to complete the deal any time soon.
The dealer is sittingon his depoit, and if and when my friend decides he wants an RX-8, he will take delivery.
In essence he is getting his deposit amount covered by Mazda, and is still in the queue to take a car, if and when he decides to.
He is covered for his out of pocket risk, the dealer is covered, and he can act on this when he feels it is time, or if he chooses to bow out at some point, he can do so, knowing he is ending up with no costs. I consider that an improvement, as it takes the deadline pressure down quite a bit.

I, for one, would have appreciated the extra time, as with the rate I accumulate mileage, I will not be able to see if there is any gain in power or mileage before the Oct. 1 date passes.

These potential owners now have the luxury of sitting back and seeing if in December, for example, we start to see these cars consistently making better power, or the mileage problems significantly changing.

2) The former debit card for the $500 is now replaced by a cheque.

3) The "free service" is no longer transferrable. The original purchaser has to keep the car for it to be used. I find this less agreeable, as it decreases the value of the offer significantly.
The letter I received did not have this stipulation, so the warranty service would add to the value of the car at resale.
So there are some gains and losses in both cases.

Anyway, this is the "state of the art". I hope some of you find it interesting.

 

I will never give it back!
I am thinking of getting another one in different color,
two is better than one.

 

To Canzoomer,

My opinion, but working for a finance institution, if you think that Mazda is going to pay someone that can not prove he is out cash you must be smoking something. And I would predict that they will be talking to the dealer about the deposit. Your thought that he can sit around and wait is not realistic.

Also, I went to the website and found over 250 RX8s within 50 miles of me. Even if they are not delivered, that is a lot to chose from. Why the wait?