BRx8

Eh, another review? Well here goes…

Cars I’ve driven: Mitsubishi 3000GT 222hp, 210lb-ft. (current car), Infiniti G35c, Subaru WRX, Lexus IS300, 1997 Acura Integra GS-R, and various other non-sporty cars and SUVs…

So I figured I’d drive past the dealership just to “peek” and see if any RX-8’s came in. Mine is scheduled to arrive August 4 (about a month late). So I’m driving by and lo and behold there’s a red RX-8! I make a quick U-turn and run inside. I ask a sales guy if they got my car in yet. I told him it’s a black GT with navigation. He tells me, “No, no black ones I don’t think.” L Another 2 weeks of waiting??

Just then my dealer sees me and yells, “Bryan! Good to see you. I was gonna call you on Monday to tell you that your car is in! You can’t take it home yet because it just got off the truck this morning but I can grab the keys and we can go check it out.”

So we run to the back and I see my baby. Immediately my crotch swells and if it wasn’t for my reinforced rugged jeans I surely would have been arrested for indecent exposure. She didn’t have any makeup on, just a lot of dry water spots, white plastic, and everything inside was still under plastic. I grab the keys and I turn her on. The first thing I notice is that it doesn’t start up right away. There’s some sort of hesitation before the engine turns. The dealer quickly corrects me and tells me it’s supposed to be like that.

“So what about a test drive in that red one?” I ask. We walk back towards the front and people are just coming back from their test drive. I see all smiles. And not just grins but complete ear to ear smiles like they just had the best sex ever. So I start her up and I notice the same hesitation. I try as hard as I can to reverse but it kept going into 6th gear. I’ve never had 6 gears so I didn’t know I had to push down on the stick to get it into reverse. I also noticed how closely spaced the pedals were. The brake and gas are close enough that it almost warrants you to heel-and-toe. It’s like it was designed for heel-and-toeing. I ask him were the nearest open street is and I head towards that direction.

So the fun starts. I completely stop the car and put it into first. It didn’t take off right away because I still wasn’t sure where the clutch grabbed but it was about halfway. I had it floored completely and unfortunately it just didn’t “feel” any faster than my 3000GT at low RPMs. In fact, I think my 3000GT might actually be just a tad faster from the line and the V6 GROOOWWWLLL that molests your ears make it seem faster that it probably really is. But what is really inspiring about the RX-8 is the fact that once you get past 3000RPMs it picks up and keeps on picking up without hesitation. I had a real problem figuring out how fast I was really going because I’ve never had a car with a digital speedo, but the few times I looked down, I saw that the numbers were in the 70 range. Ok, I need to slow down - the RX-8 feels a lot slower than how fast you’re actually going. That can be dangerous but at the same time tells you how quiet the engine is and how great the suspension is. Not once did I fear how fast I was going and the turns I was making as the car seemed planted on the ground even at 70mph. The steering responded as if it sensed a turn in the road and directed itself accordingly.

I decided to test out handling a bit. I got up to about 30mph and made an abrupt U-turn. There was minimal roll but the seats hugged you right in and the tires didn’t slip whatsoever. In fact, not even a sqeal came from the tires. Not bad at all…

I took her back to the dealer and decided to play around with the little things. Overall, the interior, IMO is top notch. The look of the center console, the placement of the buttons, and the lighting all were great quality. The doors closed with a nice *THUD* with hardly any shaking at all, unlike a review I had read earlier.

So I didn’t want to ruin all the fun and I decided to leave. I started driving my car and something about the driving ease of the 8 made me forget just how much harder it was to drive my own car. It was like I had to relearn how to drive my own car smoothly again. The clutch felt used and abused, the stick felt heavy and took about 5 feet from gear to gear. The pedals were extremely far away.

So my wait is over. Come Monday my new car will be in my garage. Was it worth the wait? Hell yea. Will I do it all over again, probably not…

cueball

Glad to hear your car is coming soon. Waiting must be a bitch, but its here now. Enjoy!

ggreen29

That's the way I feel about my old 7 now. Brakes take forever to stop, I wonder when the clutch is going to engage, and shifting gears is like pitching hay to a rooftop. Though I still like my 7's exhaust sound better. 8's is too soft, though I guess it's appropriate for Mazda's target audience.

Lethalchem

I was not in the market for a RX-8...that is, until I drove by the dealership this weekend and saw two blacks, a red, a yellow, a silver, a grey, and a beautiful blue lined up out front of the dealership. To put it simply, these cars are nothing less than a rolling work of art! Now I'm sure I'm not telling you guys anything new, but you have to realize my automotive history. This is all new to me.

I've owned nothing but mustangs my entire life. I've had 9, and NEVER had anything else. Currently, I drive 540HP 2003 supercharged Cobra, so I'm not one to normally look at anything with less than 8cyl. That is, until this beauty came out!

The interior is amazing, and flows so smoothly with the exterior styling. It's a stunning vehicle! I test drove a 6spd, and thought it was a dream to drive. It's pretty poor in the speed department, but I don't think that's what this car is all about. It had wonderful balance and handling characteristics, and turn in was immediate and precise.

I had a blast driving this car, so much so that I took my wife to look at one and she fell in love. I'm here on this board to find out what you guys/gals think about it first hand...because I get the feeling there's going to be a silver one sitting in my garage in the near future

BRx8

my thoughts exactly! i think the interior's beauty is only eclipsed by the exteriors fluid lines and sporty appeal...the fact that you'll be sitting inside 95% of the time and not sitting outside looking at the car (well for me that is )is extrememly important when choosing a car in that you must get one with an interior that is inviting, comforting, and appeals to you...

the speed and acceleration will take a while getting used to as i'm used to driving a car with a good amount of torque...when i drove this one, i did notice how doggish it was off the line but like i said, once it got moving, IT GOT MOVING! i will, in no way say that it's "FREAKISHLY FAST" but i will say it's faster than 95% of the cars you'll ever see on the road...and i think the only reason i think this way is that i'm not used to the rotary's 9000RPM redline...i'm not used to pushing cars that far...

another thing i loved about this car is that it pulls even if you're in a higher gear...i think i was going about 30 and i shifted into 5th just to see if it would pull and it did! if i did that in my car right now, i wouldn't feel any acceleration until my RPMs got high enough which takes a few seconds but not the RX-8...

rx8daniel

You have a lot of reading to do. Check out the threads starting about 7/11 from 3rotor then hercules about 7/28, and a few others on their opinions once theirs arrived. The most common viewpoints are it looks better in person that it did in pics (but you apparently did it in reverse - got to see several colors at once in person first - damn you! j/k - but most of us did wait a long time to see their first one - mine was the first I ever saw in person) and that it is really a joy to drive and the steering as you learned is tight and the handling gave up little to the 3rd gen (93-95) RX-7s. Sports car purists seem put off by the slight compromises to make it a daily-driver type car, but most seem to love it. Some gripe about the model of tires we got, or lack of a standard 6CD changer, or even that the steering is slow or there's too much body roll. But most like it. Those of us die-hard rotary enthusiasts are largely thankful it finally came out and those of us who have theirs are quite happy. Welcome to the forum and to the world of little rotors!

Lethalchem

Thanks for the pointer to the threads. I will enjoy reading about the car, I'm sure. The only thing I would prefer is for it to have a bit more grunt, but damn the thing is so beautiful, I simply find myself saying..."Who cares?!" :D

I'm looking specifically to find some threads that tell me why there is a HP difference between the auto and 6spd though.

Genom

As a guy who is currently driving a SOHC 1998 Neon, I dont think the RX-8 is lacking in power! :D

But besides that, I am not planning on racing it I want a car that looks sharp and is fun to drive. I dont need a huge engine for that myself, but thats me.

I also thought the pictures looked good, but when I actually saw one in person it just blew me away. Took my fiance to the dealer this weekend just so she could see the cars they had there (since they had one alsmot like the one I ordered).

These 10 days remaining for delivery are gonna kill me!

Hey, has anybody done a timetable like about how long it takes once the car is in port? Mine arrived in Jax on july 28th, so I'm wondering what seems to be the avergae for it to get outta there. Just has a spoiler and spare tire kit as extras.

Racer X-8

Mine might have been on the same boat. No port options. Already left the port Friday the 1st.:D

Lethalchem, the '04 auto. tranny can't handle the rpm's. The engine that they matched to it has a 7,500 rpm redline. (The engine that you get w/ MT gets max hp @ 8500 & redlines @ 9000.

Probably will have that fixed for '05 if you wanna wait...

Lethalchem

Hmmm, that's a bummer. At least they took care of it before they shipped them off. Great, now how am I going to make her wait until '05 to get one??? :p

Wing

All these comments are EXACTLY the way I felt 1 week ago.

I FINALLY got to see a Red RX8 at the dealer. We have it rough in Canada, there aren't that many around. You can't test drive unless you put your deposit go for financing the whole deal.

I didn't really like the red in pictures (maybe because I got tired of it). But in person WOW, amazing!

I sat in it and got to start it that's all. It's the only 8 in town.


So I thought about the damn car all week! Went in Thursday and bought it! I get to pick it up tomorrow (tuesday) after work!!!

I currently drive a Hyundai tiburon, after driving the 8 the tib just feels DOG slow, the gears ARE 5 feet apart and the ride is too harsh!

The 8 is a masterpiece. I did find the 8 FELT slower but it was faster when looking at the speedo that's for sure!


I was also able to cruise in sixth gear around town no problem, it pulls pretty good. I got to test MY car And now tomorrow I get to bring her home!

Racer X-8

Don't. Get the 6MT. After a while, she'll learn how to drive stick & all will be rosey. It's an easy car to shift/clutch, she'll just need time (& an empty parking lot) to get it right. After she learns, you won't be tied down to that unnecessary limitation any more.

Goldenhue22

BRx8, where in Chicago are you? I'm in the northwest suburbs and havn't seen an 8 anywhere.

BRx8

the first 8 sighting in Chicago was about 2 weeks ago by my friend that drives a G35c...i live in Naperville and the Mazda dealership in Villa Park has had them for 3-4 weeks now all sold out...Pugi of Downers Grove now has 1 black one (mine), 1 yellow one with app. package (in showroom, VERY nice), 1 blue one (sold), 2 red ones (1 sold, 1 for test drives), 1 silver (don't know if it's sold or not)...my dealer told me they were the last in the area to get them so i'm guessing the other 2-3 Mazda dealerships have already gotten their alottment...

they urge you to test drive one...in fact my dealer urged me to floor it as often as i'd like which of course i found no hesitation in doing...

PM me if you'd like more information or who to contact at the dealership...

Lethalchem

I'd like nothing more, but it's not an option. She travels in unfamiliar areas with her job, so she's always got a cell phone in one hand and amap in another. She says she doesn't want to fool with it. I've tried about every argument I can think of, believe me, but it's hard to say anything when she points out that I already have my toys.

Gord96BRG

Easy! Hands-free cell phone, voice activated. Get the RX-8 with the NAV system, she'll never go back. Both problems solved. The NAV system especially!

Regards,
Gordon

Genom

Hey racer X-8, how did you find out that your car was moving? Is there someplace I can plug in my VIN to find out?

Racer X-8

I know of three sources:

You can send ibfubar2000 a private message with your VIN number. He's been very nice about doing this for his fellow forum members. He works for a dealership in California. He's done two for me already. One of our bestest members!

rx8orders@mazdausa.com is an email address with Mazda corporate. Heather Drake, Specialist, Customer Assistance E-Business has been answering my most recent emails to this address. She's the one that told me, however, it was in reference to another issue and it popped out in her research that she was doing for me. So, I truly don't know if she will do the search just for the sake of finding out the status of your order. I would think that she would/should but I can also see that she might not due to the potential of getting swamped in doing this for everybody all the time.

Your dealership should be able to do this. If your dealer is like mine though, I would understand why you're looking for another source. Mine said they would tell me when my car got to port. Yeah, right!!!