Gotian and a RX-8 Test Drive

[Gotian]

So I decided to take a test drive during my lunch break so i could write a nice review for all of you.

After going on Saturday with musashi and NOT being able to test drive one that the dealer was going to sell to me way under the MSRP I felt kinda empty (MSRP of 32,000 with every package available, manual, for only 27,000). So today i went to the dealer by my office and filled that void.

First Glance:
It's very Sleek and Sexy, it's just how I like my women Curvey The Front has a mean look especially at night with those yellow beams on. The one I tested was a base model which ran for 26,800, so it didnt have the wing, side skirts, or front lip as well as not having a sunroof or manual traction control ::sigh:: Personally I find it more attactive with at least a wing but for the price what can you do? The rims were beautiful, especially compared to the other rims on the other cars. Just looking at the car made me want to drift it in the parking lot, the body design looked like it was ready for every and any corner, I just couldnt wait to get inside.

Interior:
A Luxiorious sports car, 4 bucket seats that will just make you melt when you sit in them, even if you get the cloth. The speedo was very beautifly lit up for you to see, though it is electronic. The design of the stereo system was cool and had quite a few gadgets to play with. Those of you who say a true sports car is a 2 door 2 seater let me put it to you this way, this car weighs less then the 350z which is its competitor and fits that definition and with it's suicide doors the driver never has to move his/her seat to allow someone to enter. Plus the 2 extra seats, which can fit 2 full grown adults with legroom, allows 2 more people for you to make scream out "oh shit!" when you are drifting a corner.

The Ride :

So I hop in the car with the dealer and turn on the engine. It doesnt have the loud "vroom" start up but that's okay considering it's a 1.3 and it revs to 9k (manual only) I take it out of the lot and start to play with it a bit. I move it from side to side testing the suspension and response, Excellent. While I'm driving I don't seem to feel the road as badly as the 350 which is good in by my standards, so my ass wont take a beating. I shift through all the gears except 6th to see the clutch and transmission. It responds similar to the 350 as far as the clutch and tranny go, no suprise there.
The fun part. I see if the dealer will let me take it through the roads behind the dealership, he says fine which it really good for me. I get to a straight away and punch it, the tires screech as I go through 1st, I'm pushed back into my seat as I take it up to 8,500 RPMs and shift it to 2nd, breaking traction. Again I take it to 8,500 and shift to 3rd. I'm already going 75 so I decide to slow it down before this guy says something. I think to myself, damn and I had 3 more gears to go through. We get to a turn so I down shift to 2nd and the car glides through the corner with very little body roll, unlike the Z where the back tends to come out. The next corner was just like the first, applying the 50/50 balancing that mazda had created. After each corner the car recovered very nicely showing that the loss of torque doesnt really bother much.

Pros :
50/50 balancing allows for easy and fun cornering, same price as the Z so its just wich one favors you better. The high revs make it feel like a never ending rollercoaster which is accompanied with very nice pedals that allow for easy heel and toeing

Cons :
For a 1.3 it has the gas mialage of a 3.5 getting 19/25 to the gallon. As a daily driving through the city car you dont get to enjoy the full open throtle much (unless you drive at night like me) The price can reach up to 34,000 if you add more stuff like leather and manual traction control as well as the body kits.

Verdit:
I loved it. For a car with 159Ibs of torque it does pack a punch since it doesnt have alot to move making 0-60 a breeze to 5.9 and 1/4 of 14.5 (though I have seen lower and higher due to driver). The low to the ground body never made me feel out of control. Though this is a highway car and was made to live on the track it is still fun to drive around the city and wave at people when you are going sideways. There arent many differences between this and the Z so as I said before, it's what fancies you, But in my opinion I'd rather have the RX-8 because the less body roll does help me on the track.

[Musashi3000GT]

You tested the RENESIS without me? you PUNK!
I thought we'd go double on that review?
oh well Im glad you enjoyed it......YOU PUNK!

so tell me something. does it really have a 0-60 of 5.9 seconds? the Z made it in 5.8 which baffles me since everyone complains about the lack of power from the car. I mean that is darn close!

and how'd you feel about the acceleration? did you feel it in your gut or what?

[VR43000GT]

I would love to drive one of those. I have heard they are the best handling cars for the money. On a side note, are any of you actually looking to buy or are you just having some fun with dealers cars?

[Drifty]

Now bOTH of u should go try an S2k

[youngvr4]

yeah, how bout both of you drive the same car and give us yor insight, lets see the difference in two people who drive the same car.

we can get more insight

[clawhammer]

I would have bought that car in a hearbeat, had it not been for a couple of things:

1. Reliability. Log on to the RX-8 boards, and you'll see that most people don't make it to 30-40k without pretty big problems.
2. Gas mileage. More like 20 mpg combined with moderate driving.
3. Value. It looses value too quickly.

If Mazda could improve those 3 things, I'd sell my S2000 for one.

[Drifty]

I second Young on that! Both of you go test the S2k and give Both reviews on it

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by clawhammer

I would have bought that car in a hearbeat, had it not been for a couple of things:

1. Reliability. Log on to the RX-8 boards, and you'll see that most people don't make it to 30-40k without pretty big problems.
2. Gas mileage. More like 20 mpg combined with moderate driving.
3. Value. It looses value too quickly.

If Mazda could improve those 3 things, I'd sell my S2000 for one.

1. Those people dont take care of the cars, car and driver even said it, the renesis rotary is a reliable engine if maintained well, the problems that most people encounter are recalls so you take them in and the dealer fixes them, after 40k miles they never had a problem except for changing the oil every 2,000 - 2,500 miles.

2. if we really cared about gas I'm sure most of us would be driving different cars instead of muscle cars or turbo cars that suck gas every time you press on the pedal

3. if you really love the car you buy you don't care much about the resale value now do you. I know if i buy one I wouldnt be selling it for a while.


As for the S2K musashi and I will both test it out and im going to test the Miata later, make any other suggestions to us and we will try to get them in.

Oh and yes we are looking to buy as well as play with the dealers

[CassiesMan]

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

[CassiesMan]

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

[Mad_Maxima]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

Zee Oh Six, huh, why don't yall try that, or I guess a regular C6 will do if you can't get the LS7. Or how about the Audi S4??

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by Mad_Maxima

Zee Oh Six, huh, why don't yall try that, or I guess a regular C6 will do if you can't get the LS7. Or how about the Audi S4??

they probably wouldnt let me test drive one, im not 25 and plus they most likely wont take me seriously. (for the ZO6)

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

Like what your BMW 325? (j/K)

[clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Gotian

1. Those people dont take care of the cars, car and driver even said it, the renesis rotary is a reliable engine if maintained well, the problems that most people encounter are recalls so you take them in and the dealer fixes them, after 40k miles they never had a problem except for changing the oil every 2,000 - 2,500 miles.

2. if we really cared about gas I'm sure most of us would be driving different cars instead of muscle cars or turbo cars that suck gas every time you press on the pedal

3. if you really love the car you buy you don't care much about the resale value now do you. I know if i buy one I wouldnt be selling it for a while.


As for the S2K musashi and I will both test it out and im going to test the Miata later, make any other suggestions to us and we will try to get them in.

Oh and yes we are looking to buy as well as play with the dealers

1. It didn't appear to me like that. Seemed everyone is having problems.

2. The S2000 can get 30+ mpg on the highway. Much better than 20.

3. I care.

[TatII]

rx-8 is trash in my eyes. plus the 350Z doesn't do 0-60 in 5.8 seconds its more like 5.4 seconds. plus look at the trap speed, the RX-8 barely breaks 96mph which is pathetic for a 30K car, while the Z can break 100mph. not even close. a rsx type S can keep up with that sorry ass of a car.

plus the ride is too soft for my liking and i actually like driving cars with torque. plus those wheels may look okay, but they're sunken in like crazy, very very skinny rims and tire combo, not to mention that those fenders looks very out of place and tacked on, they look like round bubbles on a arrow.

plus the body is too tacky, too many triangles to try to give the average sthmoe hints that its a rotary. well i feel that in 10 years, the car would age pretty bad like a 3000GT ( no offense ) rather then gracefully like a Z32 or a RX-7 FD3S or FC3S, or even a 350Z. its the lack of details, and tacky add ons thats what makes these cars so clean and beautiful, they will never run out of style.

my 2 cents.