Hello all,
I merely pose this question because it seems that looking at various dealerships they usually dont have many rx-8 in stock. Considering the price and the various other attractive features of this car, why is the demand relatively low? Is there any particular reason why the resale value drops so quickly?

the search button can be your best friend

im happy that they are rare in the U.S. for the most part... for every 30 BMWs i see on the road I see 1 rx-8. I like the rarity of it. as for the low sales, its directly related to the amount of advertising for the 8 and mazda dealers you see are probably about 1 to every 5-6 toyota, ford, or chevy dealers. less supply chains, lower the supply. and with very little advertising, people really know nothing about them. cant answer your reason for the steep negative equity as soon as those papers are assigned.

the search button can be your best friend

or your worst enemy

the amount of bad reputation the engine gets, I see why uninformed people would be too scared to buy one...

But really, like Caveney said, I like the rarity of it. I see so many Mustangs on the road, and I just can't see any 'enjoyment' of a car if you see 20 of the exact same thing on the road every day.

Good question -I'll take a stab at it :
I think for a couple of very compelling reasons
1/fuel consumption - rotaries are notorious for poor fuel consumption and the 8 has not really done a lot to fix that preconcieved notion.
2/Lack of power - while the renesis produces good power when compared to its N/A predecessors it does not make enough for the car to match its closest rivals IE 350z , S2000 etc .
3/Reliability - it's different so therefore is percieved as a problem - rightly or wrongly .

BUT : once you have owned one you will love it so much you will be happy you are one of the few that took the plunge ..

Hello all,
I merely pose this question because it seems that looking at various dealerships they usually dont have many rx-8 in stock. Considering the price and the various other attractive features of this car, why is the demand relatively low? Is there any particular reason why the resale value drops so quickly?

because the Curse of the Silvers scared most people away. The curse is real. :scared:

Um, short sweet version: Its slowest in its class, eats gas/oil, has terrible resale value and has higher maintenance costs than most cars.


...all of the above and we cant get over how much we LOVE this car:)....you figure it out

People don't know much about the rotary . So they stay away from them. Personally I don't care , I like the fact theres not many around. Resale , well that sux with any make nowadays.

another reason the resale value is terrible is cuz mazda made way to many. thought theyd sell more than they did lol.

There's a lot of reasons...
1. Lack of knowledge...A lot of people, don't even know what a RX-8 is...They don't even know who makes it.
2. Lack of marketing...How many people really know what a rotary is? I didn't know much about it before owning my 8. There aren't many RX-8 ads etc etc...well at least in Canada. Most people think this car costs way more than the MSRP in Canada. MSRP in Canada is about 40k for a GT.
3. Love/Hate design.
4. Reliability...the RX-8, and Mazda as a whole...service is really sketchy. And Mazda wasn't really popular namebrand until recent years. They don't really have the "rep" of Toyota and Honda in terms of reliability.
5. Exaggerated problems. Flooding, oil-eating, engine issues.

6. Forgot to add this...SHITTY AUTOMATIC...4spd originally, 6 spd recently. TONS of people who buy Zs, Gs, are all looking for the auto. None of those cars' autoboxes lose as much grunt as the 8's.

I blame Mazda choosing Britney Spears to PR the car brought to the early down fall of the RX-8

Hello all,
I merely pose this question because it seems that looking at various dealerships they usually dont have many rx-8 in stock. Considering the price and the various other attractive features of this car, why is the demand relatively low? Is there any particular reason why the resale value drops so quickly?

Being rare is a good thing

Resale value is AWESOmE!!!!! my resale value is the same as what I paid for mine 1.5 years ago.
I have not lost a single penny!!!!!!!

Gets a bad rap based purely on lack of knowledge and misinformation.

I did not buy this car to resale it. I purchased it to transform it into a fire breathing flame throwing highway nemesis. Move to the right please so that I may pass you.

Most all questions well answered so I'll just ring in on resale. It depreciates rapidly in direct proportion to the reasons it's "unpopular." Not many people really know what it is, they've heard what they think are horror stories, etc.

I too like the rarity, and as an engineer have always been appreciative of the Rotary engine's elegant simiplicity (which actually promotes reliability and ease of/low cost of maintenance), high 'thrust to weight' ratio, ability to site the engine for low center of gravity and optimal 50/50 weight distribution, etc.

Hello all,
I merely pose this question because it seems that looking at various dealerships they usually dont have many rx-8 in stock. Considering the price and the various other attractive features of this car, why is the demand relatively low? Is there any particular reason why the resale value drops so quickly?

Here in Canada the RX8 is quite costly starting at $43,000 so that explains a lot.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w245/Leesha_023/Cost1.jpg

Keep in mind this price is without any options at all just a sunroof and for the 2008 GT which is the only way to go. Now can you imagine how much mine cost with all my options...lol..

Awesome car and it works in our favor that there are few on the road... EVERYONE stares at my car and always has questions for me about it... :)

The rarity is definitely a 'plus' on my list. Something I did not expect, I get far more looks in my 8 than people in G35s and Zs.

Or maybe I'm just dead sexy...haha...okay I doubt that...

Being rare is a good thing

Resale value is AWESOmE!!!!! my resale value is the same as what I paid for mine 1.5 years ago.
I have not lost a single penny!!!!!!!

April 1st is over.

rarity = +++.. seriously, the ability to turn head at the same if not better rate than a porsche.

Not popular because it's far easier to mash the gas on a mustang GT and get thrown back in your seat then it is to go around corners and have real fun.

many people are way to obsessed with butt dynos to recognize a good car.

I think it's because the RX-8 is a niche car, rather than mass-appeal garbage.

For a small amount of people it's perfect, rather than moderately good for a larger audience.

People generally like to stick to what they know.

so buying a car with an engine that might have problems and is totally foreign to them sends off warning signs.

I am glad the car is rare.

thanks for all the insight:) hopefully will be getting one soon

If I wanted an apologetic car, I'd get an Accord.
In RoW, the RX-8 sells well and has a very good reputation.

Being rare is a good thing

Resale value is AWESOmE!!!!! my resale value is the same as what I paid for mine 1.5 years ago.
I have not lost a single penny!!!!!!!
April 1st is over.


For those who have not seen my many other threads

I paid $19999 for my car
The other day, after 1 year and 10 months of ownership, I was offered $19999 for my car as a trade in at a dealership.

When I bought the RX8 I knew nothing about the engine or any of the so called problems that it has.

I wanted a sports car that wasn't two door and found the RX8 and fell in love with the way it looked.

Everything I know is from this forum...and let me tell you I knew nothing about the RX8 before I bought it:lol: All my knowledge came after I purchased this awesome car.

does no one else remember THE CURSE??!!!

You and your curse jedi

quit putting the jinx down
silver has escaped it for a while . . . . keep it on the DL

Yes, the curse is very dangerous.

Ask Siver Arrow, if he is still around.

For those who have not seen my many other threads

I paid $19999 for my car
The other day, after 1 year and 10 months of ownership, I was offered $19999 for my car as a trade in at a dealership.

I was joking.... Maybe I should have put /humor at the end.

These cars are anything but rare out here. I see other RX-8s on a daily basis all over the bay area. The only thing rare RX-8s here is a Crystal White Pearl RX-8.

However, if compared to the S2000 and the Z cars in this area, then yes, they are rare.

my silver is lucky... dodging accidents left and right =D

Here in Canada the RX8 is quite costly starting at $43,000 so that explains a lot.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w245/Leesha_023/Cost1.jpg

Keep in mind this price is without any options at all just a sunroof and for the 2008 GT which is the only way to go. Now can you imagine how much mine cost with all my options...lol..

Awesome car and it works in our favor that there are few on the road... EVERYONE stares at my car and always has questions for me about it... :)

They stare at car?.. or you? :)

Car not popular (in USA) because:

1. Very little advertising. To this day, 5 years after introduction, most people don't think they've ever seen one, and don't know what it is.
Solution: bigger advertising budget

2. The rotary engine which, to the Average Joe, offers no advantage over a piston engine, and has a few perceived disadvantages:
a) engine is small, but uses a lot of gas ("what's up with that?!?")
b) engine uses a lot of gas, but car is not super fast
c) engine is different ("who'll fix it if it breaks down in Wahoo, Nebraska on my cross-country trip??")
Solution: informative ad campaign that clearly conveys rotary advantages of smoothness, lower center of gravity, feel & handling, fewer parts, etc.

3. Mazda car salesmen, who don't particularly like the car and don't bother to "sell" it
Solution: teach salesmen HOW to sell the RX-8, as it's not an easy, traditional sale

4. Forums like this which, to the car shopper who drops in for some quick info, sees thread after thread with titles like "So who's a member of the new engine club?," or "Everybody must premix!," or "Engine flooded again," in numbers disproportionate to how prevalent the problem is in the real world.
Solution: no solution to this problem, unless mods actively funnel all threads with problem-sounding titles into a "Problems" section

when was the last time you saw a add for the rx8? i have never seen one

Hello all,
I merely pose this question because it seems that looking at various dealerships they usually dont have many rx-8 in stock. Considering the price and the various other attractive features of this car, why is the demand relatively low? Is there any particular reason why the resale value drops so quickly?

IMHO, two reasons :

1) Gimmicky styling that is too "out there" for most people. People like bmw's because they look like a well designed german car, the rx-8, well... It has rotary accents -everywhere- and cheap looking painted grey plastics in the head and taillights.

2) Price/performance ratio is in between much cheaper cars and much better cars. By "better" I mean straight-line, which (lets face it) is the most important thing to most American car buyers.

If either one of the above was not true, I would own one by now. Instead I drive my 93 rx-7.

when was the last time you saw a add for the rx8? i have never seen one

Well lately Mazda has been running this ad about "Every given weekend there are more Mazdas being raced than any other mfg". It featured a few scenes of the RX-8, Miata and some sort of Rotary powered LMP thing.

BRAVO!!!!!


Car not popular (in USA) because:

1. Very little advertising. To this day, 5 years after introduction, most people don't think they've ever seen one, and don't know what it is.
Solution: bigger advertising budget

2. The rotary engine which, to the Average Joe, offers no advantage over a piston engine, and has a few perceived disadvantages:
a) engine is small, but uses a lot of gas ("what's up with that?!?")
b) engine uses a lot of gas, but car is not super fast
c) engine is different ("who'll fix it if it breaks down in Wahoo, Nebraska on my cross-country trip??")
Solution: informative ad campaign that clearly conveys rotary advantages of smoothness, lower center of gravity, feel & handling, fewer parts, etc.

3. Mazda car salesmen, who don't particularly like the car and don't bother to "sell" it
Solution: teach salesmen HOW to sell the RX-8, as it's not an easy, traditional sale

4. Forums like this which, to the car shopper who drops in for some quick info, sees thread after thread with titles like "So who's a member of the new engine club?," or "Everybody must premix!," or "Engine flooded again," in numbers disproportionate to how prevalent the problem is in the real world.
Solution: no solution to this problem, unless mods actively funnel all threads with problem-sounding titles into a "Problems" section

Well lately Mazda has been running this ad about "Every given weekend there are more Mazdas being raced than any other mfg". It featured a few scenes of the RX-8, Miata and some sort of Rotary powered LMP thing.

They ran an ad for a while where the guy was in his garage and the car closed the front and back doors to "hug" him, then his wife walked in and smirked. The rx-8 is also featured heavily in events like the speedtv touring car/gt championship even though it isn't a participant.

The car is out there, people know about it, but its the odd-man out and american's don't shop for the odd-man out. They want the bimmer that their neighbor has as long as it is numerically higher.

If Mazda wanted to sell more cars they would have to make it a more traditional sale, both the style of the car and sales channels (like the guy said above). The big question is, "if". As far as I can tell rx-8's aren't wildly popular because Mazda doesn't want it to be their flagship car and therefore buries it under their other models.

The fewer 8's, the better I like it. I like having an uncommon car. Not especially rare, but not common as dirt.
And to think I almost bought a Mustang...now every grandma on the road drives a Mustang. You see one literally every 40 seconds on the road.

another reason the resale value is terrible is cuz mazda made way to many. thought theyd sell more than they did lol.

I tell ya what. This is actually very true. They certainly don't overproduce the car now, but when I got mine in 2004, my dealership literally had 90 of them, and they took forever to sell, with some sitting at dealership for an entire year +. They introduced the 2004 model,and produced it at a very insane rate, and the demand could not come anywhere close to the supply, not even come remotely close. Who remembers people buying leftover 04 models in late 2005 for like 10k off msrp? I certainly do.
T

They finally realized it and lowered production, but most of what people said is true. I'd still own mine if it wasn't so problematic, but I was one of the unlucky ones sadly.

Still though, for the diehards who buy this car and have stuck by it, I'd imagine they are damn glad it has failed in the market. It certainly doesn't have the rarity of the FD RX7, but after 2004 production ihas dropped. It appears Mazda wanted to flood the roads with the RX8, and they sure tried for the 04 MY, but all in all it didn't work, and that benefits the enthusiasts. There are far far more 350z on the road, so you have more uniqueness and exculsivity. :)

Needs more of these TV ads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEWo8QqsDc4

*edit* I love this song, for some reason...

For those who have not seen my many other threads

I paid $19999 for my car
The other day, after 1 year and 10 months of ownership, I was offered $19999 for my car as a trade in at a dealership.
For some odd reason, 8's hold their value quite well in CA. You certainly wouldn't be offered that in this area.

They ran an ad for a while where the guy was in his garage and the car closed the front and back doors to "hug" him, then his wife walked in and smirked That was a GREAT ad that hardly ran and that hardly anyone saw.

It was memorable, funny, and it also picked one feature of the 8 that's unusual, cool, appealing and - very important - highly visual. Using hardly a word, that ad managed to say a) there's a new car that's like nothing you've ever seen before (i.e. doors), b) "hey husbands out there... this sports car has a back seat!" and - with a wink - c) this is a car you can love (and well... one that will love you back.) All without saying hardly a word!

Now... I know some of you gearheads out there may think it wasn't a very good ad because it didn't rattle off the car's features or fill the screen with auto porn shots of an 8 racing down a twisty mountain road overlooking the ocean, but that's NOT how you get the attention and curiosity of non-gearheads sitting on the couch watching TV. That ad was a great example of how to create awareness. Like Nike saying "just do it". Of course, you can't create awareness if the ad doesn't run. The Mazda "hug" ad ran, what... 11 times?? Had that ad run heavily for a few weeks, everyone in this country would know what an RX-8 is, and would be curious to learn more.

Then the fact-filled ads would follow.

Oh well. It is nice having a car that seems rare and exotic to most people.

Not popular because it's far easier to mash the gas on a mustang GT and get thrown back in your seat then it is to go around corners and have real fun.

many people are way to obsessed with butt dynos to recognize a good car.

+1

My thoughts exactly.

I like this ad as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3-rg2lSvCY&NR=1

When I bought the RX8 I knew nothing about the engine or any of the so called problems that it has.

I wanted a sports car that wasn't two door and found the RX8 and fell in love with the way it looked.

Everything I know is from this forum...and let me tell you I knew nothing about the RX8 before I bought it:lol: All my knowledge came after I purchased this awesome car.

+1!!

because the Curse of the Silvers scared most people away. The curse is real. :scared:

Whats this curse you speak of? Knocking on wood here but my SS is doing just fine.

IMHO, two reasons :

1) Gimmicky styling that is too "out there" for most people. People like bmw's because they look like a well designed german car, the rx-8, well... It has rotary accents -everywhere- and cheap looking painted grey plastics in the head and taillights.

2) Price/performance ratio is in between much cheaper cars and much better cars. By "better" I mean straight-line, which (lets face it) is the most important thing to most American car buyers.


Mazda cannot be blame for ignorant people.

But the discerning drivers know a good thing when they see one...

1) 10 Best Engine - Ward's Auto World and Ward's Engine and Vehicle Technology Update Magazine --- Dec. 2003

2) 10 BEST CARS 2006 (BEST SPORTS COUPE) - CAR AND DRIVER Magazine --- Dec. 2005

3) 10 BEST CARS 2005 (BEST SPORTS COUPE) - CAR AND DRIVER Magazine --- Dec. 2004

4) Consumers' Most Wanted Vehicles 2004:Most Significant Vehicle of the Year (2nd Place) - Edmunds.com Website --- Jun. 2004

5) All Star, Best Coupe - Automobile Magazine --- Feb. 2004

6) Best Sports Car - CNN money Website --- Feb. 2004

7) 10 Best Cars 2004 - CAR AND DRIVER Magazine --- Dec. 2003

UK...
1) International Engine of the Year 2004: 2.5-litre to 3.0-litre - Engine Technology International Magazine --- May. 2004

2) International Engine of the Year 2003: Best New Engine - Engine Technology International Magazine --- May. 2003

3) International Engine of the Year 2003: 2.5-litre to 3.0-litre - Engine Technology International Magazine --- May. 2003

4) International Engine of the Year 2003 - Engine Technology International Magazine --- May. 2003

5) Car of the Year 2006 - Best coupe - What Car ? Magazine --- Jan. 2006

6) New Car Honours 2005 Coupe Winner - Auto Express Magazine --- July. 2005

7) Best Sporting Car - Fleet Magazine --- Jan. 2005

8) Car of the Year 2005 (Best Coupe) - What Car ? Magazine --- Jan. 2005

9) New Car Honours 2004 Coupe Winner - Auto Express Magazine --- July. 2004

10) Coupe Car of the Year - BBC Top Gear Magazine --- Apr. 2004

11) "Good Car, Bad Car" Best Coupe - Sunday Times Newspaper --- Mar. 2004

12) Car of the Year 2004 (Best Coupe) - What Car ? Magazine --- Jan. 2004

If Mazda wanted to sell more cars they would have to make it a more traditional sale, both the style of the car and sales channels (like the guy said above). The big question is, "if". As far as I can tell rx-8's aren't wildly popular because Mazda doesn't want it to be their flagship car and therefore buries it under their other models.

Fail. Try again. Do you even know what a flagship model is? :icon_no2:

http://media.ford.com/mazda/article_display.cfm?article_id=19857&make_id=227

"....The MX-Crossport was designed at Mazda’s main design studio in Hiroshima, Japan, and is a crossover-type vehicle – a very Mazda crossover combining strong styling cues from the company’s flagship RX-8 sports car with the more practical packaging of sport-utility vehicle...."

because george w bush is really just a smarter-than-average chimpanzee disguised as a human being...

There are three main reasons for the poor sales of the RX-8.

1) Underpowered compared to it's competition. Americans want fast 0-60 times and the RX-8 is lacking here.

2) Poor fuel mileage. The problem pointed out in every review of the RX-8 is the poor fuel mileage.

3) The Rotary engine. The slight increase in maintenance is misunderstood and the engine failure problem is scaring away people, understandably so.

1) Underpowered compared to it's competition. Americans want fast 0-60 times and the RX-8 is lacking here... The RX-8's horrific 0-60 time (5.9 seconds, OMG is that slow!) is not a significant reason for lower sales; the MX-5 is a perennially popular sports car - and it's hardly fast. By your logic the MX-5 would be unpopular, too. But it isn't.

3) The Rotary engine. The slight increase in maintenance is misunderstood and the engine failure problem is scaring away people, understandably so. I agree that the slight increase in maintenance probably scares off some prospective buyers, but if there's widespread belief that the 8 suffers from "engine failures" - which I doubt - it comes from the "engine failure" propoganda that you and five other people on this forum continue to propogate, and not from reality: that Mazda chose to replace - rather than repair - the small percentage of mostly '04 first-year-of-production cars that had engines that failed a compression test.

An engine that runs with some loss of power and that is then replaced - instead of just repaired - because it fails a compression test is NOT THE SAME as "engine failure". "Engine failure" is a commonly used expression that to the vast majority of people conjures up images of an engine suddenly making a loud, explosive sound as it suddenly freezes, stops dead in its tracks, releasing a dramatic cloud of smoke and sparks, leaving its poor, unsuspecting owner stranded in the middle of nowhere.

If Mazda had elected to repair the engines that failed the compression test there wouldn't be any talk of "engine failure," so I find it ironic that in taking the extra step of replacing the engines Mazda opened the door to pinheads casually throwing around highly negative, frightening and emotionally-loaded terms like "engine failure". But, like with any good propoganda, if you repeat it often enough it will, in time, become fact. Here, let me help you: ENGINE FAILURE! ENGINE FAILURE! Oh god forbid we buy a car that'll have an engine failure!!!

:rolleyes:

Although there are rational explanations as to why the RX8 isn't a runaway smash hit, there are truly no good reasons for it. Sounds like double speak doesn't it?
Allow me to explain:

Most people are followers. It takes a lot of guts to try a new thing, to move outside the mainstream, and that's what you're doing when you buy an RX8. You're taking a chance on new technology (relatively) with the Wankel rotary. The RX8 is the ONLY production car on the planet to use a rotary engine. Some people are frighten (intimidated) by that fact. Others, the Mavericks, embrace it. It's not a question of which technology is better or worse at this or that, it's about risk taking. Many are unwilling to take the chance for fear that they will be scoffed at or ridiculed for this or that disadvantage. Many times they're right. Playing it safe is just that....well.....SAFE. However every once in a while the Maverick latches on to something great and is rewarded for taking that chance.


The "jury" is still out on the RX8 for the "play it safe" crowd, but for the Mavericks the RX8 is a "Diamond in the Ruff"

Although there are rational explanations as to why the RX8 is a runaway smash hit, there are truly no good reasons for it. Sounds like double speak doesn't it?
Allow me to explain:

Look, people are followers. It takes a lot of guts to try a new thing, to move outside the mainstream, and that's what you're doing when you buy an RX8. You're taking a chance on new technology (relatively) with the wankle rotary. The RX8 is the ONLY production car on the planet to use a rotary engine. Some people are frighten (intimidated) by that fact. Others, the Mavericks, embrace it. It's not a question of which technology is better or worse at this or that, it's about risk taking. Many are unwilling to take the chance for fear that they will be scoffed at or ridiculed for this or that disadvantage. Many time they're right. Playing it safe is just that....well.....SAFE. However every once in a while the Maverick latches on to something great and is rewarded for taking that chance.


The "jury" is still out on the RX8 for the "play it safe" crowd, but for the Mavericks the RX8 is a "Diamond in the Ruff"

Or maybe it's simply because the "Wankel" has a pretty checked past or reliability that is somewhat being carried on by the Renesis. It's slower than a V6 family sedan, consumes more gasoline than a Vette, and has love it or hate it looks. There are only so many people out there that will be willing to compromise, mileage and straightline speed for a little better handling. For everyone else there are a lot of other cars on the market that handle pretty well and are faster and get similar or better gas mileage than the RX-8.

With the RX-8 Mazda carved out a car that has a smaller niche market than expected, it's as simple as that. I like the RX-8 but I want something faster and more tunable. My wife likes the RX-8 but needs something with better gas mileage and she doesn't like the looks. A friend I recently told to check out the RX-8 didn't like the lack of torgue and wanted something more luxorious. Many other people I know feel the same way and go another direction from the RX-8 even though overall they like it. It simply doesn't fit most buyers as well as other cars on the market do.

Or maybe it's simply because the "Wankel" has a pretty checked past or reliability that is somewhat being carried on by the Renesis. It's slower than a V6 family sedan, consumes more gasoline than a Vette, and has love it or hate it looks. There are only so many people out there that will be willing to compromise, mileage and straightline speed for a little better handling. For everyone else there are a lot of other cars on the market that handle pretty well and are faster and get similar or better gas mileage than the RX-8.

With the RX-8 Mazda carved out a car that has a smaller niche market than expected, it's as simple as that. I like the RX-8 but I want something faster and more tunable. My wife likes the RX-8 but needs something with better gas mileage and she doesn't like the looks. A friend I recently told to check out the RX-8 didn't like the lack of torgue and wanted something more luxorious. Many other people I know feel the same way and go another direction from the RX-8 even though overall they like it. It simply doesn't fit most buyers as well as other cars on the market do.

Thanks, you supported my assertion quite eloquently.

Thanks, you supported my assertion quite eloquently.


Not really... The car I drive is far less common than an RX-8, but I'm no "maverick". I'm simply one of the few that's willing to deal with the harsh ride, obscene insurance rates, and ugly interior to have the best performance for my dollar. You're one of the people that's willing to put up with lousy gas mileage, questionable reliability and a lack or power for good handling and polarizing looks. Not "mavericks", simply people that found a car that fits them best that doesn't fit many other people best. Mitsubishi had a pretty good idea of what they had in my car and how many people would want one. Mazda grossly overestimated how many people would want an RX-8.

Not really... The car I drive is far less common than an RX-8, but I'm no "maverick". I'm simply one of the few that's willing to deal with the harsh ride, obscene insurance rates, and ugly interior to have the best performance for my dollar. You're one of the people that's willing to put up with lousy gas mileage, questionable reliability and a lack or power for good handling and polarizing looks. Not "mavericks", simply people that found a car that fits them best that doesn't fit many other people best. Mitsubishi had a pretty good idea of what they had in my car and how many people would want one. Mazda grossly overestimated how many people would want an RX-8.

Apology accepted

There are only so many people out there that will be willing to compromise, mileage and straightline speed for a little better handling. I think, in this country, at least, that's true. Unlike the rest of the world, the US has a large body of people who choose grunt, straightline speed over "feel" and handling. Probably has something to do with the vast middle 2/3 of the country, where the roads are often flat and straight for hours at a time. Seems like the farther you get from the Midwest, the more you see cars than can really handle. Ever notice how it's people on the coasts who tend to favor cars that can change direction quickly?

(Of course, maybe it's correlated with education level; the more years of school you have, the more likely you are to choose feel & handling over "Bet I can beat that Mustang to the next light!" Like people who choose a Mac over a PC, I do suspect 8 owners are, with a few exceptions, a generally well-educated bunch.) ;)

The RX-8's horrific 0-60 time (5.9 seconds, OMG is that slow!) is not a significant reason for lower sales; the MX-5 is a perenially popular sports car - and it's hardly fast. By your logic the MX-5 would be unpopular, too. But it isn't.

I agree that the slight increase in maintenance probably scares off some prospective buyers, but if there's widespread belief that the 8 suffers from "engine failures" - which I doubt - it comes from the "engine failure" propoganda that you and five other people on this forum continue to propogate, and not from reality: that Mazda chose to replace - rather than repair - the small percentage of mostly '04 first-year-of-production cars that had engines that failed a compression test.

An engine that runs with some loss of power and that is then replaced - instead of just repaired - because it fails a compression test is NOT THE SAME as "engine failure". "Engine failure" is a commonly used expression that to the vast majority of people conjures up images of an engine suddenly making a loud, explosive sound as it suddenly freezes, stops dead in its tracks, releasing a dramatic cloud of smoke and sparks, leaving its poor, unsuspecting owner stranded in the middle of nowhere.

If Mazda had elected to repair the engines that failed the compression test there wouldn't be any talk of "engine failure," so I find it ironic that in taking the extra step of replacing the engines Mazda opened the door to pinheads casually throwing around highly negative, frightening and emotionally-loaded terms like "engine failure". But, like with any good propoganda, if you repeat it often enough it will, in time, become fact. Here, let me help you: ENGINE FAILURE! ENGINE FAILURE! Oh god forbid we buy a car that'll have an engine failure!!!

:rolleyes:

You are most correct. Madza goes the extra mile to correct the compression issue and ends up with a public relations disaster and the naysayers have their "W.M.D." (weapons of disinformation)

As one of the original U.S. owners of the RX-8, and a longtime Rotary Nut and Mazda customer, I'd like to respond to this question by making two points:

1. The RX-8 is popular, but not plentiful. The popular, plentiful cars like the Honda Accord and Civic and the Toyota Camry and Corolla are mass market "units" to appease the masses. The RX-8 is popular in the niche market in which it is sold. The RX-8 (and Mazdas in general) are very popular in my social circle.

2. The RX-8 is popular with folks like me because it is the perfect family car. I can take my family of four to dinner on Friday night and take it to the track on Saturday morning. It is comfortable and reliable, has a nice ride, handles well, has good power, great brakes, and decent trunk space. The fuel economy, although not stellar, is not that far from its rivals.

[I'm satisfied with the fuel mileage... 21mpg ... because the RX-8 replaced my 1988 RX-7 (which got the same mileage but held 2 fewer people and had 100 fewer HP)]

The bottom line is that it's all in your perspective.:eyetwitch

I think, in this country, at least, that's true. Unlike the rest of the world, the US has a large body of people who choose grunt, straightline speed over "feel" and handling. Probably has something to do with the vast middle 2/3 of the country, where the roads are often flat and straight for hours at a time. Seems like the farther you get from the Midwest, the more you see cars than can really handle. Ever notice how it's people on the coasts who tend to favor cars that can change direction quickly?

(Of course, maybe it's correlated with education level; the more years of school you have, the more likely you are to choose feel & handling over "Bet I can beat that Mustang to the next light!" Like people who choose a Mac over a PC, I do suspect 8 owners are, with a few exceptions, a generally well-educated bunch.) ;)

It is also much safer to experience 90% of your car's 0-60mph performance than it is to experience 90% of the handling capabilities of the rx-8 on public roads. I would guess (completely made-up numbers of course) that fewer than 20% of rx-8 owners actually will ever experience the handling capabilities of their cars. When people say "handling" they really mean "sporty feel".

Point being, that at least people who go for brute force will most likely actually use their car's for what they bought them for...

I disagree with people saying the rotary is one of the reasons the car hasn't done well. I don't think joe schmoe public knows the difference between a rotary and a piston engine. The guy said it well that a v6 sedan has better acceleration, a corvette better gas mileage, and the looks are love it or hate it. Most people buying cars have very simple needs, and a unique engine and rocket-ship styling are usually not on that list.

It is also much safer to experience 90% of your car's 0-60mph performance than it is to experience 90% of the handling capabilities of the rx-8 on public roads. I would guess (completely made-up numbers of course) that fewer than 20% of rx-8 owners actually will ever experience the handling capabilities of their cars. When people say "handling" they really mean "sporty feel".

Point being, that at least people who go for brute force will most likely actually use their car's for what they bought them for...

I disagree with people saying the rotary is one of the reasons the car hasn't done well. I don't think joe schmoe public knows the difference between a rotary and a piston engine. The guy said it well that a v6 sedan has better acceleration, a corvette better gas mileage, and the looks are love it or hate it. Most people buying cars have very simple needs, and a unique engine and rocket-ship styling are usually not on that list.

Pardon what may seem at best a minor detail but I feel the need to point out that the average v6 family sedan although may be quicker than an RX8 it's not by much but very few are actually faster as the original assertion suggested. Most family sedan are governed to a speed appropriate to the tires, brakes, and suspension with which they are equipped. I own a 96 Buick Roadmaster wagon equipped with an LT1 350 and it's pretty quick but fast it ain't with a top speed governed at 105 mph as it should be.

As one of the original U.S. owners of the RX-8, and a longtime Rotary Nut and Mazda customer, I'd like to respond to this question by making two points:

1. The RX-8 is popular, but not plentiful. The popular, plentiful cars like the Honda Accord and Civic and the Toyota Camry and Corolla are mass market "units" to appease the masses. The RX-8 is popular in the niche market in which it is sold. The RX-8 (and Mazdas in general) are very popular in my social circle.

2. The RX-8 is popular with folks like me because it is the perfect family car. I can take my family of four to dinner on Friday night and take it to the track on Saturday morning. It is comfortable and reliable, has a nice ride, handles well, has good power, great brakes, and decent trunk space. The fuel economy, although not stellar, is not that far from its rivals.

[I'm satisfied with the fuel mileage... 21mpg ... because the RX-8 replaced my 1988 RX-7 (which got the same mileage but held 2 fewer people and had 100 fewer HP)]

The bottom line is that it's all in your perspective.:eyetwitch

I really don't think I could have said it TOO much better ;)

As one of the original U.S. owners of the RX-8, and a longtime Rotary Nut and Mazda customer, I'd like to respond to this question by making two points:

1. The RX-8 is popular, but not plentiful. The popular, plentiful cars like the Honda Accord and Civic and the Toyota Camry and Corolla are mass market "units" to appease the masses. The RX-8 is popular in the niche market in which it is sold. The RX-8 (and Mazdas in general) are very popular in my social circle.

2. The RX-8 is popular with folks like me because it is the perfect family car. I can take my family of four to dinner on Friday night and take it to the track on Saturday morning. It is comfortable and reliable, has a nice ride, handles well, has good power, great brakes, and decent trunk space. The fuel economy, although not stellar, is not that far from its rivals.

[I'm satisfied with the fuel mileage... 21mpg ... because the RX-8 replaced my 1988 RX-7 (which got the same mileage but held 2 fewer people and had 100 fewer HP)]

The bottom line is that it's all in your perspective.:eyetwitch The economy with which you've made your point is most impressive. I fully agree with your assessment of the situation. Coincidentally I recently returned from a short breakfast excursion with my 3 young sons in our RX8. ( they call it the bat-mobile)

The RX-8's horrific 0-60 time (5.9 seconds, OMG is that slow!) is not a significant reason for lower sales; the MX-5 is a perennially popular sports car - and it's hardly fast. By your logic the MX-5 would be unpopular, too. But it isn't.

Actually I would think the primary buyer of a MX-5 is not looking for speed. They are content with a fun to drive car which can easily out weigh straight line performance. On the other hand every other yahoo that comes in here considering the 8 and looking for opinions is almost always concerned with acceleration and power as it's all but natural to compare it to any Z, RX-7 or STi/Evo or any of the faster of the Japanese cars.

I think a major reasons the car gets a bad rap is because every car magazine says it burns oil and your average john q public idiot knows that burning oil is bad, nevermind that it's made to do that by design. I agree with the others, leave them to their mustangs and I'll keep my lovely 8. It's a car for connosieurs, not for the masses

Actually I would think the primary buyer of a MX-5 is not looking for speed. They are content with a fun to drive car which can easily out weigh straight line performance. On the other hand every other yahoo that comes in here considering the 8 and looking for opinions is almost always concerned with acceleration and power as it's all but natural to compare it to any Z, RX-7 or STi/Evo or any of the faster of the Japanese cars.

I've known 9 people with Miatas. Of those 9, 5 were gay men, 2 were women, and none of them bought the car because of handling or any type of performance. They wanted a cute affordable car with a droptop... The other few were autocrossers that wanted something competitive that could be a fun weekend car as well.

Pardon what may seem at best a minor detail but I feel the need to point out that the average v6 family sedan although may be quicker than an RX8 it's not by much but very few are actually faster as the original assertion suggested. Most family sedan are governed to a speed appropriate to the tires, brakes, and suspension with which they are equipped. I own a 96 Buick Roadmaster wagon equipped with an LT1 350 and it's pretty quick but fast it ain't with a top speed governed at 105 mph as it should be.

The Legacy GT, Altima 3.5, Camry V6, Accord V6, Grand Prix GXP, Impala SS, and G35 are all faster than the RX-8. None of them are going to hit a governor til after 130mph and most of them will hit 140-150+.

As a sales manager who has sold Mazdas since the beginning of 05 (and more rx8's then any line-sales man in the NW 06-07) I thought I'd put in my two cents (for what its worth).

1. VERY speciallized niche. Customers in this market are very picky and fickle for the most part. Probably about half are previous Wankle owners but those coming from piston driven sportscars have a hard time wrapping their head around the concept (myself included. I had to own one!).

2. Its not that the car has been unpopular, in fact they've sold better then Mazda expected. Limited production = encreased desire = profitability. Mazdais currently at 120% production globally even with three new plants world wide and preference goes to cars that tend to sell in higher volume.

3. Misinformation is abound with this car/engine (people ask me all the time if ALL Mazdas still have rotary engines). People don't know WHY oil is consumed and believe it to be a sign of a failing engine the way it would be in a piston engine. Salesman error also contributed to this. Retention in my industry is incrediably low and level of professionalism even lower. Consider with that there had not been a rotary engine sold in the US for 10 years before the release of the RX8 and uninformed customers fell prey to issues unique to the rotary therefore adding to the "horror stories" people half remember hearing.

4. Perceved fuel economy. In fact, the RX8 is right where it should be compared to its competition (not that there is any). People who are going to buy this car are sports car fanatics for the most part, why would fuel economy really matter. Besides fuel economy is GREATly influenced by the amount of foot you keep in the pedal, people who love to drive will have a hard time with that in this car.

5. Numbers on paper (ie torq stats) belie the feel of this car. We have been trained so on torque curve dyno readings that we have no concept of a near-flat torque curve and why it would be advantageous.

6. A HORRIBLY written recall notice last year had a huge influence on the market. IMHO the person responsible for the wording of that letter should be drawn and quartered. or at least sent to a class on diplomacy. You could almost see the resale fall overnight.

Resale-
ALL of these factors are responsible as to the resale of the RX8. Couple that with the current market (used AND new) and you'll see this isn't a trend that is only applicable to the RX8. As someone who buys and sells cars every day of the week, i can tell you that numbers according to KBB aren't the whole story. Kelly is a great guide but has never sold or bought a SINGLE car (I sincerly wish they would). A couple of years ago you could bet the bank that a Honda or Toyota would be true to or even higher then the kbb values. Today it is common place to buy several models of either of those brands at 4, 5, even $6k below kbb trade-in value (i bought a pilot day before yesterday AT AUCTION for $6k back.) Also, resale on cars, with a very few exceptions, always falls for a few years before it catches. The true test of a classic car will come much later. Bottom line, cars are a Sh#%y investment. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

I love these cars and I love working for a company who designs, builds, and retails cars that are as much fun as Mazdas.


Feel free to contact me if you need any information on pricing or the current market/ availability!

As a sales manager who has sold Mazdas since the beginning of 05 (and more rx8's then any line-sales man in the NW 06-07) I thought I'd put in my two cents (for what its worth).

1. VERY speciallized niche. Customers in this market are very picky and fickle for the most part. Probably about half are previous Wankle owners but those coming from piston driven sportscars have a hard time wrapping their head around the concept (myself included. I had to own one!).

2. Its not that the car has been unpopular, in fact they've sold better then Mazda expected. Limited production = encreased desire = profitability. Mazdais currently at 120% production globally even with three new plants world wide and preference goes to cars that tend to sell in higher volume.

3. Misinformation is abound with this car/engine (people ask me all the time if ALL Mazdas still have rotary engines). People don't know WHY oil is consumed and believe it to be a sign of a failing engine the way it would be in a piston engine. Salesman error also contributed to this. Retention in my industry is incrediably low and level of professionalism even lower. Consider with that there had not been a rotary engine sold in the US for 10 years before the release of the RX8 and uninformed customers fell prey to issues unique to the rotary therefore adding to the "horror stories" people half remember hearing.

4. Perceved fuel economy. In fact, the RX8 is right where it should be compared to its competition (not that there is any). People who are going to buy this car are sports car fanatics for the most part, why would fuel economy really matter. Besides fuel economy is GREATly influenced by the amount of foot you keep in the pedal, people who love to drive will have a hard time with that in this car.

5. Numbers on paper (ie torq stats) belie the feel of this car. We have been trained so on torque curve dyno readings that we have no concept of a near-flat torque curve and why it would be advantageous.

6. A HORRIBLY written recall notice last year had a huge influence on the market. IMHO the person responsible for the wording of that letter should be drawn and quartered. or at least sent to a class on diplomacy. You could almost see the resale fall overnight.

Resale-
ALL of these factors are responsible as to the resale of the RX8. Couple that with the current market (used AND new) and you'll see this isn't a trend that is only applicable to the RX8. As someone who buys and sells cars every day of the week, i can tell you that numbers according to KBB aren't the whole story. Kelly is a great guide but has never sold or bought a SINGLE car (I sincerly wish they would). A couple of years ago you could bet the bank that a Honda or Toyota would be true to or even higher then the kbb values. Today it is common place to buy several models of either of those brands at 4, 5, even $6k below kbb trade-in value (i bought a pilot day before yesterday AT AUCTION for $6k back.) Also, resale on cars, with a very few exceptions, always falls for a few years before it catches. The true test of a classic car will come much later. Bottom line, cars are a Sh#%y investment. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

I love these cars and I love working for a company who designs, builds, and retails cars that are as much fun as Mazdas.


Feel free to contact me if you need any information on pricing or the current market/ availability!


1.) It's Wankel, not Wankle. The FB sold wonderfully because it had clear advantages over the competition and much of that had to do with the rotary. Fast forward 20+ years and the advantages are minimal and the cons are still present.

2.) They sold worse than Mazda expected. They didn't hit their first years sales goals and the first few years had production outpacing demand by a good amount which led to cars sitting on lots for a long time and having to be deeply discounted to be moved. This killed resale more than anything.

3.) Yeah, there's some misinformation, but Mazda has done plenty to shoot themselves in the foot. They dropped the ball on the cooling and design of the FD. They dropped the ball on the horsepower ratings more than once with the RX-8. Then the video surfaced about the owner surveys and RX-8. Then the recall and a lot of replaced engines. Those are all real problems and have nothing to do with misinformation.

4.) There's nothing perceived about it... The fuel economy is poor. It might be somewhat close to cars like the Z or G35, but look at the straight line performance and horsepower of those heavier cars, and then consider they still often get better mileage. Don't fool yourself, sportscar owners still care about gas mileage. Now more than ever with the current and forecasted price of gas.

5.) Numbers aside, if you're used to having good torque down low the RX-8 will feel a little doggy, it's as simple as that.

6.) I haven't read it in a long time so no comment here.

Why Mazda does not even advertise this car is beyond me. I know there were a few commercials early on but now every Mazda commercial includes everything but the RX-8. Sales would be sure to go up a least a little if they advertised it. There are still several instances when someone might ask me about the car at a gas station because they don't even know what the heck it is. It still gets tons of looks too. But I suppose overall, this country will never be able to look past hp and 0-60 when looking for a sporty/sports car.

I think a major reasons the car gets a bad rap is because every car magazine says it burns oil and your average john q public idiot knows that burning oil is bad, nevermind that it's made to do that by design. I agree with the others, leave them to their mustangs and I'll keep my lovely 8. It's a car for connosieurs, not for the masses

They make it seem as if oil consumption is going to be a relevant expense. It only becomes relevant if you neglect to top it off every 1500-2000 miles. I admit that I was one of the ones who had reservations about the wankle engine.....I got over it.

As a sales manager who has sold Mazdas since the beginning of 05 (and more rx8's then any line-sales man in the NW 06-07) I thought I'd put in my two cents (for what its worth).

1. VERY speciallized niche. Customers in this market are very picky and fickle for the most part. Probably about half are previous Wankle owners but those coming from piston driven sportscars have a hard time wrapping their head around the concept (myself included. I had to own one!).

2. Its not that the car has been unpopular, in fact they've sold better then Mazda expected. Limited production = encreased desire = profitability. Mazdais currently at 120% production globally even with three new plants world wide and preference goes to cars that tend to sell in higher volume.

3. Misinformation is abound with this car/engine (people ask me all the time if ALL Mazdas still have rotary engines). People don't know WHY oil is consumed and believe it to be a sign of a failing engine the way it would be in a piston engine. Salesman error also contributed to this. Retention in my industry is incrediably low and level of professionalism even lower. Consider with that there had not been a rotary engine sold in the US for 10 years before the release of the RX8 and uninformed customers fell prey to issues unique to the rotary therefore adding to the "horror stories" people half remember hearing.

4. Perceved fuel economy. In fact, the RX8 is right where it should be compared to its competition (not that there is any). People who are going to buy this car are sports car fanatics for the most part, why would fuel economy really matter. Besides fuel economy is GREATly influenced by the amount of foot you keep in the pedal, people who love to drive will have a hard time with that in this car.

5. Numbers on paper (ie torq stats) belie the feel of this car. We have been trained so on torque curve dyno readings that we have no concept of a near-flat torque curve and why it would be advantageous.

6. A HORRIBLY written recall notice last year had a huge influence on the market. IMHO the person responsible for the wording of that letter should be drawn and quartered. or at least sent to a class on diplomacy. You could almost see the resale fall overnight.

Resale-
ALL of these factors are responsible as to the resale of the RX8. Couple that with the current market (used AND new) and you'll see this isn't a trend that is only applicable to the RX8. As someone who buys and sells cars every day of the week, i can tell you that numbers according to KBB aren't the whole story. Kelly is a great guide but has never sold or bought a SINGLE car (I sincerly wish they would). A couple of years ago you could bet the bank that a Honda or Toyota would be true to or even higher then the kbb values. Today it is common place to buy several models of either of those brands at 4, 5, even $6k below kbb trade-in value (i bought a pilot day before yesterday AT AUCTION for $6k back.) Also, resale on cars, with a very few exceptions, always falls for a few years before it catches. The true test of a classic car will come much later. Bottom line, cars are a Sh#%y investment. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

I love these cars and I love working for a company who designs, builds, and retails cars that are as much fun as Mazdas.


Feel free to contact me if you need any information on pricing or the current market/ availability!

As a sales manager who has sold Mazdas since the beginning of 05 (and more rx8's then any line-sales man in the NW 06-07) I thought I'd put in my two cents (for what its worth).

1. VERY speciallized niche. Customers in this market are very picky and fickle for the most part. Probably about half are previous Wankle owners but those coming from piston driven sportscars have a hard time wrapping their head around the concept (myself included. I had to own one!).

2. Its not that the car has been unpopular, in fact they've sold better then Mazda expected. Limited production = encreased desire = profitability. Mazdais currently at 120% production globally even with three new plants world wide and preference goes to cars that tend to sell in higher volume.

3. Misinformation is abound with this car/engine (people ask me all the time if ALL Mazdas still have rotary engines). People don't know WHY oil is consumed and believe it to be a sign of a failing engine the way it would be in a piston engine. Salesman error also contributed to this. Retention in my industry is incrediably low and level of professionalism even lower. Consider with that there had not been a rotary engine sold in the US for 10 years before the release of the RX8 and uninformed customers fell prey to issues unique to the rotary therefore adding to the "horror stories" people half remember hearing.

4. Perceved fuel economy. In fact, the RX8 is right where it should be compared to its competition (not that there is any). People who are going to buy this car are sports car fanatics for the most part, why would fuel economy really matter. Besides fuel economy is GREATly influenced by the amount of foot you keep in the pedal, people who love to drive will have a hard time with that in this car.

5. Numbers on paper (ie torq stats) belie the feel of this car. We have been trained so on torque curve dyno readings that we have no concept of a near-flat torque curve and why it would be advantageous.

6. A HORRIBLY written recall notice last year had a huge influence on the market. IMHO the person responsible for the wording of that letter should be drawn and quartered. or at least sent to a class on diplomacy. You could almost see the resale fall overnight.

Resale-
ALL of these factors are responsible as to the resale of the RX8. Couple that with the current market (used AND new) and you'll see this isn't a trend that is only applicable to the RX8. As someone who buys and sells cars every day of the week, i can tell you that numbers according to KBB aren't the whole story. Kelly is a great guide but has never sold or bought a SINGLE car (I sincerly wish they would). A couple of years ago you could bet the bank that a Honda or Toyota would be true to or even higher then the kbb values. Today it is common place to buy several models of either of those brands at 4, 5, even $6k below kbb trade-in value (i bought a pilot day before yesterday AT AUCTION for $6k back.) Also, resale on cars, with a very few exceptions, always falls for a few years before it catches. The true test of a classic car will come much later. Bottom line, cars are a Sh#%y investment. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

I love these cars and I love working for a company who designs, builds, and retails cars that are as much fun as Mazdas.


Feel free to contact me if you need any information on pricing or the current market/ availability!

Please forgive my typos as I'm at work and typing faster then I can actually speak.:dunce: :iamwithst

As a sales manager who has sold Mazdas since the beginning of 05 (and more rx8's then any line-sales man in the NW 06-07) I thought I'd put in my two cents (for what its worth).

1. VERY speciallized niche. Customers in this market are very picky and fickle for the most part. Probably about half are previous Wankle owners but those coming from piston driven sportscars have a hard time wrapping their head around the concept (myself included. I had to own one!).

2. Its not that the car has been unpopular, in fact they've sold better then Mazda expected. Limited production = encreased desire = profitability. Mazdais currently at 120% production globally even with three new plants world wide and preference goes to cars that tend to sell in higher volume.

3. Misinformation is abound with this car/engine (people ask me all the time if ALL Mazdas still have rotary engines). People don't know WHY oil is consumed and believe it to be a sign of a failing engine the way it would be in a piston engine. Salesman error also contributed to this. Retention in my industry is incrediably low and level of professionalism even lower. Consider with that there had not been a rotary engine sold in the US for 10 years before the release of the RX8 and uninformed customers fell prey to issues unique to the rotary therefore adding to the "horror stories" people half remember hearing.

4. Perceived fuel economy. In fact, the RX8 is right where it should be compared to its competition (not that there is any). People who are going to buy this car are sports car fanatics for the most part, why would fuel economy really matter. Besides fuel economy is GREATly influenced by the amount of foot you keep in the pedal, people who love to drive will have a hard time with that in this car.

5. Numbers on paper (ie torq stats) belie the feel of this car. We have been trained so on torque curve dyno readings that we have no concept of a near-flat torque curve and why it would be advantageous.

6. A HORRIBLY written recall notice last year had a huge influence on the market. IMHO the person responsible for the wording of that letter should be drawn and quartered. or at least sent to a class on diplomacy. You could almost see the resale fall overnight.

Resale-
ALL of these factors are responsible as to the resale of the RX8. Couple that with the current market (used AND new) and you'll see this isn't a trend that is only applicable to the RX8. As someone who buys and sells cars every day of the week, i can tell you that numbers according to KBB aren't the whole story. Kelly is a great guide but has never sold or bought a SINGLE car (I sincerly wish they would). A couple of years ago you could bet the bank that a Honda or Toyota would be true to or even higher then the kbb values. Today it is common place to buy several models of either of those brands at 4, 5, even $6k below kbb trade-in value (i bought a pilot day before yesterday AT AUCTION for $6k back.) Also, resale on cars, with a very few exceptions, always falls for a few years before it catches. The true test of a classic car will come much later. Bottom line, cars are a Sh#%y investment. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

I love these cars and I love working for a company who designs, builds, and retails cars that are as much fun as Mazdas.


Feel free to contact me if you need any information on pricing or the current market/ availability!

Good stuff there. For the most part that ends the thread/question. I highlighted some key points in your post. :)

Sorry about the multiple posts. My server here at work is a bit wacky and didn't show my posting.

"1.) It's Wankel, not Wankle. The FB sold wonderfully because it had clear advantages over the competition and much of that had to do with the rotary. Fast forward 20+ years and the advantages are minimal and the cons are still present.



2.) They sold worse than Mazda expected. They didn't hit their first years sales goals and the first few years had production outpacing demand by a good amount which led to cars sitting on lots for a long time and having to be deeply discounted to be moved. This killed resale more than anything.

3.) Yeah, there's some misinformation, but Mazda has done plenty to shoot themselves in the foot. They dropped the ball on the cooling and design of the FD. They dropped the ball on the horsepower ratings more than once with the RX-8. Then the video surfaced about the owner surveys and RX-8. Then the recall and a lot of replaced engines. Those are all real problems and have nothing to do with misinformation.

4.) There's nothing perceived about it... The fuel economy is poor. It might be somewhat close to cars like the Z or G35, but look at the straight line performance and horsepower of those heavier cars, and then consider they still often get better mileage. Don't fool yourself, sportscar owners still care about gas mileage. Now more than ever with the current and forecasted price of gas.

5.) Numbers aside, if you're used to having good torque down low the RX-8 will feel a little doggy, it's as simple as that.

6.) I haven't read it in a long time so no comment here."

Boy, I guess we know where you stand on the issue. With the ability to put a spin on like that you ought to be selling cars. Come see me about a job, I have a Nissan store that always has a bunch of 350z's sitting there with rebates going up every month, I'm sure they could put you to work...
__________________

The Legacy GT, Altima 3.5, Camry V6, Accord V6, Grand Prix GXP, Impala SS, and G35 are all faster than the RX-8. None of them are going to hit a governor til after 130mph and most of them will hit 140-150+.

Since when is a Legacy GT, Grand Prix GPX, Impala SS, and G35 your average family sedan? Those happen to all be exceptional sports sedans or performance versions of their respective models. By your measure why not include some BMWs, Benzes, Acuras, Infinitys, etc.....I've raced Accords and as a matter of fact they are governed at 130.

Don't pay attention to Ike. He is an RX8 hater.

All he does is post negative coments about the 8.

The fewer 8's, the better I like it. I like having an uncommon car. Not especially rare, but not common as dirt.
And to think I almost bought a Mustang...now every grandma on the road drives a Mustang. You see one literally every 40 seconds on the road.

You're so right about the ratio of Mustangs to RX8. I was tempted to buy a Mustang GT myself, that is until I test drove the RX8. I may go weeks without seeing an RX8 and when I do see one I usually don't recognize it at first. I notice it as a sharp car first then it hits me, " hey that's an RX8" dam that looks good. I used to be the guy who would speed up to get a better look at the 8 since they are so rare.

im still in debate over a 'stang and an rx8, though the more and more i get on this forum, the more and more im leaning to the 8 lol.

plus i agree with you guys on the rarity thing. even though i love the mustang, every time i see one i think, "oh cool, another mustang"

i do like to stick out and be unique, a.k.a., rx8 :)

theres like 40,000,000 stangs on the road where i live, and in 16 years since i moved here, ive seen 2 different RX8's. a white one and a red one haha. this is in OC also

I'm still in debate over a 'stang and an rx8, though the more and more i get on this forum, the more and more I'm leaning to the 8 lol.

plus i agree with you guys on the rarity thing. even though i love the mustang, every time i see one i think, "oh cool, another mustang"

i do like to stick out and be unique, a.k.a., rx8 :)

there's like 40,000,000 stangs on the road where i live, and in 16 years since i moved here, I've seen 2 different RX8's. a white one and a red one ha-ha. this is in OC also

The list of advantages of the Mustang over the RX8 narrows even further. I have it as: Mustang... 7, RX......8

Sorry about the multiple posts. My server here at work is a bit wacky and didn't show my posting.

"1.) It's Wankel, not Wankle. The FB sold wonderfully because it had clear advantages over the competition and much of that had to do with the rotary. Fast forward 20+ years and the advantages are minimal and the cons are still present.



2.) They sold worse than Mazda expected. They didn't hit their first years sales goals and the first few years had production outpacing demand by a good amount which led to cars sitting on lots for a long time and having to be deeply discounted to be moved. This killed resale more than anything.

3.) Yeah, there's some misinformation, but Mazda has done plenty to shoot themselves in the foot. They dropped the ball on the cooling and design of the FD. They dropped the ball on the horsepower ratings more than once with the RX-8. Then the video surfaced about the owner surveys and RX-8. Then the recall and a lot of replaced engines. Those are all real problems and have nothing to do with misinformation.

4.) There's nothing perceived about it... The fuel economy is poor. It might be somewhat close to cars like the Z or G35, but look at the straight line performance and horsepower of those heavier cars, and then consider they still often get better mileage. Don't fool yourself, sportscar owners still care about gas mileage. Now more than ever with the current and forecasted price of gas.

5.) Numbers aside, if you're used to having good torque down low the RX-8 will feel a little doggy, it's as simple as that.

6.) I haven't read it in a long time so no comment here."

Boy, I guess we know where you stand on the issue. With the ability to put a spin on like that you ought to be selling cars. Come see me about a job, I have a Nissan store that always has a bunch of 350z's sitting there with rebates going up every month, I'm sure they could put you to work...
__________________


No spin, very much the truth. Refute anything I just said... I really like the RX-8, it just wasn't for me and if I to buy a 350Z or an RX-8 I'd probably pick the RX-8. Though I'd have to think hard if I could buy a 350Z for 8,000 below MSRP like you could with the RX-8 when there were too many of them put on lots by Mazda.

Since when is a Legacy GT, Grand Prix GPX, Impala SS, and G35 your average family sedan? Those happen to all be exceptional sports sedans or performance versions of their respective models. By your measure why not include some BMWs, Benzes, Acuras, Infinitys, etc.....I've raced Accords and as a matter of fact they are governed at 130.

You said average, I just said V6 family sedan (forgive me for the V8 GXP and 4 cylinder Legacy inclusion:uhh: ). Don't know where you live, but where I am the cars I mentioned are quite common and they're hardly anything special.

As for your last statement, congrats on being a moron and racing someone over 130 mph on public roads.

Ike lost all automobile credibility with this priceless quote:

"I've known 9 people with Miatas. Of those 9, 5 were gay men, 2 were women, and none of them bought the car because of handling or any type of performance. They wanted a cute affordable car with a droptop..."

To imply that the MX-5 is anything less than one of the finest sports cars of all time flies in the face of what every automobile journalist—and anyone who truly understands what makes a sports car great—has known since it came out 19 years ago. Unbelievable.

NY Times, 3/16/08:

"SOMEWHERE along the line, the Mazda Miata became a pop-culture punching bag. The Miata appears in the movies “Corky Romano” and “Super Troopers,” as well as Comedy Central’s “Reno 911,” cast as the car of choice for the comically misguided. How can a serious sports car attract this sort of undeserved mockery? Probably because it’s too subtle.

I love gross displays of brute force as much as the next American, so I can see why the Miata is one of the most misunderstood cars on the market. It doesn’t have side pipes or a hood scoop or a name that conjures images of bloodlust and rage. Therefore we should pick on it.

Now, like a lot of people, I get seduced by outrageous horsepower and blinding acceleration. So I tend to forget how wonderful the Miata is, because you need to drive it to understand its appeal.

On paper it seems unremarkable, but a mere spec sheet won’t divulge the essence of this car. Its 166-horsepower engine doesn’t make face-melting power, but it seems to have no flywheel whatsoever, and a blip of the throttle results in an instant, melodic zing that begs you to match revs on your next downshift. The shifter feels as though a team of engineers spent months working on its action, and a flick of the wrist rewards you with the rare feeling of metal engaging metal, a precision machine at work.

The chassis won’t generate blackout-inducing G-forces, yet note the steering wheel when you ease off in a corner: it stays almost where it is, having almost no self-centering tendency.

There’s no traction control, no stability control, no computers subtly undermining your throttle or steering inputs with their own second-guesses. It’s just you and the car, and it’s great gobs of fun.

The Miata is, and always has been, a meticulously engineered sports car for hard-core purists. But it gets used as a Corky Romano sight gag because it’s not macho in any way that our culture comprehends.

It is probably inevitable that Mazda will eventually buff up the Miata’s image by giving it the 263-horsepower turbocharged engine from the Mazdaspeed 3. The resulting car will be faster, but I have a feeling that, hardtop or softtop, the original version — so light, so fluid, so balanced and slick — will still be the best."

I'm not "implying" anything. Yes, the Miata is a great little sportscar. However, that doesn't change the fact that a lot of people buy them for reasons other than their superb handling.

You said average, I just said V6 family sedan (forgive me for the V8 GXP and 4 cylinder Legacy inclusion:uhh: ). Don't know where you live, but where I am the cars I mentioned are quite common and they're hardly anything special.

As for your last statement, congrats on being a moron and racing someone over 130 mph on public roads.

You're absolutely correct I incorrectly inserted the word "average" However the circumstances surrounding my encounters with the aforementioned hondas are highly speculative on your part. Don't bother to inquire. Yes it is moronic to race on public roads for a host of reasons of which we are both well aware, and on that count I am also guilty and accept the "Moron" moniker along with, I suspect, many other performance based car owners.

What began for me as a "tongue in cheek" response to a fairly insignificant query appears to have escalated into a quasi "battle of Wit and words". As usual I attempted to blend a mix of humor and levity to my posts in part to entertain those willing to read them. It seems, Ike, you have a penchant for debate and, I'm guessing, are quite skilled at it based on your impressive number of posts. In an effort to promote a more civil discord I acquiesce to your superior........ness.

Thanks for your insightful and honest posts. Nice to get perspective from the other side of the desk.

I really couldn't care less about resale. I'm firmly in the niche and will hold on to my '8 for a long time.

For me, it's just plain fun to drive and I kinda like being unique, even if that was never my intention.

As a sales manager who has sold Mazdas since the beginning of 05 (and more rx8's then any line-sales man in the NW 06-07) I thought I'd put in my two cents (for what its worth). ......

It is also much safer to experience 90% of your car's 0-60mph performance than it is to experience 90% of the handling capabilities of the rx-8 on public roads. I would guess (completely made-up numbers of course) that fewer than 20% of rx-8 owners actually will ever experience the handling capabilities of their cars. When people say "handling" they really mean "sporty feel".

Point being, that at least people who go for brute force will most likely actually use their car's for what they bought them for...

I disagree with people saying the rotary is one of the reasons the car hasn't done well. I don't think joe schmoe public knows the difference between a rotary and a piston engine. The guy said it well that a v6 sedan has better acceleration, a corvette better gas mileage, and the looks are love it or hate it. Most people buying cars have very simple needs, and a unique engine and rocket-ship styling are usually not on that list.

I would have to argue that the rotary does have an affect on it's sales. I've had some interesting experiences and conversations in relation to this car. I've talked to several people who are a little more knowledgeable in the "classic sense" about cars and a lot of times they do point out they aren't too comfortable with the rotary. So their lack of understanding does keep them from feeling comfortable in buying one. I work with a guy whose father had an FC that ended up with engine problems. The problem that they found was carbon build up and he didn't trust rotaries because of that. I asked him did his father baby the car to which he replied "yes". I then explained to him why the problem came about.

One other incident that took place was I stopped at a Sonics and after my food came I attempted to start my car up and it wouldn't spin up right away so some idiot with a mouth full of food screams out "ROTARY". I at that point had pretty much started to narrow down what the real problem was and that was actually that I was getting bad tanks of gas on the base I am assigned to. Of course this goofball didn't realize that (and the RX-8 can be picky I guess).

So I can honestly say in my experience there is some validity to the perception of this better than advertised engine causing some concern on the part of potential buyers. I fortunately have had an FC before so this wasn't a scary proposition for me but if I hadn't taken the risk that I did with my '88 RX-7 GXL then I would have never risked a car with the false information out there like this car has.

I bought this car cause I love the way it looks and feels when you drive it. I love the fact it's rare because it turns so many heads, I wonder if I got my pant's on the right way... and I do.

I am one of those people that wanted something unique...all my buddies drive BMWs, AUDIs and smilar vehicles, laughed at me when I chose the 8 because it was a "mazda" and not a european car like theirs. But now when we go somewhere and park our cars, people come upto me and say "wow, what kind of car is that". the common word I get for my 8 is "SEXY". And all my BMW/AUDI buddies who paid alot more than I did, are thiking "wish I got the same compliments for my car".

It's a sports car, so I don't care about the gas mileage. Keeps me from driving it all day.

It's a rotary engine, so those guys don't even know how to compare.

It's a unique design (specially the doors)....

AND it's rare....which gives us 8 owners...BRAGGING RIGHTS in my opinion :)

im right with ya there ZZ-RX8 +1!!

I hear ya. My buddies have been trying to get me into a Bimmer for years now. They are fine machines, but I really do appreciate the Rotary's unique capabilities.

I bought this car cause I love the way it looks and feels when you drive it. I love the fact it's rare because it turns so many heads, I wonder if I got my pant's on the right way... and I do.

I am one of those people that wanted something unique...all my buddies drive BMWs, AUDIs and smilar vehicles, laughed at me when I chose the 8 because it was a "mazda" and not a european car like theirs. But now when we go somewhere and park our cars, people come upto me and say "wow, what kind of car is that". the common word I get for my 8 is "SEXY". And all my BMW/AUDI buddies who paid alot more than I did, are thiking "wish I got the same compliments for my car".

It's a sports car, so I don't care about the gas mileage. Keeps me from driving it all day.

It's a rotary engine, so those guys don't even know how to compare.

It's a unique design (specially the doors)....

AND it's rare....which gives us 8 owners...BRAGGING RIGHTS in my opinion :)

Ike lost all automobile credibility with this priceless quote:

"I've known 9 people with Miatas. Of those 9, 5 were gay men, 2 were women, and none of them bought the car because of handling or any type of performance. They wanted a cute affordable car with a droptop..."

To imply that the MX-5 is anything less than one of the finest sports cars of all time flies in the face of what every automobile journalist—and anyone who truly understands what makes a sports car great—has known since it came out 19 years ago. Unbelievable.



To be fair, that quote does not imply anything about the handling of the car or any other type of performance. The only thing it implies anything about is the people who buy the car.

I bought this car cause I love the way it looks and feels when you drive it. I love the fact it's rare because it turns so many heads, I wonder if I got my pant's on the right way... and I do.

I am one of those people that wanted something unique...all my buddies drive BMWs, AUDIs and smilar vehicles, laughed at me when I chose the 8 because it was a "mazda" and not a european car like theirs. But now when we go somewhere and park our cars, people come upto me and say "wow, what kind of car is that". the common word I get for my 8 is "SEXY". And all my BMW/AUDI buddies who paid alot more than I did, are thiking "wish I got the same compliments for my car".

It's a sports car, so I don't care about the gas mileage. Keeps me from driving it all day.

It's a rotary engine, so those guys don't even know how to compare.

It's a unique design (specially the doors)....

AND it's rare....which gives us 8 owners...BRAGGING RIGHTS in my opinion :)

WELL PUT!!!!!took the word straight outta my mouth!

No matter how much you guys don't agree with Ike, he does spout some good points. The FB was such a success, then come around to the end of the FC, and the price was getting just too steep for the people, then the FD came out, and it's gods gift to sports cars, until the reliability kicks in....that shocked people away from the Rotary for a looong while.

I love this car as much as any other enthusiast, but just flat out denying all of Ike's points because you don't want to believe it just isn't right...

But in the end, I'm still VERY, VERY proud to own this car.

You know this is a funny thread. Considering this is a forum for RX-8 enthusiasts, members will always be critical of their own car. I am reminded of my Legacy GT forum days when the members complained about why is the Legacy not popular because it drives well, fast, looks good etc...
Folks there will always people who likes something over the other like every products. That what keeps our world turning.
For me the RX-8 is about balance. From performance, good looks and daily driving comfort. The nearest car that I can think of is the Cayman. But that doesn't have back seats. Some clueless folks will post something about it not fast. To me an owner of a stage II Cobb tuned 92x and a previous JDM STi owner, the 8 is fast in its ease of going about it. I love how from the ground up chassis and suspension design works with the smooth drive-train to deliver a pleasing driving experience. Lastly as a car enthusiast, I would still lavish the same kind of attention to the 8 as any other car past and present. And if that is an issue, then the 8 is not for you and that's alright with me. Just don't sit there an envy... :)

I've been waiting for Mazdaspeed Rx8 version since...2003.

I am still waiting.

I can get a 135i now, but I just keep coming back and read about rx8. 300hp/300tq is a lot, but...there are just so many of them!

My 1.8T is reaching 180,000km soon, and even tho I know I can still smoke a rx8 on a straight line, my heart keep asking me to consider it...

That said, do we have a good solution (NA, not super turbo stuff) on solving the power issue in rx8 nowadays? Is the racing beat ecu the best solution so far?

Thanks....

The RX-8's horrific 0-60 time (5.9 seconds, OMG is that slow!) is not a significant reason for lower sales; the MX-5 is a perennially popular sports car - and it's hardly fast. By your logic the MX-5 would be unpopular, too. But it isn't.

The RX-8 is compared to the 350Z, S2000, Z4 all of which have better acceleration while delivering better gas mileage. The MX-5 is not, time to leave the Fan-boy realm and join us all in reality.

I agree that the slight increase in maintenance probably scares off some prospective buyers, but if there's widespread belief that the 8 suffers from "engine failures" - which I doubt - it comes from the "engine failure" propoganda that you and five other people on this forum continue to propogate, and not from reality: that Mazda chose to replace - rather than repair - the small percentage of mostly '04 first-year-of-production cars that had engines that failed a compression test.

An engine that runs with some loss of power and that is then replaced - instead of just repaired - because it fails a compression test is NOT THE SAME as "engine failure". "Engine failure" is a commonly used expression that to the vast majority of people conjures up images of an engine suddenly making a loud, explosive sound as it suddenly freezes, stops dead in its tracks, releasing a dramatic cloud of smoke and sparks, leaving its poor, unsuspecting owner stranded in the middle of nowhere.

If Mazda had elected to repair the engines that failed the compression test there wouldn't be any talk of "engine failure," so I find it ironic that in taking the extra step of replacing the engines Mazda opened the door to pinheads casually throwing around highly negative, frightening and emotionally-loaded terms like "engine failure". But, like with any good propoganda, if you repeat it often enough it will, in time, become fact. Here, let me help you: ENGINE FAILURE! ENGINE FAILURE! Oh god forbid we buy a car that'll have an engine failure!!!

:rolleyes:

OK, I've tried to explain this to you before but it just does not seem to be sinking in, I'll try it one more time. When an engine stops running and needs to be replaced that is called engine failure. It does not have to pop, boom, blow flames, explode, implode, disintegrate, catch fire, collapse into a black hole , etc..... all it has to do is stop working to the point of needing replacement. Oh, by the way the RX-8 engine failures have left some users stranded.:uhh:

Engine not working + Engine replaced = Engine failure

Simple as that. Now myself and the other 4 people you mentioned must be pretty busy because there are a hell of a lot of threads that report engine FAILURE. I believe that in a miss guided attempt to prove that all is right in RX-8 land you started a thread surveying engine FAILURE rates among RX-8 user. Apparently you figured it would justify your illusion that there is no issue. Unfortunately your own survey showed a 20% FAILURE rate. If you go to a 350Z board or S2000 board and type in engine failure then do the same here you'll see the results that support the engine FAILURE issue in the RX-8.

Lets summarize this, shall we....

- Much larger volume of reported engine failures then on similar car boards.
- Your own survey showing 20% failure rate, this does have statistical issue but is still the best information we have.
- Mazda recalled 3 years worth of cars to test for engine FAILURE.
- Mazda redesigned the engine oiling system in the 08 to correct lubrication issues which were the cause of the engine failures in the current generation.
- Mazda never released a number for failure rate which in and of it self is telling. Of course I always find it amusing when you say it is a small number with out knowing any real numbers while ignoring the only numbers we do have access to, I guess god is giving this info to you in a dream.

....and you can offer what to support your illusion?????

Fan-boy < Facts :icon_no2:

Well put, especially number one. If this car could out run a 350z this thread would not exist. In the US 0-60 sells and the fact that to hit the 0-60 mark of 5.9 sec with a RX-8 requires a clutch dump at 7K RPM is not a good thing.

Again the RX-8 is a great car but you can like the car and be realist all at the same time.

1.) It's Wankel, not Wankle. The FB sold wonderfully because it had clear advantages over the competition and much of that had to do with the rotary. Fast forward 20+ years and the advantages are minimal and the cons are still present.

2.) They sold worse than Mazda expected. They didn't hit their first years sales goals and the first few years had production outpacing demand by a good amount which led to cars sitting on lots for a long time and having to be deeply discounted to be moved. This killed resale more than anything.

3.) Yeah, there's some misinformation, but Mazda has done plenty to shoot themselves in the foot. They dropped the ball on the cooling and design of the FD. They dropped the ball on the horsepower ratings more than once with the RX-8. Then the video surfaced about the owner surveys and RX-8. Then the recall and a lot of replaced engines. Those are all real problems and have nothing to do with misinformation.

4.) There's nothing perceived about it... The fuel economy is poor. It might be somewhat close to cars like the Z or G35, but look at the straight line performance and horsepower of those heavier cars, and then consider they still often get better mileage. Don't fool yourself, sportscar owners still care about gas mileage. Now more than ever with the current and forecasted price of gas.

5.) Numbers aside, if you're used to having good torque down low the RX-8 will feel a little doggy, it's as simple as that.

6.) I haven't read it in a long time so no comment here.

Because cops pull you over for no apparent reason... :) & always remembers your car... :)

My 1.8T is reaching 180,000km soon, and even tho I know I can still smoke a rx8 on a straight line, my heart keep asking me to consider it...


I can certainly attest to that! Just a few weeks ago I came across a decked out Jetta that had an identity crisis because the trunk badge reads Bora. It saw me pulled next to it on the road and then proceeded to dropping a gear or two to get away. What ensued was massive blue grey smoke emitting from it's tailpipe likely from ruptured seal or coolant leak into the engine. Yup. I got smoked. Had to go back and wash off the film of oil. :lol2:

for most people, what kinda car is that??wtf is a rotary???is it fast?

Because cops pull you over for no apparent reason... :) & always remembers your car... :)

They have a reason - it goes something like this ........ :whipping:

I hear you, not many people know what it is. Had some guy telling me the car had about 400 HP under the hood. I just smiled. I like the fact that the car is relatively rare.

for most people, what kinda car is that??wtf is a rotary???is it fast?

I can certainly attest to that! Just a few weeks ago I came across a decked out Jetta that had an identity crisis because the trunk badge reads Bora. It saw me pulled next to it on the road and then proceeded to dropping a gear or two to get away. What ensued was massive blue grey smoke emitting from it's tailpipe likely from ruptured seal or coolant leak into the engine. Yup. I got smoked. Had to go back and wash off the film of oil. :lol2:

How do you know I got identity crisis too? I've changed that to BORA as well! 1st Mod! LOL

I don't race rx-8, I just get ahead of them and check out their mazdaspeed bumper...if they got one I will wave, if not I will just speed away 'cause thats the look I love :P

Anyways, can anyone answer me this question? What is the best NA mod for Rx-8 so far(with a 2k - 3k budget) ? What is the improvement?

Since Canada has tons of oil sand, I could care less about fuel economy haha...Global warming FTW!

Thanks x 1000

How do you know I got identity crisis too? I've changed that to BORA as well! 1st Mod! LOL

I don't race rx-8, I just get ahead of them and check out their mazdaspeed bumper...if they got one I will wave, if not I will just speed away 'cause thats the look I love :P

Anyways, can anyone answer me this question? What is the best NA mod for Rx-8 so far(with a 2k - 3k budget) ? What is the improvement?

Since Canada has tons of oil sand, I could care less about fuel economy haha...Global warming FTW!

Thanks x 1000

Don't hijack someone else's thread with your own off topic question.

Search for that answer. You really think you're the only on here that's ever asked that???

How do you know I got identity crisis too? I've changed that to BORA as well! 1st Mod! LOL

I don't race rx-8, I just get ahead of them and check out their mazdaspeed bumper...if they got one I will wave, if not I will just speed away 'cause thats the look I love :P

Anyways, can anyone answer me this question? What is the best NA mod for Rx-8 so far(with a 2k - 3k budget) ? What is the improvement?

Since Canada has tons of oil sand, I could care less about fuel economy haha...Global warming FTW!

Thanks x 1000

intake, exhaust, mazport ingition solution, and accessport tuning....

intake, exhaust, mazport ingition solution, and accessport tuning....

Thanks...to keep this "in"-topic, I think one of the reason rx-8 are not popular is because of the fact that it has Torque of I4, Horsepower about a V6, and MPG of a V8 :P

^^^

The C6 vette is rated at 16/26 mpg which is better than anything I've seen in my 8. Then again, you have to drive like tool to get those numbers, but it's nice to know that those numbers are achievable if desired.

oh i dont know. i think the premise is wrong. check bigboards http://www.big-boards.com/kw/brands/ 67th in car boards seems pretty popular to me

^^^^

If you say so. RX-7 Club is #29 and they haven't built one for about a decade.

oh i dont know. i think the premise is wrong. check bigboards http://www.big-boards.com/kw/brands/ 67th in car boards seems pretty popular to me

Yeah, that's not bad Zoom. But you guys don't really have much competition... For instance I could go to probably 10 different active WRX forums when I had mine. It's good that you don't have much compeition though, keeps most owners in the same place and it's a good forum so there's no real need for several choices.

oh i dont know. i think the premise is wrong. check bigboards http://www.big-boards.com/kw/brands/ 67th in car boards seems pretty popular to me

I don't know if I feel so good about that 67th place when there is a Ford Probe board ranked at 34th and I can't recall seeing one on the road in over a year. I'm not saying they aren't out there but they have become very scarce.

I've known 9 people with Miatas. Of those 9, 5 were gay men, 2 were women, and none of them bought the car because of handling or any type of performance. They wanted a cute affordable car with a droptop... The other few were autocrossers that wanted something competitive that could be a fun weekend car as well.

man, you sure know a lot of gay men...

My 1.8T is reaching 180,000km soon, and even tho I know I can still smoke a rx8 on a straight line, my heart keep asking me to consider it...

My last car was a Neuspeed chipped 1.8T Passat, the only thing it smoked was my wallet to keep it running...

man, you sure know a lot of gay men...

Actually I do... I've been the token straight guy at many jobs I've had through the years. Any issues with that? Do you want to make out?

My last car was a Neuspeed chipped 1.8T Passat, the only thing it smoked was my wallet to keep it running...

Dude, neuspeed = no speed...its the worst chip you can get! :mdrmed:

^^^^

If you say so. RX-7 Club is #29 and they haven't built one for about a decade.

I don't know if I feel so good about that 67th place when there is a Ford Probe board ranked at 34th and I can't recall seeing one on the road in over a year. I'm not saying they aren't out there but they have become very scarce.


now think about the rankings in terms of how many cars are/were actually produced.

less than 900k rx-7s and well south of that for RX-8. will millions of each of those other models like the probe. i was never a fan of the probe but they are a fanatic group. many former probe owners on this forum and now rx-8 owners

Mazda recently manufactured their Two-Millionth rotary engine.

S

Actually I do... I've been the token straight guy at many jobs I've had through the years. Any issues with that? Do you want to make out?

I'm flattered by the offer, but I'll pass.

Now back to this Miata = gay thing. Among the many car and bike communities that I've been exposed to - from muscle cars to exotics to imports to sportbikes and Harleys - miata owners had the least "issues" of all of 'em. They weren't trying to prove anything, never benchraced, instead they drove the most and raced the most.

I remember it was often Vette owners - especially the little pathetic Gino types who upgraded from their IROCs - who would call 'em gay little cars. And obviously Evo owners too...go figure :o:

I love being rare....

I love that I see...

50 Hondas
25 Eclipses
10 Nissans
7 Mustangs
Before I see..

2 RX-8s (If I'm out most of the day)
1 RX-8 (If I'm really lucky)
0 Rx-8's (at all...because I'm the one driving it).... ;)

Dude, neuspeed = no speed...its the worst chip you can get! :mdrmed:

I got Neuspeed after trying other 1.8Ts with different chips, since it maintained some decent driveability. Anyways, you sound like one of the types who worship the 1.8T...so there's no talking sense to ya. :mdrmed:

They're not that popular because people are stupid and don't know a good thing when it slaps them in the face!

But really, let's be honest - there are faster, cheaper, more fuel efficient cars out there, as much as we might not like it, that's the truth. But that isn't what the 8 is about. There's just something intangible about this car that I love - and it's something that most people simply don't get. So, to the average person, why would you pay more up front and more at the pump for a car that you just don't understand?

Of course, there are tangibles too - the handling, the feeling you get from revving to 9,000, how unbelievable the shift action is...I could go on, but I just don't think most people really get this car.

So Nascar is popular in the US. But everybody in the rest of the world thinks it's run by folks who mate with vegetables (thanks JC!). :wink2:

Like fine wine, the rx-8 is not for everyone only to the discerning driver. That's why everyone drinks cheap store bought shiraz and beer.

Let's not drag cheap beer into this discussion and say things we can't take back! :D

I'll have to agree, the cheap beer was a low blow!

Let's not drag cheap beer into this discussion and say things we can't take back! :D

hahaha..... ok ok i take back the cheap beer. considering all major canadian beers are ownd by America. :worship:

I think the only one of the big board stats that really hurts is the 3.8 mustang forum.

Who rallys around the cheap gutless econo version of a car?:dunno:

Recently all the 350z drivers traded in vehicles for rx8. The balance is now upset in some concentrated regions across America.

now think about the rankings in terms of how many cars are/were actually produced.

less than 900k rx-7s and well south of that for RX-8. will millions of each of those other models like the probe. i was never a fan of the probe but they are a fanatic group. many former probe owners on this forum and now rx-8 owners

Yeah, I thought about that later. I did know a guy who had a Probe and he thought that was fast then he "upgraded" to a V-6 Mustang and thought that was better. He was a little bit misguided on both cars as far as them being anything close to fast.

I got Neuspeed after trying other 1.8Ts with different chips, since it maintained some decent driveability. Anyways, you sound like one of the types who worship the 1.8T...so there's no talking sense to ya. :mdrmed:

LoL 1.8T can Nevar LOSE!

Except its an GTR, which is powered by TWO 1.8T...:lol:

Mazda recently manufactured their Two-Millionth rotary engine.

S

....and the One-Millionth rebuilt rotary engine.:lol:

....and the One-Millionth rebuilt rotary engine.:lol:

Considering most of them were made early late 70 -> early 90's, I say that's OK :lol2:

I'm flattered by the offer, but I'll pass.

Now back to this Miata = gay thing. Among the many car and bike communities that I've been exposed to - from muscle cars to exotics to imports to sportbikes and Harleys - miata owners had the least "issues" of all of 'em. They weren't trying to prove anything, never benchraced, instead they drove the most and raced the most.

I remember it was often Vette owners - especially the little pathetic Gino types who upgraded from their IROCs - who would call 'em gay little cars. And obviously Evo owners too...go figure :o:


I never said they were "gay little cars", but a high percentage of women and gay men sure do seem to love them . If you read my responses in context my only point was that many if not most Miatas are bought for reasons other than their handling or general performance. Simply put, they're popular and have done well for a variety of reasons other than their performance.

Like being GAY!

I never said they were "gay little cars", but a high percentage of women and gay men sure do seem to love them. If you read my responses in context my only point was that many if not most Miatas are bought for reasons other than their handling or general performance. Simply put, they're popular and have done well for a variety of reasons other than their performance. You say your only point was that Miatas are bought for reasons other than handling or general performance. But then why single out the Miata? Many—if not most—Ferraris, Porsches and BMWs are bought for reasons "other than their handling or general performance". In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a higher percentage of Miata owners race/autocross/rally their cars than do owners of Ferraris, Porsches and BMWs. So why single out the Miata? Though you never said Miatas are "gay little cars," I think that's what you were implying. Fine, lots of people believe that. Just don't try to deny it by saying your point was that most Miatas are bought for reasons other than handling or general performance—a fact that's true for many, if not most, enthusiast cars.

A select group yes we are, i have always been different when buying cars, 74 Audi Fox 1st car then a 76 Audi 100LS, they were pieces but still unique. The NSU Ro80 a 1968 rotary powered car that Audi bought in 72 then abandoned in 77, but Mazda kept the flame alive, Audi i believe still licenses Mazda to use the Rotary. As for the probe hmmm i believe that it was a joint venture between Mazda and Ford aka the Mx6. The Rotary is somewhat pricey to maintain but i have always liked to maintain so its good for me, the unique thing again, and still have exicitement when i walk past her even sitting in the garage- Zoom-Zoom!

If you recall you brought the Miata into this thread for comparison, in an attempt to make some skewed point. Ike was responding to this comparison, I believe. This might explain why he singled it out. :scratchhe

You say your only point was that Miatas are bought for reasons other than handling or general performance. But then why single out the Miata? Many—if not most—Ferraris, Porsches and BMWs are bought for reasons "other than their handling or general performance". In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a higher percentage of Miata owners race/autocross/rally their cars than do owners of Ferraris, Porsches and BMWs. So why single out the Miata? Though you never said Miatas are "gay little cars," I think that's what you were implying. Fine, lots of people believe that. Just don't try to deny it by saying your point was that most Miatas are bought for reasons other than handling or general performance—a fact that's true for many, if not most, enthusiast cars.

If you recall you brought the Miata into this thread for comparison, in an attempt to make some skewed point. Ike was responding to this comparison, I believe. This might explain why he singled it out. :scratchhe

Exactly, thanks for saying it so I don't have to.

I blame Mazda choosing Britney Spears to PR the car brought to the early down fall of the RX-8

wtf? she's hot.

http://img.ircimages.com/ircimages/9/2/925fe14add1c3ad795ebdbafd78ea091.jpg

:puke:

wtf? she's hot.

http://img.ircimages.com/ircimages/9/2/925fe14add1c3ad795ebdbafd78ea091.jpg

I came.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/awedney/misc/070920_crocker.jpg?t=1208529612

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc

I came.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

What a gay thread...............

What a gay thread...............

Um ... yeah. I had to double check the title of the thread again.:uhh:

This thread has def taken a twist...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5PqydMA1kA