Hi
I'm almost a new owner, picking my RX-8 up on Saturday the 16th.
This is my first time owning a sports car so I'm both excited and a little daunted with the responsibility.
I hope I can spend most of my time here laughing about the good times in the car instead of crying about what's happening under the bonnet.
I look forward to interacting with everyone and I'll try not to ask too many stupid or obvious questions
New owner (nearly)
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New owner (nearly)
Hi Bruce & to the RX-8OC
Please put your Location here in the Profile Section
Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's - Events Team
Please put your Location here in the Profile Section
Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's - Events Team
GreySilver Beast-Test Drives Unlimited (Nigel)
Club Member from 2006 - present
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Tesla M3LR AB 363 AWD " Blue Beast "
Club Member from 2006 - present
Events Team from 2015 - 2024
Events Coordinator from 2017 - 2023
Administrator from 2012 - present RX-8 Owners Club UK
Tesla M3LR AB 363 AWD " Blue Beast "
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Re: New owner (nearly)
Hi and bruce779. Asking questions is absolutely fine - and no question is stupid if you can't easily find the answer (there is a very good chance it has been asked before, but we have 15 years of questions and answers so an 'obvious' answer may take some digging where someone here will either know where to point you or have it at their fingertips already).
Have a good read through whatever in the FAQ section you didn't already read and then (and just ignore me if you know all this already) here are my best tips for keeping it all running sweetly:
1. To start up turn the key to position 2, wait for most of the lights on the dash to go out (I watch the airbag light by the glove box), press the clutch to the floor (optional, but reduces drag), turn the key to start and do not touch the throttle until it has started. You can drive off straight away, just keep the revs down for a bit (see #4 below).
2. Never turn off the engine before it has reached at least somewhere towards normal operating temperature (should only take a minute or two, but best to go for a short drive if just swapping cars round on the drive etc). Switching off cold risks flooding, which is a real with a rotary engine. Mazda recommend rev to 4k and hold it for 8-10 seconds switching off while still revving if you have no option but to switch off cold (it is not necessary to do this in any other circumstance).
3. Check the oil level regularly (use the dipstick - the oil gauge tells you nothing other than that you have or don't have pressure) and top up if necessary with semi synthetic 5w30 (most people and specialists are advising to use 10w40 now though) ... small amounts at a time, no more than ½ a litre then check the level again before adding more as you don't want to overfill it.
4. Use all the revs once the engine is nice and warm (don't sit idling to warm up, start up and drive but keep it below about 4k until the needle on the water temperature gauge is pointing straight up, then give it another 10 minutes for the oil to warm up too before really thrashing it ) and hit the beep often. Best acceleration is from 4k revs up - to pull away you really need to rev to 2k - you can let the revs drop after lifting the clutch if you are in traffic, cruising steadily at 3½k revs and changing down to go up hills or accelerate gets you the best mpg ... which still won't be great.
5. Join the club for discounts on all sorts of things (you will very quickly get the cost of membership back - and then some), loads more info in the members only sections, local meets (or if you can't find one exactly local it is a good excuse for a drive if you come to one a bit further away), a sexy keyring just for joining and more.
Have a good read through whatever in the FAQ section you didn't already read and then (and just ignore me if you know all this already) here are my best tips for keeping it all running sweetly:
1. To start up turn the key to position 2, wait for most of the lights on the dash to go out (I watch the airbag light by the glove box), press the clutch to the floor (optional, but reduces drag), turn the key to start and do not touch the throttle until it has started. You can drive off straight away, just keep the revs down for a bit (see #4 below).
2. Never turn off the engine before it has reached at least somewhere towards normal operating temperature (should only take a minute or two, but best to go for a short drive if just swapping cars round on the drive etc). Switching off cold risks flooding, which is a real with a rotary engine. Mazda recommend rev to 4k and hold it for 8-10 seconds switching off while still revving if you have no option but to switch off cold (it is not necessary to do this in any other circumstance).
3. Check the oil level regularly (use the dipstick - the oil gauge tells you nothing other than that you have or don't have pressure) and top up if necessary with semi synthetic 5w30 (most people and specialists are advising to use 10w40 now though) ... small amounts at a time, no more than ½ a litre then check the level again before adding more as you don't want to overfill it.
4. Use all the revs once the engine is nice and warm (don't sit idling to warm up, start up and drive but keep it below about 4k until the needle on the water temperature gauge is pointing straight up, then give it another 10 minutes for the oil to warm up too before really thrashing it ) and hit the beep often. Best acceleration is from 4k revs up - to pull away you really need to rev to 2k - you can let the revs drop after lifting the clutch if you are in traffic, cruising steadily at 3½k revs and changing down to go up hills or accelerate gets you the best mpg ... which still won't be great.
5. Join the club for discounts on all sorts of things (you will very quickly get the cost of membership back - and then some), loads more info in the members only sections, local meets (or if you can't find one exactly local it is a good excuse for a drive if you come to one a bit further away), a sexy keyring just for joining and more.
'Grington.
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired)
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired)
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired)
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired)
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Re: New owner (nearly)
Thanks guys, especially to you Shagrington, those are some very useful tips, especially the one about the start up. That explains why I kept stalling it on the test drive
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- Shagrington (Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:48 pm)
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Re: New owner (nearly)
Looking forward to some pics when you have taken ownership!
If you are planning on getting to know your car as best you can, the membership fee is an absolute bargain for the extra resources that become available to you
If you are planning on getting to know your car as best you can, the membership fee is an absolute bargain for the extra resources that become available to you
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Re: New owner (nearly)
Glad the tips are useful - and yes, not giving it enough revs to pull away was something a lot of us did at first.
As you're already in Scotland you may want to spend a weekend 'cruising' round the NC500 with some good lads in September - more info here (with a link to the appropriate Facebook group for more info/details) viewtopic.php?f=101&t=78542&p=1194802#p1194802
As you're already in Scotland you may want to spend a weekend 'cruising' round the NC500 with some good lads in September - more info here (with a link to the appropriate Facebook group for more info/details) viewtopic.php?f=101&t=78542&p=1194802#p1194802
'Grington.
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired)
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired)
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired)
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired)
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Re: New owner (nearly)
I've had mine a week and am still forgetting...Shagrington wrote:Glad the tips are useful - and yes, not giving it enough revs to pull away was something a lot of us did at first.
So, how's three days of ownership treating you?
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Re: New owner (nearly)
I'm about 4 days in myself! If you have any issues let me know, We'll probably face the same ones so we could share some pointers!
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Re: New owner (nearly)
Sorry it's taken so long to report back, things have been hectic and I've barely had a chance to take my baby out.
Thought I better share a pic with you all
My baby the day I got her
Thought I better share a pic with you all
My baby the day I got her
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Re: New owner (nearly)
The weather has improved since then
'Grington.
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired)
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired)
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired)
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired)