I just read through this entire thread and I gotta say.. you guys suck, I want my rx8 soooo bad now, but I probably won't be in the market for a new car till the end of this year. I wish someone would just hit my current car and total it so I'd have the excuse to get my RX8 now.

But anyway, I've got a funny story that fits into "the little things" category that I know you guys would get a kick out of. So I'm at the Chicago auto show and I am there to take a look at 2 cars, the g35 and the rx-8... needless to say I spent over half an hour in the mazda booth In which time I took lots of pics of the 8, sat in it, took more pics, sat in it again. During this time I heard little bits of hilarious conversations...

-so like... it spins?
-yeah
-i dont get it.. how does that produce power?

Earlier when I first got there my gf asked me how much hp it had
-the manual is about 240
-oh, so its probably a v6?
- (with a huge grin on my face) no.... its a rotary
-v8?
-no... rotary, it doesnt have cylinders
-....i dont get it

I gave her crap for it all day, it was great
But yeah, this car is so unique. It could easily be argued to be in a class of its own.
There is no other car that even remotely looks like an 8.
There is no other car running a rotary (in production)
I can count the amount of other cars w/ a 9k redline on one hand.
The overall quality of the car is amazing for its price.

 

i love my 8, plain and simple!

 

Dunno if this one has been mentioned yet (can't be bothered to read 37 pages of thread)....

Went to Canada this weekend, switched over from MPH to KPH at the border, using the little button above the gauges (yes, that's what it's for!) No more problems trying to keep track of the speed limits

 

I tried to read all 37 pages of great comments to see if my observation has been discussed but gave up. I like the center console 12v power outlet pass through that allows the power cord to stretch all the way to the cup holders without pinching or binding when the center console lid is closed as the cell phone charges. This also allows the cell phone enough slack to sit outside of the console if you want to hear the ring tone.

 

The whirr of the engine when you downshift into first and release the clutch slowly to roll to a stop...it sounds like cutting off an f-16 turbine. So powerful sounding. How about the nicely placed covers on the engine and the matching rotary accents on the hood and covers...not to mention the complimentary strut bar. Mazda made this girl perfect.

 

Driving home on the highway in the rain yesterday. Watching that large droplet of water in the "V" of my (well waxed <g>) hood slowly undulating.... Like a little ocean wave....

Must... keep... eyes... on.... road!

<LOL>

 

I like the knight-rider whirr of the engine at idle. And how smoothly it revs.

 

How about where the interior fuse panel is located? It's easily accessible by just opening your door and kneeling to it. No more laying down, breaking your back over the door sill with a flashlight trying to see the fuses anymore. This car is GREAT!

 

I just like that with a few minor changes, most people have no idea what it is. Just cool that they like it, and that they ask about it at all!

 

Having learned (after 75k miles) where the trunk and hood releases are so that, reaching in to push/pull them without having to look, you realize that what used to be crazily annoying, now seems perfectly placed! This comes after you've learned how to insert the ignition key without looking. Things just seem to slip right into place in this car, including you!

 

Two months of daily use now and almost no brake dust. My daughter's Mazda6 requires almost constant wheel cleaning. But then, I use mostly engine compression braking and she hits the brakes all the time. :-)

 

Yeah, I love that. The rain also dances on the windows right behind the side mirrors...

 

I like the way my mother can get in and out without losing her dignity when she wears a long dress to church

I like the way the car can climb steep dirt roads that make trucks stop, look up and say, Can I make that?

I like the way the car holds to the road when there is a bad cross wind

I like how quiet it is

I like the way it smells

I like the way the color goes with our green and gold hills and blue sky

I really really like being able to see, now, when it gets dark and there are no street lights

I like the fact that they have found a way to keep the carpet from sliding around

I like the fact that it gets much better gas milage than I expected!

I like the sunshade that you can look through when the sun is blinding and is right ahead of you

I like how excited the kids at the carwash get when it comes through

I like the way it invites people to be freindly and come over and talk about it - its a better ice breaker than a new puppy

And even my peacock found that if you dance in front of it, you are more attractive to the peahens (got pictures will post them if I can figure out how!)

 

Agree, much better than other cars out there.

 

I would still like to figure out how to keep the drivers side carpet from sliding!

 

Your drivers side floor mat should have a hole in it, towards the back just under your seat. This is supposed to match up with a small post you should find on the floor under your seat. If there's no post there, then either Mazda or the dealer goofed up. Take it to the dealer and have them fix it. Also do a search here and you'll find a couple threads that mention it.

Best o' luck

 

Look under the driver's seat. There should be a little post, about an inch or so high, on the floor—it can move side to side a little. Slip the hole in the back of your driver's side carpet over that post.

(Some owners can't find the post on the floor—apparently some dealers forget to install it. Check and see if it's still in the glove compartment—it's supposed to be installed before you bring home your car. (If it's not in the glove compartment, ask your dealer and he'll give you the part or install it for you.)

 

Thanks for the info! I tried to search, but had no luck. Thanks for taking the time to repeat the info! I will attempt to find the post for the mat tomorrow. I feel rather stupid to have noticed the hole in the mat, but never thought to look for the mat-post.

 

Don't know - as there are a number odd things that may be stock or maybe the gang making it just had a good day! The mat post is under the drivers seat and mine had a little spring or something so it can be pushed down out of the way then you want to pull the mat out.

Its an 05 bought new with less than 300 miles -(they had to drive it up here to deliver it) and it was shipped in finished to our dealer from some other part of California because we had no blues locally and I wanted that color for a lot of different reasons. The vin indicates it was a late 04 (which really worried me, but the dealer did all the updates and apparently even painted the calipers and breaks). I think I may have some odd stuff like an oversized gas tank (or really great milage or a gas supplier with a questionable pump).

My displays go both red or white - but when I first got it I would have sworn that we could show blue in the music system. This was annoying, so my cousin and I tried all sorts of button combinations until we got it off and now I still haven't figured out how to get it back on. If everything else is turned off there is a pale blue light behind the speed and oil pressure dials, so I know that the lights must be there.

It has a moon roof, a spoiler (that actually helps in high winds) a nav system, heated seats, leather with triangles, and about every bell and whistle that you would add except the outside jewelry which I will add to reward it for good preformance - it has already earned a front and back silver plate covers with signs: team grannies and crusin' and also the front tooth-rotary symbol which will be installed next month. It lacked the tire kit - which the dealer has ordered free.
Mazda even sent some scratch paint free, and just in time (the ding fairy got us)

I am so in love with this car! Great air conditioner and I took mom to the car Rally in San Francisco and she ran around on her little walker looking at everyones cars and modifications - they had race cars and drift cars and 3s,6s,7s,and 8s and when it was all over she sighed down in the seat and said "I like this one the best - we'll keep it!" and she slept all the way home.

 

It is nice when momma approves! Mine loves the car also!

 

^^^So, Winfree--"Mom" must be at least 70-ish, right? She sounds like a very spry great-granny to be enjoying the car shows so much. Cheers!!

 

Hmm, common theme here. My mom is 71 and thinks the car is "beautiful." Then again, she favors the Austin Healy 100 as her favorite sportscar of all time. Good eye for classic style, mom.

 

Well, I know it's been almost 2 years since you posted this but I totally agree. I did this today and she tried to take off but I quickly threw in the clutch and saved it before the engine stalled. I love how when I sometimes (trust me, this is rare ) start to stall the battery lights come on like it is off but if you get the clutch in just in time after this has happened you hear the rotors fire up again and the lights go off again. It always puts a huge smile on my face. Of course, this only works if you have the m/t.

 

Oh I love this. Makes me feel like I am driving some 100k dollar benz. Well, do they do that? Well, if they don't they should.