My fiancée wants to buy an RX-8. *edit* The search is over.

[JCE]

She bought a 2007 RX-8 today. At least now she's happy. Crappy nighttime cell phone pics below...

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Old post:

And she is quite irritated at me when I try and give her some wisdom and knolwedge about sports cars and when I mention the fact that rotaries do burn more oil and you shouldn't go more than 3,000 miles without an oil change. I also mention that its a sports car so the tires do wear more than a regular compact car (IE her Cavalier). And on top of that she's talking to people that work at dealers and or people that know people with them for information. It seems that she isn't listening to me or taking in the wisdom when I try to help her by giving her some information. I even suggested that she goto Wikipedia to learn more about the car and she flatout said "I don't care about all that". My thought is if she really wants the car then good for her--its just she needs to know what she is getting in to. Its not like owning a pickup truck (which is her second choice followed by an Expedition) where you pretty much know what to expect. Going from a 4dr compact car to a sports car is a different animal--especially when the sports car is a different bread of sports car. Its like going from apples to oranges to watermelon. I mean if it was an MX5 or S2000 there wouldn't even be a need to really get in to this conversation--but its an RX-8 and RX-8's are different.

So my rambling aside does anyone have a definitive "what to look out for's" for these cars so she can get CORRECT information and not somebody else's interpretation or incorrect information? This guy who knows a guy with one said to her that he goes 5,000 miles between oil changes, but that "he does have to add oil in every 2 weeks"--this is not the type of BS I need for her to hear. I need facts with proven evidence. She is looking to get an 2004-2007 dark grey (perfers a 6spd manual) with less than 60k miles (the less the better obviously). Obviously the less the sticker price the better--and $15k-18k is what she is thinking about in price range.

I've mentioned the following:

• Rotaries burn more oil than the traditional piston engine.
• Sports cars' tires wear more and quicker than your standard 4dr.
• Use a synthetic oil--but it costs more.
• Tires are much more expensive.
• Insurance is higher.
• Rotaries generally do not last as long as traditional piston engines.

And does anybody have any advice for me as I try this one last time on talking with her about the car? She's really getting the idea that I don't want her to get one when it is quite the opposite--I want her to be happy with her car purchase whether it be an RX-8, Dodge Ram, F150 or an Expedition. While I think she would be as or more happy with a truck--and since I work at a Ford dealer finding her a good used truck is a piece of cake-- I will be happy with whatever she gets as long as its not going to give her a headache. I do think its cool that my girlfriend wants sports car--and I can get over the fact that she likes the RX-8 and not the 350Z--I just want to make sure she has all the correct information before making a decision on a car that she is likely to have through the entire car loan (5-6yrs).

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*edit* 6/11

We were eating dinner a Luna del Noche and there was a nice white Z3 that was parked up front and she indicated that "she may just buy a BMW, I mean its premium right". So naturally I told her that I of course would love for her to buy German but that in the end she needs something that will make her happy. She indicated that she was serious about looking at BMW Z3's. I searched and could not find the old post where I was given advice about them. So I call all BMW enthusiasts to give me the 411 on them. Also could someone give me info on R170 SLK's too? Preferably the 230 with a manual.

I love Z3's and would love to own one myself. I'm also going to give her info on the SLK with the Z3 and suggest she drive them to see how she likes them. I want to also get her in an S2000 as well--but that is a slim hope.

*edit 2*
Nevermind on the R170 SLK she doesn't like them. But do post the information as I am still in need of one. I saw an AMG SLK for $18k on autotrader.

 

[Keef]

Can she drive a stick? If she can't, or she's mediocre, make sure you do not tell her not to stall the rotary on a cold morning. That simple mistake and resulting repair bill will make her realize she bought the wrong car pretty quickly.

 

[Eric.]

Yeah, if the motor is cold and gets turned off before getting fully warmed up its probably going to hydrolock.

I wonder how many times that has happened on a dealer test drive?

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, Don't try to act like you're talking her out of it. Ask her what issues she knows about. She may think you're selling her short, calling her an idiot or something. You know that people can interpret things differently, and if she really seems to know about and accept the issues, then let her go for it. If not...well, good luck trying to talk her out of it, and HELP HER if something DOES go wrong with the car. Important thing is to be SUPPORTIVE.

Do that, and you may have found a wife. ;3

 

[Keef]

Yeah, if the motor is cold and gets turned off before getting fully warmed up its probably going to hydrolock.

I wonder how many times that has happened on a dealer test drive?

Not quite that serious, but they do flood, foul the spark plugs, and get towed to the dealer, almost every time. And yes, it happens often, to test drivers, new owners, and even the technicians every now and then. The local dealer gets a couple in every month to de-flood.

 

[EA11R]

You should be sure to mention that the rotary engine gets poor mileage (EPA 16/22) and has low torque. Tell her (about the torque) that, unless you're driving like a race driver, the motor has no power at all.

And, if that isn't an issue to her, you have found a wife.

Also, on the caranddriver.com info page, it says the car is a 2 Door Compact/Coupe, a 4 Door Coupe, and, my favourite, a Sub-compact!

It is properly kickass.

 

[Azuremen]

Car and Driver tested the new RX-8 at doing a 14.9 second 1/4 mile. A V6 Accord is faster than that.

Also, they don't burn more oil - they burn oil by design. Thus why dealerships were telling people to not use synthetics because they would go longer between oil changes (and not check the oil) and would end up oil starving the engine

Real world MPG is low, under 20 easily.

She'd have a better, faster, more gas efficient, more reliable car with an S2000. If the back seat is important, go look at E36 or E46 coupes.

 

[JER_CREST]

better to buy a used mazdaspeed6 than an RX-8.

Better fuel economy, and more power, and torque.

 

[JCE]

Can she drive a stick? If she can't, or she's mediocre, make sure you do not tell her not to stall the rotary on a cold morning. That simple mistake and resulting repair bill will make her realize she bought the wrong car pretty quickly.

Yeah, if the motor is cold and gets turned off before getting fully warmed up its probably going to hydrolock.

Now that is the sort of info I/she needs. 👍 However do either of you or anyone else have an article regarding this so she can read it herself?

She'd have a better, faster, more gas efficient, more reliable car with an S2000. If the back seat is important, go look at E36 or E46 coupes.

better to buy a used mazdaspeed6 than an RX-8.

Better fuel economy, and more power, and torque.

Sorry guys I am not here to recommend other cars, the point to this topic was to provide her with as much factual information as possible for HER to make the decision ON HER OWN. I've repeatedly told her to get a Gen Coupe or an F150. My opinion the type of car is irrelevant. 👎

 

[LittleBahamut]

From what I understand, she may have already made up her mind. She wants an RX-8 and thats the end of it. Sounds like my sister who is stubborn at times... The more you try to warn, push, or negotiate her not into doing something, she will take it as a challenge and do it.

My only advice is to let her buy an Rx-8 when she gets one. I would find it sad to have your relationship with her fall to pieces because of an RX-8. You should be supportive of her and the car once it arrives. Tell her when to change the oil and such. If she is still stubborn about it, maybe you have to take the keys and do it yourself.

 

[JCE]

I am aware of those things. My point here is to make sure she gets a GOOD one by looking out for issues.

 

[ND4SPD]

RX8club would be the place to be if you want to hear of issues and what to look for in an RX8!

Infact here's what the RX8club fact section says. Pretty helpful for new RX8 owners!

So you just bought your first RX8, or you bought a used one, and you have a rotary engine you not familiar with. First off, relax, its really not that different, but here are the little things you’ll want to do / know to make sure you enjoy the car and it lives a long and happy life.

The following is a brief summary of the rx8club.com forums collective wisdom after nearly 95,000 threads and 1.7 million posts. It is not totally comprehensive, but will cover most of the major issues for first time rotary RX8 owners. Most of the recall issues only apply to cars built before the 2006 model year, but double check you car just in case.

1. Occasional Aggressive driving is good – First off its fun, second, it helps prevent carbon buildup in the engine and intake system. Make sure you rev to at least 7500rpm to make sure all the intake valves open. You don’t need to redline every start, but once a day is fun and good for the car.

Oh, and please don’t attempt the 7000rpm clutch dump launches the magazines did to get their 0-60mph numbers. This is not the aggressive driving that is mentioned above. Its suicide for your clutch and transmission.

2. Make sure your car has the latest PCM flash and recalls – Below are the major recalls that seem to have affected most people. Most are simple and can be done by the dealer in a day.
a) PCM (Powertrain Control Module) Flash – The RX8 has a very complex computer driving the engine that has gone through several firmware upgrades. Make sure your on the latest PCM flash from the dealer.
b) In the summer of 2006, a major emissions related recall was conducted on 2004-2006 RX8’s related to catalytic converter, and in some cases engine failures. For most people, the recall simply involved a PCM update, some owners had faulty catalytic converters replaced, and some owners had engines replaced. If you own a used vehicle, make sure recall 4206F was performed.
c) Ignition Coils – older cars had coils that overheated and would misfire, its easily to tell by flipping a coil over and looking for a burn spot on the back side of the coils. Mazda redesigned the coils in 2006.
d) Starter and Battery – the original 04/05 RX8’s had a weak starter and battery that could contribute to flooding. Hard starts are the main symptoms, and the dealer can install an upgraded starter battery package to fix the issues.
e) Upgraded Spark plugs – along with the starter, the leading spark plugs went through a redesign in the 2005 to help with flooding issues. These improved plugs should be the only leading plugs you buy. (part #NGK RE7C-L)
f) Rough Idle – the Engine mounts and mount brackets were redesigned in 2005 to alleviate rough idle issues. Heat from the exhaust manifold can also damage the passenger side engine mount. Check with you dealer about an upgrade if this is an issue.

3. Use only OEM spark plugs – The RX8 and RX7 use special unique NGK plugs designed for rotary engines. The plugs should be replaced about every 25,000 miles, which is sooner than most piston engines.

4. Whats the deal with flooding? - Flooding is the term for the engine not starting due to excess fuel into the combustion chamber from a cold start and shutdown. Rotary’s, and most other cars, run rich at warm-up and then gradually lean out as the engine warms to operating temp. Starting a cold engine and immediately shutting it down before its warmed up can lead to excess fuel being left in the combustion chamber which makes the engine struggle to light off. The simple solution to not flooding is to properly warm the car up (coolant temp needle to the half way point) before shutting the engine off. Flooding tends to happen when people move their car to wash, repair or service something then immediately shut the engine down. The stronger starter and resigned plugs listed above have helped to alleviate this issue, but just make a practice of warming the car up before shutting it off.

5. Check the oil level every other fillup or twice a month – The rotary engine injects oil to lubricate the apex seals in the engine, so it naturally burns oil, especially the harder you drive. Most owners keep a quart of oil in the car at all times and check the oil twice a month.

6. Hitting the track? Toss in a little premix – If you going to drive the car especially hard for extended periods of time, it is wise to add 4/6oz of two stroke oil to the fuel for extra seal lubrication. Its not required, but it’s a good safety measure to protect the engine

That’s really it folks, there are of course other specific issues, but the above covers 90+% of the issues and problems associated with the RX8. Hopefully this provides a framework to better understand your car and the forums. Additional technical service bulletins and recall information can be found at
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ins_index.html

Hope this helps! 👍

 

[bergauk]

Question.. Has she driven the car before? Or does she think its cute and thats all she wants to go off of? If she hasn't driven one yet, take her to a dealer for a test drive and have her talk to the techs there about problems they have with the cars. Maybe that'll help sway her away from the thought of the RX-8. Even if its an awesome car, she should still be aware of the problems they have, and should be ready to accept them with open arms if she plans to purchase it.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Maybe she'll stall the thing on a test drive and the aftermath will cause her not to want one.

 

[JCE]

She wants to test drive one. I'm hoping she gets a chance to drive one to determine if she really likes it or if she changes her mind and wants a truck. Thanks for the info ND4SPD! 👍 PS that link got cut off, do you have the full link?

*edit*
Lets not get too biased here and say you hope she changes her mind or doesn't like it. Whatever the outcome it is better than a Cavalier AND its a first new car for her. Obviously my thoughts are clear, but this isn't about me.

 

[ND4SPD]

She wants to test drive one. I'm hoping she gets a chance to drive one to determine if she really likes it or if she changes her mind and wants a truck. Thanks for the info ND4SPD! 👍 PS that link got cut off, do you have the full link?

*edit*
Lets not get too biased here and say you hope she changes her mind or doesn't like it. Whatever the outcome it is better than a Cavalier AND its a first new car for her. Obviously my thoughts are clear, but this isn't about me.

No problem, here's the actual link!
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/store/pages.php?pageid=11

 

[YSSMAN]

Wait, you work at Ford and she doesn't want a cheaper, faster and more reliable Mustang? Interesting...

Frankly, I'd just point you to the long-term test that C/D did on the car a while back. As I recall, they had a lot of problems with the car, with a lot of little annoyances in and out. They managed to tolerate the car because it was fun to drive - but that by no means makes it a wise purchase.

 

[JCE]

Good read, but she (and I) are aware of the pre-2006 models' problems. Most of the issues/recalls were fixed starting with the 2006 model year. It still however burns oil and tires. And she doesn't WANT a Mustang she WANTS an RX-8. Hell, she doesn't even want an RX-7 which I'd love for her to get. But again this isn't me.

She said no to the following:

• Mustang
• Camaro
• Charger
• Challenger
• 350Z
• Genesis Coupe
• tC
• RSX
• S2000
• CLK
• ...and more

She prefers the RX-8's looks over anything else. I know I know, most of us would choose something in the list above but to each their own. At least she likes any sports car and not some boring econobox. Like I said my goal is to get her all the pertinent information for her to make a sound decision.

Obviously she likes the idea of getting a truck or Expedition, and she will test drive those. But its her decision and her car so lets just stick to finding her information on the RX-8.

 

[Tornado]

Hell, she doesn't even want an RX-7 which I'd love for her to get.

RX-7s are even worse.

I'd simply be honest with her: You don't think she will end up liking it even if she loves it at the start, because Wankels need much lovin' and dedication to be usable.

 

[JCE]

RX-7s are even worse.

I'd simply be honest with her: You don't think she will end up liking it even if she loves it at the start, because Wankels need much lovin' and dedication to be usable.

RX-7's my be worse but they are so so pretty! If I value a roof over my head I will not tell her how I really feel about them. All kidding aside she knows I don't like the front fish face, or rear bubble butt or the engine. Everything else is decent, except the interior which is very good actually. She is so dead set on this car that anyone who tells her "no" or "I don't like it" will only push her further into the "me want want want" catagory and she will get it JUST because people told her not to. I want her decision to be logical and informed. If she drives it and doesn't like it then that is her decision--but if she drives it and likes it again that is her decision. 👍

 

[McLaren]

Is the looks really the only thing she likes about it? I mean, is there anything else about the RX-8 she likes?

 

[JCE]

No. She has not driven or even sat in one. She doesn't care about the way they sound either, so she is by no means a car enthusiast. Perplexing I know...

 

[McLaren]

Well...then. I guess I can only mimic everyone else & let her see if she likes it from the test drive. Kind of weird to want a car based on looks alone and nothing else, but I suppose girls will be girls.

 

[Jim Prower]

hm.

Show her A Fiat 500. See if she can resist those cute mouse cheeks. :3

 

[doozle]

hm.

Show her A Fiat 500. See if she can resist those cute mouse cheeks. :3

Better yet, wait for the Abarth version.

 

[McLaren]

hm.

Show her A Fiat 500. See if she can resist those cute mouse cheeks. :3

Depends how long she's willing to wait. I haven't heard of any official dealers or that it was now for sale, but "supposedly", there's already a nice, long list of people who want 'em here.

RE:doozle

Based on previous European sports cars like the Abarth, I don't think we'll be blessed with that model. We can't even get Ford UK to send us the Focus RS.

 

[YSSMAN]

I don't think FIAT-Chrysler will want to play ball with the Abarth, for now at least. Thing is, if its true that Ford is considering a turbo kit on the Fiesta (I'm having trouble remembering where that link was from), I'll bet they'll weigh things a little more in the Abarth's favor.

Thing is, though, I trust Ford more to do the right thing. I think FIAT-Chrysler just wants to get the 500 here so they can sell a bajillion of them.

 

[Eric.]

I wouldn't turn her away from the RX-8 so much as just let her know what she's in for. Act like you want her to get one but tell her those are the things that would keep you from owning one. Really, who wouldn't want their girlfriend having a pretty nice sports car?

 

[Danoff]

I've mentioned the following:

• Rotaries burn more oil than the traditional piston engine.
• Sports cars' tires wear more and quicker than your standard 4dr.
• Use a synthetic oil--but it costs more.
• Tires are much more expensive.
• Insurance is higher.
• Rotaries generally do not last as long as traditional piston engines.

- A quart of oil every once in a while is no big deal.
- She doesn't have to put sports cars' tires on it. You might think that's weird, but she's not buying the car for its handling abilities.
- Synthetic doesn't cost much - and usually you get away with twice the mileage for twice the price. With regular top offs I don't know why that wouldn't still be the case here.
- She doesn't have to fit it with PS2s
- Ok, you're right, insurance will be higher.
- Do you have solid information that says that the rotary in the RX8 doesn't last long? I'm not claiming you don't, I'm asking.

Honestly I'm having a little trouble figuring out why on earth you would discourage your girlfriend from driving around a car like the rx8. Unless you think she can't afford the car and insurance, I think you should get on the bandwagon and enjoy riding around in a hot car with a hot girl.

 

[Jim Prower]

Maybe, I dunno, he actually cares about HER rather than the car.