Finally drove an RX-8! It's my style!
07-25-2003, 04:32 PM
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I Just Can't STOP!
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Finally drove an RX-8! It's my style!
Just got back from a 30-minute test drive, that I was promised before making a final order. Glad I did, but not for the obvious reasons. The car was Red and it's gorgeous, changed to Red from Titanium.
Anyway, I'll post a more detailed review this weekend, but let me some it up:
- I'm still grinning!
- I read somewhere that the BMW 3 series was a benchmark vehicle. BMW needs to go buy a RX-8 and benchmark it; it's better than the 3 series.
- A slogan used by another company fits the RX-8 like a glove:
For the "Joy of Driving"
The one thing that stood out the most, the steering! The car tracks perfectly straight like a BMW or M-B but the steering feel on center is great. The BMW 3 series steering is completely numb on-center and just off-center. Nice job Mazda.
Added on 7/26, the detailed review:
First the not so important aspects:
Interior:
Given the price of the car the interior is better than average in this price range. For quality and it's right there with the BMW 3 and better than the G35. It's not full of gadgets but then again most of the interiors that are come in more expensive or less capable cars. If you compare the RX-8 interior to say a $31,000 base 325i I think you'll find the RX-8 a nicer place to spend your time. There are a few cheap parts, like the rings surrounding the air vents, but no more so than all other cars. The cloth seat material is first class IMO, better than BMW "leatherette" (glorified vinyl) we get as the base covering in the USA.
The switchgear is not quite Camry or Accord, but it works well and feels good. It's a lighter touch than the BMW, where sometimes I had to pound on a button for it to work or hold it for a second.
The front seat room is very good. The shoulder room is less than the BMW 3, but not too bad. Rear seat room is very good to very bad depending on where the front seats are positioned. Headroom back there is great, but legroom can become a premium. Four 6' should be OK, but that's about the limit. And I don't think any of them will want to go on a 4-hour drive. By the way, the BMW sedan is better, but there also the rear seat gets tight with tall people upfront.
For the exterior size of the car, the interior is amazingly spacious. It's better than a G35 coupe since the G35C has no rear headroom.
Overall rating: 8.0/10 - Price adjusted: 9.0/10
Seating Position-Support/Ergonomics:
Seats are very comfortable and supportive. Not quite racing seats but very, very good. At first the ergonomics seamed a bit off but it was surprisingly easy to find things. Only long term exposure will tell for sure, but my first impression is that the seats will not give you a sore back nor will you have to spend 30 seconds looking for dash buttons.
Rating: 9/10
Exterior:
Since looks are subjective I'll just say than from where the B-pillar should be to the bumper the car is sweeeeeeeeeet. From the B-pillar back the car is handsome.
The quality of the paint and the fit of the panels is first class, right up there with the best. The car does exude a high level of quality. Even the sound the doors make is stouter than I expected, at least the front, the rear sound just the way you would expect light Al doors to sound.
Rating 9/10 - Price adjusted: 9.9/10
Comfort - Ride and Noise
First the ride, if you're used to German performance sedans then you'll find the RX-8 familiar. The ride is firm and tied down while never being harsh. To use a common description you hear the pothole more than feel it. It's no Toyota Avalon, but it's no 350Z either. The ride is never choppy; the body control is first rate so the car never gets floaty. The ride is very Euro in that sense.
Noise on the other hand is a bit more than the BMW. Some more wind noise and tire noise get through (I do not consider the engine noise bad, more later), but you'll only notice it if you're coming from a more expensive luxury car. And remember sound-deadening material is not lightweight!
Rating: 8.5/10
Now the important things
Drivetrain:
Engine: I drove a 1994(maybe 1995) RX-7 for an hour of so after a friend bought one new. That is only experience I have ever had with rotaries. The RX-8 engine is something very different than what I'm used to. It does have very smooth power delivery and from about 3000 RPM up an amazingly flat torque curve. The engine is not what you may call a powerhouse, but the power it does make (which is still substantial) just comes on like smooth cream butter on toast. Even below 3000 RPM where the engine is somewhat gutless the thing is still smooth. Throttle response is awesome. From 3K up the engine IMO is superior to the BMW straight 6, but it does lack the low torque. That doesn't bother me as much here because the engine is smooth, revs quickly and the throttle response is right now quick. You can easily work through the low end without ever feeling caught out. Only if you insist on short shifting all the time will you be disappointed, and if you do short shift your depriving yourself of something sweet.
The sound this engine makes is very unique and utterly addicting. It's hard for me to describe, just trust me when I say its grin inducing in the extreme. Go hear one. Also, the low end is still adequate for daily driving.
Rating: 10.5/10
Transmission, Shifter, Clutch:
Shifter and Clutch: The shifter is great! The car I drove had 95 miles on it so I would have expected the shifter to be a bit stiff and it was tight. But, finding and engaging gears was almost instinctive and the shifter went home without protest. I guess given all the raving about the Miata shifter I expected shorter throws, so I found the throw a bit long. However, compared to the BMW 3 it's actually shorter and just as precise and smooth with a nice mechanical feel when you push the shifter into gear. It's leagues above the G35 and 350Z IMO. Clutch travel and take up is also very good and easy to tell where the clutch engages.
Rating: 9/10
Braking:
Pedal feel is absolutely first class. Take it from some one who used do design and develop brakes for a living, the pedal feel and modulation in this car is about as good as you'll get short of a Porsche GT car. It is superior to the BMW 3. And after taking a look underhood I know why. The RX-8 has a tie-rod booster and "plunger" type master cylinder. The tie-rod is very expensive, but its design effectively is the same as mounting the master cylinder directly to the engine side dash (firewall is no longer an acceptable term). Obviously Mazda knows where to spend the money. If you can't smoothly brake with this car, then you are in need of extensive training and practice
The stopping power is prodigious. Very strong brakes, very strong. Now I could not test fade resistance, but I did do one little experiment that will tell you if the brakes will fade early. Drove up to 70 MPH and slammed on the brakes until I dropped to about 30MPH, sped up again to 70 and stopped more gradually to 45 MPH (There's a Parkway near the dealer). If the brakes where going to fade early the pedal feel would have been long and mushy on the second stop. It didn't. Doesn't mean they won't fade, just that the pads won't go marshmallow right away.
Rating: 10/10
Handling:
This car handles exactly the way it should! Near perfect suspension geometry and calibration for a street oriented sportscar.
What do I mean by that? While there is body roll, do not mistake this for poor balance or low grip. The car's handling is neutral and grip seems very, very high. Even with the RE040, which I am not the biggest fan of to be honest. But the suspension is capable of keeping the best tire contact patch possible. The car never got upset, and I tried to by hitting bumps and potholes mid-corner. In this way it's just like a BMW, it's going far faster than you think around a corner and always holds its line.
There is one major difference between the BMW 3 and the RX-8, steering feel! While both cars are able to use the maximum grip of the tires and eat up mid-corner bumps with ease the RX-8 lets you know exactly what's going on through the steering wheel. There is very (if any) isolation from the tires.
The RX-8 also has better turn-in and a more stable rear. The chassis of the RX-8 is truly a revelation of how good a sportscar an everyday driver can be.
Rating: 12/10
One Line Summary: The perfect streetable (is that a real word
), everyday sportscar!
And what a bloody bargain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I'll post a more detailed review this weekend, but let me some it up:
- I'm still grinning!
- I read somewhere that the BMW 3 series was a benchmark vehicle. BMW needs to go buy a RX-8 and benchmark it; it's better than the 3 series.
- A slogan used by another company fits the RX-8 like a glove:
For the "Joy of Driving"
The one thing that stood out the most, the steering! The car tracks perfectly straight like a BMW or M-B but the steering feel on center is great. The BMW 3 series steering is completely numb on-center and just off-center. Nice job Mazda.
Added on 7/26, the detailed review:
First the not so important aspects:
Interior:
Given the price of the car the interior is better than average in this price range. For quality and it's right there with the BMW 3 and better than the G35. It's not full of gadgets but then again most of the interiors that are come in more expensive or less capable cars. If you compare the RX-8 interior to say a $31,000 base 325i I think you'll find the RX-8 a nicer place to spend your time. There are a few cheap parts, like the rings surrounding the air vents, but no more so than all other cars. The cloth seat material is first class IMO, better than BMW "leatherette" (glorified vinyl) we get as the base covering in the USA.
The switchgear is not quite Camry or Accord, but it works well and feels good. It's a lighter touch than the BMW, where sometimes I had to pound on a button for it to work or hold it for a second.
The front seat room is very good. The shoulder room is less than the BMW 3, but not too bad. Rear seat room is very good to very bad depending on where the front seats are positioned. Headroom back there is great, but legroom can become a premium. Four 6' should be OK, but that's about the limit. And I don't think any of them will want to go on a 4-hour drive. By the way, the BMW sedan is better, but there also the rear seat gets tight with tall people upfront.
For the exterior size of the car, the interior is amazingly spacious. It's better than a G35 coupe since the G35C has no rear headroom.
Overall rating: 8.0/10 - Price adjusted: 9.0/10
Seating Position-Support/Ergonomics:
Seats are very comfortable and supportive. Not quite racing seats but very, very good. At first the ergonomics seamed a bit off but it was surprisingly easy to find things. Only long term exposure will tell for sure, but my first impression is that the seats will not give you a sore back nor will you have to spend 30 seconds looking for dash buttons.
Rating: 9/10
Exterior:
Since looks are subjective I'll just say than from where the B-pillar should be to the bumper the car is sweeeeeeeeeet. From the B-pillar back the car is handsome.
The quality of the paint and the fit of the panels is first class, right up there with the best. The car does exude a high level of quality. Even the sound the doors make is stouter than I expected, at least the front, the rear sound just the way you would expect light Al doors to sound.
Rating 9/10 - Price adjusted: 9.9/10
Comfort - Ride and Noise
First the ride, if you're used to German performance sedans then you'll find the RX-8 familiar. The ride is firm and tied down while never being harsh. To use a common description you hear the pothole more than feel it. It's no Toyota Avalon, but it's no 350Z either. The ride is never choppy; the body control is first rate so the car never gets floaty. The ride is very Euro in that sense.
Noise on the other hand is a bit more than the BMW. Some more wind noise and tire noise get through (I do not consider the engine noise bad, more later), but you'll only notice it if you're coming from a more expensive luxury car. And remember sound-deadening material is not lightweight!
Rating: 8.5/10
Now the important things
Drivetrain:
Engine: I drove a 1994(maybe 1995) RX-7 for an hour of so after a friend bought one new. That is only experience I have ever had with rotaries. The RX-8 engine is something very different than what I'm used to. It does have very smooth power delivery and from about 3000 RPM up an amazingly flat torque curve. The engine is not what you may call a powerhouse, but the power it does make (which is still substantial) just comes on like smooth cream butter on toast. Even below 3000 RPM where the engine is somewhat gutless the thing is still smooth. Throttle response is awesome. From 3K up the engine IMO is superior to the BMW straight 6, but it does lack the low torque. That doesn't bother me as much here because the engine is smooth, revs quickly and the throttle response is right now quick. You can easily work through the low end without ever feeling caught out. Only if you insist on short shifting all the time will you be disappointed, and if you do short shift your depriving yourself of something sweet.
The sound this engine makes is very unique and utterly addicting. It's hard for me to describe, just trust me when I say its grin inducing in the extreme. Go hear one. Also, the low end is still adequate for daily driving.
Rating: 10.5/10
Transmission, Shifter, Clutch:
Shifter and Clutch: The shifter is great! The car I drove had 95 miles on it so I would have expected the shifter to be a bit stiff and it was tight. But, finding and engaging gears was almost instinctive and the shifter went home without protest. I guess given all the raving about the Miata shifter I expected shorter throws, so I found the throw a bit long. However, compared to the BMW 3 it's actually shorter and just as precise and smooth with a nice mechanical feel when you push the shifter into gear. It's leagues above the G35 and 350Z IMO. Clutch travel and take up is also very good and easy to tell where the clutch engages.
Rating: 9/10
Braking:
Pedal feel is absolutely first class. Take it from some one who used do design and develop brakes for a living, the pedal feel and modulation in this car is about as good as you'll get short of a Porsche GT car. It is superior to the BMW 3. And after taking a look underhood I know why. The RX-8 has a tie-rod booster and "plunger" type master cylinder. The tie-rod is very expensive, but its design effectively is the same as mounting the master cylinder directly to the engine side dash (firewall is no longer an acceptable term). Obviously Mazda knows where to spend the money. If you can't smoothly brake with this car, then you are in need of extensive training and practice
The stopping power is prodigious. Very strong brakes, very strong. Now I could not test fade resistance, but I did do one little experiment that will tell you if the brakes will fade early. Drove up to 70 MPH and slammed on the brakes until I dropped to about 30MPH, sped up again to 70 and stopped more gradually to 45 MPH (There's a Parkway near the dealer). If the brakes where going to fade early the pedal feel would have been long and mushy on the second stop. It didn't. Doesn't mean they won't fade, just that the pads won't go marshmallow right away.
Rating: 10/10
Handling:
This car handles exactly the way it should! Near perfect suspension geometry and calibration for a street oriented sportscar.
What do I mean by that? While there is body roll, do not mistake this for poor balance or low grip. The car's handling is neutral and grip seems very, very high. Even with the RE040, which I am not the biggest fan of to be honest. But the suspension is capable of keeping the best tire contact patch possible. The car never got upset, and I tried to by hitting bumps and potholes mid-corner. In this way it's just like a BMW, it's going far faster than you think around a corner and always holds its line.
There is one major difference between the BMW 3 and the RX-8, steering feel! While both cars are able to use the maximum grip of the tires and eat up mid-corner bumps with ease the RX-8 lets you know exactly what's going on through the steering wheel. There is very (if any) isolation from the tires.
The RX-8 also has better turn-in and a more stable rear. The chassis of the RX-8 is truly a revelation of how good a sportscar an everyday driver can be.
Rating: 12/10
One Line Summary: The perfect streetable (is that a real word
), everyday sportscar! And what a bloody bargain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by RomanoM; 07-28-2003 at 04:57 PM.
07-25-2003, 04:44 PM
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I recently had a minor battle on another site with someone well known to this forum who insisted that comparing the interior of the RX-8 to BMW quality was laughable. I win SkylineManiac!
Good site you've built RomanoM.
Did you see a Titanium car for real as well as the Red?
Good site you've built RomanoM.
Did you see a Titanium car for real as well as the Red?
Last edited by Lensman; 07-25-2003 at 04:52 PM.
07-25-2003, 06:35 PM
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I just drove a titanium one last night... my god I didn't know I could have a **** eating :D on my face for that long
I was really concerned about headroom - i'm 6'3" and I actually had a good 4" of clearance... I was so happy... oh yea, and I loved everything about the car, except that damn buldge in the passanger footwell.
I was really concerned about headroom - i'm 6'3" and I actually had a good 4" of clearance... I was so happy... oh yea, and I loved everything about the car, except that damn buldge in the passanger footwell.
07-25-2003, 06:40 PM
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Originally posted by pr0ber
I just drove a titanium one last night... my god I didn't know I could have a **** eating :D on my face for that long
I was really concerned about headroom - i'm 6'3" and I actually had a good 4" of clearance... I was so happy... oh yea, and I loved everything about the car, except that damn buldge in the passanger footwell.
I just drove a titanium one last night... my god I didn't know I could have a **** eating :D on my face for that long
I was really concerned about headroom - i'm 6'3" and I actually had a good 4" of clearance... I was so happy... oh yea, and I loved everything about the car, except that damn buldge in the passanger footwell.
07-25-2003, 08:38 PM
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After taking delivery this morning I came in to work because I'm a "dedicated" employee. Nothing on earth can wipe the silly grin off my face. I had some seriously good deja vu while driving where all of a sudden I'm back in college with my '89 CRXsi. Money may not buy happiness but it sure can buy "Pure Unadulterated Fun."
07-25-2003, 09:42 PM
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I was on the verge of buying an S2000, but went to look at the RX8 just because I feel the need to go look at every sports car that comes out. Well I liked the looks more than I thought I would, and then the salesman asked if I wanted to drive it. Yeah like I'm gonna pass that up. Well to make a long story short, I took my wife back to let her drive it that night and I'm placing an order on one next week. I was pretty easy w/ it on the test drive, I can't wait to get mine broken in and really start having some fun. The thing drives far better than I expected. I had a 2nd gen, and a 3rd gen, so it's only fitting that I get the 8. Can't wait!!!
07-25-2003, 10:05 PM
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Way ta go, 22. Welcome to the family. Hey, look around San Antonio a bit; I heard there were some cars on the lot. Ya never know one might be spec'd out the way you want. That's how I got mine. Some guy in June cancelled his order; I jumped in and got this beauty in less than 4 weeks.
07-26-2003, 12:00 AM
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I just went my world car mazda (off fredricksburg, by crossroads) this morning on my way back from autozone, just to humor myself and see if they had any rx-8's in. they did in the showroom, one yellow and one siver. the dealer let my get in one and put the key in (the silver one), and man it felt great! it was a 6-speed, base, and he said the price was something like $29K. I hopped in the back, and man that was tight fitting, especially with the front seat all the way back. not as bad as 2+2 seating, but not as good as a cavalier or civic, etc.
anyway, those two cars are for sell. the dealer said he sold one pre-order. i forgot to ask if the rx-8's also come with world car's 100K/ 10 yr warrently. i would assume they do, so you can't really beat that deal.
i can get you the dealer's name, he was real nice and quite informative about the car/sports cars in general. he saw me drive up in my 2nd gen TII, and had to take a look as i drove off :D the rx-7 still get's 'em looking, lol. i love my turbo!
anyway, those two cars are for sell. the dealer said he sold one pre-order. i forgot to ask if the rx-8's also come with world car's 100K/ 10 yr warrently. i would assume they do, so you can't really beat that deal.
i can get you the dealer's name, he was real nice and quite informative about the car/sports cars in general. he saw me drive up in my 2nd gen TII, and had to take a look as i drove off :D the rx-7 still get's 'em looking, lol. i love my turbo!
07-26-2003, 04:17 AM
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Originally posted by 8_wannabe
There's a simple solution to the footwell thing: Stay out of the passenger seat! :D <---- (me)
There's a simple solution to the footwell thing: Stay out of the passenger seat! :D <---- (me)
07-26-2003, 06:36 AM
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Originally posted by Lensman
Easy for you to say! We RHD owners have the bulge on the DRIVER'S side because, strangely enough, Mazda refused to redesign the engine backwards just for us...
Easy for you to say! We RHD owners have the bulge on the DRIVER'S side because, strangely enough, Mazda refused to redesign the engine backwards just for us...
I find the rev just flies up to 4,000 rpm in an instant...no worries abt the so-called lack of torque below 3,000 rpm! :D
Fantastic car...:D :D :D
07-28-2003, 05:00 PM
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I Just Can't STOP!
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Finalized the deal!
Velocity Red 6MT with sport package. $27,500 plus sales tax and registration
Hoping to take delivery soon!
:D ^1000
Velocity Red 6MT with sport package. $27,500 plus sales tax and registration
Hoping to take delivery soon!
:D ^1000
Last edited by RomanoM; 07-28-2003 at 05:08 PM.
07-28-2003, 05:37 PM
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Great Review !!!
I was debating weather to purchase a 350Z or a S2000. I then saw the RX8 and I was convinced on what I wanted. I picked up the car today and headed stright to work. Continous honking and thumbs up were sent in my direction.
Your review pretty much covered everything I need to say about this awesome car.
I purchased the yellow RX8 production number 61
Congrats to all owners.
cheers
pete
I was debating weather to purchase a 350Z or a S2000. I then saw the RX8 and I was convinced on what I wanted. I picked up the car today and headed stright to work. Continous honking and thumbs up were sent in my direction.
Your review pretty much covered everything I need to say about this awesome car.
I purchased the yellow RX8 production number 61
Congrats to all owners.
cheers
pete
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