Just got my May issue of Top Gear magazine....it's imported from the U.K. so I get it late. :)

Anyway, they had a little blurb on the RX-8. Here it is:

"This year's survey saw the rotary-engined Mazda beat its nemesis, the Nissan 350z, by six places - which can only be good news for RX-8 owners...but there's a twist.
Of all RX-8 owners quizzed in the survey, 27 percent of them said that their cars had broken down, against just three percent of 350z owners. So how exactly did Mazda come out on top then? Well, dispite questions over engine reliability, owners loved the build quality, highly rated the car's spaciousness and like the service they received from their dealers.
The RX-8 also scored low in the fuel economy section, but that didn't stop owners racking up the miles - they just loved driving it. In fact, 85 percent of owners would have another, against 69 percent of 350z owners. Even despite the odd breakdown."

I was happy to see some more press on the car in this mag.

Doesn't surprise me at all. Thank God for Brits, Europeans—not to mention auto journalists the world over—who really know cars. And get it.

That breakdown percentage is worrying though. I wonder what percentage of that was flooding and owner neglect. Either way, that ain't good.

Could you list the cars that beat the 8 in order. would appreciate very much

holy shit! 27%! that is super high.

"like the service they received from their dealers."

Wtf?

^ America needs to take this lesson^

Doesn't surprise me at all. Thank God for Brits, Europeans—not to mention auto journalists the world over—who really know cars. And get it.

EXACTLY......

no matter how quirky the car is, real fanatics cant stop driving it! look at how many would buy again!!!!!


the breakdowns were prolly 90% from flooding so they chalk that up to engine reliability but i chalk it up to dumbass owners

Doesn't surprise me at all. Thank God for Brits, Europeans—not to mention auto journalists the world over—who really know cars. And get it.

What a joke. I love how people are so insecure they have to put everyone else down saying they "don't get it" just to feel good about their purchase.

The only reason it was ranked high in the UK despite it's piss poor reliability is because the people were happy with the service received. Unfortunately, Mazda dealers in America are atrocious.

There's nothing to "get". The car has poor fuel economy, bad reliability, and terrible service departments backing it up. If you think that's worth the fun that the car is to drive good for you. Just because the rest of America tends not to agree with you doesn't mean they're not "getting" something.

10 bucks says saturn boy has a 4 port auto and has flooded it 12 times so far......

What a joke. I love how people are so insecure they have to put everyone else down saying they "don't get it" just to feel good about their purchase.

The only reason it was ranked high in the UK despite it's piss poor reliability is because the people were happy with the service received. Unfortunately, Mazda dealers in America are atrocious.

There's nothing to "get". The car has poor fuel economy, bad reliability, and terrible service departments backing it up. If you think that's worth the fun that the car is to drive good for you. Just because the rest of America tends not to agree with you doesn't mean they're not "getting" something.

From what I assumed his comment meant, he was aiming for how in america, in most situations the car that can go faster by stepping on the gas and going in a straight line is the better car for performance, but drivers over there appreciate all aspects of performance. Generally speaking, that would be accurate I believe though I've taken no official survey

That was just a blurb in part of the mag. I'll try to dig up the other cars that beat out the 8.

There's nothing to "get". The car has poor fuel economy, bad reliability, and terrible service departments backing it up. If you think that's worth the fun that the car is to drive good for you. Just because the rest of America tends not to agree with you doesn't mean they're not "getting" something.

Eh, my 04's been reliable and my service department is excellent. Despite 18mpg, I've put on about 30k miles in just 2 years or so, just so addicting....so bah 2 u, while I continue to pwn n00bz in teh twisti3z.


27% Breakdown? Hfs. I really hope that was a just a terrible sample...and what does breakdown mean? Flooding? The flooding has been worked out by Mazda...what else could be severe enough to say it brokedown? People who had their engines replaced under the recall didn't 'breakdown'.

I don't understand how Euros can live with a gas guzzling car like the 8 with their fuel prices....

Did you ever see how expensive gas is in the UK?

Smiles per gallon it's called :) However, I'm looking for info on a poss LPG conversion.....Any takers??? paddyosullivan@lycos.co.uk please

What a joke. I love how people are so insecure they have to put everyone else down saying they "don't get it" just to feel good about their purchase.

The only reason it was ranked high in the UK despite it's piss poor reliability is because the people were happy with the service received. Unfortunately, Mazda dealers in America are atrocious.

There's nothing to "get". The car has poor fuel economy, bad reliability, and terrible service departments backing it up. If you think that's worth the fun that the car is to drive good for you. Just because the rest of America tends not to agree with you doesn't mean they're not "getting" something.

Saturn does not own a Mazda or RX-8...

IF the RX-8's "piss poor reliability" was so bad it would reflect in Mazda's World-Wide reliability and quality surveys where they are ranked number 1 or 2....
except the USA of course...engine flooding really has nothing to do with reliability, more of the owners ignorance and 'quirks' of the rotary engine.
I do not care how much one thinks they know about rotaries trying to "compare" the engine to piston types or your existing car is a no brainer....as I have said before if you can not handle adding engine oil because it is normal, or understand that the cars fuel economy is like that of a large six or small V8, and an engine that is meant to REV for 'performance'....then do not buy one!

IF the RX-8's "piss poor reliability" was so bad it would reflect in Mazda's World-Wide reliability and quality surveys where they are ranked number 1 or 2....
except the USA of course...engine flooding really has nothing to do with reliability, more of the owners ignorance and 'quirks' of the rotary engine.
I do not care how much one thinks they know about rotaries trying to "compare" the engine to piston types or your existing car is a no brainer....as I have said before if you can not handle adding engine oil because it is normal, or understand that the cars fuel economy is like that of a large six or small V8, and an engine that is meant to REV for 'performance'....then do not buy one!

I'm fine with that logic, but who says the same isn't true for every other car ever made? Maybe it's just a bunch of idiots roaming around in their 350Z's not adding oil, etc. It's too easy to just try and explain away any inconvenient stat that you hear and it comes off like blind favoritism.

Any time someone criticizes the reliability of the 8 in a tangible study they either claim that the institution providing the study is corrupt or that they sampled idiots who don't know basic maintenance. I just don't understand why that's acceptable logic to most peopole around here.

I think what this survey really conveys is the huge differential of Mazda's service quality between the US and the rest of the world. I'm pretty sure most of us already knew that.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/tiggerlee/peek.gif

I'm fine with that logic, but who says the same isn't true for every other car ever made? Maybe it's just a bunch of idiots roaming around in their 350Z's not adding oil, etc. It's too easy to just try and explain away any inconvenient stat that you hear and it comes off like blind favoritism.

Any time someone criticizes the reliability of the 8 in a tangible study they either claim that the institution providing the study is corrupt or that they sampled idiots who don't know basic maintenance. I just don't understand why that's acceptable logic to most peopole around here.

I think what this survey really conveys is the huge differential of Mazda's service quality between the US and the rest of the world. I'm pretty sure most of us already knew that.

with any data source you have to question the credibility and what the criteria are for each rating. Asking for a breakdown or explanation is just good statistical analysis instead of just blindly accepting the interpretation of the stats presented

What were the top 10?

the breakdowns were prolly 90% from flooding so they chalk that up to engine reliability but i chalk it up to dumbass owners

False.

I have owned many brand new cars. The RX-8 was the least reliable of them.

Stalling while idling at stop lights, not starting on the first try. crappy mileage in the winter.

It happened to be ECU tuning, and nothing mechanical, but unreliable all the same.

False.

I have owned many brand new cars. The RX-8 was the least reliable of them.

Stalling while idling at stop lights, not starting on the first try. crappy mileage in the winter.

It happened to be ECU tuning, and nothing mechanical, but unreliable all the same.

Would you consider that poor engine reliability (like the one in their survey)

Would you consider that poor engine reliability (like the one in their survey)

I dunno.

Do flooding and ECU tunes, stalling, failing to start, and poor winter mileage have anything to do with the engine?

I'd say yeah.

I don't reckon they had a section on "ECU" for reliability. Engine probably covers it.

I also hear a lot "You must have got a lemon".

Well, 26% of owners must have acquired lemons. At some point it stops being somebody buying a lemon and starts being a chronic problem.

It isn't nearly as bad as the FD, as most of the RX-8's problems aren't requiring engine rebuilds.... but it is still not very good.

I dunno.

Do flooding and ECU tunes, stalling, failing to start, and poor winter mileage have anything to do with the engine?

I'd say yeah.

I don't reckon they had a section on "ECU" for reliability. Engine probably covers it.

I also hear a lot "You must have got a lemon".

Well, 26% of owners must have got lemons.

Well flooding can easily be prevented and you admit that you would consider that poor engine reliability. I know my friend floods his once a year but readily admits that it's his fault for moving the car out of the driveway in the winter and shutting off when the engine is cold.

You know all mileage goes down in the winter right? It just so happens we already start with poor mileage.

Well flooding can easily be prevented and you admit that you would consider that poor engine reliability. I know my friend floods his once a year but readily admits that it's his fault for moving the car out of the driveway in the winter and shutting off when the engine is cold.

You know all mileage goes down in the winter right? It just so happens we already start with poor mileage.

I can't think of any other new car that has the flooding problem that the rx-8 has.

I also have never seen another owner's manual that actually plainly states that "If your car doesn't start the first time you turn the ignition, turn the crank for 10 seconds, turn it off, and try to start again"

And all mileage goes down in the winter. But there are no other 210 (yeah, flamebait) horsepower cars (that I can think of) that such a large number of owners that complain about getting 10 miles per gallon.

Yeah, the rx-8 gets crappy mileage. But crappy would be 18-24. 10-12 is abysmal, and far more common than it should be.

The engine is unique. Reliable, probably not. And I really think a lot of the issues were working out the ECU tuning.. But this still doesn't explain how so many other people are experiencing reliability/mileage issues.

In my STI (which is all wheel drive and with lots more power), I regularly get 17mpg in the winter, heck, when I push it, I can even get 15. Which is less than the 18-24 the window sticker says. I expect it. I wasn't pushing it when I got 11 miles per gallon in the '8.

But the cycle continues.

Lots of rx-8 owners refuse to admit that there are any issues at all, because they either 1) don't have them or 2) think the issues are worth it for rx-8 ownership.

This survey reflects that, I think.

I still really like the rx-8. I wish I could own a (reliable) rx-8.

I can't think of any other new car that has the flooding problem that the rx-8 has.

I also have never seen another owner's manual that actually plainly states that "If your car doesn't start the first time you turn the ignition, turn the crank for 10 seconds, turn it off, and try to start again"

And all mileage goes down in the winter. But there are no other 210 (yeah, flamebait) horsepower cars (that I can think of) that such a large number of owners that complain about getting 10 miles per gallon.

Yeah, the rx-8 gets crappy mileage. But crappy would be 18-24. 10-12 is abysmal, and far more common than it should be.

The engine is unique. Reliable, probably not. And I really think a lot of the issues were working out the ECU tuning.. But this still doesn't explain how so many other people are experiencing reliability/mileage issues.

In my STI (which is all wheel drive and with lots more power), I regularly get 17mpg in the winter, heck, when I push it, I can even get 15. Which is less than the 18-24 the window sticker says. I expect it. I wasn't pushing it when I got 11 miles per gallon in the '8.

But the cycle continues.

Lots of rx-8 owners refuse to admit that there are any issues at all, because they either 1) don't have them or 2) think the issues are worth it for rx-8 ownership.

This survey reflects that, I think.

I still really like the rx-8. I wish I could own a (reliable) rx-8.

Well I think being on this forum you only hear about the people who complain about getting 12mpg...I mean if you're getting 20+ in the city, you wouldn't be all freaked out and post on here.

I haven't had any issues with my 8 so I may be on the opposite spectrum than you are. I get 15mpg (all city driving and there's A LOT of traffic where I am and usually drive during rush hour). So I don't think that's horrible for a car that is supposed to get 18 mpg in the city considering I live in a congested town.

Well I think being on this forum you only hear about the people who complain about getting 12mpg...I mean if you're getting 20+ in the city, you wouldn't be all freaked out and post on here.

I haven't had any issues with my 8 so I may be on the opposite spectrum than you are. I get 15mpg (all city driving and there's A LOT of traffic where I am and usually drive during rush hour). So I don't think that's horrible for a car that is supposed to get 18 mpg in the city considering I live in a congested town.



Yeah, you are part of the other 74% who have no issues ;). I still think 15mpg is low, but not horrific.

I have never heard anybody in any other forum ever complain about such a drastic problem with advertised mileage of their car. And I lurk in a bunch of forums. There are a few here and there, but there are a LOT of RX-8 owners who are disappointed.

ditto with flooding.

And I haven't done a guesstimate, but I think I see more "blown engine" threads around here, too.

It just raises my hackles when people say that it is idiot owners faults for flooding their engines. The reliability is because people suck, because mazda created a perfect car.

or something like that.

That being said, I still gaze longingly every time I see an rx-8... and roll down the window to listen to the rotary engine.

What a joke. I love how people are so insecure they have to put everyone else down saying they "don't get it" just to feel good about their purchase.

The only reason it was ranked high in the UK despite it's piss poor reliability is because the people were happy with the service received. Unfortunately, Mazda dealers in America are atrocious.

There's nothing to "get". The car has poor fuel economy, bad reliability, and terrible service departments backing it up. If you think that's worth the fun that the car is to drive good for you. Just because the rest of America tends not to agree with you doesn't mean they're not "getting" something.

...don't forget 'less torque than most econo-boxes' and 'on the highway, needs to be downshifted to make it up steep hills'

Give the RX-8 100HP more and its damn near a dream sports car.

Give the RX-8 100HP more and its damn near a dream sports car.

I cringe when I read threads like these. I'm 20 hp away from the "dream" and I have never had less than 14 mpg (and that's beating the hell out of it).

I wonder if the disparity in gas mileage between different 8's is any different than any other car.

I cringe when I read threads like these. I'm 20 hp away from the "dream" and I have never had less than 14 mpg (and that's beating the hell out of it).

I wonder if the disparity in gas mileage between different 8's is any different than any other car.

It is much worse.

I have never had a car that got such a wide range of mileage as the rx-8. And I can't think of any other forum where you see as many people complaining about getting 10mpg "no matter what".

"like the service they received from their dealers."

Wtf?

+1!

I've had the RX-8 for 3 1/2 years and it has never let me down. Did flood once, due to repeated cold-start/moves in the span of a day, in and out of the garage. But I got it running in about 20 minutes by injecting some oil into the intake. So, my fault and still wasn't a big issue.

Mileage is poor, but it's public knowledge. Thought I'd have some fun before the oil ran out. My timing was off by a couple of years I think :). After this car, I hope I can go electric for one of our vehicles (teslamotors.com). A new era is coming.

Other than recalls, it's been to the dealer 3 times.

Once for weak AC, which they did not fix. I found the fix in this forum.

Twice for pulling to the right, which they did not fix. I found this fix in this forum.

They managed to perform the recalls, but tended to bumble around there as well.

Grades:
RX-8------------------------B +
Mazda Dealer ----------- F
RX8club members--------A

Mileage is poor, but it's public knowledge. Thought I'd have some fun before the oil ran out. My timing was off by a couple of years I think :). After this car, I hope I can go electric for one of our vehicles (teslamotors.com). A new era is coming.


Just wanted to quote that for truth. That's what I always say to the "it gets good gas milage right?" "Well, actually I get 15.6, but I figure I'll have my fun while the oil is still here.."

There's so much BS in this thread, someone needs to start talking the truth.

The truth is, most people fail the rx8 test for ownership. This can be stated in round-about ways, but it boils down to the truth: They can't own it because they fail. They fail. That wan't a comment to deride people, but a hard fact of life. Any time you want to enter a community of practice, the first test is being able to find the answers to your questions, and so on and so forth.

If you think about it, ownership is a method, a philosophy, and a test. And that test is a pass or fail.

If it makes the sensitive folks feel any better, many people fail to own many types of vehicles every single day--this is not unique to the rx8. We are all unique and have different stress points that will cause failure.

The truth is, most people fail the rx8 test for ownership. They can't own it because they fail. They fail.

Could it not also be said that the RX-8 fails the people test?

Since you so poignantly pointed out that most people fail the RX-8 test, I maintain that the RX-8 has failed them, and not the other way around.

fanboy logic = the rx8 is never at fualt, its the peoples fault :)

I like the sound of that. It's a pretty good way to go.

Self-justification is what people are supposed to be very, very good at. It would sound odd, if someone purchased an expensive item, and then was not able to self-justify it later either to himself or his friends. Supposedly we have that ability in order to make us feel good.

Another way that self-justification can be used, it to excuse oneself for failure. "I failed to keep on on the marathon yesterday due to the water soaking up my boots and slowing me down". Some would address this as a failure of the boots, or a failure of the runner's technique, or even as a failure of the runner's decision to select that particular foot item among the many available on the market. Still others would say he shouldn't be a runner in the first place.

This is the stupidest argument I have ever heard.

Deciding that the RX-8's reliability is too questionable to continue ownership doesn't mean you have failed some test.

You bought a car, you are the trying to irrationally defend your purchase.

Car ownership isn't supposed to be some "who can stick it out the longest" contest

I can see it from both angles, yours and mine.

Who says what car ownership is supposed to be? Expectations run the gamut.

Rationality is out the window when we are talking about something that is somewhat irrational in the first place. To buy a sports car. There's plenty of want in such a decision, desire, lust... Is it that rational to have something for daily commuting when one that is $25,000 less will do the job just as well?

Calling me irrational could mean you don't fully understand the larger picture, or the deeper meaning yet. Fortunately I might have an example to help us get on the same mental wavelength.

To purchase an rx8, because your heart told you, you wanted it, it looked good to you. And then to get rid of it because it had not lived up to the more rational side of your mind. A parallel can be drawn to relationships, or marriage. The same trappings are there, with initial desire and then the unexpected problems. We could call them relationship failures, or we could call them rational decisions made.

I think you see where I am coming from now. We have a disagreement, but I fully respect the rational approach you take to cars. If I could make one point, it's that it is okay to be irrational with cars, especially sports cars. This is the realm between practical, desire, ideal, and reality.

Just as couples are in love and can't see the flaws, just as some would call it a business arrangement and have no qualms about ending the partnership, just as some would stick it out and pass the test. Ideally, relationships and cars shouldn't be that way, but we know that some are, and some can be that way.

I think you have taken your analogy way way too far and frankly I find it moderately disturbing.

You obviously feel very differently about your car than uhh.... I think is healthy.

Enjoy your rx-8

user24 makes sense to me :), albit he coulda said it in a lot simpler ways.

i think if a person feel the need to constantly justify hes or her purchase either by bashing other alternatives or find other reasons to blame for its weaknesses (there is no such thing as a perfect car), it reflect insecurity and more likely than not, deep inside that person is questioning hes/her own purchase more than anyone.
usually someone who feels secure readily acknowledge the weaknesses while still enjoy the strong points of the purchase. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone or anything, just my idea of what causes fanboy logic :)

y did i click on this thread

In so many cases I've found that complaining or arguing about the RX8's various supposed issues to almost be as pointless as continuing to own the car if you have such serious issues with it.

I think it's safe to say the survey conducted here shows us two things. First, that the RX8 has a very loyal ownership base for some undocumented reason. Even the author pointed out how odd it was that so many people would buy another RX8 despite the high breakdown rate. 27%? That would mean over 1 in 4 owners have experienced a breakdown. This figure doesn't jive with other research showing Mazda to have one, if not the lowest amount of repair work shortly after the purchase of the car. Overall Mazda has rated as a highly dependable vehicle producer.

I think that the 27% should be taken with a grain of salt since we all know there are quirks with the rotary that can cause uneducated owners or owner neglect some problems.

I think what it boils down to is this is the price of being different. Piston engines are used in almost all personal vehicle applications for the very reason that THEY WORK. If they didn't work, we would have designed something else and used that instead. The market is driven by what lasts and produces. I'm sure if the rotary was avaliable in 3 different brands of cars with over 12 different models we would see some technology changes and maybe some improvments.

Still, an engine with over 40 years of engineering behind it is a rare thing.

I agree that we here in the US see performance equal to the fun of pushing the gas getting onto the highway and are less concerned with how well the car carries power into turns.

The RX8 is a fun car to drive in ALL circumstances. Not just when you mash the gas. Still, it's not for everyone.

The price of being different means having to put up with a niche market of support, parts, and service. I've driven my 2005 for 34,000 miles problem free. I always use premium gas, pre-mix, and change the oil every 3,000 miles using the best synthetic I can buy and demand 110% at all times.

I don't complain about gas milage because if I can't afford the gas I wouldn't have bought the car. My best friend's 500 WHP Mustang Cobra gets 150 miles to a 16 gallon tank...he doesn't complain about his milage only the fun he has at the track.

I hate to sound harsh, but the ability to make the car what you want it to be is out there. You want it to track better...upgrade the suspension. You want it to go faster...install a turbo. If you cannot afford these things then either be happy with what you have or sell the car and get something else.

This car has won numerous VERY good awards, been recognized as a top notch sports car and rightfully so. I don't need Top Gear, Car and Driver or Mazda to blow sunshine up my rear to make me feel good about the car...I just need to drive it to feel good about my decision.

I simply don't understand the logic of complaining about the car when you clearly have other options. Either love it or live with it...but either way I think this is one of the greatest cars to own under $40,000 and I'll stack my 8 up to anything, anytime, anywhere.

Good post Flashwing.

I criticize because I do like the car. There is no doubt that the rotary requires special care and feeding. Most of my criticism goes to Mazda for not embracing that fact and working WITH the customers to maximize their success with the vehicle. Instead there is layer of pretense about the nature of the car, which begins during the sale and then has to be perpetuated by the service department.

For those who find a resource such as RX8Club, their chances of a positive experience are greatly improved. Those who don't, end up getting stonewalled by service managers and departments who are either under-skilled in rotary mechanics or unwilling to put that skill to use. The blame falls again to Mazda and their bizzarre and ineffectual management of their dealer network and ultimately the customer experience.

I bought the RX-8 based in large part on the fantastic experience I had with the Miata. In retrospect I realize that the Miata was only in the shop once in its 14-year lifetime, for wear items. With reliability like that, who cares about the dealership? :)

There's so much BS in this thread, someone needs to start talking the truth.

The truth is, most people fail the rx8 test for ownership. This can be stated in round-about ways, but it boils down to the truth: They can't own it because they fail. They fail. That wan't a comment to deride people, but a hard fact of life. Any time you want to enter a community of practice, the first test is being able to find the answers to your questions, and so on and so forth.


hmmm. Valid in its way, but most RX-8 buyers don't realize they are entering a secret society. They are weak! THEY FAIL!


NO SOUP FOR YOU! :D

http://images.wikia.com/seinfeld/images/e/e5/Sein_soup_nazi.jpg

So what were the 29 vehicles chosen ahead of the 8? did they take all the exotics they test into account?

Give the RX-8 100HP more and its damn near a dream sports car.


There's a name for that car.....oh yeah, Porsche.

There's a name for that car.....oh yeah, Porsche.

I thought it was RX7

There's a name for that car.....oh yeah, Porsche.

Do you think a stock 2006 Porsche 911 handles as well as the RX-8? It certainly has 100 more HP (and torque to boot...), but does it glide like the 8?

Wow...my eyes started to glaze over there towards the end, but I think I have the answer for why despite the 27% figure people are so loyal. It's very simple - we all love the fact that our car is UNIQUE. It's indisputable and makes us feel like we own something special. And because of this uniqueness, we're (mostly) willing to deal with the inherent unique problems that come with it.

That, and of course the styling kicks ass :D:

Good post Flashwing.

I criticize because I do like the car. There is no doubt that the rotary requires special care and feeding. Most of my criticism goes to Mazda for not embracing that fact and working WITH the customers to maximize their success with the vehicle. Instead there is layer of pretense about the nature of the car, which begins during the sale and then has to be perpetuated by the service department.

What really surprises me is the lack of consistancy within the service departments and dealerships themselves. Speaking to a friend of mine who is a service technican, we've talked at great lengths about the various issues that have been spoken about here on RX8 club. Namely the issue of so called "customer abuse" and what seems to be a serious lack of knowlege regarding the Rotary.

Still, when we focus on elements of this survey I think it can be concluded that there has to be come element of a positive dealership experience with such a high re-buy rate. I'm not out to dispute the 27% of owners who claimed they had a break down...but years of following politics has taught me that a poll/survey is only as good as the questions which are asked.

Simply asking an owner "have you ever experienced a breakdown?" can mean 100 different things. It could be transmission related, engine related, a dead battery or even a recall engine situation. My theory, as others have stated, is no doubt some of the 2004 and early 05 owners experienced flooding issues. To an inexperienced owner not informed about the rotary, this would no doubt cause them to answer "yes" to that question.

I think that it's great that after nearly 4 production years that the RX8 continues to be at the forfront of the sportscar world despite undergoing small changes.

Wow...my eyes started to glaze over there towards the end, but I think I have the answer for why despite the 27% figure people are so loyal. It's very simple - we all love the fact that our car is UNIQUE. It's indisputable and makes us feel like we own something special. And because of this uniqueness, we're (mostly) willing to deal with the inherent unique problems that come with it.

That, and of course the styling kicks ass :D:

Sorry for the double post.

I totally agree! Anyone who is involved in the performance or tuner market knows that being different or unique requires wandering off the beaten path. We show this through custom fabrication, creation and are heavily involved in the building of the car. Still, if custom parts fail or break...they must be created again. No warranties or recalls can replace a one of a kind.

Now granted the RX8 isn't one car. Still having a niche market means that there are less people to work out bugs and less industry professionals there to fix them. If the rotary were common, no doubt these problems (if any) would have been worked out by now.

I also stand by the fact that I'm willing to accept a certain amount of trouble in exchange for the unique aspects of the car. Still, members who have experience multiple drive-train failures or engine replacements have a legitimate reason to be upset in my book.

In all, the unique factor is very attractive. I realized this when at the Scottsdale pavilions and asked my friend with his Evo if he was going to open his hood.

"Everyone has seen an engine" he told me...I remember opening mine thinking they haven't seen this one!

Very nice comments Todd. And so true. I love this car and would buy and will buy another one. No matter the rants and raves from the few unhappy owners.
If anyone should be unhappy it's me. (four engines in 2 months) But hey, what is happening to me has more than likely happened to some piston engine owner out there too.
Plain and simple,,, I love this car.

Very nice comments Todd. And so true. I love this car and would buy and will buy another one. No matter the rants and raves from the few unhappy owners.
If anyone should be unhappy it's me. (four engines in 2 months) But hey, what is happening to me has more than likely happened to some piston engine owner out there too.
Plain and simple,,, I love this car.

I think Erik's situation is a great example that despite going on the 4th motor...not all replacement situations were due to failures and none of the failures were for the same reasons.

We will not know the extent of serious failure issues (if any) until people start paying for new motors and the old ones can be cracked open to see what the primary issue is.