1st RX-8
2nd 350Z
3rd Audi TT 225
4th Clio V6
5th Alfa GTV V6

Plus points:
Brilliant layout, usable rear seats, bargain price, well equipped, practical, cabin design, refined, snappy change

-ve points:
Flat engine note, poor fuel economy and CO2 emissions, nit much torque, cheap looking dash controls.

For some reason they quote the 0-60 as 6.5, and the in gear times dont look very good compared with the others.

Go out and buy it though, it is a good review and will make you all feel better about your choice.

Im sure one of you will get it scanned in soon too :D

and they dont like the red leather either :(

Some good news from Autocar?

Surely I must be still asleep.

Although it will go against my principles of never buying that magazine again, I must have a copy for my RX-8 shrine.

Chris

How can is win one week , having been demolished by the [nissan sponsored?] article last week ?

Or am I missing something ?

Chris,

Sorry, I meant AutoExpress. Thread title suitably changed!

Godd news from Autocar would be too much to expect. They are really out on a limb now with their views on theRX-8.

Mark

Ah !

By the way , the EVO article gets better and better the more I read it....

Off down to the shops integrity intact, and shrine with one more additional item.

Chris

Well, 0-100 is 6,4" for the HIGH-POW, so their time is correct ;)

As for flat engine tone, have they even head of a rotary before ? Do they know how a rotary is supposed to sound ? And have they heard a ported 13B screaming through a downpipe + catback :eek: :eek: :eek: ?!?!?

Mark - have not read it yet but is the word 'tacky' used when describing the red?

Anyway, sounds good review although again the torque point. I know this has been discussed on a separate thread but these 'experts' are supposed to know about the rotary engine and what one need to do to get speed out of the car. Why keep mentioning this point when clearly it only requires a description of how to drive the car with more revs? :(

rael

They said the same things about the S2000 when it was released IIRC. I was interested at the time and picked up lots of articles on it as it first came about. Lack of torque was always mentioned then too.

What's the problem. So they say it lacks torque. It still gives impressive performance (0-60 stats etc) for it's class.


And as for red, the only comment I can see is that they didn't like the two-tone interior....



-andy-

Can any of you guys scan the article in? I've been to every newsagent from Birmingham to Stafford tonight to get this and no one had it.

Don't know if I can wait until tomorrow.

This RX 8 stuffs too addictive

Ok guys, I've read this atricle a number of times now and I don't think they really slate the noise or torque (or lack of it) too much.

to quote
"It produces a unique noise but one which is more evocative of a domestic appliance than a fruity coupe. Imagine a washing machine on spin, add in a bit of vacuum cleaner and a hint of dishwasher and you're there"

Whats wrong with that? Sounds true to me.


on the torque (which actually follows the last quote)
"Still the engine is very effective, spinning out 228 bhp and giving the RX-8 (which at 1350kg is the lightest model here) the ability to smash through the benchmark barrier (the TT) in 6.5 seconds. That makes is faster than the Audi TT - until you let the torque do the talking. With only 211Nm available at 5,500 rpm the Mazda lacks meaningful punch at low revs - even the strident Alfa fres significantly better. However as the powerplant is so smooth, the rotors never seem to be working particularly hard. As a result, you won't feel concerned about making the best use of the six-speed transmissin, which thanks to its tight, snappy shift, is an absolute delight."

this all also true. You've got to rev it but the engine and gearbox can handle it.

Come on guys, this is another good article (not as good as Evo in my book, but still enough depth and pees on Autocars twaddle. Its truthful - sorry, but I don't like the red and black interior either, but thats a matter of choice - and it doesn't slag it off, just points out its not standard and not their choice either. I also agree with the digital display, which these days, for a car from Japan, does look poor and very 80's and KITT-like in the LED/LCD nature of the letters/numbers. why cant the numbers look more like proper numbers rather than a series of lines based on the number 8? Even Vauxhall can do that on the Corsa.

Anyway,

The main point?

IT BEAT ALL OF THE OTHERS, including the 350z, which admittedly it really shouldn't be compared against, but still, it beat it!

Buy the mag, its another great review.

Darn I don't have a scanner, and the whole article covers 8 pages...!

My thoughts exactly. :D

Roll on October. :D

Chris :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Red and Black Leather - Michael Jackson in Thriller - 'nuff said.

Originally posted by MarkW
Chris,

Sorry, I meant AutoExpress. Thread title suitably changed!

Mark

Actually you only changed the title on you r post, nt the thraed.

But I've done it for you. because I'm nice:D

Originally posted by DannyA
Red and Black Leather - Michael Jackson in Thriller - 'nuff said.

Thanks! Now I realize why I couldn't bear to get the red in my Velocity Red. Just plain 'BAD'.

Chaparral looks much more calming, without a doubt!

Originally posted by Spin9k


Thanks! Now I realize why I couldn't bear to get the red in my Velocity Red. Just plain 'BAD'.

Chaparral looks much more calming, without a doubt!

But it's not available in the UK - we only get a choice of red /black or just black!:(

Ouuchh! I'd complain to Mazda. Probably next years 'improvement'.

There is a reason we dont get black and tan - it's hideous ! Perhaps they feel that the European tastes (as a whole) will not take up the 'hearing aid beige' interior option....

Still - each to their own and all that. I just happen to think it looks tacky. But I have seen plenty of posts on the main forum claiming that it looks 'classy' - so I guess it is kind of subjective ! ;)

Just read both EVO and Autoexpress reviews. Like and trust the EVO one, but am still unconvinced about the Autoexpress one as its a comic. Autoexpress, without fail, proclaim the newest car to win and is the next best thing since sliced bread, until the next new car comes along. Hence why the 8 and 350Z finished highest. I'll stick with EVO and CAR on reviews, as they seem to reflect least bias and most honesty.

What would be the next new car to knock the 8 off its pedestool ?


AnilS.

RX7 hopefully....

Originally posted by morganrogers
RX7 hopefully....

Amen :D

I did read some quotes from Mazda mechanics during one of the very first presentations of the RX8, and they all said that a new RX7 might be possible, ONLY IF the RX8 does extremely well, and even then it wont be until late 2006 (even if).....