I'm new here, so if noob threads go somewhere else, go ahead and move this. I looked, but I didn't see an obvious place for them.

So yeah...here's my car. There are many cars like it, but this one is mine.





Got it last Saturday. 2009, touring trim w/ premium package, 290 miles at signing, MSRP $29885, bought for $24321. I've wanted this car since I first found out about the RX-Evolv back in 1999, and now I finally have one. I is happy now.

 

good lookin' car!
what did you drive before?
what made you buy the 8?

 

I didn't drive anything before or after. I wanted an RX-8, so I drove it once to make sure I wouldn't be disappointed, then I found one with the trim and color I wanted and told the local dealer to go get it. I made it easy on them -- not counting the 8 hours of driving they had to do to get it for me.

Why I wanted an RX-8 is a long story. Back in high school I came up with a design for an engine that would produce power by spinning instead of reciprocating, and when I showed it to the auto shop teacher, he suggested that I show the engine design to a small engine repair company down the street and also said I should read up on the Wankel engine. In retrospect, the design I came up with had a couple of fatal flaws, but I was hooked on the rotary concept and excited that there was a real-life version for sale.

Unfortunately, production of the RX-7 had stopped three years earlier (I was a junior at the time), and in all honesty I was in no position to afford even a used one or be trusted to drive it safely. (Never been in an accident, knock on wood, but you know how teenage boys can be behind the wheel, and I was no different.) Imagine my excitement when I found out about the RX-Evolv a year later. That car is one of the biggest reasons I suffered though getting an engineering degree, so I could afford one. It came out just in time for me to graduate.

Of course, I had no money, so I had to wait a few years, and I drove (and modded) a VW Passat 1.8t in the meantime, but this past October I finally got fed up with the VW and started shopping for a new car. I'd pretty much ruled out the RX-8 at that point, because I'd convinced myself I needed something more practical, but when I saw the $5000 factory rebate I decided maybe I'd better get an RX-8 while the price was right, so I wouldn't kick myself for the rest of my life.

And so, here I am.

 

nice,

WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION!

 

Also...I know this question gets asked a lot, but just for good measure: I've been using AMSoil 5w40 in my 1.8t, and from the 5 minutes of reading I've done here, AMSoil seems to be one of the better synthetics to use in a rotary as well. Is that correct?

I know it works great in my 1.8t, when I switched from M1 to AMSoil the cam chain tensioner no longer started rattling after 3kmi or so. However, I know viscosity-retention isn't as big of an issue as clean burning is for a rotary, so I figured I'd double-check.

 

Congrats & ur 8 looks sharp. I would not have any problem putting RP, Redline or AMSOIL full-synthetic oil in an 8 if one chooses to use synthetic.

 

Sweet.

Welcome to the club.

 

Okay, next question then: 5w40, or 5w20, or something else? I used 5w40 in the 1.8t because the turbo gets so bleeding hot that anything less than hot-40 gets too thin and the engine makes lots of unsettling noises, but I doubt that's an issue with a non-turbo rotary. No doubt the 5w40 would produce a thicker film on the housing walls, but I have no idea if it would also substantially affect gas mileage since the moving parts have to move so fast and are subject to so much fluid drag as a result. Gas mileage is not my primary concern, but it is a concern -- I'd rather keep as much of it as I can, without sacrificing the longevity of my engine.

 

Many would suggest that 5w30 would be the best choice as compared to 5w20.

 

Good enough. I guess I'll be buying a case of AMSoil 5w30 sometime soon.

 

anything heavier then 5w20 should be what you aim for.

i myself used full synthetic 5w30 royal purple in this and my previous rx8

 

Hi, Deus!

Be sure to search lots. Folks here aren't quite as tolerant as on PassatWorld.
Still a great source for mountains of information.

 

I thought your name looked familiar.

I don't know as I'd call PW "tolerant" of people who don't search, I know I've flamed a few before -- but to be fair, sometimes the easiest way to get all the information you need in one place is to just ask someone who knows. It takes a lot of effort to compile information gleaned bit-by-bit into a large, informative thread.

But yeah, I'll make sure to search first and ask questions later.

 

Did dealership give ya problems to get it? Mine were real hardasses in getting me the car..

Also.. how's your 6th gear feel? Any grinding? (Providing you got a manual of course)

 

Silver looks great!
Welcome

 

They tried to double-charge me for freight, but ultimately "conceded" to split it with me. I figure I did owe them something for driving across the state to get it, and I was kinda stuck in a position where they might very well have the last '09 silver Touring within several hours of my house. But they did end up charging me >$500 under MSRP not counting the factory discount, so I'm cool with it. Other than that, no, they were pretty easy about the whole thing. I made it clear that was the car I wanted and they didn't try to change my mind.

6th gear feels fine -- actually, the gears I keep grinding are 3rd and 4th, for some reason I keep not disengaging the clutch far enough. I wish the gear ratios were a little more spaced out, because I keep skipping 3rd and 5th in normal driving.

 

Legit story! nice 8