attgig

http://www.motortrend.com/features/news/112_news41/

RX-8 Short on Power, Mazda Buyback Program
USA TODAY - September 4, 2003


Motor Trend
Mazda is offering to buy back most of the 3,551 RX-8 rotary-engine sports cars sold since the July launch because engine power is as much as 5% less than advertised -- an important difference to sports car enthusiasts.

The flub interrupts an important rollout of models designed to restore Mazda's image as innovative and sporty. But the company's quick action is expected to prevent damage to Mazda's reputation.

Mazda sent letters Aug. 22 to RX-8 purchasers saying it would pay full sticker price plus taxes and other fees -- even if they've run up thousands of miles on their cars. Those who tell Mazda they will keep their cars get free scheduled maintenance for the four-year, 50,000-mile warranty period, plus $500. Buyers who don't contact Mazda get nothing.

Buyers from now on sign a form saying they've been informed of the discrepancy and aren't eligible for buyback or maintenance deals.


Thirty-one owners have asked for their money back, says Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes.

He says the power dropped after a last-minute change in engine tuning to meet emission rules. The drop was noticed "during ongoing testing that manufacturers perform after cars go on sale."

The RX-8 with manual transmission was supposed to deliver 247 horsepower but makes 238. The automatic transmission model was rated 207 hp, but makes 197. There's no drop in advertised acceleration, apparently because testing was done with the lower-power models.

This is the second time Mazda has overstated the power of a sports car. It made the same buyback offer to purchasers of 2001 Miata two-seaters because those produced 142 hp instead of the 155 hp that Mazda advertised.

"It's unfortunate, but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. The RX-8's still a cool car. And Mazda's to be applauded for not denying the problem," says Gordon Wangers at AMCI, which tests cars to give automakers data to support advertising claims. "I'd still recommend it to my friends."

"The bigger problem would be that it reminds people that years ago there was problem with the rotary engine," says Dan Gorrell, at consultant Strategic Vision.

Mazda last sold rotary-power cars in the USA in 1995. Older rotaries burned oil. If owners didn't monitor them closely, engines wore out fast. The new design uses much less oil, Mazda says, and shouldn't cause problems.

Questionable power claims aren't just a Mazda problem.

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I wish i bought one...and used it in my roadtrips to ohio, va beach, and ocean city!!!

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chadlnc

It sounds like 31 people realized that they spent more than they should have and are counting their blessings now I personally would quickly take them up on the scheduled maintenance and $500 offer. I'm glad to see they are standing behind their mistake and not passing the buck.

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rasetsu

I think Hyundai had this problem before too. Not that anyone who buys a Hyundai would really care...

bachviet

Or the car is already dying...

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attgig

second page of the article:

· Hyundai confessed last year that it misstated power by as much as 12 hp, or 9.6%, on 1.3 million vehicles sold in the USA and Canada since 1992. Hyundai blamed sloppy record keeping and provided extended warranties to owners of the 400,000 vehicles with the biggest discrepancies. Some Kia models, which use Hyundai engines, also were involved.

· Ford Motor, which has a controlling stake in Mazda, recalled 8,100 1999 Mustang Cobras after owners found the engines did not produce the advertised 320 hp. Ford blamed changes in mufflers and intake manifolds for the problem and installed new ones free on nearly all the Cobras -- a process that took so much time it eliminated production of '00 model Cobras.


· Nissan's '02 Infiniti Q45 wouldn't accelerate to 60 mph in the 5.9 seconds the company claimed. Nissan said it tested the car under ideal weather conditions, using a light base model and lightweight driver. It didn't offer buyers anything to make good.

· Nissan cut power ratings by 5 hp on the '02 Maxima, Altima 2.5, Sentra SE-R and Spec V models shortly before they went on sale.





according to the article...nissan's the biggest punks.

rasetsu

Is 175hp for the Altima and 180 for SE-R not right then are or are those the adjusted numbers?

Skeptical

I feel sorry for people who bought the RX-8.

guiseppewv

How is Nissan the biggest punk? They restated the HP BEFORE they sold any and they explained how they got the Q45 to do 0-60 in 5.9 sec. Weather conditions do play a huge part in acceleration and engine performance. Take your car to a high altitude place in the middle of the summer, when it is hot, and put a 300 lb driver behind the wheel and then tell me your car performs the same.

Their practice of reporting a time of 5.9 s was a little shady but then again what manufacturer tests their cars in worst case scenarios and what manufacturer gives you wheel horsepower or torque, which is MUCH more important the HP or TQ at the crank which the manufacturer gives you when they tell you what the car's specs are.

attgig

why? Mazda's doing a good job making up for their mistake.

attgig

exactly...no manufacturer tests their cars in bad scenerios...
heck....what magazine or any person with common sense would test their car to a " high altitude place in the middle of the summer, when it is hot, and put a 300 lb driver behind the wheel"??!?!?! nobody....

however, it's only nissan that had to make excuses and give explanations on why it's not getting to 60 in under 6 seconds.




and restating the power ratings right before they go on sale is pretty smart..... it's after all the car magazines/websites hype up the cars with having 250 hp....and then right before they go on sale...they cut it by 5, without really announcing it to anybody..

Airencracken

I'd be upset if my car didn't have it's rated power, I mean it only has 98hp to begin with...

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Skeptical

I know there doing a good job with their mistake. I'm saying I feel bad for the people who bought it because they might have to send it back.

SnowSurfer

lol what kind of car?

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Realrammstein

Actually thta is not quite true. Dodge understated the power of the Neon SRT-4's. They rate it at 215HP, but Dyno's show it getting 215HP at the wheels. Thus, it actually has more at the crank (Mfrs. usual rated amount).

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Drive it like you stole it:
http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/...y/media/516514

Ladogaboy

I believe he has a hybrid.... Don't let him fool you, though... I think he has another 15 HP locked away in that electric motor of his.

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Airencracken

It is a hybrid a 2002 toyota Prius. the 98hp is total.

Ladogaboy

Should've gotten the Civic.

Airencracken

Nah, the civic doesn't get as good milage and it sucks.

psycho-

BTW, the lack of horsepower never affected their published times. Apperantly, the RX-8s published manufacturer times were already accurate becuase they drew those figures from an already detuned car.

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