Just back from my second slightly longer test-drive.

Weybridge T.W.Whites have a Red high power demo, with red/black leather and sat-nav.

In the showroom, they have a customer car, which is like mine - Black with Black leather - minus the sat-nav. The car aslo has the moonroof, which at 5-11 I am glad I did not get. With the seat at the lowest, the roof was pretty close to my head. It did however, confirm that Black with black leather is my favourite colour combination.

Sadly I forgot my camera. Had a sit in the back of the black one, and found space to be more than adequate. (anything would be an improvement over the back seats in the TT coupe!!)

To the test-drive. I was keen to take the car on some twisties, as my first drive had been mainly on the M25. My girllfriend came along too and sat in the back. She sat behind the salesman, and found space fine. She did comment on it being a bit noisy in the back. We were on a concrete section of M25 at the time.

Quick spurt down one junction of the M25, and as I have said before - the punch from th turbo is not there, but speed gathers deceptively quickly, and 100 was showing with little effort (nearly in 3rd too if I recall correctly). 2nd is certainly good for 60..

Got onto some twisties, and the car is in it's element - 2nd and 3rd is all you need, and the car is very direct and chuckable.

Had a play with the Bose breifly - all seemed fine. Put the adiopilot on, but not really enough time to see if it worked. Didnt notice any change in volumes which I suppose suggests it works!

My girlfriend then drove, and enjoyed it. She felt it was on a par with the TT in terms of performance.

So, still happy. Hopfully the car will be here by the end of November. Rob suggested that people were spending on average between 600 and 900 on accessories! I for one will wait to see what comes out aftermarket. I know the car is cheap in the first place, but I think the prices are taking the piss...

I think thats all I can recall - if you want to know anything more, just ask!

Ed.

Good news indeed..

One thing that worried me though -
Did you mean that there was a customers car in their showroom that people were being allowed to clamber all over , get in the back etc ????
Surely not - that is dreadful ! Last thing I would want is other people scuffing bits up etc.

Or have I misunderstood ?

No, it was a customer car. I thought this too. I will be making it clear that I dont want this to happen to mine. I should point out that I was very careful, and it had paper mats in the footwells...

Edo,

It seem taht you drove my car!!!- spec wise anyway. What is you honest thought on the red with the red/black leather. How do you compare it against the other colours aprt from the black!!!!

I like the red - but think it lacks a bit of "class", except in the sun, when the mica looks great. I have always prefered dark colours however. My order of prference for exterior is; Nordic, Black, Red, Tit, Silver...

If they had done the Dark Metalic blue that they do the MX5 in, I may have gone for that..

As for the interior, again, whilst the red brightens up the interior, I am not a great fan of it. I certainly dont like the red on the steering wheel - I think this may look grubby after a year.

Again, all personal preferences - Nothing (except Yellow!) looks bad.

The quality of the plastics is pretty good - not quite Audi, but close.

Also the rear door and front door closed with quite a good klunk. The rear door felt pretty solid..

When I ordered mine (back in Jan) I had a list of questions for the dealer , and one of those questions was "Will my car be in the showroom at all?" and I explained that I didn;t want people clambering all over it and jumping around inside it before I took delivery.
He assured me that this would not happen - guess this other customer was just unlucky...me, I would be furious if I found out !

Begs the question - why was it in the showroom ? I presume someone was waiting for the car and would be taking it ASAP - leaving no time for it to sit in the showroom.

Ah - when mine was out in public view I was asked nicely by an interested person if they could have a look. Now, while first instinct might be to get all possesive and tell them to take a running jump, it did occur to me that I might be being rather rude to one of you guys! As it turns out, two of them are posters here, so I hope I made the right decision.

I've just been on the phone to my local dealer (Nyetimber Mazda in Bognor Regis) to arrange a test drive for tomorrow.

I asked if they had a car in the showroom for me to look at and the saleman said yes, a customer's car was in the showroom to look at! Seems that using of customers cars in this way is a bit of a trend.

This use of customers' cars for Joe Public to wander round/get in is seriously 'out of order'!

Perhaps a letter to the garage we ordered from stating that we will not accept a car that has been available to the public is worthwhile? I'm also going to make sure I don't get any dealer decals on the paintwork - always looks tacky!

I'd be hopping mad if I knew someone had been getting in my car! And I wouldn't knowingly get in someone elses.

ploszek,

I will always be grateful for that first chance to look at the car and hope I showed the right degree of reverence. It at least allowed me to allay my fears that with my advancing years I would be able to get in and out of the car, without having to heave myself out on the door.

Also, it convinced the wife that my obsessive behaviour toward a functional device with four wheels was influenced by it's stylish looks, which coming from my wife, who's only concern is how I get her from A - B, was virtually the seal of approval.

Test drive is now booked for 10.00am Tuesday at Romford, Mazda, in their nice new sparkling (hopefully) Velocity Red HP with all the trimmings. Only problem is the wife now thinks the Winning Blue would best suit us and will want to see this colour before I make a decision. Something to do with matching her coat/hair/knickers/handbag?????? Who knows.

Whatever, the die is cast I shall be an RX-8 owner sometime in 2004. Sooner rather than later I hope.

Working in the my dealership if a customers car is in the showroom it is kept locked until the customer collects it.
nothing worse than a car with a scuff on that can't be explained!!

Originally posted by mazdamanjnr
Working in the my dealership if a customers car is in the showroom it is kept locked until the customer collects it.
nothing worse than a car with a scuff on that can't be explained!!

Good for you. My dealer proved tonight that they don't have such high standards because they were letting punters into a customer car at a demonstration. Grrr.

I'm glad you love black with black leather.

Somehow I knew it would be great....

Not long now...:D :cool:

Stu C

Had my second test drive on Saturday around Sandwich in Kent. Wife, 2 kids and 2 hours of fun...
Best bit: Huge dipping road ahead - OK let's redline...grinning like a lunatic at my wife..."listen" I shout at the family..."sounds like a bloody F1 car"
2nd best bit: going slowly through Canterbury with people turning and staring...I had no idea how much fun can you have doing 5,000 rpm while going slowly ...?
3rd best bit….leather seats that can be adjusted in 50,000 seat positions..!!

Worst bit: Child of 5 saying "I'm going to be sick" never had that problem before...need to get a high booster seat…!!

According to my wife I spent the entire two hours talking like a child who has eaten too much sweets..."look at that".....oh..!!..can you believe how well that works!"….