The Little Things
#1329
Sliding covers on the centre console and the coin box. Hiding my stuff makes the car look mint 24x7 and gives less incentive to break in. Nice touch, and one of my favourites.
When the windows are down at high speed, things are still comfortable and my brain isn't getting sucked out of my ears. I never used to be able to drive on highways with the windows down.
More practical and usable than a lot of other people's cars due to it having back doors. Groups will choose to ride in it over 2-door econo's. You just don't expect that when you buy a sports car.
In the same vein as above, I recently had 2 bags of charcoal, big bag of cat litter, big bag of cat food, groceries, oil/washer fluid, roadside emergency kit, in the trunk with room to spare, and still had empty back seats.
The way the dashboard fades in when you turn it on. So dramatic. And the red on blue nighttime theme is almost theatrical.
When the highway slows through a town and I leave 6th, I turn the stereo off because I want to hear the engine.
How competent the car is at high speeds. Not that I'd know or anything, but a little bird tells me it makes speeds that are well beyond legal feel slow and the car is smoother and more firmly planted than most cars are doing half the speed.
Best seats ever.
"It sounds/feels like an airplane taking off"
All the compliments. One today at lunch from the Wendy's drive-through worker.
When the windows are down at high speed, things are still comfortable and my brain isn't getting sucked out of my ears. I never used to be able to drive on highways with the windows down.
More practical and usable than a lot of other people's cars due to it having back doors. Groups will choose to ride in it over 2-door econo's. You just don't expect that when you buy a sports car.
In the same vein as above, I recently had 2 bags of charcoal, big bag of cat litter, big bag of cat food, groceries, oil/washer fluid, roadside emergency kit, in the trunk with room to spare, and still had empty back seats.
The way the dashboard fades in when you turn it on. So dramatic. And the red on blue nighttime theme is almost theatrical.
When the highway slows through a town and I leave 6th, I turn the stereo off because I want to hear the engine.
How competent the car is at high speeds. Not that I'd know or anything, but a little bird tells me it makes speeds that are well beyond legal feel slow and the car is smoother and more firmly planted than most cars are doing half the speed.
Best seats ever.
"It sounds/feels like an airplane taking off"
All the compliments. One today at lunch from the Wendy's drive-through worker.
#1330
1. I love how I can have the gauges be bright white all the time or the nice nighttime red but use of the dimmer switch.
2. I love how the gauges remind me of a motorcycle gauge pod.
3. I love how my speedometer is digital.
4. I love the turbine jet sound you get in the higher RPM ranges.
5. I LOVE DSC in the rain.
6. I love it when people ask, "Is that the new Viper?"... no you fools see the Mazda logo. Still makes me smile tho.
7. I love the look on peoples faces when they ask, "How many cyl. are un under the hood?" and I say, "None".
2. I love how the gauges remind me of a motorcycle gauge pod.
3. I love how my speedometer is digital.
4. I love the turbine jet sound you get in the higher RPM ranges.
5. I LOVE DSC in the rain.
6. I love it when people ask, "Is that the new Viper?"... no you fools see the Mazda logo. Still makes me smile tho.
7. I love the look on peoples faces when they ask, "How many cyl. are un under the hood?" and I say, "None".
#1331
They actually are like that for a safety reason: night vision. Not because sometimes you feel like 'red' and sometimes you feel like 'white'. Here's how it works:
Mazda assumes, correctly, that you want 'white' gauge lights in the daytime, and 'red' at night. White by day because it's bright out, and the gauge lights need to be very bright in order for you to see them at a glance. (Try turning 'em red during the day and you'll see how it takes longer to make them out.) That's why the gauge lights are automatically white with the headlights off; Mazda assumes it's daytime.
Red gauge lights at night because, in the dark, it's easier to glance back and forth between a dark road and the instrument panel when the gauge lights are red—and dimmer—than when they're white. (Try it. Make them white at night and you'll notice that when you look up at the road, your night vision is compromised for a few moments. Because the white gauge lights cause your pupils to get much smaller, so that when you look up, you're not seeing as well until your pupils readjust to the dark.) That's why the gauge lights are automatically red with the headlilghts on; Mazda assumes it's nighttime.
This is also why all cars have gauge dimmers—it's not because "some people like 'em bright" and "some like 'em dim". Rather, it's so you can lower the gauge illumination to a point where you can just read them in the dark. On a pitch black night in the middle of nowhere, you can set the gauge illumination very low and still read the instruments. With your pupils now wide open, you enjoy superior night vision. Conversely, driving at night where it's relatively bright out (i.e. lots of big, bright signs, traffic, etc.) you need to set the gauges brighter, because the brightness outside causes your pupils to get smaller, to the point where it would be difficult to read the gauges if you left them as dim as you do on a dark, lonely road.)
The reason Mazda lets you override red gauge lighting with your headlights on, and turn them white? That's for those rare occasions when your headlights are on during the day and it's bright out, like when you're driving in a dense fog or when it's raining.
Make sense?
#1332
I know why it is what it is, the little thing that I like about it is that you still have a choice. Red light also enhances night vision which is why jetpilots have red lights in the cockpit for night time strikes/reading.
#1334
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I bought mine used, an 04 with 130k on it, and it's been meticulously cared for. It's the first car ever that has given me goosebumps from driving it. I have never even come close to losing control of this car, and I squeal and giggle like a little girl at least once a week when I take it for a "run".
This car does everything, anything you want it to do, and although the lights are cool and the rear doors wow my friends, and the oil filter is right there and you just reach in and grab it out, and it's too smart to let you lock your keys in the car with the key fob- nothing compares to the driving experience. It's the whole reason I bought it and will spoil it just like the previous owner did.
This car does everything, anything you want it to do, and although the lights are cool and the rear doors wow my friends, and the oil filter is right there and you just reach in and grab it out, and it's too smart to let you lock your keys in the car with the key fob- nothing compares to the driving experience. It's the whole reason I bought it and will spoil it just like the previous owner did.
#1335
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And answering #7- "is that a v6 or v8?"- priceless.
#1336
i'm going to mention a few things that i'm sure have already been mentioned before.
first, i'm a teenager in highschool. i almost got a mustang, but there are about 5 of those in the school parking lot already. i wanted something different. the rx8 is rare (at least where i life). i love the fact that i have such a unique car that a bunch of people haven't even heard of.
the rotary engine. this kind of goes a long with my first point, but still. i love when people ask me how many cylinders my car has under the hood, and i tell them to guess. the game lasts for ever. also, the engine drives extremely smooth. love it
i saw the word "superstar" mentioned on the first page. couldn't have said it better. especially being in highschool, my ego is pretty big lol. and even bigger when i'm driving my 8 around.
big edit: it's considered a 4 door on my insurance. can't beat that
first, i'm a teenager in highschool. i almost got a mustang, but there are about 5 of those in the school parking lot already. i wanted something different. the rx8 is rare (at least where i life). i love the fact that i have such a unique car that a bunch of people haven't even heard of.
the rotary engine. this kind of goes a long with my first point, but still. i love when people ask me how many cylinders my car has under the hood, and i tell them to guess. the game lasts for ever. also, the engine drives extremely smooth. love it
i saw the word "superstar" mentioned on the first page. couldn't have said it better. especially being in highschool, my ego is pretty big lol. and even bigger when i'm driving my 8 around.
big edit: it's considered a 4 door on my insurance. can't beat that
Last edited by jharpst; 07-17-2011 at 04:20 PM.
#1339
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ah **** won't lie about it, 1 telephone pole, 1 light pole, 3 trees... and yet me and the two guys with me agree it felt safer than most roller coasters...
edit: no, I am not proud of the accident, nor am i proud of endangering others, I'd learned my lesson and never will i have a repeat
edit: no, I am not proud of the accident, nor am i proud of endangering others, I'd learned my lesson and never will i have a repeat
Last edited by sanyok; 08-25-2011 at 02:08 AM.
#1341
I have never driven/rode in a car that has made me feel the way my RX-8 does - and that includes 2010 Dodge Charger R/Ts, 2010 Nissan 370Zs, even a Ferrari F430 (even though that was definitely memorable). The weird thing is, after riding in the Ferrari, it just made me appreciate my '8 even more. It can do all that it does with no pistons, cylinders, and a 1.3L displacement. Not to mention it costs a mere fraction of the price.
I've also received so many compliments on it. I drive my friends around and they say "being in this car makes me feel awesome and rich." I let my brother drive it on a beautiful twisty road and he said it made him feel like he was "driving a race car."
I also love explaining to people how the rotary engine works after their jaws drop when I tell them it has no cylinders. Just every single thing about this car makes me love it.
I've also received so many compliments on it. I drive my friends around and they say "being in this car makes me feel awesome and rich." I let my brother drive it on a beautiful twisty road and he said it made him feel like he was "driving a race car."
I also love explaining to people how the rotary engine works after their jaws drop when I tell them it has no cylinders. Just every single thing about this car makes me love it.
#1343
I have discovered a new, new to me, little thing. The Autopilot on the radio. At first I didn't notice it, I always drive with the windows down. But when I put the windows up the volume adjusting due to cabin noise/engine revs whatever it uses to figure out how much to bring the audio up or down. Kinda cool. Always had older cars, they never had that.
#1345
So this Rotary thing...?
Join Date: Nov 2009
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I have discovered a new, new to me, little thing. The Autopilot on the radio. At first I didn't notice it, I always drive with the windows down. But when I put the windows up the volume adjusting due to cabin noise/engine revs whatever it uses to figure out how much to bring the audio up or down. Kinda cool. Always had older cars, they never had that.
#1347
Super Moderator
Yes it is, my MX-5 has it also when I open roof.
But I have really only rarely had the RX-8 stereo/radio on at all in 40,000 KMS, I just love listening to the car....who wants to drown out that "FAB sound" .....
That is THE point of owning a Rotary....isn't it
But I have really only rarely had the RX-8 stereo/radio on at all in 40,000 KMS, I just love listening to the car....who wants to drown out that "FAB sound" .....
That is THE point of owning a Rotary....isn't it
#1349
Good call, It reminds me that I like how my AKINA SPEED STARS black sticker fits
perfectly on the side of the rear window !
And here's one new things I think nobody told : Everybody wonder where's the best place to carry a spare bottle of mazda engine oil somewhere in the car .... My trick is to loose a bit the strap that held the compressor box in the trunk and strap the bottle of oil next to it... you can also insert a folded paper towel (usefull to check oil level) between the strap and the bottle and nothing will move when you'll be driving.Now you have all you need with you if you need to add some oil at the a gaz station that only sell weird brand of engine oil or if only synthetic kind is available !
perfectly on the side of the rear window !
And here's one new things I think nobody told : Everybody wonder where's the best place to carry a spare bottle of mazda engine oil somewhere in the car .... My trick is to loose a bit the strap that held the compressor box in the trunk and strap the bottle of oil next to it... you can also insert a folded paper towel (usefull to check oil level) between the strap and the bottle and nothing will move when you'll be driving.Now you have all you need with you if you need to add some oil at the a gaz station that only sell weird brand of engine oil or if only synthetic kind is available !
#1350
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stock exhaust sounds like aftermarket.
doesn't need to be a super car to have strakes.
high rear bumper.
the side mirror is pretty good looking compare to likes of nissan z.
the moon roof slides out, not in, despite the lengthy roof.
oil filter is accessible from top not bottom.
credit card like key (mine's 07).
few things that could've...
power rear windows.
closer access to spark plugs.
boring looking brake caliper.
tiny command button on door handle.
doesn't need to be a super car to have strakes.
high rear bumper.
the side mirror is pretty good looking compare to likes of nissan z.
the moon roof slides out, not in, despite the lengthy roof.
oil filter is accessible from top not bottom.
credit card like key (mine's 07).
few things that could've...
power rear windows.
closer access to spark plugs.
boring looking brake caliper.
tiny command button on door handle.