The Bottom Line: Overall, the RX-8 is probably the finest car I've ever owned. Do yourself a favor and test drive one today. You will absolutely NOT regret it.
I've been a happy Mazda RX-8 owner for a little under a week, and have been absolutely floored by it in nearly all respects. The interior quality rivals BMW and the exterior styling rivals the Italians... all for under $34,000 out the door, fully loaded. The particular trim I purchased is the 4-speed automatic, 210-hp version; with the Grand Touring Package. I opted for Velocity Red Mica paint and a black/red two-tone leather interior. I optioned it with a navigation system and the rotary accent package.
Exterior
The styling of this car is simply to die for. As with all car designs, some love it, and some hate it. I happen to be firmly in the 'love it' camp. The sculpted fenders and hood are fantastic looking, and the overall body shape evokes Italian design from some angles. The paint is breathtaking... the mica finish reflects gold flakes in the red finish of the car in a manner similar to nail polish. The red helps to accentuate the lines and creases in the car and give it a very aggressive and sporty demeanor.
Interior
I am an owner of a 2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe and a 2001 Audi A4 Avant. The interior quality of the Mazda surpasses the Infiniti and at least matches that of the Audi. The buttons are soft-touch and feel weighty, the plastics are nicely textured. The quality of the leather is not quite up to the par of the Infiniti or the Audi, but definitely tops other Japanese vehicles I've owned. It is not shiny and has an expensive feel to it. There seem to be some issues with the ribbed leather fit in the back, where it seems to bunch up or feel loose in places, but is well-designed overall. The seats are deceptively comfortable, though the integrated and non-adjustable headrests would suggest otherwise. The side bolstering is very effective, keeping you glued to the seats in sharp cornering. The plastic rotary inset in the seat backs is not problematic for all but the shortest passengers: If you're at least five feet tall you'll find the seats extremely comfortable. Competitively, I would say that they are not as nice as the Infiniti G35 Coupes, but they are still extremely comfortable and seem to pose no ergonomic concerns to most drivers.
There was an initial rattle in the left A-pillar that was the result of the trim panel being not quite snapped in completely. Snapping in the panel resolved the issue and the car is absolutely squeak free. This is the only quality issue I've run across as of yet. The visual appearance of the interior is magnificent: the electroluminescent dials are a sight to behold, and the motorized navigation system is undeniably cool. The electronic speedometer is disconcerting at first but accurate and easy to use after you get used to it.
Driving
The handling of this car is fantastic. The 50/50 weight distribution and light weight make cornering in this vehicle a dream: the driver never feels out of control of the car. The electronic steering feels a little strange at first but is extremely responsive and easy to operate. The handling of this car easily surpasses that of my G35 and my Honda Prelude -- the steering seems to read your thoughts!
The ride quality is superb -- in fact it reminds me of the BMW 3-series in many respects. The ride is not harsh or grating at all, and this suspension tuning is unfortunately evident in the light body roll present in cornering. Despite this, the car never feels out of control in high-speed cornering; and if the driver should become a little overzealous, the dynamic stability control will keep the car in the desired path.
The steering feel is refreshingly light in parking maneuvers, but retains road feel when at speed. The chassis is unflappable -- it is near impossible to upset the chassis' stability in the course of even the most spirited driving.
The brakes are controlled with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) to minimize brake dive (the car leaning forward during braking). The brakes are strong and easy to apply, with a direct feel that belies their electronic nature. Car and Driver reported best-in-class braking distances, and I concur with that observation. The brakes instill confidence that you'll be able to stop the car in a short distance from nearly any speed. Furthermore, the brakes are very linear in application, and they aren't grabby at all during initial application.
The pickup of the car (I have the automatic, remember) is very firm and smooth -- it lacks the head-snapping feel of the G35 but certainly doesn't feel like a slouch. The sound of the rotary engine is intoxicating... it possesses a smoothness that simply can't be duplicated by piston engines.
The manual version of the car, with its 250-hp engine, should give nearly any car on the road a run for its money, with a rated 5.9 sec sprint to 60mph. The automatic, while slower, does not feel nearly as slow as its numbers would suggest and is in fact a fantastic vehicle to drive.
Overall the experience is far superior to that of the G35 coupe, which many consider to be its closest competitor. Owning both and driving them on a day-to-day basis, I can definitely see that the Mazda has outclassed the Infiniti in all areas, sans acceleration, of course.
Complaints
While my experience with the RX-8 has been an overwhelmingly positive one, it bears repeating several concerns that have been voiced by myself and other rotary enthusiasts. The primary shortfall in my mind is the fuel economy.
Fuel conservation has never been a defining factor of rotary engines: the many flat surfaces result in poor thermal efficiency, which also causes the engine to run extremely hot compared to piston engines. Mazda promised huge gains in economy over the previous 13B rotary in the RX-7. While it has improved markedly, it is nowhere near the figures Mazda released in preproduction (20 cty, 30 hwy). The window sticker reads 18 city and 25 highway; I've experienced anywhere from 15-20mpg in city driving.
To rub salt in the wound, Mazda strongly recommends (though stops short of requiring) premium fuel due to the engine's 10:1 compression ratio. Due to the high compression ratio (and high temperatures), I wouldn't put anything but premium in: 'pings' and 'knocks' from a low-octane fuel are murder on a rotary engine.
I realize, however, that this is a performance car and not an economy car; and high fuel consumption comes with the territory, though my Infiniti G35 weighs more, has loads more power, and gets slightly better fuel economy. The rotary engine has shortfalls, among which is fuel economy. The benefits of light weight and small size relative to output more than balance the equation: a four-seat vehicle like the RX-8 couldn't be made without a rotary due to size constraints.
Finally, the GT package and its accompanying sunroof subtract a full inch and a half from interior headroom, which may be the difference between comfort and a head rubbing against the headliner. At 6'2, I just barely fit in the driver's seat without brushing against the headliner. Taller drivers have reported success, but shorter ones have needed to drop down to the Sport package to eliminate the sunroof. It all depends on the size of your torso, so be sure to sit in one before deciding on a model.
I have taken photos of my RX-8, including some with my other cars at the following address: http://groups.msn.com/NatesRX-8/shoebox.msnw
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UPDATE 24-Aug-2003
In an interesting turn of events, many enthusiasts have reported the RX-8's horsepower figures to be significantly lower than that given by Mazda when tested on a dynamometer. This has led Mazda to revise the horsepower figures from 250 and 210 to 238 and 197, respectively. This 3.6% to 4.5% difference has prompted Mazda North America to issue the following to existing owners: They will either buy back the car from the owner, all costs included, or offer them a $500 refund, and complimentary scheduled maintenance for the duration of the warranty. I know that I for one will be taking the latter option: Remember, the car itself isn't changed, just the ratings. The cars were always 238 and 197 hp, so any comments regarding the performance of the car apply just as much now as they did prior to dispute.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 32500
Condition: New Model Year: 2003 Model and Options: Automatic, GT package
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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