Evolution
25th July 2006, 09:38 PM
On Saturday I took an RX-8 for an extended test drive.
My existing car, Alfa 156 GTA with 250 horses and 0-60 of 6.2 (although it feels quicker having had that wonderful 3.2 V6 nicely bedded down after 40k miles) is now 4 years old and a change is due. Too many niggly but costly repair bills are souring the experience of ownership. A shame because having owned a Honda Accord Type R and a Ralliart prepped Evolution 6 previously, the Alfa has turned out to be the best overall, based on a mix of wonderful performance and a fair degree of practicality. Add to that a fantastically well sorted front wheel drive and suspension set up and very communicative steering and I was actually struggling to find anything remotely as fun and involving and performance-orientated within my £25k budget.
BMW....No. Audi....No. Imprezza...Nah
So I turned to the RX-8 and especially the PZ, one of which sat gleaming in grey mica in my local showroom.
Well the look sold me there and then but what of the performance.
Unfortunately, this one had been snapped up and so I had to 'make do' with the standard 231 bhp 8. I was handed the keys and asked to take my time.
Enough said, I raced off trying motorways, fast A roads and twisty B roads. I took it home to carry out the wife and kids test (surprisingly comfortable and roomy and those doors were clever) and check performance under family conditions, albeit that I wasn't looking at it in terms of family practicality. We've got the X-Trail for that and the dog! If I went for it, the 8 was to be my 'smile on the face' trip to work and back motor with the odd detour thrown in when the urge takes me!!
In a word.....outstanding. That rev range is something else and the smooth power delivery with the accompanying sound was equally as impressive of the V6 in the Alfa, albeit different in delivery. OK, so it had to be worked a lot harder through the gears as the Alfas torque is far more in yer face early on but saying that, what a fun car the 8 was. One for drivers who like to drive.
Steering was excellent, grip outstanding and after flicking the back end out on a couple of quiet roundabouts before snapping it back in quickly, I started to wonder what the sorted PZ would be like!!
So ok, fuel economy seems to be an issue but show me a performance car that doesn't drink quickly when you play with it! I get 22 on average with the Alfa but never complain because driving it properley, as it is meant to be, puts a smile on my face!!
As I headed back to the dealership, having dropped the kids off, I was in a quandry.
I really did not want to like this car as much as I did. I wanted to have enough reservations in my mind to make me decide to keep my beloved Alfa after all, problems and all, because I truly believe it is a great car and it's been my baby for 4 years.
That I have now put down a deposit on a PZ is therefore the greatest compliment I can therefore pay the Mazda RX8!!
It put a smile on my face and the PZ will also allow me some of the exclusivity that I have enjoyed with the GTA.
Time will tell whether my decision will turn out to be the right one but finding out os gonna be fun.
Steve
My existing car, Alfa 156 GTA with 250 horses and 0-60 of 6.2 (although it feels quicker having had that wonderful 3.2 V6 nicely bedded down after 40k miles) is now 4 years old and a change is due. Too many niggly but costly repair bills are souring the experience of ownership. A shame because having owned a Honda Accord Type R and a Ralliart prepped Evolution 6 previously, the Alfa has turned out to be the best overall, based on a mix of wonderful performance and a fair degree of practicality. Add to that a fantastically well sorted front wheel drive and suspension set up and very communicative steering and I was actually struggling to find anything remotely as fun and involving and performance-orientated within my £25k budget.
BMW....No. Audi....No. Imprezza...Nah
So I turned to the RX-8 and especially the PZ, one of which sat gleaming in grey mica in my local showroom.
Well the look sold me there and then but what of the performance.
Unfortunately, this one had been snapped up and so I had to 'make do' with the standard 231 bhp 8. I was handed the keys and asked to take my time.
Enough said, I raced off trying motorways, fast A roads and twisty B roads. I took it home to carry out the wife and kids test (surprisingly comfortable and roomy and those doors were clever) and check performance under family conditions, albeit that I wasn't looking at it in terms of family practicality. We've got the X-Trail for that and the dog! If I went for it, the 8 was to be my 'smile on the face' trip to work and back motor with the odd detour thrown in when the urge takes me!!
In a word.....outstanding. That rev range is something else and the smooth power delivery with the accompanying sound was equally as impressive of the V6 in the Alfa, albeit different in delivery. OK, so it had to be worked a lot harder through the gears as the Alfas torque is far more in yer face early on but saying that, what a fun car the 8 was. One for drivers who like to drive.
Steering was excellent, grip outstanding and after flicking the back end out on a couple of quiet roundabouts before snapping it back in quickly, I started to wonder what the sorted PZ would be like!!
So ok, fuel economy seems to be an issue but show me a performance car that doesn't drink quickly when you play with it! I get 22 on average with the Alfa but never complain because driving it properley, as it is meant to be, puts a smile on my face!!
As I headed back to the dealership, having dropped the kids off, I was in a quandry.
I really did not want to like this car as much as I did. I wanted to have enough reservations in my mind to make me decide to keep my beloved Alfa after all, problems and all, because I truly believe it is a great car and it's been my baby for 4 years.
That I have now put down a deposit on a PZ is therefore the greatest compliment I can therefore pay the Mazda RX8!!
It put a smile on my face and the PZ will also allow me some of the exclusivity that I have enjoyed with the GTA.
Time will tell whether my decision will turn out to be the right one but finding out os gonna be fun.
Steve