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The scary thing about the rotary engine is they get into your blood.
I drove a 4 door RX3 for 4 years in the 70s. I went through an engine rebuild and did remove a lot of the stuff that was not necessary. (All that plumbing and stuff was equal to the weight of an extra adult passenger.) It was a terrific car for the time but sold it as it was too loud and took a quater of my then wage to keep it in petrol. And houses and marrage needed the money more.
For the last 10 years I've satisfied myself with a BMW323i and enjoyed the experience. I think the e30 is one of the most beautiful, well-balanced cars they've made. It gave me no real reason to change, until my financial position did and I found I had a little money to be a tad more indulgent with my transport.
But what to buy?
After 2 years of looking out of the corner of my eyes for a replacement I was uninspired. I just kept returning to the e30. I just couldn't justify the change for ego's sake.
That is, until last Saturday morning.
I was filling through the 'Top Gear' entries on Youtube. There's some great stuff. Very entertaining. And I came across Hammond's review of the RX8. 'The best car I've driven this year.' (Hopefully this was not a February episode...) He raved. He laughed and I thought it's worth a look. ("This car is so smooth it can't run on anything a vulgar as petrol. It seems like it's fuelled by double-cream") There is another good review listed where they compared an Alfa, Audi and the RX8. The 8 won hands down.
So onto www.Carsales.com.au where I found a 14 month old grey leather pack for sale about 3 kms from where I live.
Quick correspondence and viewed it at 3 on Saturday.
First impressions were it's a gentle female form. It is a 'she' not a 'he'. It presented as new. Not a mark. So to drive it. It even sounded like the RX3 on the starter motor.
My wife and I and the current owner went for a drive up a decommissioned freeway in the Adelaide Hills, the Eagle on the Hill run. and by the 3rd corner all the memories of driving the RX3 up that same road came flooding back. I had forgotten how much the engine wants to run. How willing it is to pull. I never found it lacking in torque. And I was prepared to commit to the car's daily, weekly, monthly maintenance.
Hooley Dooly. I had forgotten how much fun they are to drive.
After half an hour of low flying (as legal as possible) we came to a stop at the owner’s home and he took over to return the car to the garage. This left my wife and I alone in the street for 2 minutes. I didn't want to start the conversation, but she did.
'Buy it.' she said. Just that 'Buy it.'
And it wasn't a sarcastic smile or ironic smile. It was a 'That was fun.' smile.
And so we did.
And I realise have been an addict and have been in denial for 20 odd years.
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Hello Harpo and welcome to the RAA - "RX8 Anonymous Addicts" forum!!
We all suffer from this condition and we assure you it is not us with an illness, but those who have no RX8 passion who suffer!! We are not weird, I promise you that, we are just a bit crazy!!
I agree with the remark that 'Rotaries get into your blood'.
My first car was a 1974 RX-2 Sedan, which over 5 years of me owning it went through 2 full blown rebuilds (car and motor), until when I sold it, it was a 12A BP show/street weapon.
So after 3 years of owning a GT Starlet, I simply ignored the fuel consumption and associated costs of the '8', and did the same as you harpo, went out and test drove one and the missus just said 'buy it!'
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1974 Mazda RX-2 Sedan (previous)
1990 Toyota EP82 GT Starlet (previous)
2004 Mazda RX-8 (current)
Sorry, it was Clarkson who made the 'double cream' comment about the RX8's fuel.
I should say I disagree with his comments about the style. I think Mazda have done a great job of developing a range of cars that share a design philosophy, yet each car appears to an individual market segement. And they've done it without cloning BMW!
All except for the 4x4. It looks like a roof box on wheels.
Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance: a drug used in the treatment of heroin addiction. An instance of this: a person with multiple chemical addictions.
The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something. An instance of this: had an addiction for fast cars.
?? 
Now..........on to the mods!
) zoom-zoom!
Linear Mode
