My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

First, this will be echoed by many here: it looks GREAT. It looks very nice just sitting still as I walk to or away from the rear.

First fill-up came at 283.5, I believe, on the trip meter after the salesguy had filled it up approx 3 miles from the dealer (it had 2 miles on it before he left, 7.5 when I 'picked it up'. Was 13.8xx gallons - I figured +/- 20.5 MPG. That included my to-be-infamous 45 minutes idle time my first morning while I washed it,etc etc etc.
Just FYI - the low-fuel light came on at about 274 (not sure if that was on the odo or the trip meter, which were about 7.5 miles different) - and by the time I fueled the needle was noticeably lower than the lowest marking at "E" - and I still had 2 gallons at fill-up.

I have about 540 miles as it sits outside the office this morning. That's from 3 days and the drive in this morning. I'm at 249 miles and just one tick under the 1/4 mark. It appears this tank will be around 21-22MPG. Much highway obviously and still keeping it mostly at 4K or less. Varying highway speeds from 55 - 80, mostly in the 69-74 range.

Largest pick to date: The Mazda logo on the steering wheel. What WERE they thinking? I'll put this out now: I'd like to hear other's thoughts on how to correct this problem - it generates a very annoying glare from the sun at very many different angles in relation of the sun to the car. At first I thought it was just when the sun was behind the car. Now I realize it's almost any time the sun is left half of the car +/-. My first ideas are fingernail polish (maybe RED?), or my wife's suggestion - black electrical tape. They do have red duct tape now - maybe that will work? Anyone else? A matte or brushed finish would have been better - a symbol under clear plastic better still, a Rotor-shape in the car's color maybe best - something that's not chrome color for sure.

Of course, the location of the dipstick and the oil filter will become continuous annoyances as well but I'm not complaing just aware that those are not conveniently located. And I agree - check the oil at home in the garage when the oil is cool - or if on the road first thing in the morning.

The tires are not as bad as I thought they might be. I've challenged them and heard little argument from them. Haven't tried any autox type manuevers without DSC on - will save that for after break-in. Same with dyno - if I ever get that done, it will not be during the break-in.

Sunroof works great - stereo isn't terribly impressive - but the adjustments may be seamless - as is the auto mirror. I think the armrest is fine. The RX-8 thermal coffee cup is decent - but 'closing' the spill preventer thing splatters coffee - so I think I'll likely not use it FOR coffee IN the car - maybe just in the van on trips. Had to try it out this morning just to see. Like the steering wheel controls for the stereo, and cruise. Very easy to use. Mute button is a nice feature.

I do not like the teather for the gas cap - I may cut that off. I'll try a few more fuelings before I decide - if there is a place to 'hang' the cap on the fuel filler door someone please point it out to me. I ended up hanging it on the outside of the door while fueling.

Hoping the MPG picks up; should be hitting 5K on occasion by tomorrow evening.






my suggestion for the 'ice cream [aka 'snow']' scoop effect - if you are in NH, MN, AK - a Subaru. full time AWD. [like my XT6]
In fact a nice one is for sale presently on Ebay and located in Connecticut-only 91K on it-last auction 1500 didn't pass seller's min. to sell. nuff said.

Forgive my ignorance of US specifications but does your car have the standard or pricier audio system. If the latter then what do you find wrong with it please? I keep hearing mixed reports about the audio system, some reviews say it is awesome and others just average.

I'll chime in on the audio. IMHO it is just OK. I'm comparing an Lexus RX-300 std system (the best stock system I've ever ever heard in a car), and an Acura 3.5RL (about90% of the Lexus) to the RX-8 BOSE.

We're talking great sound in the Lexus, so I'll be nice and give the RX-8 a 70% perhaps on not too extensive listening. I think the negatives are:

1. no sub (at least i can't find it) giving ok bass, but not very defined. What spks there are have to do bass, not just mid-highs.

2. highs are muddy with the Bose auto-thingy on, somewhat better with it off. I think it's trying to be like an old fashioned bass-boost at lower volume, not to my taste. I like presense not soup.

3. only bass-treble control inexplicably on the Bose, whereas the standard system has bass-mid-treble??? Haven't heard the std system, but more control to me is better. I just don't get that one.

4. Plus I'm miffed that I though I was getting a 6 cd changer in my top of the line 4K option pkg way back when only to find I didn't even know I had to order it yet ON TOP OF THAT as the car got closer to intro. You'd think for the add'l $20-50 it might cost to do that originally, they could have saved their loyal customers the $350 or whatever they charge to upgrade. Worse they left those nice little change CD icons on the faceplate just to piss me off a little more each time I look at the console.

5. Sorry, but that did feel GOOD!!!!! Enough said.

6. Anyway, I don't need the best tunes to enjoy the car, the motor make nice sound by itself, but I rememver testing the new Celica when it came out, and it was much closer to the Lexus sound as I remember (not suprisingly) and only 19K (for the whole car!).

I have the touring package which has the BOSE speaker system. It's not bad - I think it's great really. My wife doesn't think it's 'awesome' - but then, neither of us have heard the base system, and she's not an audiophile and generally negative about most things car-related anyway. I think it has great range. I haven't read up on it yet but I don't think it has an equalizer. I haven't figured out yet how to adjust bass or treble yet either.

Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

Ok, that explains a lot. My foot, unfortunately, must have a higher lead content than yours... :p None the less, I'm estimating about 19.5 - 20 MPG right now, but that's staying under 6.5 not 4 (and reaching 6.5 somewhat quickly I might add). I filled up at the first Chevron I saw after the fuel light came on and I was only at 218 miles at that point, but I realized I still had close to 3 gallons left after filling up. It seems like the fuel light gives you plenty of advance warning....

I've found the stereo to be nice and crisp at high volume, but down low, I totally agree that the treble is muddled. I set my bass to +4 and my treble to +5 and it sounds great at high volume. The AudioPilot definitely has something to do with it because it seems to sound better down low until the AudioPilot kicks in... You can adjust the bass and treble by pushing the right knob (also how you turn off AudioPilot if you're interested).

My biggest complaints so far are lack of storage space and I have a slight rattle in the drivers side door (only) with long, sustained bass notes. The cupholder doesn't provide any room to stash trash or CDs and the visor is too short for my visor CD case. These are really minor to me though and I frankly don't care. I truly haven't stopped smiling since last Wed.... :D

Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

I noticed the same thing with the sip-door. I now gently ride it with my finger, and can open/close it slowly and gently enough to prevent splatter. Kind of silly.

i found the bose to be pretty clear, but i didnt get to listen to it for very long, i had it set at about 7 or 9 and it was really clear. could use a sub though, but i could feel the base a little, someone migth ahve turned the base all the way up though, didnt get to give it a good listen, but overall for a first impression i thought it was really good

anyway, i want my car...
________
Airflite

Re: Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

Sorry if this sounds stupid...but do you know there is a console under the arm rest? After you slide the cover back to reveal the cupholders it flips up and reveals a small console area.
I know it's not accessable from the front but the rear flip down console has a storage area in it, lockable too.


nit-picks:
1) I also don't like the gas cap hanging on the fender. It should have a place to hang it from the gas door.

2) The seatbelt buckle scratches the plastic seatback on the side at about ear level.

About the Mazda logo on the steering wheel; I could only imagine (since I don't have my car!) what sort of glare it causes. Maybe there is a way of dulling it with a scotchbrite pad? But then, who wants to try. (dammit!, I just wore through the chrome and into the green plastic underneath the flying M logo on the steering wheel of my brand-new $30,000.00 car!)

I'm wondering if anyone else thinks the shiny-chrome Mazda M emblems on the front and the rear mess with the beautiful lines of the car. I may remove mine, on the hypothetical car I will be allegedly receiving soon, but I would hate the Mazda folks to perceive such a thing as an insult.

I just feel the emblems should be smaller, or maybe they could go inside the rotor shapes below the front and rear bumpers.

And oh yeah; I'll be trading my WRX in on the supposed RX-8, so with snow tires when necessary, I'm just gunna have to make it work!

Re: Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

QUESTION 1:
==========
Is it possible to disable the AudioPilot ??


QUESTION 2:
==========
RX8Deniel said he didn't think the bose system has an equalizer. Can someone confirm this please?

Re: Re: Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

1) yes with the audio control knob
2) Yes
http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...highlight=bose

Scroll down to bottom of thread.

there exist spray cans of stuff professional photographers use to dull down too shiney stuff (to eliminate that ugly flash square that the rest of us always get shooting something behind glass) might be a good first test.

they have spray tint.... i dunno how happy u'd be doing that with everything else in ur car, but it gets rid of the glare pretty well..

and ur left with somethine like the "black emblem" things u find on the back of some camrys... it honestly doesnt look too bad at all.

disclaimer: i've only used it on my taillights so im not sure how it turns out.

peopel have used it on chrome and i have seen the results, but mite be different as the steering wheel is inside the car. (touching, more heat, and whatnot)

Future Problem?
 

I took delivery of my RX-8 on 7/17. Silver w/6sp, loaded but no nav system. Over the weekend I drove almost 300 miles. This morning the car would not shift into 6th gear. All other gears shifted smoothly including reverse.
The dealer (Courtesy Mazda (good guys)) "adjusted" the shifter and now all is well. I was wondering if anyone else with a manual transmission has had any problems?

6th gear-fine
 

about 650 miles - all gears are working normally.

I've noticed the glare coming from the logo on the steering wheel as well. I just usually wear sunglasses and it doens't bother me as much. I'm also getting window tint put on in a few days so hopefully that will reduce the amount of glare significantly.

Re: Re: Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

Holy Crap! Don't I feel like a jackass? I had no idea that was there! And there's an additional DC outlet in there also! SWEET! Thank you sooooo much! :D

Sweet!

Re: Re: Re: Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

actually, it's a DC outlet, but I know you already knew that...:D

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

I have no idea what you're talking about...

(gotta love that "edit" button... :p )

Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

how about one of these?

http://cache.vikingop.com/pictures/U...0078_sk_lg.jpg

Haven't noticed a glare except from my front left fender occasionally.

Re: My first 500 miles - impressions(20+MPG)
 

This one's bugging me too--I get strong glare most often when the sun is directly overhead (my side windows are tinted, that helps a little).

Anyone try peeling that shiny M off of there?

--SL01

I haven't noticed the glare problem yet but then I have only had my car for four days.

"And I agree - check the oil at home in the garage when the oil is cool - or if on the road first thing in the morning."

This directly contradicts the method for checking the oil in the manual. Checking the oil cold will give you a overfull reading, checking the oil immediately after driving without waiting 5 minutes will give you an add oil reading. I have tried this all three ways and following the owners manual page 8-9 "inspecting engine oil level" paragraph appears to be the only way to get a valid reading. There is a caution after this paragraph that says adding oil over F may cause engine damage.