MintyFresh

How come we dont even get a Trip computer in the 8 or am i missing something. If fact there's not much electroni wizardry at all. A friend just bought an Peugot 307 thats absolutely packed with stuff.

Tigster

There is a trip computer, it is right below the odometer and the reset button is up towards the top of the gauge. What other electronics do you want, it also depends on what model you got.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

in fact the 8 has TWO trip computers. Check out that thing that came with your car called the manual.

MintyFresh

Yeah, i dont mean the A & B thing that simply says how far you've traveled since you last zeroed it, i mean a real computer that calculates MPG etc.

Not that i'd ever buy one, but the 307 has some really cool features like auto-diming rearview mirror, wipers that come on automatically when it rains, bluetooth that docks and integrates your mobile phone with the sound system etc etc

The only thing it doesnt have is a screaming 9500rpm 250 bhp engine !!

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

if you'd rather have those electronic gadgets than driving one of the most fun to drive car on the road today, you may have bought the wrong car....

Tigster

Most everything you named will add weight to the car, I know they are nice features but at the end of the day this is a sports car and weight is the enemy! Who cares about mpg, go have fun. Besides at 9000 rpms the mpg gague would just say "haha"

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

^more like 'omgwtflol'

guy321

Rx8's have this.. atleast some models do.

Krankor

I just wrote a rant about useless featurism on the 8 vs. BMW thread. You just brought up an excellent example: auto-dimming rearview mirror. What a dim-witted feature. My 8 has it, and I HATE it. One of the extremely few things on the 8 that I hate. For all it's ooooo-high-tech gadgetry extra $$$ gee-whizness, IT DOESN'T WORK AS WELL AS THE OLD FASHIONED MANUAL ONE. It takes it longer to decide when to dim than my brain does, but stuck with this thing, there's nothing I can do when I want it dimmer than it is. The good old-fashioned manual one, you just flick a switch and, boom, instant dimming, just what I wanted. With the gee-whiz auto one, I have to just suffer until it gets around to deciding what I should want.

And why? What was the point of this gadget, with its extra cost, extra weight, extra complexity? To save you from the *gasp* horror of having to actually *shudder* flick a switch.

You know, in the Jetsons, the running joke was George coming home complaining about another hard day of pushing a button. These days, people seem to take that seriously, as if pushing a button is such a great burden.

Ok, trip computer, I can see it, but expensive gadgets to save you from *pushing a button*... just nonsense.

End rant.

Krankor
05 Shinka with gears you actually have to shift yourself, perish the thought

Tigster

I have the auto dim mirror in my FX35 I like it. For the 8 I want as light as possible as I said above it is a sports car not a luxury car that is why I have the old "flip up" mirror in the 8.

Tirminyl

I do kinda wish the 8 had something like a programmable rpm shift beep or light, mpg calc, tire pressure reader and oil level reader kinda like the Z does. Maybe integrate it with the NAV unit.

Astral

The trip computer would be nice: average MPG, average trip MPH (my friend's VW had this), so you can track whether you're going fast enough... that would be nice.

Y&Y

I'd like mine with a toaster, TV, Bathroom, a bed would be nice, a kitchen. Oh wait, that would make it a motor home. :p

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

I think some people are misssing the point -

- most of the electronics exist anyway, so these features, useful or not, would add zero complexity or weight.

Do I have to bring up the auto climate control to remind everyone? The motors are there, the computer is ready, even the display has the redundant icons, just sitting there, taunting....

The computer is already working out the instantaneous fuel use and the optimum fuel use/speed ratios - it just keeps the results to itself. A trip computer function would at least give that crappy red "digital watch" display something real to do!

It's the waste of potential that pisses me off. Rant over.
(Thanksgiving THIS, M.N.A.O!!)

S

Paul_in_DC

My trip computer is a $5 calculator, so I don't need a custom-made $200 one mounted. Then there's the ABS for brakes, the TCS for traction control and the DSC for stability control. The TPMS for tracking tire pressure really surprised me - I never knew such a thing existed. I went ahead and got the GPS navigation system thinking it would be a marginally useful toy; now I can't see how I ever lived without it, especially in city driving.

Mine also came with the auto-dimming mirror. It's a "Good idea, briefs well, but executes poorly." I may eventually replace it with a manual one.

The one electronic thing I would like for racing Autocross is a heads-up display for RPM and speed. Being able to disable the DSC is a major advantage there.

You say there's not much electronic wizardry? I think there's plenty.

Go48

Let's put this in perspective guys. This is not a $70K Porsche 911 loaded with gadgets, it's a $30K Mazda with more value for the buck than you will find in any comparable sports car. The RX-8 is a quality-built vehicle that handle like a dream, has knockout styling, is a practical people-mover, it accelerates well and extremely smoothly, goes as fast as the majority of drivers would ever think of driving, and it only costs ~$30K USD. Sure, certain additional gadgets would be nice--climate control included--but for the money I'll live with what came on the car.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

There are plenty o' gadgets on this car. MPG computer? Not necessary. Auto dimming mirror? Kinda useless but I like the Homelink feature. Weight savings between a regular mirror and the auto dimmer? You're kidding, right? Negligible.

Nubo

I got yer trip computer right here....

StewC625

All that electronic cripcrap is worth exactly nothing. You want that ****, go buy that Nissan. You want a unique, hand-built high performance engine that produces more horsepower for it's physical size than anything other than a gas turbine, and sounds cooler than anything, and is in a spectacular, but affordable package? Buy the RX-8.

Hyperborea

Besides if the RX-8 had a MPG computer it would shock most people too much.

juikster

I'm loving this thread............"need more input"(crappy robotics)

Tirminyl

For everyone complaining about it is fine without it and thats its an stupid idea your nav is just as useless and your rotary accent package, as well as your leather seats, aero bits, fog lights, and any other stupid thing you add to the car. So seriously, it's options people would like for their car. If you don't like it then good for you.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

juikster

yep, thats my robo friend, thanks Mugatu for the fine pic.........

Gerael

I personally love the auto dim mirror.... works so good... never have to adjust it....

maybe once in a while some noob hummer with hid or something may pull up.. but then i just put right foot down... and poof they're magically gone..

also... a nice gadget to get would be teh gtech pro... i have the normal gtech.. but its kinda out dated...