well here she is:

You got it! Congratulations KEF!

Looks FANTASTIC! :D

YOU B******* ! ! ! !

Well done mate. Green with envy - but well done all the same !

Wooo wooo wooo...!!! fairplay KEF....we have touchdown....

PS: Nice house....!!

Well done KEF, the car looks fat!!!!!!

Thats got to be a photoshop date on the image - no way is the weather that good in Scotland today.

No, congrats - looks fantastic.

Nice car, nice gaff - it aint yours though is it!

Amazing KEF well done mate, really glad for you!

The Black looks far better than the silver.

the black looks far better than the silver but no the red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

No that's what I was getting at! :d

I love the Red!

Thanks guys,

just arrived back at my flat, having caused a stoppage at work by arriving in my new wheels.

just back here to grab an over night bag then I'm outta here for the weekend, I'll take the digi camera with me and check back in on monday....

good luck to everyone expecting theirs tomorrow.


Happiest man in scotland :D :cool: :D :cool: :D

Congrats KEF! :D

Car looks awesome, great photo and backdrop as well.

Well done KEF, jealous with envy!!

Don't forget to post some pics on the RX8 Owners Club as well because you are the 1st Club Member with a car!!

Cheers
Oilman

Congratulations. !!

Originally posted by KEF

just back here to grab an over night bag then I'm outta here for the weekend, I'll take the digi camera with me and check back in on monday....


WHAT?? You cant go away for the weekend and leave us hanging like that!!

What about more pictures? What about a "My thoughts on the RX8 so far" type review? What about the "MPG So Far" posts?

Some people! You've no right to a social life at a time like this!

:D :D :D

Congratulations, you are one lucky man!!!

Did you opt for "Drumsandbassandrockandroll"?

Congrats KEF !!!

Not jealous (honest!) ... just glad to see them arriving at last ....
makes me think the delivery dates we are now getting are probably quite realistic.

KEF

NICE ride, i didnt realize you lived in a castle : We should call you LORD KEF FROM SCOTLAND .

CONGRATS , but yellow still rocks .

Michael

Lock and Load, I love your yellow...I wussed out at the last moment...

Congrats from Holland !!!!
We wish you an awfull lot of safe and happy miles in your 8.



Eric

Nice one. And black too.....:D


Reckon mine will be 2 weeks yet.....:(


Stu C

Many Congratulations KEF:D :D Fantastic setting!

thepenn;)

Very nice photo of the black 8.

Congrats KEF.

Only a few more weeks for me!

(All I need now is a bloody castle!!:D )

Congratulations KEF - yes the black looks great.....

:(

Mine is defo wednesday, possibly tuesday...

PILLMAN

Hey you can always change your mind and pick up a yellow one in january 2004 .

IMO titanium looses its appeal when on the road , it tends to blend in with everything else ,including the road .

I spoke to one of the leading car journalist and he told me that yellow was the upcoming colour in 2004 -2005 and beyond as silver and titanium have been big in 1999- 2003 .

If you get a chance view both cars being driven on the road then you will no what i mean .

Michael

Originally posted by Lock & Load
IMO titanium looses its appeal when on the road , it tends to blend in with everything else ,including the road .


Which is why Aston-Martin's are grey, S2000s look best in grey, the new uber-MG is grey etc etc. It's not the colour, it's the shape. A grey econobox will look boring but a car the shape of the RX-8 will look classy and interesting.
Anyway: the B2 Spirit stealth bomber is DESIGNED to disappear and you can't deny that's cool. ;)

Congrats KEF - I bet it will take a few weeks for the grin on your face to ease a little!

After seeing the picture I've realsied that I'm having my RX8 regardless of whether my passengers fit!

Originally posted by AndyPearce


After seeing the picture I've realsied that I'm having my RX8 regardless of whether my passengers fit!

Quite right too Andy. AFter all even with your high mileage I am sure you could justify lonesome cruising to and from work - just make it your hobby allowance as well:D

Hello again kids.

Just back after a weekend of driving, driving and more driving, with the odometer now reading 500 miles.

for anyone interested 1st tank mileage was 24mpg, 260 miles from full to warning light coming on. Fairly relaxed driving, staying well away from the warning buzzer, only touching 7k on a couple of occasions.

Rest assured the car is fantastic,
~ ride is firm but relaxing,
~ the brakes are better than anything else I've driven, VAG, BMW, etc
~ that engine note is addictive, sounds like a motor bike when you punch through the gears.
~ Bose is fine, although i'm not a fan of the audio pilot.
~ styling has generally been very well recieved, although black makes it a bit of a stealth car. (but kids love it)
~ rear space is good:

I took my brother and dad over to Crail for the tarmac rally, all 5'10" of my dad fitted fine behind my 6'3" brother, although it looked a little tighter when roles were reversed (but they both fell asleep on the way home so must have been ok)
Followed up today with a trip to Loch Fyne with two of my large mates (say about 15 stone apiece) no problems there either.

everyone comments that the back is like being in a private jet.

~ xenons are so good that high beam is a bit of a disappointment when you switch it on
~ the dash lights are superb, the white day illumination is better than anything I've ever seen while the red night lighs are clear without being distracting.

in terms of running, performance is deceptive, builds speed rapidly but quietly, even at running in speeds it is easy to get around in rapid fashion, 80mph is only 4k in sixth.

pulls well as long as you're in vaguely the right gear, you can accelerate out of a 30 zone in sixth gear at a resonable rate, but don't expect daft miracles.

handling is superb, rides firmly, corners level and grips comfortably at sane speeds (i've been faced with some wild weather over the weekend)

In all once I'd overcome buyers remorse I'm delighted. couple of downers but I can live with them:

Visibility is terrible compared to my old MX-6, I've already heavily kerbed one wheel when I thought I had acres of room to maneuver. The beveled wind mirrors help on the motorway though.

Turning circle is again worse than my MX-6 (missed my parents driveway on my first reversing attempt) but then again I'm used to four wheel steer, so I doubt I'd find any other current car better.

Quality is fantastic although my car seems to have a bizzare fault, the rear suspension makes a horrible creaking noise on tight bumpy corners, I'll have to get it looked at and will let you know the outcome.

got some new pictures but please bear in mind the weather was crap sat and sun, I'll download them from work tomorrow.

PS. the mansion in the photo was an admin building at stirling university, nice place. the response from everyone has got me thinking, I may go on a tour of scottish castles during my holiday at the end of the month.

PPS. enjoy topgear tonight, and fingers crossed you'll all be driving one soon.

Glad to hear that you're having loads of fun with your 8!!

I have kept away from showroom all weekend as I have my 1st test drive tomorrow:D :D :D

Not sure if I'll see any Lochs or castles but as long as what I am seeing is a soon to be blury memory I will not care:cool:

KEF
Good write-up.
I agree with all your comments, I havent done the distance you have, partly due to some awful weather. Not much to add. One quirk I noticed, do you find it difficult to get from 3rd to 4th when your caning the balls off it? No problem at low revs. Or is it me.
JH

Jon - why aren't you driving your car?

:)

3rd to 4th - what happens - do you go to 6th or is it notchy? I thought that 3rd to 4th should be the easiest as its centered around these gears so its just a straight down movement to go to 4th?

Jon
I know what you mean, the gate is quite tight, I seem to hit the separator between 3rd and 5th fairly regularly,

did crunch 4th on a (probably unnecessary) overtaking maneuver but I had my mate in his Focus RS pinned up my arse at the time,

also sounds like you're experiencing similar weather, despite the xenons I lost sight of the motorway for a couple of second on saturday night, quite frightening only being able to see the flash of brake lights coming on somewhere infront of me.

========================

any glitches with your car Jon?
I'm a little worried about the noise from the back end, but I'm reluctant to let them have the car back to check it out so soon.

========================

The temptation to ignore my self imposed running in period has been almost overwhelming, that engine noise is intoxicating (i keep switching the stereo off when accelerating)

(have a few pics of the '8 and the RS together nice briefs.)

renegade

the layout is quite tight, when you see the selector in 5th or 6th it's almost straight up, more like you'd expect from 3rd and 4th.

perhaps they've tilted the linkage to give greater handbrake clearance.

forgot to mention, I absolutely love that handbrake position, it's perfect...

Originally posted by renegade_si
Jon - why aren't you driving your car?

:)

Believe me, I am driving the car at every available opportunity, I just didnt rack up a tankful like Kef did. I am just having to balance my passion for the car with my passion for rugby, which involves drinking beer. Have spent most of Sunday giving demos.

3rd to 4th - what happens - do you go to 6th or is it notchy? I thought that 3rd to 4th should be the easiest as its centered around these gears so its just a straight down movement to go to 4th?

Hopefully just takes practice, there does seem to be a kink between 3rd and 4th but I've only experienced resistance at higher revs. By the way I was told I dont need to run it in, but am just being semi sensible with the revs. Tricky....

because the gears are so close you need to keep positive pressure on the stick for 1,2 and 5,6.
Problem seems to be not applying lateral load in the midrange, hard to do when you're really punching up the box


my dealer got himself tied up in verbal knots regarding running in, initially said no period, then muttered about being careful for the first 2-3 thousand, then realised he was being silly, personally trying to keep it down for at least the 1st 600. (think there may be something in the owners manual, but I've been to busy to read it carefully)

I'm sure you'll pass my mileage this week Jon, I've put the car into the garage for another week, I live within a couple of miles of work so for me the car is a weekend hobby.

(plus I'd be terrified to park the car in the scheme behind my office)

The manual just says for the first 600 dont maintain high revs for a sustained period; also dont brake too hard, accelerate away too hard or, interestingly dont maintain a constant engine speed for too long!
I do about 42 miles a day all week, so no worries about not enough driving!
And on your other point, I havent noticed any suspension noise on tight corners - have been driving with the Bose off. No glitches I can think of. Best mention it to your dealer.
I'm sure (hoping) the gear thing is just a 6 speed characteristic and I will get used to it. Will do some practising on the motorway....

Jon and KEF,

have you noticed that your gear stick and centre console (near the handbrake) is quite warm? I went out for my 1st 15min test drive on Saturday. The car had been used all day but it was still surprisely warm.

Originally posted by Stuartt
Jon and KEF,

have you noticed that your gear stick and centre console (near the handbrake) is quite warm? I went out for my 1st 15min test drive on Saturday. The car had been used all day but it was still surprisely warm.

to be honest I hadn't noticed, I put a couple of cans in there at a petrol station but drank them too quickly for them to warm up.

when cruising I quite usually sit with my elbow on the armrest and my hand sitting over the handbrake so I rarely touch the console.

Originally posted by KEF



in terms of running, performance is deceptive, builds speed rapidly but quietly, even at running in speeds it is easy to get around in rapid fashion, 80mph is only 4k in sixth.



That sounds too high. Are you sure it wasn't fith. Most of the cars I have owned have been doing around 3.5k rpm at 80mph in 5th. From my experience of the 8 I would say more like 3k rpm at 80mph in 6th.

Hey guys have you noticed a weird grinding sound around 7-8k rpm from the gear box?

Originally posted by Contigo
Hey guys have you noticed a weird grinding sound around 7-8k rpm from the gear box?

That sounds serious, get it back to the dealer.

fairly confident that it's about 4k at 80mph, are you used to a car that can rev to 9k ?

here have some more pics to lighten the mood.
(sorry about the quality, I spent the weekend trying to outrun the weather.)

waiting to be collected (hurry up)

beauty and the beast

top of the world

you'll never take our freedom!!!

1st full tank all done.

down at the quay

before the rain came down

Great pics KEF.
Cheered me up on a wet & windy Monday!

They are very good - you should drop a few into the Multimedia/Photo Gallery forum to let more people see them.

KEF,

Where did you take your pic "On top of the world"? I do a bit of touring round Scotland each September and that looks a nice place to visit. :cool:

KEF

Thanks for the great photoes ,scotland looks nice , but are the ladies as friendly as here downunder, and your beer as cold as your weather ???

Love the YELOOW rescue chooper.

Originally posted by Contigo
That sounds too high. Are you sure it wasn't fith. Most of the cars I have owned have been doing around 3.5k rpm at 80mph in 5th. From my experience of the 8 I would say more like 3k rpm at 80mph in 6th.

Definitely right - tested it today. Exactly 4000 at 80mph in 6th. And it pulls away from that very nicely! Dont forget that theoreticaly the car would top out at 180mph.....

Havent noticed a grinding noise, turn off the fan, stereo etc and check it again, but thats definitely not right if its still doing it - might be something within the clutch, or the gear not locating properly. Did it rev without a corresponding increase in speed (slip)?

Havent noticed heat in the console, will keep checking but the foot heater seems quite powerful, is it that?

Finally LOVE the pics, you've done the car proud. Cant match that in my part of the country.

Mouth watering pictures Kef. Next time I'm visiting Scotland, I certainly wont be taking the plane to get up there!

Cheers
---Dave

thanks again guys, never been as popular in my life, oh damn, you're just after the car...

Murphy - Added a link to the multi media forun, no point in doubling up, thanks for the suggestion.

Stuartt - that's up the rest and be thankfull, a little north west of arrochar, breath taking (when you can see it through the rain)

Locknload - i've always found the chicks friendlier over here than i did down under, but everyone i met over there turned out to be english or irish, what gives, are all your birds working over here in london pubs?? (our pints of Tenants beat your schooners any day, Pi** water):D

Jon H - fantastic car, love it to bits, can't wait for some good weather (and prodrive)

druck - I'm planning a holiday at the end of the month, was going to tour the north of scotland, although the isle of man looks interesting from top gear, possibly a better summer destination though.

(you're not going to believe this but i've not visited the car all day, roll on the weekend)

KEF

'' What gives are all your girls working over here in london pubs''

Yeah we send all the rejects over there ,similar to the john west salmon adds ,we keep the best and send over all the fuglyones.(fuk--- uglyones )

Regarding the beer i for one prefer a good scottish whiskey.

Fantastic pictures Kef - just hope I have as much fun when I finally get my hands on my own car.

Dave

Originally posted by KEF
druck - I'm planning a holiday at the end of the month, was going to tour the north of scotland, although the isle of man looks interesting from top gear, possibly a better summer destination though.

Both sound good. You dont mind if I come and follow you along? That way I could drive an RX8 and admire one at the same time! :)

(you're not going to believe this but i've not visited the car all day, roll on the weekend)

No I don't beleive it. I'm going to have to pretend to take up smoking as a excuse to visit the car park every 1/4 hour!

Cheers
---Dave

.

relax, i only made the 260 miles shown on the trip meter, the car had about 1/4 of a tank when i picked it up, so i used a load of that before i went for fuel.

but i got stuck in some heavy jams, so 270 should be easy (without stirring the bottom of the tank) , the warning light had flicked on only about two minutes earlier.


druck, sounds like a good idea, i'm hoping we can get a few of the forum/club members down at prodrive at the same time.

(last visited the car sunday at about 9 o'clock, almost 36 hours ago, even by my standards it would be daft taking the car to work, although i may take a trip down the clyde to watch the rangers game in helensburgh, i think we're playing some wee mob from the north of england tonight?)

BUMP (sorry old news I know, it's just so my wee cousin can see my pictures without searching)

Well done mate.

Mines coming on the 24th of December, Black too.:D

welcome to the forum easy,

great date to get your car, the roads will be really quiet for your first day out.

feel free to add your details to the ep list at the top of the page, or if you're in the mood swing over to the owners club at

http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk

Top pictures KEF, FREEEEEEEDOM!! Excellent :D

How you keeping that thing clean in at the moment? My red RX is manky and I spent ages cleaning it at the weekend. We drove back from parents in Glasgow the 1st weekend after it arrived and you should have seen the state of it when we got home. Some cheeky ar*e at work even did the obligitory "wash me" joke on the RX's bum! Offered him 20 p to do the job but he wasn't keen. Mind you he's been drooling ever since I got it, like everyone else. Sweet!

I've had it for almost a month, only using at weekends, and I've still had to wash it 3 times, but it looks so good clean it's worth it.

only problem is that it's getting too cold out there for the bucket and sponge approach.

still waiting to see a red in decent light, only seen a badly lit showroom car on an overcast day and one parked in town on a wet night (that one looked burgendy?)

Originally posted by KEF
still waiting to see a red in decent light, only seen a badly lit showroom car on an overcast day and one parked in town on a wet night (that one looked burgendy?)

Yes in poor light it does look very dark, especially when it was next to my red MX3. However in sunlight it comes alive, and the sparkles are wonderful. But I've only had two sunny lunchtimes to admire it, and on the second one it was getting a bit dirty. Oh for the summer...

Cheers
---Dave