I've been using a topside oil extractor (http://www.mytoolstore.com/astro/asthan11.html) for a while now. It drains all the oil from a BMW 540i and all but one quart from an S2000. I tried it on an RX-8 last weekend.

Drove the RX-8 home, shut it off and let it sit for ten minutes while I did other things. The dipstick measured halfway so I was down half a quart. Used the topsider and got just under 4 quarts of oil out. Considering a standard oil change is supposed to get 3.5 quarts I thought that was pretty good. I replaced the four quarts, idled the car for five minutes, then tried to drain the oil again. (Another nice thing about the topsider is you know exactly how much oil you took out, so you have a good idea of how much to put back in.)

This time just under two quarts of oil came out. I wasn't sure if draining immediately after shutting the engine off made a difference so I waited ten minutes then tried again. I couldn't get any more oil out.

I'll have to wait until the next oil change to try again, but at this point it seems like the topsider will work well with an RX-8. Since the oil filter is up top it means you can change the oil and filter without having to get under the car. I'm not sure why I could only get two quarts out the second time though. :confused:
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LovelyWendie (http://www.lovelywendie99.com/)

Since the oil filter is up top it means you can change the oil and filter without having to get under the car.

Changed my oil & filter this weekend, and did not have to get under the car, or jack up the car to get to the drain plug. I was able to reach it from the passenger side with no problems.

Use of a socket-type filter wrench bought at Wally World took the filter off with 3/8" ratchet and (2) extensions.

Noticed on the Mazda filter I took off it said to tighten to 3/4 turn beyond contact, while the new Mazda oil filter stated 1-1/6 turn after making contact.

30 minute job, and put in 4 quarts of 5W-20 Castrol.