Mazda Fesses Up!
08-25-2003, 10:48 PM
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Jensen Beach, FL / Sylva, NC
Posts: 2,934
I just e-mailed the editors of:
Car and Driver
Road and Track
Automobile
I gave them a link to this thread. I was told by the Mustang guys to get the car magazines involved this will pressure Mazda to do the right thing.
BTW- It took Ford 9 months to do something about the Cobra. Anyone else find it funny it took Mazda 6 weeks??
Email Mazda USA and tell them how you feel. Keep it clean and civil that will go a long way.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/emailMazda.action
Car and Driver
Road and Track
Automobile
I gave them a link to this thread. I was told by the Mustang guys to get the car magazines involved this will pressure Mazda to do the right thing.
BTW- It took Ford 9 months to do something about the Cobra. Anyone else find it funny it took Mazda 6 weeks??
Email Mazda USA and tell them how you feel. Keep it clean and civil that will go a long way.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/emailMazda.action
08-26-2003, 08:35 AM
#52
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Posts: 13
I just sent them an email as follows: "I must say that I was very excited about this car when I first read about it. I still own my 1994 RX-7. I pre-ordered my Mazda RX-8 back in March. This was done through Val Strough Mazda in Oakland California first, but they turned out not to be placing any pre-orders so over a month later I placed the order with Royal Mazda San Francisco, CA. This went through delay after delay and finally two months later with no build date I purchased my car off the floor at Val Strough Mazda in Oakland CA. I had to pay almost $2,500 over sticker. They originally wanted a $10,000 dealer markup. Now what I cannot figure out is that, although the car was rated at almost identical horsepower numbers to the stock 3rd generation RX-7, in reality driving both cars, it has way less. I have not placed my car on a Dyno yet but I will be doing so. The last time I went back to read about the RX-8 on your website, the Horsepower numbers had changed. I realize that the RX-8 with four seats may have been aimed at a different market than the last RX-7 but I at least expected the power output to be on the mark. I have heard now that Mazda if going to be offering their customers a plan similiar to what was offered Miata owners. To be quite honest, I am not interested in free maintenance. I am interested in finding out what can be done to put the car back in line with the Horsepower numbers advertised. I am a big fan of the rotary engine and I fully understand its potential. It is however embarassing as nice as this car looks, knowing that all of its competitors, mainly the 350Z are able to put it to shame in performance. Please put my mind at ease and tell me that Mazda is going to offer those of us who are more interested in the cars performance, than maintenance, a alternative to get the promised power output this car was advertised to have when we all lined up to buy it."
08-30-2003, 08:49 AM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Jensen Beach, FL / Sylva, NC
Posts: 2,934
This guy just posted on RX-8 forum. I think he sums it all up. Finally an RX-8 owner over there that is not in denial and KNOWS what a 250HP car SHOULD feel like.
After putting 2000+ miles on the vehicle (long road trip last week) I have to say that the power is indeed missing. I've driven a variety of vehicles, and we're just not getting it done. In terms of straight line acceleration it's not even close. It picks up speed much more like my '66 Mustang (289V8 AT, 144hp) than my Eagle Talon (turbo, MT, 210hp, FWD). I spent enough time getting on and off highways (not in 6th or 5th thank you) to build a solid opinion that I was happier hitting the highway in my Miata than I am in my 8 right now.
The numbers do matter. For everybody claiming they don't because the performance is still the same, you're full of it. Performance is NUMBERS. I don't care if you compare 0-60, lateral G, 1/4 mile, hp, torque, whatever. They're quantified values and many of us comparison shop using those numbers. I enjoy this car. I want it fixed because right now it's not developing enough power, acceleration, or whatever to beat my Eagle Talon (210 hp) onto the highway in front of a big rig.
If I did not read this forum, or had not received THE LETTER, I would have been complaining to my service department (1st oil change) next week about a lack of power, especially at high RPM, with the intent of getting the car fixed. What's worse is that now not only is the car broken with no hope of repair, I'm the laughing stock of several performance communities for trusting Mazda or actually believing that Mazda could pull off a 4 seat / 4 door sports car with not too many compromises.
I love the car, but a 250 hp car should make me MORE confident facing an on-ramp with a fast apporaching rig than any previous vehicle I've owned. I want that margin of comfort/safety, not $500/free service and not a refund.
PS totally dif thought: last i checked this was the USofA. we don't supress people for voicing their opinions, regardless of whether we like them or not.
The numbers do matter. For everybody claiming they don't because the performance is still the same, you're full of it. Performance is NUMBERS. I don't care if you compare 0-60, lateral G, 1/4 mile, hp, torque, whatever. They're quantified values and many of us comparison shop using those numbers. I enjoy this car. I want it fixed because right now it's not developing enough power, acceleration, or whatever to beat my Eagle Talon (210 hp) onto the highway in front of a big rig.
If I did not read this forum, or had not received THE LETTER, I would have been complaining to my service department (1st oil change) next week about a lack of power, especially at high RPM, with the intent of getting the car fixed. What's worse is that now not only is the car broken with no hope of repair, I'm the laughing stock of several performance communities for trusting Mazda or actually believing that Mazda could pull off a 4 seat / 4 door sports car with not too many compromises.
I love the car, but a 250 hp car should make me MORE confident facing an on-ramp with a fast apporaching rig than any previous vehicle I've owned. I want that margin of comfort/safety, not $500/free service and not a refund.
PS totally dif thought: last i checked this was the USofA. we don't supress people for voicing their opinions, regardless of whether we like them or not.
08-31-2003, 05:28 AM
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 787
Originally Posted by vosko' date='Aug 26 2003, 08:18 PM
well if i meant to say that people should be happy with less power that isn't right. hell i might even become the owner of an rx8 pending on what happens with my FD
D-san
08-31-2003, 06:01 AM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Canberra Australia
Posts: 875
Originally Posted by neomicro' date='Aug 26 2003, 05:35 AM
I just sent them an email as follows: "I must say that I was very excited about this car when I first read about it. I still own my 1994 RX-7. I pre-ordered my Mazda RX-8 back in March. This was done through Val Strough Mazda in Oakland California first, but they turned out not to be placing any pre-orders so over a month later I placed the order with Royal Mazda San Francisco, CA. This went through delay after delay and finally two months later with no build date I purchased my car off the floor at Val Strough Mazda in Oakland CA. I had to pay almost $2,500 over sticker. They originally wanted a $10,000 dealer markup. Now what I cannot figure out is that, although the car was rated at almost identical horsepower numbers to the stock 3rd generation RX-7, in reality driving both cars, it has way less. I have not placed my car on a Dyno yet but I will be doing so. The last time I went back to read about the RX-8 on your website, the Horsepower numbers had changed. I realize that the RX-8 with four seats may have been aimed at a different market than the last RX-7 but I at least expected the power output to be on the mark. I have heard now that Mazda if going to be offering their customers a plan similiar to what was offered Miata owners. To be quite honest, I am not interested in free maintenance. I am interested in finding out what can be done to put the car back in line with the Horsepower numbers advertised. I am a big fan of the rotary engine and I fully understand its potential. It is however embarassing as nice as this car looks, knowing that all of its competitors, mainly the 350Z are able to put it to shame in performance. Please put my mind at ease and tell me that Mazda is going to offer those of us who are more interested in the cars performance, than maintenance, a alternative to get the promised power output this car was advertised to have when we all lined up to buy it."
08-31-2003, 03:20 PM
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fountain Valley, CA
Posts: 260
You know, it does suck and all that the RX-8 is down on power, but that just gives it more room for improvement 
. The lower HP rating makes its specs (i.e. 0-60 and 1/4 mi) look just that much more impressive. Call me an overbearing optimist, but I think that the HP problem can be easily rectified with free Mazdaspeed parts