I'm a late 50's guy who wants to add a little spice to my driving, but I've developed some concerns reading the various comments. I plan to drive the car back & forth to work, 8 minutes away. The flooding issue has me a bit concerned. I also haven't read much regarding comparing the stick to the automatic transmission (you know, us older guys like SOME conveniences).
Comments?

 

I'm an early-fifties guy and I went with the stick. I've owned the car for a month and have no regrets. Regarding the flooding, I let the car warm up for about 3 minutes after a cold-crank, generally that's in the morning and again after work. I'd say test-drive one and see if you like it. Drive the stick and the automatic and get the one that suits you. It's been pointed out by others but I'll state it again....put the "complaints" you hear in here in perspective. If you get 1000 people (an estimate) all posting about a single type of car, you're going to hear some complaints. Yep, you do need to let the car warm up before you kill it. Yep, you'll get pretty poor mileage for the size of the car and the engine. Yep, it's going to burn some oil. Other than that, I've not seen any oft-repeated complaints in here about the car.

Regarding the 8 minute trip to work, I promise you, you'll be looking for the fifteen minute route if you get this car. Seriously though, it's a fun car and I'd venture to guess that the engine will be fully warmed after 2 miles, much less eight minutes; especially if you give it 2 o or 3 minutes warmup time in the garage before you hit the road.....

 

As i have just turned 50 i will try and give you my answer s granpa dino.

Flooding is a non issue as it only occurs when starting and stopping a cold engine ,

GAUREENTED that although your work may be only 8 minutes away misteriously it will take you 30 minutes to get there as you will love driving your RX8 .

I also love my conveniences but MANUAL 6 SPEED is the only way to go .

"Growing old is mandatory growing up is optional"

Michael

 

Have you had any problems with flooding because you had valet parking and someone had to move the car quickly and didn't warm it up properly?

 

there has been speculation and concern, but I haven't seen anyone yet who said this actually happened to them. A couple people said their own Mazda service dept flooded the engine moving the car short distances and of course, they fixed it on the spot (mighta taken a day to get the spark plugs in.) For valet, I definitely wouldn't take it to the kinda lot where they need to move one car to get another out. That is asking for trouble.

BTW, I'm 45, love the 6-spd, actually let my brother drive it on his 51st birthday, he loved it. Stalled at a light cuz he forgot to clutch (sign of advanced age? He's not used to stick.) You're only as young as you feel, and driving the m/t '8 will make you feel young. That's precisely why I got it.

 

As this car gets so much attention i would not let anyone drive or park it for me .

However if you do let the valet park it for you the engine when you get to your destination will be warmed up so NO problem as when you leave just place a note that if car is moved to make sure engine is wamed up .(or tell them once engine cools down NOT TO MOVE CAR WHITOUT WARMING ENGINE FOR 1 MINUTE THATS ALL IT TAKES IN AVERAGE WEATHER IN SNOW MAYBE 3 MINUTES .




As far as i am concerned Flooding is a non issue .

MPG IS A BIGGER ISSUE .BUT THE FUN FACTOR OUT WEIGHTS EVERYTHING ELSE.

"Dont worry be happy "

"Tommorow is promised to NO ONE ",

So if you like the car go out and get it , read your manual and know your car and it will serve you well.

MICHAEL

 

Since you live in San Diego (this is just by reputation) you shouldn't have to worry about the flooding issue since it hardly ever gets cold there.

 

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about the flooding issue. I would suggest warming up the car a feww minutes before you drive it.

Just remember, for every person whos RX8 has flooded, there are many more RX-8's that have never flooded.

 

Gandpa Dino:

I'm 40 and went with the automatic principally so that my wife would be able to drive the car. It's also nice to be able to allow my friends to drive it, which they couldn't do with the MT.

My wife flooded the car last week. It's hardly the "non-issue" that some have suggested. As of tomorrow, I will have been without my car 6 days (due to the holiday). There is apparently a hotter spark plug available. We'll see if (1) the service department puts it in; and (2) it helps the problem. People are telling me Mazda will pay for the service, so I'm not crazy upset... just a bit itchy to get my baby back. This is hardly a reason to not buy the car, but certainly one to put on the balance sheet when comparing it to other "less finicky" engines. There's quite a lot to recommend the RENESIS over other engines, as I am sure you've read, but they do tend to flood.

If you are considering the AT, remember that there is an auto-"sport" transmission, meaning it works entirely automatically or can me moved through the gears from the center console or paddles on the wheel. It is hardly like having a clutch and stick, but it's great fun. Surprisingly, the AT also has a tiny bit more torque than the MT, so you can console yourself with that if you go with the AT.

The early press releases on the RENESIS engine said the RX-8 "can achieve a respectable 8.3L/100km (34mpg)." No one is saying that anymore, and fuel economy has been disappointing. The U.S. EPA sticker on the AT downgraded the early information and now says 18/25mpg -- I believe the MT is 18/24mpg. People seem to generally be getting between 15-20 mpg in the real world with a few having real problems in the 11-14mpg range. My AT gets between 17 and 19, depending on whether I'm using the "sport" transmission feature.

I hate it when people say that the car "burns" oil; it is designed to use oil in the normal operation. You need to check your oil level every other fill up to be safe. Not a big deal, but not fun in the freezing cold either. Of course, you don't have that problem being in SD. Also, you won't need winter tires. I'm jealous, jealous, jealous...

Canzoomer's mod which increases HP on the MT will not work with the AT car, so it may be a long time (perhaps never) before the AT gets the HP it was designed to have. If you want to mod your car, that's definitely something to consider. For me, considering how new the car is, I'm happy to let the MT people experiment with their vehicles first. Technically, the mod voids the warranty, although I tend to trust Canzoomer... he seems like he's putting in a great deal of effort. Another point to consider.

Now that my wife has hurt the car, I doubt she'll ever drive it again (her choice, not mine), so I suppose my reason for getting the AT has evaporated. Still, I'm hardly unhappy with my choice in either buying the RX-8 or getting the AT. I really enjoy allowing my friends to drive it and most could not do so if I had bought the MT. I've put 2000 miles on the car in 6 weeks without ever driving it to somewhere I actually had to go. It really is big fun to drive.

I've focused on the negatives. Take a look at the Top Gear Review if you want to talk yourself into buying the RX-8, particularly the MT. It's the most positive review of the RX-8 ever.

Good luck!

 

I do live in SD and my car is in the shop right now for flooding. They had to order the plugs, so kept it over the weekend. They're also changing the oil pan and the sealant has to cure so it'll probably be Tuesday before I get my car back.

BTW, I did not shut down cold prior to flooding. I just arrived home from my 500 mile trip to sunnyvale, shut down, next morning it wouldn't start. it was 40 degrees that night, but it was garaged so somewhat warmer indoors. Very strange.

 

LOL, this is precisely why I got M/T so I wouldn't have to share. :D I have offered to teach her stick, but she doesn't seem too interested just yet. And no way are my friends driving it.

Ok, I agree flooding is not a non-issue at the moment it's happening to you. But in the big picture, throughout the universe of all RX-8's, flooding is just not a huge problem. Per the poll of "Who has flooded more than once" we've only got like 2-3 people in this entire forum who have flooded more than once. It's either the new spark plugs or they're being more careful, but somehow finding a way to avoid the problem.

 

There's a McDonalds that's 2 miles away from my house. I've stopped there plenty of times in my wopping 1 month of ownership. That trip hasn't flooded it. If it's cold outside, I simply drive a gear lower than normal to warm the engine that much quicker. Not much else in the price range that meets the "8"'s praticiality/fun balance!

 

On flooding, my wife flooded her 2000 Accord one week after she had it. It happens.

I did have two first gen RX-7's, and I just learned how not to flood them each. My '84 would flood if it was cold, and I let go of the key before it had finished turning over, or if I gave it gas while turning the key. It would end up starting after it sat for five minutes, or if I used a can of starter spay I think.

 

How do you flood a 2000 accord? I thought that ended with EFI?

 

Me too!

Funny, it used to take me 40 minutes to get to work in the Miata, now only 30!