So we have two RX7s (79 & 89 vert) and want to add an 8 to the family. It will likely be used , but could be new if there is a good reason

Give us your opinion on year / model / options / best value to look for , or things to avoid, or you don't like. Or just show us your car and brag about it .

 

I'd buy '06 or newer. I could care less for my moonroof now or satellite radio. I love my all-weather mats. I wish I didn't have the sand/alcantara interior. I wish I had the Appearance package...

 

06 and newer is always a good time. You don't have to worry about the flashes, they are used, but not TOO new. I only got the Sport package, and coming off the 88 TII RX-7 myself, it's a great change

 

Unless your a nut about weight etc, Id say try and get a GT. I thought I wouldnt mind the appearance package, hids, and nav...but looking back now, the only reason I got my 07 base was because I got a killer deal on it. Im looking into putting all those options in my car now though Its gonna cost me though. Dont forget the red/black interior if you go black or silver.

 

2006 or higher, not only for the fact its newer, but also 2004 and 2005 had some recalls so I consider those years to be the beta test of the RX-8, haha. I got mine with only the Touring package, and I love it, but having it be a GT woulda been nice too.

 

There should be a sticky on this telling people to stay away from certain years, models, etc. This question gets asked so many times each week. Resale is terrible so you should be able to find a low mileage 06 in the 17-19 range. Get the Grand Touring package. Lastly, don't let the opinions of members here determine if you buy an 8 or not. Test drive one and if you like it, buy it.

 

keep it comin' ......

 

I'm happy with my '06; definitely get the GT (leather, sunroof, HIDs, heated seats... love it).

 

anyone know what year Stormy Blue was available as a colour? All models ?

 

I have a black 04 GT, got it used and I've had very little trouble. It's true quite a few 04's have had trouble but if they're up to date on recall and TSB type things you should be fine.

 

Don't be scared away from earlier 8's as you may find some really good deals on them. Absolutely nothing wrong with my '05... ever ...as far as reliability or break-downs.

I had one recall to add a thermal heat shield to the gas tank and you can probably get the latest flashes anytime if your're still under warranty. More then likey 90% of the 04's and 05's would have everything done to them by now that was needed. You should be able to check the sticker on the end of the inside of the door to see what recalls were done.

Good luck!

 

Also have 07 black base. Just lower it, add a lip spoiler, debadge, and tint. This is the route I will take and I think it will look a little more lean and mean than the apperance package. So far I am at the tint/debadge stage. The rest will have to come in time as money allows. I have an older Vette I need to get going first.

 

very happy with my 07 silver color along with the red/black leather color combo interior. not happy with the horizonal metal bar feel in the driver seat though. others can tell you if they feel it in the cloth or not. if you don't want the sunroof AND the cloth does not give that 'metal bar in your back' feeling then I would say get the cloth and be thankful. if both cloth and leather have it then just get what you want. would think an after market red/black leather steering wheel might be expensive ? ...not really sure.

like, love, the hid lights no question about that. though I have the auto/manual. since you have two prior rx7 models (both stick I would think) you could consider a auto/manual instead of a stick but most want a stick or nothing at all.
I would like without the appearance package myself but it was on the red/black combos I wanted so I took it. I would think the look out of the rear view mirror would be larger without the real spolier tough it does cut down a bit on the head lights behind you at night.

now if I just had a compass in the rear view mirror and one that was a tad smaller in size that would be very nice though expensive I would bet.

happy hunting.

 

Have bought two new RX8's 2005 and 2007 both loaded. 2007 and newer have hydraulic clutchs big plus , monotone leather fits a higher end sports car look , my two tone red was juvenille looking and smart key is awesome. These options are far superior to previous models. But the car depreciates bad!!

 

all good stuff , like the comments . keep 'em coming.

Anyone with an automatic who actually likes it ? I can't see getting one , but am curious how they feel about the paddle shifter after owning it for a while

Anyone also gone on a long trip . How was that? , seat comfort? trunk space?

 

I "think" Stormy Blue was an 07 color, but not earlier, at least in the states. Its' gorgeous.

I have an 06 Copper Red Shinka with the Sand/Alcantara seats.( mixture of leather and suede leather)..I have no complaints.

Get an MT....If you love the way your 7's handled, the 8 is so much better. The best way to determine that though is to drive both, and make your own determination. As with any rotary though the harder you drive her the better she'll treat you, and from what I've been told my Mazda techs, they see more engine problems out of the AT's because the owners don't drive them hard enough.

Good luck!

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^

that copper red is nice . i haven't seen one of those.

Yea , i drive my sevens between 4500 and 7500 all time . I drive around in second all the time in the city. They like it that way. I figured the auto would be harder to that , excpet for the paddle shifters that might make it easier to get the revs up and sustain it.

 

Automatic...
yeap I have it, had it also in the short owned used mx5 07 model I had (mx5 was just too small for my liking).

Good Points -
1. think it is a nice set up though not a dgs ? automatic set up like in a vw or other brand (don't recall which ones at the moment).

2. holds a gear just fine in manual mode and the rpms stay where you want them

3. like the paddle shifters though probably more often then not I use the stick in manual mode to shift

4. nothing is as nice as just kicking (pushing actually) the stick over to auto mode when you don't want to have to deal with shifting yourself.

5. feel (without any real data to back it up) that the mazda auto/manual is a great combo. I call it my 75% solution (meaning it provides me with 75% of the satisfaction that a manual stick would) and 25% extra enjoyment since I can just kick it over to auto mode anytime I like.

6. in auto mode it will hold a gear longer (go to a higher rpm) if you press on the gas padel. if your just increasing the speed slowly then it the automatic shift point will be at a lower rpm range.

7. paddle shifters are fantasic I feel. Good location, good feel, easy to use. ditto for the shifting position of the stick...right location, pull back to up shift and forward to down shift (the only true way it should be done I feel...vw does it the other way around).

Bad Points -
1. not a true dgs (not that I have ever driven one).

2. you cannot use your left foot and feel 'it is a true sports car' (if that matters to you).

3. you may get into the habit of running at lower rpm ranges when in auto mode.

4. if trying to change gears in manual mode while making a turn you really need to use the stick since it is hard to position your hands were the paddle shifters might happen to be in mid turn


Try them both and take each one for an hour or 30 minute ride, then go have lunch and think it over. Go back the next day and do it again, again for an hour or at least 30 minutes. Really get a feel for both the manual and the automatic models. If your keeping your older rx7 cars and both are stick I would say really give some thought to a auto/manual set up. I believe you give up 20hp plus some top end red line. To me (in the minority I realize), once I hit 3k the enigne is at least alive, at 4k rpm to 5 then I got the power. Anything above 5k is, to me, just having fun with the engine. Most other owners feel your not riding the car until your at 6k plus I would guess. Just depends on what you want.

Last, while I owned the 07 mx5 automatic (has the paddle shifters on the wheel like the rx8) I did get a chance to drive a demo hard top mx5 manual. It was a blast and I really enjoyed it. Then I told myself I would have to be changing gears day in day out, year after year. Got back into my mx5 auto and drove a few miles, playing in manual a bit and smiled yet again. I know many/most feel it is a sports can and should be a stick but for me I'm happy with my 75% solution. I think mazda got it close enough to spot on for me to be happy.


I guess in the end to me the auto/manual allows me to hold a gear which I think is at least part of the reason to own a manual.

If I'm going up the ramp to the 2nd floor parking space at work I know to toss it into 2nd gear so I can hold the rpm range. If I want to run the engine I just toss it to manual mode and keep the rpm range up and wait until it is higher before I shift. Only thing I wonder about if if leaving it in auto manual a lot would increase ever so slightly the mpg I would get. Having the engine turning only 1.5k to 2k (yes an ungodly low rpm) range at times helps improve guess mileage I would guess. I do though figure half the time I need to keep the rpm range up 3 to 6 to allow the engine to run as it is designed. Think that 6250 point in an auto is also needed now and again. Others can now blast me for allowing the automatic to turn the engine at such low rpm ranges and in such high gears. The car will easly go up into top gear 6th in auto mode even at low speeds (guessing 45 mph) yet in auto mode the engine auto shifting is very responsive to going to a lower gear to provide power...well at least as well as an automatic can.

Just an aside, the truck is a nice size I would say (this from one that moved over from a mx5 that is).

 

motorups ( and everyone else),

really appreciate the comments . I like to hear drivers describe what they like or not . I am leaning towards the GT. But undecided on how new to go for .

I have to admit I would never want the 7's in an automatic . I drive them hard . But they are not my daily drivers . I take them out just when i want to drive and when the weather is nice . But I am curious about the RX-8 auto because it essentially would replace a Protege we have as a more daily driver car to work and driving a stick in slow , stop-and-go traffic can really get on your nerves some days. This happens periodically and I really appreciate the auto in the protege then. I have not seen an auto at the local dealers here .

any more comments would be great if there are any

 

What do you consider long? Longest for me was a lil over 300 miles one way. Seat comfort wasn't a problem at all. The trunk was just fine for me and the gf's bags. It was only a one night stay so we didn't pack much.

 

i would recommend a base 06 AT and mod the sh#$ out of it. i don't see much difference performance and fun to drive-wise (in paddle shift mode) and i find that AT is much more convenient being that i deal with so cal traffic on a daily basis....

 

yes, a base AT model might be a good way to go. I failed to ride that model long enough before making my decision to buy the GT. I do really like having a sunroof but I find the metal bar in the leather seat to be a pain in my back. if the cloth does not have that I would have skipped the sunroof and leather most likely just due to that fact.

have not had the 16? inch rims, not on my GT of course nor my other mx5. I'm told they may make for a more conformable ride then the 17" rims do. cannot say if the deminish handling any though.

bottom line -
if you got to have a sunroof then think GT is the only option. if that does not matter then base or Touring (love the hid lights). If I recall correctly you may be able to get the base (i.e. sport? model) with the performance package (bigger wheels and hid lights) though don't recall if that was only offered in a manual or not (thinking that was the case).

Consider also the gas mileage. Several post of owners not thrilled with mpg and if it may be a daily driver you should REALLY take that into consideration. I also own a highlander hybrid thus my rx8 is not my 'drive it for good gas mileage' ride.

also, think it is from 06 onward that the automatic became a 6sp instead of a 4sp. A used 06 auto...thinking the shinka package offered the black cherry color, else a copper red mecia...not sure of the exact colors/years. some have said the black cherry (or copper red) with the sinka sand color? suede/leather is very nice.

but for real, if it had to be my DD I would not do an rx8 with gas prices where they are at right now...won't matter how much fun the car was to drive I feel. plus I would want to have a larger car (to put things in) for other tasks as well besides just my rx8. have three rides...2 rx7 and 1 rx8 is all small interiors for putting stuff in I feel. yes much better then my mx5 was but still small compared to a zillion other rides. for a sports car comparison then the rx8 is near the top, if not the top for space I would guess though.

think the usatoday.com car guy might be reviewing a mazda5 next friday or so and believe he liked it. If it gets good mpg and you still want the zoom zoom feel (I'm assuming it offers that...even for a suv/mini-van type ride) that might be something to consider. don't think their cx-9 gets very good mpg even though it is say to be a very sporty vechile so far as ride/performance goes (for a suv that is). not sure about the cx-7. also not sure that either of those two (cx9 cx7) get very good scores for reliability. also a mazda 3 5-door or a mazdspeed3 might be fun. others that own one of these, in addition to their rx8 or instead of it, might best advise on them I would say.

best of luck...I think I typed way to much....

 

if, when all is said and done...dam the mpg and space for stuffing tons of things...then just buy Rddragoness's ride. Of course you would have to convenice him to sell it first

 

we also have a Jeep Grand Cherokee for moving big stuff or shopping etc. , so the trunk space issue doesn't bother me . I also don't care too much about the gas prices .

Interesting about the rim difference for the DD. The roads here in winnipeg take a real beating in the winter ( real cold and lots of clay base that heaves the pavement ) and most of them would be considered poor . I don't really buy into the biggest-rim need anyway, a smaller rim that is great looking is actually better for performance if you can get a good tire for it , less rotational mass to move which has a bigger difference on the effective weight of a car than trying to shave a few pounds off the chassis.

while my first intincts are to get the all out performance loaded 8 , there are some compelling suggestions to consider otherwise. Not sure what to make of the metal bar comment about seat comfort

It make sense to keep the 02 protege anyway . What I need is a 5 - car garage !!!

 

motorups,
The Touring trim has the sunroof.

IMO the Touring trim is the best one (and the one I purchased) since I dont care about heated seats, leather, or a nav system that cant hold a candle to a $300 Garmin. On the other hand I DO care about traction control, stability control, fog lights, HID headlights, better stereo (still not that great though), and sunroof.

If you get the base model you really should get the performance package since in addition to the features discussed above, it also includes stability control and traction control. You never know when you'll hit that patch of oil or ice that you didnt see and DSC/TCS might save your life.

Regarding manual vs automatics: My car is only a weekend toy but I live in NYC. One time I had to drive my girlfriend home from Newark airport during rush hour and it took us almost 3 hours of stop and go traffic to get home. Having to use the clutch didn't really bother me but maybe it bothers other people more. The RX8 clutch is pretty light and smooth and I have never really felt fatigued after driving in heavy traffic.

Using a real shifter and clutch just adds so much more to my driving experience. When I want to play with flappy paddles I fire up Forza 2 on my 360