The Little Things
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Florida
I just went through the garage to take the garbage out. After having my RX8 for 8 months, I still find that I have to stand and stare at it for a minute when I walk by it. I still can't believe I drive a car that looks so great and my heart gets pumping everytime I get in it. It's not just a "guy thing" :D
Glitchy Rotary Madness
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 470
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Best thread in this site, imo.. freedom from hp ****** and drag-race amateurs. :D
The Little Things are what make/break anything, and this one has little things by the truckload!
Mazda played Hide-a-Rotor with us! That I know of:
1. The rotor-shaped hood detail
2. The rotors cut into the headlight bezels
3. The one on the front air intake.
4. The ones on the black surface of the HVAC controls.
5. The ones in the seats
6. The shift ****'s shape
7. The one on the rear bumper's valance. Or whatever that black piece is called, y'know, the fake splitter.
8. All the ones I've probably missed :D
Other little details which caught my eye:
1. The back end is the SA/FB Rx-7 brought into the 21st century, only it looks more like 25th century.. I love the fins bracketing the brake lights! Rotary Rocketship indeed! Even the shape of the B Pillar echoes the SA/FB!
2. The pontoon fenders. I mean how cool is *that?!* Makes me think of those beautiful cars of the 30's, them with the flowing, sweeping lines. Makes me think of Delahaye, makes me think of big-band jazz, makes me think of elegance!
3. The whiskers on the headlights
Here neko neko neko! :p The front end suggests "Smirking Anime Cat" to me! All that's missing is the fang, just one, for effect
4. The line that goes from the tip of the front grille to the hood, then through the doors and ends at the lip on the decklid... that line is why I didn't get a bespoilered rx-8. I like the pure design, so you can see all those lines..
5. The little lip on the trunklid!
6. The interior..
it reeks of first-class air travel in a tight, fast ship.. like a Lear 25, or a Citation Jet! Anyone who says this is a GT and not a sportscar, here's my exhibit A... you don't get in a sportscar, you put it on.. and so you do with a Lear 25, or the RX8. You put it on, it becomes part of you, you become part of it.
7. The Handling. 'Nuff said. She's a gentleman's sportscar. The modern, affordable equivalent of an Aston Martin of yore. Grippy, predictable, stable, but won't knock the filling outta your teeth. Bond, James Bond, *wishes* he was kewl enough to fly an 8!
8. The Rx-3 inspired, LSD-ish instrument panel with the BIG tach in the middle.. just the way RXs are *supposed* to be! The bloo LED floodlights are uber geeky, love 'em! Ditto for the myriad little red led spots bathing certain controls in red light..
Then there's that engine.. that beautiful refinement of the 13B.. wow. Double wow. I've had 13b before, this is a major step forward in smoothness, tractability, sound, feel, power delivery.. it damn near doubled the HP from an na 13B without resorting to forced induction. And delivers around the same fuel mileage as the old 13B! With almost 2x the power!
But there's one detail that never fails to elict a smile from me: The 'Gurney Bubble' roof!
I've had this little jet for only two weeks, but in those two weeks, she's endeared herself to me. She actually spoke her name to me in less than two weeks.. first time that's ever happened..
Shes my LIttle Learjet! Feels like a jet, sounds like a jet, eats gas like a jet, has the temperature at the pipe of a jet.. smells like a jet.. smooth, like a jet crusing at FL450.. and the road manners of an F-16! :D :D
Then again, the real LearJets tend to drive like fighters.. so.. that's why.. she's my Little Learjet
I suspected it then, but now I'm certain: This car was designed from the keel up by otaku. And that's a very, very, very good thing! Mazda's finest effort to date, imo. As special as the FB, FC and FD were, the FE is also pure Rx, pure Mazda, through and through.
The Little Things are what make/break anything, and this one has little things by the truckload!
Mazda played Hide-a-Rotor with us! That I know of:
1. The rotor-shaped hood detail
2. The rotors cut into the headlight bezels
3. The one on the front air intake.
4. The ones on the black surface of the HVAC controls.
5. The ones in the seats
6. The shift ****'s shape
7. The one on the rear bumper's valance. Or whatever that black piece is called, y'know, the fake splitter.
8. All the ones I've probably missed :D
Other little details which caught my eye:
1. The back end is the SA/FB Rx-7 brought into the 21st century, only it looks more like 25th century.. I love the fins bracketing the brake lights! Rotary Rocketship indeed! Even the shape of the B Pillar echoes the SA/FB!
2. The pontoon fenders. I mean how cool is *that?!* Makes me think of those beautiful cars of the 30's, them with the flowing, sweeping lines. Makes me think of Delahaye, makes me think of big-band jazz, makes me think of elegance!
3. The whiskers on the headlights
Here neko neko neko! :p The front end suggests "Smirking Anime Cat" to me! All that's missing is the fang, just one, for effect 4. The line that goes from the tip of the front grille to the hood, then through the doors and ends at the lip on the decklid... that line is why I didn't get a bespoilered rx-8. I like the pure design, so you can see all those lines..
5. The little lip on the trunklid!
6. The interior..
it reeks of first-class air travel in a tight, fast ship.. like a Lear 25, or a Citation Jet! Anyone who says this is a GT and not a sportscar, here's my exhibit A... you don't get in a sportscar, you put it on.. and so you do with a Lear 25, or the RX8. You put it on, it becomes part of you, you become part of it.7. The Handling. 'Nuff said. She's a gentleman's sportscar. The modern, affordable equivalent of an Aston Martin of yore. Grippy, predictable, stable, but won't knock the filling outta your teeth. Bond, James Bond, *wishes* he was kewl enough to fly an 8!
8. The Rx-3 inspired, LSD-ish instrument panel with the BIG tach in the middle.. just the way RXs are *supposed* to be! The bloo LED floodlights are uber geeky, love 'em! Ditto for the myriad little red led spots bathing certain controls in red light..
Then there's that engine.. that beautiful refinement of the 13B.. wow. Double wow. I've had 13b before, this is a major step forward in smoothness, tractability, sound, feel, power delivery.. it damn near doubled the HP from an na 13B without resorting to forced induction. And delivers around the same fuel mileage as the old 13B! With almost 2x the power!
But there's one detail that never fails to elict a smile from me: The 'Gurney Bubble' roof!
I've had this little jet for only two weeks, but in those two weeks, she's endeared herself to me. She actually spoke her name to me in less than two weeks.. first time that's ever happened..
Shes my LIttle Learjet! Feels like a jet, sounds like a jet, eats gas like a jet, has the temperature at the pipe of a jet.. smells like a jet.. smooth, like a jet crusing at FL450.. and the road manners of an F-16! :D :D
Then again, the real LearJets tend to drive like fighters.. so.. that's why.. she's my Little Learjet
I suspected it then, but now I'm certain: This car was designed from the keel up by otaku. And that's a very, very, very good thing! Mazda's finest effort to date, imo. As special as the FB, FC and FD were, the FE is also pure Rx, pure Mazda, through and through.
Last edited by missinmahseven; Apr 29, 2005 at 09:19 AM.
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Originally Posted by missinmahseven
Best thread in this site, imo.. freedom from hp ****** and drag-race amateurs. :D
The Little Things are what make/break anything, and this one has little things by the truckload!
Mazda played Hide-a-Rotor with us! That I know of:
1. The rotor-shaped hood detail
2. The rotors cut into the headlight bezels
3. The one on the front air intake.
4. The ones on the black surface of the HVAC controls.
5. The ones in the seats
6. The shift ****'s shape
7. The one on the rear bumper's valance. Or whatever that black piece is called, y'know, the fake splitter.
8. All the ones I've probably missed :D
Other little details which caught my eye:
1. The back end is the SA/FB Rx-7 brought into the 21st century, only it looks more like 25th century.. I love the fins bracketing the brake lights! Rotary Rocketship indeed! Even the shape of the B Pillar echoes the SA/FB!
2. The pontoon fenders. I mean how cool is *that?!* Makes me think of those beautiful cars of the 30's, them with the flowing, sweeping lines. Makes me think of Delahaye, makes me think of big-band jazz, makes me think of elegance!
3. The whiskers on the headlights Here neko neko neko! :p The front end suggests "Smirking Anime Cat" to me! All that's missing is the fang, just one, for effect
4. The line that goes from the tip of the front grille to the hood, then through the doors and ends at the lip on the decklid... that line is why I didn't get a bespoilered rx-8. I like the pure design, so you can see all those lines..
5. The little lip on the trunklid!
6. The interior.. it reeks of first-class air travel in a tight, fast ship.. like a Lear 25, or a Citation Jet! Anyone who says this is a GT and not a sportscar, here's my exhibit A... you don't get in a sportscar, you put it on.. and so you do with a Lear 25, or the RX8. You put it on, it becomes part of you, you become part of it.
7. The Handling. 'Nuff said. She's a gentleman's sportscar. The modern, affordable equivalent of an Aston Martin of yore. Grippy, predictable, stable, but won't knock the filling outta your teeth. Bond, James Bond, *wishes* he was kewl enough to fly an 8!
8. The Rx-3 inspired, LSD-ish instrument panel with the BIG tach in the middle.. just the way RXs are *supposed* to be! The bloo LED floodlights are uber geeky, love 'em! Ditto for the myriad little red led spots bathing certain controls in red light..
Then there's that engine.. that beautiful refinement of the 13B.. wow. Double wow. I've had 13b before, this is a major step forward in smoothness, tractability, sound, feel, power delivery.. it damn near doubled the HP from an na 13B without resorting to forced induction. And delivers around the same fuel mileage as the old 13B! With almost 2x the power!
But there's one detail that never fails to elict a smile from me: The 'Gurney Bubble' roof!
I've had this little jet for only two weeks, but in those two weeks, she's endeared herself to me. She actually spoke her name to me in less than two weeks.. first time that's ever happened..
Shes my LIttle Learjet! Feels like a jet, sounds like a jet, eats gas like a jet, has the temperature at the pipe of a jet.. smells like a jet.. smooth, like a jet crusing at FL450.. and the road manners of an F-16! :D :D
Then again, the real LearJets tend to drive like fighters.. so.. that's why.. she's my Little Learjet
I suspected it then, but now I'm certain: This car was designed from the keel up by otaku. And that's a very, very, very good thing! Mazda's finest effort to date, imo. As special as the FB, FC and FD were, the FE is also pure Rx, pure Mazda, through and through.
The Little Things are what make/break anything, and this one has little things by the truckload!
Mazda played Hide-a-Rotor with us! That I know of:
1. The rotor-shaped hood detail
2. The rotors cut into the headlight bezels
3. The one on the front air intake.
4. The ones on the black surface of the HVAC controls.
5. The ones in the seats
6. The shift ****'s shape
7. The one on the rear bumper's valance. Or whatever that black piece is called, y'know, the fake splitter.
8. All the ones I've probably missed :D
Other little details which caught my eye:
1. The back end is the SA/FB Rx-7 brought into the 21st century, only it looks more like 25th century.. I love the fins bracketing the brake lights! Rotary Rocketship indeed! Even the shape of the B Pillar echoes the SA/FB!
2. The pontoon fenders. I mean how cool is *that?!* Makes me think of those beautiful cars of the 30's, them with the flowing, sweeping lines. Makes me think of Delahaye, makes me think of big-band jazz, makes me think of elegance!
3. The whiskers on the headlights
Here neko neko neko! :p The front end suggests "Smirking Anime Cat" to me! All that's missing is the fang, just one, for effect 4. The line that goes from the tip of the front grille to the hood, then through the doors and ends at the lip on the decklid... that line is why I didn't get a bespoilered rx-8. I like the pure design, so you can see all those lines..
5. The little lip on the trunklid!
6. The interior..
it reeks of first-class air travel in a tight, fast ship.. like a Lear 25, or a Citation Jet! Anyone who says this is a GT and not a sportscar, here's my exhibit A... you don't get in a sportscar, you put it on.. and so you do with a Lear 25, or the RX8. You put it on, it becomes part of you, you become part of it.7. The Handling. 'Nuff said. She's a gentleman's sportscar. The modern, affordable equivalent of an Aston Martin of yore. Grippy, predictable, stable, but won't knock the filling outta your teeth. Bond, James Bond, *wishes* he was kewl enough to fly an 8!
8. The Rx-3 inspired, LSD-ish instrument panel with the BIG tach in the middle.. just the way RXs are *supposed* to be! The bloo LED floodlights are uber geeky, love 'em! Ditto for the myriad little red led spots bathing certain controls in red light..
Then there's that engine.. that beautiful refinement of the 13B.. wow. Double wow. I've had 13b before, this is a major step forward in smoothness, tractability, sound, feel, power delivery.. it damn near doubled the HP from an na 13B without resorting to forced induction. And delivers around the same fuel mileage as the old 13B! With almost 2x the power!
But there's one detail that never fails to elict a smile from me: The 'Gurney Bubble' roof!
I've had this little jet for only two weeks, but in those two weeks, she's endeared herself to me. She actually spoke her name to me in less than two weeks.. first time that's ever happened..
Shes my LIttle Learjet! Feels like a jet, sounds like a jet, eats gas like a jet, has the temperature at the pipe of a jet.. smells like a jet.. smooth, like a jet crusing at FL450.. and the road manners of an F-16! :D :D
Then again, the real LearJets tend to drive like fighters.. so.. that's why.. she's my Little Learjet
I suspected it then, but now I'm certain: This car was designed from the keel up by otaku. And that's a very, very, very good thing! Mazda's finest effort to date, imo. As special as the FB, FC and FD were, the FE is also pure Rx, pure Mazda, through and through.
I enjoyed reading this, thank you...
Glitchy Rotary Madness
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by bmcc49er
I enjoyed reading this, thank you...
I forgot another smile-inducing thing.. the wheels.. sorta look like cartoon Cragar SS wheels, the center design around the luguts is brilliant, and the coolest thing about the wheels.. the spokes look like katanas..
:D
Cant' believe I forgot to write that in my prior post.. that's what I wanted to say, the wheels look like swords.. :D :D
I love the way we 8 owners honk and or wave at one another when we see each other driving around town. I hope this happens in other places and not just where I live (Virginia Beach, VA). There aren't that many of us of course and I had told my wife about this and she thought I was exaggerating because I love this car so much until a couple of days ago when a fellow rotor-head in a velocity red 8 passed me and honked and waved on his way by us with my wife my car (I honked and waved back of course) . She was simply speechless at first and then turned to me and said, "it's like all you people are in some kind of exclusive club"...I turned back to her and said, "We are" :D ...that's one of the many things I love about this car!
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Springfield, VA
Originally Posted by SpacerX
Actually, my observation is that it usually only takes one test drive to catch it... ownership fuels the passion... :D
I looked at one on a weekend, (made the wife go with me after looking at Mustang GT's). I didn't want to drive it because I knew I couldn't seriously be in the market for about 6-9 months. Looked at another a few weeks later and was talked into test driving that one. Fell in love and started dreaming online. THEN, I came across a SHINKA for about $6,000 below list price and worked some finances to buy it. So, now I'm in Missouri until June and my wife is loving my SHINKA in Virginia. The wait, knowing that I'm the proud owner of one of these cars, and can't see or drive it until June 11th is almost killing me.
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From: Connecticut
a couple more little things
Hi everyone, I just joined....this is too cool. I love how RX-8 owners don't just own a car....we love these things!
Here's a couple more little things I love about my 8:
-Pretty much every single time someone else drives by me in their 8, they either honk or wave. We're in our own exclusive club
-It's kind of annoying to clean, but you gotta love it when you get in your car and see the two hand marks, the nose mark, and the forehead mark on the window because someone couldn't resist the urge to see what the inside looks like :o)
-I love how when my headlights are on, I can change the lights on the gauges from bright white to red. Also, when I change the lights to red, my navigation screen goes from a white backgroud to a black background. That is awesome!
-How about the long list of accessories you can get? There are tons of them!
-It's already been mentioned.....but have you EVER parked your 8 and not at least taken one glance back at it....it NEVER gets old....every single time I park it and walk away, I stare at it while I am walking away
-Also, how about how mean it looks from the front when you are walking towards it. Man, it just looks hungry to be driven!
-And getting asked, "What kind of car is that?" never gets old either!
Here's a couple more little things I love about my 8:
-Pretty much every single time someone else drives by me in their 8, they either honk or wave. We're in our own exclusive club
-It's kind of annoying to clean, but you gotta love it when you get in your car and see the two hand marks, the nose mark, and the forehead mark on the window because someone couldn't resist the urge to see what the inside looks like :o)
-I love how when my headlights are on, I can change the lights on the gauges from bright white to red. Also, when I change the lights to red, my navigation screen goes from a white backgroud to a black background. That is awesome!
-How about the long list of accessories you can get? There are tons of them!
-It's already been mentioned.....but have you EVER parked your 8 and not at least taken one glance back at it....it NEVER gets old....every single time I park it and walk away, I stare at it while I am walking away
-Also, how about how mean it looks from the front when you are walking towards it. Man, it just looks hungry to be driven!
-And getting asked, "What kind of car is that?" never gets old either!
Glitchy Rotary Madness
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 470
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Another couple li'l things..
o the gas pedal on the manual cars has a slanted left edge, to aid in heel-toe action. Wether it was intentional design, or it just got done like that because it's purty, I don't know. :D
o if you shut the car down and remove key, open the door lock, open the door, and push the lock back in, it flips open the passenger lock. Gotta do this with the 'manual' lock, not the power lock button.
o the gas pedal on the manual cars has a slanted left edge, to aid in heel-toe action. Wether it was intentional design, or it just got done like that because it's purty, I don't know. :D
o if you shut the car down and remove key, open the door lock, open the door, and push the lock back in, it flips open the passenger lock. Gotta do this with the 'manual' lock, not the power lock button.
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From: PA
Originally Posted by missinmahseven
o the gas pedal on the manual cars has a slanted left edge, to aid in heel-toe action. Wether it was intentional design, or it just got done like that because it's purty, I don't know. :D.
Glitchy Rotary Madness
Joined: Jul 2003
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Originally Posted by HeelnToe
Design I believe... take a peek at your brake pedal and you'll notice how the ridges in the corner are circular, allowing your toes to pivot on them...
No wonder this thing heeltoes as if' its meant to be..
Mentalhealth is overrated
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,289
Likes: 2
From: Calgary
the little things...I had a couple of guys taking pictures of my car in a car wash while I was washing it...that was a first.
I can't believe the amount of attention this car gets. I'm not sure why...Is it a mystique with being rotary powered...the shape of the car?
I can't believe the amount of attention this car gets. I'm not sure why...Is it a mystique with being rotary powered...the shape of the car?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Power window feature
One feature that I really like (and I've only ever seen in my '94 Celica) is that you can turn off the car, take the key out of the ignition, and still operate the power windows until one of the doors is opened. It's a great feature for those times that you shut off the car, take the key out, and *then* notice that the window is down.
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yeah, but the sunroof doesn't work after the key is out.... which is dissappointing.
Another small thing I just noticed yesterday:
I was buzzing along and wound the car out to pass another car just as we entered a tunnel. It sounded like a superbike. (I got my car in the winter and this was the first time something like this occurred while I had the windows down.
Another small thing I just noticed yesterday:
I was buzzing along and wound the car out to pass another car just as we entered a tunnel. It sounded like a superbike. (I got my car in the winter and this was the first time something like this occurred while I had the windows down.
Thread Starter
Go baby!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,303
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From: La Jolla CA
Originally Posted by Paul_in_DC
Nav system... has that female voice that announces, "In a half mile, right turn..." I had the radio on, and when it was time for the announcement, the radio volume dropped, the voice spoke, then the radio returned to normal. Dang, these people have thought of everything!
Folks, I'm the one who started this thread. I got my car July 17 2003. I barely remember my anniversary but I'll never forget the day I got my Velocity Red beauty. No longer have it for sad reasons, but it found a good home with a cool chick who knows how to drive. I am so pleased this thread has continued unabated. I pretty much stopped visiting this forum 4 months ago and I though every little thing that could be discussed had been discussed. Boy, was I wrong. I see a new batch of '8 afficianados and you seem to have a better attitude than the folks last year. Thank you for your observations. My divorce is final in another couple months and you got me half-convinced to go back and buy another '8. Keep it up!
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From: Newport Beach, CA
8_wannabe's '8
8_wannabe, I still remember those cautious posts leading up to your purchase. You helped me decide almost 50,000 grand touring miles ago and I've never looked back! Hope to hear of your new '8 soon! :D
Last edited by MPG > HP; May 22, 2005 at 01:08 AM. Reason: Add MazFest '05 Buttonwillow Pic
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From: I am a leaf in the wind...
Originally Posted by rotten42
the little things...I had a couple of guys taking pictures of my car in a car wash while I was washing it...that was a first.
I can't believe the amount of attention this car gets. I'm not sure why...Is it a mystique with being rotary powered...the shape of the car?
I can't believe the amount of attention this car gets. I'm not sure why...Is it a mystique with being rotary powered...the shape of the car?
Both, not only does it have an engine thats different to any other motor car in the world, its also one of the most beautifull cars out there
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From: MD
Originally Posted by mjcampb
I enjoy the excitement and smile on friends' faces when I let them drive, which, of course make me smile. I always did enjoy giving gifts more than receiving them.
Spin Triangles! Spin!
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From: Texas, US
Last edited by dmorales; Sep 9, 2011 at 01:48 AM.
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This car is like a dog, it loves you, you love it, would protect you as you would it, and it is just like a best friend. I have an S-2000 as well and as soon as I drove this 8 I was hooked. You dont see many of these babies around and when you do, you get a feeling!
Originally Posted by Fab 8
When you unlock the car, the lights under the wing mirrors light up to illuminate the ground :D
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From: Norway
Originally Posted by Fab 8
When you unlock the car, the lights under the wing mirrors light up to illuminate the ground
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I could make a laundry list of things I like....
Suffice to say, this ismy 4th Mazda (2 new Protege`s, A 626 and now my '8')
Since my first Mazda in '90, I have always been impressed with the quality and value of the cars. And yet, Mazda is never the first car that comes to mind when I start thinking about getting a new car. In fact I hadn't even test driven the RX-8 when I got it (my wife surprised me with it), I had driven the 3 liter Z-4, the 350Z and a Mini Cooper. If I had driven the RX-8, and made the choice myself, I think I still would have picked it.
They're ads are creative, so I don't know why I have a mental block.
Anyway, now that I have my '8', I'm trying to talk my wife into trading in her minivan for an MPV!
Suffice to say, this ismy 4th Mazda (2 new Protege`s, A 626 and now my '8')
Since my first Mazda in '90, I have always been impressed with the quality and value of the cars. And yet, Mazda is never the first car that comes to mind when I start thinking about getting a new car. In fact I hadn't even test driven the RX-8 when I got it (my wife surprised me with it), I had driven the 3 liter Z-4, the 350Z and a Mini Cooper. If I had driven the RX-8, and made the choice myself, I think I still would have picked it.
They're ads are creative, so I don't know why I have a mental block.
Anyway, now that I have my '8', I'm trying to talk my wife into trading in her minivan for an MPV!