Closing-in on an RX8 purchase test drive observations from a gear-heads perspective
 

This is my first post on this forum, and I have been doing a lot of searches to get bits and pieces of data on the RX8 to help with my new car purchasing decisions. I was originally out at the Mazda dealer looking at the large inventory of 2006 MazdaSpeed6's that are being heavily discounted. I drove the MS6 and sort of liked the car, but it didn't really light me on fire. A little later I test drove the MS6 again, and then took an RX8 for a test drive and was overwhelmed by the driving experience behind the wheel of the RX8.

Now I am no performance car noob, and consider myself a pretty hardcore car nut that has always wrenched and modded his own cars. I am on my 52nd car at age 48, and have always had perfomance cars my entire life. Some extremely quick, some fast, some on the luxury sport front and some raw hard-edged no compromise driving machines. A few worth mentioning would be an 87 Buick GN, a 91 GMC Syclone, a 98 E36 M3/4, two different modded S4 biturbo's, an MCoupe, a stage 3 WRX, a stage 2 337 GTI, an R32 Golf, an Evo VIII, and even my current ride a stage 2 Forester XT with lots of Sti bits, have all provided a great deal of fun for me.

During the many years that I have been buying and driving cars I have come to the realization that the thing I enjoy most is driving a car that feels like an extension of your body. Like riding a sportbike, but in a car if that makes sense. The MCoupe had that feeling more than any of the others, followed by the Evo and then the M3 and R32. Anyway, I was really not expecting much out of the RX8 to be honest with you guys. I had always been a fan of the Rotary engine, and had spent some wheel time in a few RX7's, but had always heard the Rx8 was fairly anemic so had discounted it for the last several years unfairly without ever even test driving it.

Well, I have to tell you that compared to the other cars I have driven, it is right up there at the top with my MCoupe when it comes to shear driving experience enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I love the blinding rush of power that you get with a modded awd turbo car, but an NA RWD car is a thing of beauty in its own right if the execution is correct. At the end of the day, the MS6 has faded from my list of possibilities, and an Evo MR or Sti although fast, simply don't provide that sophisticated feeling cockpit, nor the RWD handling agility the RX8 provides. After taking the test drive in the RX8 I told my wife it felt a lot like my MCoupe, but with room for 4 people...considering the Mcoupe has always been my favorite car of the many I have owned, thats a pretty big achievment in my book! The car I drove was a Shinka model, but I understand that the regular car handles pretty similarly regardless of the minor suspension and chassis tweeks the Shinka adds. I am hoping thats the case as I am looking at a regular Grand Touring model in Galactic grey with black leather instead.

Anyway the deals are pretty good on the RX8 right now, so I think this may be the path I take. Probably the biggest concern I have is the cars ability to hang with a periodic road trip of about 1000 miles in a single day. Mostly 4lane highway between St.Louis and New Mexico, but over 1000 miles of seat time reagrdless.I know that kind of trip in an Evo or Sti would not be a lot of fun. I did some searches on the forum but didn't find any references to peoples experiences with driving the car on major road trips, so if anyone could enlighten I would appreciate it. I am also looking at a fairly immediate road trip of this sort, and am unsure of the effects of a low-mileage car thats engine is not broken in being subjected to a long duration cruise where speeds are fairly constant for long periods of time.

Anyway thanks for having a forum with lots of interesting data. Maybe I will join you guys in a couple of weeks.

Jeff

The 8's suspension is not as stiff as the STI or EVO's so longer trips are not as punishing.
I've driven my 8 from Boston to DC (roughly 450 miles one way), and make regular trips to NYC and I have not had any problems with the car and the ride comfort. This stretch of highway goes through NYC and the Jersey turnpike which don't exactly have the greatest roads, potholes anyone? but the ride was as comfortable as many of the larger cars that I've taken through these trips. Just remember to bring a quart of oil and check the level every other fill up.

The OP in the thred below just took a 1500 mile trip so he might be able to relate to a longer trip.
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/me-my-new-8-%3D%5D-103001/

Sounds like your a true car enthusiast, like many of us here, your loyal to cars that stir the soul , instead of brand loyalty. :)

I think you will fit right at home in a RX-8, it really is a blast to drive and own! And if your not worried about head snapping power, but more about balance and feel , the RX-8 is your awnser.

My like for this car is turning into love, after 11 months of owning it. I too have owned many sports cars(300ZXT,300TTZ,Mustang GT,BMW328CI,Audi A4) , and like my beloved 80' 280Z , the RX-8 has really found a warm place in my heart. Like you , the driving feel and dynamics of this car has won me over, and i know it will do the same for you.

Thanks for the info and replies guys. It sounds like the RX8 can absolutely handle the trip in reasonable comfort. Thanks for the reference to road trip info, and also the reference to the person who made the 1500 mile trek, that will be good reading. Cutting across the Okalhoma turnpike with its 75 mph speed limit should be an easy cruise for the RX8. I am sure the Valentine will fit nicely on the windshield.

Its funny, I am one of those guys that carries extra tools, and I also carry a partial quart of oil with me all the time anyway even in my Forester, just in case the need arises to top-off a bit. I am going to do a bit more anaylsis on the pre-lube threads and such as well. One of the issues I contend with is the changes in gas quality availability between the St.Louis area with 93, and all points south down to NM with 91 being the best available. From what I have read the Rx8 runs fine on either, and other than mediocre gas mileage(my FXT gets between 17-22 mpg), it sounds like the car will meet my needs with no problems.

Many of the fun cars I have owned like old Triumphs, Mk1 Scirroccos, BMW 2002's, rabbit Gti, and more recently the 337 and R32 have continued to prove to me that its not all about the power, but really the balance of the package, and the end experience of owning and driving the car. Its easy to get caught-up in the numbers comparison games, but at the end of the day, I gauge my cars by how badly I want drive them, and how often. Cars like the RX8 get driven, just for the sake of driving...often. Thats a winner in my book!

JR

Hey Jeff - I hope you join us soon! I've had mine for 2 years now, and the honeymoon continues. Personally I've never felt this good about a car for this long (and I've owned cars going back to the 1970s). It's fun and practical at the same time. The longest trips I've made are about 400 miles, and I had no complaints. Cruise control is obviously desirable, as are the multi-adjustable electric seats. Just be aware that mileage on your long trips will not be as good as other cars. I get about 23 mpg highway.

Welcome to the forum! I drove mine from Atlanta to Austin and absolutely love the way it feels on the highway at speed. It is just soft enough to not be twitchy in the steering.

I run 87 all the time. I seem to get the best mileage and the car feels perfectly fine. For others, mileage and performance may vary. When the dealer did the last recall they filled it up with 93 and I didn't notice any difference. My 8 seems perfectly happy with whatever gas I use. I mostly keep it under 3k and then once or twice a week it will be above 5000k for a good 20 minutes without issue. You'll get 20-25mpg on the hwy.

I havent done anything close to 1000, but I can tell you that after 3 hours on the highway, the precision cruise control is something I rave about. I often end up "driving with buttons" since 6th gear is plenty to pass on the highway, as long as you arent trying to make a statement.

I spent a week driving from Michigan to Florida and back over the summer, 1200 miles each way. Maybe I'm just used to horrible Michigan roads, but the drive felt wonderful. Rest breaks every 2-4 hours were still helpful to stretch my legs. My girlfriend who rode with me didn't feel so great though, but that was probably more due to her general car-sickness.

On the trip I tried everything from 87 to 93 Octane and I can't say I noticed much of a difference in performance or fuel mileage. I mostly put 87 in nowadays, but occasionally I'll give it some 89 or 91 if I feel like splurging.

Oh, forgot to mention that I took this trip in early August 2006 when temps ranged from 90-100 (and the Black/Black cloth interior getting up to 120 when parked!) The A/C was still able to keep me comfortable without having to crank it above "2" out of the 4 fan settings (well, except for when it was first starting up).

So welcome to the board, N10S, it's a refreshing occasion when we hear from new people who really appreciate the overall feel and value of a car, rather than those who just looking for something that goes as fast as possible or wondering whether some other car is "better".

Glad to hear you found out why we love this car. I took a 3500 mile 10day roadtrip To Yellowstone recently. I did 850 miles the first day 550 the second day. Put 600miles on at my destination and came back the same as I went out there. The car is a joy on long trips. I never got bored driving it and was comfortable the entire trip. It's really fun driving in the mountains. I'm a biker and agree this car gives that extended connection to the road like a motorcycle. This car is so good at handling it makes trips easy and fun. 75-80 mph is so smooth if feels like flying a foot off the ground. It used 1-1/2 quart of oil over the 3500 mile trip. The car is almost mystical driving over long distances. It was half the fun going to Yellowstone park and Tetons in this car.

I drove my 8 from cetral Jersey to Detroit 2 years back. I drove the entire way there stopping only for gas. Took me about 12 hours with all the construction on 80 at the time. Got a ticket in Ohio. (I always get a ticket in Ohio). I found it pretty comfortable particularly on my back. The legs, however is a different story. I'm 6 foot tall. On the way back I felt like I was going to die. I couldn't get my legs comfortable. I was only in Detroitfor about 3 days so I never recouped from the drive there. Overall though, the car was comfortable.

A little tip. On long drives in the 8, raise the height of the seat a little and move it back just a little farther than your normal position. It will help keep you from cramping if you have long legs. Believe me even if you don't you'll find yourself moving your chair back 5-6 hours into your trip.

I don't believe there's any problem in driving an "unbroken in" car long distances on the interstate as long as you remember to constantly vary speeds. You're right, you probably shouldn't take it up to 70mph and leave it on cruise all day. Instead, constantly vary your speed. I live in NYC and picked up my new GTI 337 in Vermont. I drove it home between 55 and 75mph, changing speed every 20 or 30 seconds. I also changed gears a lot, too, using 4th, 5th, and 6th. Also, if you have the time, take it off the interstate a little and enjoy the backroads.

Excellent responses!! Thanks!
 

Well folks, I really appreciate all of the great information about your travel experiences with the car. I am stoked to get one and this "travel" question has been bugging me and you have cleared that up nicely. Heck it sounds like the car will get close to the same mileage as the 17-22mpg I get with my Forester, and not be as picky about having to have 93 octane either!

Thanks again, and I look forward to being a part of the group downstream!

Jeff

Another chip in here, I have driven my car on 300 mile roadtrips regularly (once every 2 months or so) and even after my fat ass sitting in the seat for 3 years, it's still very comfy, and this was after putting in stiffer springs as well, so sotck suspention shouldnt be an issue. Longest road trip I took the car on was 900 miles and had no problems with sore backs or such.

I bought my RX-8 in Atlanta and drove it to San Francisco by way of Houston and Dallas in the first month I owned it. I averaged 21mpg across the trip driving briskly. Most enjoyable road trip I ever made.

I have also made the drive from San Francisco to Vegas, SF to LA, SF to Reno, LA to Vegas, track time, and lot of daily driving. 44k miles in two years.

My best fuel mileage has been 24mpg and my worse (on track) has been 7. I average 19mpg mix daily.

This car is slower than my last car (400hp Eclipse) but oh so much more fun. It feels great. Good enough to hold me off from buying a far less practical Elise. For the moment. :)

Best daily driver you can buy for the money I think.

Comfortable seating for most but the tallest; a compliant suspension that doesn't beat you up; quiet enough to hear your music or a conversation; stable and tracks as well as any front-drive car I've had on the long haul (so no constant steering corrections) so it greatly reduces driver fatigue. On the negative side, is there anything more boring than planting this car on a straight road at 65 with the cruise-control on?

Hehe..you guys should be getting some commission when Mazda sells an RX8. This info is invaluable to me. Every forum has a different personality and the owners and their attitudes have a major reflection on the subject matter in discussion....

Thanks again

Jeff

i know you've gotten a lot of response but thought i would chime in as well. i have only taken mine about 200 miles but at the end of the trip i wanted to go more. my sister also has an 8 and drove from NoVa to Philly to meet up with me and then drove from Philly down to NM b/c she was moving. she and my other sister stopped in St. Louis for a quick break and that was it. she had quite a bit of luggage in the trunk and back which weighed it down a bit but was still getting about 21 mpg. other than gas, a quart of oil, and food, they were on their way with no problems. you won't regret it and will enjoy those long road trips. i know i enjoy mine down to philly and up to boston from CT.

Great post. I enjoyed reading your experience.

I know I love mine. I have 42,000 miles on in just 1.75 years of ownership. It's been great so far.

It doesn't have a lot of luggage capacity in the trunk, be warned.

btw I wouldn't trust anything under 91 octane. ;)
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I've had mine since 04 and have really loved the car. It's been the most trouble free and rewarding car I've owned. I had a '93 RX-7 and while it was a blast to drive but it was so much more tiring. I've driven it on my 40 mile one way commute for the last 2 years and never gotten bored. It's a little loud on the highway but that has more to do with the tires than the car. It's always comfortable and can fit 4 real people. Everyone loves the interior. Definitely get the GT model. It has all the suspension tweaks and body stiffeners the Shinka has. I put 89 octane in the car and have never noticed a difference. I put in a quart of oil every 1000 miles or so. Make sure you hit the redline at least once per drive. It's good for the engine and hey, It's what you paid for. :) I've done plenty of road trips and actually there's a group here in Seattle that gets together to take day trips about once a month on back roads to "clean the carbon out."

just make sure you find a good dealer who is not going to give you a hard time over warranty service. I've had great experiences so far but others on this board have not.

I have been riding and racing motorcycles for about 16 years, and have never found another car that feels like a bike. The closest I have come to it before is my 1973 Porsche 914 2.0, basically a 100hp go kart. But the RX8 has so much refinement, that it absolutly makes all others pale in comparison. I too tested several cars over about 6 months before I decided on the 8, and after a year of ownership there is absolutley no looking back. By the way, my longest trip was about 600 miles in one day, stopping only for fuel, no discomfort. Welcome to the club, and I am gald that the Forum has helped.

Wow, that's pretty cool!
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The base has the same performance bits as the higher models. The only thing higher models add are luxury and weight.

Base is race. :)

ah ha! beat everyone to the punch!

This car will be the smoothest you ever drove!

No vibration, due to hundredsof moving parts in a piston engine.

Believe me you will notice the differance.

Been riding motorcycles everyday for 36 years. What car feels and drives like a motorcycle? 9Remember it is so much smother too!)

RX8!

Long road trips, huh? Well, lessee here... I've done the following trips of 500mi or more in the last six months, all nonstop 'cept for gasoline/food/potty stops:

Ft. Wayne, IN- Ft. Worth Texas; 1060mi
Houston, TX- Ft. Wayne, IN; 1225mi (with an unfortunate detour)
Ft. Wayne, IN-NYC area; 700mi, two roundtrips on this route

Actually... The Houston-Ft. Wayne trip was followed immediately by a trip to Ohio, and then on to NY... 2000mi in about 60hrs. THAT was a fun coupla days, I assure you. :shocking:

After six trips of 700 or more miles in a day, I can say that this car handles such duties quite admirably. I've had nothing of this cramping that some have mentioned, though I have in other, larger cars... I'm a pretty big guy who probably shouldn't be in a car this small, but I have few complaints. Those complaints shouldn't be news to anyone who knows much about the car... Smooth or not, turning 3500-3750rpm at "normal" highway speeds for 10-18hrs at a stretch can get slightly tiresome (worse, I imagine, if you have anything other than the stock exhaust). Mileage? Well, that goes without saying (22-25mpg depending). Also the A-pillar, which is more or less in my way all the time anyway, can lead to mild claustrophobia after a long day at the helm.

But like others have said, it's got a good highway ride, it's not particularly loud (even with that high-rpm motorsikkle sound), and there's enough room for all but the largest folks in the front seats, and plenty of room for luggage between the trunk and the back seats. Not sure I'd want to do a long, long trip with THREE in the car, however, unless that third is a pre-teen (or a small adult) who doesn't mind the dark cave that we call the rear passenger area. :)

One thing of note. With just the driver and a not-too-ridiculous load of luggage, even when it's distributed properly in the passenger compartment, leads to the car having a bit of a "down at the stern" look to it.

Oh, and let's not forget about stone chips. :crying: