Whoop! Now I've test driven an RX-8! Pics enclosed
08-22-2003, 04:24 PM
#1
www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bagshot, Surrey
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whoop! Now I've test driven an RX-8! Pics enclosed
Yes, the speedo has 3 digits (!)
Yes, its fast (cos I got to see the 3 digits very quickly!)
Yes it grips and grips around corners and on B roads
Yes it goes where you want it to
The suspension is fine, not too sloppy, not too boneshaking
No, theres no issues with torque - just drive it with revs around 5-6k. Its <B>how</B> you drive it that counts. Don't buy the low spec cos you think you're gettning just as fast a car (if not faster) than the high spec thanks to some of the reviews. Its rubbish. If you put pedal to metal some, you go from 0-5000 revs in like a couple of secs....then keep it between 5-6k(equiv to around 2.5k in a normal piston engine I'd say).
No, don't get the sunroof if you're 6'1" and have 34" legs like I have, my hair was touching the roof. See photo and more info below.
Yes, titanium is now my fave colour (better than red, sorry guys - red just looks dull when not in the sun. However, when in the sun the mica shines brilliantly - see photos). I know that I've pre-ordered the silver, I just dont think the strafes will work as well with the silver. Although the chrome rotary symbol on the front will work...
I love T W whites and thanks a lot to Paul who went round with me. Top bloke. Didn't talk too much, didn't sit completely rigid. I must have seemed a right dork as I was playing through my mind all the reviews, all the book, all my dreams of driving it. Jesus what a prat I sound. Just like a youngster again. I had a meeting this afternoon, but when Graham phoned from T W Whites in Millford and said they had a slot at 5pm, well I HAD to leave work. I would also like to point out that I informed them that I was a pre-orderer already and I had ordered from the Weybridge branch, and that actually they are HAPPY for the pre-orderes to get a go. I had said I'd wait until the 12-14th when Weybridge will get the cars, but no, they got me in 5 hours later and thats without even pushing them. It was dealt with brilliantly.
Ok, so, I arrive and theres 2 cars there, a low-power titanium in showroom livery and a hi-power Red, the one I was to test drive. Both with leather, red with the two-tone. The two-tone looks GREAT with the red. I thought it looked a bit tacky on the photos, but when you get into the car, it breaks up the black really nicely.
Ok so I drive up and onto the A3, the clutch was lower than I was used to and when you drive it, you have to adjust your feet to the right a little as the footrest is about where I have the clutch on my current cars. But you get used to it quickly, its not an issue at all.
Gearbox is good - finding 4th and 6th were both easy. Centred really around 4th, slight notch to the right to find 6th. I dont think I missed a gear once.
Braking was superb - in fact too good - better than I was used to! In faat that was the biggest thing I had to adjust to - but thats a good thing!
Blooming haybaler in front of me, so I drop to 2nd, get to 7k revs and whoooooosh. Bugger, I even did *** mph in 4th!!!! Well in 4th I got to 8k revs, then thought I'd better be more sensible. Not a word from Paul, top chap. Plus no coppers behind me either Jimbobjoe!! I never got to the warning beep, didn't want to kill it (even though its has already done over 4000 miles!) , but changed just under 9k all the time. Jesus it was quiet, the engine was not screaming at all. I guess thats the reason why theres such an emphasis on the rev counter and not the speedo! Both when idling and when pelting along, it doesn't sound loads away from a normal Jap/German engine, refined and quiet. I loved just touching the accelerator though and hearing the jet-like whoosh and <B>immediate</B> response. Great, great, great.
As for B- roads, well, it was a little "solid" over the uneven road, but hey, its a perfect compromise from my POV. Paul said he used to work for VW and this is much better than the R32. That car really shakes you around and doesnt hug the corners as well as the 8. Shades of my fave review so far, the EVO review vs the R32.
Even though theres a look of stuff flying around about the US models "losing" some power v specified, I DONT CARE. Its good enough for me. This car is not going to bomb. Rotary has made it to the mainstream in the UK. I actually think that the UK car will be fine @ 231PS and therefore just slightly down (or even the same?) as the US spec, since people think theres further to go down for the US car.
Other things - well the satnav is great, if the maps a little sparse, never as clear a mapping as Ordinance Survey/A-Z maps, but a doddle to use.
The rear view mirror doesn't have any trickery built in but is solid enough.
The side mirrors are 'split' - see photo
The stereo is very bassy - standard is 6 disc only, not 6 + 1 according to Paul. However, whilst I note the bass, its not hideous. The chassis can cope, and I'm guessing it was set up that way to show that it IS a meaty system. I always have ok stereos in my car, and this is up there with the best I've heard. Shame you cant fast forward through tracks from the steering wheel controls, only skip tracks. Radio was very clear - I was listening to Chris Moyles on Radio 1 and even with his shouting it didn't distort the sound.
There is still some space in the wheel arches, but doesn't look like the car is high off the road. If I had an option though, I would lower it a little. I guess its a mite higher due to all of the sleeping policemen on our roads.
You really feel snug in the drivers seat - its like sitting in an Audi A4/6/8 - you are low in the cockpit, but not too low.
However, nowhere to rest my right arm when driving - I normally rest it on the window ledge! The ledge is way too high on the RX8 (due to the snug feel)
Steering wheel is perfect size, I thought it looked too large from photos, but in face, its great.
Also I thought that the rotary gearknob may be a little too much, but it actually fitted well in the hand - probably better than a round one (ooer)
Strafes on the red car looked good (none on titanium)
Front chrome rotary on red car too.
Both cars had the vent rings - you must get these if nothing else particularly if you are having the pure black leather interior. I'm glad I've got the cloth and not leather as it may be too black otherwise for some (and I'm normally a massive fan of pure black).
Piano black console looked tops and help break up the tone of the black.
THE SPEEDO IS GOD-LIKE. I loved this more than anything else. It glows a lovely whitey-purple colour and you can see everything so clearly. Its perfectly sized and positioned.
Anywy, enough of the writing - have some photos...
Ps i've already edited this, and added more - im sure more will come back to me as I re-read it again and again!
PPS edited again this morning. I STILL love the car now. Roll on October. Oh T W Whites do not have the listing of which cars are on the boad, but I was promised by Swee Sealey that it would definitely be on the first boat, due to my order date (and NOT EP number). Interestingly, only one Red has been pre-ordered at Weybridge T W Whites - to a female doctor I was told. Black is the most popular there, followed by silver then titanium.
Yes, its fast (cos I got to see the 3 digits very quickly!)
Yes it grips and grips around corners and on B roads
Yes it goes where you want it to
The suspension is fine, not too sloppy, not too boneshaking
No, theres no issues with torque - just drive it with revs around 5-6k. Its <B>how</B> you drive it that counts. Don't buy the low spec cos you think you're gettning just as fast a car (if not faster) than the high spec thanks to some of the reviews. Its rubbish. If you put pedal to metal some, you go from 0-5000 revs in like a couple of secs....then keep it between 5-6k(equiv to around 2.5k in a normal piston engine I'd say).
No, don't get the sunroof if you're 6'1" and have 34" legs like I have, my hair was touching the roof. See photo and more info below.
Yes, titanium is now my fave colour (better than red, sorry guys - red just looks dull when not in the sun. However, when in the sun the mica shines brilliantly - see photos). I know that I've pre-ordered the silver, I just dont think the strafes will work as well with the silver. Although the chrome rotary symbol on the front will work...
I love T W whites and thanks a lot to Paul who went round with me. Top bloke. Didn't talk too much, didn't sit completely rigid. I must have seemed a right dork as I was playing through my mind all the reviews, all the book, all my dreams of driving it. Jesus what a prat I sound. Just like a youngster again. I had a meeting this afternoon, but when Graham phoned from T W Whites in Millford and said they had a slot at 5pm, well I HAD to leave work. I would also like to point out that I informed them that I was a pre-orderer already and I had ordered from the Weybridge branch, and that actually they are HAPPY for the pre-orderes to get a go. I had said I'd wait until the 12-14th when Weybridge will get the cars, but no, they got me in 5 hours later and thats without even pushing them. It was dealt with brilliantly.
Ok, so, I arrive and theres 2 cars there, a low-power titanium in showroom livery and a hi-power Red, the one I was to test drive. Both with leather, red with the two-tone. The two-tone looks GREAT with the red. I thought it looked a bit tacky on the photos, but when you get into the car, it breaks up the black really nicely.
Ok so I drive up and onto the A3, the clutch was lower than I was used to and when you drive it, you have to adjust your feet to the right a little as the footrest is about where I have the clutch on my current cars. But you get used to it quickly, its not an issue at all.
Gearbox is good - finding 4th and 6th were both easy. Centred really around 4th, slight notch to the right to find 6th. I dont think I missed a gear once.
Braking was superb - in fact too good - better than I was used to! In faat that was the biggest thing I had to adjust to - but thats a good thing!
Blooming haybaler in front of me, so I drop to 2nd, get to 7k revs and whoooooosh. Bugger, I even did *** mph in 4th!!!! Well in 4th I got to 8k revs, then thought I'd better be more sensible. Not a word from Paul, top chap. Plus no coppers behind me either Jimbobjoe!! I never got to the warning beep, didn't want to kill it (even though its has already done over 4000 miles!) , but changed just under 9k all the time. Jesus it was quiet, the engine was not screaming at all. I guess thats the reason why theres such an emphasis on the rev counter and not the speedo! Both when idling and when pelting along, it doesn't sound loads away from a normal Jap/German engine, refined and quiet. I loved just touching the accelerator though and hearing the jet-like whoosh and <B>immediate</B> response. Great, great, great.
As for B- roads, well, it was a little "solid" over the uneven road, but hey, its a perfect compromise from my POV. Paul said he used to work for VW and this is much better than the R32. That car really shakes you around and doesnt hug the corners as well as the 8. Shades of my fave review so far, the EVO review vs the R32.
Even though theres a look of stuff flying around about the US models "losing" some power v specified, I DONT CARE. Its good enough for me. This car is not going to bomb. Rotary has made it to the mainstream in the UK. I actually think that the UK car will be fine @ 231PS and therefore just slightly down (or even the same?) as the US spec, since people think theres further to go down for the US car.
Other things - well the satnav is great, if the maps a little sparse, never as clear a mapping as Ordinance Survey/A-Z maps, but a doddle to use.
The rear view mirror doesn't have any trickery built in but is solid enough.
The side mirrors are 'split' - see photo
The stereo is very bassy - standard is 6 disc only, not 6 + 1 according to Paul. However, whilst I note the bass, its not hideous. The chassis can cope, and I'm guessing it was set up that way to show that it IS a meaty system. I always have ok stereos in my car, and this is up there with the best I've heard. Shame you cant fast forward through tracks from the steering wheel controls, only skip tracks. Radio was very clear - I was listening to Chris Moyles on Radio 1 and even with his shouting it didn't distort the sound.
There is still some space in the wheel arches, but doesn't look like the car is high off the road. If I had an option though, I would lower it a little. I guess its a mite higher due to all of the sleeping policemen on our roads.
You really feel snug in the drivers seat - its like sitting in an Audi A4/6/8 - you are low in the cockpit, but not too low.
However, nowhere to rest my right arm when driving - I normally rest it on the window ledge! The ledge is way too high on the RX8 (due to the snug feel)
Steering wheel is perfect size, I thought it looked too large from photos, but in face, its great.
Also I thought that the rotary gearknob may be a little too much, but it actually fitted well in the hand - probably better than a round one (ooer)
Strafes on the red car looked good (none on titanium)
Front chrome rotary on red car too.
Both cars had the vent rings - you must get these if nothing else particularly if you are having the pure black leather interior. I'm glad I've got the cloth and not leather as it may be too black otherwise for some (and I'm normally a massive fan of pure black).
Piano black console looked tops and help break up the tone of the black.
THE SPEEDO IS GOD-LIKE. I loved this more than anything else. It glows a lovely whitey-purple colour and you can see everything so clearly. Its perfectly sized and positioned.
Anywy, enough of the writing - have some photos...
Ps i've already edited this, and added more - im sure more will come back to me as I re-read it again and again!
PPS edited again this morning. I STILL love the car now. Roll on October. Oh T W Whites do not have the listing of which cars are on the boad, but I was promised by Swee Sealey that it would definitely be on the first boat, due to my order date (and NOT EP number). Interestingly, only one Red has been pre-ordered at Weybridge T W Whites - to a female doctor I was told. Black is the most popular there, followed by silver then titanium.
Last edited by renegade_si; 08-23-2003 at 03:15 AM.
08-22-2003, 04:39 PM
#14
www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bagshot, Surrey
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
moonroof (it does have a slidey bit too but this only works when the roof is closed - its the bit that blocks out the light @ la fords etc) - has tilt and slide buttons inside to operate it. Don't get if you're my size (all over dimensions!)
Ooh while I remember, apparently the car auto locks after a while if its left unattended (!) as it was locked when we got to it....
Ooh while I remember, apparently the car auto locks after a while if its left unattended (!) as it was locked when we got to it....
Last edited by renegade_si; 08-23-2003 at 02:53 AM.
08-22-2003, 04:41 PM
#17
www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bagshot, Surrey
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hmmm Milford, THATS where we are!
The end! PS I have these in much higher resolution if anyone wants them mailing to them. These are 50% size and 45% compressed...
The end! PS I have these in much higher resolution if anyone wants them mailing to them. These are 50% size and 45% compressed...
08-22-2003, 04:53 PM
#19
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SURREY
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good work renegade_si, I was disturbed not to have any images of the first RX8 I had driven. Many thanks!
Glad you too were as impressed, the wait is looking worth while!
Glad you too were as impressed, the wait is looking worth while!
08-24-2003, 03:03 AM
#22
www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bagshot, Surrey
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FAO EDO as he was asking BlueAdept
I drive a mondeo ST 24 at the moment, which is 0-60 in 7.6 secs. The '8 certainly seems at least a second fast in 0-60 and much livlier overall. But then again is is MUCH lighter than the mondeo, typified if by nothing else by the way it did leap in places over the B roads that I test drove it along. But don't get me wrong, it was a GREAT experience as you didn't have to compensate for much delay in you telling the car to do something, and it actually doing it.
I also have had 3 x Eunos'/MX5s for the past 4 years or so, and its certainly as responsive as these, but equally as solid.
It really is a 4 door MX5 with a tin roof!
I drive a mondeo ST 24 at the moment, which is 0-60 in 7.6 secs. The '8 certainly seems at least a second fast in 0-60 and much livlier overall. But then again is is MUCH lighter than the mondeo, typified if by nothing else by the way it did leap in places over the B roads that I test drove it along. But don't get me wrong, it was a GREAT experience as you didn't have to compensate for much delay in you telling the car to do something, and it actually doing it.
I also have had 3 x Eunos'/MX5s for the past 4 years or so, and its certainly as responsive as these, but equally as solid.
It really is a 4 door MX5 with a tin roof!
08-24-2003, 03:26 AM
#23
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nice Pics and review Si.
I cant wait for my test drive now, only 6 days. I'm sold on everything else about the car, I just hope the drive lives up to my expecations.
Mark
I cant wait for my test drive now, only 6 days. I'm sold on everything else about the car, I just hope the drive lives up to my expecations.
Mark
08-24-2003, 12:06 PM
#24
www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bagshot, Surrey
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sure that it will. Has the mighty oilman read this yet then?
MorganRogers, I think I made a comment about the red and tan interior on the first page of this review as well! Ugh it IS terrible!
MorganRogers, I think I made a comment about the red and tan interior on the first page of this review as well! Ugh it IS terrible!
08-24-2003, 04:01 PM
#25
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Cornwall, England
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Renegade Si, Good pics and loved your review...........
Was it really that good?
Can't wait now, I hope I'm in the magic 500 (EP365).
By the way I used to live in Weybridge 10 Years ago, Springfield Meadows, just off the town centre!
Shame you didn't like the red. They'll be the rare ones then!
Cheers
Oilman
Was it really that good?
Can't wait now, I hope I'm in the magic 500 (EP365).
By the way I used to live in Weybridge 10 Years ago, Springfield Meadows, just off the town centre!
Shame you didn't like the red. They'll be the rare ones then!
Cheers
Oilman