RX-8 Owner After 4 years turning in car
 

Hi All,

I did a 4 year lease on an RX-8 which I bought full equipped in 2004. I want to give my personal impressions of the car and thoughts. I am not trying to trash the car or Mazda. I am just being honest.

First off, it is a beautiful car. I had the red which I felt like fits this car pefectly. I love the suicide doors which are hidden while closes but have easy access to the rear seats.

Overall the car was good except that I had an issue where new batteries had drained 5 times in 3 weeks and had to get Mazda of NA involved. The local Mazda dealer was horrible and has turned me away from Mazda. The fact is that your local dealer has a lot to do with your overall experience.

The car made a good daily driver and I enjoyed the rotary engine. It is a nice engine and I like the 9,000 RPM redline.

However, the peformance is not quite good enough IMO. It needs more torque but the handling is supberb. A lot of people complimented the car for the first year or so on the looks.

I would say that I was relatively satisifed with the car overall outside the dealer.

I have purchased a INfinit G37 in dark blue that looks almost gray with a special order 6 speed MT, Sports Pack, Premium Package, and NAV Package.

The G37 has the nicest interior of any car I have been in and with more features. I love the leather, the dual electric seats, reverse camera, great intrgration between the XM Stereo, GPS, and backup camera.

The performance is very good. The 330 + hp with a variable valve (very similar to my preivous S2000) moves the redlines up to 7500 and has loads of torque especially from 5k up.

The G37 is a superior car IMO to the RX-8 but this is a car that is nearly fully loaded and woudl retail for almost 50k so it is not a fair comparison.

I will say nothing but good things about my experience with the RX-8 other than I think it needs more torque and better gas mileage. If anone is interested, I would recommend the car with a few cavaets.

The Infiniti G37 is a better fit for me right now as I like having the much nicer creature comforts such as built in hard drive, compact flash readers, and Ipod readers neatly intrgrated as well as better interior IMO.

Anyways, I do like the uniqueness of the rotary engine and the beautiful design of the RX-8. Maybe in 3 years when my lease is up, there might be a RX-8 with more hp and torque that will grab my attention. I think this car is goinng to be a better fit for me at this time. I would say four years was just the right amount of time ot have the car.

Anyways, I wish all you RX-8 onwers the best and hope that Mazda improves the few flawas that it does have.

I may be back in 3 years.

I have to wait a couple of weeks now for my G37 to be shipped over since there are very few MT made and hardly any in the color I like.

It was great to talk to you guys and I apprecicate the people (and other dealers) who helped out when my local Mazda dealer could not fix the battery drain issue.

Best Wieshes and Farewell!

Dean

I don't mind comments like the "RX8 lacks torque", but to say a car isn't a good CAR because it lacks a hard drive, CF reader, ipod connection, hair salon, back massager, 180 degree rotating captain chairs, built in fridge, 52" plasma TV, etc... it annoys me because people have forgotten what the difference is between a car and a computer, or a car and a house.


RX-8 + 3071R turbo = easy 350 whp, and plenty of torque which will put your G37 to shame. In fact, the lowly GReddy turbo beats up the G37.

http://image.automobilemag.com/f/fea...dyno_chart.jpg

Anyway, G37 and RX-8's are different kinds of vehicles. Nothing wrong with a touring car, but don't expect it to be as sporty. Enjoy your MPG though :)

:lol: I was thinking the same thing. sounds like he needs a new PC not a new car.

I am sorry but creature comforts do add desirability to the car.

You guys really have shown a classless send off IMO. I did say a lot of good things about the RX-8 and tired to be fair. There are many people who do like having the hard drive built in and such. Othereise you have to hook up things with wires and it gets messy.

I dont believe there is anything wrong liking the features being added to upper end cards.

I have nothing against creature comforts. I just don't rate a car based on them as they are minor in the overall picture of a vehicle. Kinda like picking out trim options. Sure built in navigation is nice, or leather seats, but underneath all the crap, is a vehicle, and that is paramount to any gadget tacked on.

I've seen reviews of the RX-8 that rated down the car because it didn't have hands free bluetooth built in. WTF?

The hands free bluetooth is a great option. I added a kit into my RX-8. The outside of he car, the torque and driving is what got my attention. I was just shocked how good the new features were in he car.

It is about the whole car and that is part of it.

I personally hate when someone says you can get the turbo. I want a stock car. The G37 has 100hp more. Do you not think I can get that engine modded? Performance is just one aspect of me and I had no desire to blow my warranty.

Dean

Thanks for the post dean. I have spent a lot of seat time in my brothers 2002 M3 and will definitely say that the torque in the M3 is a lot of fun and makes the rx8 feel a little deficient (price difference between M3 and RX8 notwithstanding :) ).

I read your post as saying that you value amenities and comforts pretty highly in a car and can definitely agree that the RX8 is pretty bare bones when it comes to the luxury department.

I cross shopped the G35 when I got my RX8 and ultimately decided that i wanted a sports car rather than a sporty luxury coupe. Big difference IMO but I think it is great that there is so much choice out there in the sports/sport-lux coupe segment of the market.

Best of luck w/ the G37, that is a sweet looking car.

no one should rip on this guy, he owned this car for 4 years and made the sensible decision of getting rid of it for something more fuel efficient

whats wrong with that?

huh? what? he got a g37?

wow what an asshole

I am constantly amazed when people use the "lack of torque" comment when describing the 8. That shortcoming is something one would KNOW after their FIRST test drive (or before if they had done their homework on previous rotaries). To buy the car knowing this and then complain about it years later is ridiculous.

BTW, future rotaries will not have appreciably more torque either.

I knew the low torque but after time it did start to get to me and the fact is a rotary engine usually takes 20,000 miles before the engine gets stronger. It was fine at first but over 4 years it did start to be a deficit for me.

I am simply calling things as I seem them and it is just my personal opinion.

Yes, very true. It's not for everyone.


Which is it? Stock or not?

Sure you can mod the G37, but a RX-8 + turbo will thrash the G37 in pricing, and it doesn't have a 3,700 lbs curb weight to deal with. So if you wanted straight line performance... well, you know where I'm heading here.

The Porsche 356 was a boat too. Don't get uptight about it.



lol.

I'm not bashing him for getting the G37. But if you're talking about saving money (MPG), then spending 50k on a vehicle is the wrong direction.



I wouldn't say that. The rotary torque is based on the engine size. Add FI and you can get a ton of torque out of it. You just can't expect it from a NA rotary engine.

Thank you! I hope appreciate your well wishes! I hope you enjoy your 8 very much also!

Dean

ok. but as engines age HP and TQ numbers go down over time, not up. but you knew that.

the rotary is what it is. and never will be more.

an eccentric shaft is not a crankshaft.

This is my LAST POST EVER on this board.

I just want to say for the people getting defensive and basically calling me an idiot because I felt the car lacks torque or stupid for liking creature comforts -- You make RX-8 owners sound petty and immature.

I cannot believe that several people would take shots at me.

I really do appreciate those that give well wishes. I have to tell you some of the responses really leave a bad taste in my mouth about the RX-8 community.

I had posted a similar thread on the S200 forum when I traded it in for the RX-8 and everyone was very classy and understood the things I liked better about the RX-8 over the S2000.

If you are going to throw in things like you should add a turbo, or it is stupid to make decisons on torque, and/or creature comforts then you are just driving potential buyers away from the RX-8.

Believe me, a good car club should be very knowledable and respectful of other cars. However, it does seem like many on here just have to trash someone because they decided the RX-8 is no longer the right car for them and enjoys other aspect of the G37.

Dean

You need thicker skin and not read into everything so much. Just because I'm not kissing your ass and saying the G37 isn't the best car ever made doesn't mean I think you're wrong for getting it.

I have a relative that bought the G35 just before the 37 came out. She likes it. I don't care one way or another about it.

Idle comments don't mean anything more than that. My original point was a CF reader doesn't make a car. If you think it's important, then you made the right choice. Good for you.

umm...apples and oranges.....?
that is all I have to say.

--Jonathan

Hey, quit being a jerk because you have no CF reader!!

This guy must have been down the street from me.

i dont think anyone called you an idiot for wanting something else. enjoy your G. i'm sure it'll suit you better.

You sir are an idiot to think you weren't going to get a little backlash. Next time you give a review base it purely on the cars own merits.

You would have been a better off if you had not compared it to the G37. Not only is the G37 $20,000 more than the 8 but it is also 5 years newer, c'mon now.

Additionally, these so-called "creature comforts" can be obtained for less than 5k fully installed and better than the G37's. :xyxwave:

Thanks for the "PM" message trying to get me not to buy a RX8.

ANYWAY...The G37 isnt a good buy right now. Its got some problems. I drove one two weeks ago. It fails in comparison to the G35...unless your talking "creature comforts" The G37 has some cool things in it, and is a very comfortable car!! BUT, I dont think it drove as nice as the G35. Not to mention infinity got rid of the sexy exhaust systems, wich are heard on G35s. The 37 is a good car, but for the money... you can do better. Good luck, infinities are a great car. Now you can be like everybody els eon the road...thats fun

Comparing cars on a car forum? Blasphemous!!!!!

Did you also get a Job at the Nissan dealer??? Or are you simply a Nissan troll???

The rx8 is all abou it's purley addicting soul. I've driven plenty of other cars... nothing keeps me wanting to drive and drive for hours on end like my Mazdas have.

Enjoy your Nissan.... ohhh wait "infinity"

And you can rip the stereo outta my car ... It's all about the drive .. not the radio or the NAV. etc. I only turn on the radio when stuck behind traffic. ... once I pass 'em its back off. ((doesn't get much use))

Oh yeah, my bad :uhh: