Is Milwaukee in Wisconsin? I think it is. You going to the ALMS/SWC weekend at Road America?

 

Wasn't planing on it, lots of work to do around the house. I'm hoping to get out to Road America or Blackhawk Farms this year but I need some new track tires and being a new homeowner is expensive Especially when you buy a old house with a lot of "character".

 

People are doing "hunger strikes" to protest this movie. They say they would "fast unto death" unless the movie is pulled out of theaters.

 

Hey, Brokeback Mountain also took place on Wisconsin. Is there really a "Brokeback Mountain" there?

 

Oh well, a world with a few less religious crazies is a better place to be.

Fast away people!

 

Amen!

 

Which option package are you getting with that offer? Reason I ask is that my sticker was about 31 for a 05 AT GT, and I got it for 24200. This was 3 months ago. So I would think you could get one with a sticker of 29 for even less than what they are quoting you. But I'm in the midwest, so perhaps the prices are a bit different. And perhaps the incentives were different back then.

 

I bow to your wisdom. I do equate the G35 performance to that of a sports car, however your description is more accurate

 

Sorry gang, I was just trying to find out about any major issues with the 8 before I traded my G in on it. Didn't mean to start a fire here.

 

You didn't.

 

Go drive one several different times. Try it in traffic, at highway, and definitely try to find some twisty backroads. Coming from the G, be sure to try the amenities and compare them to your G. The G will probably have automatic climate control; not sure. The 8 does not. If your G is a manual, you'll find the 8 much easier to deal with in rush hour traffic.
If you can't find some good twisty roads, take the 8 to a vacant parking lot and make some abrubt manuevers and hard turns. It's a hoot. I was stuck in traffic the other day and wanted to turn around to go the other way. It was a 4 lane road with no turning lane. I flipped off the DSC / TC, checked for oncoming traffic, turned the wheel hard left, and went from my left lane to the other left lane by sliding the tail in a controlled manner. Just plain fun.

 

C'mon guys, READ! Ike was the one who started the 8 vs. Evo handling comparison. ...and read this quote as his argument; all subjective. Fact is, I can easily quote performance stats showing the Evo is no better in any test not involving straight line acceleration. Which says a lot about the 8, that could handle that well without Evo ride quality that most testers have gone off about.

Otherwise, I’m with missinmahseven here, calling out anyone who talks that much trash gets my respect. Though having raced karts myself for three years, my money is on Ike - if he ain’t talking **** about his karting…no better way to develop skills. Still, don’t get YOUR panties in a bunch Ike when you get passed by real experts in much slower cars…oh, but you’re busy anyway…can’t make it…

 

What's so funny about the Evo and Subura folks who post on here is they just don't get that despite the very nice performance their vehicles get, virtually no one who chose to buy an RX8 would be caught dead in an ugly econobox.

Even if it zipped me around like a Formula One racer, cooked me dinner, gave me a b.j. and tucked me into bed at night, I STILL WOULDN'T LET ANYONE SEE ME IN SUCH A SHITBOX!

Granted, aesthetics are in the eye of the beholder - but there are sports cars and there are rally cars. Typically, folks into sports cars have no interest in rally cars because they look like your mom's commuter car modded and pimped out.

 

As one who has a love/hate relationship with this car let me take a stab at your list.

1) There are problems but as you already pointed out 04 was the 1st model year with some cars built in 03. The 1st year of a completely new model is going to have teething issues. I own a 05 late year production and have had good reliability with it so far. Consumer Reports has also rated the 05 as Average for problems. Most problems seem concentrated on early manual transmissions, poor fuel economy, weak paint and flooding. This car should not be bought with an auto the Rotary is far better suited to a MT.

Another potential problem is the Rotary engine failing in hot climates. There have been a number of reported failings in NV and it is generally believed to be caused by inadequate oil cooling on hot days in traffic. The Automatics are especially prone to it because they have a single oil cooler. If you’re in hot climate use synthetic oil (this advise is not universally accepted on this form.)

2) Transmission issues are with the manual.

3) This was due to re-rating of HP under a new system, Almost all manufactures had to restate the HP. In reality the engines are the same from year to year and produce the same HP.

4) Flooding is an issue with all rotary engines by their design. Mazda has installed a stronger battery and starter with hotter plugs that has done a great deal to resolve this issue. It still can happen but if you are aware of it you should have no problems.

5) This is the big issue for me. The Rotary is less thermo efficient then a piston engine so more energy is thrown away as heat. The result is poor fuel mileage. Average mileage for city is 14 to 17 MPG with stop and go dragging you down. High way is 19 to 24 MPG on average. Now you also need to know that there are a number of RX-8 that get significantly less mileage then that. Mine is one of them. I get 11 to 12 city and get about 20 Highway. It is a crapshoot if you get one of these really poor fuel mileage cars, pray you don't.

Here is the real kicker, Mazda refuses to acknowledge this problem and blames the driver. They will run normal tests and tell you the car is fine, live with it. I have just read about a guy who had a RX-8 getting 9 to 10mpg, Mazda said this was normal and would do nothing to fix it. He got rid of the car and bought a new RX he is now getting 18mpg doing the exact same driving. This is the biggest problem with this car and it goes beyond mechanical, Mazda has a big problem with a number of their RX-8 and has chosen to ignore the problem and force the owner to accept it. Mazda’s support of this car is very poor and coming from Infinity you may be very shocked with the lack of customer service and support.

You don't even get a loaner car from Mazda, they make you rent a car and reimburse you if they decide the work was warranty work. I consider Mazda one of the poorest car companies in regards to taking care of the owner and supporting thier product.

6) It could be good depending on the trim level; I bought a 05 at the start of 06 and got it for several thousand under invoice.

I was looking at the G35 before I bought the RX-8 and found the RX-8 to be a far more responsive car in all aspects except low-end torque. It is a joy to drive and very well laid out. Seats two in the back better then the G35, truck is good. Looks is a subjective matter and I really like both cars. Price is significantly less then the G35. The only real problem is the gas mileage and Mazda's **** poor support of the car and its owners. Mazda is more concerned with making a quick buck off this car then making it run right. I was looking at replacing our Subaru with a C7 but after experiancing Mazda's support we are buying another Subaru.

 

^ I think that's more a MNAO thing (the ****-poor service depts.) Mazda Japan, tho, has failed to keep MNAO in check. Gorgeous product in the past 4 years, but the dealer and service network is still stuck in the 90's. And yeah, I let MNAO know in no uncertain terms. If they really wanna stand up to bat against honda, toyota et al, they'll have to make sure the dealer and service network is looked at. They're building new dealers, exclusive dealers.. that's a start. I think in a couple more years it'll be better.

The MT issue (from what I can gather from this forum) was... a few cars left the factory with incorrectly-torqued flywheel bolts, causing them to back out.. and then, of course, ker-blammo. Seems the torque wrench used for this had slipped out of calibration, and wasn't caught till after those cars left the factory.

 

you have a crappy dealership. i always get a loaner if i want it and it doesnt cost me a dime- except teh one time i let the bastard from the rental agency trick me into signing for the insurance. its part of your warranty - if the dealer paticipates. why one wouldnt is beyond understanding- ask the owner of the dealership



i didnt read the rest of your post- that part just caught my eye

 

I really appreciate all of you taking so much time to respond here. Can you clarify a couple more things:
Hot climate? Such as the NJ Turnpike in rush hour and not moving more than 2 miles in 2 hours with it around 100 degrees? If so, I better re-think this.
I take it that the atomatic is limited to 7500 rpm and that's why the hp is rated so much lower? I must also assume then that the performance is much worse. Please refer to the statement above for why I would even think of an auto.

 

the heat related issue is on 4speed autos 4 port cars which have only one oil cooler- and yes i have seen one from jersey but they are mostly in nevada utah arizona and texas. get a new 6speed auto 6port which has 2 oil coilers and it wont be an issue. just do yourself a favor and use the paddle shifters and rev it to redline a couple times a week.

 

Or get a 6MT -- this is a beautiful gearbox, same unit as a 6-speed miata. Aisin, yes?

Light clutch. Light everything, actually.

 

If the clutch is light, I may do the 6 speed. Nothing worse than walking in circles because one leg is too muscular. Arrigato Gozaimus

 

Where from NJ are you? If you are close enough, ill let you drive with me

 

Middletown area. Where'd you buy your 8 from? Were they any good?

 

Aisin makes the auto too

 

http://www.aisin.com/product/auto/drive/index.html check teh automated manual

 

Clutch is indeed very light, lighter than the NA/NB miata's, much lighter than something like a mid-80's sports car. Quite lighter than a new Mini. (that one shocked me with how heavy the clutch feels.)

Automatic adjustment of it, as well, I think... no more having to set pedal lash. (I read this somewhere, but right now can't remember where.)