KBB RX8 Review
03-07-2006, 03:10 PM
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KBB RX8 Review
I was poking around kbb.com (just checking value not thinking of selling) and came across their review of the RX8 (BELOW). It is a positive one:
REVIEW
The Miracle Worker
The RX-8 may qualify as the most significant new automobile of 2004. Its very existence is nothing short of a minor miracle considering that the last rotary-powered Mazda was silenced in 1995, in part due to a bloated sticker price and poor sales. You have to figure that even if Mazda's designers could sell the idea of resurrecting the RX nameplate to upper management, the idea of equipping such a car with another rotary engine must have been comparable to strapping on a cement life jacket before plunging into a 20-foot pool. But somehow Mazda convinced its parent company Ford that the RX-8 had to be built; to the man or woman that pulled off that boardroom presentation, you have our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude.
The RX-8 is the type of car that, after spending just a few minutes behind the wheel, you could be happy owning for the rest of your car-driving days. Upon your first drive in the RX-8, you'll notice right away how tight the car feels. The six-speed shifter requires only the slightest movement to change gears and the clutch engages so smoothly it's hard to get off a bad shift. The steering is completely neutral and fiercely precise in both its execution and feedback. Charging through turns barely gets a rise from the well-heeled suspension that keeps the car level and controlled at all times.
Our six-speed manual test car was equipped with P225/45R18 Potenza tires, a sport suspension and a limited-slip rear differential; the optional Sport Package added HID headlights and vehicle stability control. With the Sport Package in place, the RX-8 is so supremely confident in its ability to execute high-speed turns that it makes you a better driver by default. All the more amazing is that even with its stellar suspension, the RX-8 returns a level of ride comfort and civility you won't find in the Nissan 350Z or Porsche Boxster.
At idle, you'll notice a slight vibration that is the telltale sign of the rotary engine; its not annoying in any way and actually makes the car feel almost alive. Slip into first gear and you'll feel the pull of the 238-horsepower Renesis engine, slowly at first but then rocket-like once the tach climbs past 2000 rpm. With a 9000-rpm redline, all you have to do is keep the tach between 4000 and 6000 rpm and you'll always find more than enough power on tap for high-speed bursts. As you wind through the gears, you may notice that the shiftboot and console can get pretty warm, but don't panic; it's simply a result of the rotary's high heat output.
With its sharp geometric creases and bulging front fender flares, the RX-8's styling is like nothing else in this segment. Though the rear glass hatch has been shelved in favor of a more secure trunk, the RX-8's long hood and short rear deck design remains true to the formula established by its predecessor, the RX-7. The trunk is surprisingly spacious because the RX-8 carries no spare tire; in its place is a can of tire sealant and a small electric compressor. A lockable center pass through allows you to carry longer items such as skis without the need for a roof rack.
Slip inside the RX-8 and the quality of the materials and the depth of detail will impress you at once. You'll find an excellent set of sport bucket seats that feature a driver's-side height-adjustable seat bottom. The seats are covered with a combination suede-like fabric and ribbed cloth inserts. Though you can opt for full-leather seating, it won't have the same Velcro-like grip on your clothing that the standard seats have, a nice attribute when racing around tight curves.
The instrument cluster is housed in a dash-mounted binnacle that includes a center-mounted tachometer with an inset digital speedometer. Why Mazda chose this design is a bit of a mystery as a nice analog speedometer could easily have been placed on either side of the tachometer. The one nice thing about the digital speedometer is that you can toggle between U.S and Metric readouts. During the day, the backlit gauges appear with white numerals against black faces and at night, switch to red numerals with a deep-blue background.
The center stack features an artistic chrome circle superimposed overtop the audio controls with the volume **** at its center. Though you'll love the look, the sound from the standard audio is nothing special and because of the integrated design, you can't upgrade the stereo with an aftermarket unit. Thankfully Mazda does offer the option of a cassette deck, an MP3 CD player and even a mini disc player all of which can be teamed to an optional 300-watt Bose audio unit. Bonus points are awarded to the optional onboard navigation screen that is concealed atop the dash where it in no way interferes with the audio or heating/cooling functions.
Beyond its obvious performance virtues, the real beauty of the RX-8 is that you don't have to sacrifice fun for functionality; now you can own an exotic sports car that allows you to take the spouse and kids along when required. That's because this RX-8 comes standard with a back seat and two forward-facing mini doors that allow access. Though it may look confining, with the front seat set at its midpoint, you can actually fit two six-foot adults in the rear seats and the full-length center console will keep them from brushing shoulders. Safety features include front side-airbags and a side-airbag curtain for both front and rear passengers.
Given its power, styling, generous standard features and remarkable versatility, Mazda has managed to keep the RX-8 priced within easy reach of most consumers is yet another example of the Lord of the Rings-like magic this company possesses. With a base price under $27,000 ($25,180 for the 197-horsepower four-speed automatic and $26,680 for the six-speed manual) the Mazda RX-8 is a driver's dream come true.
REVIEW
The Miracle Worker
The RX-8 may qualify as the most significant new automobile of 2004. Its very existence is nothing short of a minor miracle considering that the last rotary-powered Mazda was silenced in 1995, in part due to a bloated sticker price and poor sales. You have to figure that even if Mazda's designers could sell the idea of resurrecting the RX nameplate to upper management, the idea of equipping such a car with another rotary engine must have been comparable to strapping on a cement life jacket before plunging into a 20-foot pool. But somehow Mazda convinced its parent company Ford that the RX-8 had to be built; to the man or woman that pulled off that boardroom presentation, you have our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude.
The RX-8 is the type of car that, after spending just a few minutes behind the wheel, you could be happy owning for the rest of your car-driving days. Upon your first drive in the RX-8, you'll notice right away how tight the car feels. The six-speed shifter requires only the slightest movement to change gears and the clutch engages so smoothly it's hard to get off a bad shift. The steering is completely neutral and fiercely precise in both its execution and feedback. Charging through turns barely gets a rise from the well-heeled suspension that keeps the car level and controlled at all times.
Our six-speed manual test car was equipped with P225/45R18 Potenza tires, a sport suspension and a limited-slip rear differential; the optional Sport Package added HID headlights and vehicle stability control. With the Sport Package in place, the RX-8 is so supremely confident in its ability to execute high-speed turns that it makes you a better driver by default. All the more amazing is that even with its stellar suspension, the RX-8 returns a level of ride comfort and civility you won't find in the Nissan 350Z or Porsche Boxster.
At idle, you'll notice a slight vibration that is the telltale sign of the rotary engine; its not annoying in any way and actually makes the car feel almost alive. Slip into first gear and you'll feel the pull of the 238-horsepower Renesis engine, slowly at first but then rocket-like once the tach climbs past 2000 rpm. With a 9000-rpm redline, all you have to do is keep the tach between 4000 and 6000 rpm and you'll always find more than enough power on tap for high-speed bursts. As you wind through the gears, you may notice that the shiftboot and console can get pretty warm, but don't panic; it's simply a result of the rotary's high heat output.
With its sharp geometric creases and bulging front fender flares, the RX-8's styling is like nothing else in this segment. Though the rear glass hatch has been shelved in favor of a more secure trunk, the RX-8's long hood and short rear deck design remains true to the formula established by its predecessor, the RX-7. The trunk is surprisingly spacious because the RX-8 carries no spare tire; in its place is a can of tire sealant and a small electric compressor. A lockable center pass through allows you to carry longer items such as skis without the need for a roof rack.
Slip inside the RX-8 and the quality of the materials and the depth of detail will impress you at once. You'll find an excellent set of sport bucket seats that feature a driver's-side height-adjustable seat bottom. The seats are covered with a combination suede-like fabric and ribbed cloth inserts. Though you can opt for full-leather seating, it won't have the same Velcro-like grip on your clothing that the standard seats have, a nice attribute when racing around tight curves.
The instrument cluster is housed in a dash-mounted binnacle that includes a center-mounted tachometer with an inset digital speedometer. Why Mazda chose this design is a bit of a mystery as a nice analog speedometer could easily have been placed on either side of the tachometer. The one nice thing about the digital speedometer is that you can toggle between U.S and Metric readouts. During the day, the backlit gauges appear with white numerals against black faces and at night, switch to red numerals with a deep-blue background.
The center stack features an artistic chrome circle superimposed overtop the audio controls with the volume **** at its center. Though you'll love the look, the sound from the standard audio is nothing special and because of the integrated design, you can't upgrade the stereo with an aftermarket unit. Thankfully Mazda does offer the option of a cassette deck, an MP3 CD player and even a mini disc player all of which can be teamed to an optional 300-watt Bose audio unit. Bonus points are awarded to the optional onboard navigation screen that is concealed atop the dash where it in no way interferes with the audio or heating/cooling functions.
Beyond its obvious performance virtues, the real beauty of the RX-8 is that you don't have to sacrifice fun for functionality; now you can own an exotic sports car that allows you to take the spouse and kids along when required. That's because this RX-8 comes standard with a back seat and two forward-facing mini doors that allow access. Though it may look confining, with the front seat set at its midpoint, you can actually fit two six-foot adults in the rear seats and the full-length center console will keep them from brushing shoulders. Safety features include front side-airbags and a side-airbag curtain for both front and rear passengers.
Given its power, styling, generous standard features and remarkable versatility, Mazda has managed to keep the RX-8 priced within easy reach of most consumers is yet another example of the Lord of the Rings-like magic this company possesses. With a base price under $27,000 ($25,180 for the 197-horsepower four-speed automatic and $26,680 for the six-speed manual) the Mazda RX-8 is a driver's dream come true.
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