into the 4th year of ownership. Hard to believe we have been together for 3 years now. Expected to have surpassed the 46,000 miles driven during this timeframe, however business trips kept me in rental cars more than normal. Still, with the 3 years of ownership, including the miles on the clock, let’s share with the masses our experiences.

Here are the mods. Not done in the order of completion, but listed in the order that provided the most performance impact:
ACT Flywheel & MazdaSpeed Clutch (best mod for the money)
Racing Beat Front & Rear Sway Bars
Michelin Pilot Sport 2 meats
Richard Paul Short Shifter
Racing Beat Spring
Redline Tranny & Differential Oil

The mods that did not improve performance, yet are appealing in their own way. Again, in order of appeal:
Racing Beat Cat-Back Exhaust
Racing Beat REVi Intake
6 CD Changer
Fog Light rewire
Hymee Enhanced SCANalyser
EvoR Eyelids
EvoR Painted Trunk Spoiler
Side Strakes

The ‘Blue Pearl’ has been to the dealer every 5,000 miles for service. I have spent nilch for service, because of the “Free Maintenance for 50,000 miles for keeping your car when the horsepower ratings were re-adjusted after buying your car” ordeal. None of my mods have voided my warranty. The dealer has performed all flashes (up to May 2006), and the following minor repairs, all under warranty:
Replaced broke Center Console Lid Hinges
Replaced cracked Temperature Control ****
Replaced Starter & Battery (slow start condition TSB)
Replaced front & rear Brake Pads (squeaking TSB)
Installed Air Conditioner Resister (A/C not blowing cold TSB)

What else is planned?
Supercharger (2007 ?)
Mechanical Oil Temp & Pressure, Water Temp Gauges (2006)
High Flow Cat (2006)
Oil Vent mod to reduce carbon build-up within Intake (2 weeks)

What I would like to see changed:
Larger gas tank
Gas Gauge rewire – drive 75+ miles before gauge moves from Fill instead of driving just 20 miles (psychological effect)
Redline light & buzzer volume control (can’t hear buzzer)
4 spoke Steering Wheel (I like to hold wheel at bottom during cruising)
Real working Water Temp & Oil Gauges


Used 91 name brand octane for the first 10,000 miles. Since has been 87 Shell. The dealer uses 5W-20 dino at 5,000 mile intervals. In between I change the filter & oil using 5W-30 dino, so she gets changed every 2,500 miles. Switching to Redline or Royal Purple synthetic as soon as the free oil changes are over at the dealership.

No rattles, no floods, no dead batteries, no abnormal wear, no leaks, one CEL – P0420 (corrected by early TSB).

If this RX-8 was totaled or stolen, would I buy another one? It depends. Back in 2002, I spent many hours researching the choices. At that time, the RX-8 was the best for me in the price range I could afford. Now with the Blue Pearl paid for, I could actually afford the Corvette Z06, which I drove hard a few weeks back, and was mightily impressed in many areas.

There are other American made offerings now that were not available three years ago. The Mustang & the Charger both have nice lines. With the last child leaving for college next month, the need for 4 seats is not as great like I needed back then. That opens up considerations like the Honda S2000 or new Mazda MX-5 for the same or lower price than a new RX-8.

Consideration of something other than an RX-8 is not heresy. Being a realist, needs & wants can change. So let’s ask the question a different way – Would I trade in my RX-8 for something else? Not likely. Quite doubtful actually. I am having more fun than I deserve owning this beautiful driving machine. After all this time I still look forward to driving her, and always look back at her after parking.

And the icing on the cake has been the people I’ve met because of this car. The highest order of quality humankind rests within the RX-8 community. Many Georgia RX-8 Club members consists of those I call my friends, even though I cannot attend most of their functions. Meeting members of the RX-Evolve RX-8 group in Chicago a few weeks back solidified the camaraderie amongst RX-8 owners. Rotorheads come in many age ranges, and I like them all.

Having Hymee visit my home twice & talk about his efforts rank high. And he just happens to be such a nice guy too. He is the real deal. Remember snap-on? What a wealth of knowledge. Look forward to our paths crossing again. And having dinner with Zoom 44 & his family showed me why he is the guru on our boards. He is well connected with those that matter. Thanks Charles Hill for helping with the flywheel install, and your continued efforts to exploit the possibilities of our rides.

I’ve owned a Corvette for 25 years. I’ve owned the RX-8 for 3 years. Vette owners, as a rule, are snobs. RX-8 owners are, as a rule, the best type of people on mother Earth. So thanks RX-8 Club, you help make the car what it is.

 

Nice write up, thanks...Oh, by the way..Not all Vette owners are snobs..

 

Wait so are you selling the car? Thread title would make you believe so....allthough it seems you want to keep it and grab another ride. Either way glad to hear yu've had a good almost 4 years....this year has been awesome with my 8 =)....and yes 8 owners are just lovely

 

i usually don't read whole post when they start to drag or repeat, but that was an excellent right up and a good thread post.

 

hey, you're not leaving us are you??? and when we just met you too!!! whether you keep the 8, sell the 8, whatever ... you will always be part of the chicago family!!!!



i knew that drive you did up here had to have made your wheels start turning thinking "new car , new car , new car" !!!

 

1440 Posts in 3 1/2 years...!?! What a puss!
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But seriously...

I (we) hope you'll come back and visit us every so often.
I've enjoyed reading your post's over the years.

As a final note...
I own a 67 and a 68 rag-top (since 1985) and I'm not (much of) a snob...
I admit that I've met my share of Vette and 8 owners that DO fit into this category.

 

If GM could get off their butt and if their bean counters would allow them to produce the Camaro in a close-to-the-show-car-protoype style, there will be another contender. Not that I am going to run out and buy one, but if I were in the market and the Camaro is as nice in person as the pictures, it will give Mustang sales a lot of trouble.

 

it was good to meet you too really i hope you dont sell it yet and that you wait and get that supercharger itll be worth it!!

 

Don't worry -- this RX-8 is quite happy with the original owner, so I'm not going anywhere. She (the RX-8) is anxious to be force fed.

V Vette & EyeBall Fixer,
A pleasure to meet some owners with class!!

 

Thanks for the shout-out!

 

I've been here for 3 years and am barely above 1440... what's your point?

 

Ihave noticed, when in the vett, vetts wave RX8s don't. When in the RX8, RX8s,RX7 and MX5s wave, vetts don't. I would not consider myself a snob. I'll wave at anybody.

p.s. My avitar has my RX8 at the NCM with my wife's and brother in law's Verts.

John

 

Nice post. Nothing wrong with wanting something different, but it looks like you are content, and FI can always rekindle the love affair.

For me, either I'm just figuring out that the latest isn't always the greatest, or no manufacturer is doing anything really different that has me craving anything new. Thats odd for me, as I have switched for a new bike or car nearly every year.

 

Ja, there are alot of new cars that are out and especially new ones that will be out.

However i think the 8 is a keeper.

Just need to find room for another car.

 

I am considering getting a 2003 JDM 8, but really worry about the reliability of the car. After reading your posting, it seem really convincing to get one.

 

I would suggest you not worry about reliability. The percentages are quite low that it will be an issue.

But the likelihood of you having an awesome time driving & being seen in your RX-8 is quite close to 100%

 

But all Porsche owner are.

 

I ran into a snobby C6 Z06 owner at the track. What a moron.

 

Ha...was just thinking of that story!


Nice write-up Eightr.

 

A happy owner after 3 years, that's good to see. I just sold mine after 3 years and was glad to see it go. I've never had a car at the dealer so many times. I went to 3 dealers to see if they could fix the problems I was having (high oil consumption, rough idle, awful mileage, and more. The dealers were the worst I have ever seen. Bad dealers are OK, except with this car you are there every month with a new problem, so you really notice. The new owner of the car is an experienced rotary owner, so maybe he won't mind all these problems. He certainly got a good deal, I tried for months and practically gave the car away. Selling these cars in New England is just about impossible. This is my first and last rotary and first and last Mazda. I still love the way the car looks and the way it handles, but the engineers just didn't spend enough time getting the mechanics right.

Have fun with your cars guys.

 

First and last rotary, and first and last Mazda? That's a bit harsh. High oil consumption? How high? More then 1 quart per 1000 miles? If not, you had nothing to worry about. Until something like 20:1 oil:gas ratio, it won't cause a problem. I would hope you didn't buy the car thinking it didn't burn oil.

And meh...the engineers have nothing to do with the problems you are having. Poor maintenence, unreliable dealers, etc. are the root of your problems. Or, it could be possible you got one of the few "problematic" cars....which...come from every car manufacturer. Mechanically, the rotary engine is a symbol of perfect engineering..


Rough idle, sure, the dealer should have been able to fix. Awful mileage...I point to your right foot. I get horrible gas mileage, but I drive it hard. I really hope you don't plan on buying a car that can make you grin, and expect to get good gas mileage.

 

srm858 --
you mentioned as specific issues: high oil consumption, rough idle, awful mileage

Here is my experience in these areas ---
I have never added any oil between oil changes. This could be because I change my oil every 2500 miles, however my dipstick does not show a quart low at oil change time.

Rough idle has not happened to me under any circumstance

The EPA rating is 14 mpg city, 24 mpg highway. I average 22.84 mpg with 80% highway. My RX-8 has acheived 24.4 mpg with 100% highway @ 74 mph.

Hate to hear your RX-8 was not like mine.

 

Yes, I could have bought a "problematic car". I used a quart every 3500 miles for the first 18k miles. Then the dealer did a new flash and after that, the oil usage went to 800 miles per quart and it idled roughly. I commented on the rough idle when I picked up the car, but the mechanic said he just did the flash and it shouldn't affect the idle.

I changed the oil every 5k miles with Castrol and I take extremely good car of my cars.

My mileage never got above 20 mpg, even with just easy highway driving. It usually got about 17. I never beat on it and even tried a few times to really baby it to get max mpg. It didn't make much difference. Add to this, the false low oil light fix, AC fix, multiple "flashes", recalls, 2 flooding incidents (I had the car a month, the dealer towed it and charged me $300 to fix it!), "free" 50k mile service that the dealer said only covered oil changes nothing else, rattling sunroof, the list goes on. I've never had a car that required so much attention. 2 months before I sold it, I brought it to a new dealer and he promptly backed another car into it and it was at the body shop for 2 weeks.

Good riddence to the RX8 and again, it's my last Mazda. By the way, I'm not a kid who doesn't know a thing about cars. I'm 48 and have rebuild several engines and have had my Fiat for 14 years and my VW Passat for 7 years. Both combined had less trouble over their lives than the RX8 did in 1 year.

 

hahaha, way to rub it in, lol

 

sorry to see you go