Got it at last!
 

Picked it up at 17:15 today - biggest Switch trasnaction I've ever made!

It's too early for driving reviews and too dark for pictures. It was almost sensory overload with all the newness of the car so I couldn't really concentrate on handling characteristics.

How many revs am I susposed to keep this car under? It's just so free revving that it was hard to stay below 5k althoughr eading the manual doesn't really give a figure to stay below in the first 600 miles.

Only negatives - the stingy dealer who gave me a new car with an empty tank. :evil: I was about 6 miles away before I realised that the car was right on empty. When I stopped to fill up it took over 54 litres so it was running on very little when they handed it over - very poor CS IMO.
The other negative is the Bose - it's not a bad stereo but it sounds so flat compared to the DPL system in the T5. I will have a little play with the settings but the system feels like it has less speakers (which it has!)

On the plus side I had my first RX8 reaction when I stopped for petrol. The guy at the next pump to me walked into the petrol stations door because he was staring at my RX8 with his mouth wide open - classic moment! :D I also noticed people pointing the car out to passengers at a couple of sets of traffic lights - I've never had a car that attracted so much attention! 8)

The titanium is fantastic - not trying to wind you red guys up but the dealer told me mine had been parked between 2 reds today and everyone had commented how good the titanium looked in comparison. He may have just been buttering me up before releaving me of £22.5k but I like to think not!

My 3 year old son was dying to come out for a ride in it so I had to oblige him even though it was way past his bedtime - a quick cruise around the village for me to pose at the same time! Tears when I tried to get him out of it though - he's going to be a car fan like his dad I'm sure.

I'm now at that stage where I have to check on the car every 30 mins and am getting slightly nervous about leaving it alone for the night!

Now all I need to do is find reasons to go out tomorrow - after the rugby of course. It's going to be shopping in Swansea after the rugby so I'll have the horrors of taking the Picasso out instead. :(

I'll be sure to have a few hours getting aclimatised to the car later on Saturday though and will take the time to get some pics.

One very happy Mr Pearce. :D

Gratz Andy!

good man...but you chose the wrong colour : )

Re: Got it at last!
 

Well if you haven't adjusted it yet, it will be flat. Use the right hand knob, press in a couple of times, wind the base up to +6, press again for trebble and up to +2. Sounds great then.

The autopilot does a good job too, can leave it at the same volume setting for the motorway and local roads, and when I get out of the car my ears are not ringing. If only I had that in the last car, I might now be able to hear the rpm warning buzzer!

Cheers
---Dave

Andy, congrats..good choice of colour. How much shopping are you going to buy. I am swapping a Volvo V70 for my RX8 and intend to limit the shopping to the cubic size of my new RX8 boot..

A couple of pics;

http://members.lycos.co.uk/andyjpearce/ethandrx8.jpg

and

http://members.lycos.co.uk/andyjpearce/myrx8.jpg

Nice pics mate, the little fella looks as pleased as you obviously are.

Ken

Nice!

Was that a clear sky today in Wales? It was absolutely pissing it down between Gloucester and Reading, so no chance for photos again. A shame as I parked it up next to my old MX3 which my mate is driving. I haven't actuallhy got a picture of the two reads together.

Cheers
---Dave

Andy, you've shrunk in the wash!:D . Nice pictures. I'm sure the little fella is Mr Cool at nursery, with daddy owning an 8.

AnilS.

Nice one Andy, I too think the titanium looks good! Had a titanium Elise on order a few years ago, circumstances changed and I got an mint azure blue one 7 months old and 6 grand cheaper!

I think the ICE sounds pretty good for a std fit system, no match for a half decent aftermarket system though! Can be vastly improved with a tweak of bass/treble.

Druck you must be a right Basshead +7.......! I find +3 plenty and I've been to a few raves in my time......must be getting old!

Only 80 miles on my clock, and I can't get over how SPECIAL my RX8 feels! Roll on 600 miles, BTW keep it below 6000rpm til then! but don't drive it like a tart (as if you would).

Nice pictures. Just shows what great styling the RX-8 has that it even looks good in grey!

I initially thought the Bose system was pretty poor until I switched off the Autopilot. I'll have to consult the manual for what Autopilot is supposed to do, but what it actually seems to do is just add ridiculous amounts of bass to everything. Once it's switched off there seems to be a pretty decent system underneath it all. And I really like the steering wheel mounted controls.

I initially tried to keep below 5000 rpm for running in. I managed it for the first 200 miles but the frustration was completely doing my head in, so I am now just keeping below 7000 most of the time and not doing full throttle acceleration (which is what it says in the manual).