c170673

I will post the scanned images below, but they may not be too readable.

On the whole the article is a great deal more positive than that or yesterday.

Here are a few snippetts:

"Is the world of performace cars about to be turned upside down? With a sensational blend of performance, price and design, Mazda is promising that its new rotary engined RX-8 has got what it takes to do much more than that."

"The Mazda has already made a significant impact, as its four-seat, four-door design and potent 1.3 litre rotary engine mark it out as unique"

"Smooth and virtually silent at idle, the engine responds eagerly to throttle input"

"However, the engine must be worked hard to develop peak power"

"A supple suspension set-up offers a comfortable ride an good degree of stability, although the body design, with its wide opening doors, means that there's some flex and wobble in the shell. However, this movement is far from being intrusive and leaves the RX-8 feeling like a bigger MX-5"

"What's more, the brakes are sensational, offering plenty of feel and loads of stopping power. The ABS system is also amongst the most sporty we have tried, because it refuses to intervene unless absolutely necessary."

"Two gear boxes are available ........ both offer a short throw and neatly stacked ratios. However, we felt that the selector in our low-mileage test car was rather "sticky" - perhaps the gearbox will improve with age"

"More comfortable than many rival sports cars, it takes time to appreciate the RX-8's appeal. Even so, it's a great car , with accurate steering, a practical interior and a reasonable price. Although the new Mazda is likely to appeal to the most adventurous drivers, they can bank on having a whole load of fun behind the wheel."

FIRST OPINION

"With its rotary engine , four-seat interior and innovative body, the stylish new RX-8 is a difficult car to pigeonhole. It's sporty yet refined, practical but cool. What matters most , though, is that it's a lot of fun to drive , competitively priced and great to look at. We are convinced it's going to be a machine thay's at the top of driving enthusiasts' wish lists.

I appear to have typed almost all of the article out, never mind, enjoy.

Chris

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Page 1

MarkW

Picked it up on the way to work this morning, and its only a short 2 page review, but much more consistent with most of the other reviews we've read (Excluding Autocrap)

It does have a few critiscisms (after all the car isnt perfect), but generally follows them up with a positive. e.g.

"There's some flex and wobble in the shell. However, this is far from intrusive, and leaves the RX-8 feeling like a bigger MX-5"

I wont spoil it all for you too much, but the closing summary reads "We are convinced it is going to be a machine thats at the top of driving enthusiasts lists"

Also, on Mike Rutherfords seperate opinions page he compares the Bentley GT to the Mazda RX-8, as being the best at the price:

"I can tell you that the RX8 is so good that anyone in the market for a £20k car would be mad not to buy one"

"The Continental GT is one of the finest cars Ive ever driven, and is to the £110,000 coupe buyer, what the RX-8 is to the £20,000 coupe buyer - simply the best"

Thats more like it

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Page 2

rael

This may sound a tad sad but I would prefer if they said the 8 was a superb car in the company of the TT, 350, Crossfire etc as opposed to a great buy for £20k or good alternative to the (fantastically boring) BMW 3 series. This will just drag the car down.

It needs to be seen as a bargain in the mid/ top £20k car bracket.

rael

MarkW

Bugger, typed all that in a Chris has scanned it in and beaten me to it

May a mod will merge the two threads.....

c170673

Next week in Auto Express (out 6th August)

First UK Test

Mazda RX-8 vs rivals

Cool new coupe takes on 350Z, Clio V6, TT and GTV

Chris

MarkW

Should be able to find out next week as it is reviewed against the 350Z, Clio V6, TT and GTV

renegade_si

Bugger, even before my copy has dropped through the doormat. I KNEW it would be a good review. I even subscribed to auto express for the next few weeks' reviews - well 11 quid for 13 issues and a free OS maps of the UK double CD set ain't bad....

So what about a little bit of body roll - there is no way it could be prevented without the B pillar.

Amazing how 2 different mags interpret the same thing - look at the gear shift for example when comparing autocar and express......

renegade_si

oh sorry, I meant to say thanks Chris for posting !!!

black knight

I wonder if the flex and wobble is 'real'. It would seem to me that it may not be - as Mazda specifically set out to have a torsionally stiff car by use of the door pinnings. If however it is then I would expect this to have some impact (no pun intended) on crash performance.

That apart - you guys seem to be giving a lot of kudos to the reviews... Its been said before -these are spot impressions by journos. Buy the car because you want one, not because someone else says its ok and not for an investment...

The sole reason I'm not buying one is because its not here in full Uk spec *now* as promised



BK

jimbobjoe

Your wish is my command.............

ChrisW

Now that's more like it (although it's a shame they couldn't have included a 3 series coupe in there). We all know that it's not as hardcore as the Z, and for most of us it's not a problem. What we need now are some other perspectives (is it sharper than a TT, is it faster than the GTV...)

hairyfrog

2 reasons for that...
1) We can't drive one at present and therefore this is the only info we have.
2) Motoring press types are driving tons more cars then you or I ever would so their views are generally worthwhile.

Having said that ofcourse ultimately it's up to the individual, but other peoples opinions will affect things like residuals so it would be foolish to ignore them completely...

DannyA

Here here hairfrog.


If I am going to spend £20k+ on a car I don't want it to be swallowed up by depreciation overnight otherwise it wil probably be the last £20k car I own for a few years to come while I save up again.

So blacknight whilst I am not buying an RX-8 as an investment my money is certainely far safer there then it would be in a £15k Focus and I am going to have a lot more fun.

I also agree that they need to be comparing the 8 to the 3-series. That's the car I drive and I bought it primarily for practicality - the reason I would never consider the TT or the Z. Whilst I want style, comfort and a bit of performance practicality is key and they need to stress this. A huge amount of effort has gone into to the 8 to make it so and it would be a shame to overlook it - and therefore not attract the hoards of potential drivers who want it all in a practical car.

renegade_si

Agree Danny.

330 (sport) comparison would be the best for me.

Oh well, feel doomed to being compared by the mags with the 350Z anyway....

remember, some of us were considering the two cars I suppose.

Actually, when looking at the specs in autocar, they are both very similar...

still need to get home and read the autocar review properly, you cant read the ones Chris posted on the PC screen.

Darn still being at work at 7.45 - even my missus saw the review on the front cover of auto express on my subscription copy (and she REALLY isn't a car fan) and read the review before me.

Hmmph!

:D

c170673

If anyone wants me to e-mail them the scanned images (for Autocar or Auto Express) then let me know.

The images I posted were compressed to bring them under 100k otherwise I couldn't have posted them.

Chris

ChrisW

I don't think the 330 is really a fair comparison. A 330Ci Sport costs £30,000, and you'll still probably have to find more for "extras" that come as standard with the Mazda. I suspect the 330 actually has a fair bit more power than the 8 too (see horsepower thread in main forum).

If you wanted to be cruel you could put the 8 head-to-head with a 320Ci Sport (£26K), but probably the fairest match would be the 325 (£28K). Similar engine size (the 8's really a 2.6). Ones got more power, the others got more torque.

Bazza

I'll be interested in seeing the performance stats that they usually show when doing comparisons,
as we all know the 0-62 & top speed, but I'm more interested in the 30-70 thru gears,
30-50 & 40-60 acceleration.

This way I can compare these stats to my existing car and see the difference.

renegade_si

Chris

no no no you have me wrong. Not in terms of speed, in terms of space and cabin quality. And obviously adjusted for price. But we're back to comparisons and we've already agreed there isn't anything thats a direct comparison. Ok, fine well do a lower spec BMW 3 series couple then.

morganrogers

I think this is coming back round to "I love BMW / I would not be seen dead in a BMW".

330 is not a direct compare on price alone.
In fact (and please correct me if I am wrong) I dont think you could get a specced up 318 for this money could you ?

Suspect you chaps who were considering a 330 were in the minority. Most of us could not afford it (or justify it) and most 330 drivers would not be seen dead in a Mazda.

Not convinced any BMW is a compare actually. They are different markets.

ChrisW

The thing about the 3 series coupe is it is far and away the best selling coupe in the £20-30K price range in the UK. Love them or loathe them they are the benchmark.

Also, the cars are clearly trying to do the same thing - performance, style (some might disagree in the case of the BMW), refinement and four-seat practicality.

Of course the BMW costs more but to some extent people accept that as the price for superior BMW quality, and you probably get some of it back through lower depreciation.

I still think the 325Ci is the closest thing to a competitor I can think of. Yes it's overpriced, dull looking, and probably not as good to drive - which is why the 8 should win. Do we have a problem with that?

renegade_si

nope

fine by me.

morganrogers

I think it should be a 318 , but otherwise go for it....

DannyA

As a 318Ci driver I absolutely love the styling and drive of my coupe - true the back end is a bit dull but the front and side is magnificent until Chris Bangle has his wicked way with it!

However for comparison purposes 2.0 litre 16 valve 4 cylinder engine is smooth, fuel efficient and carries the car adeqautely, but could never be described as powerful.

I think you have to go to one of the 6 cylinder engines and probably the 2.5 if you want to do a comparison. Yes the car is more expensive, but it's a BMW and the quality is superior. I haven't seen the 8 yet so couldn't compare but doubt it will be as 'solid'.

The standard spec of the coupe is quite similar to the RX-8 so still a fair comparison.

Either way - Auto Express has earmarked the 8 as an enthuiast's car and is pitching it against the Scooby, Clio V6, Z350 and ?TT?? next week, so it really depends what they are looking for.... we'll have to wait and see.

Anyway, in the meantime those of you who haven't got a copy can read the Autoexpress article here:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?previe...y.php?id=38553