2 weeks left to go on my 24 month lease on the RX-8. I had intended to purchase it until I saw it wouldn’t be worth the purchase price, and I wanted another German car. It’s been great and the best of my rotary powered Mazdas. A few comments.

Overall gas mileage for 30K miles: 19.6 mpg
Best tank mpg: 23.5 on a trip
Worst tank mpg: 17.2
Oil consumption: 1 quart every 2000 miles

Warranty repairs: 11K miles, replace differential (probably a fluke); 21.5K miles, replace driver’s sunvisor (bad design)

Oil changes every 3K miles
Replace OE tires at 15K miles with 245/40 Pirelli P Zero Nero

That’s it.

Things I’ll miss:
Engine note at 8000+ rpm
Light effort, precise gearshift
The seats
Ability to carry adults in the back seat if needed
Grin factor (easy to break the back end loose, sometimes too easy)

Things I won’t miss:
Lack of torque/flexibility
Gas mileage
Trying to look over your left shoulder in traffic and seeing the B-pillar
Waiting for the car to get off the enrichening circuit in cold weather so the engine could be shut off without worrying about flooding.

Best memory: Solo round trip from Fort Worth, TX to West Jefferson, NC. 2300 miles. 925 in one day. 22.5 mpg overall at 75-80 indicated.

Worst memory: Mazda wanting to charge me $500+ for a new wheel due to a small curb scratch on the edge. It was fixed for $100.

Suggestions: (all from a strictly personal standpoint)
Put on a supercharger or turbo.
Settle the rear suspension down. It always felt nervous.
A little throatier exhaust.
Integrate the styling. The front, sides, and rear don’t flow together well IMHO

At the time, the RX-8 was about the only thing I considered that was relatively inexpensive. This board was a big influence on my decision. I’ll miss the car and hope it gets a good owner. It’s replacement is a Porsche Cayman S.

 

This Post is depressing - But nice upgrade

 

Not depressing. Two year lease, he's moving on. As much as we love these cars, we're not married to them. And that is a great summary of experience.

FWgray - I've got two questions. First, on breaking the rear end loose - I take it you didn't have DSC?

Second, were you really looking for a German car, or was it the Cayman that grabbed you?

Ken

 

good luck with the porsche. should be fun.

 

Cayman S is a great car, as far as the blind spot I just looked over my RIGHT shoulder when I changed lanes. The lack of power isn't that big of a deal, unless you're drag racing some high school kid in a V8 camaro. I always felt it was plenty to get around town with some good zip. Try driving a 114 hp Miata during the week and hoping in the RX-8, it feels like a rocket again.

Congrats though, my RX-8 will be gone as of Monday as well and my replacement is even crazier than your Cayman S

 

nice upgrade!!! Have fun and good luck

 

what did you replace it with?

 

he got a crossfire!! Its sweet

 

 

I thought about getting a crossfire, never got around to test driving one

For all I know I might actually like the car but now, never. If rx8club says it, it must be true!

Grats on your purchase of the Cayman. Really great car, hopefully you'll not be put into the same bind on this lease when it comes to an end and have to give it the axe too. (That's if you did lease it.)