After 4 years, the experience...
03-15-2011, 09:58 PM
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After 4 years, the experience...
After 4 years, I had decided it was time to part ways with my RX8. When the car first hit the scene, it became my dream car. I have now owned my dream car, not many people can say that. I end a run of where I drove RWD rotary vehicles for almost a decade (See the sig for which ones). Looking back on my RX-8 ownership, I am left with mixed feelings.
Reasons for moving on from the RX8:
1) My life was out growing it. Specifically, my girlfriends kid was. Hockey equipment keeps getting bigger and bigger....
2) I never complain about gas milage (I was getting 18.5mpg), but I got a new job, and it was 30miles one direction. I was filling up two to three times a week. The savings there is a nice added perk.
3) It did not handle as well in winter as my RX7s. Could be the record snowfall this year, but I hate to admit that I have been beaten by my environment...could be that I am getting older also...
4) The RX8 had an identity crisis that over time I found annoying...
The Good:
This is the peak of the rotary engine to date. Or ever, unless Mazda digs the 16X or whatever they are going to call the next one out again. Had all the power you could reasonably use on a day to day basis, a great hum, and wow can it handle. From a rolling 60 MPH in 3rd you can pull all the way through 6th and keep up with most anything you would run into. In any inclement weather, it was always predictable, and never felt unsure of where you pointed it. Love cloverleafs, break late, stick it in and accelerate all the way out, hitting 60ish mph at the end of the clover. Love how the RX8 looks. I looks right at home with a lot of the "super cars" or high end sports cars out there (Maserati GT comes to mind). It is a trend setter, not only within the Mazda line-up but the newer Z cars became more fender flared, the new WRXs', etc. Look at all the people here that either pose with their cars, find models to do so, or have their girlfriends/wives do so. It is just a sexy car, bottom line.
The Reality:
Technology caught up, or probably more accurate, technology widened the gap. Where there was not a huge difference in 0-60, acceleration, mpg, power to weight ratio between the 8 and its direct competitors when I purchased my car; now that is not the case. 4cyl engines started to rev close to RX8 territory, eating into the little advantage I had, they were producing more power when FI'd (factory), and getting noticeably more efficient. Who thought 4 years ago we would see V6 pony cars putting down high 20s/low 30s for mpg? My new WRX is getting between 23-25 so far, and I do not grandma it every time I drive. That is with a fair mix of city and highway.
The Bad:
Small, and un-useful space. The RX-8 has a great trunk. The opening for it is all wrong. Always that half inch to short to put what would fit nicely in the wider trunk space, but I can't get it there (ex: hockey sticks/equipment bag). For short trips with friends the back seats work great. For consistent use-as kids get bigger, makes for some serious annoyances. The way the drivers seat belt is attached to the suicide door behind, so you have to un-buckle to let anyone in for example. The DSC: I know it saved me probably a couple of times, but it really got in the way of the total experience. It ruined the rawness the RX7s had. Although the 8 had more power, it never had that sense that if you mis-stepped, you were in some trouble. This lead to an identity crisis-it was not a sports car, but it was not a luxury sedan. Probably the only true car to play in both worlds that I have driven is a BMW. The 8 handled like a sports car, but always felt like it was hiding from you when you stood on it, or when you tried to launch it off the line with the DSC off. It gave you the impression like it was looking back at you quizzically and saying: Are you sure you want to do this? Ok, I'll do it. Although this took only a fraction of a second, it still translated to me, the driver. My 7s just felt more instantaneous. I live at the bottom of a massive hill-and my plow service does not do a great job of keeping up on it through winter. The DSC always kicked in at the wrong time, killing any momentum you might have if I had forgotten to shut it off -or- even with it off (I know to hold it for 5+ seconds), never fully got out of the way to get a good clean run up the hill. Speaking of winter (always have had snow tires), the weight of the RX8...now I will admit, I owned the fully decked out GT model, so if you have a Sport or a Touring, you might have a different opinion. In my RX7s I could drive through snow halfway up the wheels, and never have even thought of getting stuck. I do not know if it because they were light enough to not sink as far down, or what, but I beached my 8 3 times this year. I know we have had record snowfall in MN, but I have never had the issues driving through ridges of snow, or rounding an unplowed corner that I had in the 8. Again the DSC issue comes in here, driving through a blizzard it is wise to have it on-but-you never can shut it off fast enough to power though 4" of unplowed snow fast enough. This is the main reason I finally let the 8 go. I love winter/inclement weather driving, and the 8 just took the fun out of it. My test drive in the WRX was in a snow storm, and I found a 12" plow ridge of snow and it went through like butter. I had gotten my 8 stuck the night before on a ridge of snow 6" less than that. That is when I knew, my time with my RX8 was over.
After 3 weeks of separation:
I miss the hum, I miss the beep as I hit close to max revs, I miss the way it comes out of clover leafs (I am still getting used to AWD and how it lays down power). I miss the look of the RX8 (Although the new WRX has a nice wide body look to it, but it is not as sexy). I do not miss my fuel bill, and I do not miss the constant worry of weather or not my road is plowed well enough to get to or from work. I do not miss the awful trunk opening. I do not miss the in-convience of hauling people/family around. I do not miss the identity crisis the RX8 has.
I apologize for the length of this post, and the fact it rambles a bit in places. I love rotary technology, and cars, and will check back on this forum, I got a lot out of it when I had my RX8. So far I have yet to find a WRX forum that is as well put together or that has as knowledgeable a group of people as this one does! I am sad my rotary time has ended (for now at least). Thank you for reading!!
Reasons for moving on from the RX8:
1) My life was out growing it. Specifically, my girlfriends kid was. Hockey equipment keeps getting bigger and bigger....
2) I never complain about gas milage (I was getting 18.5mpg), but I got a new job, and it was 30miles one direction. I was filling up two to three times a week. The savings there is a nice added perk.
3) It did not handle as well in winter as my RX7s. Could be the record snowfall this year, but I hate to admit that I have been beaten by my environment...could be that I am getting older also...
4) The RX8 had an identity crisis that over time I found annoying...
The Good:
This is the peak of the rotary engine to date. Or ever, unless Mazda digs the 16X or whatever they are going to call the next one out again. Had all the power you could reasonably use on a day to day basis, a great hum, and wow can it handle. From a rolling 60 MPH in 3rd you can pull all the way through 6th and keep up with most anything you would run into. In any inclement weather, it was always predictable, and never felt unsure of where you pointed it. Love cloverleafs, break late, stick it in and accelerate all the way out, hitting 60ish mph at the end of the clover. Love how the RX8 looks. I looks right at home with a lot of the "super cars" or high end sports cars out there (Maserati GT comes to mind). It is a trend setter, not only within the Mazda line-up but the newer Z cars became more fender flared, the new WRXs', etc. Look at all the people here that either pose with their cars, find models to do so, or have their girlfriends/wives do so. It is just a sexy car, bottom line.
The Reality:
Technology caught up, or probably more accurate, technology widened the gap. Where there was not a huge difference in 0-60, acceleration, mpg, power to weight ratio between the 8 and its direct competitors when I purchased my car; now that is not the case. 4cyl engines started to rev close to RX8 territory, eating into the little advantage I had, they were producing more power when FI'd (factory), and getting noticeably more efficient. Who thought 4 years ago we would see V6 pony cars putting down high 20s/low 30s for mpg? My new WRX is getting between 23-25 so far, and I do not grandma it every time I drive. That is with a fair mix of city and highway.
The Bad:
Small, and un-useful space. The RX-8 has a great trunk. The opening for it is all wrong. Always that half inch to short to put what would fit nicely in the wider trunk space, but I can't get it there (ex: hockey sticks/equipment bag). For short trips with friends the back seats work great. For consistent use-as kids get bigger, makes for some serious annoyances. The way the drivers seat belt is attached to the suicide door behind, so you have to un-buckle to let anyone in for example. The DSC: I know it saved me probably a couple of times, but it really got in the way of the total experience. It ruined the rawness the RX7s had. Although the 8 had more power, it never had that sense that if you mis-stepped, you were in some trouble. This lead to an identity crisis-it was not a sports car, but it was not a luxury sedan. Probably the only true car to play in both worlds that I have driven is a BMW. The 8 handled like a sports car, but always felt like it was hiding from you when you stood on it, or when you tried to launch it off the line with the DSC off. It gave you the impression like it was looking back at you quizzically and saying: Are you sure you want to do this? Ok, I'll do it. Although this took only a fraction of a second, it still translated to me, the driver. My 7s just felt more instantaneous. I live at the bottom of a massive hill-and my plow service does not do a great job of keeping up on it through winter. The DSC always kicked in at the wrong time, killing any momentum you might have if I had forgotten to shut it off -or- even with it off (I know to hold it for 5+ seconds), never fully got out of the way to get a good clean run up the hill. Speaking of winter (always have had snow tires), the weight of the RX8...now I will admit, I owned the fully decked out GT model, so if you have a Sport or a Touring, you might have a different opinion. In my RX7s I could drive through snow halfway up the wheels, and never have even thought of getting stuck. I do not know if it because they were light enough to not sink as far down, or what, but I beached my 8 3 times this year. I know we have had record snowfall in MN, but I have never had the issues driving through ridges of snow, or rounding an unplowed corner that I had in the 8. Again the DSC issue comes in here, driving through a blizzard it is wise to have it on-but-you never can shut it off fast enough to power though 4" of unplowed snow fast enough. This is the main reason I finally let the 8 go. I love winter/inclement weather driving, and the 8 just took the fun out of it. My test drive in the WRX was in a snow storm, and I found a 12" plow ridge of snow and it went through like butter. I had gotten my 8 stuck the night before on a ridge of snow 6" less than that. That is when I knew, my time with my RX8 was over.
After 3 weeks of separation:
I miss the hum, I miss the beep as I hit close to max revs, I miss the way it comes out of clover leafs (I am still getting used to AWD and how it lays down power). I miss the look of the RX8 (Although the new WRX has a nice wide body look to it, but it is not as sexy). I do not miss my fuel bill, and I do not miss the constant worry of weather or not my road is plowed well enough to get to or from work. I do not miss the awful trunk opening. I do not miss the in-convience of hauling people/family around. I do not miss the identity crisis the RX8 has.
I apologize for the length of this post, and the fact it rambles a bit in places. I love rotary technology, and cars, and will check back on this forum, I got a lot out of it when I had my RX8. So far I have yet to find a WRX forum that is as well put together or that has as knowledgeable a group of people as this one does! I am sad my rotary time has ended (for now at least). Thank you for reading!!
03-17-2011, 01:03 PM
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Thanks! I'll check in often still. Love rotary, just time to be "more responsible". Hehe. No pics of the new car yet. Will post some when I do. It is a regular WRX, just has the STi short shift kit in it from the factory.
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