New owner, saying hi
Thread Starter
Tailhappy
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
New owner, saying hi
I've got a couple other posts already, but I just wanted to say hello to everybody, and that I'm already enjoying this site a lot.
I just bought my RX-8 about a month ago, 2004, used, automatic 4-speed sports shift. It's pretty much the base stock model, but that's still enough to make it a ton of fun. Plus, the color is about the most unique I've seen... "Nordic Green".
Also, another note: I'm in Boise, Idaho. Does anybody know of a local club for RX-8's or whatnot? My dad is part of the local Mustang Club (65 Mustang Convertible... I blame him and his toy for my love of cars.)
I just bought my RX-8 about a month ago, 2004, used, automatic 4-speed sports shift. It's pretty much the base stock model, but that's still enough to make it a ton of fun. Plus, the color is about the most unique I've seen... "Nordic Green".
Also, another note: I'm in Boise, Idaho. Does anybody know of a local club for RX-8's or whatnot? My dad is part of the local Mustang Club (65 Mustang Convertible... I blame him and his toy for my love of cars.)
Shock and Awe
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,871
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
congrats and welcome.
As far as a local club, you might want to try in the regional section...
https://www.rx8club.com/nw-rx-8-forum-33/
As far as a local club, you might want to try in the regional section...
https://www.rx8club.com/nw-rx-8-forum-33/
Insanely Yellow
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo Grove IL
Welcome - here's my standard "big list of RX-8 stuff":
Here's what I'd give you as a quick top 10 things to know:
1) Oil - it consumes oil by design - nothing wrong with that. Check your oil at every other fill up, or do like I do and spend an hour puttering around the garage every other weekend, and adjust the tire pressures, check the oil, give it a wash, etc. A little RX-8 love time.
2) While it says "premium recommended" you can safely burn '87 in most climates and areas. If you feel guilty, pop the extra cost.
3) Change the oil every 5000 miles at least, more frequently if you'd like to. Pay attention to the maintenance schedule in the book and do those items.
4) Beware, Mazda dealers charge through the nose for everything, and they will try to sell you extra crap during scheduled maintenance stops. Don't let them do it.
5) You can safely upsize the tires to 245/40-18s - they are fatter, fill the wheel wells more, and look **** hot.
6) The summer tires work like crap when the temp falls below 45F. All-season performance radials are an acceptable compromise. Snow tires are a must if you commute in snow.
7) Visit your redline often to keep you happy and keep the buzzer from getting lonely.
8) Keep your car shiny and sparkling clean for best crowd pleasing.
9) Watch out for idiots in Civics who will rev on you.
10) This car is NOT a straight-line speed car - don't get disappointed when you realize that LOTS of cars can beat you at the strip.
Enjoy - post pics when you can!
And search and read:
- The little things
and all the other stickies in all the other forums - DIY - Show & Shine, and more.
Here's a few other goodies - let's call them "unique features":
1) Drive by wire throttle with adaptive learning - the engine computer "reads" your driving habits and can flatten or steepen the throttle response curve to match. Drive hard for a few days and find "new" horsepower (it's always there, just visiting at different times). Baby it and it becomes a rental car ... weird.
2) If you have a sport. this won't mean anything to you, but in the GT the weird Bose adaptive radio will boost the volume automatically while you drive - you'l turn it down and minute later you say to yourself "I swear I just turned the radio down".
3) The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) will flash a warning on the dash when any tire is about 4 to 5 lbs down on pressure from the factory setpoint which is 32 PSI. If you get a TPMS warning, stop, do a walk around to make sure you don't have a tire going down, once you're sure, head to a gas station and fill the tire.
4) Never but NEVER use the fix-a-flat kit. It ruins the tire and clogs the TPMS.
5) Feel free to experiment with driving with the DSC off, but understand that there is a stern little Japanese guy hiding the in the works with his finger on the "I think not!" button when it's enabled, and it WILL save your ***! It saved mine once today when I hit a patch of oily pavement in the rain.
6) Don't bother trying to understand or explain the abject ergonomic failure represented by the sunvisors. Just accept that every hot supermodel has a knarly wart somewhere ...
7) Did I mention that the summer tires that come stock on it suck? Oh, yeah, I did. Well it bears mentioning again. If you stick with summers, at least upgrade to a better tire. If you live in a climate where the temp visits sub-40 ranges then consider all-season high performance radials - visit TireRack.com for good reccos, but can heartily reccommend the Pirelli PZero-Nero M+S.
8) You can buy used snows on eBay if you want to go that way. But if you don't use Mazda wheels with TPMS sensors, the light will be on all the time.
9) You can't make love in an RX8. I tried. Doesn't work. Either that or my wife and I both need to lose 7" in height and 75 lbs each (Ok, I could stand to lose 40 lbs ...).
10) Find twisty roads and drive them. Smile.
Here's what I'd give you as a quick top 10 things to know:
1) Oil - it consumes oil by design - nothing wrong with that. Check your oil at every other fill up, or do like I do and spend an hour puttering around the garage every other weekend, and adjust the tire pressures, check the oil, give it a wash, etc. A little RX-8 love time.
2) While it says "premium recommended" you can safely burn '87 in most climates and areas. If you feel guilty, pop the extra cost.
3) Change the oil every 5000 miles at least, more frequently if you'd like to. Pay attention to the maintenance schedule in the book and do those items.
4) Beware, Mazda dealers charge through the nose for everything, and they will try to sell you extra crap during scheduled maintenance stops. Don't let them do it.
5) You can safely upsize the tires to 245/40-18s - they are fatter, fill the wheel wells more, and look **** hot.
6) The summer tires work like crap when the temp falls below 45F. All-season performance radials are an acceptable compromise. Snow tires are a must if you commute in snow.
7) Visit your redline often to keep you happy and keep the buzzer from getting lonely.
8) Keep your car shiny and sparkling clean for best crowd pleasing.
9) Watch out for idiots in Civics who will rev on you.
10) This car is NOT a straight-line speed car - don't get disappointed when you realize that LOTS of cars can beat you at the strip.
Enjoy - post pics when you can!
And search and read:
- The little things
and all the other stickies in all the other forums - DIY - Show & Shine, and more.
Here's a few other goodies - let's call them "unique features":
1) Drive by wire throttle with adaptive learning - the engine computer "reads" your driving habits and can flatten or steepen the throttle response curve to match. Drive hard for a few days and find "new" horsepower (it's always there, just visiting at different times). Baby it and it becomes a rental car ... weird.
2) If you have a sport. this won't mean anything to you, but in the GT the weird Bose adaptive radio will boost the volume automatically while you drive - you'l turn it down and minute later you say to yourself "I swear I just turned the radio down".
3) The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) will flash a warning on the dash when any tire is about 4 to 5 lbs down on pressure from the factory setpoint which is 32 PSI. If you get a TPMS warning, stop, do a walk around to make sure you don't have a tire going down, once you're sure, head to a gas station and fill the tire.
4) Never but NEVER use the fix-a-flat kit. It ruins the tire and clogs the TPMS.
5) Feel free to experiment with driving with the DSC off, but understand that there is a stern little Japanese guy hiding the in the works with his finger on the "I think not!" button when it's enabled, and it WILL save your ***! It saved mine once today when I hit a patch of oily pavement in the rain.
6) Don't bother trying to understand or explain the abject ergonomic failure represented by the sunvisors. Just accept that every hot supermodel has a knarly wart somewhere ...
7) Did I mention that the summer tires that come stock on it suck? Oh, yeah, I did. Well it bears mentioning again. If you stick with summers, at least upgrade to a better tire. If you live in a climate where the temp visits sub-40 ranges then consider all-season high performance radials - visit TireRack.com for good reccos, but can heartily reccommend the Pirelli PZero-Nero M+S.
8) You can buy used snows on eBay if you want to go that way. But if you don't use Mazda wheels with TPMS sensors, the light will be on all the time.
9) You can't make love in an RX8. I tried. Doesn't work. Either that or my wife and I both need to lose 7" in height and 75 lbs each (Ok, I could stand to lose 40 lbs ...).
10) Find twisty roads and drive them. Smile.
Registered
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA - formerly El Segundo, CA
To : New owner saying hi.
Welcome to the wonderful world of rotors. I just got my 8 two months ago and love it. This site contains everything you could ever want to know about the 8. Make sure you search the threads before asking too many questions because people will definitely "flame" on you if you don't. Enjoy your new ride.
Thread Starter
Tailhappy
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
7) Did I mention that the summer tires that come stock on it suck? Oh, yeah, I did. Well it bears mentioning again. If you stick with summers, at least upgrade to a better tire. If you live in a climate where the temp visits sub-40 ranges then consider all-season high performance radials - visit TireRack.com for good reccos, but can heartily reccommend the Pirelli PZero-Nero M+S.
8) You can buy used snows on eBay if you want to go that way. But if you don't use Mazda wheels with TPMS sensors, the light will be on all the time.
9) You can't make love in an RX8. I tried. Doesn't work. Either that or my wife and I both need to lose 7" in height and 75 lbs each (Ok, I could stand to lose 40 lbs ...).
8) You can buy used snows on eBay if you want to go that way. But if you don't use Mazda wheels with TPMS sensors, the light will be on all the time.
9) You can't make love in an RX8. I tried. Doesn't work. Either that or my wife and I both need to lose 7" in height and 75 lbs each (Ok, I could stand to lose 40 lbs ...).
Another thing about cold weather though: I've heard in freezing temperatures, the 8 doesn't like to start, and I'll probably need to get an engine heater, or something to that affect. Do you (or anybody else) have this problem? If so, what would you recommend?
Finally, your 9th point... what if you laid the passenger seat all the way back, and slid it as far back as you could? :-p
doin' the bull dance
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 2
From: Quahog, RI
check out the TSBs (technical service bulletins) to see if your 8 falls w/in the range for battery/starter/etc. upgrades and don't EVER shut it down b4 the temp gauge moves some, and you should be good.
I've got Dunlop Wintersport M3s on the stock rims for winter. Awesome tires. Get some. Similar weather here w/a few good storms and otherwise not a lot of snow on the ground. The M3s can handle spirited driving in cold temps & snow driving when necessary. basically there are 2 categories - Snow tires, and WinterSport tires, find a good set of wintersports and you'll be good (and safe
)
I've got Dunlop Wintersport M3s on the stock rims for winter. Awesome tires. Get some. Similar weather here w/a few good storms and otherwise not a lot of snow on the ground. The M3s can handle spirited driving in cold temps & snow driving when necessary. basically there are 2 categories - Snow tires, and WinterSport tires, find a good set of wintersports and you'll be good (and safe
)
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