gibbon

Having had my RX-8 Revelation for all of 4 days, and clocking over to 600km this morning, I thought I'd share my first impressions.

• Wow, what a fun car this is to drive - even during its running-in period, when I'm yet to really get it over 4000rpm. It feels so "tight" (for want of a better word).
• The steering feels very direct and tactile - feels great on the road
• The gearbox is a dream
• The BOSE Audiopilot feature that I thought might be annoying is actually very good IMO. I don't notice that it's raising or lowering the volume, which I guess is the point. I was a bit concerned about this after having driven a hire car with a Blaupunkt speed-sensitive head unit which made the volume way too loud out on the road, but way too quiet when stopped at lights.
• Keyless entry and start is decidely cool. I keep the "key" in my wallet
• The car certainly gets some attention
• The spare wheel won't be in the boot for too much longer I don't think
• I've got a rattle in the dash somewhere above the head unit - putting my hand on that area stops it - hopefully I can get that fixed up at its first service
• I've already driven over some fresh tar

... and a few questions.
What do you guys use to clean the interior, and to wash & wax the exterior? What are the best products available here?

I've got a small area on the bonnet where there are some very light scratches .... like something has rubbed against it at some point. It's -really- hard to see, but since I know they're there, I'd like to get rid of them Any suggestions?

I've had a read through the Show & Shine forum, but the products they talk about in there either aren't available over here, or I can't find them anywhere.

Any decent tar removers?


Cheers!
Mat.

Revolver

Mat,

Glad to hear you're enjoying it.

I've got a selection of Meguiar's products that as far as I know are readily available at most auto stores.

I use a foaming leather conditioner and cleaner for the seats. For all black plastic trim, inside and out, I use a trim detailer that is far better than that sticky goo called Armour-all. The polish is also a Meguiar's product - can't remember the precise name but has 'Gold' in it from memory.

Essential to get some decent mitts and cloths and either wash or change them regularly.

Haven't had to remove tar but I'm sure you can get dedicated tar removers.

If you're still stuck, there's a guy called Damian who has put his head up in the .au forum. He's got a mail order detailing products business and can sell you this kind of stuff. Check this thread out - https://www.rx8club.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=941

Rotor Convert

Hey matt the car sounds great....like the key in your wallet bit...I now have a dedicated key spot in my hand bag for my keys or I lose them every time! Bluetooth kits means I don't have to find the phone now.....lazy am i.

I bought the SOFTWASH car wash which is a Meguiar's product....it's pink which is why I like it....only jokin!!

All their range is good too. I also use a foaming tyre cleaner and protector that comes in a can and does the job quickly and easily...also use a glass cleaner from CRC which is great leaves no streaks.

I use saddle soap and cleaner on my seats as I have an abundance of it at home..seems to do the job nicely and is cheap!

All the Meguiar's range is good...if you want to spend big bucks then Auto Glymm is good stuff too...not mainstream. I don't put amourall on any of my cars...hate the stuff....only good for doing old cars with rubber bumpers....

Glad you like your car...at the end of the day if it's nice to drive and you have fun in it that's all that counts IMHO.

Hppy driving......

skc

Hi Gibbon

I am glad you are enjoying your new ride. It feels good to be in a new car, especially one as nice as the Revelation. Keeping it looking good is a challenge.

I have a black car so I know all about caring for the paint work.

Each wash you will discover new scratches, and swirl marks. However, careful care during washes will reduce the swirl marks. I use meguires microfibre cloth for washing and cleaning. This cloth traps dirt to prevent scratches duting washes.

I also went to the trouble of using Zaino...which is fantastic but requires you to spend a bit of time for the initial application. It can get addictive if you are a perfectionist as your shine gets better with each application. I also use a quick detailer after each wash to get that just polished look.

A clay bar is good for removing all types of agents from the paintwork.

Maguires gold class is a reasonably good and popular off the shelf product.

I do not let my dealer wash my car either as they do not use fresh soapy water at each wash and who knows how they will treat your cars finish.

skc

gibbon

Thanks guys, much appreciated.
I'll have a bit of a look around when I get back to Brisbane.

Had a bit of an "incident" this morning .... did a bit of gear grinding when reverse wasn't quite in properly. Sounded really nasty -sigh-

fatmarco

there is a difference between swirl marks and scratches.
non abrasive polish should remove swirl marks after a proper clean and scratches can be taken care of with meguires scratch x.
I really notice swirl and scratch marks on other car and is what I think makes them look old. when there is completely no swirls or scratches when you look at bright highlights on the car, say when the sun is shining off it, it looks showroom to me

mikeyr

Well at least the "grind" is better than a "bump".

You get that with a new toy,

I put the short shifter in, test drove, all ok,...... left it in gear by accident and tried to start the car from outside, car bunny hop's i **** myself, swear. Lean over knock it out of gear (i thought) started and had left it just resting into the gear......lovely grinding noise (mostly synchro i guess) until swearing again and turning it off!!!

Stepping slowly away from the toolbox i abandon play for the day and head in for a bevvy.

Fantastic car again by the way, we're all jealous! That new car smell .......mmmmmm

gibbon

Hehe, yeah, I'm sure the grinding sounds worse than it actually is (I hope so, anyway).

Any chance I've done any damage? I have visions of bits of metal in the gearbox - I'm still in that "new car cotton wool" phase. It didn't grind for very long, I had the clutch back in pretty quickly .... it was reverse though, so no synchro to fall back on unfortunately.

Revolver

I'd be amazed if you've done any damage if it was just a short grind. Most modern gearboxes have a little bit of driver error engineered into them as most of us have mucked up a detent reverse selection at one time or another.

Gomez

Yeah....she'llberightmate

Gomez

Hey gibbon, any danger you'll post us a few pics of the key/ignition switch magic bits?

gibbon

Yep, can do ... I'll take a few more pics when I get a chance.

Ta for the reassurance about the gearbox .. must be my slight obsessive compulsive side coming out. Could always ask them to change the oil in the gearbox at first service I guess

Revolver

Think you're hanging on a bit too tight there Mat.

gibbon

Hehe, bugger

Rotor Convert

OMG you are in major cotton wool mode...as others have said you don't really need to worry...as long as it still changes gears and doesn't make any bad noises you are fine!!

When you blow one up or just break a few dog teeth then you know about it....really you know about it...I know I have done it...not in my 8 but in my ALFA.....v. messy

Pictures please please please!!

gibbon

Hehehe, so true. Hmm, yeah, I've had some gearbox issues in a past life. I'm a bit paranoid.

Had the car a week now (well, tomorrow morning) and I've just got home (about an hour ago) to Brisvegas after working out on site for the week, and the car has just clicked over 985km. Actually I was followed for a little while through Fortitude Valley by a blue RX-8 on the way in. Wonder if it was someone from here?

Been working the revs up to around 5000 today ... it's so sweet

I'll try to get some more pics next week ... these are still the only two decent shots so far:

http://www.psychogoat.com/linked/RX8_hdr_1.jpg
http://www.psychogoat.com/linked/RX8_hdr_2.jpg

It's not quite as clean as that any more

Rotor Convert

Mmmmm...sounds like the gearbox is fine then

Mine has done just over 4,000kms now and today I went all the way up to 8500rpm...was wonderful....very liberating...just pulled away from traffic and the car sounded fantastic....

I am not the most gentle person when it comes to gearboxes and have made my 8 one whinge in reverse...when not quite in the gear...at least when this has happened I have been in a gentle mood.....

On another note was told by an old lady walking past my car as I approached it that I had a big nail stuck in my front passenger tyre....aarrgghh.....went straight to the tyre place and phew was only a little techie short screw..big head little thread.....my luck has changed...last year drove over 3 nails....once needing a whole new tyre..... spensive on the car I had at the time

Woodgie

Mate, the exact same thing happend with me when I got the car - total obsessive compulsive.

Me + My-8 + Zaino + 4 hours = Mad fiance


Right now trying not to obsess over dirt on the gauge cluster... need to find a way to clean it, without scratching... that stuff is so delicate... any tips ?

takahashi

I have lost interest of washing my car already .

Bloody freezing this morning. 3 degree C!

It is still only 10 degree C at 3pm.