The 8 is going to be a fantastic car but are there any features that you will be waving goodbye to, and miss when you change from your current car?

I'll start,from my 325Ci I will miss

Cruise control - for the long motorway journeys.
Folding rear seats - for those trips to Ikea:D
Electric openers on rear windows - for those hot days when the AC is giving you a headache and you want a bit of freshair but don't want the wind noise or the hassle of having to come off the motorway to open and close the window (may seem trivial but I find them really useful)

Ed

 

Two things I will miss from my current Honda Prelude:

1) Cruise control. I can't believe that people who say its pointless in the UK have ever used it. You don't need a empty motorway, I often switch it on just for 30 seconds. It's also useful when there are speed cameras around.

2) Four wheel steering. It's supposed to help turn-in and high speed cornering stability, but I'm sure the RX-8 will be equally good at those things. What I will miss is the amazingly tight turning circle for parking and manoevering.

 

Convertable top.

I was all set to replace my mx-5 with another roadster (probably another mx-5, but possibly boxster or s2000) and got distracted by the RX-8 when visiting the Mazda site to build up my ideal mx-5 spec.... I was expecting to buy something that week, and if someone had told me I would wait a year and half for a 4 seat 4 door instead of a roadster I would have not believed them.

SGC

 

Manual 5 Speed Gearbox

 

A loud rotary exhaust, but that can be fixed

 

I'm going to miss;

1) Cruise control - I use it fairly regularly , especially on long motorway journeys.

2) My 11 speaker pro-logic stereo - I'm sure the Bose will be good but the Volvo pro-logic system is excellent.

3) Boot space - plenty of room for 4 golf bags in the C70.

 

rain sensitive wipers - had them 5 years - can I live without them?

 

I'll miss the tailgate and folding rear seats of my Rover as well as the use it and forget it interaction (ie: it's so worthless that I can take it anywhere and not worry about damage or theft). These items will be outweighed by several hundred positives of the RX-8 and I really can't wait. The money is burning a hole in my bank account!

 

Torque - My IS300 has plenty of it

 

I had a couple of Peugeots in the past with these and they were very good. However I dont really miss them very much, as long as you have variable speed intermittent that is usually good enough.

Things I will miss on the Impreza:

1) The sound of the flat four boxer engine - though that will hopefully be replaced by the rotary sound.

2) The push in the back at 4000rpm as the turbo kicks in.

3) The security and grip of AWD especially in the wet - though looking forward to RWD as I havent had an RWD car in ages.

4) The seats - they feel like they were made from a mold of my body. I just hope the RX8 seats come close.

5) The brakes - The brembos are by far the best brakes Ive ever had on a car. However the RX8 brakes have had good press so Im hopeful they may be as good.

6) The little red light/buzzer that comes on when its time to change up. Good for when you are having a blast.

7) Waving at other scoobies. Most Impreza drivers always wave/acknowledge each other on the road. Not sure if this is true of any other cars.

8) I'll probably miss the torque, but Im hoping that I just need to change my driving style to get used to it.


Things I wont miss are:

1) The really crappy speakers that I never got round to replacing.

2) The rock hard ride, which is great when driving briskly but a pain over uneven/bumpy roads.

3) The fact that every max power'd idiot and sports hatchback driver that sees you wants to race you or cut you up.

4) The 17mpg I get on super unleaded. (Not expecting the 8 to be a lot better though)

5) Group 20 insurance

6) Stonechips. The fact that the paint falls off if you so much as look at it. (Not sure if that is a trait of all Jap cars though)

 

I wil miss the carbrio possibility my MGF had, but I will get a lot to replace the pain.


Patrick.

 

"6) The little red light/buzzer that comes on when its time to change up. Good for when you are having a blast."

Arnt Mazda's rotaries famous for the buzzer? There [/i]is[/i] a change up buzzer on the 8!

I'll miss my heated front windscreen, and the focus's load lugging capabilities, is about all.

Had it for 3 years now, well fed up with it... Hopefully the 8 will be as reliable.

 

The RX-8 features a change-up buzzer (not sure about the light) as well...


I'm sure it will be. There is a similar trend in most of the more interesting car marques. MX-5s used to acknowledge me when I owned that, as do TVR drivers. I'd expect the RX-8 to be special enough for it's drivers to follow a similar theme. I know I'll be flashing (ooh err.. :p) and waving at any other RX-8s I see...

I'm with you on that. I expect that is the one thing I'll miss, although still not having driven the RX-8, maybe it won't be as bad as I'm expecting...

Let's hope not, but I expect because of it's racey looks, the RX-7 connection, and the fact that already magazines like Fast Car and Max Power have mentioned it, it will provoke a bit of a response from the Max Power brigade...


I think it is. My MX-5 was appauling for stone-chips. My parents VW isn't much better either tho. I think it's down to the fact that manufacturers have to use water-based paints now, instead of cellulose ones. Their resistance to stone-chips, scratches etc is much worse.

I found once I had my MX-5 resprayed to cover up the chips using a 2-pack cellulose paint, the car never got half the chips it used to.

I'm sure I'll end up having the front of the RX-8 redone a year or so after I've had it. Just handy having a best mate in the business..


-andy-

 

think i will miss the folding wing mirrors.


Most of all though i will miss the light sensitive headlights.

Never in 3 years have i had to switch em on or off as its all automatic...

 

Nothing really.

A change is as good as a rest!!

Maybe I'll keep this one for more than 2 years, it would keep her indoors happy at least!

Cheers
Oilman

 

I'll miss (reasons given by most of you);

1. Cruise control
2. Heated control windscreen
3. Rear wash wipe
4. Folding door mirrors


AnilS.

 

Quattro
Torque
Good Fuel consumption (nearly 30mpg)
Also hoping the interior fit/finish comes at least close to the audi..

 

Hatchback is all I will miss.
My cars tend to be the general luggers....

M.

 

I actually turn the buzzer off as I find it annoying, I prefer just the light coming on so hope the RX8 has the same.

Cheers
Mark

 

Is there an official way of switching the buzzer off, or do you have to bodge a switch into it?

 

Rob,

On my Impreza yes there is an official way to turn the buzzer off by holding down the switch.

You can set it to flash/buzz at whatever revs you want, I have mine set at 6500rpm as by the time Ive reacted Im on around 7000. Im not sure if the RX8 has this feature, or whether the buzzer is fixed at a certain rpm.

Mark

 

Same as Edo,

Quattro
Torque
Good Fuel consumption and
Superb build qualitys

although I am hoping that the last point will be met and lack of torque overcome by the close gearing.

Also, nice key fob whereby the key retracts into plastic and does not screw up my pockets.

rael

 

I think the buzzer is at 8500 rpm, with the redline starting at 9000

From other threads a natty key cover is available so this can be avoided.

Chris

 

MX-6 J-Spec

Will Miss
1. Four Wheel Steer - Fabulous
2. Frameless doors - great coupe design feature
3. Alpine Stereo - great detail
4. Torque - pulls from 600 rpm
5. Value - easy to be sanctimonious when your ten year old motor is a match for most modern cars.
6. Styling - has dated far better than contemporaries

Won't miss
1. Headlights - home made specials because of import spec.
2. Drivers seat - stylish but crippling
3. Boot lid - wasted dampers keep dropping it on my head.
4. Dealers - who discriminate against imports.

 

I know this is an old thread but... Why were people saying they are going to miss Cruise Control? Do all 8's not have it? Or did they just not know the 8 had cruise control? Mine has it anyway, and its the best positioned cruise control system I've used to date.