As a former modded FD (3rd gen RX-7) owner, I'm looking seriously at the RX-8. I didn't want to like it as I thought that Mazda was selling out on the rotary with a family car after the truly superb performance car that the 3rd gen was (or could be after appropriate mods), but was talked into a test drive by a coworker who bought one.

Man, was I surprised!

It handled as good as a stock 3rd gen (a big surprise for me), rode a heck of a lot smoother and QUIETER, seemed screwed together better, had all the comfort features the 3rd gen lacked, had easy access rear seats big enough for a now needed car seat, and was priced the same as my 1993 3rd gen was 11 years ago!

It was down a bit on power from the stock 3rd gen (especially above 4500 rpm) and down a whole lot of power from mine, but was a far, far better car in every other way.

So I want one.

But, before I lay my money down on a '94, I was wondering if a few (very minor) issues I have with the car might be addressed in the '95. Any information would help.

- power rear windows (like my Oddysey, very useful to vent out the Florida heat once moving after sitting in a parking lot, without having to crawl in the back or open the sunroof (argh! it's so bright!) to do so)

- BlueTooth (so I won't have to install yet another hands-free phone kit and so it will work through the stereo)

- XM or Sirius satelite radio (though I was quoted in AutoWeek as never listening to the radio when driving, my commute is so plebian that tunes and NPR are needed, and XM works so well)

- non-floating front calipers (seriously, with monster brakes, why abandon the great non-floating, pull-the-pads-through-the-back calipers the 3rd gen RX-7 had?)

- HID low AND HIGH beams (why halogen highs?)

- Tire inflation pressures instead of warnings (tell me what the pressure at each wheel is, not just if a tire is low)

The small trunk access and non-folding rear seats can be accepted as compromises to rear chassis stiffness but as surprisingly picky as I am about cars, I can't see anything else really amiss with this car (that a mildly supercharged 20B or 15B couldn't solve).

Kidding.

Or am I?

Cam?!?