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Mazda RX-8 Gas Mileage Reports

96 messages,  Last post on Jun 03, 2011 at 12:23 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda RX-8, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 7 of 10

#56 of 96 Re: Mazda RX8 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [pathstar1] by w9cw

Sep 25, 2006 (5:06 am)

Replying to: pathstar1 (May 13, 2006 2:46 pm)
I'm not sure when the R100 was imported, but I had a friend who had a NSU Ro80 and it's fuel mileage was quite poor. Of course, Dr. Wankel's rotary design is not known for fuel economy.
 
I bought a new Mazda RX2 in 1972, and loved the car, except for the gas mileage. And, as "pathstar1" says, apex seals were a problem. I loved driving that car, and gas was cheap at the time.

#57 of 96 Re: Long trip on the 8, still bad mileage [trispec] by dwynne

Sep 25, 2006 (5:57 am)

Replying to: trispec (Sep 25, 2006 3:32 am)
You have about 2x the miles on your 8 than I do - but I have other cars and motorcycles to share the transportation load
 
I just report what I get. Driving around town there are lots of variables - do you redline, do you putt putt, etc. But on a trip where you just set the cruise and drive (straight line boredom) there is not much I could do to make it better or worse. Maybe after more miles are on my car the numbers will pick up.
 
I agree that the car is unique - but that is not 100% a good thing. As I said I got better MPGs in cars with a LOT more horsepower than the 8 - the rotary is just horribly inefficient.
 
Dennis

#58 of 96 Re: Long trip on the 8, still bad mileage [dwynne] by trispec

Sep 25, 2006 (6:31 am)

Replying to: dwynne (Sep 25, 2006 5:57 am)
My normal Boston commute is for the most part, along a 30 mile round trip of tree lined neighborhoods where speed limits of 35-40MPH predominate and where Boston cops live to catch speeders. So horse power means nothing as it would be completely wasted in my driving environment.
 
What does matter enormously, is having a car that pulls .93Gs through Boston's famous traffic rotary systems and winding cow path road layouts with three passengers. Makes the daily commute quite invigorating.
 
Sure I pay 20% to 30% more for gas, but my passengers would much rather ride in my RX-8 than any other car. They pay me for the priveledge in fact. The car is known as "Therapy car" in my commute cycle.

#59 of 96 Re: Long trip on the 8, still bad mileage [trispec] by dwynne

Sep 25, 2006 (8:28 am)

Replying to: trispec (Sep 25, 2006 6:31 am)
You are also driving the "de-tuned" auto tranny car . If you had the full 238hp of the 6 speed cars then maybe you would get numbers similar to what my 6 speed returns
 
You must be short and have short passengers too. I love my 8 (except for the mileage, recalls, and lack of resale value) but my 6'+ sons really have trouble fitting in the car with me - and pretty much no one can ride behind me (and I am not that tall). But driving solo it is fine - and close to the thrill of the S2000. With a VooDoo knob the 6 speed in the 8 actually has shorter throws than the S gearbox - which has a very tight pattern.
 
Lots of cars can do close to a g in a corner, and have more power to pull out of it. My M5 could, for sure I prefer a lighter, more tossible car however - which is why have both the s and the 8. Looking at the prices on the mazdaspeed6 I have been tempted to sell the 8 and get one (Mazda has a knack for making great cars that they can't sell) - but it is a good bit heavier than the 8 so ultimately would be less fun for me to drive. Ditto the new G35 - more passenger room, more ponies, better gas mileage, fewer (likely) recalls - but may not be as much fun.
 
Enough of that, since this is the MPG forum - I will just state again 14-15mpg around town and 21.45 on a 95% interstate commute is lousy gas mileage for a small car. Good thing premium here is down under $2.50 a gallon
 
Dennis

#60 of 96 Re: Long trip on the 8, still bad mileage [dwynne] by trispec

Sep 25, 2006 (10:07 am)

Replying to: dwynne (Sep 25, 2006 8:28 am)
Had to give up on clutches. Besides all cars are going to the paddle shifts. Even NASCAR is thinking about going to auto shifting with paddle. Auto-shifters do shift about ten times faster than pro drivers can.
 
Mazda was aiming at a price point, that's why the auto tranny can't go over 7500. An auto-tranny that can handle 9000 RPM starts to get expensive. The Caparo T1, needs a $13,000 paddled shifted 6 speed auto tranny to handle it's 12000 RPM racing V8. Sticks are definitely going the way of the dodo bird, I think.
 
Beside Boston traffic jams pretty much destroyed my shifting knee and angle after 15 years of sticking it.

#61 of 96 Improved my RX-8 AT MPG by 25% by trispec

Oct 04, 2006 (7:48 am)

Simple really. Changed my commute route to maximize my ability to coast in full automatic mode. Gone from 14MPH to near 18MPH in the city.
 
I had long taken Pathstar's advise about keeping RPMs above the 3000 level via manual mode paddle shifting, because of wanting to guard against carbon build-up.
 
But then I realized that coasting 50% or more of my commute would keep carbon down even better. There just so happens to be a certain odd combination of routes where, although traffic is heavy, coasting is also almost continuous through out.
 
So rather than trying to have fun on less crowded hills and curves where coasting is just not practical, I'm commuting the slow and steady route with a massive traffic flow.

#62 of 96 Anyone else notice an MPG drop after latest PCM upgrade? by rx8wannab

Dec 14, 2006 (12:14 pm)

I took my 2005 AT in last month for the voluntary recall, and among other things they "upgraded" my PCM. Since then I've noticed about a 1 MPG decline in fuel efficiency. My MPG average for the month before the upgrade was 18.6. Since then it has been 17.6, with no change in driving patterns. Some upgrade!

#63 of 96 Re: Anyone else notice an MPG drop after latest PCM upgrade? [rx8wannab] by pathstar1

Dec 14, 2006 (1:22 pm)

Replying to: rx8wannab (Dec 14, 2006 12:14 pm)
The upgrade could have addressed other issues such as engine life. At any rate, with winter here 1 MPG loss is pretty good. It alone often causes 3-5 MPG loss.
 
If you think "upgrades" should address fuel efficiency, time to buy a Prius.

#64 of 96 Re: Anyone else notice an MPG drop after latest PCM upgrade? [pathstar1] by rx8wannab

Dec 18, 2006 (10:52 am)

Replying to: pathstar1 (Dec 14, 2006 1:22 pm)
Winter? What's that? I live in Malibu!
Seriously, the cause and effect is quite clear in my case. The lower MPG started immediately with the next tank after the upgrade, and the highest MPG since then hasn't matched the lowest MPG for the month before that.
I didn't expect an upgrade to "address" MPG. I knew what I was buying, and it is worth it. I just didn't expect it to degrade MPG.

#65 of 96 Re: Anyone else notice an MPG drop after latest PCM upgrade? [rx8wannab] by trispec

Jan 02, 2007 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: rx8wannab (Dec 18, 2006 10:52 am)
Good one. Winter in Malibu LOL. I think pathstar is from Canada though LOL.
 
OTOH, my 2005 RX-8 AT seems to be getting slightly better MPG since the lastest PCM flash. Just got back from my annual 2000 mile trip from Boston to the mountains of NC. On one stretch I got 25.2 MPG with lots of 70-90MPH non-cruise driving on new years day.

Messages Page 7 of 10

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