What are the big difference between the 06 rx8 and 05-04 models?
 

What is the big difference between the 06 model's? 6Speed manual wise? Thanks

Funky keys

and less rattles maybe? hopefully?

They use M&Ms for fuel. Otherwise, same old . . .

Improvements in fuel consumption, choice of colors, flooding issues, new keys,better A/C on 05 and 06 models A/T gets a bump in Hp, new leather interior and interior colors. Other than that, its the same. On the Mazdaspeed front, the newest addition will be the MS intake.

No word on any refresh on front facia,improvements in HP, etc....although the 06 are rated at 232 HP..... :rofl: Are 04 and 05 are faster than the 06's ....lol j/k

I didn't know about the Improvements in Fuel Consumption. Can you tell me where you got that info from ?

Also, Mazda changed their official Weight Distribution from 50/50 to 48/52 . Not sure if this is just a change on paper or real changes in the car.


EDIT: Ah, looks like it was a typo from Mazda.... its 48/52 now .... :D

Yeah, I never heard about that either. Care to elaborate?

Huh? That's a pretty big shift... haven't heard about this one either. If it's true (hope not), that would likely change the way the car handles quite a bit...

DOH..not fuel consumption ,fuel economy. Alot of 04 were getting dismal number like 10-13mpg. My sales guy told me that for 05 and 06 Mazda corrected this problem. What they did , he couldn't tell me, but consumer reports even has noted this, red circle which was bad for the 04 RX-8 and black circle which was good for the 05's. But no official inside info from Mazda.

Unless I hear otherwise, I assume this just means the 05-06 cars have the latest flashes from the factory whereas we have to bring our 04's back for them.

probably flashes?

Well, I haven't heard any rattles yet. LOL

My window sticker (going to frame it) says "50:50 weight distribution regardless of passenger load" so I am not aware of any changes. The only changes they made were cosmetic and the new key addition to the GT package. Of course, the automatic had the engine and transmission change. Maybe that is where the weight distribution changed? :dunno:

I don't know about improved fuel economy or anything but when I dropped my car off last night to be Teflon coated I had 53 miles on it and the gauge showed I had used an eighth of a tank. I'm feeling satisfied with that considering how many times I killed it trying to get used to the clutch. I drove it there just fine, didn't kill it once. I get to the dealership and go to park it and I kill it, twice, with all the salesman standing there watching me. LOL Of all the places to have that happen.

This is how I take most of the issue:

1, for a stock Rx8, the front is about 200lb less then the rear, hence the 48:52, but once the driver is in the car, then it is about 50/50. Of course anything else will destory the ratio like multiple passangers, turbos, and other mods that add weight.
2, They fix the fuel econ by fixing the apex seal in the engine I think, thus making the 05 less flooding pone. However, it is always a good pratice to rev the engine to at least 4000 rpm and shut the engine before the rpm drops to clean the engine EVERYTIME you get out.
3, For the 06 engines, for MT there is no change, but the AT changed from a 4 port to a 6 port engine compare from 05 to 06.
4, I am not 100% sure of this, but I know for fact that the 05 Shinka have no NAV option, yet based on the online builder from Mazda, you DO able to pick a Rx8 with the Shinka as a package then add the NAV to it.
5, We are pretty sure 06 is the last year the Rx8 will retain the same over all design. I hardly like to buy anything twice, but the Rx8 is something I don't mind buying all over again, even I have a pretty new 05 with only 5000 miles. I guess Mazda will have to try very hard on future Rx model to convince me an upgrade to Rx9 or RXX so to speak if there is such a thing in the works. :)

I hope this helps.

Sheep

1. The apex seals had nothing to do with flooding. Pouring fuel into the chambers had to do with flooding (running it pig-rich to 'protect' the cat). Fixed via software. Quite some time ago.

2. Running the engine to 3 grand, then shutting off is for when you start it stone cold, and you're gonna shut it down stone cold. No need to do this if you've been running for a while and the lump is up to temps. It was fashionable to do this in the Old Days, when most hi-perf engines were cantakerous beasts with really bad tempers -- not needed today, even with a 600 horse v-12. You wanna keep it clean? Ring the joy buzzer a couple of times daily.. you'll be right as rain.

3. I doubt '07 will see a new body. We'd be hearing about it from right now. '07 will likely be the '.5' release -- updated motor and maybe some interior bits, but no new body just yet. (and if they change it, I'll scream. This is fhe first truly *different* affordable car in $DEITY knows how long.)

I think any "real" changes would be more likely for 2008. This year they upgraded the interior and a few goodies like the new key. The auto got the new engine.

Weight distribution was never 50/50, it was nearly 50/50. And to be 50/50 regardless of passenger distribution is just not possible. 52/48 is probably more accurate.

At one point I heard that it was going to be bluetooth equipted, not sure if it is or not maybe bunnygirl can answer that for us.

Could have fooled me. I have a late model 05 and get 11.5mpg. Sounds like a load of BS.

i hope its 52/48 not 48/52 because 52/48 is the optimal weight distribution, not 50/50...
when you have a slight front bias... when you accelerate out of a corner, your weight is shifted from the front to the back creating the neutral 50/50 distribution during cornering.

I haven't found any mention of bluetooth in all the booklets I've been reading through, so I am pretty sure it still doesn't have that option. Maybe in an upcoming year.

I discovered I am going to have to read my actual navigation book, since the quick start guide is a little off from my system. It shows the button layouts differently and also makes mention of a button marked "voice" on my steering wheel that I also didn't see, so I think it is a generic booklet for this company's system. I'll have to see exactly what does what and if it does have the voice recognition in it that is mentioned in the quick booklet, because that looks really cool if it does.

Something. Rereading my papers it says approximate 50:50 weight distribution so apparently it is a slight variable. I'm not sure if different equipment options account for this or what exactly does.

11.5 mpg? Whoa, are you lead footing it from the time you get in the car till the time you get out? Man i am pulling 19.2 on spirited runs ,62 miles one way to work doing anywhere from 75(cruising)-105mph(passing). I have gotten 22 mpg doing 65 mph , cruise on ,TCS/DSC off. My car is also a 05....a late 05 , but a 05 none the less.93 octane all the way!

Sorry for your poor mileage, i would get a reflash if i was you. :naughty:

I still think his commute is the biggest problem with it, though. He said something about traveling 9 miles in just under 30 minutes before and I thought he said something about 18 something MPG on a mostly highway trip.

I've put 85 miles on my first full tank (they drove it to the gas station and filled it up and brought it back before I left with it) so far and it just hit the first line below the quarter used mark when I parked it in the driveway last night. It seems to be doing pretty good at this time.