Mazda RX8

NB,

A very good friend of mine has sold his Audi TT (225) to get an RX8 Hi power. He should get it any day now. It's certainly a looker.

A forum for the model is already up! RX8 forum

Steve

There's a good report here http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=47&i=7249
238bhp from a 1.3L normally aspirated lump is fairly impressive I'd suggest. It actually looks the biz and also has the engine in the right place driving the correct pair of wheels and all that for £22K - hmmmm!
Let me know how you get on with the test drive

David

PS: Surprised that Jezzer hasn't got his sticky hands on one for Top Gear, or perhaps its in the can?

I reckon that it looks fantastic, too, I'm trying to work out a way of owning one that fits in with my motoring requirements.

I test drove the higher powered version last weekend - it was excellent. The thing revved and revved and revved, was very quick and went round corners well.

The attraction is that we can call it a family car - I'm 6 foot-ish and comfortably sat in the back without having to fold my legs up or having my head hit the roof. The only very slight downer is that the view from the rear is a bit like being on a ship with only a small porthole to look out of.

We were both thrilled by it and are now working out a way to fund the bloody thing....

nick.lees at btinternet.com

Quote:-

The attraction is that we can call it a family car - I'm 6 foot-ish and comfortably sat in the back without having to fold my legs up or having my head hit the roof. The only very slight downer is that the view from the rear is a bit like being on a ship with only a small porthole to look out of.
_________________________________________________________



Thats nice to know, I am six foot 2 and struggle to get in most cars. The Supra is deceptively large, especially in the front!


Regards

NB

Quote:-

I reckon that it looks fantastic, too,
_____________________________________



I think its one of the best looking cars on the market at the moment, my car is 14 years old and looks taty!

Its good for 450 BHP but the paintworks gone, the wheels are a mess and the leather interior needs replacing!

Now a Mazda RX8 with Leather interior sounds like a perfect replacement!


Regards


NB

Does anyone know whether there will be a turbo charged or supercharged version in the future?

Regards


NB

Nice car!

It would only cost me £952 to insure, which isn't too bad at all.

ag

Thats well over the top, I only pay £500 for the Supra and about £600 for the Jeep!

Regards


NB

The boot's pretty big too, though at the expense of not having a spare tyre of any description - you get goo instead.

As for a turbocharger, isn't 0-60 in 6.2 seconds fast enough for you?????

nick.lees at btinternet.com

You can never have too much power! A friend of mine has been out in (& worked on ) Hyper Lemon - the 1000bhp Nissan Skyline. Owning a car like that is like having a 14" d**k - it serves no great practical purpose but it's nice to take it out occasionally and scare people with it!

Quote:-

As for a turbocharger, isn't 0-60 in 6.2 seconds fast enough for you?????
___________________________________________________________________


Its adequate but when your used to 450bhp and a 0-60 in the four seconds its a step backwards.

Its nice to have the power for when its needed.

Regards

NB

I haven't heard of any factory charging plans but I'm sure there will be plenty of aftermarket accessories for the RX-8. Of course a K&N air filter/charger would be the first recommended upgrade

I will give my friend Mark a ring at Torque Developments. I am sure there will be loads of goodies for the RX8.

Air filter and bigger exhaust would be first on the list. HKS do some wonderful stuff! I will dig out a photo of my Supra's engine for you sometime!

Regards

NB

Is this a work of art?


Regards

NB

ps the green thing is the HKS air filter!

Regards


NB

When you're shown the engines in the RX8 they give you a magnifying glass...

nick.lees at btinternet.com

but then 238 bhp from a 1.3l engine is impresive and think of the fuel savings.

If I get into double figures, I am happy

Regards

NB

It ain't a 1.3 litre, you really can't compare the capacity of a rotary and piston engine by the "swept volume" criteria. Norton had this problem with their rotary racing bikes. Rotary engines are also notorious for poor fuel consumption, this model looks to be much better than any rotary that I have seen before, but much worse than any comparable normally aspirated piston engine.

Apparently Mazda are claiming 26.4mpg for the 192bhp version and just 24.8 for the 231bhp one. Not a good comparison with my 328i which does 29.7 overall for similar performance. On the upside though the RX8 is fitted with a speed-camera detector as standard.

David

What about the oil consumption that rotaries were always blighted by?

rasher, it's being reported that the Rotary still burns oil, adding oil is like moving SBLs and the mileage is pretty poor to boot.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/04rx8.htm

quote:

---

Originally posted by David Stewart:
Not a good comparison with my 328i which does 29.7 overall for similar performance.

---

But David...it's a BMW. And can you get it with anything like the Mazda spec for £22k?

nick.lees at btinternet.com

PS does Jeremy Clarkson classify this as a "woman's car"?

quote:

---

But David....it's a BMW. And can you get it with anything like the Mazda spec for £22k?

---

Nope - but it is a BMW

David