Ten Worst Things about the RX8
 

Leaving out fuel consumption and the (relatively) low torque, that have been discussed at length here, what would you say are the ten worst things about the RX8?

Lack of Navigation Updates from Mazda/Navteq

what's wrong with that? you got one and you're what 20?

lol... i have to agree.

That plus Ignorant, un-educated owners who don't use the search feature annoy me. Plus I just can't fathom how somebody with the English skills of a 3rd grader can afford a car like this... I have read too many posts like that to count.

The PCM.

i hate abbid...

1) irrelevant
2) irrelevant
3) what does this have to do with anything???
4) irrelevant
5) do you have the statistics to prove this?
6) lol people of all ages get in accidents.
7. stop post whoring
8. who paid for your car?

:rolleyes:

doesn't IRRELEVANT mean the same thing as WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING

i thought i'd mix it up. :D

Easy, but more than 10:

0. Needs screens for oil coolers and a/c condenser. I listed this as "0" since it's easily remedied with the Racing Beat products, but still...

1. Needs a dipstick & oil filler that are stupidly easy to access. Like on the VW VR6 engine.

2. Needs an oil level gauge.

3. Needs a real oil pressure gauge. Or just a level gauge and an idiot light, not the fake indicator that's there now.

4. O2 sensor on the catalyst sticks down, can easily snag/hit on something. How hard would it have been to move it around a few degrees?

5. Needs automatic, works-100%-of-the-time, flood-recovery system (water injection, etc.)

6. Trunk opening is too damn small.

7. Along those lines... the trunklid/rear shelf/back glass should all form one big hatch that opens.

8. Sliding console lid is fragile and positioned in the perfect place to take the most abuse and break.

9. Funky audio controls are dated and impossible to swap/upgrade later.

10. Side mirrors are too small, and contribute to the horrible blind spots. Just because you get comfortable with it after a while doesn't mean you actually can see what you need to.

11. Front seatbelts have no height adjustment. Really annoying to have it right on my collarbone rather than my shoulder.

12. No door auto-lock at XXmph or auto-unlock when key removed from ignition.

13. On GT models, the hard plastic seatbacks.

14. No basic trip computer with average speed/average mpg.

15. The sunvisors.

16. No rear grab handles or hooks for your coat or drycleaning.

17. Wimpy plastic fasteners in wheel wells.

18. Poor lumbar support on cloth seats.


There's more, that's just some of the things that bug me. YMMV.

good list i'd have to agree.

i assume you're talking about your tranny. everytime i had a problem with my 8 mazda(dealership) fixed it.

The Gasoline Consumption!!!!!

I agree with some (i.e. 3 or 4) of JM1FE's list, especially the location of the dipstick (don't even know how many times i've burned my hand trying to get to it) and the oil pressure gauge.

The only thing i'd add is the softness of the paint. I've only had my car since feb. and i already have more (noticable) chips in my paint than my previous car that i had for four years.

That's funny, I think the side mirrors are juuuust fine. Using only the mirrors, I don't have much of a blind spot. I can spot a broomstick aft and left of me just fine. Ditto for right and aft. Ditto for pure aft. *shrug* You can't even hide a bicycle in my so-called 'blind spots'. You'd have to be a midget driving a Lotus Seven to hide in my baffles. (Wait, one MUST be a midget to drive a Seven.. n'ermind.. ;) )

Oil level gauge would be nice, and trippy to boot. Never seen one on a car.

My nits:

1. Dipstick access had to be designed by a dip. Buried deep, hard to get to, and here's my prediction: Careless folk will let the oil-coated dipstick hit the rubber hoses around the dipstick hole.. do this enough, and the oil will eat the hoses.. busted hoses.. leaking coolant.. busted Renesis. This will happen, Im certain of it (but not to me ;) ) May I suggest a MUCH longer dipstick and disptick tube? Like a foot longer! Or like someone else above said, an oil *level* gauge. L, 1/2, 1/4, F.

2. Bose. Gawd, WHY BOSE?! Why not Clairon, or Nakamichi, or a collaboration between a couple? Why go with the most un-hi-fi-ish stereo maker in the known universe? The Bose in the 8 is far from the worst I've heared in cars, but c'mon.. it falls apart during loud angry music.. be it Beethoven or NIN or Wager or Iron Maiden.. it just can't keep clarity when the going gets tough.

3. Um.. that's all I can come up with. Had this car had 10 "Bad Things," I'd be driving something else. Those 2 above are the only major irritants, and I can adapt and overcome those two.

#1 worst thing.....whiny anal owners that create threads like this.....

Sorry If I repeated but here is my top 10 list:

(1) Door storage area is TOO narrow (my hand can't fit while perpendicular to the door)
(2) Trunk opening is too small
(3) Interior scuffs to easy
(4) Side bolster of the seats is a little too firm (probably have not broken them in yet, I only have 3K)
(5) Radio not easy to upgrade (round is cool but give me my freedom to upgrade)
(6) Should have been built with 240whp
(7) Oil Cooler grills should have been STANDARD
(8) Center storage bin/door is weak
(9) Lack of OIL (a real) level indicator
(10) Low highway mpg

Did you forget that the RX-8 is being sold in non-English speaking markets as well? :p

I just got my black rx8 on Saturday. I'm 19 and I'm payin for it. I agree that anyone having their mommy and daddy buy the car for them is somewhat annoying considering im working overtime to get this car. So far, my only compaint is the cups in the cupholder being in the way when you shift. Also, the blind spots.

A few of everyone's complains go away if you have a shinka there are a few that are specific to it...


1. to much body roll
2. oil dipstick is in a bad spot and almost impossible to get back in in a dim garage.
2b. have to remove engine cover to get at dipstick
3. Interior leather does not match. Leather on the consoles, hand break, and shift boot is black while the rest of the leather is parchment! That's stupid.
4. Boss radio, even the high end boss sucks
5. wimpy paint, this stuff scratches to easy and is to thin. A thick coat/s of wax is a requirement!
6. no lumbar support controls on the passenger seat.
7. half the foot space for the passenger is missing!!
8. the side vents are fake
9. it's really difficult to reach the latches to open the rear windows when in the driver seat.
10. people you don't know standing around and looking at your car when you don't want them too (go away loosers and get your own cool car)
11. the windows and b pillar finger print to easy
12. the front of the car is a bug splatter magnet
13. it sits to high off the ground
14. traps water in the fake vents and under the spoiler when you wash the car that drips out when you drive it and ruins the spotless exterior with a few water spots.

We'll ok, most of those are pretty nitpicky and can be fixed anyway.

THere are no blind spots, learn to adjust your fucking mirrors.

With your side mirrors adjusted properly, you should NOT be seeing the guy parked behind you.. adjust them so they overlap only slightly with the rear-view mirror and capture mostly to the side of the rear-view view.

^agree with the cupholder, the front cupholder basically is useless if you have a 20oz bottle or larger drink, it totally gets in the way of your forearm when shifting.

small trunk opening prevents full use of the surprisingly large actual trunk space.

thick C pillar makes backing out of a parking spot a semi-adventure.

typical Mazda soft paint (my Protege had tons of chips on the hood/front bumper too :( )

could use a bit more lumbar support on the cloth seats, but the side bolsters are really nice, keeps me in the seat while doing high speed corners :D

oil filter location could be better, but it's still way better than other cars where the filter is UNDER the engine and you have to lift the car up to change oil :D

the fact that i only have these really minor gripes about my car shows how much i love my car :D

?? 2b. The dipstick is accessible without removing engine cover.

the dipstick is accessible w/o removing engine cover, but it's easier with the cover off =D

the shinka has more body roll than the regular model?