Rust? Here? Seems odd that a dealer would say they are seeing a lot of "uncared for" cars, when people are bringing them TO the dealer, presumably for some sort of service. Of course, they could be talking about trade ins, I s'pose.

 

I'm suprised as well, but honestly it feels just as good as any SUV/truck/fwd i've owned except when it comes to certain inclines like steep driveways where you just cant get momentum safely. But yea i've put as many miles as possible in the little snow we've had this winter. I even ventured to research & powers area last night but went south as soon as I had the chance. Nankang NS-IIs own the **** out of sport tires in the snow at least... actually they're a lot more grippy then I expected. An overall better tire for $65 a piece then I expected.

 

What? Snows for $65 a piece? That sounds real good. I've heard that someone has copied the tread pattern of Blizzacks and selling them 1/2 the price. I think they are Komoto's.

Yeah that was the first thing that came to my mind when the service guy mentioned rust. Like, What rust? He was just commenting that the RXs coming in have been mistreated is what I got out of his comments. Lots of brake dust was also mentioned. Well, mine gets that too but I wash it when the weather is nice and it will get a wash this Saturday. I saw an RX-8 Blue last night in Centennial with NY tags and he seemed to negotiate the ice and snow ok. He was a bit slower than me and gave lots of room to the next car he was following. At one point I was in front of him and by the time I looked in the rear view mirror another car had already pulled in front of him and was close behind me. Folks should be careful though in this crappy stuff in the Denver area with temps in the 20s. This morning there was black ice in some spots but seemed ok for driving. I picked up my All Seasons they took off today. Didn't want them stolen. The tire dealer had them inside in bags by the counter so that was a good spot. If they left them in the garage that might have been an open invite for a steal perhaps. They do a lot of business and this time of the year more so with our snows. One is coming in I think this Sunday. Right! that's because my car will be washed then and so we would not want to keep it clean for more than one day.

yeah I still shocked the Mazda dealer was selling the snows cheaper than anyone else so far. I got a bit of a sick feeling since I just bought mine and thought I had a fair deal considering the other tire dealers. I noticed in our manual that if the car is driven in ice or snow, then snow tires are needed until the winter has passed. Mine dumb engine coolent light came on yesterday so I added a little water to the overflow tank up front. I need to keep a spare Anitfreeze container around for that purpose. I thought the light was the battery but it did not have the + or - signs on the light so it was the low coolent condition noted. It went off after I drove it for a few seconds.

 

Well CO Drivers. Man was it ever cold this morning. First time I have had the RX out in this kind of weather. It was what minus 18 degrees at DIA this morning? When I was driving to work this morning the outside temp gage for the RX was reading minus 6. It did ok on ice but you had to baby it and leave lots of room between the next car. On one section of the road when I started to stop the car did a slow slide side ways towards the curb but I kept it slow and so no crashes into the curb. With 18" low profile snows I would hate to see the wheel bill for repairs. I found myself gripping the wheel tight as it was a bit stressful driving. I just do not trust the car. Anyway, the SUVs were having a time of it on ice as well but that did not make me feel any better. Since this car will not go through any snow or ice with anything but snows, it makes you feel a little less secure when that's the tire that works for the car. The heater is not a good one as I had to keep it on 3 speed but used outside air. Inside air fogged up the windows which required the defrosters on. Still the heat wasn't real bad or good and it was ok is all I can say for the car heater. The seat warmers worked fine. My drivers side windshield washer nozzle froze but the passenger sidde worked ok. At noon when I took it out for lunch at 8 degrees outside, both washers were working. Car starts up fine in these very low temps with a new battery. A Chevy Tahoe had a little hard time taking off on a slight hill but I think it was simply he was over confident and gunned it too much for sliding take off. As long as I was very light and gradual with the pedal the car went straight. Only one time do I remember the rear starting to give and the yellow swerve light came on but just a second or so. Funny, I can feel the car sliding just before that light comes on. How did the rest of you fair with this mornings drive?

 

Well fellow COLORADIANs...todays morning was a test. pretty much a compression check by mother nature. I passed.

 

My trip to work wasn't too bad yesterday - just took it slow. I got lazy and never moved my car to the garage Sunday night so when I went to start it it took a little longer (about 10-15 seconds), got worried there for a second but sure enough it fired up. The temp read -6 when I finally started it that morning.

 

Im really suprised by these tires lol. Yesterday was pretty icy, but nothing bad. The liberty bus parking lot was pretty ****** fun the other night I must say.

 

Lol, you can have a blast in the icy parking lots in the 8 plus you learn a little car control w/o being on the streets - just watch out for light poles. You can't beat the price of those NS-II's. Just ordered another set of Kumho ASX's. A website (tireseasy.com) had them for $83 compared to almost $150 that Discount Tire wanted them for. The website will ship your tires to a local installer for you. Well, Discount Tire was listed as one so when I called them to check on this, they said they would match the price and have them in from Denver in 1 to 2 days. I guess these tire places are pretty competitive these days.

 

yea nankang NS-II's are like $70 a pop from Tire King. They'll specifically pick up the tires from the intown warehouse for you before you get there. They're pretty cool.

I ended up buying two off ebay for $65 a piece and like two from them (tire king) for almost cheaper if you factor shipping..

 

Good tire deals are to be had with patience looking for them. Interesting that Discount matched the lower price.

Well stupid me again, I watched 9 News and I thought they said snow in the mountains and just a few flurries for the front range. Oh thanks 9 News. I had my 8 washed Wednesday night and then Thursday coming home the car looked worst than on Wed. I hate that white salty stuff on the side of the car so I had it washed. So tonight I took buckets of warm water and threw it on the car to get some of the mud and yuk from the streets off the car and then I dried it off. Foolish? Well Saturday is expected to be frigid cold again and so no way of getting the car cleaned. Sunday is expected to hit a high of 8 degrees.

I hate winter driving and all this crap on the streets we have to contend with. I should move to Florida and deal with rust.

 

Be happy it's not the northeast, where the roads are white from salt. The white stuff on your car here, at least, is not salt.

 

I can't help but powerwash the grime off my car even knowing it will be back on their the next day. What scared me yesterday afternoon was the 40mph wind gusts blowing all the street grit and sand into the side of my car hard enough to hear it from the inside. I had to repark my car in between two SUV's to try to block most of it. It was a windy SOB around here yesterday.

 

I try an do it too. Got a damned 12" crack in my window that I was able to get "sort of" repaired yesterday. It was for free though. And thats cuz I'd much rather have a slightly visible, repaired crack, then have to pay my deductible atm for a new windshield =P.

Damn sand & sub zero weather! I'm pretty sure that was the fastest ive ever seen a chip turn to a crack.

 

I've seen it numerous times where the little ding out of the windshield turns into a nice cracked one real fast. Ususally when you shoot a power washer to it in the winter. I just checked my oil and now I have this brown glue like substance at the top of the dip stick. Never seen a car do that before. Must be the rotary design? Yes I am glad we are not in the NE where they throw salt on the road ways. That really messes us a car in quick order. I lived there for 40 some years so I know. I had a 79 Dodge stationwagon once and the first thing I did when I bought it was have the panels and rockpanels coated in tar. They drilled holes to put in the tar. Several years later other wagons were rusting out badly in the back and several owners wanted to know how come mine wasn't even showing any rust. Then I told them I had the tar treatment. Todays car metals don't need that there I think. Here we get the mag cholride white stuff that will put a number on rubber components so its wise to get a power wash under the car when you take it to the car wash.

 

The RX8 is, without a doubt, the worst adverse weather car I've owned:P

In dry weather, you'll find me keeping up with traffic.

In snow and ice conditions, i'll be tailing semi-trucks that have much better traction than I do.

Paul
-Has Hankook W300s. Hope to get better snows next time.

 

I was washing my 8 at the Fort Carson, DIY wash yesterday afternoon and the soap and water was freezing before I could rinse it off....

Just like JRichter said, even though I know it will snow in a few days I have to wash my baby.

 

While it's far from the best, the 8 isn't the worst thing ever in the snow (I've had some that are worse). However, I didn't get the 8 for its winter prowess.

 

That's true the 8 just isnt' a winter car. Heater is inadequate, driving is a course is stress management and so forth. Well I planned to keep it in the garage all winter almost 5 years ago and now that my plan has fizzled, I need it for the winter. Snow tires help but is not a cure all. I am still getting used to driving it in the snow so I can't report a whole lot other than the All Seasons I have are worthless in any form of snow. Its suppose to snow tomorrow so I am lucky that I can use my wife's car which is a Honda Accord. It runs good on All Seasons, has a good heater and warms up fast. It can handle the winter up to a point. Once the snow gets up past 8 inches its a little difficult to drive.

I took the 8 to the carwash on Wednesday and then it snowed Thursday last week and it messed up the wash job pretty good, so on Friday I took it through the wash again but the touchless variety and not the regular car wash where people are there to hand dry it off with towels and stuff. I really don't like seeing the car really dirty or even a little dirty. I am picky with this car that way I guess.

 

I dont see how the 8 is that bad in winter minus the fact that it's so pretty.

 

^Same here. My 8 is my DD and I have to drive slow and be cautious but it really is not bad driving in the snow IMO.

The RX8 might not have the best traction to get going but who really needs to drive fast in the snow. No matter what you drive you will still have trouble slowing down and will have to drive slow anyway.

Is the 8 perfect for snow, no. But for the COlorado Springs snow it works good for me. Except that I to hate to see my baby dirty.

 

well put. same here but I guess on the plus she looks THAT much better when its sunny and she's nice and clean.

Wish my luck on my trip to California on the 27th. I shouldn't need any, but it'll be my first long road trip in the rotary.

 

^Good luck and have fun. I am from So CAL originally (Palm Desert)...

 

wow So Cal from Denver. I took a long trip in mine to Wisconsin and regretted it. The sports suspension isnt nice with dips and bumps on the express ways. It did well though but I did learn to keep using the high test gas. When I tried to shift down in octane the gas mileage suffered a good bit so it was back to the the right oct. I'm driving it to work for the next two days. My worst car to drive in snow was my 70 Chevelle. What a terriable rear wheel car it was too. It fish tailed all over. It was embarassing when Ford police car followed me for awhile while I tried to keep the car straight. I bet they were back there getting a good laugh.

What I am afraid of and so fear is the fact that when I am on icy street and at a red light that the car will not move but go sideways trying to get up a small hill while others around me with front wheel drive leave me as the car just spins tires and can't get anywhere. So far its been good. Close one time though. I just didn't like the car going slightly towards to curb on ice without much control but as long as it went slow it was able to keep moving. Now with ice just about any vehicle has trouble driving and stopping.

 

I drove from Denver to KC last fall and had no issues at all with my little road trip. it was fun!

Sidenote, while in Costco over the weekend, I decided to get a price on new tires (just replacement tires, not summer tires) and was quoted $250 EACH for Michelin All-Seasons. Guess I won't be getting my tires at Costco!!

 

I'm surprised Costco charged that high for Michelins. I have all season Miches on my Accord. It hurt buying them but at the time is was the best.

Let me tell you a true story about Michelin Rubber Company. In Vietnam we operated near rubber plantations owned by Michelin. The company paid protection money to the local VC thuds and when we went in their planatation and had a fire fight with the bad guys, if we destroyed any of their precious rubber trees they would send the bill the local base commander and it was taken out of the platoon leader's salary. They could have cared less about us it was their trees that was important to them. They are French owned by the way. Hmmm, wonder if they charged the French army when they were there before us? With that, a $250 piece for a tire is a bit over the top I think. I plan in the Spring to get the snows off the car and find some black wheels to keep the snows on for winter driving. Of course we have a sports car and the tires for an RX is not main stream and so we pay more for the tires. That's my guess on why they are so pricey.