RX8 test drive

[protegeV]

I went to my mazda dealer today, cuz I was bored and I wanted to make my own judgement on the RX8 after hearing it labeled by so many people as slow and overpriced...

While I will agree it may be overpriced, I wouldnt call it slow. It has enough power to do what it was meant to do, take corners like a pro. Luckily the dealer I went to is only a few short miles from some really nice twisties which the salesman was more than happy to let me attack. They have a lot sitting on the lot and this one was the highest mileage, so i didnt feel too bad about winding it out to 9K.
It feels real planted to the ground, and the power band is oh so flat...It was a very enjoyable 30minute test drive. Im hoping i can get a chance to test out on EVO for comparison in the near future.

 

[lasermp5]

haha.... on my test drive list:

evo, sti, r32, rx8, cts-v, new legacy, list goes on....

 

[protegeV]

yeah, the new legacy GT test drive is coming soon. I got a card that you take to the subie dealer and get a $25 visa gift card when you test one out.

 

[protegeV]

hmm, my mazda/dodge dealer also has a viper and an SRT-10 Ram on the showroom floor...wonder if they'll let me take on of those out for a spin(evil)

 

[batmang]

if i had money to get an rx8, it'd be chilling right outside my apt.

 

[protegeV]

(werd)cept it'd be in my driveway

 

[sjimmy]

the rx8 is muoy badass, i think they start at 28 grand for a six speed maybe 28, my dad has one and i love that car, it handles extremely well, has good power without a turbo, the backseats are even comfortable in that thing, it's a well thought out vehicle. it's cheaper than an s200, and handles better with two extra seats, i don't see how it's overpriced. maybe point some things out that i don't know, thanks.

 

[jflo]

(werd)cept it'd be in my driveway

i'd be driving it right now ! my friend just got one new about two weeks ago...except it's the auto w/ 197hp ! BOOO...but it was so damn clean, had the aero package...FSCKING NICE

 

[protegeV]

yeah, the auto has teh suck (shrug)

The one I tested was the BASE model 6spd. Cloth seats, the only options were cassette player and floor mats, it was winning blue.

The reason I say its overpriced is I just feel for the money there is not enough put into the ergornomics and fit and finish...I guess when you consider a LARGE chunk of the cost goes into the radical body design, the new renesis and the freestyle doors, there's not much left.

It kinda sux that if you want leather you gotta spend like $4K for the whole package including HIDs, leather, etc etc...

I havent driven an EVO, STi, or SRT-4 yet...I have had ridealongs in all three though, but I would definitely consider an RX8 for the handling, adequate power and the (shocked) factor when you drive by

 

[Replica]

I'll take the S2000....although I do need to test drive an RX-8 to warrant my opinion.

 

[protegeV]

isnt the S2K like 32K? I'd prolly rather have an S2K also, but thats a big diff between the RX8 i drove($26K) not to mention with the 10+ RX8s sitting on dealer lots, when the 05s come out, they'll be damn near giving them away

also, those back seats int he RX8 are bigger than I thought and I fit in them ok, not great but ok(5'7" 250lbs)

 

[Replica]

The S2000 just seemed like a nicer car after sitting in both of them. I'm just a Honda *****, the K series motors are monsters. I'm not doubting the Renesis, mostly because I know nothing about it.

 

[protegeV]

the coolest, possibly scariest thing about the RX8(never driven any rotary car so maybe they are all the same in this respect) is that it doesnt really get loud as the revs increase...

If you have the windows down and the radio off you can hear the exhaust, but the engine noise practically stays the same from 1k-9k...

Also, at low revs the engine has the whiny whirring sound that kinda sound like a jet engine. very cool(lol2)

 

[sjimmy]

my dad got the grand touring package, it has a cd player and bose stereo and all that madness it's really nice. the fit and finish in his car is all really good, i've never been in an s2000, so i can't compare. i really can't stand hondas though. everything i've read says those 4 cyllinders are kind of peaky, whereas the rotory has a good power delivery all the way to redline. but then again i have never been in one so i can't really judge. i just liek the looks of the rx8 better and it's cheaper.

 

[Installshield 2]

If i was given either an RX-8 or an S2000, I wouldn't sell one to buy the other...But it would be very difficult for me to choose between them, if I was the buyer...I like convertibles, but I also like chassis stiffness...One has one, the other has the other...

I think as of now I would go with the RX-8, although if I could find a good low mileage used 2.0L S2000... I would sit on that I bet...I never drove the 2.2L S2000's yet, but I would give up some torque for a 9k redline...

In either case I love the RX-8's...I got to test drive one not long after there release, and never felt it was underpowered at all...cornered extremely well, and I also felt the interior fit and finish was excellent...great seats, great steering wheel, and cool rotary themes everywhere...I thought it was better than the S2000's I have been in, and WAY better than any EVO...the RX-8 I drove had the NAV system too, which was cool but distracting when up...I also prefer the RX-8's exhaust note over the 2.0L S2000's...The RX has a steady increase in sound and thrust all the way to redline, although muted all the time...The S2000 jumps off the line like a 1.6L civic, but then transforms into a mechanical fury around 6k...and gets a whole lot louder and buzzy than the RX-8...

Hopefully I will be in the market for either after school...but I would also love an EVO for a year round car...

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

After driving rotaries for a while, piston engines just sound like they are going to explode at high revs. The rotary SINGS at high rpms.

And I think 30K is a deal for such an innovative, individualistic car. Everyone stares at it, from guys in hondas to guys in Porsches. (dunno)

There's a lot more to decision making when buying a car than numbers, IMO. Hence the 8.

 

[protegeV]

yeah, the8 id definitely unique all around, from the rotary engine, to the "freestyle" doors to the crazy design (rockon)

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

I've driven both the S2000 and the RX-8 and the 8 was more appealing to me on many levels, but also prolly because we wanted a sports sedan too.

I know what you mean about the S2000's engine being "peaky". It does very well on the autoX track too though. (dunno)

 

[protegeV]

hey, dont even call the RX8 a sedan

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

Don't tell me what to call MY car That's like when we owned the Pro5--it's a friggin HATCHback people!!!