Ohh..one last thing-- anyone here on this thread that tells you about getting >20mpg "Unless they push it"... My ****.

Do a search on "Gas Milage".

You'll see 1000's of posts on this board about how people are seeing 11-15mpg on average driving NORMALLY.


... ohh.. and about checking your OIL. ANOTHER FREAKING JOKE. Listen, NOBODY out there checks their oil every other fill-up. Thats SILLY. If that was "how it is", everyone's car out there would be burnt up. Mommies in SUVs NEVER check their oil..and you know what? Thats because unless there's a scratched piston, they DON'T BURN oil. Every 400-600 miles, the RX-8 needs a Quart...and it will randomly remind you of this with an oil-light because its 1qt low. How do I know? Because it comes on at the worst possible times every 2-3 weeks.

Do YOU want to "CHECK" your oil every couple of hundred of miles? I sure don't..thats stupid.

The car isn't fun, the "quirks" aren't fun, and paying a crapload of coin for gas on a low TQ, generic HP "sports sedan" isn't fun either.

SAVE you're money.. And do some searches here on "oil consumtion", "Gas Milage", and "performance"... you'll see everything about this car is sub-par.

(Oh..and God forbid you get a flat.. No spare, no place for one if you had one, and we all know that "goo" fix-a-flat doesn't work). Hope you have AAA too.

 

Your rates are high because of the $50 deductible. Try a $500 you'd be surprised how much less it will be.

For me I pay $72.50 a month for a $500 deductible. I had asked about $250 at first and it would have been $130 a month. The way I see it is if a person thinks they will have more than three accident a year it might be worth it. In my case I save $690 a year by not having the $250 deductible.

 

My God, amartin, I can't figure out if you are whining, bitchin or trying to provide information?

For the mileage thing I have gotten 21mph and that was a mixture of city and highway. The way I did it is with Non-oxygenated gasoline try it sometime your car will love you for it. Here in Minnesota there is ethanol (corn alcohol) which raises octane but does not burn as long as dino. If you notice in the manual for the car it states not to go over 10% ethanol. Truth is the less the better. Runs smoother, more power and it gets better mileage.

The one you found on the DEALER LOT, did it have the same options?

 

Going by what's on the board, averages appear to be roughly:

• fuel economy: 15-16 MPG in town, 22-23 highway
• oil consumption: 1 quart every 2000-3000 miles

If checking the oil once a month and dumping in a quart every couple months will cause you to go into frothing-at-the-mouth rants, then the RX-8 is probably not the car for you.
The RX-8 is not for people that prioritize power over road feel, steering feedback, balance, etc. Anyone who considers a Maxima is obviously not dissuaded by FWD... at that point, you have many other options worth looking at (SRT-4).

My WRX generally got 19-20 MPG and once got as little as 16 (one time in the winter, all city driving). Now that it's moved to a 2.5L, I don't know how its fuel economy has changed.

The S2000 and STI are excellent cars. The STI addresses most of the WRX's downsides and outclasses the RX8 (due to its significant power advantage). But you can easily get RX8 6-speeds for $24k (and I've seen em go for $22k) while the STI usually goes for $32 (as far as I know).

In any case, unless you were in the initial pre-order group from mid 2003, you have no excuse for buying the RX8 without test driving it first.

 

One of my jobs is for the government in a "security" capacity and with all that the job entails it is a very high probability that things will happen to my car. Having this job is what required me to have to get the navigation system. It would be no problem with my other job, though. I work at home 80 hours a week! No driving required. With the $500 deductible it knocks my insurance down to about $140. With the $250 deductible it makes it around $175. I was told that there were probably some discounts I could get for it such as one that they had for buying a brand new vehicle, which would knock it down from $200 with the $50 deductible. I figured for now I would get the lowest deductible possible at least for the first six month term since I will be a little pressed for cash if I had to cough up a deductible. My primary job doesn't take out state taxes from my check (they will starting in Jan.) and I owe Oregon about $8000 this year. Fortunately my other job is tax free!!! And I guess I should thank everyone who pays their federal taxes. I am getting a $2500 check from the government towards my car (for the navigation system) since they required me to have certain features in my car.

 

I guess I have question about the oil and everything. Where I live it is very common for people to buy and use synthetic oil for their cars. My mom always does that and she has had much better luck for engine wear and everything else than other people we know. My mom has a 2000 MPV that she drives all the time. She used to put 150 miles a day on it running me back and forth to work since I had no car. (Not sure what the mileage on it is now). Well, my stepsister got one about two months after she did and she always used regular oil and kept having problems with things all the time. She started having less problems after my stepdad (his daugther) insisted she try the synthetic. She is much happier with it. The only thing that ever has happened to my mom's is a recall to reinforce the front bumper and last March an oxygen sensor in it went out, which was an easy fix. Everyone seems to always recommend the synthetic that I know. Only have to change it around 10,000 miles, less likely to burn off since it is not actual oil, and lubricates better. We always buy Mobil 1. They do make one for high performance cars now (saw a commercial for it during Car and Driver).

 

You're right, I check my oil EVERY fill up. You lazy ***. You're standing outside your car doing nothing while the gas pumps anyway. There are usually paper towels right next to the pump. Is it really that hard?! Don't be lazy and the oil light will never come on. I only usually add a quart every 2-3k miles. If you're REALLY adding a quart every 4-600 miles, something is abnormal.


The optional spare tire kit in my trunk adds a perfectly adaquate real spare tire.

 

The one on the Dealer Lot for 20k was the EXACT same car as mine..same options, same color, same interior, 6 speed, etc... An '04 with 10k miles.

I actually found that pretty depressing.

As far as non-oxygenated gas, the pumps around Texas don't say which ones (if not all??) are that way or not.

-- Aaron

 

atleast your weighing your options to buy the 8.... one night i was driving by and say a bright yellow car... so i drove by to take a closer look... it was an rx8... fully loaded with an unbelievable price tag... took it out for a spin.. bought it the next day and got it checked out.. everything was good. 21K for 13K miles on it with everything possible done to it from Mazda.



get it and you'll love it!

just like any other car... how you maintain it, will effect how long you will have it.

 

My last car was a WRX and I have never looked back from my decision in getting the RX8. The question I put to everyone who comtemplates about getting the RX8 are...

Where is your passion? Is it blowing every car you line up with at the traffic lights? OR are you after a car that you can "drive"?

To answer these... I love cars... that is my passion... it is my hobby and yes it is a very expensive hobby.

Win or lose.... You cannot really appreciate any car if you just drive in a straight line and feel the adrenalin or disappointment after the high speed drag. I kind of wonder whether people know what a sportscar is supposed to be as the designer intended it to be used. Where is the "sports" in driving fast in a straight line on public roads. I feel it is more of an "EGO" thing.

Best thing I have ever done was on the weekend where I met some RX8 enthusiast for a "DRIVE" day. It was definitely a "drive" day. Uphill sprited driving in a controlled aggressive manner (lots of hairpin turns). The point is... a sportscar should be driven... it should be interactive. I may not have been the quickest on the uphill sprint... but I did manage to keep up with the 4 cars that got away from the main pack... we even left a motorbike behind after the second corner. I was behind an MX-5... the comment I got from the driver was all he could hear was the "howling" of my rotary behind him... I love "DRIVING"!

BACK to topic... If you feel the RX8 is for you... then go out there and take a risk. YOU only live once... people make mistake(s). BUT... I am hoping you will enjoy your new car whatever it might be. Just enjoy driving your next ride... and if you wanna prove to anyone how good you are as a driver... do it on a proper race track (twisty/ technical circuit preferred 50:50 chance) with your mates so that the myth about who is better can be seen in the time sheets. TIMING records never lies... all in the sprit of competition...
GOODLUCK with your choice.

 

Thanks for advice, astro... I never thought this thread will get this long, and also start a more of a flame thread.

I couldn't care less about going from 0-60 fast... to me, great handling car with balance and fun-to-drive character matter most... hence RX-8 and Miata... I really believe Mazda makes fun cars, hell, even my Mazda3 is fun to drive (although you guys may dismiss it as "econobox").

I wish I just had $$... I would just get both RX-8 and new MX-5 Miata... test drove both recently, and I am in love.

 

@ insurance rate. Im 5 years younger and im paying~$800 for 6 months = ~$134/mo on 2 cars (neither is an RX-8). You are definitely paying through your nose for insurance.

Good luck with whatever you choose dell.