Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Oh yes... the windy roads on Quick Rd and down State Rd.
Gopherage's story reminded me of my first experience at Cascade.
Story time: I (like most of you) fell in love with the RX8 at first site. I was destined to have one. Only problem was, I wanted the 6MT Grand Touring version because it had more HP, but I've never driven manual before! So on a Friday night my friend took me to the Tallmadge high school parking lot with his Civic and let me practice driving stick.
The very next day I went to Cascade just to check out the RX8 up close. The associate there asked me if I wanted to take it for a test drive and I explained to him that I only drove a manual once and it was the night before. So with that said he jumped into the RX8, turns it on, and says to me "If you stall it, just start it back up!" So I'm shitting bricks driving this $30K car up State Rd knowing that I only had a couple hours of practice. I somehow managed to drive it back (luckily there were no hills to stop on... that was another learning curve for me). I ended up purchasing the car that same day and have been loving it ever since.
Sorry for the story that some may not care to read, but I was so impressed (and thankful) with how laid-back and gracious they were, that I never bother to drive to the dealer within my own city limits. I gladly go the extra mile for my car and for a more desirable atmosphere.

Gopherage

I like your story Jon it seems like we've all pretty much had the same good experience with them. And probably with us all discussing it anyone looking for a good local dealer will probably give them business.

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

I've seen a silver RX8 in Hudson twice this week on SR303 and I'm pretty sure it was the same guy. Anyone from here?

Wurmfist

I got mine from Park Mazda in Wooster. They have been really great. Although I have taken my 8 down there for some warrenty stuff (sloshing sound when revving, and some other minor things) and they swear that nothings wrong. But I think that's typical anywhere.

Driving season is going to be over for me soon. Which is sad. But my 8 dosen't come out in the winter.

tony_673

Mine neither. It's a beautiful thing, isn't it? I only put on about 3K miles this whole year.

Wurmfist

Sadly I don't think I even manage 3k. I got mine in March of 2004 and I'm just now at 14K miles. This year has been worse because of having a baby, but I have to have priorities I suppose. Oh well, it's there in my garage when I want to play with it.

Gopherage

What do you guys drive as you winter cars?

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

'01 Ford F150 XLT 5.4L 4x4
I've pushed my luck a few times and drove the 8 in snow, just have to feather it and avoid hills. I've heard on other threads that people purchase snow times and drove throughout the winter. I feel that if the snow gets too deep, you're SOL even with snow tires.

wickedclown213

Hello everyone I just bought a 2007 RX-8 GT AT black with all the packages except Satellite radio and GPS Nav system I'm looking at getting snow tires from tirerack dot com any suggestions because I just spent 30K on a car and cant really handle buying a winter car to. My mods I have plain so far I bought the corksport dash kit. Im putting in a single dash Pioneer Premier MP3 Cd player. Stock bose speakers I might replace them. I'm buying the xenarc 7" Touch screen and flip top dash kit. And putting a mac mini into it for GPS using bootcamp and Streets and trips of course. and by the way I live in North Ridgeville its west side of cleveland near Elyria.

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

First of all... welcome to the club!
Probably the best snow tires will be the Dunlop Winter Sport M3 from what I hear.
I looked on Tirerack's site and they list them for $177 each.
I know a guy in Columbus uses these tires, but we get more snow up here so I'm curious to see how they would perform.
Let us know what you go with and keep us posted on how they do!

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

Cool...I grew up out in NR and my parents still live there. Welcome to the club. Can't really help you on the tire thing, I plan on borrowing my parents spare car for this winter and next I will just lease something. But I do have some experience with car stereos and ripping apart the rx8 dash. If you need a hand drop me a line and we can see what we can work out.

tony_673

My other mistress....a lifted Jeep Wrangler.

Gopherage

Whoa i grew up in North Ridgeville also but my family moved us all when i was six. Although I somehow still remember how to get to my house on Birch Street haha.

I feel bad driving my 8 in the winter but i will also be doing it because i can't afford a second car at this point.

I'm getting my winter wheels from Leipold Tire in Stow, it's definetly cheaper to order a full set of winter wheels with tires rather then having to pay to have someone take the tires on and off and risk damaging the pressure sensors also. My new wheels actually won't even have pressure sensors the only thing they said would happen is i'd have a pressure sensor light on all the time.

My total is $1164.52 For tires and wheels and everything shipped.

wickedclown213

Mazda RX-8 - $30,000
Audio System Car Computer - $1,642.00
Snow Tires - $1,120.00

Knowing you still wont get laid and have to suffer from Ohio winters and still a computer geek with a really cool car that eats gas and oil - Priceless

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

I don't seem to have a problem

tony_673

Me neither.

Wurmfist

My work provides me with a Grand Caravan that I'm allowed to use for personal use. So I don't have to buy gas in the off-season either. Tee hee hee.

Danc

iTrader: (1)

A little delayed I understand, but I own a Shinka in the Canton. The one you are talking about isn't a WWP is it?

Gopherage

I don't know what WWP stands for so i couldn't tell you? Once you tell me i'll tell you, boy that sounds confusing re-reading that back to myself.

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

Is the one you are talking about White?

WWP = White Water Pearl

Gopherage

No i believe my girlfriend saw a Copper Red, which makes it even more interesting because that means there are at least two Shinkas in the immediate area of us. I feel like we need to play where's Waldo with those cars, actually it's just hard enough to spot another 8.

Danc

iTrader: (1)

Thanks to my job I'm on the road quite a bit. I know down here in Canton there are 5 separate 8's I've seen. A WWP and BB in Jackson Township (both driven by people in their 40's give or take) A BB in North Canton, a copper red I saw like once, and me.

2 or 3 weeks ago there was a silver 8 up at skipco auto auctions... someone missed their payments

Needless to say it's pretty lonely down here.

wickedclown213

Ok so I bought winter tires from tirerack and I just put them on and the rear tires seem to have enough clearance with the break but the front rims have very small clearance the tires move freely with out rubbing should I be concerned or is it I'm just stupid and the ones I but on the back are for the front The rims are 17x7 Gunmetal w/Mach Lip Enkei Performance Series WDM I have the 2007 RX-8 GT if that helps Thanks

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

When you ordered the tires, did you search by vehicle and then verified the tire size on the site with what you had on your car (ex: 225/45-18)? If everything matched, then you should be OK.

wickedclown213

Yes when I went through the site I did a custom winter package and selected tires and rims per there recommendation for the RX-8 I'll test it tomorrow either they work or I'm screwed. The tire size is 225/50R17. I had them mount the tires and sensors to the rims. I checked again with a measuring tape theres only a 1/4" distance from the rim and the break caliper

Update they don't fit I called tirerack but who knows if they will help me they said they will call me back some time today. I just can't believe they would let me order those rims they where recommended for my car how was I supposed to know