apaul

Excellent, comprehensive road test review c/w 2 ext. and 1 int. colour photos (VR) by auto journalist Jeremy Cato in today's (08/19/04) Megawheels section. Here's the link..checked it out and it works Incl. his appraisal of the Renesis ..

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...rch&query=rx-8

Well worth a look

MyRxBad

iTrader: (1)

The first story is decent and fair. The only thing I didn't like is that the author is just regergitating (sp?) rotary engine facts and really doesn't know about the engine. If he did he wouldn't have put "Oil blow-by" as one of his dislikes as we all know that oil in injected on purpose to lubricate the apex seals.

hobbes

You can blame it on media kit banter. I agree that a writer should really investigate the car before writing about it, but they have to balance their time with many vechicals within a short time period, so it's a balancing game, and thus the good 'ol media kit is used.
________
NEW MEXICO DISPENSARY

Gord96BRG

Nice to see a good review, but as said, some of the "facts" are sorely irritating!

"the back seats are only for kiddies"
"There is no spare tire; the car has run-flats"

Along with the "oil blow-by" ( ) mention in the "Don't like" summary, he mentions "high emissions and poor fuel economy have all been problems with past rotary engines". So what? what does that have to do with this version of the rotary engine? The Renesis is actually very clean as far as emissions go; it's much cleaner than the WRX or STi or 350Z or S2000, to name just a few.

Regards,
Gordon

apaul

C & D's Csaba Csere, or R & T's great, late Henry N. Manney Jr. [ RIP], he isn't but I thought it worthwhile posting if only because it's a bit more thoughtful and well-written than some that pass for informed auto journalism. I agree with hobbes that he likely took the media kit 'way out'..I find that the reviews on MSN Canada by Malloy, Kenzie and La Chapelle are often [surprisingly] well thought out with occasional dashes of originality thrown in.

Gord96BRG

Jim Kenzie is reviewing for MSN Autos now??? Woohoo! I'm going to make my first visit there in over a year now! (big fan of Jim Kenzie :D)

Regards,
Gordon

Gord96BRG

Proof already that he's a huge leap over the clowns they had before - in his review of the MazdaSpeed Miata (the entire review, by the way, proves that he "gets it" and is a real car guy), he mentions "I don't care whether it (the original Miata) was sketched out on a cocktail napkin in a bar by Mazda stylist Marc Jordan and car writer Bob Hall (the unofficial tale) or was the result of a carefully-managed market research project by Mazda (that's their story, and they're sticking to it). "

The unofficial tale he mentions is pretty close to the truth, but not many of the current journalists would even be aware of it. The real truth is that journalist Bob Hall verbally "sketched" it to a couple of Mazda VPs when he worked for Autoweek in 1982 or so. In 1984 (IIRC), Bob was hired by Mazda as a product planner, and within a couple of months one of those VPs said "so, Bob, what are we going to do about that lightweight sports car you mentioned?" (3 years prior!). Bob launched into it again, and sketched it on a whiteboard in the meeting room at Mazda. They took a Polaroid picture of that sketch, and that's where the Miata began. (all hail bwob! )

Regards,
Gordon

(oh, and Jim Kenzie too!)

apaul

Yep... he is.. I think he still writes in The Tor Star Wheels Saturday Section.. I also like the Aussie or New Zealander.. damned if I can remember his name..ha! found it on the TSN website ~Graeme Fletcher ~ his TV review of the Mazda6 sold me.. [until I saw the RX-8]

P.S. Great story Gord..as in everything, there are 'insiders' and the rest who have to guess, plagiarize or invent...love it! What's the 'true' story of the RX-8, I wonder.. just 'wild 'n crazy' Mr. Maeda as this article would have it? Or...?

TownDrunk

Wow, 0- 100kph in the low 7 second range? Did they have my 7 year-old driving (or maybe they were driving the auto)?

Also, "16-inch ventilated discs brakes front and rear"?? I wish I had 16" rotors.

Other than that, nice article.

Gord96BRG

Actually, that's almost from Mazda's original press kit. In Europe, it's common to describe the size of the brakes by quoting the size of wheel required to fit over them. So, a 12.7" brake disk (a la RX-8), with the caliper, needs a 16" wheel to clear it. Unfortunately, Mazda got it wrong, as there are extremely few 16" wheels that clear the front brakes - it's more like 17" brakes.

You're right, though, to call it 16" discs as that reviewer did is misleading!

Nah, that article doesn't really cover it. The Yamaguchi RX-8 book does a good job of detailing the RX-8's history. A quick summary - Back in 95, Mazda did the RX-01 concept, which was a futuristic looking 2 seater. However, when they pulled the plug on the RX-7 in North America, Mazda was well aware that the sales disappointment of the RX-7 was down to several factors, primarily cost and complexity (leading to higher-than-desired warranty support costs). They decided to lay out new objectives for the next generation rotary powered vehicle (the project was done after hours, since new owner Ford would not agree to continue development of a next-generation version of the rotary). Their goals included the normaly aspirated rotary, emissions compliant, reduced fuel consumption, the true useable 4 seat configuration (rather than 2+2), and true sports car handling. The handling and sports car requirements led to the unique freestyle doors solution to enable a shorter wheelbase and length than would be possible with a regular 4 door. Mazda came up with the RX-Evolv show car to showcase their solution and the new Renesis, and it was spectacular enough for Ford to OK further development.

Regards,
Gordon

apaul

Thanks, Gordon. One tale I heard concerning the N. American demise of the 7 was that a significant percentage of owners simply failed to follow the recommended oil change intervals for the turbo and it became a warranty nightmare for Mazda .. any truth at all in that, or another myth?

Best,
Alan

dobe_dad

I wish I could get run-flats.