I am considering buying an RX8 in the near future and I have spoken to couple of people who have owned RX8 in regard to winter driving as I live in Montreal.

They both told me that the RX8 is really not a winter car. They said that even with snow tires that the car does not handle well and that getting it to start, if at all, on very cold days is a real problem.

Also they told me that if I want to see my insurance rates sky rocket to get this car. That it is a real magnet for car thieves. One of them had is RX8 stolen 3 times in the space of 8 months! He had the anti-theft which comes with the car and Boomrang. They never found the car.

Obviously this was a small sample of people. Therefore I would like to know what others here have experienced driving in the winter and have any had their RX8's stolen.

Thanks!

 

anentx100, Nice to here that you are thinking of getting an '8.

Winter driving: As far as winter driving goes, if you get the "GT" model with the traction control then you wont have any problem what so ever (providing you put winter tires on-MUST) People I know with the "GS" model (without traction) dont have that much trouble in the snow either.

Cold start: It is only on the -35 degreese days that you will get a trouble starting and even that, it is not bad at all.

Insurance: This is detirmaned by several factors. Your age, where you live, where you work, the price of the car, your driving record, etc.

Theft: Of all the members in this club, I have not herd of anyone getting their '8 stolen. I'm not saying it's not gonna happen, But it is all about what kind of area you live in and where you keep it for long periods of time (on the street over night)

Well I hope I have helped you and good luck with your dicision.

 

Well I don't knoiw where your sample set came from but the 8 is a great winter car. Equipped with good winter treads the GT version (with DSC anti slip) drives as well if not better than most vehicles.

I'm in Ottawa and we get the worst weather around. I loved driving the 8 in winter. Mind you I park it in the garage since it does not like sitting outside in cold weather.

I also had the scotchguard clear bra installed to minimize paint chips from flying debris 9salt, rocks...).

The only issue I had with winter driving relates to snowplws mounds left on the road. With such a low clearance (4 inches), hiting those especially when in the middle of the road, is like braking. Only did that once.


Great winter car, loving it in Ottawa.

 

OOPS, forgaot about insurance and car theft.

Well since it's a four door it costs me about a quarter less than my old 97 acura integra. You can't beat that. Of course I'm old (over 40) and have a good record.

As for theft, well I haven't heard of one being stolen yet. I keep mine close most of the time. Konck on wood.

PS I heard that integra attracted theives leke bees to honey, but I had mine for 8 years. I guess it depends on your neibourhood.

Good luck, hope you find one you like.

 

However you talked to is on drugs:

1) with the DSC, winter driving was easy. ...and you can turn that off to have some fun if you want. You just need to get snow tires (4).

2) I've never heard of an RX8 getting stolen until now.

3)When I looked into insurance for the RX8 is was $35 per year more than a Mazda 6.............waaaaaaayyyyy cheaper than a Mustang.

4) In Calgary we had a stratch of -30 weather and the car started every day, even when sitting in the cold all day. The only recomendation I would give is to upgrade the battery. That's the weak point in the system


GET THE CAR!!!

 

If it had Boomerang (vehicle theft recovery system), was stolen and they never found it, then how did it get stolen twice more? Sounds like somebody is pulling your leg.

With the vehicle immobilizer, it is very difficult to steal a car like this without a tow truck. Perhaps this guy's car was towed, and he just hasn't received the letter telling him where it's impounded yet. Moreover, you can get an insurance QUOTE without owning the car. Just call your agent and tell them you're thinking about getting a Mazda RX-8 and you want to know how your insurance bill will change.

--Massive

 

Isn't insurance in Quebec public insurance? it's a helluva lot cheaper than the ontario side... and the insurance on the 8 for me (quote was 145$ a month) at 26 years old isnt all that bad.

winter driving has always been (in my opinion) HOW you drive more so that the road conditions. if you drive according to the road conditions and the condition of your car (or type of car), there wont be a problem at all... if its slippy, take it easy. if you dont, then dont bitch when youre in the ditch :D ive driven RWD cars in the winter before without issue, and they didnt have TCS or DSC, so its more how youre driving

and someone else said it about towing the car. if he had his 8 stolen, the anti theft would have cut out the engine, so either they had a key, or it was towed. (which goes for a lot of cars now, not just the 8)

 

Your..."sources"...are...morons.

 

I've had mine for two winters now, way north of Edmonton. It can get chilly.

No starting problems at all. The second winter I made a stick-on oil pan heater, since they don't make a block heater for the '8, and it helps to pre-warm the engine to speed warmup.

The car has stability control, traction control, anti-lock and a limited slip differential - how can anyone claim it is not good on snow? I have a set of Toyo Garit snows, and the car is great on snow and ice! It stops dead straight even with one wheel on the ice and one on dry pavement. Acceleration is a breeze, too - same conditions, you hear a couple of clicks from the rear brakes, then you pull away straight, as if it was a summers day.

I pay $650US/year for insurance. :D

S

 

1) winter handling was way better than i expected, some 17'' wheels + winter tires = no trouble at all.
2) never heard of 8's being stolen, and insurance covers those rare cases
3) insurance, well my insurance is stupid expensive, but that is because young and have a FEW speeding tickets (my rates would probably make some people sick)
4) Get the car, its a beauty

 

^ why do you pay your insurance in US $?

 

I've got a block heater on my '05 GS. My dealer here has a local Winnipeg firm making block heaters for them.

For more info call:

Gerry Gordon's Mazda
Ron Yaremkewich - Parts Mgr
(204) 475-3982
(204) 475-3930

or parts@ggmazda_dot_ca

Typical disclaimers apply...I have no financial interest in the company...just a happy customer...

Chris...

 

I have the GS, with winter tires, i've had absolutely no problems driving, and we did have some big snow dumps, like that SuperBowl Sunday. Drove in well over 6" of snow, had to accelerate slower then other cars to keep it straight, but once to a safe speed, held straight and with no moving side to side, even though I was basically pushing the snow with the middle of the car, and was sitting on it. Cold starting, never had a problem with it. My car is outside over night all the time, started up easily every morning, even those mornings where it was colder then -30 without the windchill.
The insurance part of it, I was paying alot, and now dropped in march once I turned 25. You can't go wrong, show me another car that is a 4-door, 2 cylinder engine, 1.3 L (Love that hahahaha, tried explaining two rotars, didn't work, then said 2 housings/chambers, didn't work, so told them it's basically like having 2 cylinders). With all that, this car is a steal on the insurance side of it.

If your scared about the winter part, go for the GT model, as you will have very good assistance in your driving, or if your like me and don't care and love it without the assistance, get the GS or just turn it off on the GT, you'll always have it there for you.
Never heard of one being stolen, and even if it is true, the boomerang can be taken off once arrived and stripped at a chop shop and thrown in a garbage bin far away before you even wake up in the morning to go to work, if they are really good pros at that type of work.

Hope that guy's story (BULLSH*T) doesn't scare you away from getting this great car.

 

I got my 8 at the end of last winter, and i live here in montreal also. There were a couple of big storms at the end of the season, and my 8 handled fine. It started perfectly every time, the only thing i was told to do is make sure i warm up the car for a minute. Never had a problem with the cold start. Winter tires are a must though, and they can be pretty pricey, the dealer wanted to charge me 300 a piece, i opted to get mags at talon tires in st. laurent, and it ran me about 1600 for directional tires on 17s. They were a great price for what else was out there though. My car has not been stolen, so not much i can tell you abouut that. BUT, at the time of purchase i was also looking at the rsx tpye s. (I had an older integra and i loved it), the insurace rates were higher, the price was about the same, the car was no where near the experiance of the 8. And the few places where i was looking for used, all had horror stories about people gettin their type-s stolen. 1 guy had his ride stolen also 3 times in a couple of years, and had to give up his car because the insurance sky rocketed. That is going to happen if you have multiple thefts in a short period of time. You become suspect.


Also i'm 28, and have a spotted driving record, and my insurance is 130/month.


I love this car. You should buy it now. There are even some 04s left in town, and they are a steal! check out st. constant mazda, i believe they still have one in silver.

 

Thanks for the information. I am going to the dealer and getting the RX8. Velocity Red - GT - AT (I know not like a 6 LOL!)

 

NOOOOOOOO.....GET THE MT....YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

 

Having lived in Montreal for 20 years, I can tell you that they'll steal anything that doesn't have flat tires. There's a big secondary market for anything there and they often export parts and vehicles to central america and other exotic places. SUV's are very popular thefts. Unless they sell the RX8 in central america or africa, they won't have any value and therefore less stolen.

You're freind who got his 8 stolen 3 times in 8 months must be a liar, a retard that doesn't learn his lesson or has a few freinds that have been pulling pranks on the same idiot over and over again. If he did get his car 8 stolen that many times, didn't he figure out this is not a car for him? How many more times does it need to get stolen so he gets the message?

Sorry mon ami, but I think you are a troll my freind, because there are a million threads on the winter issues and the starting issue. It seems you didn't review any.


Everyone else answered you're other concerns.

 

The other fellows have pretty much answered your questions.

My insurance is not sky-high at all. Unless your friend is 16 years old and drives like a drunken blind man ... I think he's bullshitting you. Or maybe it's because he got it stolen 3 times! In fact, my insurance for the 8 is CHEAPER than a Mazda 6, WRX, 350Z and G35 ... and only a few bucks more than insurance for my old Corolla.

The only 8 I have heard of being actually stolen is the one fellow that got his stolen from LAX.

 

This winter will be my first with the RX8 so I will find out then.

Insurance, it ended up being about $200 cheaper than my Celica. All my friends expected me to be paying a premium and didn't believe me so I had to show them my documents. I guess because the insurance company classifies the RX8 as a four door. Not sure if that is one of the reason.

 

As a 4 door and a 1.3Litre engine!!

 

I would like to publicly take back my comment that Agentx100 is a troll. It appears that he is very new to this forum and is serious about getting an 8.

Agentx100: Please accept my apology. I think you'll be happy with a RX8 but remember its a different animal than a piston engine. So read more in this forum and learn what makes it different and how you can enjoy the advantages it provides over other piston engine cars. Remember, it will sound different and act differently than what you have previously experienced. Its not that its broken, just different.

Good luck.

 

Ofcourse its not broken, you mean it's made better and runs better

 

Quoted my insurance in US $ just so 'everyone' would know just how much that is. :D ($800 CanBucks.)

...I also bought my snow tires and rims from Talon in Montreal, it was cheaper than locally, even with shipping!

S

 

The last time I spoke with someone at Gordon Mazda they said they were able to retrofit an RX7 block heater to fit the 8. There would most likely be no problems, however this block heater did not have Mazda Canada's "blessing", and thus could potentially effect warranty.
Has this changed? Did Temro come out with a specific block heater? Does Maz Can officially endorse it?

 

SHAMBLEROCK IS A TROLL!! :D