I ordered the car exactly 8 months ago. It was released over a week ago, and today I finally got the call. After work my wife and I rushed over to pick it up.

At the dealership the fates were smiling - the first time I ever saw my own car there was just dazzling sunshine and the gold sprinkles in the red paint GLEAMED from almost 10' away - I have never seen the Velocity Red look so good (and I have tested a red RX-8 3 times, seen one at the Rev-It-Up and also at the Motor Show). It is ahead of silver as my favourite again...

The dealership was great - the GM cheered when he saw me finally get my car (he knows me), the sales manager popped in on his day off and bumped into me to say congrats (he has my number on speed dial on his cell-phone) and my sales guy (Richard aka RX8Seller here) did a superb job on going over the car, NAV system and manuals etc - he is a long time rotary driver and one of the best (meaning honest and helpful) salesmen I have experienced. I have to say the dealership has always been honest and gave great service - a big thank you to Jeff Haas Mazda in Houston, I look forward to doing all my servicing there.

However not everything was perfect - the passenger seat plastic side (near airbag symbol) had a dent, as did the rear door interior trim. It seems someone at the port had slammed the rear door shut whilst the seatbelt strike (metal plate) was twisted and turned 90% so it left these two dents. Of course the dealership will replace the effected items once the parts come in, and the dents are not too noticable (I didn't see it during my inspection and neither did Richard - thank my wife's supervision). In fact my wife and I spent over 30mins going over the inside and outside of the car very carefully and that was the only flaw we found.

But this barely registers on my enjoyment of this car. A full write up will follow next week if anyone is interested (how many more reviews can you take?). Personally I am taking a sabbatical from the forum until Monday to focus on the car instead of reading and writing about it. Tomorrow I put the Huper Optik tint on it, so photos will follow at some point.

But I have to share one last thing: on the way home (I took some quiet back roads to avoid people and concentrate on the vehicle) I noticed some big black dude in an old Civic next to me waving frantically to wind my window down. I did so and he shouted 'beautiful car - is it a V8'.
I shout back 'No, it's a rotary'.
'But does it have a V8?'.
'It doesn't have ANY cylinders, it's a rotary engine'
'Wow - that's cool man - I like it.'

Yep, this car is special...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You must be extrememly happy and its nice to have that send off with all the people at the dealership.

and about that guy that asked about the V8. what part of "NO..." didnt he understand lol

FINALLY!! cool man.

Congrats on your 8 pelucidor!!!!!!!:D

Congrats!

I would have been very frustrated if I were you, but you kept your cool :)

Congratulations on the purchase! :D At least the dude in the civic didn't just brush it off and act like "no such thing as no pistons."

Congrats Pelucidor -- I also got mine yesterday! Also had a very similar experience with getting waved down -- about 6 times in the 22 miles now on my car :D

All the waiting (and complaining) were definitely worth it.

Originally posted by pelucidor
...Tomorrow I put the Huper Optik tint on it, so photos will follow at some point...Yep, this car is special...

CONGRATS pelucidor....:D . You finally decided on the $400 Huper Optik tint? Can u take some before and after pictures? :cool:

pelucidor

It saddens me that you had to point out that the guy in the Civic was a "big black dude" as if that tidbit did anything for your description or mattered in the slightest bit or being some other race. Obviously you've got (probably subconscious) issues with black people which once again demonstrates how far this world has to go. You could say I am being overly sensitive, but then what was your point in saying that? Were we supposed to assume something?

Congratulations on your RX-8. I should have mine soon. Too bad for your outlook on people. How unfortunate.

25 year old, slender, "black dude"

Originally posted by pelucidor
But I have to share one last thing: on the way home (I took some quiet back roads to avoid people and concentrate on the vehicle) I noticed some big black dude in an old Civic next to me waving frantically to wind my window down. I did so and he shouted 'beautiful car - is it a V8'.
I shout back 'No, it's a rotary'.
'But does it have a V8?'.
'It doesn't have ANY cylinders, it's a rotary engine'
'Wow - that's cool man - I like it.'

LOL...hahaha... LOL

I can't imagine Mazda trying to cram a V8 into the small engine compartment. Although if done, the 8 could be pretty nasty...like those guys who were building monster-miatas.

Originally posted by tangierc
pelucidor

It saddens me that you had to point out that the guy in the Civic was a "big black dude" as if that tidbit did anything for your description or mattered in the slightest bit or being some other race. Obviously you've got (probably subconscious) issues with black people which once again demonstrates how far this world has to go. You could say I am being overly sensitive, but then what was your point in saying that? Were we supposed to assume something?

Congratulations on your RX-8. I should have mine soon. Too bad for your outlook on people. How unfortunate.

25 year old, slender, "black dude"

now the questions is...would you have made the comment above if he had said "scranny asian dude in a civic..."?

relax man...I am sure he meant no attack at any race in his comments.

24 year old, scranny, "asian dude"...

Actually I would have. I tend to question meaningless exposition pertaining to a group of people. I don't think he was trying to attack anyone. Though I was curious what his point was.

Originally posted by tangierc
Though I was curious what his point was.
tangierc, he was just describing the person, just like he was describing his car and the ride, etc. I wouldn't read too much into it. :)

So, wait... ummm... Did you say it was a V8? *chuckles*


Gratz man!

Personally, I'm still undecided between teh 350Z vs RX-8. I haven't had the pleasure of driving an RX-8 yet, so we'll see if I end up posting as you did :)

It saddens me that you had to point out that the guy in the Civic was a "big black dude" as if that tidbit did anything for your description or mattered in the slightest bit or being some other race. Obviously you've got (probably subconscious) issues with black people which once again demonstrates how far this world has to go. You could say I am being overly sensitive, but then what was your point in saying that? Were we supposed to assume something? Hey thanks for the diagnosis, Doc. He was just being descriptive of the drive home. You sound like a woman, always trying to read between the lines of every word a man says, which once again demonstrates how far our culture takes itself too damn seriously nowadays. Don't rain on his parade, please.

Congrats and FINALLY Pelucidor! PICS!!! :D :D :D

I also will say congrats again too :0) I had the pleasure of doing the delivery and the misfortune of never having the right information during the waiting period, but thank you for the kind words and we are very glad that you are happy with your new RX-8!!!!

Richard

PICS!! PICS!! We want to see the big ol' pelucidor grin!

It's really funny but I think a lot of people out there don't know about the rotary engine, it has been almost 10 years since the last RX-7. Since it's an RX-eight there might be more people like this guy believing it has a V8. Really funny!

25 years old, white, "hispanic latino dude" :D