SCiMMiA

Weakest point is probably the center console lid. Everything else is pretty solid (except for some of those drivers). The fuel management is greatly improved with Stage1. I highly recommend.

murix

Back to his original post, I am pretty sure he meant mechanically and what is going to be an issue in time as he looks into making more power and driving it hard.

In reference to the 2000-2003 S2k, they had a problem with blowing out the rear end.

As with us, I am sure it will be tranny related, just not sure where.

Am I correct to believe we share a similar, or same, tranny with both the Miata and S15?

Fuel management is not greatly improved, only the tuning of the fuel maps. The fuel system itself is returnless without a standard fuel pressure regulator. This will prove to be a problem for anyone trying to make a lot of power (I am thinking in terms of 300+ and forced induction) as they will most likely need to add a return line and a mechanical fpr. It is not too complicated, but still something to be aware of.

BillK

IMHO:

1) Flooding. This type of behavior is completely unacceptable on a MY 2004 car.

2) Headroom - if only the sides of the roofline didn't curve down so abruptly, taller drivers wouldn't smack their heads on the roof if they lean at all to check the side mirrors.

3) HID headlights - the beams cut off much too drastically in the RX-8 (and in many other Japanese cars with HIDs); see the beam patterns of Xenon-equipped BMWs or Porsches to see how to do HIDs right...

Elara

This is just his weird sense of humor. Don't take offense, because you weren't meant to. He was picking on certain people, NOT saying anything about the car color.

Elara

I would disagree, because those are the cars that most often blind me on the road when I'm facing them. The newer ones are much lower now too, and close to the 8's. My problem is that the lights aim at just the right point to blind me if I'm behind someone with a chrome bumper. I also can't read license plates on SUVs anymore in the dark.

Racer X-8

1) Owners who don't understand much, they just have too much money.
2) Drivers who don't own it and just want to street race all hot looking cars - and win every one.
3) forum members who don't own or drive one but unfortunately have too good of a memory of all potential problems, either real or conceived as possible, or just plain imaginary, possibly started by a troll, who also is another forum member who doesn't own or drive one.

Weak link on my car? None, except maybe I think I want Canzoomer's mod for starters, just for fun, cuz more power is always better. Would I rather have a Fararri? Uh.....yeah!...

Lock & Load

Elara

A good laugh and a sense of humour i find is often needed as some of the forum members seem to take everything thats said way to seriously.

(I WASNT PICKING ON BROTHERVOODO WE OFTEN JOUST / BOND IN THIS TYPE OF MANNER)

Heck if i lived in the US i suppose i would have to change my sense of fun and what you call weird humour.

I think i am beginning to understand the reasons why we read about all the workplace random shootings of co-workers and the schoolyard type massacres over in your neck of the woods .

Some people are obviously too serious about life , take everything to heart , and suffer low self esteem .

Elara hows your hubby , you havent traded him in yet???

I get the feeling that cruzdreamer has given up on me , so i may be in need of a new forum female friend HA HA HA

Hey i am not homophobic but we seem to have a fair share of NICE poofs on the forum .HE HE HE

cheers
michael

BillK

Personally, I don't care about "blinding" other drivers, I care about being able to see at night.

I find I get blinded more by SUV headlights than any HIDs on any car...

Lock & Load

BillK

Ditto

You seem to be as considered and as thoughfull as i am of others drivers , Elara will be impressed .HA HA HA

MICHAEL

Rotary Nut

HEY! HEY! I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!

:D

93rdcurrent

L&L,

I have to agree with you and that is why I think I am going to start caring a grenade on my belt at work. No one understands my sense of humor and it's starting to **** me off... LOL.

I thought everyone would understand that the choice in color thing was certainly a joke, but for those who didn't, it was.

BillK

Well, frankly I'm not trying to be completely discourteous to other drivers, though I believe that a majority of people "blinded" by Xenons are in fact staring at them due to their color and "what's that" factor.

The exact same complaints were lodged about Halogen headlights when they were introduced back in the mid-1980s (too bright, blinding other drivers, etc.)...

hotpot

Going back on topic.
Another weak link I've just remembered (after looking at my wheels this morning) and which has been pointed out many times are the brake discs. I've never seen brake discs rust so easily on any other car that I or my family/friends have owned. Makes me wonder about the quality of the discs and how long they will last.

Couldn't Mazda use better material, especially that the discs are so visible through the wheels?

navbob

Weak Link, thanks for the color debate, and I did not mean to put the car down, as some of you took it, I AM RESEARCHING it
I am not in the habit of dumping 30k into a money pit, I don't race MUCH...but I have found down here speed doesnt kill, Its the best defense against the GERIATRIC (OLD FART DRIVERS ) Who make 3 lane changes cause they dont know where they are suppose to go. FL here and its Snowbird season, problem is they still think they are up north,and the destinations here (stores) are in the same direction as where they come from. Reaction time and speed can keep you out of trouble here.cops call it aggressive driving...I call it survival/aggressive defensive driving.
thanks to all



First thanks to Murix for addressing my issues, would like to hear more about the HID problem u brought up. I know the feeling of the SUV and others who have to run lighthouse lights to see at night..Solution is get a 700,000 candle power handheld plug it in your cig lighter and point it at them. Believe me they get the message....One caution watch for the law, they have no sense of humor.

and yes I do plan to make it stronger, no I don't race but Im tired of all these little boys with there bolt on's tryin to challenge me. They put an after market muff on now it sounds like a 2800lbs bee.

2. Flatso, HELLO...thats what I was trying to do RESEARCH, No I have more brains than money, not more money than brains. And I enjoy working on my cars. You got a new hottie on the block Im just trying to find out what problems IF ANY u folks who own one got.

3.Billk: Ur car has a flooding problem, would like to hear more on why and under what circumstances.

4.Racer X ; Little touchy here arent we son, NO I dont own one and I dont own and wouldnt own a HUM-2 Either. Just trying to do some Research. But I do agree with you on the drivers who dont remark. 99.9% love their cars but bring up the same probs with it...that to me understanding that all parts lead to Rome, in this case the dealship if one thing fails something else can and usually is affected.

Hot Pot: Brakes and struts or shocks are usually two areas where most manufactures cheat on quality,usually because they know that most people don't know or look at their calipers rims or that area of the car, you have to get down to ground level...to see it.Too much work for some..

thanks to all who answered and responded to my question I appreciate it.
navbob

BillK

Just to be clear, I do not own an RX-8, though I've been a rotary nut since the first time I drove a 1987 RX-7 Sport. However the issues I mentioned above are the reasons why I don't own one despite having tracked the RX-8's progress since I first heard rumors of it back in 2000 or earlier.

The (IMHO) poor headlights and minimal headroom are issues that can be worked around; the risk of losing use of my car for an unknown number of days if either (1) I'm forced to valet park somewhere or (2) my foot slips off the clutch backing out of my parking space at work is too high for me to seriously consider purchasing an 8.

If it were just a matter of flooding occurring when the car is shut off cold, I could work around that, but no one can yet confirm or deny whether flooding will never occur after a simple accidental stall and I'm not willing to play guinea pig. If my brand new car is going to be towed to the dealer it better be because something major has gone wrong, not because the engine wasn't shut down according to the "afterthought"-like instructions in the "Quick Start" guide attached to the shifter at delivery...

241Commuter

Some comments on the above -

I don't mind checking my oil every two fillups. The cars I grew up with, you had to do that to keep the oil light off. I do mind the brake dust I get on my trousers when I check the oil. Every two fillups. OK, I'm a slow learner.

I've whined about the flooding issue as much as anybody on this forum. But you know what? It's still just a hypothetical problem for me. I haven't flooded it yet. Still, that lack of reliabity is, imho, the weakest link. The valet is not an issue if your just going to leave it for an evening out because the car doesn't get cold enough. A long term park is a different story, however. I suggest the self-park lot.

The yellow is hideous. All it needs for completion is a Yellow Cab sign on top. The yellow driven by Aussies is particularly hideous.

I don't know about the struts, but Mazda didn't cheat on the brakes. Those front disks are massive. Pound on the brakes hard enough and you'll probably activate the airbags.

Leave us old farts alone. If we choose to leave the left blinker on, stuff it. That's our business. You keep to your side of the road, we will keep to ours (sort of).

I hate being on the road where somebody shines those god-awful blue lights in my face, but I love being on the other side of steering wheel with those blue lights, so I can actually see with my dimming vision.

I don't complain about the mileage per se. I do complain about the mileage relative to the posted EPA numbers. Something is really screwed up here. This is the first time I have ever failed to meet or exceed the stated mileage, and I'm missing by about 20%. If mileage is important to you, that could be the weakest link.

TheDosDog

The biggest "weak link" is not the car, it is Mazda's direct customer support. This is a new highly techical and innovative automobile. Something most dealerships are not yet capable of supporting. A lot of RX8 owners love their cars but are ignorant to its lineage and capabilities. When you call Mazda USA support, sometimes with a seemingly simple question, they consistantly refer you to the dealer. I think Mazda would be better served if they provided a higher level of technical support directly to the owners thus educating us as to how different (and wonderful) this car is. I have to think there would be a lot less whining if there was a better understanding of the car. This forum currently is the only real resource most 8 owners have. Through its discussions and debate, we as members are provided the education needed for 8's success. I just wish Mazda were a more active participant in the process. (Soap box vacated)

JmurphRx8

OHH


Who would want a yellow car???

Lock & Load

Bernieunger

Your avatar aptly says it all an OLD fustrated D......


Yellow rocks .

michael

JmurphRx8

ok who cares really...their all RX8's in the long run...i'll accept yellow as long as you accept titanium :D

f1michel

biggest downs? there are a few :
-fan is awfully loud for a brand new car, at 3 it's very annoying;
-rattles here and there, door sill crest coming off;
-no climate control here in Can.;
-mileage;
-it's too good looking a car to drive it in the winter so i had to drive a 92 sentra the last 2 months and the nxt 2 !!

:-)

Lock & Load

I accept all RX8 colours .

Do i personally like them all??????? NO.

But as they say each to their own poison.

Michael

Katchoo

The RX-8 seems to be a sports car that requires lots of TLC and understanding of its eccentricities. It will be interesting to see how the car matures over the next few months (years).

I only have 1500 miles on mine so far and am hoping that those 'eccentricities' leave me alone in the mean time.

MEGAREDS

I've been looking for stories of MT owners flooding after an accidental stall, but haven't seen one yet. ATs seem to be flooding more than MTs, which is odd. Most people seem to haved flooded when it happens at car washes, in their driveway, at work. I've not seen anyone flooded by a valet yet, but there have been a few "my dealer flooded my car" stories. People have suggested hotter plugs, better batteries and ECU mods, so the "flooding issue" would seem to fit the topic of this thread as a mechanical "weak link." Whether it is the "weakest link" or not would seem to depend on whether you view your car as a toy or not. Don't forget... Mazda is not just selling this car to rotary heads -- my dealer spoke a great deal about how my sons would fit in the back seat. If the 8 is going to be the big success Mazda hopes, it needs to be a bridge car for both "sports car" and "sedan" enthusiasts.

My bet is that Mazda is working hard on this. If the dealers will cover the floods under warranty and provide loaners while the car is being fixed, I'll do my best to be careful and recommend the 8 to anyone who is willing to do the little bit of extra work necessary to take care of it. Checking the oil is not that big of a deal... even here, where the wind chill recently has been as bad as -15F. My car is at 3000 miles - it's used 1.5 extra quarts.

BTW, for me, they all look good, but it came down to two choices, and I found the decision difficult: Gray or Yellow. In the end, class beat out fun...

navbob

Well I thank one and all for some interesting and entertaining info and comments. As for the color I have no choice wife has already decided in winning Blue I think they call it.

Course as the wrench head in this venture the mechanical soundness is a major concern with me. Love the looks And I really believe in the motor. But and there always seems to be one. I think there are some major issues that have to be resolved by the dealerships as well as the company. Mazda has a really nice platform here. just hope they don't screw the pouch like ford did with the T bird and chevy did with the SSR, what a joke underpower wrong tranny. I have little patients with a situation where I got payments and a 30 thousand or less bill to pay and the guy Im taking it to dont know how to fix it....Besides for me MY Z with its T tops off is a really cool ride, and the turbo well I would put two in the 8....in a blink..thanks again