I was at my dealer for an oil change and he mentioned that he could no longer special order RX8s because 2011 would be the last model year. Is this old news to the rest of the world? I hadn't spotted anything on it. If 8s are gone, is there another rotary roadster that has been previewed?

Let mek now what you have heard, and its its old news, I will claim to have been morrooned on a desert island for many years.

 

About the middle of last year we started seeing reports that 2011 will be the last model year in the US and Europe. Motor Trend quoted official Mazda NA people confirming that. No word on JDM/Australia. It will likely soldier on there for a few more years.

There is another car in early development, as well as the 16X "Long Stroke" rotary engine, but no reliable word on the status of the car. The engine has been "delayed" for not meeting expectations. Unlikely we will see another rotary production car before 2014. To see one by then it has to be far enough along that they show a prototype at the Tokyo Motor Show in December this year. If we don't see a rotary-powered prototype there, it will be at least 2015 before we see a production car.

If gas prices continue to climb we will probably never see one except maybe as an exotic halo car for people who don't have to pump their own gas.

The saddest thing is we are running out of parts. There are no new 12A engine parts to be had in the whole World. Every 12A built now is used parts drawn from a diminishing supply... Once RX-8 production stops, the countdown starts for the RENESIS. These things aren't like pist-on engines - making the housings requires much more sophistication than your typical boinger block. There is no aftermarket production.

 

Can anyone recommend a good place to get my fenders rolled? I called up JE Import Performance, one of the more reputable shops in Maryland and of course they tell me that it will most likely take six hours to roll all of the fenders and shave the bumper tabs, and that it will cost me more than $500... i know something isnt right there

I was hoping I could have all of my fender rolled for like $300. Somebody please tell me that there is a better alternative

 

Dude. You gotta pay to play, rolled fenders and shaved and blended corners? That's a good deal. What exactly do you think custom labor from experienced proffessionals cost? You could always do it yourself for free, but if you can't you gotta pay someone who can and has its that simple.

 

Of course I have to pay to play, but I'm not going to pay more than I need to. Basically what the guy told me over the phone was that it would be $85 a corner, which isn't bad at all, but then he said it would take an hour to shave each bumper tab?

So I guess that's what I need more clarification on. I'm not too knowledgeable on this subject but aren't these just little plastic bumper mounting tabs? And all you do is shave them down with a grinder until the tires don't rub anymore? How long does this really take, because an hour per tab seems like a lot

 

when your working and trying to do a good job because there is someone paying for your services and expecting professional work an hour goes by like that. Ive spent over ten hours on items that are no larger than a cup just getting things perfect. Shops and craftsmen make their money on their reputation on this this type of mentality, and even though you may go and ask for a quick rush job as soon as someone sees the work and who did it that craftsman's reputation gets instantly judged. So complaining about someone who wants to do something right is neither professional or mature. If you don't like his price go somewhere else. People dont appreciate the little stuff anymore and thats sad.
Are you basing your reaction of the cost on any prior experience with this person? If so then it sounds like you need another shop. If not and you don't have any prior interactions with this person than it sounds like your complaining because you expect something that is in your head and may not be the real cost of things.
Too often people search forums and blogs, and say ooooo I want I want, then when they go to get it they complain or are blown away by the cost or time etc.
Nothing personal, Im just tired of hearing people bitch about stuff they have absolutely no experience with because they think it should cost a certain amount. Being a fabricator myself its insulting and inconsiderate.
Weeks ago you asked me for a simple little bracket for some fog lights. From the way you asked you sounded like you were expecting it to not cost anything and me to fab it up no problem in no time at all. Thats pretty much why I didn't respond to your request, people go through my build thread all the time I get request about every week. People just don't understand what it means to build something from "scratch" you have to conceive, plan out, and execute the build at the highest level or people just say "ehhhh that looks like crap".

End rant, nothing against you , I haven't even met you yet but maybe you should get to know some of the guys that work on your car for you, hang out with them and see what it is to build or paint or repair something and justify the cost of their services, I suggest this to everyone I talk to and everyone that sees my car, art work, scratch builds etc,,,

 

I understand where you are coming from and I'm sorry for sounding ignorant; I know that I am; but in the end it all comes down to me being a student with no money that just wants a good looking 8 like the rest of us. I'm sure that there are people that have had their fenders rolled by JE and felt that they deserved every penny, but I'm also sure that plenty of others would rather go call up Joe Schmoe and have him roll their fenders for $50 a corner and feel as though the job was done just as well.

I dunno.

 

The 8 is a very expensive car to modify regardless of how cheap people pick them up for. I didnt get my 8 until I graduated college because I knew that it would be a struggle, I've been building it for 61/2 years and have spent over $50K in mods(not including the cost of the car of which I bought brand new when they first came out) and I don't even want to imagine the hours Ive spent on it.
It takes time and patients and deep pockets to go far with this car, just make sure to appreciate every single thing you do and don't take for granted the experts and craftsman that help get to where you want to go with it,

 

there were a couple people wanting to buy my cats alittle while back, cant remember who, but if anyone is still interested I have two RP supercat pipes one gutted and one with the core. $200 a piece.

 

spotted the black veilside rx8 tonight..........idk why you rev'd at me but that is one of my pet peeves

 

when you drive an RX8 reving becomes a habbit

 

^^^ really? sooo obnoxious

 

totally agree idk maybe he was trying to challenge me to a race which would have been really stupid on his behalf..........i let him slide this one and only time next time i'm i won't be so nice

 

Dude, it's a VEILSIDE rx8... of course he wants to race lolol

 

oh god guess so oh well maybe next time

 

Looks like MazdaSpeed to me.

 

yeah I know I've seen a black mazdaspeed 8 before, never a veilside

 

wait Im cunfused who's car are we talking about?

 

no its a veilside body kit
grog were you at the home depot off rt.40 this past sunday night???

 

hey whats good everyone? i was wondering if someone could help me with some advice. im going to predicate this post by saying i know nothing of body work. i noticed an issue with my 8 recently and plan on taking it to a shop to get it fixed but was curious of what would be involved. my 8 was not taken care of very well by its previous owner. i noticed on my front wheel well theres some kind of black overspray, like paint or something. the best i can figure is the guy who had it before me decided to buy a can of "nite shades" and tint the side marker lights himself, with the lights still on the car. awesome right. its hardly noticable because of my dark paint but now its all i see. anyone have any thoughts on this?? thanks.

also has anyone seen any 8s in any local junkyards. i need a backseat. im becoming more and more annoyed by all the cigarette burns in the back seat of my "non somked in" 8. thanks guys.

 

yeah he wasn't referring to me if that's what you thought lol. Every time I'm in Belair though their is this black cobalt with pink emblems that always revs/tries to race me, along with a Grey Mitsubishi I'm guessing all carbon fiber HUGE ****

 

^^^ hahah I know that girl,,,

 

The black Veilside RX8 is either Kyle, or some one else on here (cant remember name) but was looking to sell his car for a long time now

 

that cobalt gives all cobalts a bad name...........its the one with the quad exhaust fake me out body kit......

but my ss has a low rise spoiler completely debadged i frequent bel air area a lot

 

I think I might have been. There was a car meet at the Wal Mart off 40, and that's where I was after 9:30 PM or so. Dunno if that's close to the Home Depot or not.

saw me? I barely ever see RX-8s on the road...

but speaking of that, does anyone else know about these car meets? This huge group of people meet up every Friday/Sunday, its always the same guys and the cars are always nice. There's always 20+ cars so I figured it was kind of a widely-known thing in the bel air/towson/baltimore area. They meet up in Bel Air near Harford Mall most of the time, but we ended up all the way down at the Wal Mart on 40 last time...