RX-8 Improvements - Tell Mazda
 

Although a thread was done some time ago on bettering the RX-8 I thought it would be interesting to share some of our suggestions now that some of us have lived with the car for nearly a year now (10 months)

One thing a friend of mine suggested was that Mazda really jump ahead and offer a direct jack hookup on their radios for MP3 players.

I have considered (aside from major engine mods like SUPERCHARGERS) that they add another option on our mode selector to include a rotary symbol - send cold air to intake.

OKay, your turn. Perhaps Mazda will entertain our ideas. I know MNAO is aware of us.

Mazda is known for perusing the Miata.net boards and taking the feedback to heart. I wouldn't bet against them doing the same thing here. Most companies would kill to get the kind of feedback on their products that Mazda can get from this board.

As a non-RX-8 owner, my opinions don't matter much, but as a prospective owner, I would like to see:

1. Pre-amp outputs on the stereo.
2. More horsepower.
3. Aluminum interior trim option.
4. More horsepower.
5. Analog speedometer.
6. More horsepower.
7. If they really want to go crazy, offer a stripper version to reduce weight. Keep all the go-fast parts on it and throw in some Recaro seats. Upgrade the brakes to Brembos and give it, yup, more horsepower.

T.

Better gas mileage. Oh, has anyone mentioned more horsepower?

Here are my beefs..(and sugested solutions)
1. Front end brake dust. (Offer ceramic pads stock)
2. Cupholder placement. (Anywhere but the arm rest. I like them forward of the shifter)
3. Additional HP and low end torque (sorry Im not an engineer)

-give us the 250HP originally promised
-put the front cup holders someplace else
-taller 6th gear - 80mph should equal 3k rpms NOT 4000
-slightly larger gas tank
-get rid of the rickety noise in the clutch/tranny
-ability to turn off the TCS but leave on the DSC instead of the other way around


also, a nice big OEM sticker on the back window of Calvin pissing all over a Ford insignia would be a nice added touch as well

Little things:

Make both windows AUTO power down.

Both driver and passenger seats need a "quick release" feature for rear passengers.

Coin holder should have some sort of padding to keep change from "clanging" around.

Thats about it. - And better gas mileage and HP wouldn't hurt either.

larger gas tank
cheaper MS body kits
better MPG
more horses
Acura-like Nav :D
the wheels wont-get-scratched design
stronger AC
(and completely FIX the flood problem, if possibile)

Geez, we are giving free "professional" suggestions to mazda! :D

P.S. this thread should be sticky, so that Mazda can remember what to improve whenever they drop by ;)

I want to see them finally learn how to tune the RX-8 ecu. Mazda if you guys are listening, I CAN TUNE IT BETTER!!! You've got all this money and designed and built the damn thing. Why'd you mess up here? If it were done right we wouldn't need another new flash every month or so. Retuning could give more horsepower, better mileage, easier starting, and would still pass emissions. Oh yes it is possible! Many complaints taken care of with one solution. It is also the cheapest thing to take care of.

Build a stronger transmission.

Actually educate your dealers and service centers. Both, yes all whopping 2 of your competent mechanics hang out on this board. Maybe the rest should.

Get your $hit straight about what oils you do and do not recommend. We all know that synthetic is fine. Just say it.

Don't raise the price of the car next year. You need to get it right before you can charge more for it. Why should we pay for new mistakes? Logical isn't it?


Fix the a/c issues that some have reported.

Since everyone wants forced induction, release a turbo or a supercharged version. It needs to top 300 hp (legitimately this time!) but preferably at least 350 hp. No you can't re-rate it at 338 after it's release!

That's all that I have to say for now.

Phil Martens, Ford VP of Product Development
 

I sent a letter to Phil Martens, the VP of Product Development at FORD ( and formerly a big-wig at Mazda who drives an RX-8 for his personal transportation ) back on March 23rd congratulating him on the RX-8 and also pushing him to make the car even better. Believe it or not, on May 6th he writes me back on his very own personal executive stationery telling me that he enjoyed reading my letter, and that he too is an enthusiast.

He also said that he "couldn't give me any clues at this time, but that he was sure that I would be happy with the MAZDASPEED RX-8."

He even signed the letter personally.

You can address letters to:

Ford Motor Company
Product Development Center
Attn: Mr. Phil Martens, VP
21175 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124

My suggestions, as a prospective owner, would be to allow choosing options individually, or in smaller, less expensive packages. To get what I want, I am forced to pay for a lot of things I don't want.

I'm sure Mazda is already working on the mileage thing, but a larger tank to improve the range is a great convenience to have.

Would like to see a less bulbous front end design to better integrate the lines of the car. While we're at it, how about a normal place to mount a front license plate?

Brighten up the interior- it sure is dark back there in the rear seats!

find a way to make the Renesis a bit more torquey, even if it means forced induction

also as a perspective owner, I would also like to see this page as a sticky... but only if maturity is involved in it. we all know that more horsepower and torque would be great, I wouldn't think that the obvious shouldn't have to come up too much more.

let's see what else needs tweeked

I agree with rg, for this is the most tragic of all!! Each 'mechanic' has a different opinion about the issues of the car!!
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Oh, and I NEVER wanted 4 cupholders in a car!! And I know I'm never gonna use them, not all of them at the same time! I mean, what were they thinking? Four people in a car, all of them having a drink... in the car?!?! A cupholder is for the driver 'cause he has to keep his hands on the steering wheel. C'mon guys, get real!!

I don't mind the detuned motor so much...I just wish the drivetrain can handle at least the stock power levels...I"m scared to drift it. My 1st diff started complaining at 2700 miles and now barely 500 miles later the rear is starting to make noise again. And I read of all the trannies crapping out....I feel like it's a matter of time before my tranny starts to break down.....I swear I don't beat on my car...I wind it out to redline every once in a while, but I never drag raced it, drifted, or otherwised abused it....

I love the car, and will stick through the tough times, but I just wish it was a robust drivetrain-wise as the FD.

Oh, and I would have taken a stripper version with all the performance stuff....


Oh and if there is indeed a forced induction Mazdaspeed RX8, please offer it without any retarded body kits and spoilers. I'll take all the performance enhancing mods, without the goofy body and ugly wheels. It should be cheaper too.

An all wheel drive system would be nice more hp?

more horsies. the rear windows need to be powered.

1. Change placement of the heated seats controlls as I turn them on unintentionally daily
2. Better gas milage
3. More Hp
4. Get rid of the horrible bose sound system
5. Make a button to switch the gauges to a white face when you want to turn your lights on but it is still not dark enough for the red backlight ( as opposed to the exising dial)

1 taller 6 gear about 3k rpm at 80.
2 better gas mileage, see #1
3 cupholders not under my elbows
4 seperate buttons for dsc and tc
5 mini jack input for sound system for
mp3 / satilite radio
6 less hp, NOT, mo about 338 is good
7 headlights that turn off when you take
the key out. my 89 supra did that
8 auto temp a/c
9 headlight washers in usa

wow all these mods would probaby cost mazda less than 500 bucks to do, and think of how much more it would sell.


did i mention i love this car right now, but would buy a new one if it had all this stuff.

beers

1-better delearships, perhaps an independant one like what BMW did with the mini. One that has sales people who are trained to sell a high performance +30K car, with a service department who caters to the needs and the demands of the owners of a high performace car. This dealarship will also be a mod center.
2- More HP
3- larger gas tank
4- better MPG
5- Adjustable suspension, with inside controls to adjust shock stifness.
6- better tires
7- get rid of engine flooding
8- larger sway bars
9- all leather seats
10- NAv system to play movies, or perhpas a mini PC

Mark

You guys have to remember that the fuel effeciency of the car is dependent on the advancements of the rotary engine. One of the most cricitical improvement they made in the renesis is the side ports which I'm sure all of you know about. This is what I want to be improved.

-5 Speed Gearbox for the auto.
-Option for a sequential manual gearbox
-Powered rear windows
-lambo doors ahahhahahah

Mostly little things (all the big stuff I can think of seems to have been covered):

- re-engineer the doors so they actually stay open at those two detented positions and aren't prone to bouncing back on you (this is especially bad if I'm parked on an incline)
- widen the trunk's vertical opening just a little bit
- Definitely include an audio input for MP3 players
- larger gas tank (I'd take better mileage too, but hey...)
- rotary accent package standard: The car just isn't finished without it
- for those who don't opt for the nav, turn that unused space in the dash into a storage compartment
- Strengthen the center console sliding lid
- improve the quality of the paint job: that orange peel is starting to bug me

well, as mentioned already, more HP would be nice. 250 or + would be really nice, oh and also the following

-MP3 players should come standard.
-definately need better gas milege, it's consuming twice the fuel compared to my civic :p (dun tease my civic pls)
-a darker metallic alloy? i find the std bit too light and boring
-a way that the front door can close b4 the back door maybe? prob wont happen, but would be convenient.... hate waiting for the back passengers to come out and sometimes guests at the front passenger do not know that the backdoors need to be closed first.... and clunk ;( (i know theres a protector thing that i should have got :/)

1) aforementioned cup holders, (Realy bad placement guys)

2) MP3 player as stock item. CD's are dead guys, we burn them ourselves only cause we need them for your sterio. If that's too radical, then at least the MP3 imputs.

3) The rear seats ought to be collapseable. When we need the storage space, we need the space.

4) Powered passenger seat. My chic is pissed at me cause my chair is powered and her's isn't.

5) slidable sun visor's so that I'm not blinded when the sun is at 4 o'clock

yes better delaerships !!!1 traine those guys better...

Also relocate the front cup holders.
Adjustable pedals for us taller folks!! this is a Must !!!!
All Wheels Stearing
All Wheel Drive

Everybody wants more this and more that in cars. That is where I think most sports cars have gone wrong.

I want less. The cupholders are good for holding my phone and wallet. I do not need to see my phone when driving. I am busy. Same with drinks. Let the passenger hold your drink. That is what they are for.

If they add all the features everyone wants this car will become bloat ware. Might as well lose the rotary and put a 3.0l duratec as I feel it loses most all the advantages of being there in the first place.

No leather, no tcs, dcs, no nav, no sunroof, no, oh wait, that is what I have. It is called the base model 6-speed. :D

I want the Mazdaspeed version they already sell in Japan but without making me take all the gizmos of the GT version. That would make me happy. Hopefully the Mazdaspeed version we get does take this into consideration.

Stronger trans, more power, less weight.

I guess I want the ibuki roadster with a renesis in it weighing in at no more than 2200lbs. That would be ideal.