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Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:39 pm
by Jastreb
What's up folks? Been away from the forum for a while... Real life and all that...

Still have the RX-8. Now with 79,000 miles. (California commuting will do that.)
Have developed an annoying suspension creaking at low speeds (when it is quiet enough to notice). Methinks my sway bar bushings may need to be lubed.
Anyone have any product recommendations for rubber bushings? I know you're supposed to stay away from hydrocarbon-based stuff and I'm having trouble finding appropriate stuff @ autozone...

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:43 pm
by AHTOXA
At that mileage, you're probably better off replacing the bushings rather than greasing them. Otherwise, I'm glad you still have the car!

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:21 pm
by watkins
Ahh I love that car!

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:50 am
by potownrob
ah yes, i remember her fondly, and i wasn't even the one driving 8)

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:47 am
by noob5,000,000
Jastreb wrote: During:
Image
I'm kind of surprised that the RX-8s use sliding calipers in the front. 5-lug FCs and all FDs have nice 4-piston aluminum calipers up front :mrgreen: .

I guess there's no reason to increase costs if they work, I've never heard anything bad about the stock 8 brakes. But still, the aluminum calipers are sexy :lol: .

I still really like the look of the post-facelift RX-8s. I would not mind owning one at all. :)

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:09 am
by potownrob

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 3:49 pm
by Jastreb
AHTOXA wrote:At that mileage, you're probably better off replacing the bushings rather than greasing them. Otherwise, I'm glad you still have the car!
You have a good point, considering the bushings are $6.00 a piece.

I've actually been thinking of selling the car, as painful as that would be. I moved to a nicer place that's farther from work, and now my commute is 100 miles per day and the costs are adding up. I need something with better gas mileage and lower insurance costs :(

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:09 am
by AHTOXA
100 miles a day!

The longest commute I've ever done was about 76 miles a day, and I will never, ever (willingly or long term) do that again. Too much lost time, too much wasted money. A nice place isn't worth it to me at all.

My commute today is 9 miles round trip. Would bike it, if it weren't for non bike-friendly Dallas.

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:47 am
by watkins
My worst commute was 11 miles each way. My rule is no more than a half hour drive each way. Fortunately my drive is currently between 7 and 25 minutes depending on traffic.

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:38 pm
by Squint
watkins wrote:My worst commute was 11 miles each way. My rule is no more than a half hour drive each way. Fortunately my drive is currently between 7 and 25 minutes depending on traffic.
I had an hour commute each way when in WV. But since then, I've never had more than 35 minutes in rush hour traffic. Since I'm in school and have longer days, I rarely hit rush hour traffic because I'm usually at work by about 8 and don't leave work until close to 6, when traffic has died down again (at least somewhat). My current commute is somewhere between 20-30 minutes each way, depending on traffic, day, and time.

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:24 pm
by potownrob
What about getting a second cheaper car to use for commuter duty, then you can keep the sweet blue rocket for weekend/non-commuting duty. VROOOOOM!!!!

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:34 pm
by Squint
potownrob wrote:What about getting a second cheaper car to use for commuter duty, then you can keep the sweet blue rocket for weekend/non-commuting duty. VROOOOOM!!!!
That might reduce his gas costs, but insurance would actually go up. It is certainly an idea for consideration though, if he has the space/money.

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:48 pm
by theholycow
AHTOXA wrote:The longest commute I've ever done was about 76 miles a day, and I will never, ever (willingly or long term) do that again. Too much lost time, too much wasted money. A nice place isn't worth it to me at all.
That's about my commute length and it's really nice. I get to spend time alone with my car and my music. It does help that my commute is pleasant, rarely any significant traffic and most of it is scenic.
potownrob wrote:What about getting a second cheaper car to use for commuter duty, then you can keep the sweet blue rocket for weekend/non-commuting duty. VROOOOOM!!!!
Cars exist to be driven, not to rot in the garage. Why spend 15 hours per week miserable in a crappy beater and leave your awesome vroom machine at home?

I dunno, maybe I'm just weird...I'd also rather spend time with my wife than someone I don't care about.

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:05 pm
by AHTOXA
I spend plenty of time alone and with my music - that's the reason I live alone and not with a roommate.

Lengthy commuting kills time that I could use to: walk/play with dog, relax, do minor work, masturbate excessively, read a book, ponder which cereal to eat, look at cat videos online, wonder how radioactive most of Pripyat' is, wash and lube the bike, parade in lycra shorts around the house, experiment with matches, drink beer, clean guns, pickup a hot neighbor chick, fail at picking up a hot neighbor chick, join a hippy organization, check fluids in the car, release diarrhea, provide positive community resource, take a crap, paint the tub, try to catch a squirrel, watch youtube, name a pet spider, grow nighcrawlers, take up a new sport, measure penis length, get arrested, have kinky sex.

Re: Jastreb's 2009 Mazda Rx-8, "Isabella"

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:42 pm
by watkins
You missed combing your beard.