wakeech

woo hoo hoo...

so it's no secret that the closest i've ever been to an RX-8 is taking pictures of it.

can everyone please take note?? 93rdCurrent is not only the coolest, but also bravest and cool headed (at least, the best at putting up a facade when he's really pissed at you) member we have.

yesterday, at the first ever RX8club.com meeting in Vancouver, he let this lummox behind the wheel of his car.

on the first drive, i got to sit in the back of Inconsequential's winning blue with grey leather (an awesome canadian option). the seats were deep, the windows, sure, were small, and the head room tight (i'm 6'3"ish) so i had to tilt my head and lean forward a bit, but that was ok. my legs fit alright with my feet under the seat. getting in and out was DEFINITELY easier with the 4 door system (which is awesome) than with two huge doors.
also, Inconsequential's mega-fancy alarm is really nuts... i set it off like twice just trying to put the brakes on for a picture.

so yeah... getting behind the seat of 93rd's titanium grey was pretty exciting, while we rolled right past a cop in the parkinglot we had stopped in. and yeah, Tim and Andrew noticed that he put his lights on while we rolled away (no he didn't follow us). so, after i fuddled with Tim's seat, and stalled it the first time, we were off to a (literally) shaky start.

things i noticed (!!): the seats are unbarably comfortable. the pedals, although not impossible to find, are nicely small, the clutch is really, really, really, really, really soft, and has a pretty short travel. i'm tall (duh, i said that) so finding the floor wasn't a big deal, but holy smokes was that frictioin point low (i'd have had an easier time driving it in six or seven years when it's a lot more worn). the brakes are unbelievably powerful. the steering wheel had a pleasing shape to it. the tach was very beautiful. and holy god, i couldn't believe that people are COMPLAINING about the off-the-line acceleration. easily more than enough for around town... didn't feel the acceleration (in either car) above 5k, so i'm sure it's pretty good once you get goin'.

so yeah, here i am, touring around in another man's car (rather nervously and unskillfully, i should add), when i bravely decide i wanna take it out of the park, go east along pender there for a block, back up dunsmuir, and turn around into Robson again to take it back to the lot where we'd met up.

apparently TCS and DSC saved our butts at least once each (i couldn't tell without Tim telling me so), and yeah, i was grateful for it.

anyhoo, 93rdCurrent is The Man, and i don't think i could have been more impressed with this car i've been writing about for coming up on two years. :D

Meowloud

So when are you getting yours?? :D

Lock & Load

WAACHECK

So what you are telling us is that you are no longer a RX8 VIRGIN ??????????

One thing i will say you have got patience ,and i think its time for a new AVATAR your outfit needs dry cleaning , even though you did not redline the RX8 , i have heard that you have scud marks .ha ha ha j/k

cheers
michael

moRotorMotor

For a man that have never driven (till now) an RX-8, you possess more knowledge than many (if not, all) of the other members that frequent here. I tip my hat to you for sharing your wealth of information and hope will one day own this car too.

Len

I got used to the clutch after a couple days of driving. I've noticed the same thing in another Mazda ('93 MX-6) so I guess they like to make 'em that way.

You haven't really driven it if you haven't heard the beep.

Doctorr

'Keech, congrats, sounds like the Club meeting was a success!

I too wish you a speedy '8, but I don't see it......

You are more an '06 RX-7 kind of guy!!
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doc

rotarygod

I also laugh at the people who complain about low torque. Come drive my Civic sometime and see if you think the RX-8 still has low torque. That car feels great. It's no LS1 but it is very nice.

BTW: I don't have an RX-8 either. I have driven them though.

jtimbck2

Keech, I'm glad you finally got to drive one, and I'm glad it lived up to your expectations.

So when are you gonna buy yours?

Roaddemon

I had a 95 accord 5sp so I'm used to and expect an easy clutch. I also have a 2000 626 so I'm used to good brakes.
The only thing I was'nt used to was the power and quick acceleration and smoothness of the 8. I agree with you I cannot beleive there are actually people on this forum who say it is slow. Seat of the pants say otherwise. I wish they would shut the 8888 up.

stangmatt66

Call me stupid, but why didn't you just go to a dealership to test drive one??

Chrisbert

Did the car you drove have the Canzoomer mod?

MEGAREDS

I assume you had no moon roof in the car? I don't think 6'3" would work in my GT package.

Caecil

The 8 is not slow, but some other cars are faster.

Inconsequential

well, when he sat in the back seat of mine, mine does have the moonroof, he opted to let his gf have the front, very nice of him.
And Andrew, dont feel bad about the stalling, we all knew you were a little nervous, I dont blame you, I would be the same way behind the wheel of someone elses 8.
We definitely need toget another group together again, and hopefully we can get more peeps out to play.

wakeech

i'm a scruffy, poor, 20 year old university student... i walk up to, say, the dealer near Commercial and Hastings, and say "y'know, i know a thing or two about that new RX-8 of yours... in fact i moderate the internet forum. mind if i take one out for a test drive, just for fun??"... something tells me they wouldn't take that

and yeah if you are from Vancouver, you have to PM myself or Inconsequential so we can organize some kind of club, and produce some "The RX-8 Club Knows About You" cards with your member name on the back... let's get some club pride happening.

rotarygod

I don't see why not. I went into a dealership here and after chatting with the guy for a while the sales manager told me to go "spin it around". I found a parking lot and did! I know exactly where fuel cut off was on that car as well as how well it corners before you need to back off and how well the abs worked. I tested the car with traction control on and it wouldn't let me spin it around. Without it though is a whole different story. The salesman said that was the most fun he'd ever had on a test drive.

Shocka

gald u liked the car..

as for the dealer walk in with dress pants and button shirt they will let u test drive the car.

bmw allowed me to make an apt for a 330ci.. needless to say i bought an RX8 and never showed up

well my only complaint about this car is "people stop staring me and drive normally.. stop slowing down to stare damit!"

wakeech

because i look like i'm 20.

Gord96BRG

... and wearing that cape doesn't help!

Regards,
Gordon

rotarygod

lol

So Wakeech you're saying that because I probably look like an old fart that I got to drive one?

zoom44

but if he takes the cape off they will learn his secret identity!

wakeech

precisely, you all see my conundrum... so i couldn't possibly go to a dealership to get a drive.

let's not this thread creep too bad... we have to seal the leak and get this back on topic: how much 93rdCurrent ROCKS!!!!

discuss.

lefuton

93rdCurrent, you rock hard!

that good?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

That actually sounded a bit ghey...

(sorry - I just love that icon)

BIU

Im from 604 and I'll be in my 8 around town in a month's time