RX8 Driven in Autocar this week
06-24-2003 | 08:35 AM
#1
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From: Yorkshire, England
Autocar review this week
Have n't got a scanner but its in this weeks and is a fairly balanced review, in summary
Good points
Smooth engine even at high revs
Rear doors - practical and comfortable
Ample Grip good along B Roads
Good value
Switching DSC off transforms the handling
Bad points
Intrusive jet like whine above 5000k revs
Excessive Transmission vibration and whine
High emissions and thirst for fuel 24.8 mpg. vs (celica t-sport 33.6), modest torque and engine needs more grunt
About sums up the summary, though the review is half an A4 sheet plus piccy.
Good points
Smooth engine even at high revs
Rear doors - practical and comfortable
Ample Grip good along B Roads
Good value
Switching DSC off transforms the handling
Bad points
Intrusive jet like whine above 5000k revs
Excessive Transmission vibration and whine
High emissions and thirst for fuel 24.8 mpg. vs (celica t-sport 33.6), modest torque and engine needs more grunt
About sums up the summary, though the review is half an A4 sheet plus piccy.
06-24-2003 | 08:37 AM
#2
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From: www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
RX8 Driven in Autocar this week
Just picked up this weeks Autocar and there is a one page article on the RX8.
It is a mixed review with good and bad, Im sure someone will scan and post it up later.
Autocar seemed to not like the rotary on previous reviews so I dont know how valid their comments are.
Their summary and verdict was:
The RX8s mould breaking versatility - for a sports car- deserves to be applauded, but buyers need to be aware of the idiosyncrasies of its rotary engine: modest torque and a thirst for fuel.
Practical and comfprtable sports coupe at a mouth-watering price. Thirsty though, and the rotart engine needs more grunt.
It also mentions its an understeerer and states the whine of the engine is intrusive over 5000rpm.
We'll have to wait until the end of October to find out though
It is a mixed review with good and bad, Im sure someone will scan and post it up later.
Autocar seemed to not like the rotary on previous reviews so I dont know how valid their comments are.
Their summary and verdict was:
The RX8s mould breaking versatility - for a sports car- deserves to be applauded, but buyers need to be aware of the idiosyncrasies of its rotary engine: modest torque and a thirst for fuel.
Practical and comfprtable sports coupe at a mouth-watering price. Thirsty though, and the rotart engine needs more grunt.
It also mentions its an understeerer and states the whine of the engine is intrusive over 5000rpm.
We'll have to wait until the end of October to find out though
06-25-2003 | 02:54 AM
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From: Kent, England
I wonder how intrusive the engine noise is though. Nobody else has really mentioned that it is so loud that it becomes annoying. My TTC is loud but designed to be and with the BOSE turned up no problem.
I think this is one of the 'wait & see' issues I am concerned with, together with torque, again mentioned.
rael.
I think this is one of the 'wait & see' issues I am concerned with, together with torque, again mentioned.
rael.
06-25-2003 | 05:04 AM
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From: Herts - UK
Originally posted by rael
I wonder how intrusive the engine noise is though. Nobody else has really mentioned that it is so loud that it becomes annoying. My TTC is loud but designed to be and with the BOSE turned up no problem.
I think this is one of the 'wait & see' issues I am concerned with, together with torque, again mentioned.
rael.
I wonder how intrusive the engine noise is though. Nobody else has really mentioned that it is so loud that it becomes annoying. My TTC is loud but designed to be and with the BOSE turned up no problem.
I think this is one of the 'wait & see' issues I am concerned with, together with torque, again mentioned.
rael.
06-25-2003 | 08:25 AM
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From: Guildford
Originally posted by MarkW
Very clever, merging the two duplicated posts together.
Is that one of your new powers, Jimbobjoe
Very clever, merging the two duplicated posts together.
Is that one of your new powers, Jimbobjoe
There are other powers at work in here.................
06-30-2003 | 11:33 AM
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From: Cambridge - UK
I guess it was my turn then eh?
Well call me mad but I think this is a GOOD review and most pleasing. The 'jet like whine' is exactly what I want from a rotary engine.
I showed the review to my colleague Richard who knows a thing or two about cars (too long to explain) and his response was useful enough to quote:
Well call me mad but I think this is a GOOD review and most pleasing. The 'jet like whine' is exactly what I want from a rotary engine.
I showed the review to my colleague Richard who knows a thing or two about cars (too long to explain) and his response was useful enough to quote:
-ve points in article:
- vibration at idle = you won't notice it after 2 weeks. Call it character!
- brittle ride over rough surfaces = show me a car that isn't and I'll show
you a car that cost double the Mazda.
- real commitment to match performance figures = Hah, you have to be either
a journalist who doesn't have to pay the repair bills or my mate Iain to
beat manufacturers performance figures.
- understeer = if you feel this on the road you are going too fast and
you'll be in the ditch within weeks if you continue.
- fuel consumption = Bah, enjoy the bloody car and steal to afford the fuel!
+ve in article:
- Equipment level = this makes a HUGE difference for everyday motoring.
- Adaptability = interior, 4 PROPER sized seats! engine, be a fiesta at low
revs while in traffic ... then keep your foot down for FUN.
- smooth linear engine = I'm jealous, no turbo, no running out of power...
- grip = as long as it's dry you will have a blast.
Summary:
The car has got good and not so good points, EXACTLY like ANY other car! But
it looks as if the good points will outweigh the bad in my opinion (the bad
ones are tiny niggles that anyone can live with/adapt to easily and
quickly).
Read review of the old RX7 and you'll find that people loved it who loved
driving. You KNOW that Mazda used the 7 as a benchmark they HAD to improve
on - with the 8 you are on to a winner.
- vibration at idle = you won't notice it after 2 weeks. Call it character!
- brittle ride over rough surfaces = show me a car that isn't and I'll show
you a car that cost double the Mazda.
- real commitment to match performance figures = Hah, you have to be either
a journalist who doesn't have to pay the repair bills or my mate Iain to
beat manufacturers performance figures.
- understeer = if you feel this on the road you are going too fast and
you'll be in the ditch within weeks if you continue.
- fuel consumption = Bah, enjoy the bloody car and steal to afford the fuel!
+ve in article:
- Equipment level = this makes a HUGE difference for everyday motoring.
- Adaptability = interior, 4 PROPER sized seats! engine, be a fiesta at low
revs while in traffic ... then keep your foot down for FUN.
- smooth linear engine = I'm jealous, no turbo, no running out of power...
- grip = as long as it's dry you will have a blast.
Summary:
The car has got good and not so good points, EXACTLY like ANY other car! But
it looks as if the good points will outweigh the bad in my opinion (the bad
ones are tiny niggles that anyone can live with/adapt to easily and
quickly).
Read review of the old RX7 and you'll find that people loved it who loved
driving. You KNOW that Mazda used the 7 as a benchmark they HAD to improve
on - with the 8 you are on to a winner.
06-30-2003 | 12:05 PM
#10
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From: Herts - UK
I admit now I re-read it it doesn't seem so bad. I guess originally, I was just hoping that it would be full of superlatives and make us all feel better about the delays.
One thing I don't understand though is how the car can be be available at a "mouth watering price" and yet at the same time "need more grunt". Are they saying it feels slower than cars in it's price range? Then how can it be such amazing value? And if they are not saying that then how can they say it "needs" more grunt?
I get the impression they are not sure what to make of the car and don't know what to compare it to.
One thing I don't understand though is how the car can be be available at a "mouth watering price" and yet at the same time "need more grunt". Are they saying it feels slower than cars in it's price range? Then how can it be such amazing value? And if they are not saying that then how can they say it "needs" more grunt?
I get the impression they are not sure what to make of the car and don't know what to compare it to.
06-30-2003 | 12:58 PM
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From: Bristol
I would have to question how this article has been researched and written. I have an Auto car from last year with a similar write up as the recent one all they have done is update some of the details such as the change in BHP and Torque while confirming some of the equipment specs.
The pictures are also of a LHD which leads me to think they haven't even driven a UK car (if they have where did they do it considering that there is only the blue Jap pre production car in the country at the time the piece was written).
I think they have looked at the same websites and road reports that we all have and formulated them into an article on the car. Look at all the other road tests they have done they all have pics of the car in motion on the test, something completely absent from this
JMO
Ed
The pictures are also of a LHD which leads me to think they haven't even driven a UK car (if they have where did they do it considering that there is only the blue Jap pre production car in the country at the time the piece was written).
I think they have looked at the same websites and road reports that we all have and formulated them into an article on the car. Look at all the other road tests they have done they all have pics of the car in motion on the test, something completely absent from this
JMO
Ed
06-30-2003 | 01:10 PM
#12
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From: London, UK
I think you have hit the nail on the head here : what do they compare this car to? I really believe that this is the reason why residuals are so uncertain at this point. I also don't think they really know who will be buying this type of car and can't predict demand. It's only when you see it, do you decide that you want one.
06-30-2003 | 01:19 PM
#13
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From: Cambridge - UK
Originally posted by copperband
I would have to question how this article has been researched and written. I have an Auto car from last year with a similar write up as the recent one all they have done is update some of the details such as the change in BHP and Torque while confirming some of the equipment specs.
The pictures are also of a LHD which leads me to think they haven't even driven a UK car (if they have where did they do it considering that there is only the blue Jap pre production car in the country at the time the piece was written).
I think they have looked at the same websites and road reports that we all have and formulated them into an article on the car. Look at all the other road tests they have done they all have pics of the car in motion on the test, something completely absent from this
JMO
Ed
I would have to question how this article has been researched and written. I have an Auto car from last year with a similar write up as the recent one all they have done is update some of the details such as the change in BHP and Torque while confirming some of the equipment specs.
The pictures are also of a LHD which leads me to think they haven't even driven a UK car (if they have where did they do it considering that there is only the blue Jap pre production car in the country at the time the piece was written).
I think they have looked at the same websites and road reports that we all have and formulated them into an article on the car. Look at all the other road tests they have done they all have pics of the car in motion on the test, something completely absent from this
JMO
Ed
06-30-2003 | 04:08 PM
#19
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From: Cambridge - UK
Originally posted by Edo
HalleysComet,
Is that your pic - if so would you mind being alittle more specific about your location - country would be a start!!
Ed
HalleysComet,
Is that your pic - if so would you mind being alittle more specific about your location - country would be a start!!
Ed
06-30-2003 | 04:19 PM
#20
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From: London, UK
You could be right. If she/he was at least in Europe, it might be worth the risk to find out... I cant claim expenses to fly to the US looking after Europe Middle East and Africa, they might ask questions!
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