i wouldn't worry too much about that latest recall.

 

Hey James.. Whitemarsh area is where i'm normally about.. now i'm up in the towson area a lil more.. I have a white rx7 with "No Pistons" on the back bumper.. i'm always at loews on Sundays.. (all day long) so just come in there and ask for "coke" they'll come get me.. remember not the drink..

and for a nice lil road with curves and less traffic.. i took a nice lil stroll all the way up Harford road.. right when you pass Jappa road.. keep straight on harford and follow that to the right.. go all the way up it til you see the road split to a "Y" there will be a lil store right there.. make a u turn and rip it up in 3rd all the way back down.. sooooo much fun.. i did it before just about a month ago.. let me know when you tryin to do it.. i'll come tag along for the heck of it..

 

Coke: I live off of Joppa Farm Rd in Lohr's Orchard. I work in Whitemarsh, right across the street from The Avenue.

James: Congrats on the new car! I just bought mine in June - an '05 Titanium Gray with the Touring package and Navigation. It didn't have the Appearance Package, but I quickly ordered it and it's now on the car.

I was watching Carmax closely (had them send me emails when they got an RX-8 in stock), but nothing came in that caught my attention. The RX-8 you got was definitely a good find! The main reason I didn't go with them is because I couldn't find one under 16K miles in the color I wanted. So, I bought mine at Darcars Mazda in Silver Spring.

I've also had good experiences at Heritage Mazda. I think I'll have my service done by them when something does come up.

Unfortunately, I don't have any good recommendations right now for a good, twisty road... but I'll also be taking my first road trip to the beach this month and I cannot wait. If you (or anyone in the area) wants to take a drive some time or just have a meet, PM or email me!

 

I have posted a few times asking questions about a stick vs the auto and am planning to by an 8 in the middle of august. I live in silver spring and am afraid about having a M/T become annoying in stop and go traffic. I have always driven automatics and rarely want to "push" my car. Will I really "appreciate the benefits" of a manual if I don't push it regularly or will it just become a nusance?

 

it'll probably end up annoying you if you bought the 6 spd. might as well get the automatic if you don't push the car.

 

I do a bit of stop and go (not as much as you probably do in SS). I find, that 1st to 2nd is a very quick change (sometimes if I don't completely stop, I just skip going down to 1st).

Once moving, most city traffic for me (if its busy mind you) is staying in 3rd or 4th and switching between. Don't really hit 5th till almost 50 and skip it completely and go to 6th if speeding up past that. If it isn't busy, I just whiz by everyone else, don't really like anyone in front me (esp SUVs) blocking my view of the next curve.

What is fun about the RX8 is that once in gear, getting the revs up to move is nearly instantaneous. This also means though that you have to be a quickdraw in changing gears. I have gotten stuck in the wrong gear and being just a sec too late to really change to pass (seems like everyone wants to pass me in this car, they usually don't though).

However on the plus side, it has a short shift and is silky smooth and tight when changing gears :D

I also like this car in city traffic because its a cinch to weave in and out of traffic. It literraly jumps lanes (in a good way) and handles turns on a dime! It is also very quiet on the ride. I sometimes hear very funny noises and realize its the brakes, engine, tranny of some OTHER car that is over 20 feet away from me. They go by and don't even realize they have a serious problem. I only hear the sweet hum of my engine and the locking and engaging of my transmission.

This car is tons better than my old MT Mustang V8 in city traffic. That was a a pain to get around in trust me.

Go for the MT, you won't regret it. :D

 

Gosh, I live at Lowes during the weekends. (Actually just go at least 3 times). I have seen your RX-7 there before and wondered who it belonged to. Sweet ride. When I am at Lowes though, my RX-8 is in my garage and I have my roommates Volvo S80 or my brother in-laws F150. Lowes and RX-8 really don't mix (I have seen the idoits with SUV load things wrong and watch them fly off in the parking lot).

I have done the Harford road drive several times (old school for me, I learned to drive on that road). I was hoping for some other roads (possibly in Western MD) that would be a good day long drive with some good eats along the way.

I dread the beach this time of year due to the traffic (I deal enough with traffic every day). I plan to do a beach run in Oct/Nov (lot less crowded).

Any mountain (ok foothills) drives to recommend???

Thanks

 

The CarMax thing was truly a find. They just rolled the car out that morning (not even listed in their web site yet). I was looking for a used BMW z3 at the time but somebody up above thought I should have an RX-8 instead. I should know better to listen to a higher power and not wasted 2 weeks of my free time before the 4th working with the BMW dealership anyway.

I am still perplexed as to why someone would get rid of such a great car. Perhaps they were expecting 25 or more MPG? Wish I could find out.

Oh well, their loss, my blessing...

 

But if I'm not "pushing the car" regularly how much of a performance loss will I really have? I want to get a manual, but just hope I don't regret it after I own if for a few months. If I'm not really pushing it in manual, then I'm afraid I'll wish I had an automatic because I'm not really utilizing a manual to its fullest potential.

 

Without driving the auto, I really couldnt tell you since the car is so easy to rev up.

One thing though... I find most sports cars with auto lack some level of control and fine tunning when driving. I noticed a severe difference in response and punch between manual and auto Mustangs (frankly an auto Mustang is a weenie's Mustang...).

That being said however, the RX-8 auto (correct me if I am wrong) has a feature to shift up or down when needing an extra push. I think you can even engage it from the steering wheel.

I would think this would compensate for the difference in push and control you may loose when you normally go for auto over manual in a sports car.

If you are not looking to race the vehicle or feel in complete control of the power delivery from the engine to the wheels, go with the auto. With the described feature (ask an auto person what they think of it), I would think it will compensate for those times you need that punch to pass the slow poke in front of you.

Any auto people want to chime in...

 

I have test driven the auto and used the tiptronic shifter with the steering wheel paddles and the gearshifter. It did allow me to take control when I wanted to, so I could get that extra boost when needed, but after reading this forum for the past 2 weeks, I keep leaning more towards a manual, but I wonder if that is worth it for me? (wow too many commas in that sentence) The two cars cost about the same with all the options I want and I've more or less seen both at local dealers inventory. I would like to make a decision by the weekend of the 13th and just go in and buy the car I want.

I've also never really driven a manual and am excited to learn, but wonder if the novelty effect of it will wear off and I'll just want to drive a full auto? I even wonder if I'll get bored of the tiptronic and would rather just relax and not have to shift at all? Then again, I don't know what I'm missing and I don't want to sit back and say ignorance is bliss. ACK, this is becoming a difficult decision!

 

Pluses and minues of MT in any vehicle...

Advantages:
* Complete control of power delivery to wheels.
* Better handing in less than optimal road conditions (IMO... I seem to find autos not dealing with ice/snow effective and always throwing them down to 2nd or 1st positions)
* The joy of schreeching from 0 to 60 in less than 6 seconds (can't really do that in an auto)
* Easier to handle on curvy roads. Once you get used to proper shift techniques, you can take on most curves and much higher speeds with much better control than in an auto.
* Cheaper (usually but not always) to have a MT rebuilt than an AT rebuilt.
* Easier to do custom modifications (extra lightweight flywheels, short shifters, etc)

Disadvantages:
* Easy to burn up a transmission. Esp if you don't know what you are doing.
* Lots of shifting in stop and go traffic (worse on some models over others)
* Hills (esp when starting out)... however hills become fun when you learn how to pop a clutch (not recommended).
* Loss of a hand for other uses in lower gear driving (e.g. try drinking coffee, shifting, and driving at the same time... not good).

If you have NEVER driven a MT before, do some brief reading on correct driving practices with a MT. Real quick, certain things you should know (mostly common sense and mostly dealing with first gear and reverse ... the two most dangerous gears in any car) ...

1. Never switch into reverse if the car is moving. (Most cars including the RX-8 now have a lockout feature for this)
2. VERY COMMON.... Don't ride a clutch (e.g. use the clutch to hold the car in place at a light, and some people wonder how they burn out their clutches after 10k)
3. Never go from reverse to first without a complete stop.
4. Never force the transmission into low gears. Usually this means you are trying to downshift and the tranny is designed not to go into that gear after a certain speed or rpm or there is something seriously wrong with the tranny.

Most anything else you do with the tranny will be fine.

Once you drive a MT vehicle, the advantages will weigh the disadvantages (esp, when you need to take quick control of the car on ice... happens alot in MD) and you won't go back. The RX-8 is my 6th MT car (after having two AT vehicles).

Here is my track record on trannies (chuckle if you want)

1979 Used Ford Fairmount (AT) - No problems except no real pick up AT ALL.

1985 Used Cutlass Sierra Olds (AT) - Killed transmission after having a leak that lost ATF.

1987 Used Chevtte (MT) - Learned how to drive MT in it. Car rusted out. Transmission was still OK. Nice pickup

1992 Ford Escort Sedan (MT) - Great tranny (actually a Mazda tranny). However made the mistake of trying to use the rocking back and forth trick to get out of a snow bank during 1996 snow dump in MD. After that, lost 2nd 4th and reverse (bascially killed tranny). Sold and got next car w/o rebuild (rebuild however was only 500).

1996 Civic Hatchback SI (MT) (Lime Green... yes!!!) - 2nd most favorite car to drive. Very short and silky transmission. No problems for 200,000 miles... used to get my bachelor's degree at UMCP - 100 miles + per day.

2000 Mist Lance Sport Car (MT) (What WAS I THINKING) - Ok transmission. But great on gas mileage. Used it to get my master's degree at UMCP. No problems ever with this car (but no fun either) - Traded at 120,000 miles.

2002 Mustang V8 (MT) - Very different transmisison (much more stiff and spread out, easily forgiving gearbox). Not fun to drive in traffice but fun to spin tires with.

2004 Used RX-8 (only in the sense that someone else broke in the car for me). Most fun in driving a car I have ever had. So far no tranny problems at all. Smooth as silk and tight.

 

Olorin2: Which store do ya work in? i'll be at loews this sunday around 2pm til 12am

 

I know this is the wrong page ,but trying to stay local..RX8 car cover for sale, paid 199.00 will sell for 125.00 Gray on black , fits like a glove PM me here.

 

I'm from Havre de Grace

 

Coke, I actually work across the street from the Avenue, at the Comcast buildings. I was just at Lowes yesterday to see the Wedding Crashers!

 

Yeah i was working on Friday night... My car is always parked in the over flow parking lot.. right in front of the side walk.. if not there it'll be in the first line of cars closes to the building (i dont know what the name of the company is though). I'll be up there this coming sunday.. or earlier in the week.. cuz it's time for me to donate some blood again.. considering doing it this Wed. at 12.30..

 

Hey all... Dan - you may be the guy that keyed me into this site when I ran into you at the gas station the other day!

What up all! Glen Burnie at night, Annapolis during the day! Black RX-8 - love to cruise... anytime anyone is in my area, let me know... love to get together for drinks or whatever! Until then - safe and fast driving to all!

Matt

 

Yo Yo,
Just bought a 04 VR 6SP GT. Would love to hook up with some of you guys around the bowie area some day and see what all you have done to your RXs. I am debating on getting a Exhaust or something first. Hit me back guys, or you can email me at mkal_merc4hire@msn.com.
Deuces

 

hey matt. we met at the wawa on veterans hwy, right? glad you found the forum...you'll learn a lot of stuff here. see you around man!!

 

crisis i think that mazda is improving the auto for the 06 year so if thats what you want you may want to wait. as far as mt shifting in traffic the only couple of times i have actually gotten annoyed with it were drives through new york city where i was stuck in traffic for like 3-4 hours. and as for not goining to push the car you wont be able to help it. i didnt know what it meant to push a car till i got my 8

 

Thanks for the input. I've kinda started to think that I should just learn to drive a MT and learn/enjoy "pushing" an RX8. The sales rep at Congressional Mazda took me for a test drive in a manual and took it to redline on wooton parkway, then falls road, then onto 270, and now I truly see what this car is capable of, quite impressive.

I'm planning on going back to the Congressional Mazda dealership this Saturday to talk price on a white '05 MT, with either the Touring package or the grand touring package. The only real difference I see between the two packages are the leather seats, heated seats, 8 way adjustable seats and the auto-dimming/homelink mirror. I've seen some cars with the NAV system, but all the white ones in this area with NAV have the factory spoiler, which I hate. If I put a different spoiler on the trunk, would it be able to use the same holes from the factory spoiler?

 

I think that once you go manual, you will not want to drive auto again. Enjoy your white RX-8 dude.

 

I am seroiusly considering buying an 06' when they come out. One thing that concerns me is the car's ability to handle the ice and snow in the winter.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to best handle the slippery roads in Maryland?

Thanks

 

^snow tires is a MUST if you plan to drive the 8 in wintry weather.