Thought I'd Introduce Myself!
 

Hi all,

I'm new to these forums. Was registered on rx7club as SophiaCDN, but most of my activity was between 2003 and 2005, so haven't been around there much since. Some of you that transitioned over to these forums might know me though (EvilRotor's annoying little sister!).

Anyway, I'm picking up a blue 2004 GT tonight. Fully loaded (I mean FULLY - with NAV) that has 91,000 km on it. Body is rust free, but there is some minor minor rust on the underbody from having been driven a few winters. I plan on driving it winters so am not too fussy about it. It's in great shape and the previous owner took amazing care of it.

Any pointers for a new RX-8 owner that is new to rotaries? I got a lot of advice from my brother whose had many RX-7s, and some of his friends (I know you're on here guys - where are you! :suspect:) but I'm sure there is still a lot for me to learn. But, I'm all about learning the quirks of non-regular engine cars - I puttered around in a diesel (TDI) for a while, and it was a learning curve and I then modded it too (won't be modding the 8 though).

First thing first though, I have valet parking at my work (overcrowded parking lot), so I need to know - what do I need to tell the valet before handing over my keys? Let it run at least 60 seconds to avoid flooding the engine? What else? I have to assume he doesn't know RX-8s.

Cheers all,

Sophia

So you finally registered, huh? ;)

Congrats on the purchase.

There are more than a few things you'll learn about on an RX-8. Some of the guys will be quick to point out all the TSB's for that specific model year. Just wait till about this evening. I'm sure it'll have lots of responses. ;)

Why would you want to give a valet your key?? If you really have too, I would tell them to make sure they park it in a spot where they won't have to move it until you're going home.
Those guys are bound to flood the engine if they just want to move it 30ft.

Alright gusy, where are the warm welcomes! :cool:

Welcome! be sure to sign up on the Ottawa boards: http://forums.ottawamazda.ca Come out to the M&M meets on Friday nights and I'm sure you'll get most of your questions answered.

As for the valet: Neo hit it dead on. Tell them not to move it once it's parked or it might cost them several hundred dollars. If you plan on getting an AccessPort, the valet map could be useful to deter them from joyriding.

Well for the valet parking since the moment you let the valet guy/gal take over the engine is still warm, there won't be any precaustionary steps to do.

HOWEVER, if he/she needs to move the car around for short distance during office time before you pick up the car, then they HAVE to rev the engine to 4k in neutral for 10 second then switch the engine off righaway (don't wait for the rev to come down, just gas it to 4k, maintin it for 10 sec and then off gas and switch off at the same time)

Unfortunately the valet is unavoidable unless I get to work really early before all the spots fill up. If I arrive later, I'll have to double park and leave my key for him to move the car for someone else to leave. I plan on sticking a note on the steering wheel or something about the engine flooding. I'll tell him the 4K thing.

Hey Chris! I knew you were around here somewhere :)

I'll check out that Ottawa Mazda site, thanks, but to be honest, I've always avoided the whole M&M "scene." I'm surprised it's still active!

Sophia,

Yep, I've got the gang here giving you advise already. Didn't take too long... ;)

My biggest worry would be the whole valet situation. Simply because the car is finiky if it's starting from a cold start. No biggie if the engine is still hot. But when it's cold.... be prepared to receive a call or you'll be giving a call to a tow truck. Hope you have road side assistance.

welcome to the 8 club upload pics asap to see your new ride of this so called existent 8 :suspect:

Welcome...
________
Vaorizers

Well I arrived at work an hour early and was able to grab a spot that doesn't require leaving the key.

Twenty minutes later, a colleague reported that the valet and one of the security guards were swarming around the car checking it out ha ha

Pic when I brought it home, before I had a chance to wash it.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/5224/img1831.jpg

Oh yeah, and I have to add about my first impressions - this car has everything I could have ever asked for in terms of creature comforts! I'm still in awe (and being a good girl and reading the owner's manual)

YOU HAVE VALET PARKING AT WORK?! Maybe because it's so early in the morning but my mind just went kablooie.

It's nothing fancy, trust me. It's just a means for them to increase our employee parking lot capacity, since we don't have near enough parking space for the number of employees here

Nice! Winning Blue with fully loaded black interior... sounds eerily familiar :rolleyes:

Are you kidding? It's the best entertainment in town for free! You get to watch ricers fuck up their cars while trying to impress people... last week an Audi caught on fire :lol2:

Lots of good info on the site though and tons of other events. We get nice discounts at Elite Mazda and a few other places.

Enjoy the car!

REMEMBER to tell teh velet about the cold start procedures...print out a procedures page and stick it to your steering wheel just to be sure...

Be friendly to the folks there and everyone will then treat your car as an exotic and take great care :)

Print a sheet of paper in large font bold saying something along the lines of the cold start/shutdown procedure and place that on the radio centre unit each morning before you hand the keys.

I would laminate that sheet too because it will be used 5 days a week every week.

hi sophia

Welcome to the club! Your car looks to be in excellent shape... AND it came with KDW's an excellent tyre!

Those tires are sure damn noisy though!!

trust me... you'll apperciate them when you're on the twisties... I have them as well... wouldn't trade em for anything else!

Yeah, they're pretty noisy but I usually just drown it out with music.

I usually drown it out with the 9000rpm redline :)

Hey Wulf, I hear you're the man to talk to about compression testing?

Yes ma'am. Here's the compression test thread on OMC: http://forum.ottawamazda.ca//showthr...pression-Tests

There's a few other people wanting one so we might be able to organize something.

Sounds good. I posted in that thread you linked. :)

Hrmm... I'll actually be heading up to Ottawa at the end of June/Start of July to visit the 'rants for a week or so. If you're doing any testing over that time frame I might be in... would be interested in seeing how the old girl is doing on that front.