Re: Not Satisfied for a good reason
 

I wouldn't...did you get to go through it?

My guess as to why it doesn't sell like it should: It gets unbelievable trash talking by dealers of cross-shopped vehicles. I'm sure they go on and on about how you're lucky to get 80K out of a rotary engine, they flood all the time, the HP is down, etc.

It's very hard to get the truth out when all of the competition spews the same BS. Also, the rotary is different than everything on the road, and people fear what they do not know. Too bad for them... they don't know what they're missing!

I let you know in 2 weeks when i get mine..:) but i am very happy with what i seen from now....

khoney, I think that you are giving the dealers too much credit.

No offense to the dealers out there that are knowledgeable, but after visiting two different dealers in my area, it was clear that these people had no clue about the product that they were selling. They couldn't answer any questions accurately and kept telling me that everything was an extra cost option despite the fact that it was included in the GT package that I was buying.

Buyers of a car like the RX8 get their information from the trade publications, friends and web sites like this one.

Mazda could do a lot more to promote this car. My number one hesitation before buying was the first year of production of a totally new design. Mazda should be taking a page from the Hyundai book and offering ten year 100k warranty. The RX8 is a great car and it is reasonably priced but the fear factor will keep the sales low.

Mazda's forte' for years has been to bring very well thought-out, feature rich cars that are well-built to the marketplace, and they're not afraid to be a little different -- very unusual given the Japanese psyche. I've had Mazdas as my primary car for 23 years, and rotaries for 17 of the 23, so I'm obviously sold on them.

Blissfull of monkey with swank. ie, it's up to swankmonkey standards ;)

Highly Satified.

13 city 16 highway (only issue)

I thought I'd post a little update from my mileage a month ago with my fuel consumption.

Observations:

1. Best MPG to-date was 20.31 mpg after a 234 mile roadtrip. Most of it was driving highway, 55~... mph

2. Worst MPG to-date was 13.72 mpg after a lead-footed week! -alright, just kidding. I don't know if its my driving, the weather or the gas: I've been getting pretty disspair calculations lately. If you pay attention to the last crest, and how its falls....it's weird.

3. Even with my crappy mpg's and doing mostly city, short-trip commutes to work (30~46 miles driven a day) I am averaging 16.3 mpgs.

4. 90% of my fill-ups are @ a Shell station. Always 93oct. unleaded.

5. Curious improvements in MPG were observed after fill-ups @ Exxon & RaceTrac(??).

Oooh! OK!

I'm assuming "distance" is miles driven between fill-ups?

Not really needed, but charting "Gallons" on there too would confirm it all (to me at least :) ).

mmmm....I much rather change the graph for the excel spreadsheet. Now I know why I've been keeping all the charts separate: its a mess to analyze them visually.
Once I get home, I'll upload the spreadhseet itself.

And, YES: distance is miles driving between fill-ups.

Here we go, charts included.....

This car is AMAZING. Easy to drive and the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

And everytime I look at it I realize its the most beautiful japanese car ever built.

I took your file & added your "gallons pumped" to the chart. (I'm not sure if it says anything, but, here it is...)

Thanks Racer! you have better excel skills than I do. I tried to plug everything on the same chart and came out to be a mess. Its really neat in order to visually analyze mileage.....dependant on weather (season at least) and other factors that could be plugged in. Ahhhhhhh, the beauty of factual / statistical analysis (which I don't know how to do!)

You're so very welcome. :)

I picked up a trick from you in doing it also. That comment that you added to the one date cell about your service / oil change...I didn't know what that red corner was until I put the cursor over it...cuel! I'm gonna use that a lot!

Later!

What a sweet ride!!! A vehicle like no other in the world for drivers who appreciate the efforts of a few engineers striving to let those fortunate enough to experience their results, drive with an oh so unique smile.

2 WEEKS!!!!
 

gosh, i just couldn't agree more!! i was on vacation and coudn't drive my baby, spacepug, for 2 weeks. got in him yesterday, and remembered all over again how fun he is to drive!

-BSG
:D

Favorable opinion
 

No problems yet, immensely enjoyable, mileage poor but expected.

OK, I don't have one... yet.

Not trying to talk out of place either on the forum or on this thread. I just read thru the postings and wanted to add my .02.

My main concern about NOT buying one was the initial model year glitches. The VW I had had, while not a new model year, was a total lemon and the thoughts of a problematic car were more than I could deal with. My VW only made it a year and a half before I bent over, took the loss, and moved on.

Mazda USA needs to market this car better/more/whatever.

Mazda USA needs to offer a 100k/10y warranty. Period.

And just so you folks don't think I'm a total butt:

Rotaries Rock!!!!


http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDat...2068Av2av3.jpg

IMHO, the number one thing Mazda needs to address is the size of the fuel tank.

Most SUV drivers don't care if they only get 12 MPG if they have a 25 - 30 gallon tank.

I know the Gen. II RX-7 had a larger tank; I don't know about Gen. III.

Other than that, the spare tire situation is a joke; the can of fix-a-flat and compressor is silly, and the spare tire kit eats up most of the trunk room.

I also have to admit that I have been on the fence for a long while, and the thought of having to have the car towed to the dealer if I accidentally stall it backing it out of the driveway is not really a point in its favor...

A (mostly) satisfied owner
 

I've jumped to the end of this thread, so I may repeat what's been said:
First, I love this car. It's a blast to drive.
The rear seats are great! The view from the driver's seat is perfect. The engine is sweet and fun to rev. The handling is quick and confident. The shifter is crisp and light. The styling is eye catching and unique.

But it is the first year and it is not perfect. So my suggestiosn are:

The gas mileage is still poor at 2400mi, there should a fix for that or at least two modes to the ECU programming: economy & sport

The center console needs a new design: the cup holders are too far back, the sliding cover is too flimsy, the seat heater switches need to be repositioned (I often accidentally switch it on with my arm).

The power trunk release is too low under the dash.

The arm rest is too low (but I like the door bin space).

The rear visibility takes some getting use to (after my smaller Miata)

A little less bling-bling in the headlight and taillight treatment

The red-line buzzer needs to be louder or repositioned

The radio is fine, but could be more standard to allow greater owner flexilbility.

And...we could always use the 9Hp back :-)

I just clocked in with a "somewhat satisfied" vote.

First the absolutely outstanding stuff (in no particular order):
- handling
- braking
- power
- styling
- reliability
(4000 miles w/o an issue and I am a very picky person)
- small conveniences
(remote trunk release, homelink mirror, etc)
- interior space
- TRUNK SPACE (the RX-8 replaced my Miata)
- world's smoothest shifting manual transmission
- minimal oil consumption for a rotary

Next, the not so great stuff that really doesn't matter to me:
- version 1.0 bugs (mpg, flooding)
- rear visibility
- leather "trimmed" interior (vs full leather)
- packaging (no homelink w/o a sunroof, etc)
- rear passenger ability to see outside
- trunk release button placement
- no auto-off for trunk light
- no automatic door lock/unlock
(too many damn buttons to hit getting in and out of the car)
- non-adjustable clutch pedal and/or non-telescoping steering wheel
- cramped ingress/egress for short driver


Finally the stuff that bugs me (totally personal opinion)
- it won't do 0 to 60 in under 6 sec
(not that this is something I do regularly)
- not holding its resale value
- instrument clutter (not misspelled)

Bottom line is that I really like the car (despite what is said in the last section) but I am not "in love" with it. My Miata and even my Gen-1 RX-7 seemed to "fit" me from day one (or at least that is how I remember it). I also felt that they took care of me. I don't have that feeling with the 8 yet. It will probably come with time.

So far im pretty happy. I am not the best standard driver, but im still getting the gas milage I have expected. I expect it to go up as I stop sucking :). The seats are comfterble and I love the looks I get as I drive by. The car is fun to drive, and that is what I really wanted. Everything else is just a plus.

OK, 3 weeks in. 470 miles total. 16.2 MPG in "city".
Had a CEL at 165 miles - bad oil metering pump. Dealer took one off another car, back on the road same day. Told me to forget babying it and "drive it like you stole it". Haven't had the smile off my face since. I posted earlier that first you fall in lust with this car, and love comes later. I think I'm in love now. And my grandkids think I'm the coolest dude around. Highly satisified.

This car has issues. i called mazda about the mpg an for best mpg they told me to shifted before 2500 RPM's. and the clutche isn't strong enough to handle the RPM's on the down shitf and my trany went out and i've only had this car for two months and it's been in the shop for 3 weeks already.