NA Rotorhead test drives RX-8!
07-22-2003, 02:41 AM
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NA Rotorhead test drives RX-8!
Yo,
Test drove a Velocity Red Mica RX-8 today at Great Valley Mazda on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento CA. I own a 1989 RX-7 GTUs model:
This was the "Turbo II without the Turbo"...pretty much regarded as the ultimate NA RX-7. I've done some small mods, cone intake, true dual exhaust...nothing major.
Anyways, I thought I would share my initial impressions of the RX-8:
It kicks ***.
All you guys that have pre-ordered and have waited many long months...it's worth it. You guys are going to love it.
The car I drove had about 95 miles on it...so I didn't take it to the buzzer...but I let it spin up in the higher revs. The car pulled hard, even with my buddy in the passenger seat and the salesman in the back.
Since I'm used to the linear torque of the rotary I knew although it didn't /feel/ like we were going fast...we were indeed going 74mph down that side street. *grin* Again, since I drive a rotary and know about the whole torque thing, i.e. we don't gots it...it wasn't an issue. Just spin the hell out of those rotors and you'll be fine.
The Renesis pulled remarkably hard up top...for an emmissions controlled vehicle. It pulls like my GTUs without the 3 cats. This car will seriously haul with a free flowing intake, Racing Beat headers and a true dual exhaust set up. You guys are going to be pushing 280ish HP easy.
The RX-8 idled even smoother than my RX-7, if that's possible. Really no drama...just pulled like a sumbitch. I really can't wait until someone uncorks that Renesis and lets it breath.
Brakes: Awesome. Handling: Awesome. For a bone stock vehicle, the steering and suspension were dialed in. Not so firm to jar, but still stiff enough to do exactly what you wanted. As you can hopefully tell, I was impressed.
Interior was cool, I liked the "laquered wood" effect of the plastic. The car I drove had the cloth seats, they had these little pleats on them...good and grippy. The door handle pulls were rubberized for a nice tactile feel. The squishy ebrake hand guard was fun to mess with. I am 6' and jumped in the back seat...it'll work. My head didn't touch the headliner and I wasn't too cramped.
Oh, did I mention how freaking good the car looks in person? It's sexy. Reconfirms my opinion that the 350Z looks like ***. The Velocity Red Mica has a lot of metal flake in it...it is NOT a pastel flat red. They also just got a Sunlight Silver Metallic RX-8 in...I liked the Silver better than the Red.
Well, that's about enough rambling out of me...let me know if you have any specific questions.
Talk to AJ if you want to make an offer on one at Great Valley.
Kevin
1989 GTUs "Mazda swings...it's a hit...it's going...going...gone!"
Test drove a Velocity Red Mica RX-8 today at Great Valley Mazda on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento CA. I own a 1989 RX-7 GTUs model:
This was the "Turbo II without the Turbo"...pretty much regarded as the ultimate NA RX-7. I've done some small mods, cone intake, true dual exhaust...nothing major.
Anyways, I thought I would share my initial impressions of the RX-8:
It kicks ***.
All you guys that have pre-ordered and have waited many long months...it's worth it. You guys are going to love it.
The car I drove had about 95 miles on it...so I didn't take it to the buzzer...but I let it spin up in the higher revs. The car pulled hard, even with my buddy in the passenger seat and the salesman in the back.
Since I'm used to the linear torque of the rotary I knew although it didn't /feel/ like we were going fast...we were indeed going 74mph down that side street. *grin* Again, since I drive a rotary and know about the whole torque thing, i.e. we don't gots it...it wasn't an issue. Just spin the hell out of those rotors and you'll be fine.
The Renesis pulled remarkably hard up top...for an emmissions controlled vehicle. It pulls like my GTUs without the 3 cats. This car will seriously haul with a free flowing intake, Racing Beat headers and a true dual exhaust set up. You guys are going to be pushing 280ish HP easy.
The RX-8 idled even smoother than my RX-7, if that's possible. Really no drama...just pulled like a sumbitch. I really can't wait until someone uncorks that Renesis and lets it breath.
Brakes: Awesome. Handling: Awesome. For a bone stock vehicle, the steering and suspension were dialed in. Not so firm to jar, but still stiff enough to do exactly what you wanted. As you can hopefully tell, I was impressed.
Interior was cool, I liked the "laquered wood" effect of the plastic. The car I drove had the cloth seats, they had these little pleats on them...good and grippy. The door handle pulls were rubberized for a nice tactile feel. The squishy ebrake hand guard was fun to mess with. I am 6' and jumped in the back seat...it'll work. My head didn't touch the headliner and I wasn't too cramped.
Oh, did I mention how freaking good the car looks in person? It's sexy. Reconfirms my opinion that the 350Z looks like ***. The Velocity Red Mica has a lot of metal flake in it...it is NOT a pastel flat red. They also just got a Sunlight Silver Metallic RX-8 in...I liked the Silver better than the Red.
Well, that's about enough rambling out of me...let me know if you have any specific questions.
Talk to AJ if you want to make an offer on one at Great Valley.
Kevin
1989 GTUs "Mazda swings...it's a hit...it's going...going...gone!"
07-22-2003, 03:40 AM
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Yo,
My RX-7 NA brotha Jon:
Has done a write up as well, enjoy!
RarestRX and jsotelo drive an RX-8!! (long)
Okay first off I'm beat down tired and I am sure Kevin will have a much better write up but I just had to post..
So we are hanging out driving around town and Kev says, "Hey we are near the Mazda dealer on Fulton.. let's go check out the RX-8"
See he works selling Land Stalkers err I mean Range Rovers and had someone from this dealer call him the second it touched down in Sac.. so this guy had already been done and checked out the 8 as it was being unloaded from the truck... so he knew they were there.
So we roll up on the jonit in my freshly washed FC looking like it just got off the dealer floor. We b-line right for the Red RX-8 that's parked right out front. Watch out here comes a salesman.. swooping down!
Kev walks over to him, let's him know he is in the biz and is just checking **** out.. the kid is HELLA cool and let's us gawk at the car, sit in in, look under the hood.. all kinds of things.. he even knows a little about the rotary which is cool.
Okay first off this is a SICK car.. I mean it's so cool words can not describe the coolness. The shifter has a fookin rotor on it for Christ's sake! back seat is hella comphy when you sit in the car it just feels "right" if feels like a glove. TONS of leg room, awesome visibility.. in fact sitting in it.. if felt like a 7 feels.
Under the hood was sick.. I can't beileve how far back and low the engine is.. the firewall isn't flat.. it has to curve becaue the engine goes under it! sick sick!!
The attention to detail is awesome.. the sun visors have little holes in them so they block the light but you can see through them.. there is an awesome dual cupholder that opens up then slides back to reveal a storage compartment.. the seats are awesome.. fit me like a glove.. radio dispay is toward the top of the dash so you don't have to look down.. lots of controls on the steering wheel.. just everything about the car is sick.
After that we go over to my car and I show him the engine. He is impressed with how the FC is set up and we talk about cars for a while longer. So I ask the guy if he can hook us up with as much swag as they have.. He is hella cool and comes back with a few different books and magazines.. we each get an RX-8 magnet that's on my fridge as I type this.
We are leaving and Kevin sees someone he knows.. so they start talking about selling cars.. and then he sees the manager that works there that he knows.. So we are talking and talking and then the subject comes up about my FC.. so we start talking about it and how nice it still looks.. yeah it's an 87.. less than 100k miles on it.. everyone is impressed..
Then.. like a shot in the dark.. out of nowhere..it comes.. did I hear correctly.. come again..
"Do you want to drive the RX-8"
OMFG he said it.. they said it.. the manager says it's okay.. holy ****.. Kev is much more composed than I am.. "Oh yeah.. let's take it out."
So the salesman takes the backseat I grab shotgun and Kev takes the helm.. we start driving around slow.. car has 96 miles on it.. then about a mile past the dealer.. the hammer gets dropped.
Teh Powah!!!11
Okay my 13b is smooth.. in fact I think it's the smoothest engine I have ever seen.. until now.. this is like nothing.. it's.. I can't even describe it.. imagnie almost no vibrations.. the tach flying from 1K to 9K and a nice mellow throaty growl. Kev hits a corner hard on the throttle.. just a bending corner but the G's pull.. the 225 45 ZR18's stick like glue.. great stock suspension.. I prefer it a littler harsher but this is great. Kev hits the breaks and the car is stopped.. I mean these 13in rotors stop this thing on a dime! Kev keeps downshifting and reving trying to make it shoot flames.. I only hear the slightest "pop" once or twice.
So Kev is drving around and the salesman tell him to go back.. so we start going back and he says "Jon you wanna drive"
I look in the back and ask if it's cool..
"Yup.. go ahead"
Schweet!!!
So Kev pulls over and as walking by him to the driver's side I have a grin like Ben Affleck in Boiler Room.. EAR TO EAR BABY!!
I sit down.. adjust the seat a bit.. is the engine on? I can't tell.. air is blowin ice cold it must me.. oh yeah and the tach shows 900 RPM.. clutch in, foot on break, car in 1st, release parking break.. and before I get nervous I'm off..
WOW this car is sweet.. if I could afford it I would get this car TODAY. This is a sports car PERIOD. Don't let the rear seats fool you. This car is WAY faster than my FC.. steering is on rails.. I take the first turn and the car overseers like a dream.
Tranny.. now I am used to my Mazdatrix snikity snick short shifter but this is not bad for stock.. in fact it felt damn good. very prescise. I get to a busy street and I need to make a left into the suicide lane in heay traffic.. Kev is watching the right side for me.. and I get the all clear on his side.. I'm gone.. I press it a little.. zoom goes the rotor.. the tach.. OMG the tach.. I didn't mention how ******* cool it is..
Basicly it looks and feels like the needle is floating in space not connected to anything.. it glows RED like all the other gagues.. the ghost needle starts to climb, shift... climb shift climb.. slow down for a left hand turn..
Wow I LOVE this car.. so I turn left and the salesman now is getting over it.. wants us to head back.. I go to take a left.. heel toe.. downshift.. this car is SO easy to drive.. take a corner that would make a Honda's tires squeel but this is efortless.. just FUN FUN FUN..
So we get to a litttle patch of traffic-less straight road.. Kev looks over at me.. smiles and turns off the AC.. Don't need to tell me any more than that.. I drop the hammer.. full throttle.. the ghosty blur of the needle as it flies to the 9K limit.. at 8.5K BZZZZZZZZ there goes the buzzer.. nice to have it around :-) I let off the gas and hit the breaks.. man you had better watch out for these breaks.. they are AMAZING! The salesman is now reconsidering as he seems to be getting nervous.. okay playtime is over..
If you do not want attention do NOT drive this car.. We got SO many looks from everyone.. we would drive down the street and ALL eyes were on us.
So we roll back to the dealer what what do we see? They just finished preping a silver RX-8.. sorry Red lovers.. I don't really like the Red of the 8 but the silver? It's awesome.. car looks so damn sexy..
Park the car, thank everyone get into the FC.. just doesn't seem the same.. but it has the same "flavor" of the 8.. pull out from the back, make a couple of turns and the dealership is rolling by on the right with the manager out front. Kev waves and tells me to drop it.. So I floor it.. hit the rev limit right as we are passing everyone and they are waving to us, shift hard to second.. chirp the tires and pop POP! some flamage as homage to "The Testdrive" :-D
So we are driving in almost total silence then Kev puts the fist up.. we need the Dap :-)
Wow.. man I still can't beileve I got to drive one and they are so new too.. I'm very excited and I hope soon I will be in a financial situation where I will be able to buy one.
For those out there looking.. There these are both for sale at Great Valley Mazda in Sacramento on Fulton Ave.. I think the salesman who hooked us up was AJ..
If you want one.. go get it!!
Kevin
1989 GTUs "Second opinion: RX-8 Kicks ***!"
My RX-7 NA brotha Jon:
Has done a write up as well, enjoy!
RarestRX and jsotelo drive an RX-8!! (long)
Okay first off I'm beat down tired and I am sure Kevin will have a much better write up but I just had to post..
So we are hanging out driving around town and Kev says, "Hey we are near the Mazda dealer on Fulton.. let's go check out the RX-8"
See he works selling Land Stalkers err I mean Range Rovers and had someone from this dealer call him the second it touched down in Sac.. so this guy had already been done and checked out the 8 as it was being unloaded from the truck... so he knew they were there.
So we roll up on the jonit in my freshly washed FC looking like it just got off the dealer floor. We b-line right for the Red RX-8 that's parked right out front. Watch out here comes a salesman.. swooping down!
Kev walks over to him, let's him know he is in the biz and is just checking **** out.. the kid is HELLA cool and let's us gawk at the car, sit in in, look under the hood.. all kinds of things.. he even knows a little about the rotary which is cool.
Okay first off this is a SICK car.. I mean it's so cool words can not describe the coolness. The shifter has a fookin rotor on it for Christ's sake! back seat is hella comphy when you sit in the car it just feels "right" if feels like a glove. TONS of leg room, awesome visibility.. in fact sitting in it.. if felt like a 7 feels.
Under the hood was sick.. I can't beileve how far back and low the engine is.. the firewall isn't flat.. it has to curve becaue the engine goes under it! sick sick!!
The attention to detail is awesome.. the sun visors have little holes in them so they block the light but you can see through them.. there is an awesome dual cupholder that opens up then slides back to reveal a storage compartment.. the seats are awesome.. fit me like a glove.. radio dispay is toward the top of the dash so you don't have to look down.. lots of controls on the steering wheel.. just everything about the car is sick.
After that we go over to my car and I show him the engine. He is impressed with how the FC is set up and we talk about cars for a while longer. So I ask the guy if he can hook us up with as much swag as they have.. He is hella cool and comes back with a few different books and magazines.. we each get an RX-8 magnet that's on my fridge as I type this.
We are leaving and Kevin sees someone he knows.. so they start talking about selling cars.. and then he sees the manager that works there that he knows.. So we are talking and talking and then the subject comes up about my FC.. so we start talking about it and how nice it still looks.. yeah it's an 87.. less than 100k miles on it.. everyone is impressed..
Then.. like a shot in the dark.. out of nowhere..it comes.. did I hear correctly.. come again..
"Do you want to drive the RX-8"
OMFG he said it.. they said it.. the manager says it's okay.. holy ****.. Kev is much more composed than I am.. "Oh yeah.. let's take it out."
So the salesman takes the backseat I grab shotgun and Kev takes the helm.. we start driving around slow.. car has 96 miles on it.. then about a mile past the dealer.. the hammer gets dropped.
Teh Powah!!!11
Okay my 13b is smooth.. in fact I think it's the smoothest engine I have ever seen.. until now.. this is like nothing.. it's.. I can't even describe it.. imagnie almost no vibrations.. the tach flying from 1K to 9K and a nice mellow throaty growl. Kev hits a corner hard on the throttle.. just a bending corner but the G's pull.. the 225 45 ZR18's stick like glue.. great stock suspension.. I prefer it a littler harsher but this is great. Kev hits the breaks and the car is stopped.. I mean these 13in rotors stop this thing on a dime! Kev keeps downshifting and reving trying to make it shoot flames.. I only hear the slightest "pop" once or twice.
So Kev is drving around and the salesman tell him to go back.. so we start going back and he says "Jon you wanna drive"
I look in the back and ask if it's cool..
"Yup.. go ahead"
Schweet!!!
So Kev pulls over and as walking by him to the driver's side I have a grin like Ben Affleck in Boiler Room.. EAR TO EAR BABY!!
I sit down.. adjust the seat a bit.. is the engine on? I can't tell.. air is blowin ice cold it must me.. oh yeah and the tach shows 900 RPM.. clutch in, foot on break, car in 1st, release parking break.. and before I get nervous I'm off..
WOW this car is sweet.. if I could afford it I would get this car TODAY. This is a sports car PERIOD. Don't let the rear seats fool you. This car is WAY faster than my FC.. steering is on rails.. I take the first turn and the car overseers like a dream.
Tranny.. now I am used to my Mazdatrix snikity snick short shifter but this is not bad for stock.. in fact it felt damn good. very prescise. I get to a busy street and I need to make a left into the suicide lane in heay traffic.. Kev is watching the right side for me.. and I get the all clear on his side.. I'm gone.. I press it a little.. zoom goes the rotor.. the tach.. OMG the tach.. I didn't mention how ******* cool it is..
Basicly it looks and feels like the needle is floating in space not connected to anything.. it glows RED like all the other gagues.. the ghost needle starts to climb, shift... climb shift climb.. slow down for a left hand turn..
Wow I LOVE this car.. so I turn left and the salesman now is getting over it.. wants us to head back.. I go to take a left.. heel toe.. downshift.. this car is SO easy to drive.. take a corner that would make a Honda's tires squeel but this is efortless.. just FUN FUN FUN..
So we get to a litttle patch of traffic-less straight road.. Kev looks over at me.. smiles and turns off the AC.. Don't need to tell me any more than that.. I drop the hammer.. full throttle.. the ghosty blur of the needle as it flies to the 9K limit.. at 8.5K BZZZZZZZZ there goes the buzzer.. nice to have it around :-) I let off the gas and hit the breaks.. man you had better watch out for these breaks.. they are AMAZING! The salesman is now reconsidering as he seems to be getting nervous.. okay playtime is over..
If you do not want attention do NOT drive this car.. We got SO many looks from everyone.. we would drive down the street and ALL eyes were on us.
So we roll back to the dealer what what do we see? They just finished preping a silver RX-8.. sorry Red lovers.. I don't really like the Red of the 8 but the silver? It's awesome.. car looks so damn sexy..
Park the car, thank everyone get into the FC.. just doesn't seem the same.. but it has the same "flavor" of the 8.. pull out from the back, make a couple of turns and the dealership is rolling by on the right with the manager out front. Kev waves and tells me to drop it.. So I floor it.. hit the rev limit right as we are passing everyone and they are waving to us, shift hard to second.. chirp the tires and pop POP! some flamage as homage to "The Testdrive" :-D
So we are driving in almost total silence then Kev puts the fist up.. we need the Dap :-)
Wow.. man I still can't beileve I got to drive one and they are so new too.. I'm very excited and I hope soon I will be in a financial situation where I will be able to buy one.
For those out there looking.. There these are both for sale at Great Valley Mazda in Sacramento on Fulton Ave.. I think the salesman who hooked us up was AJ..
If you want one.. go get it!!
Kevin
1989 GTUs "Second opinion: RX-8 Kicks ***!"
07-22-2003, 03:50 AM
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hey love your car
no offence damm u now i really cant wait for the car to come in. lol j/k well the car should be in about 3 weeks and by the way it was great review. The best one saw far of what i read.
07-22-2003, 10:08 AM
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Sounds like a great time. Rarest, everytime I see your car I am simply in awe at how beautiful it looks. I've seen other pictures from the RX-7 Club (Prowla RX7 over there). I went and checked out an RX-8 at a dealership yesterday hoping to be able to test drive it. Yet, when I got to Guenther Mazda (Fort Lauderdale, Fl) the red one that they had was just sold a bit less than an hour before I got there. The lady saleswoman tried to see if I thought about getting on the calling list and letting me know when the next rx-8 would come in, but I told her that I couldn't even think about purchasing one for about another year. There are two cars that I love the most, NA FCs and RX-8s. I used to like the NSX, but seeing one on the road doesn't make me jealous like hearing about all these RX-8 Stories online. Great review, Rarest. 
07-22-2003, 02:03 PM
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Yo,
I'm glad you guys liked the write ups! I'm a big fan of the NA rotary engine and I think the Renesis is a fantastic step for Mazda. No turbos, no problems! I think with some minor mods that the Renesis is really going to shine.
Prowla, thanks for the props! Here's a shot of the two test driver's cars together:
I hope Mazda sells a ton of RX-8's!
Kevin
1989 GTUs "It's Great. It's Fate. It's the 8."
I'm glad you guys liked the write ups! I'm a big fan of the NA rotary engine and I think the Renesis is a fantastic step for Mazda. No turbos, no problems! I think with some minor mods that the Renesis is really going to shine.
Prowla, thanks for the props! Here's a shot of the two test driver's cars together:
I hope Mazda sells a ton of RX-8's!
Kevin
1989 GTUs "It's Great. It's Fate. It's the 8."
07-22-2003, 03:42 PM
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Yo,
I ain't missin' nothin'! I think NA's with TII hoods are the epitome of Rice!!
*grin*
Where's your front lip?!
Kevin
1989 GTUs "And get that water out of your FTP's!"
I ain't missin' nothin'! I think NA's with TII hoods are the epitome of Rice!!
*grin*
Where's your front lip?!
Kevin
1989 GTUs "And get that water out of your FTP's!"
07-22-2003, 04:53 PM
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Oi! Watch it! Mine's a '91 TII, maybe just as rare as Rarest's! :D
*Giggles like a little girl* Here's another shot from a recent RX7 caravan out to a BBQ.
Rarest: Without going through too much trouble, please do let me know the cost on a stocker lip.
*Giggles like a little girl* Here's another shot from a recent RX7 caravan out to a BBQ.
Rarest: Without going through too much trouble, please do let me know the cost on a stocker lip.
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