I'm a noob to this forum. I started visiting this site a couple of weeks before I decided to buy the 8 and was doing some research.

After reading up on all the ups and downs of 8 owners, I decided to take the plunge, and WALA.. Here's my 1100KM 09 VR RX8. And I just want to give a quick review of it so far. Review below the pics (and with these pics, I now officially exists in this forum!):






Body Work
What can I say? VR rocks. I had several options: Black Mica, Black, Silver, and GunMetal (?) When I went to the car yard the VR was hiding behind the black 8 and it was midday and all I could see was this red sparkling GEM. From then on, I knew the VR was for me.

My take on this: body is light. Hood is so light compared to my previous cars (DUH! it is a sports car!). However I noticed that when it rains, and it pours in my country, I can hear the top of my car sound really thin (like a tin can infact!)

Noticed some 'stickers' at the rear wheels. Asked my dealers and they said that's to prevent chips from pebbles and rocks from the front wheel striking the side of the body. So leaving it there.



Engine
First 700KM - breaking it in slowly and felt the engine being a little (and i mean just VERY little) rough. BUT when I hit 800km, suddenly the car just felt wonderful. Butter smooth revs and acceleration and REALLY felt the difference.
At start up, it can be a little loud, with the whirring sound calming down after a min or so. I usually let it warm up for 10 mins before I start my early morning commute and don't rev the engine until I'm 10 mins into the drive.

At 1100 I revved it up once to redline (for 2 seconds only), and satisfied that the beep works, I slowed it down. I don't intend to rev it to redline until i clock in 5000km and my next oil change).

Oil Consumption: first 1000km, I had to top up about 0.5 litres. Using Shell HX5 15W-40 mineral oil as that's what my dealer is giving me gratis (free service and maintenance every 5000km for 100,000km).

Fuel consumption: based on my calculations - between 14-16 litre/100km on highway 80% /city 20% driving. Can live with that as I only pay 53 cents per litre.

Water: nothing visible disappearing from my coolant.

No Premix... yet. I am enquiring about Idemitsu Rotary Premix from a workshop. They haven't gotten back to me.



GearBox
Smooth as butter and most times feels heavenly. BUT I get a small metal clink in 2--> 3rd when engine is cold and only for the first 2 to 3 shifts. When fully warmed up, it goes away. Informed my dealer and mechanic will check with Mazda. Its in their service records now. He says some of the 8s he services also have the clink, but it does not get progressively worse (let's hope he's right!)

I also notice a small 'bump' sometimes when I shift into 1st gear from a standstill. Not sure why (anyone?)



Sounds & Noises
First 500km, road noise was bad, but after the tyres got broken in, feels much better. As mentioned above, I hear a small bump shifting into 1st gear at standstill.

I also notice that I hear a hissing noise that seems to come from the airconditioning when I accelerate and it only lasts for about 2 to 3 seconds. Again, not sure why.

Cooling Fan: Ran and ran and ran on 2 occasions for around 15 mins without stopping. Fellow 8 owners form this forum mentioned this is normal so leaving it at that.



Interior
Enough space for a baby chair for my kids! and enough leg room too for front and back.

My seat has been chafed (around the sides) due to me getting in and out and my buttons on the back of my pants scraping against it. Since noticing it, I have adjusted my steering height, and been able to avoid scraping it. Annoyed, Annoyed, Annoyed.

Bose sound system is ok, nothing amazing but still better than my redundant tape deck on my Saab!.. which doesn't work anymore..



Performance
What can I say? Handles like a dream and while torque isn't amazing, the handling is sensational. Once I get into 3rd gear and rev it up to 4000rpm.. heavenly.. if driving is to sex, then opening up the throttle in 3rd gear and letting it rip is <complete the sentence however you like> - all I can say is the feeling's unbeatable and everytime you get in your 8, you want the same feeling.

The only problem I face is that I run out of room to accelerate on the highway as there's always some roadhog on the fast lane travelling at 100km and I'd have to slow down.

Top speed I have gone: 135km I like accelerating, not necesarily the top speed. Plus I try to keep it safe.



Deal
2k cash rebate, with free 5000km service for 100,000km. Warranty up to 5yrs or 100,000km. Good deal I reckon.



Amusing Comments from friends and family
Are you having a mid life crisis?

Is this your poser car?

1.3litre engine???!

How did you convince the missus to let you get this car? (ans: it was either this or the Nissan 350Z, which is a 2 seater, costs 10k more - we need rear seats for our kids).

I thought this was a 4 door car?? (from the missus) - then promptly opened the suicide doors..

So does it go faster cos it's red? (Yeah of course it does. VR rulez!)



Conclusion
Will update on a regular interval. I have totally fallen in love with this car and I hope to maintain it to a pristine level. Handling's amazing, ride's amazing, and looks heavenly. I have been wanting to buy a Mazda for a LONG LONG time, started with the MX6 a long time ago, then MX5 MkI, then MX5 MKII, then Mazda 6, then Mazda 3, and finally, I took the plunge and went for my 8!


Hope you guys enjoyed my review..

 

those "stickers" can also be put on the front of the car. you might want to consider it. otherwise stones will ruin your beautiful red paint. use ebay, search for, "clearbra rx8" or something similar. should run you under a $100.

congrats.

edit: those nuances with the tranny are normal. switch to a good fluid, like redline mt90 and it will be lessened.

 

yeah my 04 clicks everyonce and awhile going into 1st at a stop i believe it's just with the clutch in the gears synchro's/gears are not exactly lined up so they need to move a tiny bit....

congrats on the purchase...looks nice....
Oh BTW Lightning Yellow is the Fastest!!! lol

 

3 preferences for me colour wise: White, Red and Yellow. They don't have Lightning Yellow for the 09s. If they did, I would have picked it cos my missus prefers yellow..

 

Nice review. Funny that your dealer is giving you 15W-40 and mine will not do oil changes with 10W-30.

 

Where's your country?

 

Thanks for the pic and the review. I'd say you're in a country with a hot climate, lots of rain, and really cheap gas.

 

I see palm trees and car porches. Doesn't look like US or Canada. And it's RHD too.

 

Brunei

 

spot on!

 

30 degree celsius, 40c in the sun, humid weather. and based on the Mazda manual, 15w-40 is just right for our weather.

Brunei's in South East Asia, around Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

 

yeah they only made yellow in 04 because they were too fast and ppl were hurting themselves.. BUt i like the red I almost bought a a VR but the yellow dragged me in..

 

Brunei is far from Singapore! It's right in the Borneo island.
Is Brunei divided by a chunk of land in Malaysia? Never been there I know a co-worker who lived there once. Does the King still have multiple exoticars for each colour of the rainbow?

 

ABS Check. Nice review man! I love the looks of the 09!

 

Yep Brunei is split in half by a land strip that was 'seized' by one the white rajahs of Sarawak. Still under dispute (but peaceful one).

And Singapore is only 1.5 hours away (by flight, not by 8)

The King, or Sultan still has his exotic cars but all stored away. On a regular basis, we see the Nissan GTRs, R8, Ferraris, Porsches, NSX, Dodge Viper, and Lambos running around. But we don't have much of the other European cars: Aston, Lotus (though I saw one the other day).

 

Did your 8 come with trunk lip spoiler and you replaced with regular spoiler?

 

None. Stock had no spoiler but the dearlership was kind enough to sell me the spoiler from the MkI RX8 for a decent price. They were stringent enough to say if I got my spoiler done outside, it may void my warranty

 

So it's normal right? nothing to lose sleep over?

 

Completely normal (at least for the RX-8) from what i've heard. Mine does the same thing sometimes if I shift to 1st right away. The trick is to depress the clutch, then wait a second or two before going into 1st.

 

How would it void your warranty?

Please explain.


Anyway thanks for the review

 

Nice review. Love the Mark II series RX8.

 

nice car I like the old wing new rear end look. I wonder if the new tails will fit an 04-08?