Howdy1606

10Best Cars: Best Sports Coupe - 10Best Cars
Mazda RX-8
January 2006


Select another 10Best winner Acura TSX Audi A3 2.0T BMW 3-series Chevrolet Corvette Chrysler 300/300C Hemi/300C SRT8 Ford Mustang GT Honda Accord Mazda MX-5 Mazda RX-8 Porsche Boxster 10Best overview
To understate things, "sports car" and "practical" are terms that don't bond very well—unless you happen to be talking about the RX-8. With its rear-hinged rear demi-doors (carmakers get cranky when we call them suicide doors) and surprisingly roomy rear-seat area, the RX-8 can actually accommodate four adults in reasonable comfort. And we're talking everyday adults rather than contortionists. The clamshell door arrangement and the absence of B-pillars make it easy to slither into the aft part of the cabin or to employ the space for cargo.

As for the sports-car part of the equation, the extra doors and the pillarless design haven't softened the RX-8's unibody, which is essentially flex-free, providing a solid foundation for a suspension setup that delivers athletic responses without excessive road noise or passenger punishment on rough surfaces. The steering is quick and accurate, and the car's balance is right on the 50/50 fulcrum.

Not only does the RX-8 make do without B-pillars, but it also gets along without pistons or valves. Mazda's traditional RX prescription entails rotary power, and the latest version is the 1.3-liter twin-rotor Renesis, with 238 horsepower (197 with an automatic transmission). The Renesis is more efficient than past editions, and if it's a little light on torque, it's still capable of propelling a manual model to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. We also hear that RX-8 updates, due in February, include more power and upgrades to the automatic transmission.

The bottom line: sports-car fun with an element of practicality you just might be able to sell to a significant other. However, that sales job is up to you.



10Best Nominees

Acura RL
Acura TSX
Audi A3 2.0T
Audi A4/S4
BMW 3-series
BMW 5-series
Buick Lucerne
Cadillac DTS
Cadillac STS-V*
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet HHR
Chevrolet Impala SS
Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS
Chrysler PT Cruiser GT
Chrysler 300/300C Hemi/300C SRT8
Dodge Charger*/Charger R/T/
Charger SRT8
Dodge Magnum
Ford Fusion
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Azera
Hyundai Sonata
Infiniti M35
Kia Rio5
Lexus GS300
Lexus GS430
Lexus IS350
Lincoln Zephyr
Lotus Exige*
Mazda MX-5
Mazda RX-8
Mazdaspeed 6*
Mercedes-Benz C350
Mercedes-Benz CLS500
Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLK350
Mercury Milan
Mercury Montego
Mitsubishi Eclipse
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
Pontiac G6 GTP
Pontiac Grand Prix GXP
Pontiac GTO
Pontiac Solstice
Toyota Avalon
Subaru Impreza WRX
Volkswagen Jetta

For your Viewing pleasure

http://www.caranddriver.com/bestcars...cars-2006.html

Razz1

Re-post. They have 232hp

Stavesacre21

werd.

Dated JANUARY of 2006, it's likely been heard on an 8 website by now. For a second, I thought it was time for another issue of the top 10. Shame on u for getting us all riled up. shame.

Howdy1606

I put this one up cause i knew the newist one is comeing out soon and i was going to post that one up.. i think it might be comeing out in dec.??? i dont know correct me if i am wrong.. Sorry if you felt i tricked you..

CarAndDriver

Lame post and lame title thread. OLD NEWS.

RotaryP7

Hm. I'll wait & see the '07 issue.

saturn

Gets my vote for the most mislabeled thread ever.

Ike

Howdy, I think you're smart no matter what these other people say.

CarAndDriver

Another winner indeed.

The Dec. 2006 issue just hit the newsstands last week. It'll be 3 weeks before 2007 list.

Rotarctica

You know it'll be on there. -_-'

Ike

Nope

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

The Jan 07 issue should be in the mail box any day.

CarAndDriver

I'd say a couple more weeks.

pernell10

who cares??

tmak26b

C&D has a hard on for all the Mazda cars, so its pointless.

CarAndDriver

Except the latest issue when the put the Mazda 3 in 2nd place behind the new Golf in an econo car comparo.

C&D loves Mazdas almost as much as they love VWs.

Stavesacre21

oh snap!

Rotarctica

The 3's interior isn't the best...But I'd still have it over the damned Golf.

CarAndDriver

I guess they thought it was too sporty. Too sporty???

9291150

I'd be shocked if the 8 gets on the C&D list again. A car into its fifth model year without any changes, it just doesn't happen.

saturn

I thought 2007 would be the fourth model year. There are 2003 RX-8's?

xxPurpleRx8xx

regardless if its 2006 or 2007, I still rubbed it in my boss's face...the 350Z didnt make it (thats what he drives, as I work at Nissan, I know...fraternizing with the enemy lol)

Stavesacre21

i'd assume that the misconception of the 2003 calender year release of the 2004 mazda year RX-8 is to blame here.

All said and done, 07's coming out are the 4th unchanged year