Ellar

I drove an RX-8 today (just before signing a lease agreement) and I was surprised at how quiet the exhaust was. I've heard stories of a guy who drag raced a rotary Mazda back in the early 70's without any mufflers, and the decibels were so high he almost vomited from what the sound pressure level was doing to his inner ears. After that, he installed a muffler on the car. The 8 I drove was so muffled, I didn't know when to heal-toe downshift when appoaching a turn. Have any of you seen an HP comparison between aftermarket exhaust systems offered for the 8? I'm wondering how the Mazdaspeed version compares, considering that's the only system the dealer is likely to let me have installed on the car while it's under lease.

Wow, that wasn't much torque. I even stalled it at a light once during the test drive. That car would be a nightmare to learn stick on. I couldn't run it up to 8500 RPM in traffic while the car was still so alien to me, so please tell me the HP hit is fun.

I have a huge list of gee-whiz positive things about the car. One of them is a little stupid - the interior door handles are aluminum. All of the Nissans I've looked at had these door lock switches and handles that looked like aluminum, but a rental car I drove proved what can happen when you try to simulate aluminum with painted plastic parts. The paint was scraped off, and it looked like ****.

B-Nez

Actually they are not aluminium. They are some type of resin. I don't know off-hand exactly how the aluminium finish is applied, but I can tell you that after 14 months (25K miles) in Florida and Texas heat and humidity, mine look just as good as the day I bought it. The reason Mazda chose the resin over true aluminium is that the aluminium would get too hot in warm climates. Believe me, I know that feeling. I put a really slick aluminium shift **** in my 240SX. I felt like a complete dork driving driving around with a Nomex glove on my right hand.

Ellar

Mmm, these felt cold. Resin wouldn't feel cold, would it?

TSi RX-8

congrats on the new ride man welcome to the poor mans 911~

Deslock

Congrats!

The high-end power is fun (smooth build-up all the way to redline), but there is never a "VTEC-push" or boost rush. The throttle is very responsive though (I personally value that more than low-end oomph).

AQA101

The car ain't exactly difficult concerning stick-shifting. A common TDI is far easier to stall (on the other hand it's no problem to start an RX-8 in 2nd gear) and the vast rev range also allows driving without much shifting.

But you have to learn some things that you're just not used to from "normal" cars. Power builds up almost completely linear, it always gets more with more revs - this may sound stupid, but the way the power builds is unlike every other car.

You can also ride it very quiet (this car is the number one car to approach very silently, if you drive below 3000 rpm) or very un-quiet (this car is also the number one car to scare people on the sidewalk to death, just drive above 6250 rpm). With this car, you can simply drive every style you want to, it's your choice and not just a built-in matter of fact.

Throttle is responsive in both directions, this car really slows down if you release your foot from the accelerator, which is a big plus for car control.

Roadholding is far beyond the standard driver's limit. I've tried it with professional guidance - the car still behaves perfect when I'm pushed three times beyond my abilities.

Have fun!

Tony Orlando

[thread hijack]

Hey, AQA101: Nice avatar!

[/thread hijack]

Oh yes, and I agree with everything you just said. Especially the linear nature of the power. It's a little deceptive, and leads some people to think th car is slower than it really is. There's no rush of power, just a gradual, exponential increase.

Approaching 1 year anniversary, and still lovin' the 8!

moRotorMotor

I always thought the handles were aluminum. I have the A/C on and the vent directing the cold air towards the door handle. Whenever I touch it it would be really cold, like the way metal responds to temperature. I'm positive it's metal but not sure if it's aluminum. Resin shouldn't be cold or hot to the touch, at least not the resin I have come into contact with.

red_rx8_red_int

Yes, everything he/she said! In regular off highway driving, second is all you need. As long as you don't come to a total stop, second is fine for stop signs. No reson to downshift. First car in line at a red light is a different story. At low rpms the car is totally silent--unless the cooling fan is running (It is so much louder than the engine at low rpms). At high rpms the car is loud, much louder than any other stock car I've owned. The throttle response is so great I worry about being rear-ended. As you can probably tell I like high rpms.

"With this car, you can simply drive every style you want to, it's your choice and not just a built-in matter of fact. " And mpg changes only 3-4 mpg per style. I opt for performance mostly.

AQA101

Same here, it's simply too addictive to rev the engine. Another unusual aspect of the RX-8 is that people tend to turn off the stereo in order to listen to the engine ...

@Tony: As for the avatar, I really think that a yellow RX-8 with custom yellow/black interior would have been the ultimate car for the bride.

paxman

man take care of it

Ellar

The break-in is going to *kill* me. I'm thinking of hiring a real adult to do the "up to 4000RPM with varying speeds and RPM's" bit. I have to find someone with excellent eyesight who can drive stick, they're over 50, and they have no *********.

SpinninAgain!

Two out of three in my case, so my (barely) broken in 8 gets to rev a bit while yours is *killing* you! :D

Enjoy the new ride.

StewC625

Dude, you're LEASEING the car - drive it like you stole it. The damage you do during the first 2000 miles won't be seen or felt until 80,000 or more miles, long after you turn it it. I pity the poor schmuck that gets my car when it's done with the lease. Let's just say my car will "leave it all on the playing field" - said playing field lasting exactly 48,000 miles and 4 years.

Ellar

I totally plan to finance the balance when I come to the last payment. This one's mine. The dealer just doesn't know it yet. The only reason I didn't finance it to start is that I wouldn't be able to make the payments on $26,000, but I'll be able to do $17,000 in two years.

AQA101

Mine is on a 12 month lease (I simply was in dire need of a vast tax deduction).

I'll very likely keep it after that period. Driving like you stole it is no alternative, this car should be treated with the respect it deserves, make a long run to break it in and you'll be done with that after a few days.

Four months and 18.000 km later this car car still grows on me for being the perfect mix of "everyday use capability" and "big time fun". I just can't imagine driving a different (aka "normal") car, that would be boredom beyond belief, I guess.