Superfan

I don't think I had seen this one before.

http://www.bilmagasinet.dk/bilmagasi...eo/default.asp

SA22C

That guy should learn how to downshift. I feel sorry for the gearbox of that car.

eccles

Ouch! Synchromash.

MrWigggles

The only defense for the guy is that he might not be used to shifting with his left hand. My first trip to Ireland was a lot of fun with the manual transmission rental car.

But he's European, he should have driven a RHD at least every once in a while.

Nice video. One of these days many years from now I will get a chance to drive that corkscrew at Laguna Seca. It is just too cool.

-Mr. Wigggles

tribal azn2

i think its open to the public on the weekends. the road and track rx8 special has this little thing about it

Maximus

In the video even though you hear the red-line tone yet the engine doesn't sound like screaming. I've had no experience with a rotory but I thought the engine would be screaming at the red line and give you that feeling of power. The engine sound in the video at redline is kind of civilized and leaves you craving for much more!. I dont know maybe thats the way rotories are. Can someone clarify this please?

Lensman

Try the third movie down from the top (Laguna Seca - Time Attack).

MrWigggles

The engine is quiet. That is why they included the tone.

-Mr. Wigggles

PoLaK

iTrader: (1)

I wish they would have ran the car a lil harder give us a better feeling of the engine sound etc. Perhaps they should have put the guy that drove the 350Z in the video below it into the rx-8.

Maximus

Exactly! 350Z sounds awesome in that video!

MrWigggles

The beap happens near the red line so he was driving it to the red line. How much harder do you want him to drive it?

When you get your RX-8 you can always get some glass pack muffler tips to make it louder if you want.

-Mr. Wigggles

PoLaK

iTrader: (1)

Theres a difference between getting to the redline by slaming ur foot on the gas and getting to it by slowly increasing presure, the driver was doing the latter of the two.

Edit: and the format of the audio in the 350z video was of better quality

Lensman

You have to remember that they are pitching the car at an audience used to BMW and Japanese saloon cars. The target audience would find a typical sports roar unnacceptable: Mazda are aiming for cruising refinement. They've also bothered to install a REALLY good audio system so it'll be nice to enjoy it without the engine sound getting in the way. I currently run a small Rover car with a K16 engine (as used in the Elise and Caterham). The engine is very low torque and has to be revved hard, when you do it screams! At 70mph I'm doing nearly 4000rpm and the noise is irksome. I can hardly hear my stereo and I fear for my hearing. I would LOVE a more powerful car with a quiet engine, think of it as a bonus not a limitation.

SureShot

Definitely an amateur driver. Get this guy an automatic.
Here's my old 2nd gen RX-7 on a short on-ramp, for comparason.short video

Maximus

Is that 'stock' sound or with any aftermarket exhaust/muffler?

Maximus

Its alright not being loud. I think that is a good thing for this RX. I think what I am trying to understand is the pitch of the sound.

maverikk

Ok. If I wanted SOUND I would get back to the days when I was driving this 30.8 liters 830 HP V10 kompressor charged MTU diesel engine in that Leopard1 main battle tank (or Gepard AA tank)

But, seriously: Where I work every afternoon a Porsche drives home under my window -- I ALWAYS look up and hear out for this guy, because the sound is awesome.

OTOH: When you go for 4-6 hrs on the autobahn and you get out of the car, relaxed and still able to hearing it's more worth than having awesome sound!