Someone on the Celica forum got to see the RX8 at Mazda.
08-16-2002, 03:38 PM
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Someone on the Celica forum got to see the RX8 at Mazda.
http://www.newcelica.org/forums/show...threadid=37556
This was posted by Keyshawn over at newcelica.org.
"I was part of some market research focus group and gave my opinions and impressions of the car. It was a near-production prototype in red. Looked much better in person than in pics. The specs the Mazda engineers quoted were pretty consistent with what's in the mags: 2-rotor engine producing about 250 hp and 160-something ft/lbs of torque. 9000 redline on this 1.3 liter engine, but you'll haveta rev it hard to get to peak power, which is reached at a high 8500 rpms. However, the Mazda guys say that the torque curve is pretty flat at around 4000 rpms and up and that it will have nice midrange pull to go along with the great top-end power. The car weighs around 2800-2900 lbs.
The interior was nice, very sporty and cockpit-like. Seats were supportive and Recaro-like. The most unique feature was of course the small "suicide-style" rear doors and surprisingly spacious back seats. I got to sit in it with some of the other people being surveyed. A six-footer can fit in the back seat fairly comfortably with me in the drivers seat (I'm 5'8"). The most interesting tidbit that one of the engineers told me is that the RX-8 is easily capable of .90+G's on the skidpad and can outhandle the last generation RX-7. The styling up-front is kinda funky looking, but overall, it's very unique and eye-catching. I didn't get to actually drive it (which sucked), but I got to start it up and rev it a little. The best part was that they paid me $100 in cash to check out and talk about the car for about 2 hours."
This was posted by Keyshawn over at newcelica.org.
"I was part of some market research focus group and gave my opinions and impressions of the car. It was a near-production prototype in red. Looked much better in person than in pics. The specs the Mazda engineers quoted were pretty consistent with what's in the mags: 2-rotor engine producing about 250 hp and 160-something ft/lbs of torque. 9000 redline on this 1.3 liter engine, but you'll haveta rev it hard to get to peak power, which is reached at a high 8500 rpms. However, the Mazda guys say that the torque curve is pretty flat at around 4000 rpms and up and that it will have nice midrange pull to go along with the great top-end power. The car weighs around 2800-2900 lbs.
The interior was nice, very sporty and cockpit-like. Seats were supportive and Recaro-like. The most unique feature was of course the small "suicide-style" rear doors and surprisingly spacious back seats. I got to sit in it with some of the other people being surveyed. A six-footer can fit in the back seat fairly comfortably with me in the drivers seat (I'm 5'8"). The most interesting tidbit that one of the engineers told me is that the RX-8 is easily capable of .90+G's on the skidpad and can outhandle the last generation RX-7. The styling up-front is kinda funky looking, but overall, it's very unique and eye-catching. I didn't get to actually drive it (which sucked), but I got to start it up and rev it a little. The best part was that they paid me $100 in cash to check out and talk about the car for about 2 hours."
08-16-2002, 03:47 PM
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and so was this:
"It won't be any different for customers coming in and buying a 350Z after they arrive at the showrooms either. No one is paying more than MSRP for the car, they just wanted me to put a deposit down, because they are going to go fast. Do you realize there are already more than 30,000 deposits on the Z nationwide?
Who's arguing? See, that's the problem with the Internet as a medium for communication, sometimes people can read you wrong by what you write. No bro, I'm not arguing with you at all. I'm quite calm too. The information I obtained about the RX-8 is from a friend of a friend, who is a sales manager at a Mazda dealership here in Dallas. He told my buddy, that all the Mazda dealerships in the Dallas Metroplex (I'm sure it won't be limited to the Dallas area either) have already agreed to sell the car for no less than $5K (some are planning on no less than 10K over MSRP!) over MSRP, and the $29K sales price Mazda is quoting, will be for a car with absolutely no options. I just want to let everyone here know who may be thinking about purchasing the car this January (expected release date), that they better have at least $40K to play around with.
Personally, if I had $40K to spend on a car, it would be for a fully loaded G35 Coupe coming out this November.
Last edited by DGS on 08-16-2002 at 09:18 PM"
and this:
"Yeah, I wonder if they told you the good stuff at Mazda headquarters, like the quoted MSRP of $29,000 will be for a car with ZERO options. Once you add on the leather, upgraded sound system, upgraded wheels/tires, better brakes/suspension, I'm sure it will be just like the 350Z, which is about $35K fully loaded. But wait, we're not done yet, did Mazda mention this car is going to be a limited production vehicle, about 5000 made every year. Can you say dealer goughing anyone, to the tune of an additional 5K to 10K over MSRP.
Yep, I'm sure the RX-8 will be all that and a bag of chips, but just like it was when the S2000 was released, if you want to be the first (or second for that matter) one on the block to own one, you better enjoy getting it in the rear (with no lube) from the Mazda dealerships. $40K or $45K for the new 8, I don't think so, not in this lifetime. If I want an ultra high revving, no torque car, I'll get a GT-S and put the other $20K in the bank, thank you."
Just and FYI - this is what I was warning against in the other thread...only time will tell.
"It won't be any different for customers coming in and buying a 350Z after they arrive at the showrooms either. No one is paying more than MSRP for the car, they just wanted me to put a deposit down, because they are going to go fast. Do you realize there are already more than 30,000 deposits on the Z nationwide?
Who's arguing? See, that's the problem with the Internet as a medium for communication, sometimes people can read you wrong by what you write. No bro, I'm not arguing with you at all. I'm quite calm too. The information I obtained about the RX-8 is from a friend of a friend, who is a sales manager at a Mazda dealership here in Dallas. He told my buddy, that all the Mazda dealerships in the Dallas Metroplex (I'm sure it won't be limited to the Dallas area either) have already agreed to sell the car for no less than $5K (some are planning on no less than 10K over MSRP!) over MSRP, and the $29K sales price Mazda is quoting, will be for a car with absolutely no options. I just want to let everyone here know who may be thinking about purchasing the car this January (expected release date), that they better have at least $40K to play around with.
Personally, if I had $40K to spend on a car, it would be for a fully loaded G35 Coupe coming out this November.
Last edited by DGS on 08-16-2002 at 09:18 PM"
and this:
"Yeah, I wonder if they told you the good stuff at Mazda headquarters, like the quoted MSRP of $29,000 will be for a car with ZERO options. Once you add on the leather, upgraded sound system, upgraded wheels/tires, better brakes/suspension, I'm sure it will be just like the 350Z, which is about $35K fully loaded. But wait, we're not done yet, did Mazda mention this car is going to be a limited production vehicle, about 5000 made every year. Can you say dealer goughing anyone, to the tune of an additional 5K to 10K over MSRP.
Yep, I'm sure the RX-8 will be all that and a bag of chips, but just like it was when the S2000 was released, if you want to be the first (or second for that matter) one on the block to own one, you better enjoy getting it in the rear (with no lube) from the Mazda dealerships. $40K or $45K for the new 8, I don't think so, not in this lifetime. If I want an ultra high revving, no torque car, I'll get a GT-S and put the other $20K in the bank, thank you."
Just and FYI - this is what I was warning against in the other thread...only time will tell.
08-16-2002, 04:21 PM
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if all the mazda dealers in the dallas area got together and decided how much to charge over msrp, that's called collusion, price fixing and conspiracy which are all illegal and will be punished if the freind of a freind of a guy were to say so to the da's office instead of just in an internet forum.
rumors rumors rumors... this is exactly why mazda needs to get more info out. the rumors will kill the car
rumors rumors rumors... this is exactly why mazda needs to get more info out. the rumors will kill the car
08-16-2002, 04:35 PM
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The most interesting tidbit that one of the engineers told me is that the RX-8 is easily capable of .90+G's on the skidpad and can outhandle the last generation RX-7
08-16-2002, 06:25 PM
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Interesting stuff.
A few comments:
1) I always thought that these focus groups invite owners of similarly classed cars. There was a G35 focus group, and the owners consisted of BMW 330 and Lexus IS300 owners. Why did they choose Celica owners for this particular group?
2) Mazda hasn't mentioned anything about the expected production numbers, so it's pure speculation at this point.
3) the 2800-2900 lb sounds promising
4) further down in the thread, the original poster says:
That's a good sign that they want to keep the pricing on par with the Z. One other thing that seems odd to me: did they have access to a Z? The car isn't available to the public yet and only the die-hard enthusiasts know about the car. How would these focus group participants be able to "compare and constrast" a car that they haven't seen yet?
A few comments:
1) I always thought that these focus groups invite owners of similarly classed cars. There was a G35 focus group, and the owners consisted of BMW 330 and Lexus IS300 owners. Why did they choose Celica owners for this particular group?
2) Mazda hasn't mentioned anything about the expected production numbers, so it's pure speculation at this point.
3) the 2800-2900 lb sounds promising
4) further down in the thread, the original poster says:
...In any case, I didn't get the impression that the guys at Mazda's US headquarters wanted dealers to price the RX-8 too high, though. One of the reasons I got this impression was that they kept mentioning the 350Z, and asked us numerous times to compare and contrast the two. They wanted to know which one we'd prefer and why. Because of this, I figured that they wanted to keep the RX-8's price competitive with the Z's.
08-16-2002, 06:47 PM
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Originally posted by Pork Chop
Interesting stuff.
2) Mazda hasn't mentioned anything about the expected production numbers, so it's pure speculation at this point.
Interesting stuff.
2) Mazda hasn't mentioned anything about the expected production numbers, so it's pure speculation at this point.
I agree that it is speculation but the dealers here in Canada are all talking about very low allocations, about 3 per dealership. I guess time will tell.
08-19-2002, 08:25 PM
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One of them said
"The sad thing is that are these chumps that will pay the 5K for the 8"
I know thats not exact but god what a dumbass! The Z is not going to be exempt from this problem there are so many pre-orders for the car I wouldn't be surprised if they are all taken by now.:o
"The sad thing is that are these chumps that will pay the 5K for the 8"
I know thats not exact but god what a dumbass! The Z is not going to be exempt from this problem there are so many pre-orders for the car I wouldn't be surprised if they are all taken by now.:o
08-21-2002, 10:51 AM
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Non disclosure Agreement
Humm,
So much for NDA's ... I could post stuff to other car boards under aliases, but I know the info they give me is privvy stuff, and could be tracked back to me...
Like the Xmen2 deal, I knew about that back in December 01, but couldn't say anything, since the contract wasn't complete... I was releived that the news first showed up on a Xmen Movie website, that I have no ties too...
So much for NDA's ... I could post stuff to other car boards under aliases, but I know the info they give me is privvy stuff, and could be tracked back to me...
Like the Xmen2 deal, I knew about that back in December 01, but couldn't say anything, since the contract wasn't complete... I was releived that the news first showed up on a Xmen Movie website, that I have no ties too...
08-21-2002, 11:22 AM
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Originally posted by Pork Chop
Interesting stuff.
1) I always thought that these focus groups invite owners of similarly classed cars. There was a G35 focus group, and the owners consisted of BMW 330 and Lexus IS300 owners. Why did they choose Celica owners for this particular group?
Interesting stuff.
1) I always thought that these focus groups invite owners of similarly classed cars. There was a G35 focus group, and the owners consisted of BMW 330 and Lexus IS300 owners. Why did they choose Celica owners for this particular group?
08-21-2002, 11:35 AM
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someone else said they thought there is a sunroof on this car. i just wanted to say i agree,there does appear to be glass on that roof. good eye whoever said it first! it took me 3 looks to see it.
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