Signing out of msn, I find the "MSN 2005 Best Sellers" ad.. clicking on it leads to a page where they reveal their best sellers.

Well..

"2005 CANADIAN BEST-SELLERS BY THEIR CATEGORY"

Sports Car
Best-selling nameplate: Ford Mustang
First runner-up: Subaru Impreza
Second runner-up: Mini Cooper S

NOTE: RX-8 is NOT listed above.


+++++


Luxury Sports Car
Best-selling nameplate: Mazda RX-8
Runner-up (tie): Chevrolet Corvette
Second runner-up: Chrysler Crossfire



RX-8 is a luxury sports car.. tie-ing with Corvette! WOAH!!

 

This is for the Canadian version of MSN Autos... not that it matters!

 

Yeah...that's strange...lol

 

Its saying that the build quality is above the mustangs (not hard to do) and wrx's thus it qualifies as luxury...maybe?

 

The build quality is not that good on the 8

 

I STILL LOVE MY 8 THOUGH!!!!

 

Build quality of the mustang consistently ranks ahead of the RX8. They are in different categories, but saying the Mustang has poor build quality shows a lack of knowledge in the actual data regarding the car. The Mustang GT is quicker, rides better, and has better resale value (at least at this point). The RX8 is clearly better handling, but it has worse wind noise than my 1978 Ford Econoline had when I was in college. Still like my RX8, but getting sick of people assuming it has better build quality than domestics just because its Japanese.

 

But its true!
It has a better built.

 

ok fanboi.

In the last 5 years I've owned 3 Fords and 1 Mazda (my RX8) out of the 4 cars, the Mazda has been the worst of the bunch as far as rattles, blown speaker, squeeky breaks and needing a jump start after sitting for 4 days. The 3 Fords I owned never had a single problem.....granted, I never owned them for more than a year.....but so far the RX8 only has 4,700 miles on it and it's been to the dealer 3 times!!!!

The people that complain about domestics either haven't driven one for at least 3 years or had one bad experience.

 

The RX8 seems pretty hit and miss as far as quality. I just hit 12k miles, and have no rattles, speakers sound fine, and the only real noise I have is tire noise because the OEM tires suck.

I've had the car sit over a week while gone on business no problems starting, doesn't burn a whole lot of oil, brakes don't squeek, I just have nothing to bitch about as far as build quality. (hope it stays that way).

 

Personally, I don't put too much stock in the term build quality. I believe all cars respond differently with different drivers in different environments. As far as imports being better built than domestics, I believe there is some unspoken notion that US auto makers don't really stand behind there products as much. I think alot of Americans have trouble with there cars and they sometimes have a "front man" at the dealer who doesn't treat them the way they'd like and they lose a loyal customer everytime that happens. I know that's not the only factor and I'm not saying that import dealers are any better, but they at least have the resale value edge. By that, I'm referring to Toyota, Honda, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc.

Personally, I would not buy an "American" car that's currently on the market. Every "American" car that I've owned gave me the feeling that it was rushed out the factory door. I love my RX-8 mainly because it handles well, among other things. I can deal with the gas mileage and the attention it demands. It also happens to start with a basic warranty that ends at 50K miles or 48 months. I think you'd have to buy a $40K auto in the US to get that type of warranty. Come on America, stand behind your product!

But to each his own.....I am one who does believe that the RX-8 is a better overall vehicle than the Mustang. I also believe that you'd honestly have to buy a Vette to get anything to compete with the overal driving experience that the 8 offers. I've had my 8 for a year now and I have yet to hear one rattle, squeak, or any abnormal noise from the smooth ride. Now, I know some may not agree, but that's why we have this forum. LOL!

#518!

 

The rattles didn't appear until December (I live in Michigan). The speaker issue really ticked me off because I don't blast the volume or the bass. I have the Bose system and I wonder if that is some of the problem. The day I had to jump it was after sitting 4 days in 20deg F weather..... and that was annoying also because the car is new. Brakes just started squeaking in the last 2 weeks....not sure what that is about.

I agree with the oil burning though.....I check it every two fill-ups and rarely need more than a few ounces. I think that Mazda builds cars for the southern US weather....because no one in the south appears to have any complaints.

But my real point is that just because the car is built in Japan or by a Japanese company does not automatically mean it's superior to domestic products.....in fact in my experience it's been the opposite.

 

Well, just to clarify and avoid any heat that gets directed towards me, I am not claiming that imports are better than domestics or vice-versa. I say to each his own.
I have personally owned 2 imports and 1 domestic: all 3 have been nice cars...

I like mustangs.. but i love rx8s.