Got my RX8!

Got 27mp(Imperial)g on the first 184 miles! (1/2 tank by the dash).

Found it to be better than I imagined in nearly every way. And incredibly easy to drive sensibly, but also, I can feel the potential lurking. Can't wait until I've got a few hundred more miles on it and can beep it for the first time :D

No-one told me about the instrument lighting changing colour... or the 'mood lighting' - and the puddle lights aren't mentioned in the brochure, either!

Wish I'd got a keyring, though. The keys need a sort of loop on them, so I think my rotary engine one won't fit without an extra 'ring, which I guess will have to be the Mazda rotary keychain.

Maybe I'll take a run to Carlisle and get one :D

 

Congrats man, still waiting to get mine

 

Congratulations Richard on finally getting your 8! You will need an incredibly small ring in order to fit onto your remote. Surprised to read that you are getting such good gas mileage considering your lead foot.

 

congrats. but, we need pictures PLEASE to share in the joy!

 

gratz!

 

Congrats

Puddle lights?

 

Lights in the rear view mirrors shine down when you press the unluck button on the remote. It is on european/australian models.

 

Damn

 

congrats

 

*grin* when and where appropriate. Wait until I've got some more miles on it and feel that I've run her in right - I did go up to 95 on the A68, but aside from holding back for mechanical reasons, it was also -4 and I was tired. I'd rather do 40 and get home than 90 and wipe out my new car.

UK motorway speeds, 5th gear, and a little common sense keep the car at around 3K - I varied engine speed a lot, but since I wasn't going over 5K in the first 200 or so miles, it has stayed in the 'economical' range. To be fair, this is exactly what I expected of the car - the 190s torque curves and gearing seem far better suited to sensible driving and British speeds and traffic conditions - bar the chaos in the SE due to volume - mean the car really doesn't get into 'high performance mode' just to keep up.

Still - when I went to pass some cars in Newcastle, and felt that little surge over 5K, I couldn't wait to have the running in period over. Sometimes, this car is going to be nowhere near 27mpg (but, I'm also reckoning I can improve on that when it is run in).

So far, I'm really impressed. I really thought modern cars were rubbish, but I've learned that I am either looking at boring ones, or rubbish ones. The A-class gets by on clever innovation for packaging, so I like it, but I felt the 1-series (baby BMW - do they sell that in the US/Canada yet) was the most fun I could afford in a new car and I'd be better off taking my yearly lease budget and spending it on a used car like the V6 Ford Sierra XR4i - the RX8 (admittedly, £5000 more retail, but cheaper to lease) has proven me very wrong indeed.

Ford need to use this chassis. Conventional V6, European-baby-mustang styling, conventional doors, £17K price tag, and call it the new Capri. It would sell like the original. They wouldn't be able to make enough of them.

 

Haven't done proper ones yet and it needs a wash after being driven home...

 

Well Richard, its about time, fine choice....have fun with your new toy

 

By "mood lighting" you simply man the Red/white color change of the instruments, when your headlights are on/off?

 

No, the subtle blue illumination of the cluster when you open the door :D

 

Oh. Whoopdie doo. lol

 

I'm curious. Why doesn't your car have headlight washers? I thought all european models have them?

 

Congrats on the purchase!

 

In the UK, they're only fitted to cars with Xenon lights - 230s (6 port) models. 4 port models have regular projector lights with manual levelling (control inside the car) and no washers.

They might fit them to Scandinavian/LHD european RX8s for all specifications just to suit the market.