CAR: 231PS Silver with black leather, sunroof & SATNAV.

Well first impressions result in an ear to ear smile.
Second impressions when sitting in it results in my bottom lip crying out in agony cos it cant be stretched any further!

Third and final impression was I absolutely hated the sunroof.
Why? Well it took so much room away for my 6'4'' height.
will definitely not be having a sunroof, ever, ever ever in any car...

The car looks good in the silver after having been fed a diet of velocity red at every turn from Mazda. Why couldn't you, Mazda, have used some other colours for contrast?
For me the red has turned out to be a bit like the BMW Mini syndrome, seen it at every turn for years before production and thoroughly apathetic to it as a result.

Took the car for a nice run on a route of my choice ie the roads that I run on every day and know each gear change point revs required etc to negotiate hills bends etc.

I found it to be just fine for pulling power. Sat in 6th at 50mph and squeezed the accelerator. Yes it pulled just like my inline six BMW in top and was quite satisfactory thank you. Not F1 acceleration but lets get real here it did it just fine.
Drop a cog or two and that bottom lip starts to complain once more.. In total had some time on A class windy roads, dual carriageway and b class roads. All fine although you can tell it has a slightly harder ride.

Initially two people were in the car and drove round to pick up my dad which meant three and it was still fast enough. I am not a speed junky but it is nice to have enough under you to get out of trouble. Love that wee beeper but only went for it a couple of times.

Tried the 0-60 bit and was well impressed. Was even more impressed with the 60-0 though. WOWWEE!!!!!!!
That makes you feel really safe.

Drivers seat was comfy apart from having to kick it back to get my head under the sunroof. Lumbar support was good. Lit up the Satnav and promptly shut it down cos it is a total gimmick for me, and anyway I would rather keep the £1500 towards keeping my BMW on the road, alongside the RX8 which would equate to 3yrs fully comp inusrance.. Much more fun and helps put things into total perspective.

Fit and finish was lovely overall. Good package from Mazda.
Drivers window WAS AUTO UP AND DOWN.
Love the noise at tick over. Love the noise at full chatter as well and I even managed to give a poor depra-sorry-deprived midlander a virtual test drive to boot!!!

What more can I say than superb.

 

words to follow

 

nice car!!!!!!

 

This shows how far back the seat back had to go to get me 6'4'' in with the sunroof. not nice.

 

last one

 

Nice pics Specman, look forward to your review

 

Best shots I've seen of a silver car yet, well done!

 

one more I found

 

Recaro kids seat in rearClick here to see range but buy from Halfords for £150

 

Recaro kids seat in rear showing space behind a 6'4'' guy

 

Loverly rear 8 pic there Specman - the car from the front and rear looks nice and squat on the tarmac there.


Sooooo glad I ordered silver at the moment.

 

Good review and good photos.

Thanks for the call Specman.

Cheers
(Deprived from the midlands :D)

 

Nice review, Nice pics too.

I've just notice something, is that right that the driver's seat is electronically adjustable whereas the passenger's is still on manual?

cheers.

 

correct drivers electric passenger manual

 

Glad you like it Specman

I hope they will be on production cars, but the new brochure definately says one touch down.

Even my Scoob has up and down so its not exactly a luxury.

Cheers
Mark

 

Another good review.

I had my test drive last Monday and I cannot get the noise out of my head. I must have looked completely mad, driving down the road in the rain with my head hanging out of the window trying to listen to the exhaust noise.

I have a feeling this will become yet another addiction.

Chris