Hi guys.. back in the spring of 04 I decided to buy a Mazdaspeed Protege instead of an RX-8. Well now I am thinking of trading my speed in for an 8.

There is only one draw back from this decision, What gas mileage should I expect?

I drive 80 km's round trip to work,

10 of those are city

70 are highway speeds with an occasional red light or heavy traffic slow down.

Can anyone with a similar driving pattern tell me what they are getting for gas mileage?

If you answer in MPG, please tell me if you converted to US or Canadian gallons.

Thanks in advance

I have a similar commute.. 90km round trip, 10 city, 80 highway. Rarely heavy traffic unless an accident (I sneak out of the city on a back road :))
I get approx 400km before the light comes on per tank. Personal best under normal conditions was 424. When the roads were very bad and the fastest I dared to go was 80km/h (spd limit 110kmh, usually travel at about 120) I was stunned I got 478km before the light came on.
I havent dared to go past 65km after the light comes on.. always had a few L to spare.
Costs on average 50-60 to fill when the light comes on to almost totally empty (2-6L remaining in a 60L tank).
Hope this helps you a little.

I have a similar commute.. 90km round trip, 10 city, 80 highway. Rarely heavy traffic unless an accident (I sneak out of the city on a back road :))
I get approx 400km before the light comes on per tank. Personal best under normal conditions was 424. When the roads were very bad and the fastest I dared to go was 80km/h (spd limit 110kmh, usually travel at about 120) I was stunned I got 478km before the light came on.
I havent dared to go past 65km after the light comes on.. always had a few L to spare.
Costs on average 50-60 to fill when the light comes on to almost totally empty (2-6L remaining in a 60L tank).
Hope this helps you a little.

Yes, perfect... Looks like we have almost the same commute. I also sneak out of the city on a back road. Runs along side the airport with a posted speed of 90. After that the max posted speed is 100 and I normally drive +10 over on the highways. Anything above that might be costly as the police patrol this route often.

It looks like (my math) I will need $11.00 a trip or $187.00 every 4 weeks as I only work 17 days out of every 28.

Currently my Protege uses around $8.00 a trip, an increase of $51.00 every 4 weeks. Thats very do-able.

Its a big expense.. but its worth it, I always enjoy going to work and back.. every time! :ylsuper:

Why suddenly the change from the MSP?

I was driving a similar commute for 1.5 years recently. I drove 86km one way to work, about 20km was on stop and go back roads, the rest was all highway at 127km/h.

I averaged over the period 11.5L/100km. I would usually go about 360km and then fill up, out of convenience which would be about 40L.

Its a big expense.. but its worth it, I always enjoy going to work and back.. every time! :ylsuper:

Why suddenly the change from the MSP?

I started autocross in 04 right after buying the MSP. It was fun back then, so much to learn and what was really great, I really kicked ass. Got a 2nd place finish in my group in my 1st and 2nd years.

Last year I added a non factory intercooler, hard pipes and a Mazdaspeed suspension (direct from Japan). That was all in an effort to go faster in the corners.

I ran into a bunch of suspension problems which I solved more than 1/2 way through the season. This summer will be fun, but it was near impossible to beat any top performing rear wheel drive cars last year, especially those in my class (DSP).

Next year we are going to SCCA rules which means I will have to spend a ton of money to stay competitive which probably still won't help me go faster then those RWD's.

Solution, get a RWD car, keep it stock and get some sticky street tires. Race this year in stock street tire class, and learn the car.

Next year when we go to SCCA rules I will be prepared to kick some ass and maybe get me a new trophy, the other 2 are getting sick of each other.

My first choice is a BMW M3 coupe, but my wallet says no, since I love Mazda's and rotary's the best choice for me is an RX-8.

I previously owned an 83 RX-7 and at that time I wrote my Engineering Thesis on the Wankel engine. So as you can see I really do love those engines.

Best of luck with the RX8 in autocrossing. You should look up threads by TeamRX8 as he raced in the SCCA autox series down south of the border. He could give you an idead of competitiveness in different classes.

The RX8 is good for something street stock based, but not modified as once the bigger more powerful cars get stickier tires and better suspensions they kill us on power.

Best of luck with the RX8 in autocrossing. You should look up threads by TeamRX8 as he raced in the SCCA autox series down south of the border. He could give you an idead of competitiveness in different classes.

The RX8 is good for something street stock based, but not modified as once the bigger more powerful cars get stickier tires and better suspensions they kill us on power.

I'll check out TeamRX8 for tips and tricks... but as far as modifying the 8... no thanks its a slippery slope that I already traveled down with the MSP

I live in Markham and work @ Downtown Toronto now... so I'd prolly do around 80-90KM per day round trip... and to be quite honestly with you, after a week, I bought the new G35X as my daily just cuz the gas was killin me...

The 8 is a great car and I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much... but it is just NOT a good daily driver when you do a lota commute.... just my 2 cent~

I live in Markham and work @ Downtown Toronto now... so I'd prolly do around 80-90KM per day round trip... and to be quite honestly with you, after a week, I bought the new G35X as my daily just cuz the gas was killin me...

The 8 is a great car and I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much... but it is just NOT a good daily driver when you do a lota commute.... just my 2 cent~

wouldn't it have been cheaper to take the GO train/bus?

Man, I dunno about you guys, but I get approx. 330 kms on a full tank with 70% hwy, 30% city, and I pay about $54 to fill up 48 litres - and thats from start to finish!

Best I've seen is 390 kms per tank

In my commute (about 14km each way, 70% in stop-go city traffic) plus running around on weekends etc. I get about 17-18MPG (US Gallons). If I behave my self on the highway, I'll get over 400km to the tank. Not stellar, but in keeping with it's class. (i.e. a 350Z is probably not going to get much more than low 20s in mixed driving either.) I don't understand people who say, "the mileage on the RX-8 kills me, so I got a *insertsportscarnamehere* If they did the math, the yearly difference would probably be a few hundred $.

That all being said, for my daily commute to work, I usually drive my better halfs Spicey Orange MazdaSpeed Protege, which has AXR brackets happily installed. Significantly better mileage, but not as nice of a drive.

*Edit: As a side note, are you planning to come down to Slemon PEI this year for the Canadian nationals? Should be a great time. We know some of the organizers and my GF has been drafted into helping organize.

That all being said, for my daily commute to work, I usually drive my better halfs Spicey Orange MazdaSpeed Protege, which has AXR brackets happily installed. Significantly better mileage, but not as nice of a drive.

*Edit: As a side note, are you planning to come down to Slemon PEI this year for the Canadian nationals? Should be a great time. We know some of the organizers and my GF has been drafted into helping organize.

If this invite is for me, I will have to pass. The drive from Manitoba to PEI would be way too much. Thanks tho...

Glad you like the AXR bracket. I wish I could convince the rest of the MSP owners to go the way of the bracket, I truly believe it is the best fix for the clunk/squeak.

12L/100 km in the summer, 13-14L/100 km in the winter. Which means it will cost you $10 per day in gas during the summer, an increase of maybe $2 over the Protege assuming you stay off the boost (rough guess).

If this invite is for me, I will have to pass. The drive from Manitoba to PEI would be way too much. Thanks tho...

Glad you like the AXR bracket. I wish I could convince the rest of the MSP owners to go the way of the bracket, I truly believe it is the best fix for the clunk/squeak.

The bracket has been great. Well done.

As for Slemon, was partially asking as an invite and partially asking as wouldn't mind meeting some more people from here.
I certainly understand it's a long trip. Apparently a group from BC are looking in to shipping out their cars and then meeting them here.

If gas mileage is a concerned, a sports car is not what you want let alone an RX-8. Because if this already bothers you, it will not go away after you got the car and may end up niggling behind your head the entire time resulting in less than 100% of driving enjoyment.

wouldn't it have been cheaper to take the GO train/bus?

I thought about that... but where my office is, I have to take the bus from the subway station and it just adds a lot more time to my commute... and plus since we sold my fiancee's car and this is kinda a replacement for our second car... even though she has been complaining that she never gets to drive it except for weekends!! lol

I live in Markham and work @ Downtown Toronto now... so I'd prolly do around 80-90KM per day round trip... and to be quite honestly with you, after a week, I bought the new G35X as my daily just cuz the gas was killin me...

The 8 is a great car and I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much... but it is just NOT a good daily driver when you do a lota commute.... just my 2 cent~

Your gas was killing you, so you went and spent $55,000 on a new G35X to combat gas consumption? LOL!

Your gas was killing you, so you went and spent $55,000 on a new G35X to combat gas consumption? LOL!

the 8 is meant to be a toy anyways, and the G35X is supposed to be a second car of the replacement of my fiancee's G35 coupe...

Plus we got a really good deal on it, with Navi and High Tech package, we paid $42000 freight, pdi and dealer charges all included.

If gas mileage is a concerned, a sports car is not what you want let alone an RX-8. Because if this already bothers you, it will not go away after you got the car and may end up niggling behind your head the entire time resulting in less than 100% of driving enjoyment.


Nope it doesn't bother me, I just like to know what coming before it hits me upside the head... sort-a-speak

It's fine in summer, I get around 12L/100KM or around 19.5 mpg...most people through reading through the forums do around 15L/100km on a warm day.

When winter was mild it was okay...then it started to get SUPER cold, and I was doing around 20-25L/100km (keep in mind most of my driving is less than 15 min, sometimes as short as only 3-4 min) Anyways the fast warm up of idling at 5000 rpm or so (and it'll eventually drop to 4000, 2500, 2000, and down to 1000) until it gets warm does not help with mpg...but in winter it isn't really that great, I'm sure it would be better if I did longer driving, but it's pretty crappy in the winter =/

I talked to GG's mazda and they said it was normal mpg for winter.

the M3 coupe gets the same mpg as the RX8 (according to the EPA) and makes much more power...

With Sunoco 94 I managed to get 13.7L/100km on the hwy. The higher the octane the more it burns gas... On regular it was around 11L/100km on the hwy.

Best I've seen is 390 kms per tank

absolute record is 505km from a tank (57L fill up) after 3 years of ownership

I live in Markham and work @ Downtown Toronto now... so I'd prolly do around 80-90KM per day round trip... and to be quite honestly with you, after a week, I bought the new G35X as my daily just cuz the gas was killin me...

The 8 is a great car and I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much... but it is just NOT a good daily driver when you do a lota commute.... just my 2 cent~

I hear ya, I'm doing the same commute in the 8 every other day now (carpooling) but it's an absolutely horrible car for commuting, bad on gas, lacks power and since it blew up on my twice already, I can't say it is anything but unreliable.

It is about as "bad on gas" as any other similar performance car that one might choose to be their daily driver. This is what I get:

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/leungyunching/forum%20images/mileage.jpg

Getting miserly mileage is not the definition of a daily driver. To me, it is quite simply the car you choose to drive every day. You choose the right balance between performance, creature comforts, and maintenance costs at a compromise that is the right fit for you. Therefore you can't tell one person it is a bad commuter because you pay too much gas, that may not be their priority.

For me, if I have fun on my drive to work, turn heads while I'm at it, am contently entertained while stuck in traffic, and arrive at work with a smile on my face, then it's a good daily driver. Thus, the RX8 fits the bill for me, as it most certainly will for the silent majority.

For me, if I have fun on my drive to work, turn heads while I'm at it, am contently entertained while stuck in traffic, and arrive at work with a smile on my face, then it's a good daily driver. Thus, the RX8 fits the bill for me, as it most certainly will for the silent majority.

Well said ....

This is a bit of a concern for me too Evolv. My TT doesn't do GREAT on gas in the city, but i average good on the hwy for road trips. on the trip to nationals and back WITH the 3 days of autocross Carlin and i averaged 8.3 l/100km, and were doing 800km per tank, filling up every other time the rest of the group filled up. with all my hoped road trips with the car i'm somewhat concerned. the only saving grace would be if i could easily put all 4 of my tires, tools cloths for a week and a second person in my car. then the gas millage would be offset by not having to tow my tire trailer to US events.

My morning commute is from the fort garry hotel up henderson to the very end of springfield along the perimeter (he's a winnipeger i'm a winnipeger we understand the route). mine is all city driving with the highest limit of 70km/h. my TT averages 10.5 on that trip and i drive in the boost all the time, i know the 8 will do alot worse but the monthly payment should still be less daily, but will sure add more to the road trips.

I get about 1000 km to a tank in the summer and 1100 km in winter.
But my RX8 is white and they defy the laws of physics.

oh and +1 post