RX8Club.com - My test drive today, hopefully!!

Finally got to drive a Hi Power RX8 today. The car was at Cadwell Park supporting some formula woman event. I had previously been told by my dealer that a car (or two) would be there, and I would be able to have a short test drive. I jumped at the opportunity as Cadwell is only 20 mins from my house, and there are some nice roads in that area to best test the RX8's abilities. First impressions as I approached the Titanium car were good, I believe it looks much better with the small reduction in ride height, and the small lip spoiler mounted on the boot making the car more 'complete' than the Blue pre-production car that I saw there earlier in the year.

Having met with the dealer manager, and salesman (Brynn), I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel, and after a swift cuppa. I climbed into the passenger seat as Brynn took his 1st drive in an RX8 with (which I hope not to be too much the case) a trip to the petrol station approx 10 miles from the circuit. As I admired the detailing of the interior of the car as we slowly made our way towards the public roads .I immeadiately noticed that the car felt very responsive and had that 'lively' feel that is hard to describe (especially when you are in the passenger seat). The black leather seats felt and looked good, but I was pleased that my choice of Red/Black leather may brighten the interior a little, and make the interior feel that much more 'special' (maybe it's the old boy racer in me!).

Out on the public roads my 1st taste of real rotary power was expeienced, and from the passenger seat I did not feel dissapointed with the acceleration as Brynn pressed on. He commented on how natural the car felt to drive and with only a mile or two under his belt he pushed quite hard through a 50mph right hander, the car felt very poised, with little if any sign of body roll and gave the impression of great traction.

After a swift fivers worth of jungle juice in the tank, it was my turn to take to the wheel. I was like a dog with two dicks when Brynn told me that we could drive the loooooong way back to the circuit..............Instantly the car felt easy to drive, light clutch with a (don't have to even think about it) biting point. Straight on to a short piece of dual carriageway I opened her up for the 1st time. The engine felt eager and extremely responsive, sounded quite whiney especially around 2-3K revs and very quiet (a little too quiet for my tastes). The engine note interest increased with revs and this thing sounds so good a the top end of the rev range. A mile or so later and I heard the chime of the rev warning (very unintrusive) as I headed towards the upper echelons of the renesis' power band. I felt that sometimes on WOT at approx 3-4K revs, that it could have done with a bit more mid range shove, as it felt a little lacking compared to the storming 7K+ race to the rev limiter (which I never quite hit). At one point on a quiet B road I nailed it in 2nd.......chime, 3rd..........chime, 4th............a quick glance at the digital display read 110mph (allegedly) and the 8 felt super planted to the road at that speed, needless to say I was impressed. The car seems so chuckable and reminded me of a 'grown up' version of my old Lotus Elise!....praise indeed. BTW the brakes are awesome..........

A mixture of A and B roads followed, unfortunately with a fair bit of traffic around. I took these precessional opportunities to test the 8's engine flexibilty, which was superb, and even in a high gear on quite steep hills the 8 was silky smooth as I buried the throttle to the carpet. OK, little acceleration was afforded but the renesis was silky smooth, and showed impeccable road manners. Ride was also very good, absorbing poor road surfaces with aplomb!

40 minutes later and the renesis was running on the gas from the fiver of unleaded as I pulled back into Cadwell and parked her up!

Was I impressed with the RX8?.........................too bloody right I was.

I came away buzzing and feeling very positive about the car.

I was sort of hoping it would be a real let down, because of the long waiting list, Mazda PR etc, and that I would make my wavering mind up finally to cancel and take my money elsewhere.

NO, I'll hang on in (for now), and see it my EP46 arrives before Santa!

Merry Xmas....ho ho ho