Watch to the end...the RX-8 puts up lap times on par with the M3 and 350 Z..

Let me know if you have any problems downloading!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.wray/topgear.wmv

Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!! Music to my ears!

ITS GOOD ITS GOOD!

Thank you for posting that fantastic link. I was laughing my head off. That guy absolutely nailed the 8. Mazda should use some of the thoughts he expressed in the video to sell the car. What a hoot it made my day. Thanks again and yes I did save it to my hard drive to avoid wasting your bandwidth.

350Z = "Butch car" LMAOROTF.

I am quite proud to own an RX-8 and will be putting up some photos of my car with its accessories and neat license plate.
Last night I had my car up to 110 mph on a brand new stretch of empty highway here in Las Vegas (NW valley I-215). I am usually a fairly conservative driver and get 20-25 mpg because I generally stay under 3500 rpms. I do usually crank it up once per trip though to 7500+ for a brief time.

Last night it was wow this car does not feel like it is doing 110 mph at all. It was fun. Now out to the motor speedway race track with some friends there to get it up to 140!

Yeah, I actually got the Nevada Sunset plate IBZOOMN

Thats sounds awsome! I belive every one who owns a RX8 feels the way you do and the way the video is just one more piece of proof we own a great car! I have had my 8 since August..you can see a pic of my plate on the NE Forum under Richmond RX8s! It says 9-K Rever! I get horrible gas milage cuz I can't keep my foot off the throttle...(bad me) but I don't care...any one who owns a sports car and complains about the gas milage should go buy a Prius... Tell me when you have the pics of your car up!

Originally posted by Charleston
..this car does not feel like it is doing 110 mph at all

That's maybe because its not going @ 110.....remember the speedos are usually off by some margin. I wonder by how much?!

I can't say that I agree with you there. The cars wouldn't get approved for U.S sale if there speedos are off. If you have proof that they may be please post it so we can see it.

Originally posted by 9-K Rever
I can't say that I agree with you there. The cars wouldn't get approved for U.S sale if there speedos are off. If you have proof that they may be please post it so we can see it.

There's a couple of threads here on the forum that discuss speedo error. By LAW, no speedometer can indicate a speed that is less than the vehicle's actual speed. Therefore, to allow for manufacturing tolerances etc., EVERY manufacturer calibrates their speedometers to indicate higher than the actual speed. The amount of variance from true speed varies, Car and Driver did a test of this a couple of years ago, and found that BMWs were most optimistic (ie their speedos showed a larger error than most), so for example, when a BMW indicated 120 mph, it would only be doing an actual 110 mph.

In the RX-8, many of us have checked our speedos with GPS, and found that they are only off by about 2 mph at normal highway speeds - so for example, at an indicated 75 mph, your actual speed is 73 mph. The variance is often greater at ultra-high speeds, you could easily expect that 140 mph indicated would only be 135 true. A vehicle speedometer is NEVER an accurate (ie within 1 or 2 mph) indicator of true speed at 100+ mph speeds.

Regards,
Gordon

Thanx for the feed back Gordon!

Okay so maybe I was doing 106 mph not 110. It was still fun and I am not sure I could detect a difference of about five percent. I do think it is better to be a little over on the calibration and not the other way. I understand if you change the rim size on your wheels that can affect the accuracy of the speedometer and odometer. Is that really true, if anyone knows?

9-K Rever: Thanks for the post. Great video.

Excellent video! What a great car. :)

Great Video, that guy can drive! and shows what the RX8 can do wow!

Interesting fact, in the video the host mentions the RX8 has 228hp! IMHO thats the true rating! Evene w/ 228hp its very quick on the circuit, very impressive. Seems the Rx8 is pretty light.:)

That was also a Brittish RX8. Its ECU map could be diffrent and the horse power loss could have been more or less on their side. I wouldn't say its the same for us. Plus the 8 has a carbon fiber drive shaft that is light wieght and cuts down on power loss to the wheels and is a light car 3k lbs more or less. A light car doesnt' need that much HP to be a good performer, and that video proves it. For another refrence to a legendary light performance car check out the Toyota Corola AE 86...or the Lotus Elise.

Very nice video! Compare it with the Fifth Gear link someone posted to earlier.

Originally posted by 9-K Rever
I can't say that I agree with you there. The cars wouldn't get approved for U.S sale if there speedos are off. If you have proof that they may be please post it so we can see it.

Sorry, I do not have any hard proof. But, the again, why would they use a GPS unit on a Bentley GT (a $100K+ car) to verify that it was going 200+ miles per hour, if the Bentley's speedo is 'supposed' to be accurate?

yup, yup..that is another very valid point. I don't belive the speedos are off period..

Originally posted by 9-K Rever
yup, yup..that is another very valid point. I don't belive the speedos are off period..

Can I try to convince you?...maybe a tiny bit off?? :D

I just don't think my story of my speedo was off will hold water when a cop pulls me over for speeding...There may be a very slight discrepencie if any but I don't know... I just hope people are driveing with the MPH option not the KPH setting..(LOL)

But, I am also up to any proof that you have to change my mind. I will definaly agree if there is some sort of proof.

dumb question...how do I download that video so I can keep it or send it to someone else who doesn't have internet access?

Right-Click on the link and then direct the download to your hard drive (the choice is usually called "save target as..").

Right-Click on the link and then direct the download to your hard drive (the choice is usually called "save target as..").

Good looking out!

Was I the only one who had to stop and think about him saying it "goes like stink"?

me too! is it a good thing or a bad thing? there are stinks that never seem to go! :D

Does he have a professional doing all the driving stunts or does he actually have those driving skills in some of the footage? If he's that accomplished as a driver...I take back that I called him a moron on a different thread....impressive video!

Originally posted by SDFLY
Does he have a professional doing all the driving stunts or does he actually have those driving skills in some of the footage? If he's that accomplished as a driver...I take back that I called him a moron on a different thread....impressive video! Clarkson gets a guy they call the "Stig", for the time trails. The driver might be Japanese because I've heard him call him "stig-san" a couple times.

Originally posted by brothervoodoo
Clarkson gets a guy they call the "Stig", for the time trails. The driver might be Japanese because I've heard him call him "stig-san" a couple times.

It depends what car he is testing, for German cars he is Herr Stig or Stig-maker.

Cheers
---Dave

Originally posted by druck
It depends what car he is testing, for German cars he is Herr Stig or Stig-maker. Oh, then you are saying the driver is half Japanese and half German! ;)

There have been a few hints that "the Stig" might just be Damon Hill - he has appeared on the show in the past.

The 'Stig' in the last series was a F1 test driver called Perry McCarthy. The new 'Stig' has not leaked out yet, but there is speculation it may be the same guy, I personally doubt it!

As for the Damon Hill romour, I would be VERY surprised.

p.s. after that review was shown on Top Gear in late November my local Mazda dealer was inundated with preorders!

All courtesy of Mr Clarkson (and the RX8)!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Uk cars are powered at 231 PS whch works out to be 228BHP, max power at 8200rpm etc, jap versions are about 250ps at 8500rpm!

My friend tells me the stig is damon hill, my friend spotted him at a thunder gig at guildford civic hall in december, i think damon lives in oxford way! Thats who i thin it is!!

If anyone does know who the stig is, keep it to yourself, or he might have to fall off the end of another aircraft carrier - or worse!

great video. wish I could drift like that.

that was a great video...thanks for posting the link. That looked like a whole lotta fun. Thanks a gain

Originally posted by 9-K Rever
Watch to the end...the RX-8 puts up lap times on par with the M3 and 350 Z..

Let me know if you have any problems downloading!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.wray/topgear.wmv

This is nice, I would like to se the full video of the other cars as well. Is that available?

Wow - I loved the video...laughed my head off. I have some issues with my yellow RX-8 automatic but it never ever stops being fun. The sound system is what makes me want to keep driving and driving. It handles much better on the highway than I find on the street and when he talked about the wheel wobbling I knew what he was talking about. From day one I felt my RX needed a wheel alignment.