Mazda certainly does know how to live up their "zoom-zoom" slogan. From the moment I sat in the drivers seat of the RX-8 I knew this car was the car I wanted.
Exterior:
They exterior styling is a pretty much love it or hate design, but one thing is for sure: It's a real head turner. I have a Winning Blue '8 and it turns heads everywhere I go. My only complaint is the clear tail-lights (I've never really liked them on anything but the Altezza/IS300), but the car pulls them off well. With the optional Appearance Package, the already good looks are complimented with a front lip, subtle sideskirts and a rear bumper accent. This addition adds a nice sublte yet aggressive look that the car somewhat lacks without it. The styling is just perfect for me and I personally don't think you can get a car that looks this good anywhere near it's price range.
Interior:
The interior on the RX-8 is absolutely top-notch. With the GT package you get the Bose sound system, heated leather seats (power seat on the drivers side), and sunroof. The Bose system sounds decent at best for a stock sound system. However, the Bose system in the Mazda6 is far superior to that found in the RX-8. If your picky about sound, as I am, you will probably find the stereo a bit lacking, but it is liveable. It will be one of the first things to be replaced however. The seats are quite comfortable for around the town or for long trips. I just spent 9 hours in car over the weekend and I must say the seats were superb through the whole trip. The gauge cluster is very well designed and quite easy to read. I personally love digital spedometer, but some may not like it as much.
The finish on everything in the interior is very nice and all the controls are very easily accessible. The DVD Navigation system is also a welcome bonus and is a must for the frequent traveler. The system is very easy to use and is extremely helpful if you find yourself in an area that you are unfamiliar with. I was somewhat hessitant about taking the plunge on the Navigation when I originally purchased it, but now I can honestly say I will not buy another car without it. Personally, the only thing I would change about the interior is the trunk release button. It is at a somewhat inconvenient location and is hard to get used to at first.
Legroom is great. I'm 6' and have no problems getting in and out of the car, and when I ride shotgun (not very often ;) I'm always surprised at the amount of passenger legroom. I can't personally comment on comfort of the backseat, but I can tell you that it definitely has gotten its fair share of usage in the past 6 months. I have a friend who is easily 3-4" taller than me and he was able to sit in the back comfortably. It's quite nice having a sports car that more than 1 of your friends can enjoy at the same time.
Engine/Performance:
First off, let me state that this car is not and was not intended to be a drag-racer. So if you're in the market for a new drag/street racer, step away from this car. If, however, you are in the market for a car that handles like it's on rails, has more than enough power to move when you need it (and when you just want to have fun), and a car that will put a smile on your face everytime you fire it up, then this car is for you. From the moment you bring the engine to life you will know that this car is a little different from it's competition. It doesn't let out a loud growl, but instead a nice little whir and does nothing but get louder at the press of the accelerator. It's extremely quiet around town but once you open it up, the engine will sing and just beg for more and more revs. The acceleration is so smooth at times it feels like your coasting and not actually flying down the highway. The gearbox is abolutely superb and with a quick smooth flick of the wrist your in the desired gear and ready to have some more fun. Braking is absolutely phenominal and will out-stop many cars in it's class. My biggest complaint with this car is the gas mileage. My best gas mileage I've gotten so far is 20mpg. Around town I generally get between 16-18mpg, so this car is by no means a fuel efficient vehicle (but what rotary engine has?).
Overall:
As a whole, I feel that the RX-8 is easily the most well-rounded sports car in it's class. It has a soul unlike any other car I've ever driven, and while driving it, it feels more like you are driving yourself more than the car. I absolutely love this car and I personally think it would be hard not to fall in love with this car after a short drive. This car is a great daily driver, even in the winter (with appropriate tires), and I do believe you would be hard-pressed to find something this fun and this practical.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 35500
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: 6spd GT w/ Nav
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