A few observances and opinions after owning this car for a year.

1. I just broke the 5,000 mile mark.
2. It has never stalled or failed to start.
3. I have never had a CEL, only tire pressure on the coldest days.
4. It has been in the shop twice; Once for "M" flash and oil change, 2nd time for various TSB work.
5. I average 17-19 miles per gallon.
6. I have only had to add a total of 3/4 qt of oil for top offs in a year.
7. It is completely stock. Why mess with a good thing?
8. Only thing I have done is paint the rotor hubs and calipers due to rusting. And I'm on the list for strakes and accents from RX8Fun and am waiting for my rain deflectors from Japanparts.com.
9. This forum also turned me on to Zaino products which keep it looking good.
10. I have been challenged by kids in civics more times than I can count. Most of them I just ignore. . . :cool:
11. I have been reported for excessive speed once.
12. I have been stopped twice and released with a warning both times.
13. I turn 40 years old on Saturday, but I feel like a teenager everytime I get behind the wheel! Although I am sometimes reminded of my middle age when getting in and out of the car.

Okay, that's about enough. Are there things about the car that I'd change? Yeah, the same things that everyone mentions on here. Would I do it all over again? You Bet, I love this car!!

only 5000 miles?!?!?!?! should take the car out for a nice long ROAD TRIP!!!

Would I do it all over again? You Bet, I love this car!!

GOSH, time and again...everyone loves the car...how can you go wrong...I can't wait...

Rx8wanna , the time is right to get a '04 while they last ! It's more than you ever expected the car to be !

Congrats galleychief!! My first year is tomorrow 10/29/04 and I have 14500 miles on it. Ride on.

What's with these wannabe racer kids in their civics? In Portland I see them all the time trying to race un-engine-modded '86 4 door civic (usually in multiple colors) with a big fat tailpipe that makes the car sound like it has a gastrointestinal problem :rolleyes: Good restraint on your part galley, I'd be tempted to smoke them every time lol :D

Whoa nice! Not much milegae though!!

I'll wait to update on my two year anniversay (only 9.5 months to go). Winter wheels and tires will go on around Thanksgiving. Can't wait to play in the snow in the 8! But first... just enjoying the PA/MD fall colors topless in the Miata.

My one year was three weeks ago and I have 25,000 miles.

Highlights:

Still on OEM tires. Probably another 5000 miles left.
I get about 19mpg.
Never got a CEL.
Never flooded.
Had front end damage that required very expensive HID lamps replacements.
A quart of oil at 5000 miles. (oil changes at 7000 miles)
Still completely stock.
No stops by the authorities.
Spun out even with stability control enabled at relatively slow speeds.
Almost emtied the fuel tank in 2 hours on a public road on a trip from Phoenix, AZ to Los Angeles, CA.


I'm happy with the car. If I had to buy another sporty car with rear seats, I would still buy the RX-8.

5,000? And I thought I was low mileage when I was only at 9,800 after a year! (I have another vehicle, a pickup truck, which shares my miles).

A few observances and opinions after owning this car for a year.

Would I do it all over again? You Bet, I love this car!! :D :D

Congrats Galleychief!

I'm closing in on 11,000 miles after 7 months .... I have to resist driving the 8 and put miles on the Millenia S if not the 8 would have 18K+ by now.

Enjoy the drive!! :cool:

I must admitt that my Bonneville gets half of the weekly road work and ALL of the family trips. Honestly., when I bought the RX8 I was thinking long term investment potential; first generation, renesis motor, yada yada. . .
Keeping the mileage low is my goal, but driving it is like a drug. Once you start, you can't stop. And all of a sudden 80 mph on the interstate isn't fast enough,
know what I mean. . . :D

I am passing 1 year this Nov 1. I am celebrating by tackling the Dragon for a second time next weekend.

My findings:
- 15,900 miles
- Car has two rattles: left rear deck and front driver door (next to my ear). I am too lazy (and deaf) to attempt repair.
- Tires are at their wear marks. I drive aggressively on short trips, but not on long trips.
- I have used 87 octane since after break-in. I get at least 19mpg when commuting, and above 24mpg traveling. I was getting lower than 15 during break-in.
- The red-line beep is working. I check it's operation often.
- I had several CELs. They were all linked to a 'vacuum leak' or some such error. M Flash fixed it. I think I had 4 reset visits before I showed them that they were supposed to flash all cars to M.
- Not targeted by authorities, but I dont speed excesively. 73mph for me on the interstates.
- Flooded once early in its life. Pulling the fuse for the fuel pump and getting on it worked. I now blip the throttle before shutdown in cold situations.
- I am going to put Redline in the diff and tranny before the Dragon. Other than that, it will mostly remain stock.

I am 23. I chose this car over a used 330i. This is my first new car; I own a 92 Explorer.

galleyChief:
Reported for speeding? I'd never hear of that before. Did you get a ticket on the mail? Or how did you find out you were reorted for speeding?

T-REX,

I received a call from the Kitsap County Sherrif because someone along my normal route home had called them to report my "spirited" driving on the county road which borders their property. The person who made the report had made a point to get my plate number. The Deputy was pleasant but stern and told me to ease off. Fair enough, I did.

Congrats on the anny to all of you, owned mine for 2.5 months, have accumulated 4100 miles....cannot seem to leave parked in garage for any trip regardless of length, I have gripes as do many on the board but still love each and every time I take it out.

p.s. My daily driver has been parked for over a month..lol

What's with these wannabe racer kids in their civics?

At least it isn't the wannabe racer kids in the tricked out Neon's. God, what a horrible, piece-of-crap car that is. I'm unable to comprehend why you would put $20-30k in upgrades on a Neon.

T-REX,

I received a call from the Kitsap County Sherrif because someone along my normal route home had called them to report my "spirited" driving on the county road which borders their property. The person who made the report had made a point to get my plate number. The Deputy was pleasant but stern and told me to ease off. Fair enough, I did.


Seems hard to have been speeding if they managed to get your plates. I'm reminded of the Celica commercials with the old man walking down the street, seeing the Celica parked curbside. "SLOW DOWN" he yells. The voice over announcer chimes in: The 2004 Celica, it even LOOKS fast...

:D

* One year for me also
* ~12,000 miles
* I have topped out at 150MPH with a passenger in the car. (I know I did not believe it myself, I thought the car was electronically limited to 147MPH)
* MAZDASPEED flywheel just installed - absolutely love it. I can do donuts now.
* Been pulled over once for speeding on 3 day anniversary -- warning.
* Been pulled over for limo tinted windows -- I know a cop ;)
* Been pulled over for I don't know what -- again, knowing the cop thing ;)
* Redline beep also still working for me. Chirping out in 3rd gear is nominal
* Tires needing replacing. Two have nails.
* New car smell is fading away - boy do I miss that.
* The RX-8 is the next best thing since sliced bread!

0 floods, CEL, stalls, difficult starts
0 number of times that I’ve regretted my purchase or whish I bought a different car
1 year of ownership this week
1 track day
1 speeding ticket (84mph in a 55, judge lowered it to 64)
2 auto-x events
2 visits to the dealer (air bag recall, re-flash, and seat track, then seat track a second time)
3 quarts of top-off oil between changes
4 oil changes
4 stock tires that are shot (snows on for winter)
13.4 MPG worst fuel mileage (track day an a few highway miles)
18.3 MPG average fuel mileage (mix of highway & rural roads, very little city)
22.3 MPG best fuel mileage (all highway)
48 fuel tank fill-ups
660 gallons of premium
12,500 miles of pure enjoyment

This is the best car I’ve ever owned, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this one!