Ill address this is the same order you put it out :
1) if you make more things 'standard options' you raise the base price of the vehicle, so less people can get into the market, even on the low end....so you lose sales as you price the car out of the maket.
2) Limited slip is standard an the automatic with everypackage but the base model, I know you suggested it be standard on all models, but again it affects the price point. At leasts its not the 350z where you dont get LSD on the base auto or manual.
3) Pretty much the same as above. Standard on all but the base.
4) Also same as above standard on all but the base.
5) Yet again standard on all but the base.
Part of the thing with the LSD, 18 inch wheels, big brakes and sports suspension. A Lot those things come standard on the base 6speed so people can get a cheap platform to go racing. They are not standard on the auto cause mazda wants to price the auto to be cheap so that people who just want the looks of the car can get into it. Not a lot of auto buyers are after performance.
6) The fuel management is not really an issue, I dont know much on the auto, but on my 6speed I get ABOVE the epa estimates. 20-22mpg city and 24-25 on the highway. There are owners that get as much as 28mpg on the highway. Yes the car isnt as economical as far as fuel consumption as a piston engine of similar power, that is just part of the trade off of getting the car with a rotary engine. I gladly trade the 5mpg more I used to get with my miata for the extra rear seat and the power band from the rx8. Every car is gonna have its good and bad points. Mazda has done a lot of work with new ECU software since the car came out to help power and economy. Personaly I feel that the power of the 6spd is pretty good for the quality of the suspension and brakes, its all balanced. If you were to just dump more money into the motor without looking at the rest of the car it would feel unbalanced IMO.
7)This statement makes me feel that you might not know much about the rotary engine or the rx8. All rotary engines are designed to burn oil. Its part of how they work. The only way to lubricated the apex (corner) seals in the motor is to put some oil in the combustion chamber.....and because of that some oil will be consumed. You cant change that.
8) Tricky update of the clutch? Im not sure what you mean. My miata as well as other cars I have driven had heavy aftermarket clutches. Maby thats why the rx8 clutch feels so easy to me. The clutch is very light and slips easily...something I dont like, but I think it would make it very easy for first time manual drivers, or people who tend to have trouble starting from a stop in a manual. I generaly bring the revs up to about 1200-1500 and slip the clutch for about 1sec and im away and the clutch if fully disengaged. I have seen many other drivers that have trouble with the fast reving of the engine and slip the clutch from 2-3k rpm to get started. Ouch!
9) This is something we could all debate all day. My car dyno'd (stock) 165whp on a mustang dyno and 185 on a dyno jet. Both these put the crank power at about 220-230. The trap speed of the car (95mph) also suggests (for the weight of the car) that the power is around 220-230. Tha is pretty close to the revised HP number. Also as my dyno was done in close to 95*F weather with high humidity and the car was hot from driving to the dyno. I think the power figures are pretty accurate. Maby your one of the people that are just not happy with the power even if it is 238hp or whatever. I dont know what to tell you. I think the car stock has good power for what it is. The rx8 is not a sports car.......like an vette, 350z, gto, ect. It is in the category of 'sports-touring' or 'grand-touring'. Its a sporty car yes....but you have to remember, mazdas Idea wasnt to make a car that would be a top of the pack performer. It was to build a reliable and functional car that could be fun to drive and still take the family on vacation. It put the rotary motor in the car to help get people back on the rotary bandwagon and see that the engine is a good platform to build off of. That way down the road if they do come out with another rotary sports car.....people will be interested and not slump it off as another car with that 'problem rotary motor'. That is my thoughts. If I wanted a sports car I would have gotten a used 02-04 Z06 corvette, I wanted a fun to drive, functional car that could go on road trips and put around town....but still be a nice ride at an autox or track event. Its a good platform to build off of....and its downright sexy!
