but... if you add 10% to 16, you still are under 18 highway. there's more to it than that, I think. I hope.

 

Hey, has anyone contacted Mazda directly about the mpg issues? If so please post their response.

 

It soundslike they pulled somethingout of their *** to shut you up

 

i have about 5,200 miles on the car i didn't get any increase after 2,000 miles.

 

yea, i think the car would've increased mileage and efficiency by atleast 500 miles if it wasn't going to improve. I'm just hoping someone has an official word from Mazda.

 

Pssst... I gotta bridge for sale...it's gonna go quick though....

 

I'm at 1,985 miles. :D

 

The FC also had a switch. According to the 1989 FSM, there's the following:

"Mileage Sensor
Caution
When replacing the speedometer within 20,000 mile (For U.S.A.), 34,000 km (For Canada), continue to use the same 20,000 mile switch by transferring it to the new speedometer."

Whether this applies to the RX8 is a different question.

 

Bottom line, if you want best mileage, you'll have to shift when mazda tells you too. The manual says shift from 1 to 2 at 14 mph. Hey, that's 3K rpm, just before the secondary intakes open up. And hey, the next shift (2 -3) is at 3K RPM. Damn, lowest intake potential = least fuel consumption. I know the short shifting is a PITA, but you didn't buy an RX8 for fuel mileage. If you did, please visit the nearest psychiatric facility. The faster you spin the engine, the faster you burn the fuel. Any find it suspicious that 6th gear (ie overdrive) happens to put the engine right at 3K rpm at 55mph, the still suggested max speed limit from NHTSA. Hmmmmmmm. I think I know why my lead foot doesn't get published mileage, ever. On the RX7 forum, we measure HP by how low we manage to get our mpg numbers. I'm one of the unfortunates who still gets double digits mpg in my 2G 7. When I find a way to make enough power in the 8 to force me into single digits mpg I'll be doing cart-wheels (not a pretty sight).

Let's be realistic folks. It's a SPORTS CAR. Granted, there are 2 too many doors, and 2 too many seats, but those are for marketing purposes. The car is made for driving, not hauling around your 2.2 kids on a limited gas budget.

 

I got 17 MPG last time, I had 100 miles on my car.

 

When i drove my car from Little Rock to Atlanta i was getting 315 miles to the tank whatever that equates to.

 

Sounds like you were cruising at around 4K. Most cars are designed to go 350 miles on a single tank of gas when driven on the highway according to the Mfg's recommendations.

 

350 miles on a tank sounds pretty high to me.. my low-gas light typically comes on between 210 and 220 miles, and I can generally squeeze another 30 miles out of it if I'm not near a gas station. I generally get between 16 and 17 mpg under normal driving conditions.

I went on a mountain run yesterday and spent a majority of the time over 6000 rpms and got just under 15mpg over 150 miles.