sixspeed

Well my turn to contribute to the ongoing Test Drive reports....

Firstly, my introduction, for those that don't know it already. I've had an RX-8 on order since late April. The order was placed at T W Whites in Bookham, for a Winning Blue metallic, hi-power car, with Leather. A few weeks after ordering I found details of the Mazdaspeed kits available in Japan, and after speaking with the owner of Whites who does a lot of travelling to and importing from Japan, he arranged for several kits to be imported to sell through the dealership, one of which, was for me.

Fast forward now to Saturday morning, and my test drive with T W Whites in Weybridge was scheduled for 11am. My girlfriend and I headed down there early, so as not to miss the time slot, and arrived just after half ten. We had a quick look around and then one of the sales guys came over to tell me that they were running ahead and that I could get into the car 15 minutes earlier, although we would have to get some fuel on the way. No problem!

So we climb into a gleaming Velocity Red Hi-Power, my girlfriend in the back, and me in the passenger seat, and head off with Chris, our driver. I'd already sat in a finished car at Milford a few weeks previously, so knew what to expect from the interior, however this was the first time I'd seen the red/black leather in real life and...... I didn't like it. It wasn't terrible, but I was glad I hadn't changed my order to get either a Black or Red car so that I could have the Red/Black leather. The all black just looked a lot smarter IMO.

Anyway, onto the road, and even from the passenger seat the "lack of torque" was a non-issue. The car pulled cleanly and quickly from 3,000 rpm out of roundabouts and never felt "gutless" like I feared it would. Oh, and the handling... the car just swept around roundabouts and danced through corners in ways it had no right to do, being a "4-seater saloon"...

A quick stop at the Total petrol station and £20 of petrol pushed the needle on the fuel gauge up about half a tank. Paid up, pulled off, and headed out of Weybridge towards the M25. A mile or so before the motorway and our driver pulled over in a layby ... it was my turn to drive!

We swapped sides - I spent a few moments adjusting the smooth-running electric seat to my preferred driving position - and then we set off. The first thing I noticed was how "normal" the car felt. Never having driven a rotary before I didn't know what to expect, but I just dialled in a few revs, engaged the clutch and pulled away. I didn't stall, didn't bog-down, just sped off... at an increasing rate of knots! And increase they did. We'd pulled into a layby on a dual carriageway, and when I left it was clear and empty.

Through 1st gear.... 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 8500... that'll do for the moment , 40mph or near enough - then snicking the gear shift into 2nd and here we go again... 5000, 6000, 7000... damn - roundabout! On the brakes, yikes! Bit over-assisted for my liking, but nothing I won't get used to. Oh, hello Mr. Police Range Rover (Oops!) But he obviously hadn't witnessed any of my antics and wafted pass and joined the M25. Drat! No chance of a bootful down the slip-road then.

As we merged with the crawl that is the M25, I took a look around, and marvelled at how much visability there was. And those dials. How much do I love those dials. I think I'd actually buy the car just for these alone. I also had a look around at what other people were doing, and I did notice a few people trying to get a better look at us... or maybe it was the car. :p

The M25 was rather uneventful, and leaving at Jct10 for the A3, I had another brief opportunity to get carried away up the slip road before being boxed in by two thousand Dullsmobiles, on their weekly visit to Tesco's and B&Q. It did confirm my initial suspicions that there is something quite fantastic going on underneath the bonnet though. This is certainly no slouch! Oh, and another thing. The engine? Quiet? Admittedly when cruising, the only thing I heard was the dull rushing of the tyres. But put your foot to the carpet and there was a definate sound from the front of the car... not sure how I'd chose to describe it. A jet engine is probably the closest, but that's already been used by everyone else. Perhaps an angry Dyson is another one. 231 bhp of bagless, vortex-spinning vacuum power, capable of taking everything off your carpet... the television, dining table, sofa, children...

Off the A3 and down towards Brooklands. And unfortunately this is where the test drive left me feeling a bit disappointed. Saturday morning obviously isn't the best time for a quick blat around Surrey's A-roads to test the handling of the latest hot coupe. Stuck behind a queue of cotton-tops in their Micras looking for 2nd gear was becoming increasingly frustrating. And no matter where we went, there they were. I held back a few times and threw the car into a couple of corners, and it gobbled them up with ease. But before long we were back where we started and I was watching the next lucky couple heading out for their 25 minutes of rotary fun.

I had a chat with the guys in the dealership when we got back and they said they will have their demonstrators in October when I'll be able to arrange a longer test drive, not that I need one really. This car is everything that I'd hoped for, and more. There will be nothing that could make me cancel my order now.



-andy-

Edo

You must have gone out after me! I was there till just gone 10:30(blue TT)...

sixspeed

Doh! Did you notice a rather bright gold/orange Polo parked at the end of the road?


-andy-

Edo

Cant say that I did! We left the Red RX8 I drove outside on the left as you drove out. I went out with Rob in my car so he could value it...

morganrogers

I am weakening..... feel...need...for...test...drive.....

Great review ! 6 Weeks left eh ? (maybe). It'll be a long 6 weeks !

M.

MarkW

Great review Andy, agree with everything you have said......apart from the Red/Black leather of course

Edo

I'm with Andy on this one - the ALl black leather on the showroom car looked much better. I think the red steering wheel is going to start looking tatty after a while too.

rich606

Must admit that the steering wheel very nearly put me off the red/black option but I do like the contrast in the interior.

If wheel gets too bad will just swap for a black one

c170673

Yet another fantastic review.

The next 6 weeks will seem like an eternity, thank god for the test drive in a week to break it up.

Chris

18ME

I was under the impression that the two tone steering wheel was a cost option on top of the red/black seating!

BTW well written test drive report Andy. It is hard to explain that engine noise isn't it, but you put it very nicely.

If it had twin turbo's would it be the Dyson "dual cyclone":D

sixspeed

Lol.. I couldnt' think of anything else to put. It is a different noise, but one I like, that's for sure! Maybe the RX-8 already is a dual-cyclone, with its 2 rotors... :p


-andy-

jimbobjoe

Nope, it's standard.
It is an extra cost option for every other colour though

rich606

That's a shame 18ME had my hopes up for a second then!!

By the way nice review Andy.

18ME

Rich, if you don't like the two tone wheel surely the dealer would be happy to swap it as they would be able to sell it on. Worth asking, they might even give you some money back

sixspeed

On the subject of two-tone leather, how difficult do you think it'll be to have the all-black leather retrimmed after-sales, in black/blue (since I'm getting my car in Blue!)

Anyone know any good retrimmers in the Surrey area?


-andy-

18ME

Another option would be to swap them with a MCS:D
this is what I had in mine and it does brighten the interior up.

I think the blue/black interior would suit other exterior colours, ie...grey, silver and black.

sixspeed

Oooh nice... but can't have Mini seats in an RX!!! Besides, where's my Rotary headrest? :p

But that is the kinda thing I'm after.. in fact, exactly what I'm after. That colour anyhow...


-andy-