Wow.

Zoom Zoom Zoom!

That is all.

Come on Rob, give us a bit more..... :)

Drove it Sunday at 12:30, other half had a go too, she thinks it's fantastic, can't wait for it to arrive.

brill mate I had my test drive tonight and I am very excited.

Best review I've read Rob:D

Cheers
Oilman

If only ever one could be so concise and economic with their words.

At least its positive.

rael

me like too.

OK - more detail? the long version....

Turned up late at the dealer. was booked for 3, turned up at 3:15 cause I'd just got back from Whitby. Dealer is at warrington.

They had 2 customer RX-8s in, a black in their private car park, and a red in the showroom (no one was allowed into the customer cars).

Outside was a Titanium Hi-power with leather and sat nav.

Paul took us out (Me and my wife, + full tank of fuel), drove for 5 min to somewhere with some decentish roads, then we swaped over.

Car was warmed up and had just under 600miles on the odometer. Time for a thrashing :D

Coming from a focus(but having driven many other cars) I found it a little arkward to drive at first, by the end of my 10-15min stint I was just getting used to it, and getting smoother etc.

Rev buzzer - check, ABS check :D

Acceleration and the noise of the engine was great, mad bandsaw/motorbike noise, most addictive. Buzzer is quiete and unobtrusive.

Brakes are amazing, stops the car quick, has some noise from tyres as they lost grip a little before ABS cut in, nice amount of leway for 'proper' driving before the gadgets cut in and save you ..

Whilst out and about I ended up infront of a Focus RS. Having been driving the car 5 min I floored it (in 2nd coming off a roundabout), the focus kept up but couldnt close (was trying too), turned off soon after (was in trafic now anyhow) , should at leat keep things even with the fast ford anyhow.

Ride was far better that the focus overbumps and potholes, even though the suspention is sportier, longer wheelbase and more subtle suspension workes wonders.

Changed ove and my wife had a drive, she's biker at heart and doesnt realy enjoy driving or cars, hasnt driven many cars so had trouble with an arkward into trafic right turn on a hill straight after getting into the car so stalled a few times. She was just getting the hang of the car when we had to head back.

Overall? I cant wait. Plenty fast enough for me, and even seems fast enough ( not cosseted to much). Handles like a dream, direct and fast steeting, decent feedback etc.

leather seats were fun, heaters worked, powered driving seat was ace, but just not worth it for me overall. Radio (didnt have any CD's) sounded ok. Dials looked superb.

Sales guy trusted us with the keys while he went inside. Luckily for him mine is turning up soon, otherwise Mazda warrington would be looking for another demo car !

Overall I'me somewhat pleased with the car...

Another comforting review.

Well done mate.

Cheers
:) :)

thepenn

Hoorah Rob! Did you stall it at all to start with? All the best people do ... ahem...

heh, no stalls for meh. dunno why, prehaps the succesion of 6k launches helped...

Had my test drive on Monday, verdict - fantastic. While I was waiting at the dealer for my turn I got chatting to a bloke who had just come back from his first road test and is expecting his pre-order shortly. I asked him if he had enjoyed driving the RX8. His reply - "It was quite nice but there's no rear wiper" (it was raining at the time).
Should we all cancel our orders?

He obviously wasn't going fast enough. The rain never had chance to touch the back of the one I drove :)

Originally posted by RobDickinson
powered driving seat was ace, but just not worth it for me overall

Rob,

Are you sayiwng that all Hi-powers come with this as an EXTRA option? I always thought that the electrics were standard.

Electric seat comes with the leather. Cloth is manual.

I believe the electric seat is drivers side only for leather only.

Cheers
Oilman

Oilman you are correct, the power seat is only available with leather, and is only available on the driver's side. One more thing to note, us customers that have orderd leather also have front heated seats!!!!!!! P.S. Congrtats with the car, looking forward to seeing the first red uk owend car on this forum!!!!

Uk cloth seats are manual.

Leather comes with power on drivers side and BOTH have heaters.

Which work, rather well, nice n toasty - tested and approved by ROb.

Is there a hidden nuclear reactor under the bonnet to power all the electrical systems on the car?! I've seen the alternator and there's no way it's big enough to satisfy the ampage that must be needed... ;)

Originally posted by Lensman
I've seen the alternator and there's no way it's big enough to satisfy the ampage that must be needed... ;)

Thats not the alternator, thats the renesis!