Well, they might sell more if they actually did something called 'advertising.'

Other brands are running national TV campaigns targeting specific vehicles to specific consumers. Mazda? Nothing.

The only mention of the RX-8 in San Antonio is a local dealer ad who hocks Proteges and Tributes and then adds, "...and you have to come by and see the all new 2004 RX-8 - an instant classic." They show 3 emblems, but never the full car.

One of the other dealer ads also mentions it in passing, "...and we also have the hot and sexy new 2004 RX-8." Again, emblem shots, and one shot of a model getting out of the car...never the car.

The other two dealers here haven't done jack.

Dealers hawk what they need to sell and what is profitable for them...Mazda can't rely on the dealers to drive sales. This should be a big national blitz intro, not a, "...oh we also have this other car with an unusual engine."

At the auto show, my friends (they know about me and rotaries) wouldn't stop talking about the sucky the RX-8 seats. Even the leather ones have that dorky ribbed cheap ribbed plastic crap. The console looks great, but all that 'aluminum' is plastic. Then over at the Acura or Infiniti booth (forget which), they have a sporty sedan for $26K with an awesome all leather interior.

Does building cars in Hiroshima just cost that much more?

Volume counts. Acura builds greater quantities of a given model than Mazda has of the RX-8.

That said, I find the price to be reasonable for the sort of sporty sedan you get.

just imagine the target market of the rx-8, high end sports cars like the M3 and Z. both cars cost considerably more than the 8.

What would be the point in putting together a big advertising blitz? They don't have the volume of cars to sell yet anyways?

Mazda has a geat marketing strategy for the RX-8.
First they pre-sold to the hard-core enthusiasts and won over the media.
They they started targeting the the general enusiast market.

This way, they have a loyal following already to help[ push the car on the general population. Now watch the next few months as production ramps up and they actually start to get the cars available in showrooms, Mazda will probably start pimping the car pretty hard...

I hope you are correct, but sometimes you sell more overall by creating the perception there are not enough (e.g. early Vipers and more recently the new Beetle). Marketing is heavily based on psychology, which is why I never get it.

Two of my co-workers went over to one dealer during lunch a few weeks back. I had been complaining about how there were no floor models, etc. So, they get over there and find a whole back lot full of RX-8s (I am sure they were exaggerating, but there were a lot).

It turned both of them off big time. They claimed there are way too many...it won't be unique enough.

One has a 2000 Audi TT (highly modified by a pro shop), the other a highly modified Suburu WRX. Both are half-heartedly looking for a new car. They want something sporty and unique.

The guy with the Suburu probably bought a Z4 this weekend...because of the paddle shifters.

On a side note, I am amazed either of these guys were ever successful making a decision on anything in their life...they always find something to complain about.

The more I think about it though, I don't think the RX-8 competes well against the 350Z - that would be the role of the next (if any) RX-7. The M class and the G35 (I know, it is just a 350Z with 4 seats) are probably its targets.

I just pray it does very well. I have seen a few around town (more than Gen I's). They do look nice and distinctive.

a lot of the reason I dont see them sold here, is this is a mustang town, if thatd been 8 mustangs they'd been gone already. I personally despise the mustang, but here goes the theory of them being everywhere and not selling, they sell the shit out of them.

I'd like some of that crack you're smoking.

RX-8 too expensive? Come on! What other car does what the 8 does for a base price of $26k US? The answer is NONE.

The 350Z is quicker, but doesn't seat four, doesn't come with LSD standard, and is not at the same build quality.

The G35C seats four, so long as the passengers in the back are midgets, is quite a bit more expensive than the 8, and understeers severely at the limit.

I could go on and on.

I dont know about you guys, but i am seeing rx-8's everywhere around here, local dealers have been selling them fairly easily...either that or there are lots of test drives going on.

On the rx-7/rx-3 note, I totally agree that the names should not be resurrected... Whay are cars not allowed to die? Why must we bring back and basterdize every classic name, and classic style (GTO, '05 Mustang,T-bird)?

One thing I love about Mazda is they are always doing something unique, why, now, would they decide to follow the current trend and bring back these happily retired legends(at least legends to us)? Why not continue the name scheme, or come up with something original?

Is that not what these cars are all about? Doing something that no-one else had the balls to do, and experimenting with a non-piston engine. Why not continue that trend, be bold, and make us something we havent seen before?

If I want another Rx-7, I'll buy one. If I want a '66 Mustang, I'll steal my fathers. If I want a GTO, I'll Restore one. And if i want a Thunderbird, I'll find one.

Does anyone else see it how i do?

Ok, rant off...I cant believe u actually read all of that!

Mazda news and rumors
 

Here is some good news and rumors about Mazda and future products.

Mazda News and Rumors

In short:
- Ford BOD vetoed new RX-7 (rumor)
- Mazda has a rotary that runs on hydrogen fuel (news)