Sebringman88

Hello all,

Just picked up a 2004 Yellow RX8 GT 6 mt with 106,000 km's. I am really impressed with the performance and how smooth the motor is. It is amazing. I am not impressed with the leather seats. Looks more like vinyl to me.

Just a few questions:

1. In order to to get the recall notices do I have to contact mazda canada?
2. My car kind of idles rough, below 1000 RPM. You can feel it through the peddles. Is this normal? If I rev it up to 1000 rpm it is smooth as silk.
3. When shifting into first gear I feel a clunk. The rest of the shifts are smooth. Is this normal.

Thanks

rotarygreg

rx8s do have a somewhat rough idle. if you think its really bad, take it to a dealer and ask them if its normal. i'd hope they wont charge you to just sit in it with it running and give you their opinion(although they likely wont have time this time of year with snow tires and all). as for the clunk into first, this is normal. if it really bothers you, you can avoid it by waiting a little bit before you put it in gear after you put the clutch in. whats happening is the input shaft and thus cluster shaft is spinning in the tranny when you are in neutral with the clutch engaged. then you pop the clutch in and slam it in gear, the cluster shaft that was just spinning at 700-1000rpm makes a dead stop when you engage first. thats the jolt you are feeling. average spindown time for most cars about 5 seconds for the input shaft to stop spinning on its own after you put the clutch in. you'll find if you put the clutch in and wait just a bit, maybe 2 seconds, then put it in gear you will hardly feel this anymore if at all. As for the recall stuff i dont know. you could always call them yourself and find out...its just a phone call. congrats on the new ride. ive only ever seen one lightning yellow in person before. good luck getting hastled by the police. lol. also, before anyone else says it, the answers to questions 2 and 3 could have easily been found if you searched. try that next time before posting questions that have been answered a million times

greg

Thumper3322

1. Yes...or a dealership will do that for you when you give them your vin.
2 and 3...Agree with Greg!

Cheers and congrats!

Kafka

I thought rotary engines are smoother than normal piston engine...Idont have rough idle on my rx8...maybe 'cause its still new...oh well.

rotarygreg

rotary engines are way smoother at speed than a piston engine, but at idle, the roughness is noticeable. the thing is the combustion event happens only on one side of the engine. that and the motor mounts seem pretty stiff for factory so that will help translate all that movement into the rest of the car.

Greg