hobbes

So I will be getting my car on March 31 or so this year :D.

What should I be doing right at the get go to ensure a long and happy life for my RX8 (Can't stop saying that since I bought it hehe) when I drive her from the dealer?

Are there are any news on the car that should be addressed by the dealer before I take her on her journey home?

First Week Care? Are there significant intervals we should be aware of?

I want to make my first real passion on 4 wheels will live a long and zoom zoom life, any info and FYI will be greatly appreciated.


(Living in Richmond Hill, Major Mac and Bayview...you know, the windy cold zone in winter.)

Thanks to all!
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Vaporizer Guide

Mistersql

Get the owner's manual beforehand and read it in it's entirety. It will tell you about the break-in period such as no high revs and no constant speeds maintained for the first few hundred KMs.

The dealer should also give you a write-up on the special care that the 8 needs such as avoiding short trips (to prevent flooding) and checking the oil every second gas fill-up etc.

Evolv

iTrader: (1)

The most fun about checking the oil will be lifting the hood, then the engine cover, then reaching way in the back and down low to grab the dip stick.

O, be careful, its hot in there, don't burn yourself.

Gord96BRG

Especially since you're planning to drive in winter - get a clear bra installed. You know, the 3M Scotchcal film that gets applied to the nose of the car and protects from rock chips, etc. I had the XPEL kit (see www.xpel.com to locate a local installer, or search for our previous threads here) installed on my 8 last July, and survived the winter without a single paint chip.

Regards,
Gordon

Pete

hey hobbes .... my gf live at kirby and mjr mac.... maybe i'll see you driving around.

73JPS

Hobbes, I really can't suggest strongly enough.... leave the blonde spikey-haired kid at home when you go to the dealership to pick up your car.

Air Force RX8

I do not have to remove the engine cover to check the oil. It is rather warm in that area, but not when I am checking oil level as I check before running engine.

73JPS

I find it easier to remove the cover: but even at that, it is honestly only about a 20 second operation to check the oil on this car.

Deep Blue

Hehe....memories of those first heat blisters....

A couple of other things:

- If you are new to driving a prestige automobile, get accustomed to parking out in the boondocks of the mall parking lot. Don't sacrifice a short walk to the entrance for a door ding or scratch

- Get ready to be surprised by the fuel economy, even if you think you already know. I didn't buy this car because it was good on gas, but still got a bit of a shock when I realized how much I was paying on gas at the end of each month

- Get used to getting a LOT of attention when you drive. Most people still have never seen the car, and you'll get a lot of 45-55 year old men giving you the "Thumbs Up - I'm reliving my teenage years through you" type approaches

- Keep on the Exhaust tips, they get filthly really quickly, and will stain if you aren't on top of them

- Learn the "Cold Start" procedure from day 1, and follow it to the letter (will be still in effect for the early spring days)

- Add all of the local Starbucks to your favorites list in your Nav System

Congrats on your 8....you will love it.

Literatii

Maybe I've owned too many vehicles in my lifetime, but I don't need to remove the engine cover to check the oil. The dipstick is right there on the driver's side.

halfon

Especially since you're planning to drive in winter - get a clear bra installed. You know, the 3M Scotchcal film that gets applied to the nose of the car and protects from rock chips, etc. I had the XPEL kit (see www.xpel.com to locate a local installer, or search for our previous threads here) installed on my 8 last July, and survived the winter without a single paint chip.

Regards,
Gordon

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I found an XPEL dealer in Oakville. How much should I expect to pay to protect the front ?

hobbes

Mistersql - no short trip or welcome to flood city, gotcha

Evolv - burning hands when checking the oil...I'll look out...

Gord96BRG - I will look into the 3M Scotchcal film, hmm..should I be looking for that since we're now in Spring? Any suggestions on that? BTW I am assuming that the 3M Scotchcal film is a plastic cover for the front of the car.

Pete - Probably will see you too. I'll be driving a Tgrey. I've seen some 8's out there on the road, especially when I was driving my wife home from work the last few weeks. It was like an omen..saw three in one night..weird huh? All in the Hwy 7 and north of it areas. BTW you're not CRAZY8 are ya? The black RX8 that blows by every so often?

73JPS - I would leave the spikey kid home, but someone has to work the pedals hehe..remove the engine cover first...I was told that you didn't have to, but I'll find out soon enoough.

Air Force RX8 - checking the oil when the car is not running makes sense, especially when winter come around. Don't want to be outdoors and doing that.

Deep Blue - Don't have the NAV, wasn't a good selling point for me. One, it doesn't have my own street on there (I know they update the map..), and two, I don't I would be travelling far in this car . Parking far away from places, yeah, I've been feeling the urge to be the overtly protected parent on this car. Thinking of getting a good alarm system with remote start, darn I just forgot the brand name, it begins with "C". Can you elborate on the "Cold Start".

Literatii - I hope that is true.

halfon - will check that site out for the winter prep, thanks.

:D
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Newport

Gord96BRG

Yup, ASAP - it protects from stone chips, but also makes cleaning bugs etc. much easier. When you pick up your car, the paint will be essentially perfect - if you get the clear bra on right away, it will keep it perfect. It's certainly possible to wait and have it installed later, but then you have to worry about touching up any chips etc. first.

Here's what I posted last August:Here's the
3M Scotchcal information web page for specific information about the product. As mentioned, www.xpel.com is the site for the makers of kits/patterns for different cars using the Scotchcal film. It might seem expensive, but it's far, far cheaper than having the front half of your car repainted every few years, or having a vinyl bra that damages the paint and looks ugly!

Regards,
Gordon

Smoker

Hey Hobbes,
Congrats on getting the car pretty soon ! I'm not an owner yet, but here's what I'll probably do ASAP when I get my car. First, get the Rust proofing done before the car bottom gets too much dirt on it and before any moisture can settle in. Second, clay and Zaino the car ASAP to lock in their perfect paint finish.

I'll probably buy a club as well while I'm at it. Then start enjoying everybit of it !!!

baze

Congrats on joining the revolution! You will soon becoming (more) car obsessed like us. Case in point:

Since the car has an immobilizer, is it still useful to get a club?

It's a visual deterrent, but don't most people know that it's impossible to hot-wire a new car these days?

I have a club that I'm not using, but I don't know what goes through people's minds when they see one on the car...

Do they think the owner is paranoid?
Do they think the car needs a club to beef up the security?

Plus, you can scratch up your steering wheel with a crappy club (what I have ) .

Just some thoughts...

Dustin4u

ummm impossible to hot wire?

pop hood, cut one wire, hot wire.

Not hard my friend. Club can be your best friend.

CrackerJax

Hey dude, I live at Yonge and Elgin Mills!!! Wonder if I've seen you before :p

Iwantan8

Deep Blue,

Could you describe the "Cold Start" precedure you're speaking of?

hobbes

Gord96BRG - Thanks for the 3M info...since your from Calgary, I guess the prices wouldn't do much for me..Richmond Hill, Ontario..But the info helped alot.

Smoker - the club is a useless piece of metal. The softest part of the car besides the seats is your steering wheel. So one only had to cut the steering wheel and good bye club. There is a product that seemed pretty good to me, but like most things on tv, you gotta see if for yourself. It's a lock that slips under the gas peadle and lacks on the dash. It makes sense to a certain point. As long as the gas pedle doesn't come off easily. The best thing to to put an alarm system, a good one... I think it called Carson, it also comes with a remote started, which comes in handy for winter. It sounds stupid, but never put those stickers on the windows telling a potential theft what alarm system you have. It's like people who have put those stickers on their home windows. Why give the theif a heads up? Anyways that's the best suggestion I can give for now.

baze - Read latter

Dustin4u - So..you hotwire a lot of cars lately?

CrackerJax - PMed ya.

Iwantan8 - Cold start..heck I would like to know that one too..anyone out there that can enlighten us?
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3 SERIES (E36)

Smoker

Can't say I agree with you this time Hobbes. I wrote this on an old thread a while ago:


In terms of protecting your car, In general, a Club or just a Steering wheel lock is a good addition to your car. Why ? Even though we all know it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to remove a Club quickly, that is another annoying obstacle the thief will need to remove before he can take your car and the thief knows that. The idea is to send them the message going "if you are going to take this, you might as well take one that is a bit easier". (works the same way as their Home Security Stickers outside your door)

We all know if someone is going to steal your car absolutely, there's really little we can do to stop them. The best thing to do is to just let them know it is not going to be a cake walk right up front and hope they will "pass" on your car.


By the way here's the thread if you want to read up on this topic:

Security Thread


The point I'm trying to make here is that no security is 100%. Ideally you want to discourage any passing by car thief to even attempting to steal your car. Interestingly how you mention those Security System Warning Sticker, because in my opinion those are your best defense, it warns off anyone is thinking about or deciding whether to take your car. You want him to know that if you want to take it, you have to deal with the Shock Sensor, the regular Car Alarm, the Immoblizier, and then gotta saw off the steerin wheel to get rid of the club. That's extra time and extra cost to the thief (assuming he wants to sell the car as a whole, so he will need to replace the damaged parts) . So yea, keep all your little warning stickers on to keep those guys away, last thing you want him to do break your glass, cut your steering wheel then realizing that he doesn't know how to by pass the immobilizer !!! Don't forget we still have to shell out those Dedutables out of our own pockets.

Deep Blue

The Cold Start procedure is outlined in your owners manual. It invovles ensuring you let the engine completely warm up (and burn off the rich fuel in the combustion chamber).

If you want to read about how I learned this the hard way, check my old thread here

It outlines some "alternative" measures that can be used to revive an 8 that is flooded because of not following the cold start procedure.

hobbes

Deep Blue - Thanks for the explanation.

I was looking for winter tires and rims etc. and came thought of something that I never thought to be an issue until I bought this car. How many of you acutally take your car to a reqular car wash in the winter? I would like to wash the car myself, but lets face it. When it gets cold here, it's COLD.
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P50

Smoker

hobbes,
In the winter, just Bring your car to the Coin car wash at Maj Mac and Bayview (North West corner) once a week and you'll be fine. That one is one of the best coin wash in TO and its in your neighborhood so can't beat that !

Deep Blue

I don't drive mine in the winter - just took it out of storage actually.

However, when I'm in a rush, I take mine through the "Real" touchless wash at most new Esso stations. I say real, meaning not a single part of the car is touched with anything but water, including the rims (ie. there is no "track" you have to drive up on to.

I find these washes are very safe on prestige cars, and do a good job of cleaning it up for that mid-week shine.

hobbes

I have a quote for winter tires and rims from my dealership ~$1600. They are 17" Alloys with Toyo Winter tires, is that a good deal?

I'm also wondering if alloys will be too light for winter.

Rust proofing, a do or a don't? If do, know of a cheap place with life warrnty of close to it, and one that won't drill hole in the car to do it.

Thanks.
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CONTINENTAL