A bit of a dissapointing review about the car( it kind of makes the rx8 look bad) but it's pretty cool that one of the biggest newspaper companies in my area are talking about our car and how unique it is. I thought i would share it with you guys. The article may look long but only takes a few mins to read.



Review: Mazda RX-8 feels like odd man out

Slip into a Mazda RX-8 and you can be certain you are driving a one-of-a-kind car. For better or worse, this is a vehicle that stands out from the crowd.
What sets the RX-8 apart from every other car on the road – at least those whose names don’t begin with “RX” – is its engine. This is the only mass-produced car employing a rotary under the hood.
Mazda has been using such motors in various cars for four decades now, and has long touted their power-to-size ratio. Instead of the multiple pistons and cylinders found in traditional engines, these power plants use a single triangular rotor that whirls around at crazy speeds in a combustion chamber.
The mill is only 1.3 liters – smaller than most four-cylinder engines – yet cranks out an impressive 232 horsepower while working its way to a 9,000 rpm redline.

If you want to channel your inner Mario Andretti every time you step into a car, plus be able to carry up to three passengers while doing it, this may be your match. If your priorities go beyond having a small engine that can literally scream, though, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. After living with the RX-8 for a week, I found that it’s a unique screamer, but to me the tradeoffs aren’t worth the work.

While the engine offers good power to the rear wheels and has a redline limit usually found on racecars, it’s both noisy and not very fuel efficient. Regarding the former, there’s no mistaking the whirl of a rotary engine. As it turns faster and faster, the motor unleashes a furious, high-pitched whine. Even at lower speeds and rpms, the novelty of this sound quickly wore off. I’m at a stage in my life where I appreciate quiet as much as I do speed.
Then there’s the issue of fuel economy. At only 1.3 liters, you’d think the engine would get high mileage, but this isn’t the case. With an EPA rating of only 16 mpg city/22 highway, it’s more on par with a V-6 and even some V-8s. And while this engine does fine in the horsepower department, it’s a bit lacking in torque, providing only 159 lb.-ft of thrust.
The power is more than adequate to make this car feel fast, but I have to wonder about the rationality of still using a rotary when traditional engines have made so much progress in both power and fuel economy. Heck, one needs only look at the Mazdaspeed3’s engine to see an example of this. That car boasts a 2.3-liter turbocharged four that puts out 263 horsepower and an incredible 280 lb.-ft. of torque, all while getting mpg ratings of 18 city/25 highway.
Another word on this particular engine. While its redline goes up to 9,000 rpm when equipped with the six-speed manual (it’s 7,500 on those with automatics), the limit is variable. In fact, when you start the car cold, the redline limit is 5,000. As the engine warms, it moves to 7,000 and then to 9,000.
One catch, according to the owner’s manual, is you are not supposed to stop the engine until the dial displays a higher rpm figure. That means if you start the car cold, say, after say a night in the garage, you’ll have to drive it around a bit so the engine can heat up. If your needs often require you to briefly start a car only to move it a short distance, you’d better get used to running some errands while at it. Don’t go too crazy, though, as the trunk’s relatively narrow opening and small cargo space hampers storage and retrieval of items.


I found other traits in the RX-8 that made it feel like an odd duckling. The car has small, hinged doors on the rear that open outward, ostensibly to make access to the two rear seats easier. I still found it awkward trying to crawl back there. Getting in and out of that rear seat was made even more bitter because of the lethargic power folding front seat. If you’re claustrophobic and need to get out of the rear of a car in a hurry, this is the last place you’ll want to be. Up front, the driver’s seat felt good and supported me well. But what’s with the steering wheel that only tilts, with no telescoping feature? That shouldn’t be in a car that’s costing over $33,000 when equipped such as this one. My vehicle was the Grand Touring model, which was spruced up with features like moonroof, 300-watt Bose sound system, xenon headlights and heated seats. Only problem on that last one: the heated seats did not heat. I can only hope that this was an issue solely on this test model; after several tries, I never got the seat to actually warm. Maybe it wasn’t in the right rpm.
Oh, and be sure you keep a tight grip on that key fob. Rather than use an oblong shape or, heaven forbid, an actual key, the RX-8’s fob is a rectangular piece of plastic whose shape and dimension is more akin to a playing card. The thing had the unfortunate propensity to get sucked into places unknown between the front seats with the gravitational pull of a black hole.
On the positive side, the RX-8 has some of the best steering I’ve experienced in a car. It handled well at speed and was a snap to park. I appreciated the short-throws of the six-speed manual transmission, even if they weren’t Miata-like smooth.
I really do laud Mazda for keeping the rotary engine alive and spinning. It set the RX cars and trucks apart decades ago, and it has possible applications in the future with alternate fuels. But at this point, it seems hard to justify the engine – and thus this car – when so many others out there are also doing more with less

 

doing more with less
less is the new more

 

Some get it, most don't. Just heard a story from a friend talking to a mutual acquainance of ours, who moved into the whole Wall Street thing. This guy was braggin on getting a lightly used Porsche Carrera 4, but was a bit miffed about paying $80k for a car with just a 4 cylinder engine. (!) That sort of thing is norm for things in the world these days, and RX8ers generally don't fit well in it (thank goodness).

 

I bet the author drives a Toyota Prius...

 

The dude definitely doesn't know what he is talking about. The only reason the car was able to be made the way it is, is because of the rotary. If they had tried to make a piston engine fit in there, and keep all of the features and balance, it wouldn't have worked. Plain and simple.

 

Yah. Um. The guy rates a car based on "steering" that's a "snap to park".

Who gives a damn what he thinks...

 

I must at least give credit to the author for being neutral & unbiased within the article. I'm also pleased that he went through such detail as to explain certain characteristics of the car. For example, he goes to mention that you're not supposed to turn off the RX8's engine until fully warmed up... I would think that most average reviewers would be ignorant of that specific detail. He also mentions that when the car is started cold, redline is first at 5k, and then progresses to 7k rpm, and then finally to 9k when the car is fully ready. Small aspects which are noticed & presented to the reader are always welcome.

Overall, I was very happy to read the article. The RX8 has always been an 'underdog' in the sports car industry. All I can say is that it's a car that appeals to the unique individual who appreciates the special personality of this car. The RX8 has that strong potential to form that great bond between car & driver.

Thank you for sharing, OP.

 

I say he sticks to reviewing accents and aveos.

 

Not sure where he is coming from with saying the back seats are hard to access because of the doors. Has he tried to get into the back of say a mustang or a 3000GT?? It is about a million times harder than an RX8.

Other than that he seems more focused on the fact that a RWD Sports car is not the most practical car in the world............. duh..... OF course the trunk is not as big as a Camry or something

 

The writer or the author of the article doesn't drive an RX8. I think he/she drives a hyundai or something.

 

I'm a bit curious about the comments regarding the trunk's "narrow opening" and inability to carry certain items. Has the author not seen the hatchbacks like the 350z? I've moved myself between apartments more than once using my RX8 and been able to fit some crazy stuff inside that car you wouldn't be able to with other vehicles.

The aspect of the "noise" created by the engine was another odd factor. This is clearly a personal preference and one where the author seems to want the car to be powerful and not heard. If you're looking for speed and quiet then perhaps a 2-ton Audi would be better.

Overall not a bad review but highly subjective in that it doesn't sound like the author would be a target demographic for an RX8 to begin with.

 

that is why you keep it in your pocket!

 

I hate it when people that wouldn't like something review it. That would be similar to me reviewing a sports game. I can't stand them, so I'd just call it garbage, and be done with it.

While he does go into some good points about it, I don't think he understands what it's really about. Complaining about the variable rev limit is just silly. It's just the computer doing what you should be doing already... That said, I'm glad I don't have that on my '05. Not that I rev it up while it's cold, but you never know what can happen.

 

I would give a negative review to the Orange County Register as a whole. I know some of its writers personally, and the fifth grade reading level need not be imposed by their editors.

 

The article kept my interest but I have to agree with all your posts. He failed to say the 159lbs of torque are linear. What other cars have that kind of torque all the way to 9000 red line. The entire driving experience is also unique. Similar to flying close to the ground. He missed alot and obviously has spent too little time with the car.

 

As much as we all love the car, the plain fact is that it's not for everybody. It's a shame that the car has a bad rap for some things, because I feel (and I'm pretty sure the rest of you do as well) that the rest of the experience makes up for it. Some people just don't want the hassle of having to look at their dip stick when they fill up.

 

I guess I am strange because I have always checked the oil at least monthly in any car I have ever owned. and when we got our RX-7 15 years ago, I really got in the habit of checking the oil.

the car is not for everyone. I understand the arguments against it. but there are arguments against any car. The writer in the article just doesn't reveiw the car based on how well it does what it was designed for, he bases his review more on how it compares with ordinary sedans... There is a reason Car and Driver ranked the RX-9 as the #3 drivers cars.

 

Lmao! +1

 

He also failed to mention the final drive ratio, without which, the engine's torque rating doesn't begin to tell you anything useful

 

The only real negative I agree with him on is the lack of telescoping steering. It was a major discomfort for me, since not all tall folks have the same arm/leg length ratio. If I got my legs comfy my arms were uncomfortable, and vice versa. My left elbow had come to be perpetually sore, a problem which went away after I traded it in.

He's obviously used to a different kind of car, and not reviewing the RX8 for what it is. Cause I sure loved the sound of that engine revving when you got on it!