Just got word two days ago that my RX8 chasis just got a serial number and was ready to go into production. I ordered mine in October and was looking forward to getting the new car "early" next year. The bright side of this news, if there is one, is now I have more time to save money and lower my loan amount next year. I would have gladly taken out a larger loan. The waiting reminds of when I was a kid waiting for someting I had ordered to come in the mail. Oh well.

 

I dont see it .......hmmmm

 

Just found something else pretty interesting... According to Japan Today a guy who ordered his '8 before the fire was told his car would be on back order for 6 months after the fire!

 

Wonder if that applies to us who were told they had a chasis ready to go. Right, who am I kidding? It does. I'll have an '06 that's an '05 most likely.

 

I wonder if the 350z owners group happened to be in the area having a "meet" before the fire broke out???

 

I shouldn't be screwed, since my build date is 9/29 and dealer said they'd have it by 2 weeks, should be in the USA by now. I haven't heard anything from my dealer otherwise, but then they never call me anyway. We'll see.

 

We have a few updated comments:

http://rotarynews.com/node/view/483

-Bern

 

Thanks Bern for the update.

 

Thanks "rxeightr" and you're very welcome!

Here is the latest from Mazda!
http://rotarynews.com/node/view/492

-Bern

 

http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosins...utos-40246.htm

TOKYO - Japanese auto maker Mazda Motor Corp. said on Wednesday that it would restart operations at a fire-hit domestic car assembly plant on Jan. 6.

Mazda's Ujina No.1 plant in Hiroshima, western Japan, caught fire last Wednesday and has been out of operation since.

Mazda, one-third owned by Ford Motor Co., said on Monday the plant would stay out of operation through the end of the year, resulting in lost production of 7,832 cars.

Starting from Jan. 6, Mazda will resume production of the Demio subcompact at the No.1 plant although the painting process will be handled at the adjacent Ujina No.2 plant.

The company aims to produce 4,000 Demio units at the No.1 plant and 4,600 units at the No.2 plant in January, it said.

It has not decided on when to resume production of seven other models, a spokesman said.

The Ujina No.1 plant builds the MPV family van, RX-8 and Roadster sports cars and the Verisa hatchback. Its daily output capacity is about 1,000 vehicles.

"Production restoration of the Demio was easier than other models as the Demio has been manufactured at both the No.1 and No.2 plants, which was not the case for other models," the spokesman said.

Mazda's four car assembly plants in Japan has a total capacity of 898,000 vehicles a year, including 268,000 at Ujina No.1.

 

Mazda plant unlikely to resume full operations until spring

(Kyodo) _ A Mazda Motor Corp. plant in Hiroshima Prefecture which was hit by a fire last week is unlikely to resume full operations until next spring, a Japanese business daily reported Friday.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said that Mazda will brief autoparts suppliers and others Friday on the extent of the damage and production schedules for January and beyond.

The Hiroshima-based automaker expects domestic finished-vehicle production in January to be 10,000 below the planned 67,000, the report said.

Mazda said Wednesday that it will restart operations on Jan. 6 at its Ujina No. 1 factory, where the fire broke out Dec. 15, crippling a paint-coating facility.

The factory had assembled RX-8 sports cars and Verisa passenger cars, in addition to the Demio compact car, until the blaze forced its suspension.

The output at the factory has accounted for 30 percent of the automaker's domestic output.

 

Looks like no new RX-8's for a while

 

Means less 8's on the road means lower supply = higher value..

 

At least it's a start..

 

I think that's pretty quick getting it even partially back up considering a 6 hour fire...

 

Yeah, that was fast. Last I heard it was going to be March before they reopened. Regardless, expect a shortage of some Mazda vehicles for a while.

Poor Mazda... right as they got some momentum going with the Mz6, RX8, and Mz3..... what a crappy time to have this happen. Wonder if Toyota or Honda somehow had a hand in this... :D

 

this was reported by rotarynews.com the other day and a link to the article posted in the thread in media news. where this one should be. ill move it over there

also they are restarting the demio(mazda2) line only at first because they also build them in the Ujina no. 2 plant and therefore can make use of that buildings paint line.

 

Sad news, but it looks like my RX-8's value may go up a bit....

 

Has anyone heard or had first hand experience buying an 8 since this fire? I'm wondering if it really IS effecting the value of the cars. Are dealers not going to sell them below sticker any more? This really sucks for me because I think I'm actually going to have the money to buy one in 2-3 months time. Now I may be screwed for getting what I want...Let me know if you have heard anything...

 

Here is our latest update on the fire and availability of vehicles.

http://rotarynews.com/node/view/496

Cheers,

-Bern