Never knew that. Now you got me looking forward to getting off work so I can check this out.

 

Unless there's a sign that says "Maximum Safe Speed 25." (I've noticed with all those yellow highway signs that if I add 20 mph to them, the curves are finally interesting.)

 

Yeah it's great! It's on the right side of the trunk =)

 

Dunno if anyone has said this cuz well, i didnt go through all 33 pages of this thread...but i've had my 8 for just about 3 weeks now and one of my favorite things is sometimes ill catch the reflection of myself in the radio bezel (nice piano black, simply gorgeous) shifting...just reminds me of how awesome it is to drive her..


Of course i'm usually paying attention to the road heh...

 

^With the right lighting conditions you get that reflection just perfect.

 

driving by a reflective office building simply fills me with joy.

 

I was thinking about Jay Leno tinkering with his Stanley Steamer and his Baker Electric. And Preston Tucker fighting the Detroit establishment trying to produce a different kind of car. And all those Californians who loved their little EV-1 electric cars that were taken away and destroyed.

And then it hit me. One thing I love about the 8 is that the only reason it exists at all is because someone, somewhere still passionately believes in this little rotary engine—the little engine that could—despite what must be incredible pressure, both financially and professionally, to toss it aside like so many technologies of the past.

I'm proud to own one.

 

NewYorker - I can't say that I bought the RX-8 because it is a rotary, but when I bought it I was thinking that I was proud to lend a small support to Mazda for their dogged determination to make the rotary a viable production engine. In principle it should be outstanding...many fewer parts, not having to change up-and-down motion into rotary motion and such, but it has proven to be an engineering challenge beyond which Detroit, Honda & Toyota would not venture. Rotaries may never become mainstream, but I am also proud to own one.

 

+1 on this one. If I'm on the phone I will tell the person to hang on as I look.

I'm such a kid.

 

so you're on the phone while driving and will take your eye of the road so you can stare at yourself in the reflective windows? hmmm you should shave, eat and do some ironing while you're at it

 

I have two things I just love about this car:

Being asked, "does it have a rotary like the old rx-7s?" Answering proudly "yes" and then being asked to pop the hood because they didn't even think rotary engines still existed. The look on their face when they see how small the engine is is priceless!

Taking my younger brother and 2 of his friends down twisty back roads, and being looked at like a driving god due to the cars abilities (believe me not my own). And just the fact you can share such a fun ride with 3 other people so comfortably.

Ok I have a million other things I love about this car, but these were two I had to share...

 

The Back doors & not having to lift the seat up to get back there.

Its a head turner for under 35k

Lateral seat support.

Nice tunes..easy to hardwire an ipod

That big trunk!

Instrument cluster w/ Nav @ night is beeeeeautiful

 

I like the little slots in the visors. Handy for insurance cards, parking passes, notes, etc...

 

I like how the security guy at work asked me "Is that your car?...You got all the money eh!".

Had to remind him if that were true I wouldn't have to go to work.

 

I've just brought my first RX-8, and it will be delivered on Sept the 14th! It's the HP version in Titainium Grey and it had the subtly Madza body kit available through the dealership. I test drove two different HP models before I signed on the dotted line, and each time when I got out of the car I had a big grin on my face! I used to work for Nissan and regularly drove a 350Z around the town, but the Mazda is so different (in the best of ways!).
-First of all it rev's soooooo high! (while other people are changing gears you've still got 4000 revs to go!)
-Everybody wants a ride in it, and the best bit is 4 normal size people can get fit in it easy! So you don't have to chose who gets a ride, or make loads of trips. (you can't do that in a 350Z, TT or boxter!)
-The Suicide (sorry "freestyle") doors in the rear! (Actually just having doors in the rear on this type of car) Whenever somebody see's them they say "Oh thats a good idea!"
-The interior looks wicked cool! everything is just where you need it.
-Digital speedo! (just like K.I.T. in knightrider
-The handling! Ok it's not a muscle car, and won't break any 1/4 mile records (well without serious tweaking). But it is quick, and it'll gain loads of time through the bends!

But as mentioned before its the SMILE factor that made me buy it!

 

Welcome to the addiction!!

 

I love how, while ordinary cars get slower with age, the 8 gets faster!

 

I completely agree I love that and the fact that the driver side one is lower, I feel alot less bad about having those lights that blind people when they are not pointed at them.

 

Don't know if it's been mentioned..
I just got my mazda two days ago, love it btw. But I've sorta noticed if you turn on the bum warmer when you have ac on, it cools the seats. not by alot. but it's alot cooler under my bum then it should be with it so hot(black leather seats and such). Someone else test it and let me know. :D

 

I love the way that the rev drop between gears is just enough to allow you to smoothly shift into the next gear and release the clutch without needing to blip the throttle to match speeds.

The way I can park next to my Boss's M5 and think. "Mines nicer." without taxing my suspension of disbelief.

 

Could not have said it better myself.

 

somones gotta back me up on this one..one of my pet peeves about cars is when the exhaust is just ugly. The 8 makes exhaust look as clean as a polluted tube could ever look. manifold is well hidden. its got the dual, one on each side and trim that surrounds it so little of the exhaust is exposed . i love it

 

I concur. Check out the gay-*** TL's pipes (tiny straws with square covers). Or the afterthought exhaust on the Z that just hangs mid-air in the rear. Or the Mazda6' fake right pipe.

 

-very easy to change the oil
-one touch sunroof controls
-ability to turn off DSC
-the headlights are so freakin' bright
-everyone stares at it
-and the coolest thing of all, to me anyway, it sounds like the little alien spaceships in Independence Day

 

My ancient Sansui receiver bit the dust after 30 years, so I treated myself to a new one. Drove into New York City to J&R on Columbus Day. Nice passing by a deserted City Hall and Gracie Mansion with the government taking a day off. Like a scene from the '50s. The City is so beautiful when it is not choked with traffic.

Anyway, I pick up a new Harmon Kardon unit, and bring it back to the car. Hmmm- hot day, RX-8 trunk, new electronics.....not good.

So I took out the pass through to keep the trunk cooled off. I had to run the A/C high, since the trunk sucked up a lot of cool air, but even with sitting in traffic, I pulled into the garage, popped the trunk, and the unit was not the slightest bit warm.

I tell ya, this thing is PRACTICAL!