Well, I had fun driving my RX8 but I just traded it in today and am now thrilled to be driving a Chevy Silverado. I had actually been contemplating going back to a truck anyway (I had my 8 For Sale for 7-8 weeks on Cars.com and Craigslist with no bites); the RX8 is not quite the practical vehicle that I need with two young children. But earlier this week when my ignition coils fried suddenly and I had to crawl into the dealership and ride my motorcyle for 2 days until I got the car back, I realized that it was time (just prior to my 30k service) to say goodbye to this vehicle.

Now, a few words about the "sale" in case this can help anyone. Apparently it is not that easy to sell an 8. I had it for sale for more than 2 months with no real hits. I originally had it FS at $20K. After a few weeks, I went to $19K OBO. I finally put a $18K sign on the car. No bites.

So when I went to the Chevy dealer this morning to check out the Silverados, I fully expected to get a completely unacceptable trade-in offer from them. When they offered me 14K I walked ... they chased. Long story short; we got to 16K trade in offer and this was effectively 17.3K savings for me (because I now had to pay sales tax on the new price minus the 16K which turned out to be $1300 less sales tax). So I basically let the 8 go for 17.3K and I'm satisfied. I talked the dealership from $29.8 sticker to $25.2 so this, with the trade-in number, made it a smokin deal in my opinion.

My advice to Mazda re: this RX8:

* Tighten up the short list of problems that people are experiencing with the car so that the car is more reliable.

* Fix the freaking gas mileage problem; it's a disaster no matter how people want to rationalize it. When the EPA sticker says 18-24 and Iim getting 13-15, there is something very wrong; period. The fact that what mileage people are getting varies so widely is obviously an indication that there is a problem.

* This may sound extreme .. but I believe that Mazda should consider abandoning the rotary engine model and using a traditional engine model with this gorgeous style. I would like to see this happen. Let the rotary continue to be developed but in a more controlled market setting.

Take care all .. it's been fun.

Dan Hildebrand

P.S. I drove my Silverado 110 miles today, the needle is still above F. What else can I say.

 

Good luck. Have fun with your truck.

 

You may not think the rotary engine is practical. But to all of the true rotor enthusiasts out there, that would be the death of a beautiful thing. Sorry for being blunt but i take comments like that personally.

 

Seriously, the RX-8 wouldn't be the same car w/o it. It's one of the reasons why I even bought an 8.

 

Funny funny.

Which car actually follows the EPA stickers? I REALLY would like ot know. Should Prius owners sue Toyota because they're getting NOWHERe near the EPA stickers? You're getting 13-15???? You have some serious problems in driving. Im getting around 13-26. So Im not sure whats wrong with you.

I agree with your last comments tho, they should control who can get a rotary, but its not possible. Ahh well.

Dude, if your needle is going F for 110 miles. I think your driving style having some SERIOUS problem. I usually in city (tons of sit in traffic) I can get about 190 miles before the light comes on. Hmm. Thats with alot of 9K rpm.

Have fun with your new Chevy tho.

 

He is getting 15/19 MPG though. At least that's what the stickers say.

 

Hmm?

and its not a *problem*, no offense but I think you're one of the people who knows nothing about the car that you've had. (talking about the thread starter)

 

110 above F on a silvarado?! More like WHAT THE F?

Happen to just fill up after those 110 miles??

Can't knock needing a different vehicle, and i'm glad you found one...but leave bygones be bygones. A truck may get slightly better milage if your babying it, but come on...even a prius isn't above F after 110 miles. That's just stupid.

And saying the 8 should drop the rotary and go piston is just asanine. The 8 clearly didn't tap your enthusiast side during ownership.

Glad you got a decent trade-in out of your 8, and that you got the vehicle that's right for you. Hope you enjoy it.

 

Maybe the needle is broken? Got stuck..

 

Interesting. I traded in a Silverado for my 8. Loved the truck, but wanted something with better handling.

I babied my truck for the most part and got 15 around town, 18 to 20 on the highway. In my 7000 miles of 8 ownership I've become a much more aggresive driver for some reason.

The 8 wouldn't be the 8 without the rotary. It is possible to be what it is because of the rotary's small size and light weight. Allows it to be mounted low and far back. Put a piston engine in it of similar power and it will be nose heavy, if you can even fit it in there.

 

Dan's post was thoughtful and honest, but people will argue with it just for the fun of it I guess.

1. There are cars on the market that meet the EPA specified numbers. Read the car magazines. You have to drive the RX-8 like a complete grandma to get its EPA numbers. My friend's Z06 gets better highway gas mileage. And even if you do manage to get 18-24, those are still not good numbers.

2. There are many people who have put Chevy V-8's into RX-7's and love the result. Its not for everyone, but you don't have to take the suggestion "personally".

I still "like" my 8 and a truck doesn't interest me at all. With that said, the RX-8 has been a disappointment; I thought I would LOVE it based on it getting awards for "engine of the year", the four-door design and the handling. I really thought I was going to get an A+ car but with the engine and fit-'n-finish issues, it has been a B or B+ experience. I can definitely understand (that's the key people) how someone else could give it a C or lower.

Thanks for the input Dan.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

i love when people replace their 8 with something SO unrelated to it like a truck.

why the hell did you get an 8 in the first place? the fact that you traded it up for a truck shows you really didn't care for the reasons to own an 8 in the first place.

bye.

 

You're getting a sports car, and seriously speaking you expecting something like 30-60 ? You must be smoking.

and the dude said hes getting 13-15, I have no idea how he drives his car.

Exactly , you have to drive like a grandma to get even close to EPA numbers. It all depends on how you drive it. but buying a sports car base on the MPG I think its just stupid, its like going after only pretty girls who has tons of plastic surgery.

I think I got a A car. not +, cuz there's in fact some minor issues. of course, everybody is diff.

Mugatu, next thing we gonna see is someone trade their 8 for a Tricycle.

 

obviously for the WAYYYYYYY better gas mileage on a vehicle that weights a couple hundred pounds more!

 

Obviously he is looking forward to the better mileage of a 4000 lb truck with a V-8. Guys don't fool yourselves our RX mileage is the worst.

11 to 12 mpg SUCKS and Mazda says this is normal. They won't even admit to the problem I completely understand this guys frustration.

Enjoy your new truck and the better MPG.

 

Something must be wrong with your 8's, I get consistantly 22-24 mpg when I check it at fill up and I certainly don't drive like a grandma. I tried that once to get better fuel economy and ended up with worse.

 

Thrilled to own a truck? Okaaaayy then, good luck to you.

I get the EPA estimates or better, as do alot if not most of the people here.

 

Im gonna trade my 8 in for a Ford E350.

 

Me too, until my car suddenly developed "issues" in the last two weeks. Then it's getting under 16, so I took it in and will be in a stupid Nissan Altima for at least a week while they check everything out.

 

This is the real rub for the portion of owners like myself who get horrendous mileage, Mazda just tells us it is normal and go away.

 

Well good for you, but considering how long you've been on the forum you should know that mileage is all over the place.

Some people are taking their vehicles in that are getting less than 15MPG and the dealer is saying everything is fine. If you do your best to drive unaggressively and you are getting 13-15 MPG something is wrong.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

Nope, I didn't say that.

Like many other RX-8 drivers who get the same mileage

Please read the car reviews in magazine and don't just stare at the pretty pictures.

Yep, everyone's different, but you think you are the only one correct.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

i dont know, i would thnk the truck handles better on twisties then the 8. any how gl with your new purchase.

 

I'm thinking about trading my 8 in for either a Toyota Echo or a Chevy Aveo.

 

And you'll find a big range of fuel economy with most every type of car on the road, part of it is individual drivers and part of it is the car. Someone on here sold their 8, the person that bought it became a member, and they got significantly different fuel economy.