vibec

I have done 500km in my RX-8 comming from a MX-5 and has anyone else noticed that they are driving faster and faster?

not necessarily breaking the speed limits but taking corners faster and having a higher average speed?

the smoothness of this car helps you build a rythym when youre driving.

sco

Sure have :D :D :D :D

At least until I have to pay to replace the first set of tyres at sometime before 35,000kms... and the pain in the hip pocket prevents me from using such a wide range in my right ankle.

rex

iTrader: (2)

Oh you bet!

I was driving near where I live today going about 50mph when I saw traffic stopped ahead because of road construction. To hell with that I thought, and since I was rapidly approaching a side road that's angled back from the highway I thought I'd give it a shot. I braked, turned and without any drama at all just zipped down the side road. Now that was a grin generating maneuver! If I'd done the same in my Miata, the back would have swung wide and I'd be blessing the limited slip, but the RX-8 just shrugged and did what I asked. Wow.

I've also found that I'm much more tempted to "lane flip" as in flip the steering wheel quickly just to enjoy the way it switches lanes quickly.

And finally I was overtaking some slow traffic today and looked down to find I'd hit 90mph. Ooops!

I also just love the sound of the Renesis winding up, so I shift gears just to get it to play that awesome soundtrack.

Love my 8. Love it, love it, love it!

Haze

Man, I have been doing that in spades with every little lane change, and it's funny watching the rest of traffic just back off (or try to race me), and I only got the car on Saturday! I fret for what happens when I learn the distances to cars behind me as read through the rear view mirror. It's going to be scary.

I've been pretty good at keeping the general speed down to around the limit, however, I am taking turns at much higher speeds than normal, and there is no resentment from the tires at all. It's just nice and quiet and calm. I love this thing, and the best part of it is the unexpected highway comfort and quietnes. This car defines the idea of a Grand Tourer, and it is the kind of car that I have always dreamed of owning since I first read about the 1967 Alfa Romeo Guilia. It is the most predictable handling car that I have ever had the pleasure to drive, and I would not want one more ounce of power because I like the balance of this vehicle. It's just lovely! For the first time in my life with cars, I have had not one ounce of buyer's remorse. I really feel as if I have gotten my money's worth. I am a satisfied customer.

-H

ptiemann

same here.. I used to hate those people who on a windy mountain highway switch lanes to pass 2 cars and then they're stuck.. now I'm doing that on occasion myself. Wasn't doable in the previous car - a Firebird.


I don't listen to music much at all anymore. Not even to my favorite CDs. The engine sounds so sweet.

When finally listening to music on a longer road trip, past weekend, I noticed a problem with the left front tweeter in one song. I'll have to talk to the dealer about that one. (I have the Bose stereo)

-Peter

rex

iTrader: (2)

OK, you wonderful people, don't get me started. I have lots of RX-8 driving stories and I only have 200 miles on mine and I've kept it until 5,000rpm for the most part. I had one foray in 7,000rpm, it wasn't really necessary but I mean, hell, the road was empty this Renesis wanted winding up.

So, I picked my car up at the dealer and I have the choice, a 5 mile drive or a 90 mile drive. Oh yes, that one was tricky! Next day I fly to San Francisco for business. My trick of requesting the cheapest car on the lot paid off again, I get a Ford Focus. OK, so for a Ford and as a rental car, this isn't a bad vehicle. It actually has "reasonable" handling. I've enjoyed driving one up route 1 on occasion (lost in the dust by a Miata, but then there is justice in this world after all). So it doesn't have sports car handling, but you don't feel like you're driving down the highway on a water bed like most rental cars.

So, here I am dear RX-8 drivers, driving south on 101 to Santa Clara in my Ford Focus and I feel like I'm driving a great big inflatable ball. The car is rolling and pitching all over the place. I'd never really noticed just how bad the handling is. Then when I get home I have to drive the dog's car (a Subaru Forester). I zoom down my street in my normal fashion and almost zoom off the end. The breaks are so ineffective compared to the RX-8's "road anchors".

So, beware, dear friends, the RX-8 has spoiled you. Demand Hertz rent RX-8s! We deserve no less ;-) Hmmm...maybe the drive from Seattle to San Francisco isn't so bad after all!

Love it, love it, love it!

mikeb

I dont drive faster but I defently take those corners like I'm in a race

klegg

One, I actually have been driving a bit more slowly, I think because I listen to the engine and sort of zone...........You know..DRONNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEE.

Two, I have to be on guard , as cars in the other lane swerve over due to head turning.

Three, I find myself looking out for gas stations out of habit....

rxeightr

No faster .. yet, as I have not put in a radar detector (waiting for my $500 debit card).

Corners are an affirmitive. Certainly do take those at a MUCH higher speed, especially turning from one street onto another. All I got to say is, the traction control works very unobtrusively

RodsterinFL

I've gone wild. I change lanes like crazy - never did that before. I have trouble keeping the speed down too.

Slice

I've been cool....mostly.....I've been up to 7000rpms (and loved it!) I want to keep doing it! I've got 350 miles on it now.

Anyway, similar experience.... Went to go look at the new RX-8 and finangled a test-drive. Had a blast! We returned to the lot and I got into my car and as I was TRYING to drive off the lot I stalled my car twice! They, I was pulling out on to a busy road, I almost got ran over! My car had no power! At that point, I knew I was going to own an 8! The rest is history.....


I love 'swooping' slow cars

Hayseed

I have always been a moderately aggressive driver, but...

I find myself thinking, "why is everyone going so slow???" then look down and see, oops, 90+ mph. And oh I can't wait to take curvey highway exits and am so disappointed when I can't go flat out because of some top-heavy SUV in front of me.

This car is SO MUCH FUN to drive. Wow.

rex

iTrader: (2)

Yesterday I was driving on some back roads, taking the long way home and I got a motorcycle on my tail, so I thought I'd give him a surprise and accelerated as fast as I could without blowing my 5,000rpm brake in limit. Gear changes, lots of gear changes. Well, so the RX-8 is no match for a motor bike, but I figured he was having some fun when I saw him hunker down on the bars ;-) It was only when I got home that I realized that I'd never driven that fast on that road because it's so uneven that my previous car would have bounced right off the road at those speeds. Didn't even notice it in the 8!

Did I tell you yet how much I love my 8? OK, just checking...

P00Man

ive noticed my heal-toeing has gotten a lot better and that i like to swoop around curves at higher than average speeds. i find i often speed up a good amount whilst accelerating through turns, then i gotta slow back down to the speed limit


love that sound, sometimes i cant resist to rev it out just to hear it purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr



absolutely love my car, say it whenever i even think about the thing
________
No-fault insurance advice

VelocityRedRX8

OK, since everyone's sharing a bit of their story I'll share a bit of mine. I traded a BMW 540i sport 6 speed in for my RX8 automatic. Heresy you say? Well, I have developed nerve damage in my left foot causing severe pain upon extended clutch/shift action (especially stop and go). So, I took the plunge, traded in the Bimmer, and got the auto. It's cool in general, but I have to get used to the wide gear spacing. At any rate, my other car is a Miata (six speed), so I'm used to good handling cars. In comparison, the RX8 feels a lot more substantial, and seems to have even more grip. I've got 400+ miles on it now, and have been medium gentle. I'm keeping to the spirit of the Mazda break-in instructions, and have been using the full engine range (but not high RPMs for extended periods). One thing I notice is that it's very easy to drive the car fast, and not really be aware of it. I've wound it up in 2nd and 3rd gears on the highway and end up going 80+ MPH.

This car rocks! I love it already (even with only 15MPG), and am looking forward to really getting attuned to it. I'm sure the issues with gas mileage will be addressed, and we'll be able to buy new ECU chips and cool engine mods, etc.

Mine is 'Arrest me Red' - I'll really have to pay attention to cops, given my newfound proclivity for driving fast. :D

jd62

I have to use the cruise control to keep from speeding because I can't seem to keep myself under control.

My wife claims she never uses the brakes going around corners anymore. The other day she asked me what the "little car with the squigely lines" meant. I asked her what she was doing, and she said just going around corners fast. She's 61 years old, isn't that scary?

QuantumTheory08

...Let's see now...

beater Metro 3-speed auto; only capable of 85 downhill.

So how do I explain the dimensional change?

Think of a point. Now think of 3-D with the fourth dimension of time.

Now think of R=X^8...you get the picture.

....this is so different now. I love it!:p :p :p

Haze

Right . . . Hurst, Texas . . . Can't find it . . . so I'll just avoid Texas until you're wife sells the car.

I'm glad that she is having fun with the vehicle, but I hope that she stays safe.

klegg

You probably already know this, but......she is a keeper.

o_town_racer

Actually....yes....I did change....I no longer park my daily driver at the airport! I fly out of town every week Mon-Thurs and usually leave my daily driver in the parking garage. Since I've gotten the RX-8 I've been too paranoid to leave it there....I even took the Vette there one week! My reason for being a bit paranoid is that I had my old Miata broken into at the airport garage once a couple years ago. The dealer even warned me not to leave it there because the parts are so rare for a while that it will be a high profile target. So my fiance takes me Monday mornings and picks me up Thursday nights.....not a bad trade

asparapani

I've become a sick puppy!

OverLOAD

All I can say is, Indubidibly..

syntrix

Everything is so smooth that I find that I'm double clutching into 1st gear when going around neighborhood corners, and drifting out of them. All in my dress shoes

You can't even shift into 1st in a WRX without voiding your warranty (as the service dept, and they will recommend 1st only at a stop).

mikeb

that sucks for subaru owners

Racer X-8

There's only one way to slow me down. Get in front of me & leave me no way to get around you.

I'll give you plenty of lead, cuz I'm deathly afraid of road debris now.

Give me a way to get around you & I'm real gone. Bye bye! :D