For many of us that were in the 1st Pre-Order group, we have been the proud owner of our RX-8 for three months now. Here is a compilation of strengths, & areas of improvement:

Strengths - One of the best machines made for human interaction.

I have not driven any type of supercar for a comparison, but I believe people spend 3+ times as much on a vehicle to get the feeling I get when I am behind my RX-8.

Power delivery for such a small engine is unbelievable, the shifter & transmission is like smooth butter, the braking is predictable & short, the ride is firm yet still comfortable, and the steering / handling is by far the most enjoyable aspect of mine.

Seating for (4) adults was a necessity, and with the 'freestyle' doors, ingress & egress to the back seats is painless. Another surprise was actually how big the truck / boot is. This past week I flew to Texas & Oklahoma, and with the training material I needed, it required me to use my biggest piece of luggage. I was expecting the luggage would have to sit in the passenger seat, but was quite impressed when the trunk opening was wide enough to let it go in the back.

Areas of Improvement - While I wish my Sports Car got 30+ mpg, I did not go into this purchase thinking it would, and am actually getting better (21-22 mpg) than I had budgeted for (20 mpg). But the biggest area I think needs improvement is the need for a 20 gallon gas tank. Having to refuel in distances of 300 miles or less just constantly encourages the thinking our RX-8's are thirsty.

The exhaust note is too low. I will be upgrading the exhaust system. The Rev Buzzer does not register with my ears, so I cannot hear it. I would prefer an adjustable volume control, or a big bright light that lets me know 9K rpm has been reached.


In summary, deciding to purchase the RX-8 was one of the best choices I have made - ever. I find / create excuses to look at it, touch it, and drive it. When parking it, I usually look back just once more to check it out.

People on this board have suggested it is like any other vehicle, by using phrases such as "... it is just a car." After spending 3 months with mine, I choose to disagree with that sentiment, as mine has become much more than 'just a car'.

 

wow
youre right, 3 months already

I'm just as happy as when it was 3 days old

 

I think I may be happier than I was when it was 3 days old (if that is possible). I've had time to notice all the little practical features that really make this a one of a kind model. I love the fact that there is storage everywhere, a large trunk, and plenty of headroom (even in the back)... All these things would be awesome on their own, but the fact that it comes in a sports car, and still makes for an incredibly exciting driving experience has made this the greatest purchase I have ever made. My experience with Mazda (at least with my dealer) has been amazing, I have never been treated as well by any company I have dealt with, and every question / concern I have had has been answered to my satisfaction or beyond. I am incredibly happy with my purchase, and, like rxeightr said above, I find reasons to look at it, I wash it when it is perfectly clean, and I love walking out to the parking lot, and seeing people looking at it before they know it's mine. :-)

 

Awesome man. Good write up. I agree, your baby is never "just a car." I know it is an extension of me .Especially when the things you do in it can decide if you live or die!

 

Picked up my baby july 28th and still get separation anxiety , must drive her everiday otherwise i get grumpy, nearly as good as SEX .

 

NEARLY???

 

i think that pretty much sums it up.

i knoe i have a problem with being content with cars. i have had 3 cars in the past 2 years, and im fairly young. i would consider myself very blessed to have this opportunity. so far i love my rx8, and i feel like i never want to let it go. driving is not a chore anymore, as i cant wait to get out of work or class just to hope into my 8 and disappear from reality.

 

I certainly enjoy it more often...

 

after 6700 miles,and have had the car for 10 or 11 weeks(average 600 miles a week)i have had really no problems.during the first week i did have the oil light but this seems to have fixed itsself.my package tray will rattle on our rougher roads but i blame are crappy roads more so than the car.all in all this has been the best new car i have owned out of 5 new cars over my years.i am a aggressive driver and this car suits me well and my only changes would be a little more mid rpm punch,fender strakes standard equipment,headlight washers for us market and maybe do something with the front doors(my wife and i find its a stretch to open the front doors all the way from the sitted postion and flinging them open to there last detent causes them to come right back.this by all means is a small complaint but for me at 6.2 makes it alittle hard to get out of)

 

At 1016 miles and three weeks. I'm more in love with it every day. I did have the oil light problem appear on a 4 hour/70-80MPH drive, so I'll be asking the dealer for the new oil pan soon (planning another long-ish trip over Thanskgiving.

This car wins you over at a very emotional level. When I wash the car, especially the front hood and fenders, it makes me "feel funny inside" (as Garth would say from Waynes World).

I absolutely love the driver's view. The front fenders and hood; the connection of the center of the dash to the hood rotary indent. It all works together so very well.

Quibbles:

I don't hear the RPM warning buzzer. I'm not sure mine works.

Exhaust note is a bit too quiet, but the aftermarket can fix that easily!

I'd like those 9 horses back.

A slightly larger gas tank would be nice, but so far its not a problem for me.

A fog light indicator lamp

A door that was two inches lower. I'm spoiled by my Miata.

A grill on each front side intake to protect those radiators from road debris. They might be for the A/C, I haven't checked their function.

Replace Bose with Polk, or someone else (But I bet this is a Ford deal with Bose)

MP3 CD player standard (with input jack to connect iPOD or another external MP3 player

 

At least these two go hand in hand, and mazda will pay for most of it with the $500 card! :-)

 

I'm really, really happy with my RX-8.

I've had a few things go on--- the engine light has come on, the oil light has come on, mazda messed with the HP, the fuel economy isn't that good.

But you know what?

I haven't given these things a second thought because I LOVE driving my car. I love the way it looks, it's comfortable, the handling *still* exceeds my every expectation, and the power it delivers is plentiful. Four six+ foot guys ride to lunch every day in it and are completely comfortable.

When you find yourself able to overlook things that would usually annoy the crap out of you about a new car, you know you've made a connection with a fantastic automobile.

 

Yes, but a bigger tank would also mean spending more money each trip to the gas station, which I believe has more negative psychological effects than filling up more often. Let's face it, it's a loose/loose situation either way. :D

 

I love my red 8, and if I didn't, the 200 miles per fill up would've ended our relationship miles ago.

 

I love the thing. It's the first new car that I have ever purchased that I have not had buyer's remorse. 20 MPG isn't bothering me. Plenty of horse power for me, since it is a large step up from the heavier car with 190 HP that I used to have. Nope I love this thing, and the handling is better than my '67 Alfa Romeo which is great in itself.

However, does anyone else have trouble backing the d**n thing up. I find that I have alot of difficulty seeing past the C pillars and the head rests. I would love to cut the headrests off of the seats (cloth), but obviously that's out so I am working on coping skills like learning to use the mirrors as if this thing were a truck. I understand from reading the book that there was no option but to use thick C pillars to make the car structurally rigid, and I would not trade that rigidity for slightly better sight lines, but do we really need those huge headrests? That's my only qibble with the car.

 

i feel fairly blind when reversing the car. especially coming out of my drivewayin the morning.

 

i just got mine last Friday and couldn't b happier.....yeah I know I'm not a 3-monther, but ppl got on a roll about finding excuses to drive it.....well I'll be deploying in a week for 14 days OUTCONUS!!! It's going to suck! My poor sled just sittin there, surrounded by outdated hoodlums, chevys, toyotas, F...F....F..ords. It's going to be torture! Poor thing, I feel bad for it already!!

 

I've had mine for a month. I take delight in shutting up all the trolls I had to read for the previous several months--the car is fast as hell, the A/C works great, gas mileage is good, and my feet don't burn up!!
But most importantly, it is just a joy to drive. I'm always looking for curvy shortcuts.
:D

 

I've had mine for a little over three months and I'd describe the gas mileage as fair (16-18 MPG), there is a noticeable (only when ambient temp is high) amount of heat that radiates from the transmission tunnel, and you also get blasted with hot air when the A/C cycles. As for the power it is not up to Mazda's specs and goes a little limp in the upper revs.

I know that sounds like a bad review but I think that these are fairly trivial issues that you get used to and they do not hamper the enjoyment of this excellent car. I've already racked up more than 8,400 miles (510 miles on the track) and it has easily been the most enjoyable car that I have owned.

Right now I'm having fun doing some minor mods (see sig) and feel that the RX-8 has a lot of untapped potential. It does everything so well (comfortable daily driver to well manored track scalpel) that it will be easy to tailor it to your exact needs. Next on my list is a fuel/ignition controller to regain the lost Hp! :D

 

I've had mine since September 5th, and all I can say is I love this car. I go home the long way just to take some twisty backroads, plenty in Nashville. I've owned some POS's before and I've worked really hard to get to the point where I have a car I love in every aspect. I like the Bose system, I have Bose speakers, (the old tower type) at home, it doesn't seem as loud as the infinity in my Dodge Stratus, but it is so clear. I'm in the music business, and I've played music a lot, you sort of develop an ear for natural sounding pure resonance sounding music. There could be more highs, but overall very clear, and being so clear I don't think it sounds as loud.

 

Still gets me from Point A to Point B so I'm still happy with it.

 

I feel your pain man, I've got about a month before a 3 monther, luckily (maybe), my wife will have the car, so it won't be left with the 'other' cars...

 

I'm past the 3 month mark also....and share many of the thoughts here.

My rundown:

The Good
-------------

Appearance, Appearance, Appearance, There's nothing else like it on the road, and it turns heads like a 6 foot blonde. Boldest, Sexiest Sports Car profile going.

Power/Handling/Size combo....for a slick, small sports car it is fast as a bullet, and handles better than any German's I've driven.

Exhaust / Engine sound and feel are awesome. One of the best notes I've heard on a car.

Interior design / appointments (less those noted below). I love the cool two tone leather and instrument cluster. Original, Beautiful and Functional.


The Bad
-------------

Gas mileage is abyssmal. I get 300km to a tank driving only highway. Not sure how you guys get 300 miles outta these cars, I'm nowhere close. The $$ doesn't bother me, it is the need to fill up 2-3 times a week (I do a 150km commute each day).

Stupid *** Cupholders in the front. Man does this one bug me. Put a couple of coffees in there and try to try that 6 speed around town. Awkward, and when the compartment is open there's nowhere to rest your arm.

The Bose Factor. I like the sound, but it ain't great. I expected better. I will add though, that it is much better than the Harmon Kardon premium system I had in my BMW.

Oil light / Oil Consumption. Light goes on at high speeds, and sucks a quart each 2,000km or so. The light can be fixed, I know, but consumption is a bit high.




Having said all that, I love my 8, and spend 2 hours a day in it....enjoying every moment, and watching people stare at it in wonder.

 

i am going to buy an RX-8 and i think your wright up has helped make up my mind, so any more info to help my wife about this great car please post more, bravo..
Andrew here in Chicago..

 

Here are some other comments to add to my original post.

To sell my wife on the RX-8, while I made the purchase decision & am making the payments, anytime we go somewhere together I ask here to drive. She usually takes me up on that

Driving the RX-8 is the best thing about it, so make sure to give her plenty of opportunities to enjoy that part of the car. I drive it to work every weekday, so I get plenty of time behind the wheel. While I'd prefer to drive it ALL the time, her enjoyment in driving the RX-8 is worth the sacrifice.

A week ago last Friday, we went on an 8 hour trip, and came back on Sunday. This was the 2nd long distance trip we have taken in the RX-8. Surprisingly comfortable for the long-hauls too.