No 'Schwarzkopf' or 'Eisenhower' here....more like 'what I think of the car' - in case any of you care.


Day one - Sunday 5 December.

Driving home around 5:30p from the dealership I was pretty disoriented. Hunting and pecking to find all the switches - learning where to position the mirrors to eliminate the blind spots - Getting used to the heft of the car - those types of things. My goal on that drive was to simply 'not crash'.

After I got home and had dinner, I went out again. Holding the DSC for the required time to shut off all nanny-software, I headed out. As the rain had been coming down for some time, the streets were pretty saturated. At the end of my neighborhood entrance/exit street we have a right or left turn. Across from where I was stopped I noticed my headlights shining on a fence across the street.

"WOW!" I thought - looking at the beam pattern from the HIDs; it extended probably a hundred feet or MORE across the fence.

"Very Cool".

I headed out, towards less-populated areas. The first right hander I took, I launched around 3,000, then sorta slip/dropped the clutch, to get the tires spinning. The back end started to come out when I lifted off the gas - I was still trying to get used to the feel. Next left, from a stop, same thing.

As I drove I'd let the back end hang out further and further - never really having to counter-steer a lot.

Back home after a few minutes, I couldn't sleep. I wanted to go out and check out my car.

I woke up at 3:30am. Decided to stay up.

Day 2 - 6 December

After I got home from work I took the car over to my brothers place to show him my new ride. En route, I found myself in the outside lane of two lanes turning left. Beside me was a 3.5L Altima. When the light turned Green, I nailed it - then heard his tires spinning. It was on. I swung wide to make sure the Altima had room, and went WOT thru first - he was still at my rear 1/4 panel. At the shift to second I SHOT ahead and he gave up; as I noticed my TCS/DCS Blinking at me As the lanes become an on-ramp to a highway I got thru all that without having to speed much. :-D My brother came out of his apartment, and as he hopped in I shut off the TCS/DSC. Pulling out of a side street onto an access road I launched pretty well. With my slip/drop technique, I got the back end of the car out quite a bit. Keeping the back in line with the throttle and steering, we 'drifted' down the access road for about 50? feet or so, before I lifted the pedal. The car 'snickered' back in line without ANY fuss. I drove him around a few blocks - I think I found that 'dead spot' in the RPM range by the way...tween 6-8?K, the car just felt sorta flat. Truth be told, my 260lbs brother may have helped reduced some of the car's 'grunt'.

Day 3 - 7 December

Driving into work today was quite an experience. I'm extremely impressed with the car's communicative nature. Even in my normal driving (shifting by 3500 rpms), the car tracks so straight and true. I can feel the tires, the road, everything. While the ride isn't soft by any means, the commute is free from excess road noise, wind noise, or leaks - my miata would drip a couple drops thru the weather stripping on occasion.

I just felt...Good. While in traffic I found myself next to an S2000. I felt I gave up nothing to him, as i often would in my miata. I felt like I was sitting in traffic next to a Peer. Except I could have had 3 others WITH me :-D

Things I don't like:

No key hole on the passenger's door.
Can't turn the TCS/DCS back on without restarting the car
The stumbling/starting when firing the ignition
The Flat-Spot in the power curve.

Still - looking out of my office window at that silver sports car I own makes it all worth it. In fact, I parked further away, across the street so I could see the car from my office window. As much as I liked the GTO I was considering, I doubt I'd do the same thing. Visually, the RX8 speaks to me. It says "Whenever you are ready, let's go! And bring some friends!"

:D

 

Sounds similar to my first few days with my RX8. I tried to take it easy in the break in period, but its just too damn hard!

 

not breaking it in easily i see.....

 

HEY was just reading that, kinda sounded like me 2 here or there.

I was rather interested with what u said about not being able to switch the dsc on without restarting the car! I know our cars differ since i'm in europe, but do you not have a button that allows u to switch off/on when pressed repeatedly?

Because mine has, thanks 4 a reply

 

Not hard either...a couple 5? trips to the BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! but 95% is shifting before 6K

Per Mazda's Advice in the owner's manual.

 

I can turn it on/off with the switch -unless I shut it completely off - lighting the little 'slippery car' icon in the Tach area. Once that is on, the only way to re-start TCS is to re-start the car.

 

If I had my way, there wouldn't be one on the driver's side either. Who uses their key to open the door? :P

 

Treat that new ride like a new born baby!! It will treat you well to a nice ride.

 

Sounds like you're enjoying the hell out of it... congrats, and welcome to the supersized Miata, I mean RX8 club

I've got to ask though... Why do you want a passenger keyhole? I don't think I've ever used the driver one...

 

Whats 'tcs' stand for?

 

ahh! See, the dealer lost my remote Fob...they are going to sent it to me when they dig it up. :D

Keys only for me

heheh

 

It sounds like Mr2000x doesn't know about the 'holding the DSC button in for 7 seconds trick' to completely disable both DSC /and/ TCS.

 

I think it's Traction Control System?

 

hey whats all that about please tell c'mon guys?????

 

Ouch... I see. Well make sure you get TWO remote fobs and primary keys, plus the valet key, like you're supposed to.

 

Dude i have one switch under the steering that says dsc on it. Press it once it switch it off and u see 'dsc' highlight on the dash, by pressing it again it comes on. Ok, now whats all this about 7 sec trick??? :o

 

When you hold the button down for 7 seconds, the computer thinks there is a switch error, and shuts off ALL Nanny-software - it becomes just YOU and the car...nobody looking out for ya

 

I've got the Keys sorted - should have the Fobs within a week. Did y'all's cars come with two fobs?

 

wo, i never new that. Think its raining out there, might go 4 a test drive!!

By the way whats a valet key>?

Thanks guys

 

If you press the DSC button, you're just turning off DSC (stability control)... and I believe it can re-engage itself if ABS detects wheel slippage. If you hold the button in for 5-7 seconds, the DSC/TCS system thinks there's a malfunction, and therefore disables both DSC and TCS (traction control) completely, until the car is power cycled. This can keep the engine from reducing power when driving *****-to-the-wall when slippage occurs as well as the stability control from braking a wheel when sliding, so if you're comfortable with tail happy oversteer, it's a much more rewarding experience with all systems turned off.

 

If you aren't used to near-perfect balance and a car which likes to over-steer...be careful, okay?

 

Cool, and yep.

 

Thanks guys, that's some mind blowing stuff i never new!

Whats a valet key all about G8???

 

Jeez... be careful if you're not used to it.

Valet key only operates the ignition- doesn't open the trunk or glovebox... so you can lock your valuables up, take your good keys, and only hand the valet at hotel/restaurant the valet key. In some cars (Lexus I think) the valet key has a special chip that only allows the car to be driven under a certain speed, and possibly for only a certain distance. I don't believe ours has that though... I would love to be able to limit the RPM, speed and distance when I take my car into the dealer, tireshop, etc.

 

Firstly im cool its just a fun factor thing :D

But this thing with the valet key, 7sec button holding,
i gotta tell ya i've really never heard of these things b4,
not even sure my jap import came with a valet key, well i wasn't given 1 anyway!
That does sound top though, valet key, so never heard of that b4

Well thanks 4 enlightening me!