jkchang

Hey guys,

I ordered an IS350 Sport Pkg/Nav/Mark Levinson in a 'rare' Glacier Frost Mica color at the end of December... to my surprise IT'S STILL NOT HERE.

My little bro just got his license so it's time to hand over my car (02 solara) to him. I'm now considering other cars and the RX-8 jumped into mind.

Since you all know my life story now (hahaha)...

I'm looking at an 06 Shinka 6MT w/ Appearance PKG in Copper Red (or black)

1. Are there any known issues with the engine/6MT?
--I've read about a few with internal coolant leaks. I'm sure those are just isolated cases, but I'd feel better w/ some backup voices (We've, dealer to remain un-named, have replaced 2 IS350 transmissions already but it's still a great car)

2. I found an 05 Shinka with Appearance PKG for 29900+tax/license/fees. I was quoted invoice (31 and change?) for the 06 Shinka w/o the appearance pkg. Are there any notable differences between the 05 Shinka and the 06 Shinka ?
--Both colors look good to me so that's not really an issue. The only real difference I read about was that the AT is getting more power, which won't affect me.

My first car was a Mazda (when it was still Japanese lol) 626 DX. I thought I'd never go for another Mazda again... but the RX-8 is nice. (Rev It Up for the Mazda6 was when I met her)

jkchang

Yup. I drove a Touring model today. I'm quite pleased with it. The interior materials are leaps and bounds better than the pre-production model I saw at the Mazda RevItUp event (Mazda 6 introduction). Looks like I'll be putting some cash down on one next weekend =]

New Yorker

Oh haven't you heard? Spend any time here and you'll quickly learn there are indeed "known issues" with the engine:
• seriously disappointing HP
• an embarassing lack of torque
• horrible MPG
Do a search and you'll learn that these widely "known issues" are responsible for the RX8's dismal failure in the marketplace. In fact, the model is about to be discontinued—I read it right here on this website.

Weird thing is, I have an RX-8, and I haven't experienced any of the "known issues." In fact, my 8 seems a lot more like the 8 that's been reviewed in the auto mags:

• "Here's one of those sports cars whose charm is all out of proportion to its numbers." (C&D)
• Winner in comparison test vs. Nissan 350Z and Honda S2000 (MT)
• Winner in comparison vs. VW R32 (Evo)
• Car & Driver's Ten Best Cars: 2005, 2006
• "The RX-8 exhibits precision, efficiency, and imagination. Maybe it's because the Mazda people are real engineers, the kind of people who pride themselves on being able to do for a dime what any fool could do for a dollar." (Automobile)
• "Mazda’s Wankel — stop sniggering at the back — rotary engine is not the only thing that marks the RX-8 out from the crowd. Distinctive styling and those suicide doors make it the most recognisable coupé around. It handles well, so long as it’s dry, and has the comfort of a much more expensive car, making it practical as a long-distance cruiser. The engine might lack low-down torque and you can see the fuel needle move at cruising speeds but these are small prices to pay for a car only the Japanese could pull off." (Jeremy Clarkson)
• "If there's a single thing that stands out about the RX-8, it's the ability to draw you into the driving experience, where the car feels like an extension of your body rather than an assemblage of parts that you guide along." (R&T)
• "These are all the hallmarks of a light, precise car, something that sports car drivers have been talking about since Colin Chapman built the first Lotus Mark 6 in the early 1950s. The Z-car is terrific in its own right, a brawny car that you can drive with your biceps, feeling confident that it will never let you down. It's faster than the RX-8, and you can work up a sweat in it. The BMW 330i makes time on the road without actually asking much from the driver, the pulling power of the in-line six-cylinder carrying you irresistibly forward. And yet, who wants to always work up a sweat while driving? And isn't there something about the tall center of gravity in a sedan that makes you feel as if a block of lead is sliding across the rear package shelf every time you go around a corner?" (Automobile)
• "Regardless of how many doors the RX-8 has, it is ultimately a sport coupe that offers sensational handling without the stiffness typically associated with cars of this type." (Edmunds.com)
• "...the RX-8's seats fit like a second skin and the chassis felt alive and willing." (R&T)
• "Exceptionally well-balanced and behaved." (Motor Trend)
• "It's got a great engine, it makes a great noise, it goes like stink, it's very comfortable, it's practical, it's well priced, and it's well equipped...and then there's the really good stuff." (Clarkson)
• "The engine will spin to 9,000 rpm faster than you can say 'rev limiter' and feels more willing at high rpm than even Honda's S2000 because of the rotary's phenomenal smoothness." (Edmunds.com)
• "...it jinks through the slalom like a Heisman Trophy winner shrugging off tackles…"
(R&T)
• One of the 10 Best Road Trip Vehicles" (Kelley Blue Book)
• "...the RX-8 carves arcs through corners with supple coordination, practically begging its driver to attack the curbs in a blissful symbiosis of man and machine." (R&T)
• "It's been widely praised in the logbook for its handling prowess, its firm, somewhat forgiving sport suspension feel and a quality, edgy interior that's become a hallmark of Mazda's vehicle line." (AutoWeek)
• "...this mighty-mite motor makes pure magic." (C&D)
• "...for sure it is one fine driving machine, providing a far superior ride to the Nissan 350Z or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, while still holding its own when the going gets twisty." (R&T)
• "In some regards, the RX-8 is a small exoticar with marvelous engineering innovations. In other ways, it has the amenities and comfort of an everyday driver with the safety and warranty expected from a modern car - all while exhibiting a light, athletic feel and strong value message." (MT)

Stupid auto journalists—what do they know!!

jkchang

I figured that out after driving it =] I read the edmunds "long term" review of the car, also. The suspension is pretty damn close to feeling like a 330 (which is ok, last gen 540's suspension was WOW).

Any help regarding 05 v 06? I'll search the forum for it also. I've read a lot of other strange things on the forum but all in all, it seems like the car to get. And the fact that it might get canned adds to the appeal. I've driven the GHOSN Z and the cheap piece of crap has some DECENT straight performance and DECENT handling but is just made in the tradition of a muscle car. I didn't like it (the Z).

And with your sarcastic comments, the HP is enough. We all know having ~300hp is nice but we'd never use it (I'm a realist in these aspects). The torque is sufficient. It won't necessarily knock you back into the back seat, but it good for a daily car. Horrible MPG - Actually true hahaha. I'm only getting like 24-26MPG right now mixed, so losing a little won't **** me off. I'd be looking at gas guzzlers if I couldn't afford food for the car haha.

By 'known-issue' I meant "cover ups" from Mazda. I was considering an A6 3.2Q lease but heard from an corp. tech that the head gasket has an issue and it'd be fixed in the next year (07) but wouldn't be recalled on the 06.

I'll put some pictures up once I have it

-J

New Yorker

Agreed - I really like the car. No significant changes from '05 to '06. There's keyless entry/start. The AT has a little more power. The leather trim is a bit different (no longer ribbed). The '06 "Shinka" option is available on 3 colors. That's about it, I think.