Managed to get on a recent Mazda Performance day recently. In fact, my partner won it and I went as guest. I still managed to drive the cars and get a hot lap with Dick Johnson in an Rx8. Holy sheet that was fun. Part of me wished I hadn't because it's basically convinced me to get a new Mazda!! Which one is the problem

 

CMon...you know you want an 8

Rumour has it that there was a Mazda sponsored day in Melboure (at Sandown) where a Brand new, uninsured WB RX-8 drove into a wall and got written off

Cheers

Andrew

 

Funny you shoudl say that, having owned a 2004 Rx8 and later selling it, I still want one. It's bizarre, I'm still attracted to it. I've never felt that about my other cars before. The reasons I sold it in first place were not justified in reality: Timbo correctly pointed out that the rear vision mirror can be raised for better visibility towards passenger side (not sure about current Rx8's), the fuel economy while higher than my current car, is insignificant with respect the cost of the car. I'm 100% getting either an Mx5 or Rx8 (base). At this stage, barring one more test drive, I'm 60% Mx5 and 40% Rx8. Just having never owned a convertible, its hard for me to know about the mx5, but damn it handles well.

 

I dont mind the MX-5. Looks great and a very moddable car, alot more so than the 8.

I dont drive my car enough to care about fuel economy, and when I do it open highway so its like most other cars. If you want to complain about bad fuel economy, get a CX-7. My wifes is up to 16l/100km.

The rearv iew mirror issue makes me laugh, but funnily enough I just learnt that you can flip the mirror to gain a bit of angle.

Cheers

Andrew

 

which mazda performance day were you on? which state?

 

Want some more fun. Get an 8 and come to the Nationals ~

 

Friday 13th!!!! (lol), July Oran park NSW

 

ah... cool, I was just recently at one as well, but at broadford, VIC

 

I attended first session on Friday 6th July at Queensland Raceway.

Great fun.

The two "hot" laps in a stock RX-8 driven by Dick Johnson were incredible. Totally in awe of how he took the exact same model car as mine (even same colour - Winning Blue) round the circuit at continuous high revs, all the time chatting away as if he was on a straight road doing 60 (which we weren't).

Took the cars out in the following order:
MX-5
6 MPS
3 MPS
RX-8

MX-5 was fantastic fun despite being the lowest powered. Certainly the easiest to drive and swing through the corners. When/if the kids leave and I could easily see a MX-5 in the garage.

6MPS was too big and clunky for me, and the AWD intruded on my driving style/ability.

3MPS is a raw, raw blunt instrument. If I was in my twenties again with no kids I could be the hoon I never was (Nissan Micra 1.0 and Renault Clio 1.2 were my weapons in those days). Great fun but very little finesse.

RX-8 - well I did my best to emulate Dick but overcooked a couple of corners and slunk back into the pit lane when my 2 laps were up.

Biggest problem is that in the 2 laps you have in each car you are just getting settled and starting to get the hang of things when it is time to come in.

Great fun and well worth a morning off work.

 

That was the same format I went to last year. Nice to see they are still keeping it going

 

It's a very smart marketing idea from Mazda, and it works, I'm hooked!

If you do a search on the words "dick johnson oran park" you should find a small vid of Dick driving the Rx8, video taken by one of the passengers. On the very last corner Dick runs out of fuel LOL.

On the Mx5, I'm doing a lot of research and I'm finding a lot of buyers who say that they get the 'numb-bum' / sore back after 1.5 hrs driving. This worries me, and I was concerned about it before. I used to get that in my old series-2 Rx7 where you are also seated very low. I don't have a bad back, but you feel it on a longer trip. My girlfriend just told me two she'd prefer the 8 (after the track day...thanks Dick!! LOL). Looks like I will be getting one, and I've also "been told" to get black. I will go for a base this time, unless anyone can give me some reasons why this is a bad idea. Frankly I prefer the grip of cloth while cornering and I can live without zenons.

By the way, unless I'm mstaken the americans seem to refer to a different suspension setup between models (leather / cloth), we don't have that here do we?? i mean the base isn't watered down suspension-wise is it??

 

As far as I know, based on old information. Base only lacks BOSE sound system, leather, xenon, fog lights, and sport pedals. Ah and no optional sunroof.

People confirm?

http://www.mazda.com.au/rx8/features.aspx?ID=43

 

Thanks mate, from other reading I suspect it may actually be a BOSE system, with maybe less speakers (6 vs 9)?

 

I had signed up to do that day but then had to pull out because of work commitments.

Glad to hear you had some fun with it.

 

G'day Revolver

Frankly it was one of the highlights of my life. Still have wonderful memories from the day. I wake up grabbing the side of the bed thinking I'm in the 8 with Dick Johnson pulling 9000rpm and holding on for dear life LOL

 

DOnt get black. I can tell you from experience with the CX-7 that its a PITA to keep clean, and personally the white is much cooler

 

I don't care which colour, just an RX-8 will do. I don't mind Nordic Green actually.

 

My girfirend has the MPS6 which is a mica-based black. so it has fleck in it. Doesnt seem to get as dirty as pure blacks IMHO. The Mx5 i test drove was the same brilliant Black as the 8 and eys fingerprints were fairly obvious on paintwork. Damn, it just looks so good in black. I think my main other options have come and gone, the strato blue, titanium gray.

taka yours is black, is it a b*tch to keep clean??

 

Hahaha! Is that the explanation you gave the GF?

I love the look of black cars and I think it especially suits the complex surfacing of the 8.....but I agree with Andrew. I'd prefer to admire the cars owned by others than have to own one myself - I'd forever be washing it.

Agreed Ti grey is one of the gun colours.

Have you considered that darker red colour? Is that still available?

 

I'd kill for that darker red colour, but alas, no, dont think so.

 

The one I attended in Broadford VIC is nothing like that, more defensive driving, although in the end they allow us 10-15 laps but with a pace car (still fast though)