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Mazda RX-8 Problems and Solutions ![]()

1414 messages, Last post on Oct 18, 2006 at 9:17 AM
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I have been reading messages here for a longish spell now and have become concerned in recent weeks by what seems a rising anxiety about the viability of the rx8. I am feeling the need to say something positive about the car. I have had my 2005 AT 8 for 22 months and have had no problems with it. Like many of the posters on this site, I have just had my car in for the most recent recall and was told that all was well with the car (although two spark plugs were changed). I have heard no problematic sounds, popcorn or otherwise. Nothing has broken on the car...the sun visors are working perfectly. While the gas mileage is not great, I do not worry about it...I don't drive a lot (19,000 km on the clock. That's just under 12,000 miles for those not sure about kms). If I were doing a long daily commute, I would choose another car, I think, but I don't and I won't. I have had to add very little oil between oil changes but note the point made my others here that the most recent recall changes might lead to more oil use. I will be more vigilant but the dealer made no reference to the issue at that last recall service. I run the car all year around and use snow tires in the winter. The car works wonderfully in the snow...as long as it is not too deep. I live in Southern Ontario where, in my view, the winters are truly baby winters (I come from Edmonton so I know what a real winter is like); I have never had any problems starting the car in the cold and have had never flooded the car. The car is a delight to drive. Like Trispec I learned early on to operate in manual mode using the paddles to shift gears. I have taken it on a few long distance trips and found the vehicle very comfortable and relaxing. It is nimble and agile in traffic and, as long as the revs are kept high enough, it has the power to quickly move one out of any danger. In city driving I am rarely out of the first two gears and on the local regional roads I rarely go beyond third gear. The fourth gear is used only on the freeway. Because of all the worry about flooding with this car, I have been wondering why Mazda cannot do something with the car's already pretty sophisticated computers to prevent the car from turning off if it is in danger of flooding. I think it should be easy to have the computer ignore the driver's instruction to shut down the engine (turning off the key). The computer could easily set off a signal warning the driver to wait a little longer before shutting down the engine so the failure to shut down would not be confusing. The computer won't let the AT shift down if the engine speed is too high and it beeps at you when you run the revs too high. Surely, they could figure out a way to use the computer to deal with the flooding. I have learned a good deal from the postings on this site and have gained much by pathstar1's knowledge and wisdom. Thanks to all.
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Replying to: bryan102 (Oct 08, 2006 11:33 am) My oil consumption is fairly steady at a quart every 1500 miles of city driving. I'm on a long trip from Boston, MA to the mountains of North Carolina. Still getting 23MPG at 80MPH plus. But I love this car way to much. I drove 7 hours on Sunday and I just wanted more more more. It's really unbelievable how much fun my RX-8 AT is.
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Replying to: trispec (Aug 29, 2006 5:53 pm) My car passed with flying colors (I have a 2005 6-speed manual). I asked about the failure rate and was told that they had only had 3 failures - and all were 2004s. I hope that's a good sign. It does get kind of discouraging when I read of the problems on this forum. Mine has been virtually flawless. Maybe it's mostly those with problems who are doing the posting? |
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| I'm looking for a FUN car just for the weekend and just love the look of the 8. The local delearship has a loaded white 2006 AT. I have read the various issues concerning the 8 from 04 and 05, but have most of the issues listed on this forum been solved? If not, what should I be concerned with? | |
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Replying to: trispec (Oct 09, 2006 3:33 am) |
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You may have noticed that we're moving toward smaller, more focused discussions. Please go to the top level of the RX-8 board and look for an existing topic or create a new one if you don't see something suitable. Here's the link: Mazda RX-8. Thanks! |
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