Hello everyone,

On Wednesday afternoon we will pick up our new 2004 model (there are no real 2005 ones yet - we have been told) Titanium Grey RX-8. :)

My partner (the Finance Director) and I decided to do the change of life thing and buy the sports car before our daughter (Miss 5) gets too old. :eek: After looking at Megane CC, Peugot 307CC and Audi A3 Sportback turbo, we settled on the RX-8. The Finance Director loved the car on the test run and impressed everyone with her driving ability - I, on the other hand, need lots of practice to get "in-tune" with this car. We can't believe how much room there is in the back - it looks like we can still operate as a family with this car.

This is our fourth new Mazda since 1995 and the second one we have purchased from Grand Prix in Brisbane. We started with a 121 (lots of fun BC), upgraded to a MPV in 2000 (not the best of times) and then the 6 in 2003 (great car, but not for "change of life").

I am impressed with the wealth of knowledge on this site and the good spirit of the contributors.

Thanks for letting us be part of the group.

Welcome to our RX8 rotorhood :) the rx8 is great child friendly fun sports car , no doubt in time you will meet the Hymsteer being a fellow brisbanite , he will tempt you with his array of goodies for your RX8.

cheers
michael

Thanks Michael,

I am already interested in the Hymee grill set, but the fitting looks challenging.. I wonder how much fitting will cost?

If I can't improve my manual gearbox skills I will also look at the gearshift.. I used to own a 1978 Audi Fox that had the best gearshift.. I used to change gears with one finger on top of the lever..

Cheers
Adrian

Adrian,

Welcome to our place.

Nice shot of the F111 and the dump and burn! :D

I bought all my Mazdas from Grand Prix, including the 8.

Cheers,
Hymee.

Welcome xxup - hopefully you can make it along to the next cruise when we schedule one.

Hymee's grille will be pretty easy to fit... I have my own custom grille similar to Hymee's - the hardest part was getting the front bumper off - and that isn't too hard. I'm pretty sure Hymee gives you step by step instructions with pictures.

Hymee's pretty partial to "Dark and Stormy" and Bundy and coke... maybe a six pack or two will get you some help ;)

Thanks Michael,

I am already interested in the Hymee grill set, but the fitting looks challenging.. I wonder how much fitting will cost?


Drive it to Melbourne...I'll do it for the cost of a cold stubbie. Leave it too much longer though, and the price will rise to the cost of an Irish Whisky.

Welcome to the forum :)

Gomez.

The Finance Director and I are both very fond of Bundy with Coke or Ginger Beer (Stormy).. We also love Melbourne - it's a great city.. :D

We took the F111 photo at the Amberley air show last year.. It really hurt to shrink it down to 100x100 pixels... It was an awesome day...

What's a cruise? Count us in and we will be there as long as it does not conflict with one of the Finance Director's fishing trips..

Adrian

Welcome!

Hymee's kit is a cinch to fit , but it sure scares the hell out of the family to see you with the front end off your new car. (worth every second! just for the faces he he he!)

And lets face it he's up the road if you can't put it all back together. (Bundy will probably do it!)

Mike

What's a cruise? Count us in and we will be there as long as it does not conflict with one of the Finance Director's fishing trips..


Its where we all go for a drive 'round the place. UHF radios. Normally a good days outing, with a couple of stops, well off the main highway. Nice country roads. Plenty of photo's and planty to talk about.

Cheers,
Hymee.

(there are no real 2005 ones yet - we have been told)


That is true...a fire at the RX-8 plant stopped production in mid December. Production resumed (or was scheduled to resume) this week, I think.

Adrian

Welcome. This is a great place to be and you will find lots of useful information here.

The cruise is always a highlight and if you are game maybe even a track day...even better. I look forward to catching up with you at some stage.

skc

Okay the cruise sounds good, please include us... I need to go find a UHF radio with aerial... Any recommendations for the radio and the aerial mount?

Thanks for the welcome skc.. We won't race this car, but I am sure that we will come alomg to a couple of the events to watch (and learn)..

I look forward to meeting you..

Adrian

Okay the cruise sounds good, please include us... I need to go find a UHF radio with aerial... Any recommendations for the radio and the aerial mount?

UNIDEN have some greatpocket sized UHF radios , no need for aerial mounts i have the Uniden UHO37 BUT THERE ARE SOME LATER MODELS OUT COST AROUND$60 - 90 range .

cheers
michael

A few of us got a Uniden. Me and Sco got a 2W one each for a bit better range. Hand helds are great - no need for an antennea, and you can get hand vox headseats for them if you are keen.

You don't need to "race" you car at a track day. Just get out and explore it's limits. It is a fun and safe way to go as fast as you like withouth fear of a speeding ticket.

Cheers,
Hymee.

BTW - Some of the left over yellow cars at the plant are being re-sold in the old P76 colour - Burnt Orange. :p

Cheers,
Hymee.

Welcome, good to see you have the full support of your "company" for your purchase.

The 8 is a lot of fun (sydney peak hour sucks a bit, however when you see even MORE powerful cars going the same speed.....)

I will be broaching some of Hymee protection/performance options with my managing director soon :D

BTW I received the Mazda welcome kit with a free Level 1 driver training track day. Promises to be a lot of fun!

Oooooo... :cool: The level 1 driver training track day sounds good.. Does everyone get that or is this only available from the Sydney dealers? The Finance Director is really interested in this one.. :)

Level 1 driver day... it may be on a track but they are not track day. But it is still a lot of fun.

What happened to the RX-8 drive day that happened last year? Perheps Mazda did not find it worthwhile to run it too often?

xxup. Welcome. You will love Hymee's product. I recently have the grill to protect my new oil cooler. It actually looks cool with the grill up!

You will enjoy your time here. Ask any question you like ... don't have to do search (hehe :D)

xxup

Welcome to our world. Most of us here are condemned RX-8 fanatic's. There are quite a few in Brisbane (myself included).

I have had the pleasure of 1 RX-8 cruise (post Xmas) and a good time was had by all RX-8's and the Porsche interloper. I too need to get a UHF radio before the next cruise (where's the organising committee? Hint Hint ;) ) as I was pretty much the only one without one last time.

I'm in the process of sorting a convenient date out for my free-bie Driver Training.

As for fitting the grill kit - it cost me a slab of Crown (Eager's did it for me pre-delivery).

Look forward to meeting you at one of our socials.

ps try not to look at the petrol prices too much :eek:

pps don't even think about trying to keep up with Taka and his mod's - he has more RX-8 accessories than Ezzy has paint colours! :p

Oooooo... :cool: The level 1 driver training track day sounds good.. Does everyone get that or is this only available from the Sydney dealers? The Finance Director is really interested in this one.. :)

Everyone gets one....even you guys in Brisvegas :) .

Hey, welcome... you, the Finance Director and Miss 5 will all be doing the RX-8 grin real soon!

Welcome to the forum xxup.... I got the Uniden 1 watt (UH041) and that works fine for me. The cruises are a great way to meet other 8 owners and the drive is grrreeeaaatttt.
Gotta get a Hymee exhaust though....value for money.
I'll cash in on those stickers Hymee....me think that's 4 now!!!!

rx88er

I agree with the earlier comments about the RX8 as a family car with one exception.

Although my two (3 and 4.5) love riding in it and now refuse to ride in the Boss's station wagon, the boot makes any typical kid stuff hard to carry. Just managed to squeeze a single stroller in with some overnight bags but it was tricky and led to some serious head scratching when it was time to get it out again :o .

Seriously thinking about pulling out that silly spare and taking my chances with a flat! :D

I have taken out the spare....so far, so good. The BIG problem is if you slash a tyre. But all the flats I have ever had, have been a nail or similar, so the the sealant would have saved me.

Turf it and just keep your tyre pressures up. 12.8kg saved if you remove the brace bar as well :) .

welcome mate :)
quick question..... what colour is Itanium? :confused:

quick question..... what colour is Itanium? :confused:

:rolleyes: Smart ass! :D

Quote from the Hymster

"BTW - Some of the left over yellow cars at the plant are being re-sold in the old P76 colour - Burnt Orange. :p "

Richard Paul and Ezzy any comments ?? At least RP is making his own Axial Flow Supercharger :p and has great taste in picking a RARE lightining Yellow RX8 AS HIS OWN RIDE :cool:

cheers
michael

I have taken out the spare....so far, so good. The BIG problem is if you slash a tyre. But all the flats I have ever had, have been a nail or similar, so the the sealant would have saved me.

The spare tyre and the brace creates extra safety for your passengers in case you cop it up the rear :p

cheers
michael

"BTW - Some of the left over yellow cars at the plant are being re-sold in the old P76 colour - Burnt Orange. :p "

cheers
michael

are you for real...?
seriously... someone is pulling your legs. :rolleyes:
nojooc can you pls confirm this?

Turf it and just keep your tyre pressures up.

What tyre pressures do you guys run? I currently have 34 all round and am still experimenting with the goat tracks that masquerade as roads in Sydney.

The spare tyre and the brace creates extra safety for your passengers in case you cop it up the rear

Gotta say this is important given the fact that my kids are usually in the back when I need the boot space. What a damn catch 22 that is. :confused: :confused:

I know - I'll leave 'em at home with the Boss. :D :D :D

are you for real...?
seriously... someone is pulling your legs. :rolleyes:
nojooc can you pls confirm this?

Sorry - I was pulling your leg. There was no colour called Burnt Orange. The two "orangey" colours were "Home on Th'Orange" and "Bitter Apricot".

http://www.webtrade.com.au/p76/archives/colours.htm

Cheers,
Hymee.

Sorry - should have added that I was rear-ended just on Good Friday. :mad: Luckily nobody else aboard. :)

Only very minor cosmetic damage to black strip on rear bumper but typically the car has been with AAMI's jokers since last Wednesday. :(

are you for real...?
seriously... someone is pulling your legs. :rolleyes:
nojooc can you pls confirm this?

Ezzy Hymee posted the info as a joke if he doesnt sell enough of his Scanalysers / Superchargers hes thinking of becoming a comedian :eek:

cheers
michael

Ezzy Hymee posted the info as a joke if he doesnt sell enough of his Scanalysers / Superchargers hes thinking of becoming a comedian :eek:

cheers
michael

hahahaaa....
i was playing along as well...... :cool:
dont think mazda would be brave enough to introduce an orange range to the rx8 line-up...... that'd peobably end up like the lightenging yellow..... ie. discountiuned :D

oh by the way.... hows the supercharger coming along hymee? there is a thread about it in ausrotary forum :)

Ezzy
oh by the way.... hows the supercharger coming along hymee? there is a thread about it in ausrotary forum

Its coming :eek: slowly similar to Hymee HA HA HA ....................HA ;)

cheers
michael

Well we picked it up this afternoon (tonight really)... My gear changing was getting really good by the time we got home... Wow this thing has amazing torque... I (accidentally) started in 3rd and she just pulled away... The last manual car we owned ,"old noddy" (the 121), would have stalled...

A couple of gripes:
1. Where is the trip computer? - the MPV and 6 had a great trip computer that gave us some idea of how consumption was going...

2. The manual (Aug 2004 edition) provides detail on towing capacities and even shows a diagram of a RX-8 and towing, but you can't buy a tow bar!!!! Even talks about towing caravans in Australia!

3. I used to have a little tray on the driver's side for the garage door opener on the MPV and the 6 - but there is only a very small coin tray thre.. Where do you guys keep yours?

Love the flick key - "don't mess with me - I have a flick key!" :D

Lights are a bit better than the 6 - way better than the MPV..

The floor mats with the red rotor look great.. :cool: The boot tray lid and carpet is a bit tizzy.. :eek:

The rear door protector $40 is two rubber strips (with RX-8) logo that protect the inner rear door trim from damage if the front door is closed first. Not great vaue, but given every other accessory seems to be $600 - it is a bargain!

We will give it a better run on the weekend - the Finance Director is taking it for a spin tomorrow night to a school meeting.. :(

No trip computer (although I'm thinking of writing one for a car pc)
There is a tow bar listed as an accessory in the UK
Sunglass holder is handy for the remote button

Congrats.. .nothing better than the first drive home :)

sco, have you thought of some sort of version for a palm os or pocket pc,?I wonder if it would work? I was thinking of buying a handheld and keeping it in the car JUST for gps nav and any other benifits in addition would be cool.

but yeah, no trip computer is a bit weird for a car of this price.

I agree one for Palm or Pocket PC is good. You see the HSV have put the diagnostic tool in a Pocket PC version and they have it mounted where our front drink holders are. You can do that too sco!

sco, have you thought of some sort of version for a palm os or pocket pc,?I wonder if it would work? I was thinking of buying a handheld and keeping it in the car JUST for gps nav and any other benifits in addition would be cool.

but yeah, no trip computer is a bit weird for a car of this price.
Yep... pocket pc version is on the cards. You'll need one you can get a serial cable for.

I agree one for Palm or Pocket PC is good. You see the HSV have put the diagnostic tool in a Pocket PC version and they have it mounted where our front drink holders are. You can do that too sco!
I hear the HSV one can change engine parameters on the fly - maybe Hymee will do one for his super charger/piggy back??