Astral

1. This is not normal. Ask the dealer. Does this occur as soon as you start driving or at any random time? (There is a clunk sound when you first start moving, which is the ABS self-check)

2. Doesn't sound normal either. Maybe your hand position was off? Was this when the car was cold? Also, were you in neutral for more than a few seconds before putting it into 3rd? Or from what gear were you shifting?

3. The clutch squeak is a recent TSB, ask your dealer. Though you say "a little", so I'm not sure whether what you're hearing is part of normal operation or not (was it like that at first/)

4. This is fine. Sometimes it turns over a few times (1-1.5 seconds). I find that if I rev to 3K and then shut off, it almost always starts right up. If I don't rev to 3K, sometimes it turns over a few more times. Compared to other cars I've owned, the RX-8 start up wicked fast.

06RX8

1. Yes, this happend when i first start driving. Once i am moving i never hear this noise again.

2. This when i was in nuetral trying to put it into 3rd gear.

3. the clutch just makes a little sqeek noise when pushed in, i just noticed this.

Thanks for the reply

Astral

This is probably the ABS self-check then. You should hear a clunk every time you start moving after turning on the car. Try it a few times and see whether it's the same noise.

How fast were you driving? If you were driving 50mph or faster, then it's typically difficult to put it into 3rd gear from neutral, if you were in neutral for more than a couple of seconds. This is because the synchros need time to spin up to a high RPM and so you feel resistance. If you were driving 65 or 80, then it would be even harder. In 3rd gear, 50mph is 5000RPM and 75mph is 7500RPM.

If you're in neutral for more than a couple seconds and you want to get into 3rd while moving about 50mph+, then you should rev the engine to the target RPM while in neutral with the clutch out, and then push in the clutch and engage 3rd gear. It'll engage like butter.

Or avoid the issue by not staying in neutral while driving, always keep in gear (unless you are going slow).

There is some normal "squish" noise. It's hard to tell without hearing it. I had a clutch squeak a while back and it was quite noticeable.

06RX8

hmm, I will take another look tomorrow when i drive it.

I have not taken the car past 4k rpm yet. I cant wait to see how it feels. So far at 4k it doesnt really feel like it has power, but i am sure its going to be like an s2000.

I dont even know the stats on the car as on mazda.com they are undertared.

Pilgrim

I turn it on and watch the tach move around as the computer finds what it needs from all the sensors and applies the ECU map. Once the idle stabilizes I drive away, keeping the RPM down below 4k until I see a temp on the gauge.

Pilgrim

CTrx8

iTrader: (2)

you know you have your warranty, right? voice these concerns to your dealership and see if it's anything.

FlyLow

I live in Little Rock and my car does like the cold. Lucky for me it doesn't get that cold here. I baby my car until it warms up. As for the Mazda stats, most of the places list the 8 5.8 0-60 and about 14.4 1/4 and I think that it's pretty close. Of course it all depends on how you drive the car. You are right about the power below 4k it seems like 5k through 8k is where you make your power.

lone_wolf025

Since you're from Chicago I recommend finding the Chicago area lounge and to check in with Red She Devil. Also there should be some posts of recommended dealers in this area if you search. But yea welcome and enjoy the 8.

06RX8

Thanks for the help guys....this car is awsome!!!