Okay, Im new to the site. Visited yesterday for the first time. I have a 2004 MT (purchased 6/12/04) with 23,000 miles (very few problems, minor stuff fixed under warrantee/recall/service bulletins).

1) Am I eligible for the $500 + lifetime service for the HP restatement? What do I have to do?

2) I live in Chicago area. What snow tires are recommended to give my Potenzas a break? Should I have them mounted on a 5th/6th rim or change them over each season?

3) What ECU upgrage is recommended for better performance?

4) is 87 octane okay to run on to save $$$?

4) what is the life of the potenzas?

 

1) No, had to be claimed a long time ago.

2) can't answer that one

3) E-manage or other piggyback or stand-alone are the only options atm.

4) Depends, some cars do ok on 87, others don't seem to like it.

5) Mine lasted about 25000 miles, but they were going fast at that point.

 

 

1. No
2. Don't know
3. CanZoom (although its not "a true" ECU upgrade)
4. Mine pings with 87 but some use it without difficulties
4? Depends on your driving habits..

6. See post #4 by Mr. Mugatu for more answers.

PS: Welcome to the clan

 

Welcome
No, if you bought your car after the "restatement" you wouldn't be eligible.
I use all-season tires. I live about 100 yds from a major road, Rt 64 North Ave, which is well maintained. Snow isn't an issue for me. I change to performance tires, on the same rims, for the warmer months.
I would wait. The only good solution, at the moment, costs $1500. Direct reprogamming of the onboard ecu is comming.
I use allmost exclucively premium from Top Tier Gasoline stations. Because this is marketing thing, there are some brands that would probably be eligible, but aren't on the list because they didn't pay for the independant testing and advertising. I would put BP in this catagory.
Mine lasted 10K before I replaced them. My car hydroplaned & spun on a tollway. I wouldn't put up with that.
And finally, keep an eye on on this spot, https://www.rx8club.com/mw-rx-8-forum-31/evolv-chicago-meets-here-69062/, for the latest in whats happening in the Chicago area.

 

U crack me up Mugatu!

 

Yeah. That was a good one.

 

1. No
2. I live in NYC and it snows. Im fine with Toyo Proxes4, I mean seriously, Ours cars are RWD. Even with Snow tires the chance is that. If you can get out with All Season, Same for Snow tires. If you cant, then snow cant. (Not like we're on AWD/4WD)
3. None, theres no "ECU Upgrage(Upgrade?)" at the monment. Wait theres "Reprogram" Factory ECU coming.
4. Depends.
4(???). RE040 sucks. MAX 20000 (if you drive like a Grandma), so I will say change it as soon as it reach 10000, to something better, say, get the newest Protenza RE960A/S Pole Position

 

Thanks everyone, esp Mr. Mugatu!

 

Nokians hands down are the best snow tires you'll find, and you're better off getting some cheap alloys to mount them on.

 

I live in NH. If you get over 60" of snow a year and a 12" storm is considered normal and no big deal. Get yourself some snow tires. I have 4 on new rims but I wanted the car to look the same those 6 months a year and not have to swap them onto the stock rims.

The stock tires are useless in the snow. You might get along with all season but Blizzaks or Snowsports make a world of difference. Going off the road, into a tree, mailbox, another car, hitting the curb just sux. Why do that to your car?!! Oh the inhumanity!

BTW I said 60+, 100+ or 130 is a good snow year for me and that's not even alot for lake effect people.

-- Smileynh

 

Unless there was some technical reason not to use it, why would you not want to use premium gas? Unless you don't have the same pricing stucture, premium is at most $.20 more per gallon than regular. Even if I run my tank 40 or 50 miles past the low fuel light, I rarely have to put more than about 14 gallons in. And I fill up about once per week. That is less than $12 per month (less than $3 per tank) to use premium. Unless you are on an extreme fixed budget, I don't see the benefit of using regular over premium to save money. If nothing else, it may end up costing you more than you are saving in repairs or maintenance in the future.

 

the ammount on money you save on 87 vs 93 is pointless really. Its not much money per year.

 

You'll never get a straight answer about the fuel thing here. I gave up. There was a poll here at one point, that just made no sense. Here, take a look at it, see if you can draw any sensible conclusions from these numbers:

View Poll Results: 87 offers the following over 91+

Better performance, better mileage..........19..........35.85%
Better performance, worse mileage...........4...........7.55%
worse performance, better mileage..........13..........24.53%
worse performance, worse mileage..........17..........32.08%

Voters: 53. This poll is closed

(Here's the whole thread: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/poll-performance-regular-gas-71224/)