eclps0

I had a rx8 for 2 years and i was getting 16-18 mpg and spending 300+ a month on gas 3.15 a gallon. I sold it because of the gas and the problems i had and i got my self a MSM

Now i get 22-25 mpg and i am dynoing at 200wrhp and about 193 tq I eat s2000's, bmw 335's, wrx's, ect for dinner.

my miata a sports car and goes a hell lot faster then the rx8 and gets way better gas miles per tank. So yes i agree i sold my 8 becuase of its thirst and its problems

CarAndDriver

Another gas mpg thread!

Huskyfan23

It doesn't get 20 MPG city. I average 16 mpg city, 20 highway.

Rx-8 TT

Does that mean emission recall??

I just got the letter from Mazda dealer about the recall.

I have an appointment next week.

Then, should I go to the dealer for recall?

average 17.5 mpg and new flash may lower my mpg..then...

below 17 mpg for gal...hm....not a good thing.

Kegsbane

I have a 2003 350z and I get 25.3, 70% highway.

CarAndDriver

Where do u live?

Rx-8 TT

I am living in Maryland. wHy??

CarAndDriver

Many engine problems were in places with very hot weather year round and fairly dry as well. But better safe than sorry.

Rx-8 TT

Ok. Thanks for the info that I didn't know.

hm...now I have a choice.

Whether or not I go to a dealer for recall...

let me think about it during the weekend.

Ike

No they weren't, it was more common in those places but hardly exclusive to those climates.

CarAndDriver

U r correct!

MR2_Spyder

my low gas warning light comes on in the high 100s if i recall correctly.

Stavesacre21

^
?

what

MR2_Spyder

high 100s. as in, 195 or so. actually, today my gas light came on after driving 206 miles.

TV88

MR2 Sypder: Since you mentioned the A4 as a possible replacement I thought you'd appreciate a little real world feedback. I drive an '04 RX-8 6spd and average 17-18 mpg in mixed daily driving.

My wife drives an '07 2.0T A4 Avant 6spd Quattro. Her last tankful returned about 22.5 mpg in mixed (but mostly city) driving. Over the past weekend we put on about 400 mostly highway miles and were loaded up with 3 people, a 150lb dog, and a Thule cargo box on top. We averaged 27.7 mpg.

The 2.0T engine in the A4 is very nice, much nicer than the previous two 1.8Ts we owned. But even with the sport package, the A4 can't hold a candle to the RX-8 in the handling department.

Two very nice cars but also two very different driving experiences.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Oh, almost forgot to mention that I typically average about 28 mpg in my '90 Miata summer car with mixed driving and close to redline shifts.

TV

MR2_Spyder

thnx, TV. I am going to test drive the A4 again. now that i have been driving the 8 every day, if i get in the A4 and it's absolutely intolerable, i will stay with my 8. then again, i will put a quick APR chip in the A4 and make it a ton faster than stock, (which may end up killing my MPG, but still be way above the 8)

Stavesacre21

oh ok....thought you meant 100 degrees out. lol

MazdaMonkey

You must drive a ton to save $168 a month compared to a 20mpg car! Driving 12,000 miles a year in my Miata only saves me $945/year in gas (assuming premium at $3.50/gal) or 78.75 in gas. (RX-8 16mpg avg, MX-5 25 mpg avg, that is optimistic mileage for the Miata). You would have to drive over 45,000 miles a year to save that kind of money a month (assuming your 20mpg car burned premium also)!

MR2_Spyder

I drive 50 miles per day to work (round trip) mon - fri. The math is earlier in the thread.

PhotoMunkey

The A4, and other VDubs using the computerized waste-gate WILL use a LOT more fuel if ou chip them. This essentially turns up the boost in every gear. With more air, the engine will add more fuel. It's a vicious cycle...

Use more air pressure in your 8's tires (to reduce rolling resistance), coast up to stops with the engine idling, instead of downshifting through the gears, and never, ever go over 4k RPM in the city between stoplights. I can drive through my town in 6th gear at 35 mph... but I think the engine's happier in 5th or 4th!

I had a 2004 Jetta GLI (the limited edition with the body kit, 18" BBS wheels, Audi TT brakes, 6-speed, Recaros, very nice!) and though it was a fantastic sport-touring car, it couldn't hold a candle to my RX-8 in the corners. Of course, I could clip along at 80 on the freeway at 28 MPG in the Jetta. 80 in the RX-8 nets me a whopping 19-19.8 out here. If you live in a flat state with a 75 MPH speed limit, don't use the cruise control. It's close enough to 3800 RPM that it kicks on the "catalytic converter preservation mode" and dumps extra fuel straight into the two thirst little rotors.

For 10130 miles, I've used 541 gallons of fuel, which averages to 18.7 MPG total for all types of driving. In town here I've been consistently getting between 11 and 13 miles per gallon. Believe it or not, this is not drastically worse than the 2003 Mustang GT I traded in.

Although people don't believe me, I'll bet anyone money that I can get better mileage in an EVO 8 or 9 CONSISTENTLY than in an RX-8. In the 8 I'd still be having more fun!

Wej

I get about 170 miles from full tank to about 2 gallons left. So 170 / (15.9 - 2) is ~11.4MPG. I'm not happy with it, but I'm not going to complain about it. Then again, I drive it like an idiot ;-) very short distances, no more than 10 miles at a time. I've done 315 miles on a tank, non-stop from Mesquite, NV to Pomona, CA. Roughly 20MPG. That was doing 75-85mph (cruise control), with bursts of just under 100 once in a while to keep me sane.

To me, it's worth the gas cost, although I am considering an electric scooter for the 1.7mi commute to work every day, and just using the car for after hours and weekend fun.

MR2_Spyder

thnx, buddy. the air pressue thing sounds good. and i will try to keep it in the boring sub-4RPM section of the tach.

if jettas and GTIs were rear or awd, i'd probably buy one. great cars

Temptone

As an 8 driver you should have known before you bought it what the car will do as far as fuel consumption. I knew when I traded my A4 I was going to a car that might get 15 mpg like a Cadillac Escalade...BUT i was getting a true sports car and i'm willing to sacrifice a bit. I might not say that at $5. a gallon though I will still keep it. What about all those dweebles that drive SUV's...Do they complain...They knew what they were getting in to when they purchased. Like a house with wheels...What about a Dodge Truck with a Ram whatever...A cobra? any high performance machine, a Ferrari which you would pay at least $200,000 for gets the same MPG as an 8...man I am thrilled I didn't get that car and have to worry about $500 a tire. Every car has it's trade offs ...you give to get. My A4 was great but a boring driver. It would have really been expensive if it was dysfunctional and after the warranty ....I don't think I could have afforded it. I will trade this one when the warranty is over, then again it depends on different factors in life and what the priority is at that time....I kept my RX7 for 12 years with 12 mpg in the city...125,000 miles and it finally crapped out because it overheated. I might just get the desire for a trouble - free car and lease a BMW or Lexus at that point. I'll be 66 by that time...Lucky if I can remember how to drive at all ....right ?

eforer

My dad is 65, a full fledged senior citizen and still actively road races, wheel to wheel at least 10 times a year and does hpde days in his mazda speed mx5 on top of that. I hope when I'm his age I am still that young at heart. He drives faster on the street than his 26 year old son (me) yet and uses his age as an excuse when he gets pulled over by the police:

"I'm sorry officer this is my son's car, its much faster than my Buick." Of course he is infact in his own car and fully aware of what he's doing.

Car enthusaists don't get as boring with age as the rest of the world.

MR2_Spyder

Bro, I KNEW the 8 got shitty gas mileage. Okay? Yes, I knew it going in. I knew it, I understood it, I read about it. I had it tattooed backwards on my forehead as a reminder.

That doesn't mean I can't complain on a board if I am getting what I think is WAY LESS than what others are getting because MAYBE something is wrong with my car or maybe it wasn't broken in properly. Whatever. Is it so wrong to ask around or complain on a car board with other owners of the same car? If I get 13 and others get 18-20, I am going to ask about it. Good day, sir.