Consumer Reports drops "recommended buy" for Rx-8
11-16-2006, 02:40 PM
#26
Originally Posted by roland_beech
The previous reviews have generally raved about the Rx-8 and even mentioned it in reviews of other cars as in a reference to the Audi TT: "responsive and secure handling but is not nearly as agile or enjoyable as the Mazda RX-8 or Porsche Boxster"
Still after the latest reliability study they had this to say:
"Reliability has once again dropped to below average."
...and they only recommend cars with average or better reliability (it was recommended last year).
They give the 04's the worst rating, the 05's the mid rating, and the 06's they predict as below average but have limited data...
Problem areas they list are
"engine minor" (04 + 05)
Fuel system (04)
Electrical system (04+05)
Climate system (04)
Brakes (04 +05)
Personally I am skeptical of the validity of some of their ratings, but it just goes to show the hit a car takes when reliability concerns are raised...again, they found the car "exhilarating" in the past and now are tempering comments.
Still after the latest reliability study they had this to say:
"Reliability has once again dropped to below average."
...and they only recommend cars with average or better reliability (it was recommended last year).
They give the 04's the worst rating, the 05's the mid rating, and the 06's they predict as below average but have limited data...
Problem areas they list are
"engine minor" (04 + 05)
Fuel system (04)
Electrical system (04+05)
Climate system (04)
Brakes (04 +05)
Personally I am skeptical of the validity of some of their ratings, but it just goes to show the hit a car takes when reliability concerns are raised...again, they found the car "exhilarating" in the past and now are tempering comments.
Electrical? What's this? Never saw anything on the forumn or TSB Ok it's the reflash and battery for Cold climates.
Fuel? What's this? Never saw anything on the forumn or TSB
Ok if you track your car and doing high G-force in the corner with 1/4 tank. Hell wait a minute, this isn't daily driving. So why am I rated on this?
Ahh... poor gas milage does not effect reliabilty.
Climate? Nothing wrong there. It's the lack of insulation in the cabin.
Convinced of this.. Mine is 52 to 55 degree cold sir at vent but, 90 degrees between the seat and console.
Get a thermometer and try this test yourself.
Brakes? Ja, sure they squeel... Bed them or get cermaic brakes.
CR is bullshit. It's based upon complaints. there is no judgement on validity.
So how does sqeeling brakes and interior temperture affect relability of a car?
How does a poor battery affect relabilty of a car?
pure udder....
The CR reports must be understood as complaints not reliabilty issue.
Last edited by Razz1; 11-16-2006 at 03:05 PM.
11-16-2006, 03:28 PM
#27
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Why are the '04 models shat on, and considered less reliable/refined?
Assuming all TSB's and recalls have been performed, isn't an '04 exactly the same as an '05, just without the sirius sat. radio option and keyless remote?
All the issues discussed by CR have been corrected with tsb's and recalls, right?
Assuming all TSB's and recalls have been performed, isn't an '04 exactly the same as an '05, just without the sirius sat. radio option and keyless remote?
All the issues discussed by CR have been corrected with tsb's and recalls, right?
11-16-2006, 03:42 PM
#28
You are correct. and many of those fixes were done promptly.
there is nothing wrong with 04's or any 8 in repect to releabilty.
Read my post above and read the article. It is based upon complaints.
Now a days that means inconvience. So the computer got a new software upgrade big deal. MPG is not a reliabilty issue.
Noise is not a reliabilty issue.
Damn those SUV's are noisy! Ever ride a motorcycle next to one.
You can NOT roll down a window on those things in So. Cal.
there is nothing wrong with 04's or any 8 in repect to releabilty.
Read my post above and read the article. It is based upon complaints.
Now a days that means inconvience. So the computer got a new software upgrade big deal. MPG is not a reliabilty issue.
Noise is not a reliabilty issue.
Damn those SUV's are noisy! Ever ride a motorcycle next to one.
You can NOT roll down a window on those things in So. Cal.
Last edited by Razz1; 11-16-2006 at 04:22 PM.
11-17-2006, 09:21 AM
#34
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I wonder how many of the people reporting problems are the owners that, again here we go, do not know how to maintain and care for a rotary..... not as simple as driving, filling it with gas, and getting your regular oil changes. It takes a little more....
11-17-2006, 09:25 AM
#35
Originally Posted by dmp
I think, generally, anyone who gets buying-advice from CR shouldn't be buying. 
The cars I have had, when I looked up problem areas. The issues that came about were listed in CR for weak points.
An educated buyer is a better buyer.
A person that shouldn't be buying is one that walks in blindly and asks the salesperson what to buy...
11-17-2006, 12:13 PM
#36
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Originally Posted by dmp
I think, generally, anyone who gets buying-advice from CR shouldn't be buying.
and this is because CR says the 8 is a great drive but iffy on reliability?
and that's a bad thing because the 8 ISN'T a good drive or ISN'T iffy on reliability?
c'mon.
sigh.
11-29-2006, 12:41 AM
#37
I'll snap his neck.
I took a look at their auto issue in the store the other day, and addition to engine and brakes, it showed electrical being less than reliable (if i recall correctly). Any idea what they are talking about? I figure the engine stuff is people flooding, the brakes are the squeaking, but I'm not sure what the electrical is for. Maybe people figure that if their starter gets replaced as part of a recall that is a major electrical problem? We had a chevy beretta which had a smoking steering column - now that is a major electrical problem...
11-29-2006, 08:25 AM
#38
RotoRocks Powered
Originally Posted by sunilseru
^ The 8 has some of the best stock brakes. Period. Can't imagine why anybody would rate them as "poor"
two days ago i was driving my kids to a movie. It was raining, and i was going about 55-60 on a freeway. Suddenly an SUV in front of me spun out of control and stopped sideways blocking my lane. there were cars on the side of me, a divider on the left, so had no way to go around it, and though that it was it. there was just not enough distance to stop, especially given the fact that the road is wet.
I stood on the brakes, and to my relief and surprise, the car came to a complete stop within about a foot from hitting that damn SUV.
This car has by far the best brakes I have ever seen.
11-29-2006, 12:01 PM
#39
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Originally Posted by rotorocks
They are absolutely awesome.
two days ago i was driving my kids to a movie. It was raining, and i was going about 55-60 on a freeway. Suddenly an SUV in front of me spun out of control and stopped sideways blocking my lane. there were cars on the side of me, a divider on the left, so had no way to go around it, and though that it was it. there was just not enough distance to stop, especially given the fact that the road is wet.
I stood on the brakes, and to my relief and surprise, the car came to a complete stop within about a foot from hitting that damn SUV.
This car has by far the best brakes I have ever seen.
two days ago i was driving my kids to a movie. It was raining, and i was going about 55-60 on a freeway. Suddenly an SUV in front of me spun out of control and stopped sideways blocking my lane. there were cars on the side of me, a divider on the left, so had no way to go around it, and though that it was it. there was just not enough distance to stop, especially given the fact that the road is wet.
I stood on the brakes, and to my relief and surprise, the car came to a complete stop within about a foot from hitting that damn SUV.
This car has by far the best brakes I have ever seen.
There was an article a while back where the RX-8 ranked as the the best non super car in terms of stopping power. (The others cars had price tags of over 100K I believe).
11-29-2006, 10:27 PM
#41
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Never listen to CR, period. Their surveys completed by the subscribers are not verified to insure the car they claim to own is actually owned by them. the ratings for bad electrical could be for someone bitching about the window not rolling up as fast as they want it too, so please do not take too much stock in what CR reports because it is total BS since the whole basis for their ratings cannot really be verified.
11-30-2006, 07:45 AM
#42
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Originally Posted by jmerc
Never listen to CR, period. Their surveys completed by the subscribers are not verified to insure the car they claim to own is actually owned by them. the ratings for bad electrical could be for someone bitching about the window not rolling up as fast as they want it too, so please do not take too much stock in what CR reports because it is total BS since the whole basis for their ratings cannot really be verified.
There ratings go on number of complaints. So all of the people seeing a TSB online for a problem their car doesn't have but take to their dealer for anyway and demand it get fixed shows up. All the excessive whining about amazing brakes so they get free new pads because their original pads had a larger tendency to squeal then Honda Accord brakes shows up. Gas mileage complaints show up. People claiming their car starts slowly so they can get a free battery and starter shows up. Engine roughness so you can get a new ECU flash shows up... CR and lousy resale value is the consequences of these peoples actions
so remember, next time you go to the dealer be sure to "take a list of TSB's with you" so you can hose the community even more
12-19-2006, 01:31 PM
#44
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I don't trust anything a mag sais about cars ever since I saw that the Camry is the 2006 Car of the Year. Give me a break. I sold Toyotas for 2 yrs up until one month ago. No car will suck the life out of you like one of those over rated pieces of #%@*. And the 8 getting hit for brakes! I car that can stop as good or better than cars costing 2-3 times as much.
12-21-2006, 09:10 AM
#45
This thread title is wrong.
I have my new CR Annual Buyer's Guide. The 8 is third among sports/sporty cars, and it is recommended. CR also lists the 8's reliability as 'average.'
I have my new CR Annual Buyer's Guide. The 8 is third among sports/sporty cars, and it is recommended. CR also lists the 8's reliability as 'average.'
