rx8 - smooth!
07-30-2003, 06:39 PM
At about 4.45pm yesterday I finally got to drive mY RX8 away from the dealer. So what is it like?
I attended the drive day at Willowbank plus drove a dealer demo car around Mt Cootha and I was not exactly being gentle either time so it is a little frustrating not exceeding my self imposed 6,000rpm during breakin period!
Anyway back to the point - Honest first impressions
Appearance
I have the Leatherpack velocity red and it looks awesome. I hadn't appreciated how much the paint colour changes in differing lights. The detailing staff at the dealership were laughing/ drooling over the vehicle before they handed it over.
Handling
The best compromise I have found between comfort and that Go Kart feel that a performance car needs to have. I went around a roundabout this morning , gave the car a squirt and whoa we had oversteer! I hasten to add very controllable and what a feeling!
Performance
Not really pushed at all due to breakin but the signs are very encouraging. This is my first rotary and the feel of linear, smooth power delivery is unlike any other car I have driven. I have previously owned a WRX and a Honda VTIR and they have nothing on this in my opinion. I am not saying that the RX8 is quicker but the experience of smooth power without the artificial intrusions of the turbo/ vtec power bands is amazing.
Interior
Top notch. Very strong attention to detail and the kids just love those freestyle doors!
Niggles
Nothing can ever be perfect so here come my niggles
1) For $66,000 I would expect that the keyless entry to the vehicle was integrated into the actual key - not a stand alone unit.
2) The Owners manual could have been summarised into 5 words.
DO NOT F***** SUE US!
Why can't we have a document written purely to explain the vehicle without a box with WARNING written on it for every third paragraph.
Don't get me wrong this is a great car but there can always be improvement.
I attended the drive day at Willowbank plus drove a dealer demo car around Mt Cootha and I was not exactly being gentle either time so it is a little frustrating not exceeding my self imposed 6,000rpm during breakin period!
Anyway back to the point - Honest first impressions
Appearance
I have the Leatherpack velocity red and it looks awesome. I hadn't appreciated how much the paint colour changes in differing lights. The detailing staff at the dealership were laughing/ drooling over the vehicle before they handed it over.
Handling
The best compromise I have found between comfort and that Go Kart feel that a performance car needs to have. I went around a roundabout this morning , gave the car a squirt and whoa we had oversteer! I hasten to add very controllable and what a feeling!
Performance
Not really pushed at all due to breakin but the signs are very encouraging. This is my first rotary and the feel of linear, smooth power delivery is unlike any other car I have driven. I have previously owned a WRX and a Honda VTIR and they have nothing on this in my opinion. I am not saying that the RX8 is quicker but the experience of smooth power without the artificial intrusions of the turbo/ vtec power bands is amazing.
Interior
Top notch. Very strong attention to detail and the kids just love those freestyle doors!
Niggles
Nothing can ever be perfect so here come my niggles
1) For $66,000 I would expect that the keyless entry to the vehicle was integrated into the actual key - not a stand alone unit.
2) The Owners manual could have been summarised into 5 words.
DO NOT F***** SUE US!
Why can't we have a document written purely to explain the vehicle without a box with WARNING written on it for every third paragraph.
Don't get me wrong this is a great car but there can always be improvement.