How bad is the gas mileage?
12-31-2003, 10:02 AM
#26
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To add some more weight to the RX-7 mileage issue, I had a 1987 and did 75% highway driving and consistently got around 25 MPG. The funny part is that if I drove conservative (55-65MPH) I'd get the same mileage as when I drove it much faster (70-80MPH) which I guess is just a rotary thing.
12-31-2003, 11:53 AM
#27
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I drive mine everyday to work..like maybe 5 miles roundtrip tops. So my car spends a lot more time than usual warming up at idle. I am getting like 14mpg. I hope when the warmer weather comes it'll spend less time warming up. I know it's ok and best to just get in and drive, but if I did that by the time I got to work it hasn't reached anywhere near full operating temp. Also, I'd rather run out quick and start it, get back inside, eat breakfast, and by the time I take off the interior is somewhat warm. Next winter I will have a dedicated beater so I won't have to bother with messing my ride.
12-31-2003, 12:45 PM
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I get 15 mpg around town. This equates to around 50 miles per quarter tank. Note that this is for short distance, stop and go, basically worst-case driving. Changing gas, driving style and DCS/TCS has made little difference in my situation.
I took a run to Virginia Beach two days ago and got 21.8 mpg, the best I have gotten in 4,000+ miles. This was 275 miles at 70-75mph, 6th gear, cruise control, flat terrain, light traffic and minimal stops.
I took a run to Virginia Beach two days ago and got 21.8 mpg, the best I have gotten in 4,000+ miles. This was 275 miles at 70-75mph, 6th gear, cruise control, flat terrain, light traffic and minimal stops.
01-01-2004, 03:43 AM
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Originally posted by westie
Hey Rotarypower:
You are absolutely right in your reasoning. We had a 6spd "250HP" GT for 2 months and 6,000 km (4,000 mi) before we got all our money back through the "wrong HP" buyback program. We consistently got 12-14 (US) MPG no matter how hard or soft we drove the car in the city or on the highway.
Despite numerous returns to the dealer and conversations with Mazda Canada they claimed the MPG was normal. This was the only reason we returned the car! I'm not normally a "what-if" type of guy BUT if the price of gas doubles next year, or gas shortages re-occur (Iraq war for example) I don't need a car that can't pass a gas station, no matter how great it performs!
Out of principle a light, nimble sports car like the RX8 should get better mileage than a V10 Viper or a 3 ton Bentley, but it seems to be worse. Like you we loved the car and can afford the gas (90 cents/liter ot $2.73 USD/gal) but could not put up with the mileage or the range of the car. I prefer not to spend most of my free time pumping gas. Ours could not make it 300 km (180 mi) between gas stations.
I am amazed that some owners continue to dismiss the lousy mileage (because it's a sports car) while complaining about the small gas tank. C'mon people the tank is 60 liters (15gal). That's a large tank for a sports car. These cars are getting much, much less MPG than they were designed to get. It's just common sense to design a decent cruising range into a new car, so stop making excuses for Mazda and start complaining. Then they might fix this glaring problem in an otherwise outstanding car.
BTW, we took our Mazda money and went out and bought a G35 coupe which is heavier, more powerful and gets twice the gas mileage at 25 MPG city/highway combined. Even though it is a more expensive car with a better resale value, it is much cheaper to run and has longer lasting tires. I am saving $180/month in fuel alone!
Good luck with your decision, we were very lucky that the buyback program was available to us. I wouldn't buy one now unless I could make sure the MPG on that particular car is OK first. I don't trust Mazda on this issue anymore.
Hey Rotarypower:
You are absolutely right in your reasoning. We had a 6spd "250HP" GT for 2 months and 6,000 km (4,000 mi) before we got all our money back through the "wrong HP" buyback program. We consistently got 12-14 (US) MPG no matter how hard or soft we drove the car in the city or on the highway.
Despite numerous returns to the dealer and conversations with Mazda Canada they claimed the MPG was normal. This was the only reason we returned the car! I'm not normally a "what-if" type of guy BUT if the price of gas doubles next year, or gas shortages re-occur (Iraq war for example) I don't need a car that can't pass a gas station, no matter how great it performs!
Out of principle a light, nimble sports car like the RX8 should get better mileage than a V10 Viper or a 3 ton Bentley, but it seems to be worse. Like you we loved the car and can afford the gas (90 cents/liter ot $2.73 USD/gal) but could not put up with the mileage or the range of the car. I prefer not to spend most of my free time pumping gas. Ours could not make it 300 km (180 mi) between gas stations.
I am amazed that some owners continue to dismiss the lousy mileage (because it's a sports car) while complaining about the small gas tank. C'mon people the tank is 60 liters (15gal). That's a large tank for a sports car. These cars are getting much, much less MPG than they were designed to get. It's just common sense to design a decent cruising range into a new car, so stop making excuses for Mazda and start complaining. Then they might fix this glaring problem in an otherwise outstanding car.
BTW, we took our Mazda money and went out and bought a G35 coupe which is heavier, more powerful and gets twice the gas mileage at 25 MPG city/highway combined. Even though it is a more expensive car with a better resale value, it is much cheaper to run and has longer lasting tires. I am saving $180/month in fuel alone!
Good luck with your decision, we were very lucky that the buyback program was available to us. I wouldn't buy one now unless I could make sure the MPG on that particular car is OK first. I don't trust Mazda on this issue anymore.
but all the things that the rx8's offer keep me coming back to it, trying to give me any/every reason to rationalize my purchase of this car. yeah, i totally agree with your point about the v10 viper getting better mileage than the rx8. that's pretty hard to understand. rotary or not, the mileage stin... is sub par. not hating/flaming. just my opinion(this should be taken for granted now
).the g35 is my next best choice as well. what color did you get? :D i'm looking at white :D :D
01-02-2004, 02:06 PM
#31
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some people have gotten 13 or lower mpg while others have gotten in the low 20s. It reminds you it's a sportscar but a gas guzzling one at that. Worse than others that are faster and more expensive.
01-02-2004, 03:42 PM
#32
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Originally posted by 13B-MSP
RX-7 average 20 mpg ? I'm sorry.. not trying to bash...but isn't the renesis design to have better gas mileage than the rx-7? Maybe after, putting some mileage. We will see a better MPG??
So many things are still in doubt for the RX-8. Hope everything turns out good. Hate to see the rotary get called "old technology". I faith in the Rx-8 though. =)
RX-7 average 20 mpg ? I'm sorry.. not trying to bash...but isn't the renesis design to have better gas mileage than the rx-7? Maybe after, putting some mileage. We will see a better MPG??
So many things are still in doubt for the RX-8. Hope everything turns out good. Hate to see the rotary get called "old technology". I faith in the Rx-8 though. =)
Why is the FD's gas mileage better? IMHO is because of the turbo. At 3000 RPM I am at 80 MPH in 5th gear. Infact, on the highway I crusie at 2500 most of the time. I would guess that lower RPM=better gas mileage. With my Rx8 in 6th gear at 60 MPH its just over 3000 RPM. In otherwords Im sure that most of us are driving in the higher rpm stages in the RX8. At the same RPM I would guess the renesis gets better mileage.
OH yea...and Im so happy with my Rx-8, 15 MPG or 20....whatever.
01-03-2004, 01:48 PM
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Hey Rotarypower:
The white looked very nice in the pictures. We got the medium grey (can't remember what they call it) which is what they had available. Had the same colour on the RX8 but I liked the black/tan leather interior better than the plain black of the G35. One of our dumber friends thought we hadn't changed the car until she was riding in it for a few minutes, because they were the same colour!!
The white looked very nice in the pictures. We got the medium grey (can't remember what they call it) which is what they had available. Had the same colour on the RX8 but I liked the black/tan leather interior better than the plain black of the G35. One of our dumber friends thought we hadn't changed the car until she was riding in it for a few minutes, because they were the same colour!!
01-04-2004, 01:23 AM
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not sure how people can rationalize the mpg by classifying it a sports car. other sports cars in its class get much better gas mileage and have equal or better performance. that's the point.
01-04-2004, 01:31 AM
#37
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Originally posted by ml2316
not sure how people can rationalize the mpg by classifying it a sports car. other sports cars in its class get much better gas mileage and have equal or better performance. that's the point.
not sure how people can rationalize the mpg by classifying it a sports car. other sports cars in its class get much better gas mileage and have equal or better performance. that's the point.
17 MPG is fine for me, when I look at the fit and finish, feel the car drive, hear the engine, drool over how beautiful it is, 17 MPG is not bad. And you can put 87 in it for crying out loud.
its NEVER going to have as good gas mileage, so if you like it enough to deal with it keep the Rx8 and get 15-17 MPG. If you cant deal with it, get a S2000 and get 18-20 City MPG.
01-04-2004, 04:17 AM
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i've read posts from ppl on the s2k, wrx, and 350z forums report mpg of up to 30 mpg for each of those cars. the highest i've seen people here report is 22 for mostly highway. so the difference is a lot greater than 2 mpg like you're trying to illustrate.
01-04-2004, 09:51 AM
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Seems that the consensus is that the RX-8 blows when it comes to fuel mileage. What can we learn from this as perspective buyers? Take it or leave it. Deal with it or Don't! It's that simple. I have very little experience with rotary motors. But that don't have a fuel return correct? If so, That is probably the big reason for such consumption. But whatever. FYI. Have any of ya'll seen a minin coopers gas mileage? As tiny as it is, with or without a blower, it gets horrible mileage. And it cost is in the mid to high 20k's.
01-04-2004, 11:18 AM
#40
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Originally posted by ml2316
i've read posts from ppl on the s2k, wrx, and 350z forums report mpg of up to 30 mpg for each of those cars. the highest i've seen people here report is 22 for mostly highway. so the difference is a lot greater than 2 mpg like you're trying to illustrate.
i've read posts from ppl on the s2k, wrx, and 350z forums report mpg of up to 30 mpg for each of those cars. the highest i've seen people here report is 22 for mostly highway. so the difference is a lot greater than 2 mpg like you're trying to illustrate.
01-04-2004, 01:02 PM
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Since this is a common topic, I've posted before but I get around 17 or 18 around town and 20 or so on the road. It will never cease to amaze me how one can pay $30K for a car and lament $500 per year in extra gasoline costs (or whatever the number is). It's not a significant amount of cash.....
01-04-2004, 04:28 PM
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OMG... i never started the thread because, i want high gas mileage... in fact, i know rotarys get bad gas mileage, i just wanted to know if it's as bad as ppl say they are. 2 more fill ups a year doesn't seem too bad for me.
Obviousely rotary engine wasn't build for gas mileage. RX-8 has a lot of other good features to look into, that even with bad gas mileage. You'll still crave for the rev.
just my 2 cent.
Obviousely rotary engine wasn't build for gas mileage. RX-8 has a lot of other good features to look into, that even with bad gas mileage. You'll still crave for the rev.
just my 2 cent.
01-04-2004, 05:21 PM
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you're all completely missing the point. if you can afford a $30k car then you can afford to pay for the extra gas. but if you don't HAVE to because every other competitor in the car's class gets much better gas mileage then it IS a factor.
01-04-2004, 05:35 PM
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Rented a "economy" car on vacation in Florida. About 80 miles into the drive I tell my wife "gas gauge must be broken it only moved a hair since TPA." She said you are use to your RX-8 this car gets 35mpg! I seem to spend a lot of time at the gas pump-but
the trade off is worth it. I get between 15 and 17 driving easy, but only around 10 when I am in the mountains ripping up the curves.
the trade off is worth it. I get between 15 and 17 driving easy, but only around 10 when I am in the mountains ripping up the curves.
01-05-2004, 08:13 AM
#46
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do you think the gas mileage is bad enough that alot of owners will sell the cars? Will the used car market be flooded in a few months as the thrill of the new car experience wears off?
01-05-2004, 09:58 AM
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Re: How bad is the gas mileage?
Originally posted by 13B-MSP
I'm sorry if this has been talked about too much...
but i'm just wondering how bad is the gas mileage?
Is it a LOT OF difference? So much, that you can tell it's got bad mileage when you drive it??
Or is it only minor, that if you don't calculate the mpg, you won't even notice?
Just trying to see, if i will be able to live with the bad mpg...
don't want to regret anything... 30 grand is a lotta of money to me...thanks
I'm sorry if this has been talked about too much...
but i'm just wondering how bad is the gas mileage?
Is it a LOT OF difference? So much, that you can tell it's got bad mileage when you drive it??
Or is it only minor, that if you don't calculate the mpg, you won't even notice?
Just trying to see, if i will be able to live with the bad mpg...
don't want to regret anything... 30 grand is a lotta of money to me...thanks
15-18 in the city.
01-05-2004, 09:58 AM
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Originally posted by flatso
do you think the gas mileage is bad enough that alot of owners will sell the cars? Will the used car market be flooded in a few months as the thrill of the new car experience wears off?
do you think the gas mileage is bad enough that alot of owners will sell the cars? Will the used car market be flooded in a few months as the thrill of the new car experience wears off?
01-05-2004, 10:12 AM
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I get 19-21 consistently with most of the miles coming on a looooong daily commute. Lots of highway time, but lots of stop and go traffic too. For comparison, my previous car was an Audi TT 180, and it got around 24-25 doing the same trip with a very well broken in engine.
The 8 is subpar in the milage department, but life is full of tradeoffs, and to me, the car is worth the extra 3 or 4 MPG I'd get from one of it's competitors. The 8 definitely seems to hate short trips, so if you're concerned about milage, think about your intended use for the car. Long commutes or extended highway driving will probably result in 19+ MPG. Brief commutes or lots of short hops around town will probably bring you closer to 14-15.
The 8 is subpar in the milage department, but life is full of tradeoffs, and to me, the car is worth the extra 3 or 4 MPG I'd get from one of it's competitors. The 8 definitely seems to hate short trips, so if you're concerned about milage, think about your intended use for the car. Long commutes or extended highway driving will probably result in 19+ MPG. Brief commutes or lots of short hops around town will probably bring you closer to 14-15.