RK

iTrader: (1)

I'm assuming that MS kit will only work with the 09s, yes? Shame. I like that a lot and if I'm getting an MS kit anyway might as well get the latest.

L1n

i hate the round fogs on the new ms kit, should have the new squarish ones instead.

Gish

I do like those seats.....

Maaz

i like it, front is kind of weird., and feels the sleek look of past rx-8s is gone.

Altair 8

personally, i am not liking this at all. It makes me sad... people might start **** talking the rx-8 more.

Altair 8

oh... and this is the R3 model shown. gross.

solo8

I disagree 100% on the changes. It looks bigger and clunkier, and more like the ugly new Eclipses. Even the gauges are ugly now in addition to the steering wheel.

The car was far more elegant before. It just hinted in the angular direction before, but retained some RX-7 character. That's out the window now.

The front is 100% ugly, especially the base mode. The Speed version is acceptable, mostly because it looks more like the original bumper. Still, as a whole the Speed version only has that pumped up last-gen Mustang look going for it. A bit overdone, with lots and lots of plastic stuck on everywhere.

Then again, a lot of people on here think the spoiler ruins the car, but like the extra clunky cladding, so there might be demand for the Steroid-Mustang look.

Also the new rear end has that awful *** up in the air look like the Neon and the Cobalt. The RX-8 avoided all these pratfalls before.

But they HAD to ugly it up so that the next-gen model will look far superior right?

They capitalized on some of their concept car design cues, but it totally doesn't mesh with the original design at all. Frankenstein monster it is.

altspace

iTrader: (2)

Interesting note....while at Lime Rock Park I spoke with SpeedSource about the new RX-8 and they mentioned that they will be running a car based upon how the R3 model looks and not a seperate MS kit. Of course it'll be modified to accomodate the much larger tires.

Here we are inside the trailor in a discussion.

Stavesacre21

flame suit needed or not, what the #$%& did mazda do to this poor car?! I think the new one looks hideous. I mean...seriously people.

They make a few goofy exterior mods and call it new and improved, while completely ignoring the one thing everyone has wanted out of it...MORE OOMPH.

If i still had my 8 i'd be holding onto it for dear life, cause i can honestly say that if I hadn't bought an 8 before, there's no way this one would have attracted me to it...in any way. Before it at least had the stellar looks to carry it throught, but now...yuck.

glad to see mazda's been listening to everyone's input...again.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

No man... No.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Alas I must agree that if I were shopping today I wouldn't buy the RX-8.

But this is not unusual in the automotive industry. The original Datsun 240Z comes readily to mind. Every subsequent version further perverted the original simple elegance. Marketeers will always recommend slapping on some more/different plastic and calling it 'new and improved.'

On the plus side, most of the more popular options are now included in the base.

No matter to me; I'll have my '8 for a good long time.

dynamho

I'm curious how the new gear ratios and the final drive gear feel in the new car.

It seems first gear is made quite shorter combined with shorter final drive.

Current North American gear ratio for MT:
1: 3.760
2: 2.269
3: 1.645
4: 1.187
5: 1.000
6: 0.843
R: 3.564
Final Drive: 4.444

Refresh North American Gear Ratio:
1: 3.815
2: 2.260
3: 1.536
4: 1.177
5: 1.00
6: 0.787
R: 3.603
Final Drive: 4.777

If it feels good, a tranny and final drive swap is in order.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

The 2009 RX-8 is ugly. Plain and simple as that.

I dislike pretty much everything that they did on the outside. The exceptions are maybe the somewhat larger exhaust tips and perhaps the rear lights, but I'm not even sure I really like the latter enough. The rims are better.
Inside there are some good moves, but at least as many bad ones too.

I'm very happy that I have the earlier version and seriously doubt that the facelift will help sales much. We'll see.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

I just got around to watching the old RX8-M3-Z TopGear segment (on utube) and

1. They're dead on that the 8 is the most fun car out there and easy to drive it fast

2. They said exactly the same thing about the Z-car lineage (I guess they lived it, as did I)

jayk

So are the pre-2009 rx-8's if you ask me, too many little gizmo's and plasticky things stuck everywhere. Plain and simple as that. After seeing the big-mouth of the 2009's the pre-2009's now look like they just ate something sour and have their lips pursed.

ASH8

The New 09 RX-8 has just been released here Today..

One thing I noticed is the color selection, we get Galaxy Grey and Brilliant Black, plus the new colors.

Even the GT is available in ALL the 8 colors.
You guys just get the Blue?

http://www.mazda.com.au/Models/Curre...8/Colours.aspx

CoNsRx7

anyone know if any other colors are being made besides the ones on the website?

Stavesacre21

if its not on the website, chances are highly likely...they aren't making it. Heck they're already making it in more colors then they have just about any other year. I'd be happy to have that many to chose from now, IMO.

ASH8

Mazda Japan are making them, it is just Mazda America decided to make the GT available only in Blue.
Take a look at the Australian Site and there are 8 colors available for the GT here.
I am assuming their site is correct?

robrecht

No, according to the MazdaUSA website, for the GT, we have a choice of 5 colors, but Aurora Blue and Brilliant Black Clearcoat are only available on the R3, and Galaxy Gray is not available any more.

ASH8

Sorry, Australia's and the rest of the worlds GT is your R3,
Aurora Blue, Galaxy Gray, Brilliant Black, Sparkling Black, Sunlight Silver, Diamond Grey, Velocity Red, and White are available here in the R3 (Our GT) That is 8 Colors

robrecht

Ah. Well to answer your earlier question, we can get the R3 (your GT) in 3 colors: Aurora Blue, Brilliant Black Clearcoat, and Velocity Red. Personally, I think I would get the black because of the black plastic grille abomination, but I've yet to see Aurora Blue in person.

L1n

sweet as, so getting one in white.

ASH8

Well the license plate or number plate covers 45% of that black muck!

altspace

iTrader: (2)

Hue, I don't know how you do it but you speak my thoughts everytime.