Whilst a daily visitor to the forum I have not had much to comment upon, as I have yet to commit to the RX-8. However, an unscheduled detour, on route to friends took me past the local Mazda dealership (Westleigh Mazda, Southend-on-Sea) and from 70 yards I saw a familiar profile partially obscured by an MX5.
Familiar only because of the numerous pictures on this forum and my own collection of publicity material reviews etc. Having persuaded the wife we should stop and look we then had to wait for some ten minutes whilst another couple crawled all over the car, trying both rear and front seats etc.
Eventually they went into the dealership allowing me a chance to do just the same before they returned and asked if it would be OK if they now locked their car. After apologising profusely for having drooled all over their new vehicle. I could only take a last lingering look at the outside before being hustled away by the wife. I have held reservations about being able to get in and out of a sports car in view of my advancing years, but this never entered into my head as I had seated myself behind the wheel and tried the back seats, so my fears were obviously without foundation.
Also I was starled by the sheer size of this car and all it's proportions. Pictures just do not do justice to the sheer magnificent proportions and styling. This car truly is a thing of beauty. I am smitten and it only remains for me to take the test drive next week as I am almost one hundred percent sure that this is now the car I want and unless it drives like a pig I shall be ordering on the spot.

The car at the dealership was all black, cloth seats and no additions, no sun roof, SatNav, strakes etc, although it had must have had it's PDI as there were no plastic covers on seats or on body panels, nor labels, writing etc. on the screen. Having said that there were no registration plates and the guy buying it was not sure he would be able to drive it away or not. I forgot to ask or look to see if it were a LP or HP, I was so taken with just seeing the car for the first time all my thoughts were concentrated on just when can I get to drive one of these awesome looking cars.

Ah - Harrizone, it was you! You owe me a beer for letting you have the keys to look around. The other couple weren't so polite, pretty much pushed their way in while my back was turned to talk to the dealer! Am assured that it will be back in the workshop till I pick it up next week, so no more sneek previews.

Now looking forward to the Southend-on-Sea branch of the owners club!

Harrizone,

I am sure you will put pen to paper. Like you I had been watching from afar for months. Test drove in September and placed an order the following week..

Originally posted by Harrizone

...I was starled by the sheer size of this car and all it's proportions. Pictures just do not do justice to the sheer magnificent proportions and styling. This car truly is a thing of beauty.

Couldn't have put it better myself Harrizone!

I had looked at numerous pictures of the car but just wasn't prepared for the sheer presence it had when I saw it "in the flesh".

I didnt even test drive it. Ordered one there and then.
For once, I was a car salesmans dream!

I hope I was not the other "couple" who were rather rude and "pushed their way in". I did talk to the delighted owner on Saturday but only when the salesman had left his desk and left as soon as he came back.

Perhaps it was the couple who got the keys and left the car with finger prints over both driver's side doors. It was great to see it but I would not want anyone touching my car before I got it and I certainly would not try to blag the keys when the owner was tied up with the salesman.

Perhaps we are all just getting too excited... There are here at last

ploszek/Chris Hall

As we are all three 'Junior Members" I can only assume that news of the RX-8 came late to the backwoods of Essex. I have only once previously been to Westliegh Mazda and found them to be less than helpful and so am travelling to Romford for my test drive next week.

I too noticed that someone had been inconsiderate enough to leave their paw prints all over the windows, I can assure you I treated the car with due reverence upon seeing it and having been seeking a replacement for my existing car for over some six months I now think I have found the 'Holy Grail'.

Having read many of the posts on this site, it may be that this is only the beginning of a rather long path toward achieving ownership, and if I am to put pen to paper, as Pillman suggests, I have only a very short time to decide on the colour I want. I am rather taken with the Silver, and the Red and then again the Grey looks really smart, but the black was quite classy.

Oh! b****r.

As for the extras. I know it may be letting the side down and pandering to Mazda, but I'm just going to exclude the sunroof and SatNav and include everything else. The sunroof will only serve to burn a bigger bald spot and I know just about everywhere in the UK so can dispense with the rather expensive A-Z, as for the rest it will just be too difficult to make up my mind so will go the whole hog and blow the expense.

Include another new club member, as soon as I sign up for the car you can have my £25, but not until I do sign, as I shall just not feel right, belonging to an owners club and not yet owning even a small part of the vehicle.

I would have picked yellow...however my wife (and more importantly my 21 year old sister) said I would like like "a sad old pratt" (I am 36 years) I went for titanium - I am pleased.

Sorry, meant to say "look like" not "like like"...