Just got my Consumer Reports and thought I'd share:
Best & Worst - Winners and losers 2007
These are the highlights that include our RX-8

Fun to Drive: Sports Cars
- Chevrolet Corvette Z06
- Honda S2000
- Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Mazda RX-8
- Porsche 911 Carrera S
- Porsche Boxter

Least Fun to Drive: Sports Cars
- Mitsubishi Eclipse

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Dry Braking: Best
- Porsche Boxter 2.7 - 112'
- Dodge Viper SRT10 - 113'
- Porshch 911 Carrera S - 113'
- Mazda RX-8 - 117'
- BMW Z4 3.01 - 117
- Lotus Elise - 117'

Dry Braking: Worst
- Nisa Versa - 163'
- Toyota Yaris - 163'
- Cdilac Escalade - 158'
- Chevrolet Colorado LS - 156'

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Models with Declining Realability
- BMW X3
- Cadillac STS
- Dodge Magnum
- Ford Mustang (V8)
- Mazda RX-8
- Volvo S40

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Overall Test Scores for "Sports/Sporty Cars
(I'm converting their graphic scale of black dot to red dot as a scale from 1-5 with worst = 1 and best = 5) In order of best score:
(Reliability) (Overall Satisifaction) (Accident avoidance)
- Volkswagen GTI - (NA) (NA) (5)
- Subaru Impreza WRX STi - (3) (5) (5)
- Mazda RX-8 - (2) (3) (5)
- Honda Civic Si - (4) (5) (5)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo - (NA) (NA) (5)
- Subaru Impreza WRX TR - (4) (4) (4)
- Chevrolet Cobalt SS - (NA) (2) (5)
- Scion tC TRD - (3) (NA) (5)

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"Mazda's sporty coupe is powered by a smooth and responsive rotary engine. Although acceleration is not explosive, at midrevs the engine provides strong power and feels smooth and unstressed. Handling is very agile, with quick, communicative steerring, and is controllable at the limits. Unlike some competitors, the ride doesn't beat you up. The rear-hinged rear doors with no center roof pillar make back-seat access relatively easy. The rear seat is comfortable for adults. Fuel economy is disappointing. Reliability has once again dropped to below average."

 

This was mentioned in another forum...if it wasn't for the 04's...the RX-8 would rate average or better. The 04 problems sink the 8.

CR mentions to avoid the 04 but not the 05. There is not enough data for 06 reliability. Sad state of 8 sales, but I am sure it would have been at least average to help the overall 8 score.

 

I assume that they mean avoid the 04's because some may not be current with all TSB's and recall work? That seems rather skewed since an '04 that is current with the above mentioned issues is no different than an '05, '06, etc. (aside from minor features and trim).

I can see how this can and should be reflected in the overall rating to some degree though. Didn't other braking test show slightly better performance than what CR is showing?

 

The title is "Models with Declining Realability", which would mean the newer models are getting worse...

Interesting since the car hasn't undergone anything major in terms of change.

 

Knowing all we know, that's pretty fair and even a darn good indication of the superior DNA of the 8 on a scale of 1-10. Lot's of fun to drive, great brakes, superior accident avoidance capability, it has it's share of new-model problems being resolved, and overall it satisfied a majority of respondents to their surveys.

Coming from Consumer Reports that's no faint praise after nearly 4yrs on the market and amongst some of the best sports cars around.

 

Consumer Reports loves Toyota. How boring. CR complains about the ride in everything harsher than a Buick. The magazine's buyers guide is really only useful to the "average" driver. Not those of us who want zoom zoom.

 

They do like Toyotas because they do well, but if you read their reviews--it says they are not very fun or sporty to drive. They said that about the new Camry.

 

Dry Braking: Worst
- Nisa Versa - 163'
- Toyota Yaris - 163'
- Cdilac Escalade - 158'
- Chevrolet Colorado LS - 156'

I was behind a Chevy Colorado LS tonite approaching a stoplight tonite and I couldn't figure out WHY in heaven this guy was braking so early. Love my 8.

 

good job

 

Exactly. It's CONSUMER reports, not "car lover" reports. Back in the 60s they absolutely adored the Dodge Dart / Plymouth Valiant, with the slant six engine. I remember the first time they tested a Porsche, and were absolutely baffled about why someone would buy a car with only two seats.

I glanced at CR's current car issues on the newsstand. They rated satisfaction as average, and depreciation as *better* than average. Depreciation result is interesting, in view of all the moaning here about supposedly poor resale value.

Ken

 

Yes, exactly. But if you keep this in mind when reading their reviews, you can still glean some useful info, even for a sports car. It just means you have to read a little more carefully and not just jump to the bottom line. I actually find it useful to have a non-enthusiast perspective when making a decision.

 

The 8 can brake in as short a distance as an Elise. Excellent!

 

I still can't figure out why some of our 8's are unrealiable.

maybe when the 8 killing ghost strikes me, it will make more sense, no problems with mine yet, and mine is an 04 with an 03 build date...

 

i don't believe our cars are really as unreliable as they say. i have an 04 with an 03 build date, no major problems besides an engine replacement, transmission rebuild, and PCM replacement (all done during the emissions recall). I didn't even have problems before that. I just think a few minor problems are blown WAY out of proportion and it fools some into thinking the car is terrible.

 

I have this issue and it dose state that the RX-8's reliability is going down. 04 was below average and 05 was average. 06 showed insufficient data yet they apparently collected enough to state that the Quality of the 8 is heading south again. Funny thing is they rated the depreciation as above average.

CR love the 8 and the only issues they point out is poor fuel mileage for this class of car and below average reliability.

 

04 no problems here.

 

Haha, I realy hope you're joking. That's like saying you have no major medical issues other than having your hip replaced, arm reattached, and quadruple bypass. If your car has NEVER been to the shop other than for routine maintenance then you can claim your car is reliable. Any recall to the powertrain is major even if you weren't noticing a problem.

 

I see no reason why the 8 won't go down in history as a reliable car. User reports says they are wrong.

 

When I have a choice between statistical data and individual user opinions the data will win every time.

I think the really problem is that Mazda has issues out there they can not or will not resolve. A small portion of cars have really poor mileage, marbles in blender sound, transmission issues and to this day I still see post of people with these problems who have brought their cars to Mazda. Rather then issues being put to bed Mazda has allowed them to continue.

 

HA! i was thinking the same thing. no major problems except an engine replacement and tranny rebuild - classic.

 

I do believe i just earned a spot in the "Dumbest things ever said" hall of fame. I'm honored.

oh well. what i said was a subjective statement. i really never noticed any problems (besides a few very minor quirks dealing with 1st gear). and i don't think it affected the reliability of my car either so what does it matter. i didn't see a need for the engine replacement or the tranny rebuild, but the "gurus" of the Mazda dealership sure did. i guess we all have our dumbass moments.

 

^ What was wrong with the tranny? Just hard to get into 1st? Any other symptoms?

I've got an 04, and since I put the AFE SS in, I've had some worries about tranny wear and noise (I also have RP fluid). Before that never really noticed any tranny issues. I've got one of the smaller voodoo *****, and I think it may be too light and may be transmitting more noise-going to put stock **** back on and see what happens. Aside from that no major problems at all, just very minor things (ac amp installed, rusty rotors, a couple rattles thats it.)

 

someone mentioned loosening the voodoo **** as a way to remove the AFE STS noise, I thought the guy was on crack, but I tried it a few days ago - and sure enough, the noise almost completely went away.

I take it as another whirring noise I get to enjoy from this car, that I wouldn't from an econobox

 

Put the stock **** back on. It is noticably smoother and more quiet. Anyone want to buy a voodoo **** with a custom rotary engraving?

 

I just had a little trouble getting into 1st when stopped sometimes. all i did was let off the clutch and push it back in and it slipped in, but with a thud. The dealer said that they test drove it and 5th gear slipped out. i don't know how true their claim was and i never experienced that, but whatever. didn't cost me a dime to have it done.