b bu bum bump bump! bump!! bump!!!

 

31K fun filled miles!! Maintenance & performance details to follow.

 

My RX-8 by the numbers:

11 months old
1 flood (6 days at dealership/an extremely frustrating experience)
0 oil lights
0 problems with the A/C (although AC is not strong/same is true with heated seats - they are adequate at best)
0 TPMS light (except when winter wheels are on, then its always on)
3 or 4 quarts of oil added, 2 scheduled service changes (oil is just not a big deal).
About 18 mpg (see spreadsheet in my signature below for details)
Minor brake squeal (will be fixed this week per TSB)
9200 miles

Subjective thoughts and recommendations:

I'm very satisfied, but would definitely buy the MT if I were to do it again because I think I would enjoy the 6 speed. I'm slightly disappointed with head room up front and leg room in rear seats -- I'm too tall to use the rear seats, and the kids are cramped back there. (Proceed with caution if you are taller than 6'1" -- the GT package may be unworkable.) The climate-control fan is much too loud and should have an automatic control, as the European RX-8s have. I'm glad I deleted the appearance package (too expensive, in my view), but will likely add the front/rear accent packages this Christmas if someone gives them to me as a gift (hint hint, anyone listening?). The NAV is great, and I'll never buy another car without one. I'm disappointed that Mazda has not allowed those of us with the earlier firmware a free upgrade; I'm crossing my fingers that we see a TSB soon on getting all 2004 owners the same firmware.

I have no idea what color I'd chose if I were to do it again... I actually love them all, depending on my mood, but the Titanium suits me. For those who say they don't like the red (as I have said at times), take a look at these pictures. In the right light -- wow!

In addition to the extra fuel and insurance costs, I figure I've spent at least $250 on washes that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten, and about $200 on Zaino -- it kills me to see this car dirty. I've actually rushed home from work early to wash the car before the sun set and gotten up earlier on the weekends to do it. It can definitely become an obsession.

I was worried I'd have buyers regret by this time -- about a year later, but I really love my car - and I'll likely buy something similar in a few years, perhaps the new RX-7? The weakest link in the car -- IMHO, is the Mazda service departments. Just spend a few hours reading the posts. They may be no different than the service centers at other dealerships, but I don't feel particularly happy when I need to talk to the mechanics. Reading this board on a regular basis for updates on what is going on is something anyone with an RX-8 should do.

 

Interesting, most west coast cars get about 15 mpg city while the east coast cars are getting about 18 mpg in the city...

 

Today is my one year anniversary with the RX 8, in yellow, and like the toy like aspect of the color . I had a very pretty asian girl smile, give me the thumbs up, and tell me "nice car" driving into the city today, and believe me, that was the car. Sure wasn't my total lack of rugged good looks.

I have 17,774 miles as of today; I had two recalls and a gentle mis-fire that led to a reflash and new plugs; other than that not one thing has happened to the car and nothing has gone wrong. The car ran great no matter what, and it runs great today. No squeaks, rattles or unnatural noises. Mileage is right around 20 city or highway, which is acceptable enough for me. It is fast; handles better than anything that I've ever driven, and I love it. The first year has been a cake walk. Enjoy those 8's!

 

13 months and 26k miles

1 - flood (body shop didn't listen to my warnings)
1 - oil light
+ - AC has never worked well (service dept impossible to work with on the issue)
3 - TPMS (slow leak in tire)
1 - Clutch died at 7k miles
1 - Front brake rotors wore out at 17k miles
1 - Spark plugs
2 - Accidents (neither were my fault)

16-18 MPG City
21-24 MPG Highway (6th gear w/ cruise)

M-flash, air bag TSB, trans damper TSB

The car has been a lot of fun but the drive-line feels fragile. The car has also been an idiot magnet (accidents). Would I buy another one? I don't know. I love the looks and handling of the car but it feels a little jinxed. I've never had this many problems in the first year of owning a car.

 

Yeah, come to think of it my car was hit about two weeks after I bought it too. However, that had nothing to do with the car. It was Halloween, and the college kid who hit me was drunk. Never pleasant.