Here's another review from one of the guys at www.mazdarotaryclub.com who drove the car at TW Whites on Saturday.

Not as positive as most, and I particularly dont like the sound of this bit....

"Revs build up very nicely to 4-4500 rpm without much effort, past that the engine just seemed really gutless whatever gear I was in and I had a choice of 6"

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1913

Cheers
Mark

I don't know fish but a couple of comments :

1) That blue car is the Jap-pre prod that has been doing the rounds and was in pretty bad shape in June - god knows what its like now.
2) AFAIK the Tit models in the south are all low power
3) To quote "Revs build up very nicely to 4-4500 rpm without much effort, past that the engine just seemed really gutless whatever gear I was in and I had a choice of 6. The engine only had 2400 miles on it, but thinking that the great British motoring press has already been given a free hand in driving these, it should be a lot looser than how it felt. One nice bit was the fact that in forth gear I was doing around 1200 rpm and put my foot down. It pulled like an ice cube on a marble surface. It was so smooth"

- The one I drove was over 4000 miles and although tight, certainly I wasn't trying to drive in 4th at anything below 70 mph which was around 5k revs.
- I don't know what other traffic he was driving against or the speed he got to, but I murdered everything on the A3 without even trying.

4) Regarding visibility - I don't know of any car I've ever driven where I can see the front bumper! I'm guessing that he means its heard to know where the car starts and stops. Well I thought that although the rear view isn't perfect, the one thing you DO know is that the bottom of the window is quite near the back of the car, only a few Centimetres behind it.
5) Boot space. Its not a mondeo, its fine, remembering that the car is only a few centimetres longer than a Z4!
6) Its a LOT quieter than ther RX-7 I've been in, which it looks like he owns. Also a lot smoother and the engine has no turbo howl or in fact much sound at all...

However, each to his own, I'm comparing with a mondeo ST24, he's comparing with a MY92 FD3S with a number of mods...

Mark, when is your test drive please? Bearing in mind your concern about the review linked above I'll be VERY interested to hear your views on the car.

Seems to me like:
a) the guy knows jack shit about cars
b) the guy knows even less about rotaries and the RX8 in particular
c) the guy doesnt even know what model it was (HIGH or STD)
d) the guy expects a car with 2K miles on it to pull high in the RPM range ?
e) the guy doesnt even know how to drive....

Thats all :D

Sounds like he's TROLL material.:D


AnilS.

Si,
Good points. I dont really care too much about visibility or boot space, its a sports car. But I am concerned about the performance, maybe it was a lo-power, I would be less concerned if it was.

There is a thread on scoobynet (subaru forum) I have been following, and Danny has posted another negative review by another RX7 owner there :(

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/thread.asp?threadid=242544


Ace,
Danny owns a RX7 and a scoob so its not fair to diss him just because he wasnt too keen on the RX8 IMHO. :)

Lensman,
My test drive is next Sat 10AM, expect a review posted up in the afternoon. Next saturday for me is Judgement Day, and Im getting really worried that I will be disappointed, I just really hope Im wrong.

I really want to be able to like it, as I love everything about the car but I am concerned that performance is relative, and I seem to be one of the few people that is taking a step down in performance with the RX8. It is very subjective, but as long as it feels like a 230bhp car Im sure I'll be fine. The good reviews still outnumber the bad ones. 5 days to go.............

Originally posted by MarkW
Ace,
Danny owns a RX7 and a scoob so its not fair to diss him just because he wasnt too keen on the RX8 IMHO. :)............

OK, then maybe my (a) and (b) points need to be corrected, or probably deleted :D

However he indeed didnt know what model it was, and my points (d) and (e) are still valid: how can ANYONE expect a car with 2K miles to perform at its maximum above 6K RPM, even if its a rotary ?

And if this guy is used to the power of a TII or an FD, then its only normal that the N/A power curb of the RX8 felt "gutless" to him ;)

Originally posted by MarkW

My test drive is next Sat 10AM, expect a review posted up in the afternoon. Next saturday for me is Judgement Day, and Im getting really worried that I will be disappointed, I just really hope Im wrong.


Well I trust your opinion so it will be equally as 'interesting' for me to read your review as it will be for you to drive the car. I'm a perfect example of WHY Mazda are idiots: I was totally committed to the RX-8 until Friday night when the US story broke and now I'm 'interested' again... Not because the car is any different but just because I don't trust Mazda AT ALL and that seriously concerns me.

Mark,

Have just got back from my 11.30 at Milford. Drove down the A3 in my '97 FD3S like a maniac (I was meeting someone and, unbelievably, I'd left it late :o) so I was 'fresh' from the turbo experience.

Spent 15 minutes getting in and out of the Titanium Lo-Power absorbing the features. This car is beautiful. I thought that when I stood close admiring the lines and little features (really like the lights front and back), I thought it again when I got back from the test drive and parked next to some other guys BMW330 and then I practically broke my neck when we finally left the dealer's and saw the red Hi-Power in a traffic jam having just come off the A3. It looked low to the road (dispelled any fear I had about ride height) and had real presence - stood out from the long line of Fords/BMWs/Mercs it was stood in line with. The car is just stunning and, apart from perhaps the silver bits on the vents, needs nothing added. My final comment on looks - they had that horrid Lexus convertible in the showroom and they pulled a silver 350Z up outside too before I left. I'm sorry, but you must be from a different planet than me to rate either of them next to an 8.

So, I liked the look :p Driving - well, like "Fish" I stalled it straight away - the clutch is much lighter than my 7, not a problem, but took a few iffy pull-aways to get right. I had a big friend (must be 85-90kg and 6'4") in the back, plus the salesman so I'd like to try it on my own. The car pulled fine, but it didn't feel particularly special as I floored it to the red-line onto the A3. 2 things about the power/ feel:

1. The power delivery is *really* smooth - no 2nd thrust as the 2nd turbo comes in at about 4,500rpm like in the 7. So it doesn't feel like you're accelerating that hard.
2. Its fast - we were doing 92mph before I realised it and there was plenty left. To me, there was no let up, but also no discernable change in power over 6,000 - it just felt linear to the point that the warning chimed in.

Other than that, and short of writing an essay, I would say that this car is what I expected - a strange compromise between a 5, a 7 and maybe an A4 (only saloon I've owned), but I left a tiny bit disappointed all the same. I shouldn't do - its a fantastic car - but whereas the 5 and 7 are designed for outright fun, the 8 is just a little more grown up - it feels more 'massive' - well planted on the road and with lovely ride in comparison - but blunted somehow - not quite so nimble as the other 2. Maybe that was just the 2 big passengers I had.

Practicality is good - boot is great for space in comparison to what I'm used to but I'd have some concern about the narrowness of the opening and whether suitcases would get through. Trim wise we both decided the electric seat is not worth it (there's only one of them thats electric, there's no memory setting and the manual is much quicker to flick forward if you want more room to access the back). Trim quality is fine (and way above a 7) but some of the harder plastics are going to get scratched quite easily I think. Felt the wing mirrors were quite small to use.

Will I buy one? I'm not sure, but I'll certainly go back in September when the wife's back from her trip. And it would almost certainly be Tit Grey - just maybe Black. The red was nice and different but not for me.

Oh yeah - and my friend who's never driven a 7? He loved the 8. To bits and then some. He's driven a 330Ci too and said there was no comparison. He'll definitely be getting one when he gets back to Oz in a few months time.

Phil

97rsr,

Thanks for the detailed review, very balanced.

From reading it, it appears you test drove the low power Titanium car, not the high power Red. Can you confirm that was the case?

If it was the low power, then the extra 40bhp of the high power would hopefully make a noticable difference to the performance of the car and bring it more up to expectation.

Cheers
Mark

Phil

that was a very good review - I completely agree with tha Audi and MX5 comments - not sure if you read my review but thats exactly what I thought, if I ws to compare cars.

The thing is that the car is SOOOO smooth you don't realise how fast you are going - which means you must have got there really quickly!

As for leather seats, they are expensive, but at least you get the electric movement and heating in for the £1400. I didn't go for them though, the cloth looked good enough for me.

Phil, did you get used to the clutch fairly quickly though? It took me only about 5-10 mins into the drive I suppose. Certainly when I was waiting in traffic, in 1st gear, it seemed more natural than the first go (I didn't stall it, but nearly did!)

Mark W I think that the Red is the only one thats being test driven (or maybe I'm wrong). The Tit has been sitting in the showroom, and thats also the one that I played with the most internally (ooer). The red, I just drove!

Couple of other things

1) I'm really looking forward to Mark Ws review
2) I personally am not comparing the 8 against the 7 (which I agree for thost real rotary fans is probably weird), but against things like the BMW 3 series (325/330 coupes), golf R32 etc as I need the seats...perhaps thats making a difference in my judgement...I'm not comparing against the 350z or Rx7 or TT as 4 seats are a prerequisite.

Mark,

Apologies for the confusion and if this adds to your doubts - but the Lo-Power Tit Grey stayed in the showroom - we drove the red Hi-Power for about 10 minutes each. My comment about passing it on our way out was when we were leaving the dealers (we hung on for a good half hour afterwards).

I know you won't be able to test drive the car on your own, but even with the 7 I find having a passenger blunts the experience a bit.

Am sure you'll enjoy the drive next weekend and look forward to your comments.

Spooky timing Renegade. Yes - just re-read your review and enjoyed it again. Reminds me that the dash/ instrument cluster was just fantastic (and makes me feel silly for posting my sarcie comment about the 3D effect a few weeks back ;)). I remember thinking "wow", then "what's that" as there was a funny squeak when the A/C started up!

Our thoughts about the electric seat were really - why bother? The electrics just slow down what you can do manually and there's no memory so... that leaves heated seats. Well maybe for our northern friends but the way the climate is changing I think air-con is all we'll need in the South East :D

Are you still going to Weybridge mid-Septmeber? I live less than 2 miles from that TWW so will probably try to get the missus along on 13th (think we get back from hols that day) even if we can't get a drive.

As for the clutch - I got the hang of it but noticed that both me and my mate had problems doing a fast and smooth change from 1st to 2nd (I think it was that change - might have been 2nd to 3rd). I also missed a change down from 5th to 4th and ended up in 6th, but I think this kind of thing is normal with a new car and I'm still not perfect with the 6 speed in our MX-5 after 4 years. Maybe thats cos I prefer to drive the 5-speed 7:D

Hope your car arrives soon - will certainly stop and gawk when I see the first few owners on the roads around Surrey. Wonder if 8 drivers will wave at 7's and other rotaries - guess it depends on their interest/ knowledge of the history of the engine...

Originally posted by 97rsr
Mark,

Apologies for the confusion and if this adds to your doubts - but the Lo-Power Tit Grey stayed in the showroom - we drove the red Hi-Power for about 10 minutes each.

Cheers for clearing it up, though I was kinda hoping it was the low power :(

I'll be going for the test drive with the Mrs and the Salesman, so 3 up will blunt the performance anyway. Its a shame really as 90% of my driving is on my own.

Si, you're probably looking forward to my review more than I am then :D.

I really dont know what I am comparing the RX-8 against. My only requirements were for a perfomance car costing up to £25k, that looks good, handles great, something different from the crowd (eg BMW), has some creature comforts and is not to harsh or extreme. Sounds exactly like the RX-8 doesnt it!

Hi Phil again

as for September 13th, them I'm afriad that I will be in Brighton, being a complete saddo.

Why? Well, ok ok, it IS something thats as close to my heart as my cars, and Lensman (from his avatar <B>may</B> have some sympathy here.

I have only really had one hero in my life. (aaah). His name is <B>Rob Hubbard</B>.

Whoooo? Well if you go to
http://www/backintimelive.com you will see that he (along with other famous musicans) are playing "live" at the Brighton Centre.

Ok, so what music do they play? Erm, well they all composed music for ahem (oh god) ... the <B>Commodore 64</B>. They are doing a massive dance remix version of their tunes like a proper club thing, and its the first time in 17 years that Rob has played his tunes live.

Why am I going? Well, back in the day, I was in Zzap! 64 a number of times, beating the scorelord and Zzap! writers. OH, and in 1988 I became the offical World Computer Games Champion, sponsored by Competition Pro (makers of the best joysticks in the day). Anyway, as you can probably tell, I MUST go.


For those interested, the list of programmers and musicians is :

Rob Hubbard
Martin Galway
Ben Daglish
Dave Whittaker
Fred Gray
Richard Joseph
Richard Leinfellner
Barry Leitch
Mat Cannon
Marcel Donné
Markus Schneider (X-Ample)
Andrew Fisher (Merman)
Paul Kubiszyn (StudioX64)
Stoo Cambridge (Sensible Software)
Jason Kelk (TMR/Cosine)
Nick Pelling (TBC)
Jeff Minter (TBC)
Tim Follin (TBC)
Matt Gray (TBC)
Simon Nicol (TBC)
Jon Dunn (TBC)

I'll just go and destroy that last bit of street cred that I had built up over the years shall I? :D

Originally posted by renegade_si
and Lensman (from his avatar <B>may</B> have some sympathy here.

Hubbard's a quality player but he didn't create the music for 'Wizball' and is therefore deficient... ;)

I still miss my competition pro, oh those red buttons!!!

Enough.

Originally posted by renegade_si



For those interested, the list of programmers and musicians is :

Rob Hubbard
Martin Galway
Ben Daglish
Dave Whittaker
Fred Gray
Richard Joseph
Richard Leinfellner
Barry Leitch
Mat Cannon
Marcel Donné
Markus Schneider (X-Ample)
Andrew Fisher (Merman)
Paul Kubiszyn (StudioX64)
Stoo Cambridge (Sensible Software)
Jason Kelk (TMR/Cosine)
Nick Pelling (TBC)
Jeff Minter (TBC)
Tim Follin (TBC)
Matt Gray (TBC)
Simon Nicol (TBC)
Jon Dunn (TBC)

I'll just go and destroy that last bit of street cred that I had built up over the years shall I? :D

I know or knew several of those guys in my days in the industry (ex programmer and I did do CBM64 stuff!).

This brings back memories. Monty mole tune still rules, but Wizball was a fantastucally original game. Also like Galways stuff, but can't remember if we used any of his tunes when I used to work for Ocean (it WAS the 80's you know!)

Stu C

Whoa...hold on a minute...what happened to my thread?? Nip off for a few hours to watch a DVD and you've gone all eighties computing on me :D

Commodore 64 I remember, but I had a Dragon 32 myself. I'll get me coat..................

Totally irrelevant, but ZX81 and Spectrum ZX for me......:D

Stu

Galway did nearly ALL of Oceans music. Including Wizball as I pointed out in a PM to Lensman as I didn't want to ruin the thread too much :D

Buy Marks right, its been hijacked. :cool:

Originally posted by Lensman


Well I trust your opinion so it will be equally as 'interesting' for me to read your review as it will be for you to drive the car. I'm a perfect example of WHY Mazda are idiots: I was totally committed to the RX-8 until Friday night when the US story broke and now I'm 'interested' again... Not because the car is any different but just because I don't trust Mazda AT ALL and that seriously concerns me.

In an attempt to get back on topic :) , what's Lensman gonna do now the 350Z has been cancelled, in the unlikely event that the RX-8 let's you down??

'Hijacked'?! Nonsense. And to prove it here's a new picture of the RX-8:

PMSL!!!

Haha Lensman, very poor score dude - you haven't got the wizball under control yet - and looks like you've only shot one baddy - still fortunately its the baddy that leaves the powerups. Not easy bouncing through that gap though without either bouncing off or into the crater onto the next level where you really would be buggered.

Hmm analogy, you'd certainly be underpowered hahahaha.

At least it was as the spec. :D

Originally posted by MarkW


In an attempt to get back on topic :) , what's Lensman gonna do now the 350Z has been cancelled, in the unlikely event that the RX-8 let's you down??

Is this open to debate or shall I just tell you? ;)

Well heck: I don't know. I still live in hope that the RX-8 will be a fine motor vehicle but if for any reason it isn't then my options are limited. I could I suppose wait until next year and get a 350Z but I doubt the dealer that I cancelled with would look too favourably on me. At least then I could get the grey colour that I love rather than the blue (as previously ordered) that I disliked in reality. I could really do with a car kinda very soon though and preferably with sat-nav (an option on the Z) so the S2000 is out (I like it though) as is the Elise and the VX220. BMWs do nothing for me, likewise Volvos, Fords, Renaults, Citroens etc etc. The Crossfire is ugly and Alfas fall to bits. I LOVE the RX-7 FD but only in silver grey and then there's the reliability and the fuel costs plus I want a new car. There's that RX-8 thing that Mazda are touting: that might be worth a look...

Now you might find this a bit too sad, but.

I was a real game / computer geek back then and was with a group of like minded people. We used to go to all the computer shows and I had one mate who had no shame and used to go up to these guys and get talking to them (hero worship). So I've been round to a few of these guys houses.

Rob Hubbard, used to be up in Newcastle, was great took us all out to his local for a pint.

Barry Leitch, he came and stayed with us in our bedsit for a week or two, another good bloke.

Last, he's not on your list but went to see Tony Crowther at his place he'd bought with developers wages while he was still seventeen.

Oh dear, seems to be a demographic emerging here...

Vic20, BBC Micro B and the Archimedes for me. Lemmings... now that was a game I spent too long playing at Uni. Still, had to do something in the hours between episodes of Neighbours :D

Not sure how to help bring this back on topic. I discovered that great thread on the main forum about all the little things about the 8 that people love. Oh yes - Renegade - not sure you answered my question about which days the 8 is in Weybridge in September - is it only 12/13? (think you got a bit carried away with why you aren't around that weekend ;) )

Originally posted by Titanium Grey
Now you might find this a bit too sad, but.

I was a real game / computer geek back then and was with a group of like minded people. We used to go to all the computer shows........

Well, I still am a games geek, and I can be considered a computer geek as well (since I AM an IT Engineer :D), so I dont think this counts as "sad" ;)

Originally posted by MarkW
Whoa...hold on a minute...what happened to my thread?? Nip off for a few hours to watch a DVD and you've gone all eighties computing on me :D

Commodore 64 I remember, but I had a Dragon 32 myself. I'll get me coat..................

I had a Tandy TRS80 on which the Dragon was based. One of the guys who commutes with me (hence the need for a true 4 seater) used to build the Dragon in Swansea and likes to recall mhow every week they would go down to the Tandy shop and buy all of their joysticks for the TRS80. They would then take them back to the factory and melt off the Radio Shack logos with a soldering iron and sell them with the Dragon!


Back on Topic - I'd be seriously disappointed if the RX-8 performs no better than a 16v Corrado - I was hoping for better than an Corrado VR6. Like you Mark I'm concerned that the performace defecit to my existing car will be noticeable - I so want to like the car!

Just found a response to the Mazdarotaryclub review that was initially posted in the thread which is a bit more positive;

I had my test drive at T W Whites, Milford branch, on Saturday. They had 2 rx-8s, a titanium grey in the showroom and a velocity red as the test car.

Had a sit in the grey one which had a sunroof, I could just feel my head brushing the roof, I'm 6ft tall. Sat in the rear seat and there is more space than you'd think, the rear has two individual seats which are very comfortable a little weird as you sit low with poor visibility out of the windows. Boot is large for a sports car but small for a saloon, access to the boot is awkward. A litre of 5W30 was tucked away in the corner of the boot.

On to the test car, it was the HiPower model with red/black interior, not to my taste. This car had no sunroof and there was plenty of room for me up front. The sat nav screen pops up from the dash when turned on - nice toy.

The clutch is very light but I found the other controls excellent, steering has a nice weight to it. Went up the A3 to Guildford, car pulled nicely through the gears smoothly and so quietly, engine is quiet, suspension is quiet, no tyre noise, no air noise - if quiet is important to you than I doubt there is a quieter car for the money. My first impression was that the car is not that quick but because it is so quiet you don't have the same sensation of speed as in other cars - it's no FD but still fairly quick. Went up to Guildford Cathedral onto concrete road surface, minimal tyre noise. On the way back from Guildford managed a couple of miles on country roads, car felt very secure round corners and quick on the straights, just getting to like it and the test drive came to an end.

Would I buy one? The answer for me is No, I have an FD for fun and an Escort as a daily drive. I am looking to replace the Escort for something a bit more prestigious, will probably go for more practicality/space and less running cost by choosing a compact executive (3 series, A4 etc).

Thanks to T W Whites, Milford for allowing me the test drive.

Kevin

Originally posted by AndyPearce
I'd be seriously disappointed if the RX-8 performs no better than a 16v Corrado - I was hoping for better than an Corrado VR6.

Well I've driven a Corrado VR6 and I was quite impressed with it so I'd not be too unhappy but lets hope for better!

Weybridge is 12-14th inclusive - Fri to Sunday. Call them on (01932) 858866 to book - its getting full.

As for all of the other gaming saddos....any of you want to come to Brighton? I'm just about to book hotels...

Booked last week - Friday at 10am!

Originally posted by AndyPearce
Just found a response to the Mazdarotaryclub review that was initially posted in the thread which is a bit more positive;



A bit more positive maybe, but still another FD owner who wouldnt buy one :(

For everyone who had driven the car, do you remember the reg no?

It would be interesting to know if everyone has driven the same car, based upon the differing reviews. I can also compare with my forthcoming test drive as well.

Mark

Originally posted by MarkW


A bit more positive maybe, but still another FD owner who wouldnt buy one :(


Ask yourself what an FD owner WOULD buy short of a Skyline GTR or Porsche Carrera GT? Everything is down for them.

Originally posted by Edo
Booked last week - Friday at 10am!

Wow - can I have a go in your Tardis??;)

Drove GK 03 KLC Red HI Power
Sat in GK 03 KLX Titanium Lo Power

Originally posted by Lensman


Well I've driven a Corrado VR6 and I was quite impressed with it so I'd not be too unhappy but lets hope for better!

I've owned both a 16v and VR6 Corrado and the VR6 is slightly slower than my T5 but better handling. I was hoping that the RX-8 would have the handling (or better) of the Corrado with better acceleration than the T5 (but I know I'm going to be down on top speed.)

To clarify for Andy (ya sarcastic b*gger!!)
I booked last week for Friday the12th at TWW....

;-)

Ed

Originally posted by Edo
To clarify for Andy (ya sarcastic b*gger!!)
I booked last week for Friday the12th at TWW....

;-)

Ed

Enjoy the drive - in fact, I wonder if the dealer would be upset if you headed onto the M4 and hightailed it to Cardiff? :p :D



Andy 'desperate for a testdrive' Pearce!