blizz81
09-16-2003, 08:07 PM
Just thought I would give my take since I've spent some time here on the board without an 8 or ever have experienced one on the move...maybe it should be in general discussion, but I'll go easy and post it in the lounge.
Took a spin around some of the calmer backroad areas of the city (with twisty/roundabout advantages littered throughout) with RXHusker at the helm of his sharp titanium 8 w/appearance pkg. The titanium is very easy on the eyes. It'd be a hard choice b/t silver and titanium for my fav.
The DSC was off, and wow...the nimble spirit of the car was, from the passenger seat, just the kind of ride I was hoping for. Smooth acceleration on tap and readily available from pretty far down low (I was glancing at the tach a lot...the fun really starts from just under 4k and up), with a great tune from the renesis...
The ride and handling of the car felt very stable, planted, and yet, not a jiggly ride like some complain on more sport-only suspensions (I would say 350Z but I have yet to ride in/drive one). Really a great combination over the duration of the trip of ride and handling. We pulled some spirited turns and broke the back end out once or twice...if there's body roll, it sure isn't very noticable. This is a drivers car that maintains comfort...I could definitely see having fun at the autocross, or just zipping through turns on your everyday drive.
For the record the HP issue has never been that disconcerting to me - as much as I believe in getting what's advertised, and that Mazda should probably straighten up numbers and give a little retribution to buyers who had 248hp on their mind, the spirit of this car is not compromised. I wanted to see how linear the acceleration curve felt, and to see if I could notice any dragging up top...it just opened up more with no sign of hesitation anywhere to me as a passenger. The push did not feel the same/as obvious as my 5-speed 95 Maxima (that has a notably flat curve for most of the powerband, and 210lb/ft max stretched out pretty well), but I can say the 8 feels like it could walk my ~15.0-15.2 1/4mi max should a straight-line test be put to action. The high-revving push of the 8 is quick and addictive, and is definitely enough power for the likes of me. It reminded me of my old integra's willingness to rev, something I miss. As much as I enjoy the maxima for a number of reasons, and the down-low torque, it just does not beg to be driven quite like my (130hp/120s lb/ft) integra, or especially the RX-8.
Maybe those that enjoy nimble, road-hugging high-revving rwd machines that are also smooth, comfortable, and civil enough for a daily driver are few and far between, but it's right up my alley.
I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone - some would definitely take a little bit less nimble nature for say, the torquey power of the Z (which I still need to sample a spin in, even though the styling is a big turn off, inside and out). But starting at $27k, it's a lot of car overall even if the HP is misrated. Let's hope graduation & career commence as planned come May for my sake :)
Thanks again for the ride, pilot husker ;)
Took a spin around some of the calmer backroad areas of the city (with twisty/roundabout advantages littered throughout) with RXHusker at the helm of his sharp titanium 8 w/appearance pkg. The titanium is very easy on the eyes. It'd be a hard choice b/t silver and titanium for my fav.
The DSC was off, and wow...the nimble spirit of the car was, from the passenger seat, just the kind of ride I was hoping for. Smooth acceleration on tap and readily available from pretty far down low (I was glancing at the tach a lot...the fun really starts from just under 4k and up), with a great tune from the renesis...
The ride and handling of the car felt very stable, planted, and yet, not a jiggly ride like some complain on more sport-only suspensions (I would say 350Z but I have yet to ride in/drive one). Really a great combination over the duration of the trip of ride and handling. We pulled some spirited turns and broke the back end out once or twice...if there's body roll, it sure isn't very noticable. This is a drivers car that maintains comfort...I could definitely see having fun at the autocross, or just zipping through turns on your everyday drive.
For the record the HP issue has never been that disconcerting to me - as much as I believe in getting what's advertised, and that Mazda should probably straighten up numbers and give a little retribution to buyers who had 248hp on their mind, the spirit of this car is not compromised. I wanted to see how linear the acceleration curve felt, and to see if I could notice any dragging up top...it just opened up more with no sign of hesitation anywhere to me as a passenger. The push did not feel the same/as obvious as my 5-speed 95 Maxima (that has a notably flat curve for most of the powerband, and 210lb/ft max stretched out pretty well), but I can say the 8 feels like it could walk my ~15.0-15.2 1/4mi max should a straight-line test be put to action. The high-revving push of the 8 is quick and addictive, and is definitely enough power for the likes of me. It reminded me of my old integra's willingness to rev, something I miss. As much as I enjoy the maxima for a number of reasons, and the down-low torque, it just does not beg to be driven quite like my (130hp/120s lb/ft) integra, or especially the RX-8.
Maybe those that enjoy nimble, road-hugging high-revving rwd machines that are also smooth, comfortable, and civil enough for a daily driver are few and far between, but it's right up my alley.
I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone - some would definitely take a little bit less nimble nature for say, the torquey power of the Z (which I still need to sample a spin in, even though the styling is a big turn off, inside and out). But starting at $27k, it's a lot of car overall even if the HP is misrated. Let's hope graduation & career commence as planned come May for my sake :)
Thanks again for the ride, pilot husker ;)