For those selling their cars back to Mazda for the HP deficiency, what are you buying instead? Miata, S2000, G35C, 350ZX?

I'll probably keep my order because even with the missing HP, the RX-8 is still the better package, but I'm going to reconsider my second choices, the 350ZX and G35C.

I won't make my final decision till I get the letter and talk to the dealer. I am disappointed not only with the HP problem, but the gas mileage as well. Is there more we have yet to find? I have over 2700 on the car and get 18 mpg at best. I keep my cars till they die so over the expected life of this car, that 6 miles/gallon adds up to alot! I did test a G35C about a month before my RX-8 arrived and it remains my second choice. I will be testing a couple of BMWs just to get more options.

I don't know why people suddenly want to take another look at the compition even thought there car hasn't changed at all. The only difference is what a spec is. It doesn't change the performance, feel, or fun of the car. If you've had buyer's remorse the whole time than this might be a good thing for you, but if you just had these feelings all of a sudden than there is no reason to change your mind now.

Yeah, makes you wonder... In the final analysis it's the performance I look at and the performance here is unchanged.

I wasn't asking about the wisdom of accepting the buyout, that's already been covered in other threads. I'm curious about their second choice.

Rodmeister

today I went and looked at a 350Z. I was heckled at the dealer by about 8 salespeople. I looked in spite of their comments. I sat in the car and looked over the expansive fron dash and the hatch rear with the speaker pillars and suddenly realized that it was not the car for me. It was so useless. Yes, it will get you there and quickly I am sure but the compromises - geez! I already spent quite a bit of time at Infiniti prior to the RX purchase. Back seat of G35C is not adult friendly. My only choice would be the G35 sedan. If you look at their dyno info it is only 15 HP less than the 350Z. Sedan 220, Coupe 230, and 350z 235HP at wheels.

HOWEVER, I am not so sure that I would enjoy the sedan more than my RX and it definitely blends in more. There also are some issues I understand. Anyway. I eliminated the
S2000 (a matchbox) great 2nd car but we have a Miata and frankly there is nothing else like the RX8. I would have to accept the G35 sedan as a second choice.

Originally posted by cueball1029
I don't know why people suddenly want to take another look at the compition even thought there car hasn't changed at all. .
Because he said For those selling their cars back to Mazda if they sell it back most likely they will need another car.

Not sure, I still like the RX-8 best. So maybe just another 8 newer with no miles :) add the NAV and 6 disc though.

Originally posted by Shamus
Yeah, makes you wonder... In the final analysis it's the performance I look at and the performance here is unchanged.


word

i understand the thread, and i also can understand if its a "buyers remorse" case, but for the few(?) people on the boards that all of a sudden hate their car for 9 fewer horses (with the performance specs being UNCHANGED, mind you), i just dont understand it
________
Mutual insurance dicussion (http://www.insurance-forums.org/mutual-insurance/)

My second choice would again be an RX8. That being said, I'm only going to elect to "sell" mine back should they proove they can't fix it by this Friday. That would be 20 days in the shop. I offered to take the red loaner I've been driving and said I would consider option 2 (money and service) but only with some discussion and further discounting, as red isn't what I purchased and I did pay a little over MSRP - that was flatly denied as an option by the dealer without even hearing me out.

So, since I do NOT want to end up in Lemon law Arbitration, I'll have to sell back my first choice and think long and hard about my second choice. It isn't the horsepower numbers that scare me, personally, it is the misrepresentation followed by my vehicle failing and living in the shop for more days now than it did my garage. What a shame...because this vehicle is truly unique in the marketplace. However, in my mind now at least, it is unreliable (unique to my situation possibly) to boot.

I hope Mazda fixes the problem I'm having before it shows up for more of you. I hope that this is isolated to this vehicle only (however, the red loaner shows signs of the same issues). Most of all, I hope I still want and can afford one in a year and buy one again :-)

By the way, I don't think people have decided they hate their car for the missing 9 hp, if that really is the number, I believe that, like myself, they feel betrayed by the long build up and release of the vehicle by the manufacturer, and have lost faith in Mazda the company, not RX8 the vehicle.

i went to rydell chevrolet today...hoping chevy had made the silverado ss in a single cab / 6 speed version but ... alas, no love. that would have been a 2nd choice... now maybe a yamaha r6 =p

Wildwhl
I would definately give your car back. I am keeping mine. I bought an MPV (first one) and it was always in the shop. It seems once a lemon, always a lemon. I since bought 2 other MPVs and they have been great.

Originally posted by rodmeister
For those selling their cars back to Mazda for the HP deficiency, what are you buying instead? Miata, S2000, G35C, 350ZX?


If I had the RX-8 and was unhappy and opted for the buyout, I would go strait for the Audi TT with out regrets, if it had to be one of the four you mentioned I'd have a hard time between the deciding G35C and the 350Z, although I haven't heard the exhaust note of the 350Z, the G35C sounds awesome. But my money would be going to the Audi TT 3.2 without any second thoughts.

Honestly I am still considering the buyout option. I like the 8 but at this point the absolutely horrendous gas milage and the fact that most of our cars are producing in the range of 225 hp (yeah I know the rating is 238 but every dyno thus far shows more like 225 not 238). For a 225 hp car getting 13 to 15 mpg is just unacceptable. Yeah, yeah I can granny drive it and get maybe 18 mpg but that is still terrible. I pounded my S4 which was MUCH faster, much heavier and got 22 to 25 mpg driving it hard and over 30 on the highway.

Honestly I am thinking of doing the buyback and getting another b5 generation S4. 0-60 in 5.5, AWD and sub 14s makes a nice car. Add a chip and you are in the low 13's and faster then a Porsche in 0-60.

Originally posted by Chadr
Honestly I am still considering the buyout option. I like the 8 but at this point the absolutely horrendous gas milage and the fact that most of our cars are producing in the range of 225 hp (yeah I know the rating is 238 but every dyno thus far shows more like 225 not 238). For a 225 hp car getting 13 to 15 mpg is just unacceptable. Yeah, yeah I can granny drive it and get maybe 18 mpg but that is still terrible. I pounded my S4 which was MUCH faster, much heavier and got 22 to 25 mpg driving it hard and over 30 on the highway.

Honestly I am thinking of doing the buyback and getting another b5 generation S4. 0-60 in 5.5, AWD and sub 14s makes a nice car. Add a chip and you are in the low 13's and faster then a Porsche in 0-60.



....or you could go with a 225 hp Audi TT quattro coupe and get 20/29 mpg and sacrifice some HP get better gas milage and get a great deal since dealers are getting ready for the '04 models. Hey it does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds and supposedly it could be easily chipped and modified to make 250-300 hp.

or if speed is your thing there is always the Mustang Mach 1 with the cool shaker hood (easily modded to make 12's in the 1/4 mile) or the Cobra that could also easily be modded to make 11's in the 1/4.

Originally posted by wildwhl
I hope Mazda fixes the problem I'm having before it shows up for more of you. I hope that this is isolated to this vehicle only (however,
****the red loaner shows signs of the same issues***

). Most of all, I hope I still want and can afford one in a year and buy one again :-)


Wow....the loaner is starting to lag at high rpms?

RX8-TX

Yes, I hate to say it, but the "loaner" is also showing early signs of the same problem my black one has. It starts as a hickup or hesitation at 6,200ish rpms and again around 7,500ish rpms...however, I believe that all of the cars are doing this from the dyno plots. It just so happens this is also where the original black car "died" so to speak...

Looks like the loaner goes back tomorrow. It has about 650 miles on it now...so I can't say if the problem is to become the same or not and won't have it long enough to find out.

Originally posted by wildwhl
RX8-TX

Yes, I hate to say it, but the "loaner" is also showing early signs of the same problem my black one has. It starts as a hickup or hesitation at 6,200ish rpms and again around 7,500ish rpms...however, I believe that all of the cars are doing this from the dyno plots. It just so happens this is also where the original black car "died" so to speak...

Looks like the loaner goes back tomorrow. It has about 650 miles on it now...so I can't say if the problem is to become the same or not and won't have it long enough to find out.

Scary, I am about to hit 600 miles, tomorrow very likely, I still haven't really pushed it all the way. Only had a couple opportunities to redline with some remorse. I guess I'll have to wait a few hundred miles more and then see what happens. I can't say Im dissappointed with the 8, but Im a little curious how will mine respond.

Thanks for you reply wildwhl!!

Have a good one.
MP.-

Originally posted by wildwhl
RX8-TX

Yes, I hate to say it, but the "loaner" is also showing early signs of the same problem my black one has. It starts as a hickup or hesitation at 6,200ish rpms and again around 7,500ish rpms...however, I believe that all of the cars are doing this from the dyno plots. It just so happens this is also where the original black car "died" so to speak...

Looks like the loaner goes back tomorrow. It has about 650 miles on it now...so I can't say if the problem is to become the same or not and won't have it long enough to find out.

Wildwhl,

Can you report to us the 2 VIN#'s of those cars? The reason I'm asking is to find out if there is any correlation of this performance lag to a range of VIN#'s. Since my car hasn't shown any signs of a hickup, or at least not yet, I was curious if maybe we can isolate it to a VIN range, or maybe a 1st shipment vs. 2nd shipment situation perhaps.

Also has anyone made note of the VIN# range, or 1st or 2nd shipment, on the Dyno's with the reported "low" rwhp?

P.S.
This also may be applied to those that are reporting piss-poor MPG's.