thawk97

This is one of the main hooks that captured me. The first time I drove it, looking down the hood felt way different than any other car I'd driven - I just loved how the hood & fenders felt sitting out in front of me. Bought my RX 18 months later.

WRCfan

I bought my 8 tuned, but it for sure has to be the exhaust note that has me hooked. Also how it handles through the tight twisty roads we have here in New Zealand.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Noticed how my mirror controls were illuminated early this morning when I had to adjust them cause a 4x4 was tailgating me with his landing lights on in a speed trap area.

I then I left him with a dose of downshifted, uncatted, premixed exhaust.

I hope he had his windows down.

FNLR3

Actually, no, it doesn't. As the poster of that video mentioned (and I've seen it before) the guy noted that the reason he crashed was because he lifted because the person in front of him did.

In a rear wheel drive car, you can use the oversteer to keep you where you need to be. Lifting reduces your ability to corner hard.

Had something like this happen to me on a favored road. Some dude in a honky SUV must have on from an access road, because in a series of tight turns obscured by greenery, suddenly he was in from of me at the first third of a corner that cambers away from the direction of the turn. I tapped the brakes while engaging the clutch and downshifting so I could get back on the throttle. In the brief moment that I was off the throttle, my girl starting losing it. Fortunately I was only doing 65 or thereabouts, so had a little more grace time.

Having driven FWD or AWD vehicles for decades prior, still learning how to get more.

FrankieAvocado

There are so many things about this car that make me smile that it's hard to even name them all. Here are a few that I encountered just today:
The huge and comfy dead pedal.
It's a million times easier to work on than my last car (MINI Cooper S) because the tabs and screws for things are in sane and logical places.
It automatically keeps the revs higher when the engine first starts so that it warms up faster.
Every damn one has the throw-out bearing noise so when I pull up next to a fellow rx8 and hear the slight rattle; I chuckle a little like it's an in-joke.

also this:
I literally just discovered this myself about 2 hours ago. I was installing my amp's remote wire and dropped my wire cutters in the back seat. When I leaned down to get them, I found these air vents under the front seats!

David Hernandez

I noticed that in the visors too. Its not "see through" per se but its enough so that you can see the shape of something while driving. Not blocking your sight completely could be VERY beneficial.

2dorian2

the thing i love about the rx8. I ride motorcycles. triumph, v-max and honda valkyrie. this car is the closest to a bike. it revs and flys as good as my bikes.

Mun_Justin

My Mazda Rx-8 Sport base model 2009.
1). Comfty and fitted driver position in the car
2). Nice Rear seats
3). Natural Rotary exhaust sound
4). Bose sound system
5). Good sized trunk
6). The straps in the trunk to strap up my (ROYAL PURPLE OIL) bottle.
7). The aluminum covered Pedals
8). Fast windows going up and down




(new member) (new member) (new member)

Clint_Hemi

I love the fact that I've got the only one in my town. Sure, rarity makes parts/mods/services more expensive, but I'd hate to be yet another sheep driving around in a Toyota. I didn't buy this car to save money. I bought it for the grin it gives me even when only parked in my garage.

foxyRoXy8

Right on the money there!!!

"Only dead fish swim with the stream!"

FNLR3

Not really a little thing to me, but fits the thread....

This past forty days I have made the longest trips with the quickest turnaround in the two years I've had my Raven. The worst was 5 and a half hours each way with only three hour brake in between. Plus, got mu fillups on the Jersey Turnpike where they won't let you self-fill. So that was 11 hours in the seat, most of which also had my foot on the gas.

Have back issues and tore the mcl in my left knee. Normally, anything more than three hours leaves my back stiff to the point I can't stand for minutes, and my knee stiffens up so I limp and take small steps for twice as long. BUT, in this car, I get out and go. No pain, no stiffness. Talk about perfect driving position.

hirpm

"Gimme back my baby, you warthawg from hell!"

hirpm

Got to say, its refreshing to see good things about the 8, this site seems to be doom and gloom, I was afraid I bought a money pit, and was afraid to drive it for fear the engine will go anytime!
I am inspired by these comments!

hirpm

This car is truely a sexy, refined, instant classic! I don't care if its not the fastest, I'm the only one to impress.
I was knocked out by the deep cockpit, and the hidden suicide doors. The mystique of the rotary is what got me looking. I am however, very cautious of all the doom and gloom about the engine, mine is a factory reman, installed last month, hopefully it will last!
If in s.w. Missouri, and you see a red 05,rx8 with tinted windows and a huge smile shining through, that'll be me!

hirpm

One thing I noticed about my tach, when ever it abruptly moves, there seems to be a very cool whirring sound, I am abruptly pushed back in my seat, and the white dashes in the highway turn into a solid line!
I suddenly begin to uncontrollable spasdic shifting attacks and begin smiling!
I only seem to recover when I turn into a gas station and have to use rent or skirt chasing money to replace the gas. But the frown disappears as soon as I drive away!

Starvsnr

For those with autos, you can start from a standstill in second gear and it will stay there and not shift down automatically if you stop again. GREAT for the times you are in gridlock.

hirpm

I'm glad I found this thread, after reading thread after thread of how my motor will blow up at any moment, or how my cat will go, my clutch pedal, my wallet ......whew!
I finally found a thread that reinforces all the reasons I bought the car in the first place, I think ill keep reading for awhile!

ASH8

,
Like all car forums you always see and hear only from those who have problems, in most cases if you look after her she will reward you, but replace those things that the car was not engineered for and things can break, like a heavy duty Clutch over the OE part...the hydraulic system (clutch and clutch pedal which activates hydraulics to engage and or disengage clutch to shift gears) will give out at it's weakest link and it is always the Clutch Pedal (CP) Bracket.

High CP failure rate has only been in North America (LHD) and mostly these previously had work done on clutches and flywheels.
RHD markets very few owners change this over to HD, I know of only one CP failure in a RHD (and yes it had a HD Clutch Kit installed), the CP metal bracket is made of the same grade and steel thickness and design tolerances for left and right hand drive models and is also made/assembled by the same supplier.

hirpm

I plan on taking care of it, it runs strong and tight, I've just never seen so many troubles, yet so much passion for a car, I admire that, I just need to lose the paranoia and buy more tools, since my ex took my old ones in a divorce.

Xcess

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but a little thing that I like is the good reception the radio has, and most important, the in-glass antenna that add to a clean exterior look of the 8.

hirpm

I agree, I find myself turning off the radio and enjoying the quiet sophisticated sound of that exotic sounding engine, it never gets old.

shinkatom

Not so little i guess but just had my new to me copper red shinka for 2 weeks. First real drive and I am carving corners like i would in my old fc. Then come the 2 90 degree corners. First the right coast in at 50 mph apex gas exit at 60 ohh intense not really. Lets dtift the left hander power overster with sime lift throttle enter. come in at 65 lift off nothing so smooth fc would of broke loose. apex hammer in 2nd leave corner at 90 mph. High way speed through a 90 degree corner. MY HEART WAS POUNDING HOLY CRAP. Not even a hint of brreaking loose what can this car not do. I am affraid to find out. love my 8

shinkatom

Sorry my statements would imply a mid corner shift i came out redlining 2nd and hit the following down will swepper at 90. and the little thing. the shifter and the little engine. 1.3 or 5.0 if you can't tell i won't.

hirpm

Love the way the tach seems to rapidly clime to redline!
Hate the way I keep mistaking the damn fuel gauge for the tach!

New Yorker

Fun! Just don't try that stuff on public roads.