Can't argue with that. Viva la difference.

 

bobclevenger ,

And you'd like Mazda to offer this custom made car at mass production price too, right? . Why not skip the Mazda and go for one of those exotic, custom, hand-made automobiles? Oh, too expensive, I see! :D

rx8cited

 

C'mon, its not that unreasonable. Virtually every manufacturer does this. We all know you get options "cheaper" in a package like the Grand Touring. But if you'd like to order a al carte, you pay a bit more piece by piece but lower total price cuz you're not getting all the doodads. They could do it if they want, and price it accordingly. Then its up to consumers if their willing to bear the price. Just imagine: Leather without sunroof. sunroof without Bose. The possibilities are staggering. :D

 

And heck, even if the "have to" package the way they do for cost, why can't they at least offer a sunroof "delete" option? I cannot see why they can build a SP car without a roof, yet build a GT car with one. I mean, they build them that way for Canada and Europe! WTF!!! :<

 

The unfortunate thing about bundling the moonroof with the other items is that a large percentage of potential customers are then excluded from the entire list of options due to physical limitations (headroom). I'm 5'10" and could feel my scalp brushing the headliner (seat all the way down). Sure, I could have moved the seat further back and reclined but I'm not about to sacrifice an effective driving position not to mention the rear seat. And even if other drivers fit with no problems -- what happens if you need to transport a tall passenger? The moonroof is a neat option but given the available headroom it's not an option at all for many customers. Why exclude so many folks from the rest of that option list? Money out the door, imo.

 

Exactly Nubo.

Mazda, just offer a d@mn moonroof-delete option!! Just one little checkbox!!!!

 

Some things I would like:

1. Climate control - it has been done in other countries, big minus.

2. Auto up/down on both driver and passenger windows.

3. Auto open/close for the rear vent windows.

4. Auto wiper delay - my RSX would delay the wipers while the vehicle was stopped, a really nice feature.

5. Stereo line-in.

6. Give me a break on the Mazdaspeed prices...what, does everything really cost $200.00?

7. A quality AT that can handle the 238 hp engine...not a problem for other companies.

Hey, no car is perfect. There will always be something that people will want that is/was not thought of when the vehicle was designed.

RJ

 

Only suggestion I have to add is issue a key/remote combo like the BMW has so I dont have to carry a bulky remote and a key

 

I can only think of 1 thing: The fact that the doors don't like to stop at the detents and stay open. i am forever dodging the door as it tries to slam shut on me.

 

I think the shifter **** is too narrow in "diameter" and too tall. I'd rather they chopped .5 to .75 inch off the top.

 

I second the rear doors not staying open. ANNOYING. (Bonk)

 

great topic
Let me start by saying I love my car, but below are some of things that I would have like fixed.
1- Oil dip stick location is not the best
2- Would prefer an auto-up for both windows
3- Gas tank too small, considering 16 mpg, I get to spend quality time with nice lady working in the gas station
4- seat heater switch can get bumped accidently
5- Trunk release lever hard to find
6- cig. lighter socket in back seat is not standard
7- Seat warmers do not put out enough heat.
8- No auto temp control- too cold or too hot
9- fog lights are not bright.
10- could use a warning beep while rear door is open to prevent accidental crash of front and back door. I think I am reaching.......
11-hard to find dome light switch at night. Probably should prtude out so it can be found
12- Ok finally, back seats do not support casual sex with the gas lady while waiting for fill up.

Hope this helps

Mark

 

What OEM auto mfg (not aftermarket) includes a line input to their stereo? I know of none so there is no standard for which to judge this !

The film forming on your windshield is caused by the chemicals in the plastics and vinyls used in the production the dasboard that are outgassing into the air when heated up by the sun beating on the dash and depositing on the inside surface of the car. It is more prevelent on the windshield because it is directly above the dash and the gasses leach out of the plastics and rising up onto the glass. The Germans actualy did a study about the harmful effects of the chemicals and you as a passenger breathing them in! I never herad if the study was completed or not!

 

Yeah that is what I suspect! And the traffic down there really sucks! It's like driving thru a perpetual construction zone!

 

Isn't it though?? That drives me nuts every time I reach down there to find that damn thing. I dig around for about 10-15 seconds before my finger finally hits it. Why do they think they need to "hide" something that is that commonly used.

Other gripes of mine:

1. A/C totally sucks.

2. Blower for HVAC is WAY too loud and I can't ever seem to get the air directed where I want it.

3. A/C compressor runs with the heat on and air directed at floor. Why? I should be able to hit the A/C button and turn the compressor on myself if I want dry air.

4. Takes forever for the cabin to warm up in cold weather. About 15 minutes of freezing before I start getting warm.

5. What is up with all of the brake dust?? I wash my car and 2 days later the front rims are covered. I love how awesome the brakes feel though, so I guess the horrible dust is a trade-off.

6. Brakes are starting to squeal during moderate braking effort.

7. Having to take that engine cover off just to check/add oil is stupid.

8. Passenger seat back does not return to the previously "programmed" spot when flipping the seat forward to let rear passengers in. This is a major pain in my *** every morning getting my daughter in and out of the back seat.

9. Cupholder should have a removeable tray of some kind in the bottom that can be taken out and cleaned. I have slopped some coffee in there a couple of times, and cannot get it all cleaned out of those glued-in-place foam inserts. Very stupid design.

10. No matter what.....after 6500 miles of driving.....can't seem to get the best feel for taking off in 1st gear. Either too low RPM's and lugging (almost stalling) the engine, or up over 2 grand feeling like I am burning the clutch up. I have never had this problem with any other manual tranny car I have owned. Maybe it is the drive-by-wire system on this car giving me more of a disconnected feel?

11. Hard to slide right into 6th gear some times.

 

Actually, the OEM premium Infinity system in my 3000GT has an aux line in on the head unit face. Works great for my MP3 player.

 

Front, back, or both?
My doors (both front and rear) stay open just fine, unless parked on an incline. Perhaps you ought to ask your dealer about this.

 

My 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230k coupe had this. It worked very well.

 

Yes, I would prefer not to have to remove the cover to add oil, but I can check oil without removing the cover. What purpose does the cover serve, anyway?

 

okay

just realized that there are no hanger hooks to hang a sport jacket!


Mazda,

add jacket hooks - somewhere.

-redesign the clutch throwout bearing for quieter operation or whatever it is called that makes the "noise" when the car is in neutral and the engine is running (press in the clutch and the noise stops) --it is a really loud bearing sound sshhhhhhhhhhhh

 

Rodster, that noise is not the clutch throwout bearing (the throwout bearing would make noise when the clutch is disengaged (pedal depressed) not the other way around). It's the transmission input shaft bearing and/or the transmission cluster gear bearings. Yeah, it seems louder than I'm accustomed to, but that just might be because the rotary runs smoother than piston engines. Dealer said it was normal.

 

Getting picked on by the police. I got pulled over on my way to church this morning, and was chastised, "48 mph is NOT 45 mph!" I **** you not, she pulled me over for doing 48 in a 45. Granted, I did blatantly pass her at 48 mph, but give me a break! Funny thing was, just before that, some idiot cut in front of her and she had to slam on her brakes to avoid rearending. She let that one go, but then chose to come after me for 48...I get picked on.

 

In the Little Things thread and elsewhere we've talked about all the envious stares we get as we cruise by. There is a dark side the this: All the nasty sneers you get as your car is being hauled to the dealer on a flatbed due to flooding. I was in the cab of the flatbed which made a coupla stops on the way to the dealer, and it was heartbreaking/humiliating to see everyone laughing at my beautiful new Velocity Red '8 sitting atop the truck. I wanted to just disappear.

 

Way back in September or October, there was a nice article in the New York Times about the effort auto companies are putting into "dressing up" the engine bay. When we first test drove the 8 and saw that cover in the engine bay, I turned to Greg and said, "The NYT was right." It's there to make it look attractive when the hood is up.

 

This is true, but you ought to post it in The Little Things thread where we discuss good stuff about the '8.