Ali
4th December 2002, 10:25 AM
Hi all!
I'm very new to the Mazda "thing" though have always had a soft spot for them. My first car was very nearly a '92 323 ZXi, but the Civic VTi won in the end. After 10 years and 6 Hondas I'm defecting! One badly built Civic Type R, my wife's clonking and grinding CR-V, and a really lousy attitude from Honda UK's Customer Services is seeing an end to the relationship. Anyone that tells you that Hondas are well built hasn't, obviously, driven a Swindon built car. Very poor indeed from my, and various Honda-R club members, experience.
Anyway, I digress. I love the RX-8's look and I already know of a few decent dealers locally so I may be taking the plunge next year, or in 2004 (depending when the CTR is paid for!!!). That is, unless the 6 MPS turns out to be better... Anyway, here's a post i wrote for the Gran Turismo forum. Enjoy, and buy Car as well. Ignore Top Gear ,the article is short and this month is pretty dull...
Slowly but surely the UK journals are printing their reports on the RX-8, and its all overwhelmingly positive. Mazda Europe have also gone on record as wanting a price under 35,000 Euros (£22,400) which seems too good to be true. I want one!!!
And here are a few summary quotes from Top Gear and Car:
Car
"That latter figure (240bhp) gets commendably close to the old twin-turbo 13B's 265bhp, though torque is a different story. So's the power delivery, with the Renesis feeling not at all lik ethe explosive, electric 13B. Indeed, it delivers such strong, stepless acceleration as to feel almost unremarkable.
Had Mazda neede to eclipse the old turbo 13B, it could quite simply have increased the normally aspirated engine's capacity with 10mm wider rotor chambers, as it did to transform the 12A into the 13 B. Which is exactly what we'd expect Mazda to do in a short wheelbase, two-seat version of this car to carry on the RX-7 badge...
Designer Maeda throws his hands in the air at the hint of a true RX-7 replacement. 'Ahh, it's really hard to tell! I'm not the person to say anything, but we really want to.'"
"The RX-8 doesn't set out to be an extreme, smack-you-up sports car. It hasn't grown fat, it has grown efficient."
"In terms of chassis response, the chassis is just as good as the RX-7's, but it is more linear, and I think in terms of absolute chassis capability there's more grip and a more balanced feel to it."
"Weight distibution is bang on 50/50 front to rear."
"It all bodes well for the RX-8 and whatever might follow; Mazda says this all new platform will underpin its next generation of sports cars."
"...'I think we've been able to get the agility we wanted, so I think we've got a good combination of agility and stability' Bakaj says.
So it proved, in too few laps of the Global Road circuit at Mazda's Miyoshi proving ground. Emulating everything from German autobahn to Belgian cobbled streets and French mountain roads, the circuit serves up a 2.1 mile loop of quick crests, odd cambers and uneven surfaces. They must still be pulling old RX-7 mules out of the trees.
The RX-8, though, is a product of this environment: poised, planted, plenty in reserve. "
"Mazda issued no preformance figures and Miyoshi gave no opportunity to get them, but the point is that a guesstimate would very probably understate the RX-8s accelerative abilities. We'd peg it nearer a 330Ci than an M3- but where those in-line sixes surge and spit and humker down with each new cog, the Mazda gathers momentum more like a Hot Wheels car down a ramp."
"Anyway uo slice it, this chassis is a sweetheart, and especially so on the grippier, optional sports suspension with 18 inch hoops. First thing you notice is the steering- pleasantly quick and reassuringly weighted, all of this artificially enhanced through a new, electric system that operates directly onto the steering rack.
Overwhelmingly, however, the RX-8 is about neutrality. Tipped into a corner, there's more than a strictly sporting degree of body roll, but excellent grip and confident body control to go with it. When that runs out, lazy and controllably, the chassis maintains its neutrality, aided by one of those rare DSC systems that acknowledges options other than 'more understeer'.
With the stabiliy control off, the RX-8 still imparts the confidence of a wheelbase longer than it actually is. Understeer on corner entry turns quickly but comfortably into oversteer, all of it again telegraphed through the progressive slip of the BRidgestones. Where an RX-7 would have flicked you off the road, the RX-8 is tapping you on the shoulder.
Indeed , the RX-8's advances become most apparent over Miyoshi's more mixed surfaces. Its tracking over bumps and swoops, and its directional stability under braking on unsympathetic cambers, have very nearly the resolve of a much heavier sports saloon.
Just as, conceptually, the RX-8 sits between sports coupe and sports saloon, so it proves dynamically. Those with fond (or even fearful) memories of the twin-turbo RX-7 will possibly be disappointed by the RX-8's understated competence. But that's the way with these things: you won't stop missing the one that broke your balls, but the RX-8 is the one you'll marry."
Top Gear:
"This certainly sound like no other powerplant. The subtly menacing whirring noise it produces is in fact closer to the motors ropelling the Shinkansen Bullet Train that's sped us here..."
" the power delivery is progressive, instantly accesible and builds rapidly in intensity. A snappy 6 speed manual gearbox and the fact that the rev counter's needle zips so swiftly round the dial means that a relative lack of torque, with just 156 lbft available at 5500rpm, rarely intrudes."
"It's agile but never edgy. A succesion of pot holes that look imported from the average British back road do little to shimmy the car wide of my chosen line, the sophisticated double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension remaining impressively composed."
"Although there's some body movement, the broad tyres sitting on heft 18 inch wheels show strong resistance t olessening their grip. There's scarcely any understeer while a shove of the drive-by-wire throttle mid-corner does little to loosen the rear end either, just a sudden lift off of the power with the suspension loading up proving to threaten to send the tail stepping readily out of shape."
"On a lengthy stretch like this the RX-8 could glue itself to the tailgate of a Subaru Impreza STi, even if it's initial surge isn't so brutal...the brakes are feelsome and aggresive at dispatching all that speed."
"the RX-8 is set to be one of next years freshest, sharpest cars."
I'm very new to the Mazda "thing" though have always had a soft spot for them. My first car was very nearly a '92 323 ZXi, but the Civic VTi won in the end. After 10 years and 6 Hondas I'm defecting! One badly built Civic Type R, my wife's clonking and grinding CR-V, and a really lousy attitude from Honda UK's Customer Services is seeing an end to the relationship. Anyone that tells you that Hondas are well built hasn't, obviously, driven a Swindon built car. Very poor indeed from my, and various Honda-R club members, experience.
Anyway, I digress. I love the RX-8's look and I already know of a few decent dealers locally so I may be taking the plunge next year, or in 2004 (depending when the CTR is paid for!!!). That is, unless the 6 MPS turns out to be better... Anyway, here's a post i wrote for the Gran Turismo forum. Enjoy, and buy Car as well. Ignore Top Gear ,the article is short and this month is pretty dull...
Slowly but surely the UK journals are printing their reports on the RX-8, and its all overwhelmingly positive. Mazda Europe have also gone on record as wanting a price under 35,000 Euros (£22,400) which seems too good to be true. I want one!!!
And here are a few summary quotes from Top Gear and Car:
Car
"That latter figure (240bhp) gets commendably close to the old twin-turbo 13B's 265bhp, though torque is a different story. So's the power delivery, with the Renesis feeling not at all lik ethe explosive, electric 13B. Indeed, it delivers such strong, stepless acceleration as to feel almost unremarkable.
Had Mazda neede to eclipse the old turbo 13B, it could quite simply have increased the normally aspirated engine's capacity with 10mm wider rotor chambers, as it did to transform the 12A into the 13 B. Which is exactly what we'd expect Mazda to do in a short wheelbase, two-seat version of this car to carry on the RX-7 badge...
Designer Maeda throws his hands in the air at the hint of a true RX-7 replacement. 'Ahh, it's really hard to tell! I'm not the person to say anything, but we really want to.'"
"The RX-8 doesn't set out to be an extreme, smack-you-up sports car. It hasn't grown fat, it has grown efficient."
"In terms of chassis response, the chassis is just as good as the RX-7's, but it is more linear, and I think in terms of absolute chassis capability there's more grip and a more balanced feel to it."
"Weight distibution is bang on 50/50 front to rear."
"It all bodes well for the RX-8 and whatever might follow; Mazda says this all new platform will underpin its next generation of sports cars."
"...'I think we've been able to get the agility we wanted, so I think we've got a good combination of agility and stability' Bakaj says.
So it proved, in too few laps of the Global Road circuit at Mazda's Miyoshi proving ground. Emulating everything from German autobahn to Belgian cobbled streets and French mountain roads, the circuit serves up a 2.1 mile loop of quick crests, odd cambers and uneven surfaces. They must still be pulling old RX-7 mules out of the trees.
The RX-8, though, is a product of this environment: poised, planted, plenty in reserve. "
"Mazda issued no preformance figures and Miyoshi gave no opportunity to get them, but the point is that a guesstimate would very probably understate the RX-8s accelerative abilities. We'd peg it nearer a 330Ci than an M3- but where those in-line sixes surge and spit and humker down with each new cog, the Mazda gathers momentum more like a Hot Wheels car down a ramp."
"Anyway uo slice it, this chassis is a sweetheart, and especially so on the grippier, optional sports suspension with 18 inch hoops. First thing you notice is the steering- pleasantly quick and reassuringly weighted, all of this artificially enhanced through a new, electric system that operates directly onto the steering rack.
Overwhelmingly, however, the RX-8 is about neutrality. Tipped into a corner, there's more than a strictly sporting degree of body roll, but excellent grip and confident body control to go with it. When that runs out, lazy and controllably, the chassis maintains its neutrality, aided by one of those rare DSC systems that acknowledges options other than 'more understeer'.
With the stabiliy control off, the RX-8 still imparts the confidence of a wheelbase longer than it actually is. Understeer on corner entry turns quickly but comfortably into oversteer, all of it again telegraphed through the progressive slip of the BRidgestones. Where an RX-7 would have flicked you off the road, the RX-8 is tapping you on the shoulder.
Indeed , the RX-8's advances become most apparent over Miyoshi's more mixed surfaces. Its tracking over bumps and swoops, and its directional stability under braking on unsympathetic cambers, have very nearly the resolve of a much heavier sports saloon.
Just as, conceptually, the RX-8 sits between sports coupe and sports saloon, so it proves dynamically. Those with fond (or even fearful) memories of the twin-turbo RX-7 will possibly be disappointed by the RX-8's understated competence. But that's the way with these things: you won't stop missing the one that broke your balls, but the RX-8 is the one you'll marry."
Top Gear:
"This certainly sound like no other powerplant. The subtly menacing whirring noise it produces is in fact closer to the motors ropelling the Shinkansen Bullet Train that's sped us here..."
" the power delivery is progressive, instantly accesible and builds rapidly in intensity. A snappy 6 speed manual gearbox and the fact that the rev counter's needle zips so swiftly round the dial means that a relative lack of torque, with just 156 lbft available at 5500rpm, rarely intrudes."
"It's agile but never edgy. A succesion of pot holes that look imported from the average British back road do little to shimmy the car wide of my chosen line, the sophisticated double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension remaining impressively composed."
"Although there's some body movement, the broad tyres sitting on heft 18 inch wheels show strong resistance t olessening their grip. There's scarcely any understeer while a shove of the drive-by-wire throttle mid-corner does little to loosen the rear end either, just a sudden lift off of the power with the suspension loading up proving to threaten to send the tail stepping readily out of shape."
"On a lengthy stretch like this the RX-8 could glue itself to the tailgate of a Subaru Impreza STi, even if it's initial surge isn't so brutal...the brakes are feelsome and aggresive at dispatching all that speed."
"the RX-8 is set to be one of next years freshest, sharpest cars."