RX8 Product Update DVD
03-01-2005, 08:13 AM
#27
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Have yet to receive anything either.
I don't see any issue in what Mazda addresses in the video. Just reaching out to explain to customers the nature of the rotary engine.
I don't see any issue in what Mazda addresses in the video. Just reaching out to explain to customers the nature of the rotary engine.
03-01-2005, 08:39 AM
#29
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I did'nt get the video yet but I've had none of the issue's mentioned here. I use 87 octane since new (9k miles) no problem. Stop and start cold all the time. Never flooded. 1qt oil every 2k miles. I've owned rotories before. The video must have issued for 1st time owners who don't understand the rotory vs piston. It sounds like an educational tool for those who don't read the manual and early rx8 owners who had ecu flash problems. The last flash seems to have solved most common problems. My main concern is the very low mpg that some report here. So far my 8 is within the EPA estimates. Some early 8s may have had assembly defects. Thank God mine is not one of them.
03-01-2005, 09:19 AM
#30
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Originally Posted by guy321
How much will they go for on e-bay?
I enjoyed the DVD. I especially like that it prominently features a silver one.
03-01-2005, 09:23 AM
#31
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All this AND the HP and gas mileage issues. That's why those morons should have upgraded the catalytic converters for the 2005's and gotten HP back up to 247 and mileage up with leaner AF ratios and jack up the MSRP by $500. Now they almost have too much to deal with.
03-01-2005, 10:03 AM
#32
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You know what? They're going to have to cut this rotary thing short OR they're going to have to jump into the 7-year plan and continue with the RX7 with increased displacement and improved catalytic converter. Yeah, I see a 7-year plan. RX8 from 2004 to 2007 culminating in FI. 2008 RX7 that comes out in the spring or summer of 2007 that tries to run through at least 2010. Because I don't see an RX8 and variants going through a 7-year cycle. I think to complete a 7-year cycle, an RX7 will be needed. A 7-year cycle will be needed to allow time to observe, gauge, and wait out a constantly fluctuating market in terms of alternative power development (hybrid development; and not so much alternative fuel because hydrogen ain't gonna be happening anytime soon), oil costs, and sports car environment/market. It will also give them some time to iron out some rotary/engineering challenges. So I think they need to commit to a 7-year plan or cut the damn rotary thing short in 4 years. If they commit to 7-years, an RX7 will have to be introduced.
Last edited by Reactionary; 03-01-2005 at 10:16 AM.
03-01-2005, 11:07 AM
#34
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I know that I have a minority opinion on this topic, but it's like MIKEB says "I haven't had any issues with my rx8 but oil consumption which is normal".
I have never bought into the idea that a Rotary engine needs special attention, hence my negative reaction to Mazda's attempt to "educate" me. This is my fourth rotary in 30 years and previously the only issue I ever ran into was the oil consumption, which is normal (and was never a big deal) and can be made all but invisible with a big enough oil sump.
IMHO, I believe that most people don't want to buy cars they have to take special care of. They just want to drive them. Hence engineering not education is the solution. And I do believe that there is an engineering solution that can fix all the listed "end-user" problems or make them effectively "invisible".
I have never bought into the idea that a Rotary engine needs special attention, hence my negative reaction to Mazda's attempt to "educate" me. This is my fourth rotary in 30 years and previously the only issue I ever ran into was the oil consumption, which is normal (and was never a big deal) and can be made all but invisible with a big enough oil sump.
IMHO, I believe that most people don't want to buy cars they have to take special care of. They just want to drive them. Hence engineering not education is the solution. And I do believe that there is an engineering solution that can fix all the listed "end-user" problems or make them effectively "invisible".
03-01-2005, 11:13 AM
#35
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Originally Posted by G8rboy
I personally think it's sad they have to release a video to visually demonstrate what's in the owner's manual... people spend $30k+ on a specialty sports car, you'd think they'd read the friggin' manual. Nope, us lazy Americans need to see it on the boob-tube to understand it
03-01-2005, 11:20 AM
#36
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For those of you who don't have the DVD and actually want one, I'm very willing to bet that Mazda would love to put one in your hands (provided you actually own an 8, of course). Here's the FAX number for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) printed at the bottom of the letter that accompanied the DVD (no voice phone # was given):
949-727-6101.
Just fax them a request for the DVD if you still haven't gotten yours in the next few days. It appears they were mailed from Irvine.
949-727-6101.
Just fax them a request for the DVD if you still haven't gotten yours in the next few days. It appears they were mailed from Irvine.
03-01-2005, 11:31 AM
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ya i got mine yesterday but i still have to watch it. i think navteq should send us free map updates dvd's for our navi since they keep lying to us about the release date.
03-01-2005, 11:44 AM
#38
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Originally Posted by Aratinga
For those of you who don't have the DVD and actually want one, I'm very willing to bet that Mazda would love to put one in your hands (provided you actually own an 8, of course). Here's the FAX number for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) printed at the bottom of the letter that accompanied the DVD (no voice phone # was given):
949-727-6101.
Just fax them a request for the DVD if you still haven't gotten yours in the next few days. It appears they were mailed from Irvine.
949-727-6101.
Just fax them a request for the DVD if you still haven't gotten yours in the next few days. It appears they were mailed from Irvine.
03-01-2005, 01:25 PM
#39
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I have one of the earliest '04s, and I've never had mine flood either... but I've known from day one to let it warm up before shutting it down. It just goes along with having a rotary engine.
I've got to wonder how many people actually buy an 8 and have no clue what a rotary engine is? Obviously there aren't many of 'em here, but for Mazda to feel the need to do this DVD they've got to be out there, driving their 8s in blissful ignorance until the oil light comes on.
I've got to wonder how many people actually buy an 8 and have no clue what a rotary engine is? Obviously there aren't many of 'em here, but for Mazda to feel the need to do this DVD they've got to be out there, driving their 8s in blissful ignorance until the oil light comes on.
03-01-2005, 03:13 PM
#40
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Originally Posted by Reactionary
You know what? They're going to have to cut this rotary thing short OR they're going to have to jump into the 7-year plan and continue with the RX7 with increased displacement and improved catalytic converter. Yeah, I see a 7-year plan. RX8 from 2004 to 2007 culminating in FI. 2008 RX7 that comes out in the spring or summer of 2007 that tries to run through at least 2010. Because I don't see an RX8 and variants going through a 7-year cycle. I think to complete a 7-year cycle, an ....blah blah blah....
03-01-2005, 03:36 PM
#41
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Some of you are too young to remember
When I was a teenager, (about 25 years ago) there were some pretty high-maintenance cars out there. What comes to mind are MG's and Triumphs. These cars had more needs than checking the oil and tires all the time. They often just broke down and didn't run. They leaked like crazy in the rain, too. So the little things that we have to stay on top of don't bother me. The only time I got wet inside of my RX-8 was when I opened the sunroof after it had rained, and all the water that was sitting on the glass poured on me. That wasn't the car's fault!
In the history of exotic motor cars (and I would consider a rotary slightly exotic) most of them have been "particular" about how they are maintained. Mazda probably would like to make a rotary engine that only needed the maintenance of a piston-banger, but that's never been possible.
In the history of exotic motor cars (and I would consider a rotary slightly exotic) most of them have been "particular" about how they are maintained. Mazda probably would like to make a rotary engine that only needed the maintenance of a piston-banger, but that's never been possible.
03-01-2005, 03:57 PM
#42
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I know someone who had a Porsche 911 Turbo S and had to put about a quart of oil in more frequently than we do. She didnt care because a) she's filthy rich and b) she knew her high performance car needed a little extra love
Last edited by djseto; 03-01-2005 at 03:59 PM.
03-01-2005, 04:04 PM
#43
I just got mine today, it was interesting nothing I didn't already know, they should havetalked about more. But notice the topics were some of the big topics off the forum, not that we didn't know they read the forum already.
03-01-2005, 06:43 PM
#45
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Damn! I saw Product Update and got all excited thinking Mazda actually was doing something useful for us and was sending us the firmware upgrade for the Nav! Oh well, guess I'll watch it anyway...
03-01-2005, 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by msrecant
IMHO, I believe that most people don't want to buy cars they have to take special care of. They just want to drive them. Hence engineering, not education is the solution. And I do believe that there is an engineering solution that can fix all the listed "end-user" problems or make them effectively "invisible".
1.3L
Last edited by 1.3L; 03-01-2005 at 09:08 PM.
03-01-2005, 09:51 PM
#47
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Hey! check this thread in a couple of minutes. I am prepping the video file for those curious about it: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/rx-8-product-update-dvd-54191/
03-01-2005, 09:57 PM
#48
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Originally Posted by 1.3L
I hear what you're saying, but I truly hope you're wrong. If our society is heading into an era where a Sports Car is something that can be driven, maintained and [mis]understood with such a disconnected effort, then God help us; the true sports car is dead. People who want to operate a vehicle that requires little thought (education and skill) or care should go drive an SUV with a cellphone stuck in their ear. What a numb life.
When younger, I enjoyed getting under the hood but today I prefer to just drive a car with quality performance and handling. The penalty to this approach is constant frustration with the service department.
My previous vehicle was a Miata, which was truly an MG/Triumph that was inexpensive and reliable. Obviously you had to take care of it (regular maintenance) but you didn't have to baby it. You just drove it and enjoyed it. No special attention required, except unzipping the rear window when putting the top down (which I never did) and Mazda even fixed that in the M2.
I don't specifically object to the educational DVD, particularly since fixes for these issues will probably not be retrofitable. However, I object to the DVD being offered up as a replacement for an engineering solution to make these issues go away. In my mind, having to make the driver master the skill of remembering to let the car warm up every time it is started does not make the RX-8 a better sports car or more fun to drive.
However, I could be completely wrong and there is no hidden agenda. The DVD may well be just a public service while Mazda works to solve the problems.
Last edited by msrecant; 03-01-2005 at 10:07 PM.
03-01-2005, 10:05 PM
#49
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Originally Posted by msrecant
However, I could be completely wrong and there is no hidden agenda. The DVD may well be just a public service while Mazda works to solve the problems.
Hey, but that's just me!
