Is there really a point in test driving the car. We've read all the articles and know everything about the car. There is no way that any of us will say no to the car because of a poor test drive. It just won't happen. With most people agreeing to "break-in" the engine, you won't be able to rev the engine over *X* amount of RPM's...is a test drive even needed? I don't think I will even test drive the car. Just gimmie the keys and let me go!

I don't plan on test driving. I will go sign some papers and get out.

ha

if i had the fortune of buying this car right now i'd do the same. in and out. don't need no sales telling me wrong info about the car :D most of us here probably know more about these cars than them anyway

I will wait patiently until there are enough inventory at the dealership to allow for a test drive

*sits on hands and waiting patiently*

Sign and Drive! :cool:

The rx8forum makes it possible to buy on-line so-to-speak.
But that puts a responsibility on all our shoulders for in depth,
quality questions and answers. It could be a notch better
if Mazda participated by corresponding with Moderators on
unanswered questions--say once a month. They have enough headaches making profits in a cut-throat business but it might
be that 'zoom-zoom' differentiation that is key to Mazda's
revival.

The best advertising or promotion any company could hope for
is "word-of-mouth" by us. You can not buy that. I, for one,
applaud their transparency thus far!

Hell yes I'm gonna test drive. It's hard not to get all caught up in the hype but a test drive will definitely tell you alot about the car.I don't mind waiting for this car to see if eveything is the real deal.

Sign and drive over here...

Making the pre-order Tuesday... delivery... in August? I will let you know how it turns out.

Originally posted by brothervoodoo
Sign and drive over here...

Making the pre-order Tuesday... delivery... in August? I will let you know how it turns out. A few cars haven't been taken off the dealer's hands as part of their inventory yet, so if you ask around you might find a car that you like that a dealer has coming in with no name attached.

And you can pick it up as soon as it comes out :) !

I will be test driving first. Insight from others is great but I need to experience the car first hand before I lay down $30K.

Rob

Originally posted by Hercules
A few cars haven't been taken off the dealer's hands as part of their inventory yet, so if you ask around you might find a car that you like that a dealer has coming in with no name attached.

And you can pick it up as soon as it comes out :) !

I did come across this with one dealer that actually said he had a model coming in that had all my specs except it was all black leather. I would rather wait and get the tan and black interior. I'm new to this board but it seems that the first 8's are weeks away, I could have sworn this guy said that this 8 was coming in next week!!??! Anyway, the guy must have been pulling my leg or I must have heard him wrong...

I love the car and all but I'm going to take mine for a test drive before I sign the papers. Not gonna get on it or anything but I just want to make sure the car isn't going to fall parts as soon as I leave the lot:D

I love the car and all but I'm going to take mine for a test drive before I sign the papers. Not gonna get on it or anything but I just want to make sure the car isn't going to fall parts as soon as I leave the lot

This is what I'll do as well -- make sure everything works while keeping the revs down. Want to make sure the RX-8 is pristine before the money changes hands.

I'm still going to test it and see,feel, and experiance the vehicle
After my Marauder this is what I've tested
Mazda 6 better than the 626,Camery,and Accord V6
Miata Special edition still needs about 150 HP to feel right
Z350 Nice on outside dirt cheap on inside can give 65% of most vehicles a run in the Fun and day to day driving.

And patiently waiting for an RX8 to wring out and no I'm not going to be doing 8,000 RPM clutch drops. But well be doing some spirited driving

:p

Hell yes I'm going to test drive it. It's not that I don't think the 8 will be an excellent car, but I have to make sure that there is nothing defective or damaged before I will cough up $31k.

Yes, a test drive is definitely a good idea! I bought my last car mainly because the automotive press were so positive about it.
I did test drive it briefly, but before, had pretty much decided I would take it anyway. Maybe I would have rejected it on the basis of clutch and shifting feel, and steering response if I had been more impartial. (although, I don't recall if the option to reject it was stated)

Even a careful, stress-free (to the car) drive can tell you a lot about how the car will feel when it's driven harder.

I can't believe anyone would spend any amount of money for any car without test driving it, even a car like the RX-8. Anything from sample defects ("the fuel cuts out at 5000 RPM") to things you just can't live with ("my right knee is at an uncomfortable angle when driving at 65 MPH") to resonance and rattles are discovered on a good test drive (I'm not talking just a quick 15 minute drive, either; really you need something like the new GM overnight test drive.)

Believe me, I've bought more than one car while blinded by emotion... and it costs you four to five figures in depreciation each time you realize that brand new car you bought a few months ago with 1700 miles on the odometer isn't something you can live with long term. Even knowing the above I've still done it, and well, it's hard on you, your bank account, your relationships, etc.

Amen Brutha! Depreciation won't be doin' me any damn good.

gm has overnight test drive now??? wow. what's to keep the driver from putting on 500 miles in one night on a brand new car?

Yeah, I'll test drive. But just to make sure there's no outstanding problems, rattles, etc. I've owned only Mazdas since '83, the first being an '83 RX-7. So I'm pretty much convinced that Mazda doesn't make a bad vehicle. I loved my RX-7, and I know the RX-8 will be sooooo much better. And I love high revving engines!

Common factors in all the Mazda vehicles I've owned have been their reliability, and their above average handling. That combined with only positive reviews of the 8 tells me just about everything I need to know. You guys (and gals) who've never driven a rotary before are gonna be in for a great new experience! I know I'll be signing as long as there's no outstanding flaws. Can't wait!

Originally posted by chinx
gm has overnight test drive now??? wow. what's to keep the driver from putting on 500 miles in one night on a brand new car?
You can't put on more than 100 miles.

It's also not as easy as going in and borrowing a car; in essence you basically buy the car, complete with financing, all paperwork signed, etc. and GM is allowing you 24 hours/100 miles to return it.

Just found out today I will be getting a VIP to the Miami Rev-it Up, so I'll be test driving one afterall. :D

Originally posted by TJRX8
Just found out today I will be getting a VIP to the Miami Rev-it Up, so I'll be test driving one afterall. :D Don't count on it. We got to ride in the RX-8 at the Houston VIP day, but they wouldn't let any of us actually drive it. :(

There is a lot of anticipation, ehuberance on this Board.
This colours the cool judgement necessary to a test drive.

It would be good to have a hard list of longer term
criteria for full satisfaction, contentment with a car
that makes or breaks the buying decision. Have that list well in advance--maybe even develop a dialogue on this Board
as to what truly nurtures that big grin five years down the line.

"Fun-to-drive" ranks high with me but "build quality--free from
vibrations and rattles and harmonic resonance at certain constant
speeds" is even more important.

There was a very serious resonance problem with an earlier
Camry that still sold 3-4 hundred thou/yr. This board will be a very valuable resource well into the third year production.

Originally posted by TJRX8
Just found out today I will be getting a VIP to the Miami Rev-it Up, so I'll be test driving one afterall. :D

I am scheduled for the May 31st Miami Rev-It-Up. How can get in on the VIP day??

There's no way I'll be putting 30k into a car without driving it first! You people that are willing to put the money into the car w/o driving it are, IMO, nuts! I've seen it, sat in it, and done everything but drive it, it is a sweet car so far. However, I still won't put my signature on anything until it puts a grin on my face with me behind the wheel.

Absolutely.

Its not like we are buying a Rolls Royce, or a Lambo or a Ferrari.
It is a regular production car, you bet I'm gona test drive it first. In fact this is the only reason I'm hold back on making an order.
I wanted to see how the cars feels to me personally. It really doesn't matter how well the car feels to the Magazine Editors or you everyone else around the world, if it doesn't feel "right" to me, I'm not getting it. Plain and simple.

Now, in terms of those people who wanted to test drive because they can concern with reliability and rattles .... well hate to tell you, but a test drive usually won't give you that information. In terms of reliabliy, you just have to talk to past and current owners, (like come here on the forum and ask people !!!) In terms of rattles, a car at this price range for sure won't have a lot of rattles (if any) when it is still pretty new so the test drive probably won't tell you much. If you are seriously concerned, wait a year and ask these guys on here to see if weird noises are creeping in.

Good luck !

Considering I'm in the 3rd allocation (since I wanted to save up another 2 months so I can have a 15k down) I am going to test drive at as many Mazda Dealers as I can. I WILL reach the 9k limit just to hear the sweet sound of the rotarty.

Also for you guys that are in the first allocation, why not test drive at a local dealer other than the one you are going to get your car from. I mean who doesn't want to feel the power of the car as soon as test drives come around. Just a thought.

Since we are within the 6-8wk ETA of the first allocations, please post them pix and review asap. I would like to hear what you guys think. For all the SoCal ppl, anyone wanna set up a meet sometime bye the end of summer?

Counting the days away till "my precious" comes...

Originally posted by JTek_55


I am scheduled for the May 31st Miami Rev-It-Up. How can get in on the VIP day??

For VIP day I got in through my local dealer. If you still have your preoder in you can get a free invitation from them. Thats how I got in at least.

I understand that everyone wants to test drive the car, however I would love to hear from the person who had money for a pre-order and then backed out because of a poor test drive. If it is a monetary thing, then that doesnt' count but from a poor test drive. The car is going to be fast and handle exceptionally well. Several publications have done more extensive tests than anyone will do on a test drive to come to those conclusions. If the car is a lemon it is protected under the lemon law as well as if it jitters and squeks etc... All that stuff is under warranty and you would know it just driving it home. Either way the dealer isn't just going to give you another car off their lot since there won't be any; so they will have to fix it. While the excitement is there to buy this car, I don't think people won't buy it because it doesn't sound like they had imagined when it revs or becuase it doensn't handle correctly on your 10 minute test drive. To each their own, and as said before, I want to hear from the first person that doesn't buy this car from a poor test drive.

Well I guess the only thing I'm concerned about (after of course I actually sit in one and inspect throughly myself), would be ride quality/comfort.

I don't know how the car rides, I haven't a clue! I don't even need to drive it, if I sit in the passenger seat I will be happy but driving is better.

I'm not sure if I want to live with a stiff suspension ala 350z, but from what I read it is a little softer than that. Which is good, is it soft enough? I don't know.

Is it miata quality? I'd be happy with that.

I haven't preordered, and I can't bring myself to plunk down a deposit (even if refundable) without seeing, hearing, feeling and driving the car. I will come down to comfort, utility, and driving dynamics for me. All of these things must be assessed in a tangible environment.

All the pics, reviews, specs and measurements available here and other places are terrific, but will not seal the deal for me. As mentioned earlier, I plan on waiting until one of the several local dealers has an example ready for driving.

It may be a long wait :(

For 4k more than I had originally decided to spend on a new car, you bet I will be taking one for a spin (to my own specifications first) If it isn't comfortable for a 60 mile per day round trip, or the performance is not what I expected, I won't buy one.
31K is a lot of money to waste if you don't get complete satisfaction.

I'm expecting it to be wonderful, but you can't let enthusiasm overtake your own common sense. (unless you are independently wealthy or something! :p )

Originally posted by bluesunlion
31K is a lot of money to waste if you don't get complete satisfaction.

I'm expecting it to be wonderful, but you can't let enthusiasm overtake your own common sense. (unless you are independently wealthy or something! :p ) Sounds good, and unfortunately I've let myself do just that at least twice before despite the fact that I consider myself an overanalytical person. There's just something about being in that special car that can cause you to do something that you will regret starting about four months later and continuing on for an indefinite period afterwards.

It also hurts when the money spent is well over that $31K. :eek:

why wouldn't you get a test drive? i mean it's a win win situation.

if you drive it, like it, and planned on getting it then that's a win.

if you drive it, don't like it, and planned on getting it then you'll reconsider, which is a good thing. not in the aspect of simply not buying the car, but that in you won't buy a car you didn't like.

if you drive it, didn't like it, and didn't plan on getting it then... hell you got to drive a nice car.

and it goes on and on. get what i'm saying? just test drive it. :D

;) Test driving it on the way home like my last two cars: first allocation of the Beetle Turbo and then the first allocation WRX. If by chance, I did not like those two cars, I could have immediately sold them for more than MSRP.

This thread brings up a question I have. What does one get out of a test drive? I ask this because I sat through two test drives with a friend the other day (Toyota Matrix and Corolla S). The way he drove them, I doubt he got much out of them except "yeah, these cars are better than my current car".

What I mean is that the majority of cars in a given performance/luxury class will all be pretty similar, particularly given the "average" test drives I've seen. Unless your dealer encourages/allows you to drive the car near limit, I doubt that the actual test drive will reveal many things about the car's driving dynamics. Here's my short list of what I typically look for in my test drive.

Interior Fit and Finish
Interior ergonomics, are there cupholders, do they suck?
_basic_ handling characteristics
blindspots

Obviously different people test drive differently, but one would have to be pretty daft to drive a car at limit on public roads especially if the dealer is sitting next to you right? Personally, I plan to test drive any car I buy, but I have a difficult time determining a car's driving characteristics during the actual test drive.

Doesn't the above (if you agree with it) pretty much mean that you're picking between cars based on those criterea and not things like how a car performs near limit? (which is what I think many enthusiasts would like to use when deciding between cars)

Originally posted by eccles
Don't count on it. We got to ride in the RX-8 at the Houston VIP day, but they wouldn't let any of us actually drive it. :( Bummer. My dealer did say I could go with him on the special dealer day. Maybe then we can test drive them. If not I won't lose any sleep over it.


JTEK, My salesman told me I would get the VIP invite because I pre-ordered. ???


Dreamwarrior, Guess I'm nuts. To each his own.