I've a Mazda RX8 R3 that is now 15,000 miles & 2 1/2 years old and still under the manufacturer's 3-year guarantee. I've 3 issues that I want to take up on the warranty and would appreciate some advice on whether I'm being realistic or not:

1. Gearbox. Unless I double declutch or go from 5th gear, the synchromesh grinds away and I can't get 6th gear. Playing with the engine revs makes no difference. Also, the gearbox is very notchy in 1, 2 and 3, particulalry when cold so that I've developed the habit of double declutching every time I move between 1, 2 & 3.

2. Alloy wheels. Each of the alloy wheels has about 4 or 5 patches of bubbling paint the size of a pound coin on the front and 5-10 much larger patches on the rear rim and main circumference.

3. Seats. A problem common to all these cars. The half-leather seats are wearing very badly on the driver's seat bolster, with much of the leather bonded onto the fabric wearing down to the fabric (it's not my idea of leather, more like a thin veneer of cheap hide, but apparently they can call it 'leather'). Also, the bar in the bottom of the seat back is close to the surface and thinly padded so that any journey of more than 15 mins is painful unless the seat back is almost vertical; this is so bad that in exasperation I've changed the seats for the earlier version's.

Any advice or experience?