This may be a controversial topic but (and this is all IMHO)

We are all seeing more RX8s on the road lately, due to the fact there are more of them (obviously).

The initial buyers of the car were probably rotary nuts, or car enthusiasts in general. People (like me) bought the car because it was a great blend of practicality and performance, in a great package. And it revs high and smoothly, it quick, handles brilliantly, and is fun.

I think some of the people buying the car now are more interested in such things as "leather seats" and the "sporty look" - as reflected in the rising percentage of automatics being sold (according to my local Mazda dealer anyway - most of the original cars were manuals, with autos being passed over. Now autos are selling well too).

I saw two Rx8s this morning. One being drive v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y by a 50+ yr old Hillary Clinton clone. She was oblivious to her surroundings and did not buy the car as a performance vehicle.

Another is a work colleague who bought the car because she likes the look of mine, loves the stereo and the interior. And she got the auto.

Now, when she was getting insurance, I mentioned Shannons because I got a very good rate from them. So she rang, and was refused insurance. I was then put on the phone to explain that I was insured as an Rx8 owner, and the woman on the other end delicately tried to explain that "I was an enthusiast, and enthusiasts treat their cars different. They are easier to insure, and are less likely to make claims for parking and low speed accidents etc.". and that "the other person doesn't meet the profile of the sort of people we are looking to insure".

Anyway, my rambling post is about to come to an abrupt end and I hope I haven't offending too many people.

 

more the better I guess.
I would have loved getting auto with the 'selespeed' type tiptronic if it wasn't for the detuned engine and 4speed gearbox.
and unlike bmw style paddleshift, u can shift the gears on RX-8 with only one hand =D

 

Well not everybody has to buy a car specifically based on performance, handling etc.... (its a car)

And i also rang Shannons, telling them that i purchased a RX-8 being a enthusiast for them from top to bottom. But they still refused my insurance (maybe because i am 20 yrs of age)

Regardless, i reckon people can buy cars for whatever reason they choose. Mazda's goal is to sell, sell, sell, weither its the interior, looks, performance, handling or everything, their goal is to have 1 of those things to inspire you, so that eventually your buying 1.

 

Correct me if im wrong but isnt tiptronic different to paddleshift?

My parents have auto w/tiptronic on their BMW and 1 hand is used easy.

My Mate has a 360 F1 ferrari spider with the option of paddle shift gearing which is placed on the left & right side of the steering wheel (hence the name paddles). A bit like formula 1

 

Ageo, he's talking about BMW SMG which is a two-hand job. Tiptronic et al aren't real sequentials. The paddle shift on your mate's F1 is the only other real sequential.

-pete

 

ageo, rx-8 auto can change gears by means of either the traditional 'tiptronic' or use the paddleshift on the steering wheel.
the good thing is unlike other paddleshift like F1, ferrari, alfa selespeed etc, u can both up/down shift with one hand coz it has downshift button in front and upshift behind (ithink..) other u need both hands to be able to shift the gears (unless u release the steering I guess =)

 

Agreed, the first owners were predominantly rotary nuts....I bought the car for the following reasons....[list=1][*]Handling[*]Performance[*]Four doors / Four seats[/list=1]
Would not have made the sale if the car did not meet ALL of the above requirements....
Love the look,...save the cows....don't know if the auto statistic is correct though...I heard somewhere that 5% of RX-8's were auto's....Is it a City of Churches thing:D :D ?? Maybe it's time for a poll on the number of auto's...I think I have only seen one Australian forum member with an auto. Probably lend weight to your point though....most enthusiasts buy the manual. Interesting that most Falcon GT's sold are auto's.... BTW, Mazda's website shows that 8 sales numbered 212 in Feb when I bought mine...the second best month for RX-8 sales since launch.

Man, you're lucky...the forum has what, 2 members in ADL, and you see a couple in one day....I have not had the chance to have a wave/flash headlights since I bought the car....done 1500k's!!!

Gomez.

 

I actually see quite a few RX8s cruising around. At least 1 every 2 or 3 days, and quite often 2 or 3 on the same day.

It might be due to the suburbs I inhabit.

In Melbourne you would probably see more Rx8s around Toorak and St Kilda than you would near Doncaster or Sunshine.

 

When I spoke to my Dealer Principal about two weeks ago, he said they had just delivered their first auto in mid-Feb (Canberra is not such an auto-addicted city, in any case). Interestingly, he also said the waiting list was now about 4 weeks for any colour/spec, as MA's embargo on dealers swapping stock had been lifted.

And yes, I have also had a nice, er, equally-aged lady admire the car and specifically ask if it came with leather seats and auto, to which I politely said 'yes' but the manual was better

 

As far as i know 20 or so cars have been sold on the Goldcoast , as stated most of the early ones to rotary enthusiasts .

The rest hmmmmmmmmmmm, i am told some people dont even no that they have a rotary engine , in the RX8 , Mazda has achieved part of their objective SELL morecars , be it Automatics or Manuals .

Seeing both Males and Females driving Automatics/ Manuals like little old grannys ,certainly gives the rx8 a ***** car type of image .

Here on the Goldcoast there are a lot of Divorced mothers having a midlife crisis buying the first sports car , albeith Automatics , they havent got a clue how to drive the RX8 and most likely never redline it .(wHAT A WASTE )

Iam quite happy to chat with drivers in a Manual car as far as AUTO goes sorry to bussy to waste my time .

RX7 owners have a kick *** image RX8 owners , id rather not say Hymee would not approve .

What sort of image do you think the rx8 potrays to the public and to other rotary drivers??????????????

cheers
michael

 

dbb, can you tell us what questions were asked/their conversations for the insurance company to determine your friend isnt an "enthusiast"?

eric

 

That wouldn't happen to be the lady in the red one in the kensington gardens area? Flashed my beams at her and got no response, next time I might flash something else, LOL!

Also saw a green one today with stakes and a rear spoiler, looked very "busy" didn't like it at all, and the driver looked like a real estate agent, definitely not an enthusiast

 

AMG

Instead of flashing your high beams or flashing yourself to this broad in kensington .

When you get a chance to meet or talk to her tell her that you heard a rumour that shes into:

GROUP ......AND ... **** ........,SEX .??????

That will definetely get her attention.

You never know your luck you might be able to fill all her cavities .ha ha ha


cheers
michael

 

Hahaha. Phillip McCavity.

The yelling sentence is a tinsy bit over the line, L&L.

But the power point you sent me was funny.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

I reckon auto RX-8's should be the last or our worries.. though I have to say it is a little disappointing.

the shear numbers of auto boxsters and 911's around the place should make every car enthusiast cry......

[massive generalisation]
HSV and Falcon owners tend to go auto cos they are middle aged lazy **** tradies, or exec's, who basically wanna look flash and have lots of straight line grunt + the manual boxes in HSV and FPV vehicles suck **** for shift quality..
[/massive generalisation]

Curious about the shannons thing too....

I haven't dealt with them since they refused me insurance on my rally car, quite rudely I might add, even though 20 or so mates of mine in the same car club have their rally cars insured with them.. Go figure....

Cheers

Rowdy

PS the RX-8 has landed, but much earlier than we were told. it's now a mad scramble to get the Gti-6 prepared for sale. GRRR!!.. damn dealers...

 

Yeah, as my dealer said, availability is getting much better. Soon it will almost be a walk up start.

Look -- if people want an auto, that's their business. I won't judge them because they will have their reason. I just wouldn't buy one myself, just like I can't imagine driving the wife's Calais with a manual tranny. Heck, how could I rest my left leg up on the dash :D :D

 

Yea, exactly what kind of screening process do they have to determine who is a enthusiast or not ???

Or was it just a brush off technique ?

 

Shannons insured me back in August. I don't know if there were any specific screening questions. The asked what my last car was, what the new one was. They didn't have an RX8 on the books yet, and seemed as excited about the car as me. That's all I remember.

The girl with the auto RX8 may have been precluded because of a number of reasons. (1) it was an auto (2) she has a bubbly cheerful phone voice (3) She mentioned the leather seats.

I don't know ...

 

Rowdy old buddy, I know you like it, but you won't regret selling that pommie piece-a-*****....

Regards, Go (ex Pug owner) mez.

 

This is why I like cars that are exclusively owned by enthusiasts. Evolution, SVT anything, SRT anything, Galant VR-4, Civic SI, Mazdaspeed anything. I like them because their intentions are obvious.