Thanks for the info. That's too bad. The oil pressure gauge is a useful way to determine if the engine is truly "warmed up". Ah well, I guess there's a project down the road. Maybe someday I'll get my scissoring tach/speedo gauge too :)

Kewl!

Weld up the two doors and put them on gull wing hinges. Or maybe with hydraulic lifts. Now that would be killer!!

Just imagine the looks you would get at the local K-mart when you get in or out of that!

:D

We all want the automotive Holy Grail: more power on less fuel!

The separate oil supply idea is great.
I'd also like to see:

A CD changer that reads CD-text info.

Vehicle status included on the Nav display -- such things as compass (that actually looks like a compass and reads out your actual heading), current MPG, mpg since reset, and full engine instrumentation. This would make for a cluttered display, so make it switchable.

An auxiliary power socket that is powered all the time.

A little larger centre console for larger items that you still want to keep handy.

All options available in all markets, and available on an a-la-carte basis -- no having to take a whole package just to get one or two items.

Integrated cell phone (Bluetooth?) with auto-answer and speakerphone that automatically lowers the stereo volume.

An auxiliary audio "line-in" jack in the centre console or glove box (console preferred).

True dual exhaust system (unless there is a technical reason not to). Two rotors, two exhaust pipes; it just makes sense.

Auto-up and auto-down on both windows with retained power for a few minutes.

Two-door/four-door option -- some of us don't need the back doors, and wider front doors would be preferred.

True hatchback design and more room for the (standard!) spare tire.

Wow! It's hard to think of ways to improve this car that are legal.

All great ideas.. How about this one a gear indicator light that would tell you what gear your in !!!!!

I was thinking about that myself.

I also agree with the power rear windows. I would love to open them to get a good cross breeze, but they're WAY TOO inconvenient to open.

Here's my list:
 

- Auto headlights
- Power rear windows
- Move interior trunk release to the door
- Auto up/down front windows (my $15k Golf had these!!!)
- Make gas filler flap release electonic and move to door with trunk release
- Integrated key fob and key, like Audi/VW
- Move cupholders forward
- 5 speed auto trans with more power
- Glue on exterior badges so they can be easily removed
- Telescoping steering wheel (again, $15k Golf had this)
- Adjustable seat belts
- Auto open/close sunroof
- Satellite radio option
- Climate control

I'm sure I'll think of more later...but this is a start...

-auto on/off headlights
-bi-xenon
-integrated key with controls
-auto up/down windows
-power rear vents
-auto sunroof
-toggleable trip computer that will display:
current mpg
drivable distance on tank
front tire pressure for both tires (not REALLY neccessary)
rear tire pressure for both tires (not REALLY neccessary)
trip a
trip b
these can be toggled through with a button on the rear/front (doesnt matter the location i suppose) of the steering wheel
________
OUTDOOR COUPLE

5 or 6 speed auto... like some you said... mazda would increase sales by having a high pwer auto... they would a sale from me... half the Z's are automatic ... cause the power is there with the auto.

Another thing that would be nice would be auto tilting side mirrors.

Considering that the car has such a high beltline and it is hard to see when backing into a parking space (i'm 5'4").

My 2002 VW Passat W8 had these mirrors that would tilt down to a preset position when shifting the car into reverse. You could put into reverse and adjust the mirror so you could see the line or the car next to you or whatnot and upon shifting into drive or first gear, the mirror would return to its original position.

This is one feature that I really miss. I sometimes must open the door to see the line and the position of the car in the parking stall.

The RX-8 WILL have a 5 speed auto, and a 6 speed SMG, as options for the 2006 model year at the latest. It will handle the revs and power of the high power engine.

Regards,
Gordon

Most of all, I think a light under the hood to see the dipstick receptor. It's a pain looking down there in the dark and find where it goes.

You can get a little stick-on convex mirror that applies to the side mirror. They come in small sizes and I find them useful for gauging rear traffic. Also lets you see parking lines without opening the door. Not everyone likes them but I do. Not as neat as auto-tilting mirrors but they work.

I wouldn't feel right looking at a 3 dollar mirror within my side rear-view mirrors on my brand new 30K sports car.

ditto

but they might help from chrashing your 30k car

I love my 8, but since you asked.....
 

- CLIMATE CONTROL
- auto headlights
- interior oil level gauge
- cup holder moved forward
- auto seat controls on the center console
- CLIMATE CONTROL
- integrated key/remote
- auto lock doors when car engages
- option to have the entire car with a clear 3M coating
- integrated phone
- CLIMATE CONTROL
- better sound system
- dual sun visors to cover front and side windows if needed
- random play for all 6 CDs
- option to add Nav system after market (my fault, not Mazda's)
- CLIMATE CONTROL
- peel off stickers on the sun visors.....heck I will even sign a waiver to have those off
- power after the ignition is off to close the sun roof
- auto window up
- auto sun roof close
- CLIMATE CONTROL

Did I mention Climate Control?
Yes, yes, I know the aussies and brits have it.......sigh......

:)

Here is a thought. Why not have three
spark plugs per roter instead of two? It seems to me that the biggest complaint so far is the poor gas milage. If you have three, one at each end of TDC and one in the middle, then fuel burn would be more thorough and HP would increase. It would also improve fuel economy. Just a thought.... But the engineers probably thought about that too. Probably too good of an idea.

The R26B 4rotor engine uses this configuration for those exact benefits(although minor). I don't know what the implications would be in a production engine.

Random on all 6 cd for sure - (hard to believe we'd have to ask)
Climate control - (Pisses me off that you can see the impression in the logicon for it)
E-brake flush
Auto Seat Presets
MPG status
Oil Metering Tank - (2 cycle mix) with auto motor oil bypass
Dimmable white gauge cluster - (only dimmable in orange mode, and too bright in white mode)
Single button sun roof - (Like the 3rd gen RX-7)
Rotor Shaped radio cluster ring - (What's with the circle?)
Accurate water temp gauge - (Looks like mazda still doesn't want us to know how hot the rotary runs)
Quick Shift Auto in manual mode - (feels a bit too slow)
Better window buttons - (I think they forgot or ran out of time to do a focus group on this area)
Louder door lock actuators - (Just a personal thing. I like to hear them lock rather than turn around to see the lights flash)
Adapt the tail lights of a late 3rd gen 7

You can adjust the white instrumentation just as you would adjust the red, roll the knob. Mine changes!

How about better door hold-open detents?

I could not agree more! I have four 75-watt lights in my garage and I still can't see the dipstick receptor.

This does absolutely nothing to benefit the performance but wouldn't it be cool to have our analog gauges do a full sweep everytime we start our magnificent 8? I think it adds to the already huge "cool" factor of the car :)

my wish-list includes features related to the seating position that I believe are very important to best enjoy your rx8 drive:

1- driver seat memory
2- telescopic steering wheel
3- power adjustable padels ... like in Nissan Titan for ajusting distance from the steering wheel.

Titan's Power Adjustable Pedals are connected to the memory system, so you can program settings for two different drivers. I think #2 and #3 above should get you into that perfect seating position.

Actually I think this is a great feature. Makes it nice that you can have your visor down to block the sunlight and still see the stop light and not be blinded. To me, a simple idea that should have been thought of long ago.

The factory radio looks nice, but I'd like to be able to upgrade to an in-dash DVD/TV/CD/MP3...

How about a driver side handle to help with the dismount from the cockpit...

A larger trunk opening or folding seats...

An easier way to engage reverse... (I ended up in a ditch trying to make a 3 pt. turn and didn't fully engage) yeah I'm a new manual driver :(