Although I'm new to this forum, I’ve seen that most opinions and suggestions posted so far have been based on secondary information (photos, literature in print & from the web), due to the fact that so few of us actually have driven an RX-8. Today we are beginning to receive the cars, one by one, and as mdmaclean suggests, let’s come back with first-hand feedback to this forum.

I would be interested to read not only what people like about various aspects of the RX-8, but also what aspects you think should be improved upon by Mazda in future models. No holds barred, just honest opinions about exterior look, interior look & comfort, transmission (MT), transmission (AT), suspension & tires, motor, etc. And, most of all, was it worth the wait!

 

Today was the test drive for Queensland, Australia drivers at the Willowbank Raceway. Much anticipated the day finally arrived for all the family to go.

This is my honest and objective review:-

Style: Great effort at producing a 4 door 4 person sports vehicle.
Misses the WOW factor. Nice lines without the macho feel of some of its competitors.

Brakes: Great! What one would expect from a car in the 21st century.

Interior: Looks good. Questionable is the durability and wear and tear on the laquered areas and chrome look plastics on the drive train. I'm an analogue fan personally and the digital speedo is both difficult to find on the dash and read. 2-tone red and black leather really dresses up the interior so the red, silver, titanium and black buyers should be pleased. Cloth interior changes the look and feel - average.

Suspension: For my taste this is too soft and not sporty enough. AND YES there is some body roll if the car is driven hard.

Steering: Pin point accurate!! GREAT STUFF!! Hard to fault.

Turning circle: Could be better.

Engine: Smooth, linear and constant acceleration but IMO definately lacks low down torque and whilst overall power is adequate for its intended use the real sports drivers will find this not really up to speed. Fun only between 6,000 to 9,000 rpm. Needs more overall power.

Visibility: Good for most areas and for adults but small children cannot see out if sitting in the rear. When changing lanes care is needed as side mirrors are wanting.

Exhaust: Whilst twin they are small in size and definately don't look as sporty as they could. Rear end needs dressing up.

Rotary sound: Yes it's sweet but lacks real OOMPH - this could be improved - bad for us but the aftermarket guys will be happy.

Boot space: Enough room, above average for a car of this size.

Under the hood: Lacks in presence and presentation. Loses out on visual appeal - there's nothing to show off - only plastic covers.

Road holding: Tried really hard to shake her off but excellent grip and handling.

0-100: If you are prepared to rev to 8,000 rpm you may get 6.2 secs. Otherwise, who knows???

Overall: This car is easy to drive and drive relatively fast even for ordinary drivers. It is a very forgiving car. Fun car to drive if you want a faster and better than average Sunday drive, however, it lacks the "EDGE FACTOR" that I want in a sports car. Red lined the car 3 times and it was fun. Looked out for the car running hot - this was not a problem. The car sits nicely if not a bit too high.

Mazda has been brave in putting this car together. In trying to please all the people by the car's diversity it may have compromised itself and lost some of the edge it could have had.

I am still undecided about my pre-order and will wait until I can drive the car in the suburbs rather than a racetrack with only 2 other cars in very safe and controlled conditions. After my own drive, I was lucky enough to experience the car as a passenger whilst it was being driven by Tim (our guide and a professional race driver) who knew and really put the RX8 through the paces which was great fun.

Can't help but wonder how much better the car could be if it had not been compromised. Maybe the Mazda Speed RX8 or the next RX7 will really ZOOM ZOOM!!

Mazda put on a great day and most people seemed generally pleased. Everyone's expectations of what makes a great car are different so we all need to drive it for ourselves and not rely only on reports and reviews.

 

That was thorough! Thanks Lock & Load for taking the time to share your views.

 

I am heading down to a big car show in the early hours of the morning. I have only been able to drive the car about 30 miles or so - pure heaven. In about five hours I will be heading down to the Baxter's Portland Historics at Portland International Raceway, where RPNW will have the RX-8 and 19 other rotary cars on display - along with about 500 plus other cars. I plan on keeping my thoughts written down and will post something Sunday evening when I return. In short, I offer the following initial thoughts:
1. Wow!!!
2. Yes indeed, it is even more stunning in person than any photograph!!!
3. I am a rock star - everywhere I have gone today I am a celebrity!!!
4. Smooth, smooth, smooth!!!
5. Mazda has nailed it!!!
They kept saying "You won't be disappointed," and I definitely am not.
Brad

 

<<I would be interested to read not only what people like about various aspects of the RX-8, but also what aspects you think should be improved upon by Mazda in future models. No holds barred, just honest opinions about exterior look, interior look & comfort, transmission (MT), transmission (AT), suspension & tires, motor, etc. And, most of all, was it worth the wait!>>

My local dealer called me today to tell me that they received their first RX-8 and that I could see it before the owner took delivery. I spent about a half hour looking at every detail of the car. I went to the dealer with a check ready to reserve one of the vehicles due to be received the first week of August. I left with that check. These were my impressions both good and bad.

My first impression was that it looked somewhere between a common mid-size sedan and a sports car and that it probably wouldn't stand out from other sedans. A few new cars I passed on the highway just minutes earlier seemed more attractive than the car that stood before me. It is an attractive car, but the sex appeal is more in the inside.

Driver's seat:
Plenty of elbow room. Beautiful guages and colors. Good workmanship. Nice styling and layout. Stereo sounded great. It is easy to imagine a late nite drive with the lights on and the moonroof open. The design seemed to accommodate shorter drivers too without killing them with the airbag (like my wife--not that she'd often get a chance to drive "my" car).

Back seat:
I had touble getting in the back at first only because the front seat was reclined more than I'd probably have it. After a quick adjustment I was able to get in the back fairly easily. My first impression was that the roof was little low, I'm a standard 5'11" guy and the roof was only inches from my head. There was plenty of leg room. The windows in the back opened with hinges, and they seemed rather small from the inside. The divider between the rear seats didn't help my feeling of being constrained. I didn't think of it until later, but just how would a rear passenger exit the vehicle in an emergency? On the positive, "suicide" doors would make it easier to put my kids in their car seats. The center seat divider had cup holders, storage areas, and access to the trunk compartment; not spacious, but some partitioning between two children can be a good thing.

Trunk:
Small, very small. It looked like you could fit two overhead airline bags into the back or one larger bag. Just enough space for a businessman going to the airport. Forget about the entire family going to the airport with bags. Think twice about picking up friends from the airport with this car unless you use the back seats for luggage.

Is there a spare tire in there? I saw the jack handle mounted to the back, but I couldn't confirm the spare. If the optional $400 spare tire kit is the only way to get a spare then I'd be concerned; besides, nothing but the spare tire would fit in the trunk. There must have been a spare under the floor mat, but I couldn't confirm that.

Engine compartment:
Where's the engine? Lift the hood and all you see is stylish plastic coverings. There seemed to be space under the plastic. Makes you wonder if the little thing in there hidden under all the plastic could really push the large'ish car very fast. Aren't these engines great? The engine design is the most attractive aspect of this car to me, and all I saw was plastic obscuring the view.

Conclusion:
I like the car. I intend to own one, but perhaps not unless it becomes more affordable. The MSRP is tollerable, but the MSRP+8.8% WA sales tax was not. The car just wasn't worth the $38K or so I'd have to shell out to drive home the options I want. I went home and scoured the web for a used RX-7 but then decided I didn't want to spend $16-20K for a used car with 80K miles and that might have been abused.

The ensuing conflict:
Maybe I'll buy it tomorrow...no I won't...yes, the house can wait...no, you I'm too financially responsible to do that...who do you think you're kidding?--you worked your way through college so your kids can do the same, and you can retire on social security; besides, everyone drives a $35K car today...no, we'll wait and save, this state won't tax what I don't spend.

Paul
Bellevue, WA

 

Just to address one of your questions, there is no spare tire unless you buy one as a dealer option; instead you basically get a can of Fix-A-Flat (tire inflator/sealant.)

Yes, that means a long walk if your sidewall is punctured anywhere beyond the suburbs and you don't have a cell phone...

 

Hey, thanks 3Rotor for your initial impressions. Get the car one day and show it at an auto show the very next day, wow. I feel a wave of envy coming on...or maybe its a wave of RDS (RX-8 deprivation syndrome)...damn this light-headedness, twitching, sudden urges to phone the dealer outside his working hours, and frothing at the mouth..or is it just me? Only kidding.

Paul, thanks for checking out that RX-8 for us, even though it was parked. My dealer promised that I could take a drive in a pre-ordered RX-8 that is expected to arrive before mine (I kid you; he really said I could only sit in it - but that's only fair).

 

It's not a pressurised can, but a container of sealant and a separate air pump. Just FYI.