New Yorker

I suspect the rotary is the biggest problem; it limits the appeal of the car to "car enthusiast's only." Think about it—an ordinary non-car enthusiast shopper notices the RX-8 on the showroom floor or in a parking lot and is initially attracted and intrigued—"wow, I can even fit the kids back there"—but as soon as they learn that there's some strange engine in it that's different from all the other engines in all the other cars, they're wary. "Okay, this rotary, what's the advantage? Well, it's smaller and lighter so it can be placed low and further back in the car." "So what's the advantage of that?""Well it handles great and "feels" great." "Uh… okay, is that it?" "Well, it's also very smooth and simpler, with less moving parts. "Huh??"

If the 8 had a "regular" engine these same people might think "hmm, it's cool, what the heck, I'll get one." As it stands, the idea of buying a car with a strange engine, poor fuel economy and not a whole lot of push-you-back-in-the-seat acceleration makes the idea of purchasing an RX-8 seem illogical and irrational. For the casual car buyer, the rotary engine offers not one clear advantage over traditional engines. It's unusual, and for most people, unusual = bad, unless the unusual offers a clear, obvious advantage.

I love the idea of the rotary—its simplicity, its sound, its smoothness. And I'm aware of, and perfectly happy to accept, the Faustian bargain the RX-8 offers: trade fuel economy for superb feel and handling. Sure, some ordinary John Q. types might accept mediocre mileage if they got great acceleration in return, but trade fuel economy for "feel" and "handling"!?! Are you nuts??"

Of course, the fact that I appreciate innovative design, engineering, and "feel & handling" over straight-line acceleration will always put me in a tiny minority—even amongsts car nuts.
So be it.

Tirminyl

Well, lets see. 03-04 the car was NEW and just came out. Sales would be good (normally) for a new car to the market. 05, sales slump, no good advertising and fire in plant causing halt in production. 06 JUST FREAKING STARTED, not many 05's on the lot or there may be tons of 05's on the lot but NO 06's. I have a feeling a few are waiting news on any changes between 05 and 06 models. The car is in need of a face lift and a push for a Mazdaspeed version to bring old and new customers back into their doors.

RX8_GT

Love the rotary engine as you can see by my sig. But it will in North America always be a niche car - and Mazda's flagship engine of choice - but 3 and 6's will pay the bills. In places like Japan and Australia - the rotary is more mainstream.

As long as the numbers will support a small viable US market - great. Let's hope 2006 ends up - since the 'o6s are just getting here.

Models like the MX-5 .... and perhaps the Kabura - wll help keep Mazda in the sportsy car mix.

Roaddemon

Like the Vette is for Chevy, the rx8 is the halo car of Mazda. It's a good car and I doubt it matters in sales,if they are flying off the shelf. Mazda will keep producing them and improving them as years go by. The overall Mazda sales will carry the 8. The rx8 draws attention to the whole mazda lineup and helps put Mazda in the forefront. The 8 is good PR for the linup and makes Mazda look good.

bascho

I have to disagree with this statement. In my experience, very few people know what I drive......even when I tell them 'RX8' they have no idea what that means. IMO the Mazda6 draws attention to the Mazda line-up. The Mazda6 is the car Mazda heavily advertises and the car your average citizen identifies with Mazda. The Mazda3 has a similar rep since it's début. I've still yet to see a commercial for the RX8......and that's ok with me. I like unique autos that only true enthusiasts know about. If the RX8 wasn't rare and unique, I would not have even considered it.

snizzle

Welp, I guess the RX8 is dead. Webmaster/Mods... it's time to shut down the forum.

Tirminyl

And the RX8 is not dead!

bascho

It IS if Mazda remains complacent in 2007 with regards to the RX8.

Glyphon

possible reason for slow 06 sales....people are waiting for the 06 models, which just now starting to arrive in stock.

that has the absolute newest for those who want that, and it also means that leftover 05s will start being sold with significant incentives to move them to make room for the 06s. the public knows that previous year models will become cheaper when the new MY cars arrive (which for most cars is the fall, so the rx8 was behind schedule to what the public is used to).

rx8wannahave

Really? But you want the GT500 which won't be neither...Bascho...I don't understand??? I'm not trying to be harsh buddy...I just don't get that statement from you???

I understand the rare quality of the engine and car we drive but I'd trade the "uniqueness" of our cars for progression of the rotary engine and RX brand.

I'm sorry, but more sales = more development and as long as we hold on to this "unique/rare" mentality the rotary will forever be held back from competing with the piston engine.

Personally, I'd rather see more sales so Mazda would be more motivated to give us a 3-rotor or more powerful 2-rotor....or start putting a rotary in other cars so more people could have the options of experiencing a rotary engine.

Honestly, I agree that alot of people won't buy the RX8 because of the rotary. Maybe they should build a SX8 or something...lol.

Roaddemon

The rx8 get's lots of free press and has been articled in every car magazine including popular science. It's been on top gear and raved about thru out the auto industry. It does not really need to be advertised. Anyone interested in cars knows there's an rx8 rotary model in the lineup. The car itself is great advertizement for the mazda product. People see it and want to know more about it. It's the halo product of mazda and shows what the company can do. It's their flagship car. The car will continue to be developed. It will promote sales for other mazda models just by existing.

bascho

The GT500 is going to be very rare and unique......not Mustangs in general, but the GT500 will be. The SVT products are limited production items and they are numbered vehicles. Last year 14,000 RX8's were sold......the GT500 will be limited to 5,000 per year.

rx8wannahave

Really? But you want the GT500 which won't be neither...Bascho...I don't understand??? I'm not trying to be harsh buddy...I just don't get that statement from you???

I understand the rare quality of the engine and car we drive but I'd trade the "uniqueness" of our cars for progression of the rotary engine and RX brand.

I'm sorry, but more sales = more development and as long as we hold on to this "unique/rare" mentality the rotary will forever be held back from competing with the piston engine.

Personally, I'd rather see more sales so Mazda would be more motivated to give us a 3-rotor or more powerful 2-rotor....or start putting a rotary in other cars so more people could have the options of experiencing a rotary engine.

Honestly, I agree that alot of people won't buy the RX8 because of the rotary. Maybe they should build a SX8 or something...lol.

bascho

I agree that the RX8 is Mazda's halo/flagship car. I agree that the RX8 get's lots of press and how respected this car is. But, Joe Q Citizen doesn't read automotive press and probably never heard of a rotary engine. Not everyone that buys a Mazda product even knows or cares about the RX8. I hope what you say about the RX8 being a vehicle that 'shows what Mazda can do' was a joke. If this is all that Mazda can do then Mazda is in trouble. I do hope that continued development is the plan for the RX8......because it is falling behind the competition IMO.

RX-Aight

I was one of the 2005 Nov 884 !

nranly

Doesn't anyone remember the RX-8 commercial when the guy hugs the car and it hugs him back?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Come on, Look at the cars running around on the streets.

U should know better. Since when did Civic (Stock) has FI ? Camry ? Focus ? Corolla? etc.

I dont need to make anything up. U can see it urself.

599 GTB has No FI, Corvette Z06 has no FI.

Ford GT has SuperCharger, yep, one out of how many ?

List goes on. Maybe you can list all the car that has FI (stock) out so we can do a list and see if its over 90%

khtm

That dude was bragging earlier about having been a high school dropout or something...so I'm just going out on a limb here and guessing that he's never taken a statistics course

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Im not sure if its really 90%, the number should be closer to 95% if u ask me.

Out of all the cars on the market. Seriously, how many of them comes/came with FI ?

Its not like they cant, its just that support cost gonna be a big issue.

Go ahead and name all the ones u know that has FI pre-installed. then u can talk.

bascho

^ when you say 95%......do you mean in the history of automobiles? I just want to get an idea of where to start my list.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Maybe I should start it first, Take 05/06 for example, and I will stick to Cars for now.

Toyota :
Corolla - No FI
Matrix - No FI
Camry - No FI
Solora - No FI
Prius - No FI
IS - No FI
ES - No FI
GS - No FI
LS - No FI
(Lexus is part of Toyota, so I just put it together)

Honda :
Accord Coupe/Sedan/Hybrid Sedan - No FI
Civic Coupe/GX NGV/Hybrid Sedan/Sedan/Si Coupe No-FI
RL/TL/RSX/RSX/NSX - No FI

Want me to go for more ?

nranly

The exact number of FI engines, based on North American 2005 engine production is 6.71%. Not including trucks, the number drops to 3.23%.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Keep it simple, stay at 05/06 for now.

but its still going to be over 90

nranly

Want a full list?

Oh another thing I found interesting is that only 11.7% of Subaru's come with a turbo. HMMM.