I agree that RX-8 is an amazing car as is, and the fact that everyone loves it despite the HP and MPG issues is a true testament to that.

However, if everyone keeps buying it and loving it, then why would Mazda fix it?

When Road and Track tested the car they ran a 14.5 at 95.6 MPH and observed 19mpg. If you follow R&T or any magazine, you know that the observed mpg is usually very low. They observe it while doing 0-everything tests, skidpads, slaloms, and generally pounding of the car.
You also know that they aren't the quickest drivers around, nor are there preprods normally broken in. They list a 13.1 for the Z06 for Christ's sake.
I believe the RX-8 that R&T had is capable of 13's and 26 mpg on the highway.

This is the RX-8 that I have been dreaming about for the past two years. This is the RX-8 I want.

But I won't get it as long as people keep buying and loving their RX-8's as is.

Mazda can always dance around the HP issue stating bogus crank vs wheel arguments, but they can't argue gas receipts that show 11 mpg. Please take your car in and complain. I know some people are getting ECU flashes from the dealers, but they aren't the flash that R&T or the other mags had.

I understand that the aftermarket, namely Canzoomer, may be able to unleash the true RX-8, but in doing so it will void the warranty. I want Mazda to do it. Being an avid Mazda fan, and devoting so much of my heart to the RX-8 over the past few years, Mazda has really upset me.

Please, help me get my RX-8.

 

As an FYI my appt. with the dealer is for Tuesday next week. I am adressing the mpg problem, squeeky door, and brake squeal at low temps. My hp is just fine. I am sure that when Mazdaspeed offers an ECU upgrade or chip I will be all over it. But until then I have an 8 year warranty to think of.

 

You either want it as is, or get something else.

 

But there isn't anything I like better, except a Z06, or the new C6. And they are both over 50 grand, nearly twice the cost of the RX-8.

If the dealer installs anything from Mazdaspeed you will not void your warranty. You will have to pay dealer prices and dealer labor, but you get to bring it back to them when you break something.

I drove two more tonight. I think both these cars fell between the Mazda demo car, and the yellow one I drove two nights ago. The yellow one was beaten severely and was very disappointing in terms of performance.

One just had 50 miles on it, the other had 1900. They were pretty identical in terms of performance. I could tell the interior of the one with 1900 was a little less solid, but none of the noises were terribly annoying.

I raced a M3 on the highway during the test drive, and lost bad. But it is a 50k car as well.

Both cars were much more fun than the yellow car, and most of my faith has been restored.

I think I am back on track to get one anyway, but I think I am going to wait for the half year to come out, in hopes that Mazda does something about the gas mileage.

It shouldn't even be legal to put 24mpg on the sticker when cars are getting as little as 15mpg all highway.

(I misread your post about Mazdaspeed, it looks like you already knew that MS parts don't kill the warranty)

 

Unfortunately it is the federal government (EPA) who decides what numbers go on the window stickers, not the car manufacturer. I agree that such ought to be illegal, but what do you think the chances are that the fed. gov. will make its own actions illegal?

 

jdwk,
Yep - it's really a helluva car if you look at the entire package - that's why I bought mine.

The only problem I've had so far is the loose door sill trim plates - which is minor enough that I'll wait to have them taken car of at my 1st oil change.

I usually get 19 - 20 mpg in mixed driving. Driving wise, the HP is fine with me .... I don't personally have a way of measuring the HP to complain about it.

We already bought our cars, so we don't have as much leverage as you do. Tell Mazda that if they don't get their act together and fix it, you and your friends ain't gonna buy one! That will hurt them where it counts and might get their attention .

good luck,
rx8cited

 

Dear jwdk -- This is gonna sound harsh and goes along with my reply to you here. Maybe I'm misinterpreting where you're coming from, but you really sound like a spoiled, whiny little brat. Perhaps i'm wrong cuz you can't see inflection and body language, and we all know 90 percent of communication is non-verbal. But what you say is, you are in love with the '8 but unlike the thousands of rest of us who fell in love and bought it, yours is lip-service only. All talk, and no bucks.

If you love the car, buy the car. It ain't perfect. We all freely admit that, and like you I agree there is nothing better out there, at least nothing under $50K. I totally agree with you on that point. So that leaves you with two choices: Keep what you got (I would guess a 10-speed or skateboard) or buy the '8. If you get something else, that means there was something else better out there for your money.

Telling us to go to our dealers and complain so that you can get a better car is somewhat childish and self-centered. You're implying the car can be fixed (I perceive your main gripe is mileage which, by the way, is my main gripe so.) So here's an idea: Why don't you buy the darn '8, then you can go to your dealer and you can complain. Stop waiting for the world to cater to your needs; wake up and address 'em yourself. Two -- no, three -- great things will happen. First, maybe they'll fix it so those who come after you will have a better car. Second, you'll have an '8. And third, you will no longer be a whiny little brat.

You sound like a nice enough guy and sincere, but you just need to wake up and bit and take life by the horns. And stop thrashing other people's cars (per your other post.)

 

Sorry if I come across that way. I replied to your other post, there is some vital information that I should have provided.

I am young (23), but I put myself through college and got a good job. My dream since I road in a ZR1 when I was 12 was to buy a Corvette upon graduation from college. But living in California turned me off somewhat due to the C5's sickening popularity.

The RX-8 was scheduled to come out around the time I graduated, but it was a little late. I didn't feel comfortable buying a car I hadn't test driven even if I was "in love" with it from the all autoshows and articles.

In the meantime, I stumbled upon a 1996 MX-6 M-edition with only 45k on her that you would have to see to believe .

Actually here she is.
http://members.***.net/jkernen/pictures/front.jpg
http://members.***.net/jkernen/pictures/rear.jpg

Yeah, it wasn't a vette or an RX-8, but I figured I could buy it and still afford to buy a house with a garage to put it in.

So, I made the "grown up" decision to buy a house, and although I could have put the money down on a Z06, I do not regret my decision, especially the garage part.

I love my MX-6 and could never get rid of it, but it is not perfect. To get it there requires another car. Although you may see me as a "whiny little brat", I see myself as a perfectionist. I was raised to never settle for less.

The RX-8 is not perfect, but I think it can be. I have been announcing my concerns about the gas mileage and hp to every dealer in the area. I honestly thought Mazda would have fixed it by now, but when they are selling well and winning C&D's 10 Best, why would they?

I wish I could just settle for 16mpg. I wish the little squeaks and rattles of my MX-6 didn't bother me so much. I wish I could go through life like everyone else and see past the imperfections.

The fact is I can't. You may see a "whiny little brat", but it is that pursuit of perfection that has gotten me where I am today. If I didn't care that the RX-8 wasn't perfect, I would not be in the position to buy one.